Terrence Jones Explodes Onto The Scene

Every year, at the beginning of the basketball season there's a player who busts onto the national scene and into the spotlight.  This year that player is Terrence Jones, the 6,9 freshman forward from Kentucky.  Jones has simply dominated in his first few weeks of college ball and has even taken on a leadership role for the young wildcats.  He is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds and is shooting better than 46% from three point range.  Physically he reminds me a bit of Amare Stoudemire but with a far superior offensive game.

Jones is a versatile forward who, at 6,9 can stretch the defense out to three point range and use his foot speed to take opposing power forwards off the dribble. Jones is a load for any defense to handle.  He gets to the rim or to the foul line with ease and he also has a solid post up game and is explosive off the low block.  There's not much on the basketball court that Jones can't do.  He rebounds at a high level and is an excellent weak side shot blocker and defender.

The season is young and there will certainly be some ups and downs for Jones and for his young Kentucky squad but the potential is huge.  We already knew that Jones was an elite athlete.  No we are finding out that he is an elite basketball player as well.  He currently ranks as the projected #1 overall pick in the June 2011 NBA Draft, ahead of the more highly touted Harrison Barnes.

Avery Bradley, A Long Wait For A Future Star

When John Wall and Avery Bradley were seniors in High School they were neck in neck for the #1 player ranking.  Of course Wall went on to blossom at Kentucky, become the #1 overall pick by the Wizards and has already had a 28 point, 9 assist game in just his second NBA game.  He will star in commercials, likely be the rookie of the year and perhaps an All Star.

Meanwhile Avery Bradley, the 6,3 guard who played one season at Texas remains deep on the bench for the Boston Celtics.  Starting point guard Rajon Rondo is one of the top point guards in the league and the rest of the team is made up of veteran performers who are pushing for one more shot at a championship.  All this leaves Avery Bradley with little shot at playing time and through three games he has seen a grand total of zero minutes on the court.

Bradley may provide value off the Celtics bench as a late game energy player and defensive stopper but he will spend a lot of long nights watching from the sidelines.  He has the future, in my opinion, a potential lockdown defender on the perimeter and along with Rondo could be a defensive nightmare for slower backcourts to deal with.  But it might be just as likely that Bradley remains on the bench for most of his rookie year, seeing only garbage minutes in blowout wins and loses.

All this raises the question of whether Bradley should have stayed at Texas, not just to improve his draft position but to get the playing time needed to hone his point guard skills.  Of course playing against the like of Rondo in practice every day is an education in and of itself but it leaves me to wonder:  If Bradley had known that he would not be getting minutes as a rookie would he still have chosen to enter the 2010 draft?

For now, he sits and waits.  A star in the waiting.....

Thoughts On The Rookies

With the NBA's regular season approaching we are starting to get a feel for which recent draft picks will be making a big splash in their rookie seasons.  The preseason only tells us so much, especially as it concerns teams win/loss records but it is a good chance to gauge and get a feel for how the youngsters will handle the NBA game.

Number one pick John Wall has been his usual self, a blur on the court, outpacing opponents and teammates alike.  His explosiveness is unparalleled and will lead to many easy baskets, both for himself and teammates but will also lead to many TO's and lost opportunities.

Evan Turner has been nothing short of a disappointment so far and fans in Philly are starting to wonder if he was the right pick.  Can he play alongside Jrue Holiday?  Should the 76ers have drafted Demarcus Cousins?  Those questions remain to be answered but I think it's too early to dispare.  Turner has a world of talent and I think he will eventually find his rythme and figure out how to fit his skills into the NBA game.  But it would be reassuring to see him find some success against the preseason back-ups he's been playing against.

Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson have also been off to slow starts, which is not so unexpected for the young Favors but most people thought Johnson would find early success at this level.  Again, it's way to early to pass judgements are worry too much about the rookies, before they've even played a real NBA game.

One standout of the preseason is DeMarcus Cousins.  As he was in college, Cousins is too much for most opponents to handle down low and he is rebounding at an impressive clip.  The Kings are heading in the right direction and could be interesting to watch as their young players gel through the course of the season.

Although Blake Griffin wasn't drafted this year he is entering his first real NBA season.  So far he has been nothing short of spectacular for the Clippers, putting up huge numbers and highlight reel plays.

A surprise performer so far this preseason is Jordan Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks.  The 27th pick in the draft is playing more like a lottery selection and making the Hawks think along and hard about finding playing time for him (i.e. trading Jamal Crawford).

The preseason can be deceptive as many teams rest their star players and give the rookies an extended look but it gives us a first glimpse of how the rookies can handle the speed of the NBA game.

First Impressions of the 2010 NBA Draft

The 2010 NBA Draft is just finished and for once, it all kind of went as expected.   There were a number of minor trades and a few players sliding a bit (Whiteside, Orton, Ebanks) but overall there were few surprises.  Most of the trades involved a team giving away a draft pick to unload a contract as teams scramble to clear cap space in hopes of signing the big one.  In the next three weeks or so we'll see how the chips fall with LeBron, DWade, Bosh etc and we'll have a better understanding of the moves made tonight.

One of the stranger happenings of Thursday night was the firing of Portland GM Kevin Pritchard just hours before the draft.  Pritchard still conducting the draft for the Blazers and ended up with some nice picks including Elliot Williams, Armon Johnson and the trade for Luke Babbitt.  And then, presumably, Pritchard packed his bags and headed for the exit, weird.

The Wizards now have a Superstar in John Wall and a very bright future and adding to that bright future is the young Frenchmen, Kevin Seraphin (right) who was traded to Washington after being selected #17 by the bulls.  Watching Seraphin in person just over a year ago I came away extremely impressed as he showed his huge upside against the likes of Cousins, Wall, Henson etc at the Nike Hoops Summit.  He is an explosive leaper and very strong and attacks the rim in a way that would make Shawn Kemp proud.

About a month ago it seemed that Marshall center Hassan Whiteside was destined for the lottery.  Instead he dropped out of the first round all together and was eventually picked #33 by the Kings.  There he'll be paired with #5 pick DeMarcus Cousins and the ever disgruntled Samuel Dalembert to form an intriguing but likely volatile front court.  Still the Kings have a young and talented nucleus that includes last year's ROY Tyreke Evans.

In what might have been the steal of the draft the NBA champion Lakers nabbed Devin Ebanks late in the second round.  Ebanks can't shoot a lick but he is an elite defender and rebounder who will provide a lot of hustle and energy off the Lakers bench.  He is a perfect compliment to Kobe, Pau and the rest of the big egos in L.A.  It was also surprising to see Ebanks' West Virginia teammate, the injured DeSean Butler drafted ahead of the healthy Ebanks.

Another steal, in my opinion was the selection of Gani Lawal by the Phoenix Suns at #46.  All the hype goes to Favors but Lawal is a player who should surprise in Phoenix and perhaps even fill the hole vacated by Amare's (possible) departure.

One pick that surprised me a bit was the selection of Gordon Hayward at #9 by the Utah Jazz.  Most draftniks had the Jazz enamored with Luke Babbitt not Hayward and the NCAA tournament star now has his work cut out for him to live up to the expectations.  Hayward reminds me of a young Mike Miller but I don't know that he'll be able to get his shot off very easily at the next level and he certainly will not be overpowering opponents as he did at Butler.

Even before Free Agency begins we know that the Eastern Conference gained some big time guards in John Wall and Evan Turner and the Nets and Pistons landed quality big men in Favors and Monroe.   If the big Free Agents stay in the Eastern Conference we could see a shift in power from West to East.

Overall, the biggest surprise of the night was the lack of surprises.  The lottery went off pretty much as expected and was almost eerily calm and uneventful.  The NBA draft has become the night for trades in the NBA but this was a quiet year, as free agency looms larger than ever before.  So expect a lot of fireworks over the next month and a lot of money thrown at the big names but in a draft loaded with talent, the teams that made moves tonight might come away looking very smart when we look back five years from now.

Final 2010 Mock Draft

The Final Mock draft is up on NBA Draft Room.  Get ready for all the action and excitement and stay tuned for post draft analysis.

Players Rising And Falling On The Eve Of The Draft

The action has begun!  Trades are being announced, rumors are flying and prospects are rising and falling as the full picture of The 2010 NBA Draft begins to become clear.

Yahoo and other sites have reported that Daniel Orton is said to be falling down draft boards due to a couple of red flags.  An apparent knee problem, bad decision making in not hiring an agent and other bad mouthing from the Kentucky side.  Still, Orton is a physical specimen and should be valued highly enough to maintain a first round grade.  It's these boom or bust type players that can make or break a franchise.

Speaking of wide bodied forwards it is rumored that Tiny Gallon (left) is rising into the later part of the first round.  He is a large mammal, in the mold of Tractor Traylor, but Tiny is a more skilled player and  boasts a very good shooting touch for a big man.

Luke Babbit and Paul George have been getting a lot of hype in the past few days with not as much attention being paid to Gordon Hayward who may be falling just a bit.  If the Pacers trade down it seems likely that they will target Hayward in the late teens, especially if they are able to find a PG via trade or have one targeted in the second round.

Kevin Seraphin is a little known French prospect who is certain to be the first European player drafted.  This 6,9 power forward has rare explosive ability for a player of his size and reminds me of both Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Kemp.  He is a raw talent but if he develops to his potential he could be a steal in this draft.  With all of the attention going to the college big men he is falling under the radar of fans but should be rising up the draft boards of NBA team's.

I haven't seen much mention of Eric Bledsoe recently and it seems that he may be trapped in that dreadful "tweener" category. A natural shooting guard stuck in a point guard's body. One positive for Bledsoe is that there are not a lot of PG prospects getting first round grades so he may be able to sneak in. Or perhaps the teams that really like him are keeping especially quiet......hum?

It's that time of year again, when everything you hear you take with a grain of salt and everything you read (including this) this guesswork and prediction. 24 hours from now it might all make sense, or maybe we'll all be scratching our heads in bewilderment, but at least we'll know which teams the players will play for. :)

All Quiet On The Trade Front..... For Now

With the exception of a few minor deals there has been little apparent activity in the NBA trade markets.  The 76ers and Kings swapped bigs and the Warriors took cash from Portland to exchange second round picks but for the most part there as been an eerie calm leading up to Thursday's draft.  But the storm is brewing, the rumors are beginning to fly and by Friday morning of this week the NBA landscape will be drastically altered by the annual trade-fest that accompanies The Draft.

Evan if the rumors of Chris Paul being traded turn out to be false we should still expect a significant number of veterans to exchange teams as well as plenty of draft picks changing hands.  With all of the smokescreens being thrown up by the GM's and coaches it's impossible to tell which players will be on the move but history tells that they will move and some of the moves will probably shock us.

Two days to go until it all goes down.  I look forward to following this post up with a look back after The Draft.  Until then, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

My Type of Player, Gani Lawal

Playing next to Derrick Favors at Georgia Tech last season could have been very harmful for Gani Lawal's draft stock.  He could have looked like a second tier prospect sharing the stage with the young phenom.  He could have lost touches, put up lower numbers and faded into obscurity (also known as a Senior season in college) but no, Lawal excelled and looked like the better player for much of the season.  He played at a consistant high level all year long and proved to NBA scouts that he has a bright NBA future.

Lawal is undersized at 6,8 and this will keep him from becoming a top 10 selection but in this draft loaded with power forwards he is a sleeper who could be a steal later in the first or early second round.  He also lacks the insane explosiveness of his former teammate Favors but he has enough lift to be affective and is more efficient and better skilled offensively at this point.

His offensive game consists mostly of post ups, dunks, put backs and the occasional jumper but it remains to be seen whether or not he can stretch is range out to 15 feet and become a complete power forward.

His lack of height limits his shot blocking ability but his overall defense is very good and he gets into position and understands team defense.  He has a workman-like attitude and projects as a glue type team player who plays D, rebounds and holds his team together with his hustle.

These positive traits remind me of two players who dropped to the second round of the draft but have become very good players, Paul Milsap and Carlos Boozer.  Like these two, Lawal will likely come in with a chip on his shoulder and could work his way into a productive role, even in his rookie year.  My projection is that Gani Lawal hears his name called in the first round on Thursday night, possibly as high as #20 overall to the Spurs.

Down To The Wire

With only a few more days till the draft here are a few thoughts and expectations:

As I've written about before, this draft appears to have a lot of depth and the pre draft workouts have done nothing to change that assessment.  The top of the draft looks to have a few superstar type prospects and the talent goes well into the second round.  It's a great year to have multiple first rounders and look for teams to try to trade into the late first and early second round.

The DeMarcus Cousins debate is in full chorus and it will be one of the fascinating stories of Thursday night to see where he ends up going.  Greg Monroe seems to be rising up draft boards and could end up going before Cousins.  Will Cousins fall to Detroit at 7?

How will teams grade Avery Bradley?  I see him as a high level prospect with a ton of upside like a Russell Westbrook but he is young and unproven.  Could he end up falling like Jrue Holiday did last year or will a lottery team nab him?

Who goes first, Hassan Whiteside, Ed Davis, Ekpe Udoh or Daniel Orton?   They are all over the place on different draft sites and NBA draft boards and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.  The defensive ability of Whiteside is very intriguing and could give him a lift on draft day while Orton is very unproven but has a ton of strength and seems to have the right mentality to continue to work hard and improve.

Or does Cole Aldrich surprise and end up going ahead of those four?  Either way, there is a wealth of big men in this draft and teams will be loading up on front court players.

I expect it to be a very active draft in terms of trades.  Look for teams trading down to be compensated not only with draft picks and/or players but by dumping big salary players as well.  Salary Cap is the name of the game in the NBA these days and some teams value cap space just as much as young prospects.

With only a few more days to go things are getting very exciting.   Stay tuned for the final mock draft.

The Forgotten Man, Patrick Patterson

Of the FIVE Kentucky Wildcats expected to be drafted in the first round of this year's draft it's the four freshmen who get most of the attention and hype.  They're young and exiting while the older guy is, dare I say, just a bit boring.  But despite not being a media darling, junior power forward Patrick Patterson is a player who can step in right away and make a difference on an NBA team and is about as sure of a prospect as you can get.  

While his upside is not through the roof like Wall and Cousins and he doesn't get the attention like Orton and Bledsoe he does have a game that fits the NBA style of play.  He should produce early in his career and would be a good fit for a playoff caliber team such as the Jazz or Hornets.  

Patterson reminds me of David West with his solid all around game including a good mid range jumper. He has extended his offensive game out to about the college three and works the baseline very well.  He is unlikely to become a number one or two scorer but seems like a very good third option and could thrive with a pass first point guard like Deron Williams or Chris Paul.

He has a lot of versatility and can guard the three and four positions and has good potential as a rebounder.  He is quick up and down the court and excels at getting out on the break and filling lanes.

Looking back on this draft a few years from now there will be some major busts and disappointments at the top of the draft.  Some of the big hype players will have failed to find their footing but it seems quite certain that Patrick Patterson will be a solid pro and could make some teams regret choosing a younger, more hyped player over this steady veteran.

The Upside of Hassan Whiteside

The NBA draft is a tricky thing.  So full of promise and the potential of  finding a franchise altering player, yet so uncertain.  Even with the NBA's age limit which prohibits players from jumping from high school to the pros it is still a very young and unproven bunch of players who project as lottery picks each year.

This year is no different and as many as 7 freshmen could be drafted in the lottery, some still 18 years old.  One of these freshmen, 7 foot center Hassan Whiteside of Marshall is a bit older at 20 years old but still very young both in terms of age and the development of his game.  But like Wall, Favors and Cousins there is so much upside potential with Whiteside that he is certain to be a lottery pick and perhaps even a top 6 or 7 pick.

His height and huge wing span combined with very good quickness and athleticism make him a natural basketball player, and it shows.  Hassan averaged an impressive 5.4 blocks per game in his one and only season at Marshall, while collecting nearly 9 boards a game.  He is an instinctive defensive player and should have an immediate impact on that end of the court, even as a rookie.

Offensively Whiteside is developing some nice post moves and as he adds strength he'll be more effective.  His jumper is a bit awkward but he hits a good many and because of his height his shot is difficult to block.  He needs to gain consistency and continue to develop back to the basket post moves but he projects as more than simply a defensive stopper.

He is often compared to Marcus Camby both physically and how he plays defense but I think he as a chance to be a scorer as well and might even command a double team to slow him down.

At this point he is still inexperienced and rail thin and it remains to be seen if he can bulk up enough to really thrive in the league.  But the potential is there, the upside is intriguing and some NBA team will draft him early with visions of filling their center position for the next decade.

My mock draft has him going number 7 overall to the Detroit Pistons who could use all the upside of Hassan Whiteside to bring them back to prominence.

An NBA Draft Lesson From Recent History

Looking back to the 1998 NBA Draft can be painful for many NBA franchises and their fans.  There were a number of All Star caliber players selected that year but most of those players were passed over by the teams picking at the top of the draft.  In particular, a lanky German big man named Dirk Nowitzki lasted until the #9 pick while NCAA players with more exposure such as Michael Olowokandi (right) and Robert Traylor were picked #1 and #6 respectively.  Other college players such as Raef LaFrentz,  Jason Williams and Larry Hughes were also picked ahead of Dirk and those GM's and scouts who made the calls have not taken their mistakes lightly.

In subsequent years the lessons learned from the 1998 draft have been on display and we have seen Euro big men selected higher and higher each year.  Some have been colossal busts like N. Tskitishvili (#5 in 2002) and Darko Milicic (#2 in 2003), others have become stars, like Pau Gasol (#3 in 2001) and Andrea Bargnani (#1 in 2006)

The 2010 draft class features another intriguing 7 footer from Europe, Donatas Motiejunas of Lithuania.  He has a game similar to Bargnani, Nowitzki and Gasol but like the others mentioned above, it is uncertain how his game will translate to the NBA.

Note from 6/5/10: Motiejunas has withdrawn his name from the 2010 Draft.

The NBA Draft is all about potential.  Not "what can you do for me this year" but rather "how good will you be three or four years from now?"  So teams take big risks in hopes of big rewards down the line which sometimes works out great but can also be devastating for a franchise like the Pistons selecting Darko ahead of Melo, D. Wade and Bosh.
But despite the failures of some players, the Nowitzki Affect still lingers and GMs and scouts look overseas more than ever to find the next coming.  Motiejunas may not be the next Dirk Nowitzki but he will likely be drafted higher than Dirk was, partially thanks to the agony of those franchises that passed on the little known German in favor of the safer pick.

I project Motiejunas going #6 to the Warriors, drafted by the same man who drafted Nowitzki - Don Nelson.

The 2010 NBA Draft, Deep and Talented!

A look back at the past two decades of NBA Drafts reveals a great inconsistency from year to year.  Some years many All Stars are drafted and the talent pool goes deep into the first or early second round.  The 2003 NBA Draft featured a handful of superstars, LeBron James, D. Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, plus many other players who have had very good NBA careers so far.  But those great years are the exception, not the norm.

Some years even the top ten picks are mediocre and the majority of the players drafted fizzle out and fail before ever making a difference for an NBA team.  Case in point, the 2000 Draft.  The top five picks, Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer and Mike Miller all failed to become stars in the league and the entire first round featured exactly zero star players.  The best of the bunch might be Hidayet Turkoglu, a good third option type player, while the second round of the 2000 draft produced one steal, Michael Redd but no other meaningful players.

So the question now is, how does the 2010 draft look in terms of depth, talent and future stars?  The answer is good news for the NBA, it's teams and the fans.  Not only are there a handful of potential superstars in this draft but there is great depth as well.  Wall, Turner and some of the young big men such as Favors, Cousins and Motiejunas could develop into perennial All Stars and many other projected first round picks could be the same.

But what might make this draft special is the depth of talent which extends well into the late first round or even into the second round.  Teams with multiple first round picks like the Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Nets could each be adding a couple of key players to their rosters.  Many of the players are young or inexperienced and will take time to develop (Avery Bradley, Hassan Whiteside etc.) but I think a great many of them will find NBA success or even stardom.

My prediction for this draft, when we look back 5 or 10 years from now, is that it grades out very well in terms of star players, number of impact players and second round steals.  But it remains to be seen which GM's will realize this and make moves now to acquire some of this great talent.  In exactly one month we'll all find out.

A New Era For The Philadelphia 76ers!

After a miserable season the ping pong balls bounced right for Philly and they came away with the number two pick in the draft.  If the pick does indeed turn out to be Evan Turner as many predict, it will be the beginning of a brighter future for the downtrodden franchise.

In fact, Philadelphia has already added some talented players in the past few drafts but a player like Turner could possibly take them to a new level and return Philadelphia basketball to glory.

At the point guard position the 6ers have the youngest player in the league and the lucky charm who represented them at the lottery, Jrue Holiday.  He is a true point guard and team first player and he has the perfect size and skill set for the point position.  Jrue is a year more mature now (almost 20 yo) and should begin to take over a leadership role as next year progresses.

Adding Evan Turner's ball handling and playmaking skills next to Holiday looks like the perfect combination to lead Philadelphia back to NBA prominence.  And if Thad Young continues to develop and Mo Speights gains consistency and better health to go along with his considerable talents there are two more solid young pieces to the rebuilding project.

Which brings us to the veterans.  Andre Iguodola is a bit of an enigma, at times looking like a star in the making but too often disappearing or falling just short of stardom.  He is a likely candidate to be traded if the Sixers draft Turner and it remains to be seen how much they can get in return.

Would the Jazz trade us the number nine pick and a salary player for Iggy?  Could the Sixers stock pile some picks from Minnesota in what looks to be a deep draft?

Other possibilities include the Sixers offering Iguodola as bait for other teams to take on the contract of Elton Brand in exchange for a pick and some expiring contracts.

Assuming Brand is back he should be more settled, hopefully healthy and ready to contribute.  The problem is that he doesn't fit their style of play and slows them down too much.  Sam Dalembert is the sixers best hope at center but is also potential trade bait.  Backup center Jason Smith has a really good skill set but needs to put it all together and finally prove his worth.

And yes, new Coach Doug Collins will have his patience tested at times and the wins might not come early but it's still possible, even in the era of free agency to build a winner from the ground up.  It took some lucky ping pong balls and it remains to be seen whether or not Evan Turner is indeed the pick (and becomes a star) but it looks like better days are ahead for the Philadelphia 76ers!

The 2010 NBA Lottery - A First Look

Now that we know the order for the 2010 Draft, what predictions can be made?

Most people assume that the lucky Wizards will select John Wall and find a way to pair him with Gilbert Arenas or trade the veteran.  Wall is so immensely talented and such a natural leader that it is all but assured that the Wizards will make him the centerpiece of their next decade.  Turner might be just as high on some draft boards but the younger, more explosive Wall should be the pick.

The 76ers were also big winners in the lottery and will likely land Turner, giving them a very nice looking young backcourt.  They will take a long look at the big guys, and will surely be enamored with DeMarcus Cousins but in the end a star guard like Turner would be their best choice.

The Nets are still licking their wounds but when it's all said and done there will be a great prospect waiting for them at number three.  The choice seems to be between Favors and Cousins and either one would add a big piece to the rebuilding in New Jersey.  Devon Harris had a rough year but is still an extremely talented point guard and with Lee, Williams and CDR at the 2 and 3 positions the nets are doing just fine in their backcourt.

The Timberwolves came away with the fourth pick and will have a choice of one of the power forwards or small forward Wesley Johnson.  A trade might be in the works, either to deal with the Ricky Rubio situation or a team looking to trade up and take Favors or Cousins.  Either way the Wolves are in a great situation to get an impact player or perhaps two.

Seeing Wall or Turner play along side Tyreke Evans would have been sweet but the Kings are lucky that there appears to be at least five top prospects in this draft.  If Cousins falls to this spot he would be a strong possibility but don't underestimate the talent and upside of Euro big man Donatas Motiejunas.  Five might be earlier than most mock drafts have him going but he has the upside to become a special player.

The Warriors will add another solid piece to their rebuilding project.  Motiejunas would be a perfect fit but either one of the athletic small forwards, Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu would be a nice addition as well.

The Pistons should be looking to take the best player available.  If one of the higher rated players falls to the 7 spot it could be a gift for the Pistons.  Given all the talented big men available look for them to come away with a solid power forward or center from this draft, perhaps Hassan Whiteside.

The Clippers will have Blake Griffin back in action next year and could add a solid second option with this pick.  A big man like Hassan Whiteside would make a lot of sense as would one of the steady role players Patrick Patterson or Greg Monroe.

At this point in the draft the sure fire prospects will have been taken but there will be lots of high upside, boom or bust type players still to select from.

The Jazz get to pick 9th and will likely follow form and take a solid player like Monroe, Patterson or Cole Aldrich.  Avery Bradley could begin to garner some interest around this spot or if Montiejunas is still on the board he would be a nice fit.

At 10 the Pacers will be tempted by local hero Gordon Hayward but they would be wise to take the best player available.  That could be one of the many PF,s like Ekpe Udoh or Ed Davis, or perhaps SG Xavier Henry.  I think it's a little too high for Henry, who is a great outside shooter but has limited athleticism.

The Hornets pick 11th and should take the best non point guard available.  At this point in the draft drafting for position becomes less important than simply finding a legit NBA player.  There is plenty of talent still available and staying true to their board will serve these late lottery teams well.

Memphis seems like a perfect fit for Avery Bradley, if the youngster is still available.  He would compliment OJ Mayo nicely and has the potential  to surprise like a Russell Westbrook.

Toronto needs to hit on this pick to help replace the likely departing Chris Bosh.  Ed Davis or Ekpe Udoh could be the pick here.

And the last of the lottery teams is the Rockets who are usually very active on draft day so a trade up, down or sideways could be in the works here.  If they stay put we could see a player like a Daniel Orton or Larry Sanders be considered with this pick.

Stay tuned for updated Mock Drafts and a Final Mock Draft leading up to the June 24th draft!

Cole Aldrich and the Byrant Reeves Effect

In the mid 1990's when Bryant Reeves was roaming Big 12 basketball courts, throwing his Big Country body around, he looked like a sure bet to have a solid NBA career.  He was drafted #6 overall and became the face of the brand new Vancouver Grizzlies.

But then reality set in.  He was too slow, couldn't catch the ball cleanly, couldn't shoot the ball, could barely get up and down the court, could barely jump.  He gained weight, his body fell apart and Reeves was out of the league a few years later.

First let me say that Kansas center Cole Aldrich is a better basketball player than Reeves.  He understands the game, plays the right way and even has some decent post moves.  His outside shot is strange looking but improving and his conditioning is far better than Reeves.

But when the reality of the NBA game sets in we might see history repeat itself.  Aldrich is a half court player who is able to maximize his effectiveness in half court sets and with the long NCAA shot clock.  He will struggle to keep up with the speed of the NBA game and with NBA caliber athletes.

He will still likely be drafted in the first round and find a spot on a NBA roster.  He will add value to a team as a backup center, someone to bring in to guard the post but at the end of the day his average foot speed and athleticism will limit his ability to compete at the highest level.

He seems like a nice kid and I wish him all the best but I think any team taking him in the lottery will have failed to learn from history.

Draymond Green, The Dancing Bear

Every once in a while a player comes along that breaks the mold of what it means to be a basketball player.   When Magic Johnson emerged as a true point guard at 6,9 the mold of the point guard was broken.  When Charles Barkley dominated the low block at 6,6 the mold of the power forward was broken.  And it's happening again.

Meet Draymond Green, a 6 foot 6 inch forward who resembles Barkley in stature but is a pass first distributer who has taken a few pages from the book of Magic Johnson.  Nicknamed the 'Dancing Bear' Green can do everything on the court and play every position, whether it's guarding the opposing center or leading the fast break.  Only a sophomore, Green already has the unquestioned role as team leader both vocally and by the example of how he plays.

While he doesn't project as a sure first rounder or big time prospect, I expect the Dancing Bear to start making his way up draft boards as scouts and GM's start to think outside the mold and begin to envision what a truly versatile player can bring to a team.  And if he develops his jump shot to complement all of his other skills the Dancing Bear could be prowling courts for the next decade.

Syracuse Reloads with Fabricio de Melo

After their disappointing early exit in the 2010 NCAA tournament the Syracuse Orange are likely to lose their star player Wesley Johnson to the NBA along with two key Seniors.  But that doesn't mean there won't be a top NBA prospect in upstate New York next year.

Enter 7 foot Brazilian born Fabricio de Melo.  A true center with a solid frame and surprisingly quick hops for a 270 pounder, Fab Melo already has NBA scouts drooling and Orange fans ready to put this year's disappointment behind them and begin dreaming about 2010/11.

In fact there will be two top prospects joining the Syracuse program next year as Dion Waiters, a 6,4 shooting guard is ranked higher than de Melo in some rankings.

But what sets de Melo apart from other bigs is his combination of strength and quickness.  He has very good lateral quickness, back peddle and quick leaping ability.  And at 7 foot, 270 pounds and muscular, he can hold his own against just about anyone.  He also has decent ball skills which will only improve under the tutelage of Jim Boehiem and his staff.

Yes, it's early to be talking about the NBA and surely he would benefit from a few years at Syracuse but my early projection lists de Melo as a lottery pick in June of 2011.

The Emergence of Demetri McCamey

One of the most overlooked players in the nation, Demetri McCamey, a rock solid point guard from Illinois has emerged from obscurity and jumped onto the radar board of every NBA team.  At 6 foot 3 inches tall and built like a football player, McCamey is an explosive package of quickness, strength and ball handling. His shake and bake moves and unique way of dipping his shoulders as he penetrates makes him very, very difficult to stay in front of.  His jumper has looked very good and he gets many good looks from outside because of his quickness.

But it's not all about pure athleticism and McCamey is far more than just an athlete.  He is a true point guard who loves to set up his teammates and only takes over the game when necessary.  He's only a Junior but he might be bouncing from college ball quicker than a crossover since he's now projected as a first round pick on some boards.  I've got him going in the lottery.

Upperclassmen, Anderson and Pondexter Impress

We all love to hype the youngsters but the upperclassmen are very strong this year, highlighted by the play of James Anderson of Oklahoma State, Quincy Pondexter of Washington and many others including Damion James, Stanley Robinson and DaSean Butler.  Meanwhile it seems that many of the Freshmen have hit a wall, with the exception of..... John Wall of course (no pun intended).


Seniors around the country have stepped up but none with better numbers than Anderson.  Averaging 22 Points, 5.8 Rebounds and getting to the foul line 8.2 times a game Anderson has begun to blossom and looks like a mid to late First Rounder.  Damion James is rounding out his game and looks very NBA ready and Stanley Robinson has emerged, not only as a good player but as the leader of that UConn team.  Meanwhile Quincy Pondexter has stepped out from the shadows of overhyped Freshman Abdul Gaddy and Sophomore Isiah Thomas to become the best pro prospect at UW.  His all around game is impressive, now that his shooting and offensive production have matched his defensive abilities.  All four of these upperclassmen now project as first round picks in June.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Freshman class is the versatility and talent of Gonzaga SF Elias Harris.  In many ways he reminds me of a young Shawn Marion!  He has sneaky quickness and very good strength.  He plays an intelligent game and makes his teammates better.  He often looks more like a Senior than a Freshman and might be making like a Senior and leaving college next year for the NBA.


and..


in other news, what's up with North Carolina?  With all these losses I'm questioning whether Ed Davis belongs in the top ten.  He looks softer than Brandon Wright at this point.  I'm still intrigued with Henson and think that he might be the best of the bunch.... but ouch, they're all playing pathetic, uninspired ball.