NBA: Breaking Down the First Round of the 2010 Draft
For the most part this year’s NBA draft went about as expected with a few surprises sprinkled in here or there, but no major surprises or any real blockbuster deals.
1. Washington Wizards – John Wall (G, Kentucky): As expected the Wizards made Wall the top pick in the draft. Wall was long considered the top draft prospect for this year’s draft going all the way back to last summer. Many say he would have been a top five pick had he been eligible for last year’s draft. It should be interesting to see how Wall meshes with Gilbert Arenas next season and whether the Wizards decide to retain Josh Howard or not. If Howard and Arenas get back into form the Wizards could be a playoff team if they can find a low post player via free agency or trade. Wall’s selection also likely means Randy Foye will become a free agent.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner (SG, Ohio State): I am torn on this pick. Turner is worthy of being the second player taken, but do the Sixers really need another wing player with Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, Andres Nocioni, Jason Kapono, and Thaddeus Young all playing regular minutes for the Sixers? On the surface it seems like taking a big man would have done more to improve the team right away. I would not be surprised if this pick signals the end of Iguodala in Philly.
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors (PF, Georgia Tech): Everyone likes his upside and talent but there is some question about his dedication to being a great player. He might have gone second had he not shown up looking doughy and out of shape when he worked out for Philly last week. The Nets are hoping he provides a nice compliment to Brook Lopez and takes some of the burden off his shoulders in the low post.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson (SF, Syracuse): The ‘Wolves created a spot in the lineup for Johnson when they dealt Ryan Gomes to the Blazers last night. Johnson is a nice all around player but one wonders if he will ever be a franchise type player. He seems like a guy geared more to being a complimentary star than a guy one builds a team around. Still a good pick that fills an immediate need for a wing scorer who can hit from the outside as well as attack the rim.
5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C, Kentucky): Everyone assumed this would be the pick once the Kings dealt Spencer Hawes to Philadelphia. Cousins has the potential to end up being either the best player in this draft or the biggest bust depending on where his head is at. Coupled with Tyreke Evans the Kings now have two immense talents and just under $20 million in cap space to build the roster around this summer.
6. Golden State Warriors – Ekpe Udoh (PF, Baylor): The first surprise in the draft. The Warriors reached on Udoh. He is not an elite prospect and is not going to give the Warriors a lot more than rebounding and shot blocking for the time being and he really does not give them anything that Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph already do. This pick could lend credence to the rumors that Randolph is available to the highest bidder.
7. Detroit Pistons – Greg Monroe (PF/C, Georgetown): A nice solid pick for the Pistons who desperately need a low post presence. Monroe does a lot of things well and, aside from being an excellent passer, does not excel at any one thing on the court. Some compare him to Vlade Divac and he reminds me a bit of Kevin Love of the Timberwolves.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu (SF, Wake Forest): This is an interesting pick by the Clippers to say the least. Teams love Aminu’s athleticism and perceived upside. The problem with Aminu is that he does not have the strength to play in the post nor does he shoot well enough to play on the wing. It will be interesting to see how he fits into the Clippers offensive scheme next season.
9. Utah Jazz – Gordon Hayward (SG/SF, Butler): A boom or bust pick for the Jazz. He is expected to be replace Kyle Korver who becomes a free agent in a week. The question is how good of a shooter Hayward is. He shot 44% from the 3-point range his freshman year but dropped to 30 his sophomore year. If he rediscovers his stroke from the outside Hayward should offer an immediate upgrade over Korver who offers little more than his 3-point shooting acumen to teams.
10. Indiana Pacers – Paul George (SF, Fresno State): Another boom or bust pick. Teams love what George brings to the table and some are even comparing him to Tracy McGrady. The problem is he never came remotely close to producing up to his perceived talent in college.
11. New Orleans Hornets – Cole Aldrich (C, Kansas): Traded along with Mo Peterson to the Thunder for the 21st and 26th picks in this draft. He should be a nice addition to the Thunder. He may never be a bit time scorer but the Thunder are simply looking for a big body to anchor in the middle, rebound, and block some shots. Any scoring he gives them is merely a bonus given they already have three scorers in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Jeff Green.
12. Memphis Grizzlies – Xavier Henry (SG, Kansas): An interesting selection given the Grizzlies already have O. J. Mayo at the two spot. Some are saying he is protection against losing Rudy Gay via free agency. Thing is Henry really is only 6′ 7″ and is really a better fit at the two than the three.
13. Toronto Raptors – Ed Davis (PF, UNC): Provides some protection against the inevitability that Chris Bosh is leaving town this summer. While he is nowhere near Bosh’s level as an offensive player he should, at the very least, offset the rebounding and shot blocking the team loses if Bosh bolts to another team. He has the potential to be a good offensive player in a couple of years.
14. Houston Rockets – Patrick Patterson (PF, Kentucky): A nice pick for the Rockets who have scads of perimeter scorers but are lacking depth in the front court. He lands in a similar situation as Aldrich does in Oklahoma City whereas any scoring he provides for the Rockets will be a bonus they just need him to clog the middle and rebound the basketball. Provides some protection in the event they cannot retain Luis Scola.
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Larry Sanders (PF/C, Virginia Commonwealth): With the Bucks adding Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts in the days leading up to the draft it was almost a given that the Bucks were taking a big man. With Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings, Maggette, and Douglas-Roberts on board to provide scoring punch the Bucks addressed the need for rebounding and shot-blocking depth.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Luke Babbit (SF, Nevada): Babbit is being dealt to Portland for Martell Webster. The Blazers are hoping Babbit provides more of a scoring punch from the wing than Webster and Nicolas Batum gave them last season.
17. Chicago Bulls – Kevin Seraphin (PF, France): This pick is expected to be dealt along with Kirk Hinrich to the Wizards. It remains to be seen whether the Wiz or the Bulls sign him or leave him over in Europe for the time being. There has been a lot of speculation that he will spend next year in Europe.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder – Eric Bledsoe (PG, Kentucky): The Thunder dealt Bledsoe to the Clippers for a future first round pick. This is a nice addition for the Clippers who needed to find a potential successor for Baron Davis. Bledsoe still needs some seasoning as he spent much of last year playing the two spot alongside John Wall.
19. Boston Celtics – Avery Bradley (G, Texas): The impact Bradley has next season will depend largely on whether the Celtics try to keep the team together for one last run next season or look to start the rebuilding process. If they hang onto Ray Allen then Bradley is likely coming off the bench next year. If Allen leaves via free agency then Bradley could have a shot at starting alongside Rajon Rondo at the shooting guard position.
20. San Antonio Spurs – James Anderson (SG, Oklahoma State): A nice addition for the Spurs who need to get younger at the wing positions. He should give them a solid scoring option off the bench.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Craig Brackins (PF, Iowa State): Should give them some scoring depth in the front court and could fit in well with Chris Paul who loves pushing the ball up court with big men who can run the floor. His game still needs some refining but he was a 20 point per game scorer his sophomore year in college.
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Elliot Williams (PG/SG, Memphis): A combo guard who has the potential to grow in the NBA. He is a strong on-the-ball defender who struggles, at times, with his jump shot. It remains to be seen how much time he sees on the floor with Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless already on the roster.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves – Trevor Booker (PF, Clemson): The Wolves traded this pick and a second rounder to the Wizards for the 30th and 35th picks in the draft. This is the first big surprise of the draft. Not many saw Booker as a first rounder given his height. At 6′ 8″ he is undersized to play the power forward spot in the NBA. What he lacks in height he will bring a toughness and an edge to a Wizards team that has lacked these traits for a few years now. Booker is a worker and a grinder who is not afraid to push people around and mix it up under the basket.
24. Atlanta Hawks – Damion James (SF, Texas): The Hawks dealt James to the Nets for the 27th and 31st pick in the draft. James was a productive player at Texas, but there are some questions as to where he will play in the NBA. He does not have the size to play inside nor does he have the perimeter game to play small forward. At any rate he gives the Nets a nice option off the bench.
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Dominique Jones (SG, South Florida): The Grizzlies sold this pick to the Mavericks. This is an interesting acquisition for the Mavs given the depth they already have at the shooting guard position. One begins to wonder if Jones affords the Mavs the luxury of dealing someone ahead of him on the depth chart this summer.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder – Quincy Pondexter (SF, Washington): Dealt to the Hornets as part of the Aldrich trade. Nice pickup for the Hornets. Pondexter gives them a slasher adept at attacking the rim and someone who defends the perimeter well. Could develop into a big time scorer if he ever develops a jump shot and better shot selection.
27. New Jersey Nets – Jordan Crawford (SG, Xavier): Dealt to the Hawks as part of the James trade. A good scoring prospect who has a bit of a bad rap for being a selfish player and not willing to defend. Provides the Hawks with some insurance in the event Joe Johnson bolts via free agency.
28. Memphis Grizzlies – Greivis Vasquez (PG/SG, Maryland): Perhaps the biggest surprise of the draft. There were a lot of folks who did not think Vasquez was even worthy of a pick. He was a fabulous college player who always seemed to find ways to score the basketball and fill up a stat sheet. He is an extremely versatile offensive player but there are a lot of questions as to whether he has the athleticism to play at the next level and whether he has the quickness to defend anyone in the NBA. It is a bit of a risky pick given the Griz will be stuck with him for 3 years.
29. Orlando Magic – Daniel Orton (C, Kentucky): Many will see this as a great value pick as Orton was slotted by most to go somewhere in the top 20. I never quite understood the hype given how little he produced at Kentucky and the questions surrounding the health of his surgically repaired knee. He was always a guy I thought should have stayed at UK for another year to show teams what he was made of. Anyway, if he stays healthy he could potentially give the Magic some much needed depth in the front court.
30. Washington Wizards – Lazar Hayward (SF, Marquette): This pick was dealt to the Timberwolves. Another brow raiser as nobody had Hayward sniffing the first round. He is a bit undersized to play SF and projects as nothing more than a role player off the bench.
