Since I did my own version of the NFL draft, and with the NBA draft coming up tomorrow, I thought I would lend my own opinion to this annual event. Now let me say, that even if I get some wrong, don't hold that against me, I don't have all the time in the world to sit and research haha, but I will try my best! And this is just round one, because I dont have time to do two rounds.
1. Washington Wizards John Wall-This is a no brainer, and has been since Wall first stepped onto the court for Kentucky and owned the SEC. Wall is a tall point guard, lightning fast, but does need to work on his jumpshot.
2. Philadelphia 76er's Even Turner-even though the Sixers have Andre Igoudala at shooting guard, if Turner can put on a little more weight he could play the 3. Turner is an all around player, athletic, and smart, but does need to work on his decision making and rebounding.
3. New Jersey Nets Derrick Favors-after finishing the season will almost the wort record ever in the NBA the Nets will just be happy to get anybody but Favors will help them out right away. He is NBA ready physically, he has great post moves around the basket, and is a freak athlete, but some question his work ethic and character, which is huge in draft.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves Wesley Johnson-I think with the Wolves lack of depth at the 3, they go with Johnson who can play that spot. Johnson is a athlete, has a great jumper, and is smart, but needs to add some more weight to take the physical play of the NBA.
5. Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins-I think with the lack of talent in the front court for the Kings they have to go Cousins, he is talented and athletic for his size, but some questions that come up are about his work ethic, and his weight.
6. Golden State Warriors Greg Monroe-With one of the best young backcourts in the NBA in Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, the Warriors upgrade the front court with Monroe. He is super athletic, great feet and a great jump shot, but does take plays off once in a while.
7. Detroit Pistons Ed Davis-The Pistons have no frontcourt height, with Ben Wallace playing center at 6'8", and Davis is tall. He is athletic, has very long arms, comes from a basketball family. But only played a few games his sophmore year so a small sample of what he can do is seen.
8. Los Angeles Clippers Ekpe Udoh-After taking Blake Griffin last year and him never playing a minute, the Clippers want someone who can actually play. Udoh has a very long wing span, athletic, and a great rebounder, but is not very efficient and is still a little raw talent wise.
9. Utah Jazz Luke Babbitt-Utah could be looking for a younger Carlos Boozer, but they cant pass up Babbitt. He is a very capable scorer, not an elite athlete, but is a very craft scorer and will find many different ways to score.
10. Indiana Pacers Al Farouq Aminu-Once my favorite team, the Pacers have fallen into a funk since Reggie Miller and Jermaine O'Neal left. Aminu is a very good rebounder, and gets a lot of points off offensive rebounds, not a tremendous athlete, but good enough to play the 3.
11. New Orleans Hornets Xavier Henry- The Hornets really have no set 2 player, and Henry proved his one year at Kansas that he is ready for the NBA physically. Does not have the greatest shot but is improving, and plays very smart basketball.
12. Memphis Grizzlies Gordon Hayward-The Grizzlies are a very, very young team, and need a mature player in this draft. Hayward is not going to start right away but can play serious minutes, he is a smart player, great shooter, and the world fell in love with him during Butlers NCAA run last year.
13. Toronto Raptors Patrick Patterson-This pick is based on the fact that I do not think Chris Bosh will be a Raptor next year. Patterson is a great player, very strong, very quick feet for his size, but needs to work on his outside game.
14. Houston Rockets Paul George-The Rockets really need a good strong center but cant pass up George falling this far. He has shot up draft boards in the last few months, comes from a non powerhouse school, but is athletic and has a amazing work ethic.
Whew! Half way done, hang with me, its gets better.
15. Milwaukee Bucks Cole Aldrich-The Bucks have no size, and no true center on the team and Aldrich is both those things. He is a awesome rebounder, a great shot blocker, and is mobile but not athletic, a bog body inside.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves Solomon Alabi-The Timberwolves went with Johnson with their first pick, and now match him with a big center. Alabi has a great NBA frame but needs to add a little more weight, but is still very athletic for his size, raw but has a very high ceiling.
17. Chicago Bulls Daniel Orton-This highly decorated franchise needs to get back to its original championship form. They need some size on the front line, and while I think its a reach Orton is the man. He only averaged 9 minutes and 3 points for Kentucky, but he is a big body and moves well for his size.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder Hassan Whiteside-The Thunder are also a very young team and have looked for a center to hold down the middle for them, Whiteside could be that guy. Has the longest wingspan of anyone in the draft, and still has room to put weight on. A great defender and shot blocker, raw offensively still.
19. Boston Celtics Larry Sanders-I have read that Boston is looking to shop this pick but if they keep it, its time to look for a replacement for KG , he is gettin seasoned. Sanders is freakishly athletic with a long wingspan and can score a number of ways, but some question his defensive prowess.
20. San Antonio Spurs Damion James-This is the type of player that the Spurs love to draft, like with DeJuan Blair last year, that two position player. Jones is a hybrid 3-4, and is very athletic, and a smart player, but his work ethic is in question.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder Quincy Pondexter-After taking Whiteside to fill the middle, the Thunder need a 3 to back up Kevin Durant. Pondexter really exploded his senior season and scores in a number of ways, also very athletic, but needs to work on his consistency.
22. Portland Trailblazers Kevin Seraphin-The Blazers love their international players, and this year is no exception. Seraphin is athletic and physically is the perfect NBA specimen, but is still very raw offensively.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves Jordan Crawford-With all the front court help the Wolves have got in this draft they need to address the back court. Crawford is a scorer, he can do it all, but some question his defensive skills.
24. Atlanta Hawks James Anderson- The Hawks are a good team but do need some depth in the back court. Anderson can play the 2 or 3 and can stroke the trey, but needs to get better creating his own shot, and not an elite athlete.
25. Memphis Grizzlies Greivis Vasquez-The Gizzlies selected a mature player with their first pick now they need to find a back up for Mike Conley. Vasquez made a name for himself by destroying the ACC his senior season with a number of big shots, not an athlete, plays smart and has a great shot.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder Lance Stephenson- The Thunders third pick is likely not going to play a whole lot this next year which is good for Stephenson, he is considered a long term project, has skills but didnt impress at workouts.
27. New Jersey Nets Elliot Williams-The Nets went big with their first pick and now provide depth with the back court. Williams has the tools to be a very proficient scorer, but needs to work on his ball handling skills.
28. Memphis Grizzlies Craig Brackins-The Grizz need to find a replacement for Zach Randolph, who is overweight, and a problem child. Brackins is a great scorer with great potential, and a good rebounder but needs to be more aggressive on the defensive side of the ball.
Stick with me, just a few more!
29. Orlando Magic Darington Hobson-The Magic are missing that one key to making it to the Finals again, and Hobson could be that. He played point guard through college even though he is 6'7", but is a good decision maker, but did crumble under the pressure of the NCAA tournament.
30. Washington Wizards Stanley Robinson-The Wiz could use just about anybody with this pick. Robinson is a freak athlete, can get to the rim at will, and shoots a good three ball, but needs to work on his free throw shooting and effort on defense.
Well there you go everybody, I would ask if you enjoyed it, but I already know the answer, of course you did! Well thats my opinion and I am sticking to it.
