The Football Fan Spot
Written for football fans, by a football fan
NBA Mock Draft Lottery
1. New Jersey Nets 5-52
The Nets already have Devin Harris at point guard and he’s probably their best player, though on a 5-52 team that isn’t saying much. However, they can’t not take Kentucky PG John Wall here. He’s easily has the most upside of any player in college basketball. He’s shooting over 45% from the field and close to 33% from three and he’s a distributor with 6.2 assists per game. He has good size, can create his own shot, and create shots for others. The Nets need to take him and sort things out later. Maybe Harris can play off guard or they can trade Harris, but they can’t pass on Wall.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 14-46
The Timberwolves need a score first shooting guard here, but this draft doesn’t have a lot of those. They also need an upgrade on the wings at the small forward position over Corey Brewer, who is currently playing the 2 guard, and Damien Wilkins. Ohio State SF Evan Turner is athletic and the complete package as a small forward and would add to this team in many ways.
3. Golden State Warriors 16-41
Don Nelson is still in Golden State so this will be one of the players he thinks fits his system well, as all of his picks are. Georgetown PF/C Greg Monroe is the most versatile big man in college basketball. He can run the floor, hit the outside shot, and pass from the block, all three things that are key to be able to play in Don Nelson’s offense.
4. Indiana Pacers 19-39
The Pacers need help in their backcourt, but there aren’t a lot of good backcourt players that could legitimately go in the top 5 after John Wall. I think the Pacers will just like best available in this situation and go with Georgia Tech PF Derrick Favors. He would give them the athletic big man they failed to get last year when they drafted Tyler Hansbourgh.
5. Sacramento Kings 19-39
The Kings have come crashing back down to earth recently since that hot start, which is not surprisingly because they don’t have a ton of talent. Because of that, they can do what they proved they would do last year and that’s just take the best available player. Syracuse SF Wesley Johnson is that best player available and would add to a young nucleus of talented players.
6. Utah Jazz 37-21 (via NY)
Carlos Boozer could be gone as a free agent this offseason. They would need another power forward to fill his spot. Kentucky F Patrick Patterson would be an excellent fit for Jerry Sloan’s system and can play both power forward in place of Boozer, and also some small forward, which the Jazz need a bit of help at as well.
7. Washington Wizards 20-36
The Wizards pretty much just took a large stick of dynamite, attached it to their team, and lit it. They have needs everywhere now, but nowhere more than inside after losing Brendan Haywood. Marshall C Hassan Whiteside is a little limited offensively, but he’s an amazing shot blocker and if Hasheem Thabeet can get drafted with the 2nd pick, Whiteside can go top 10.
8. Detroit Pistons 21-37
Its sad to see the Pistons down here, especially because of how good they used to be a few years ago and because of how down the entire city of Detroit has been since the recession. A big part of their struggles this season is a lack of physicality, especially on the block. North Carolina PF/C Ed Davis can play either power forward or center for this team next season and provide interior toughness. He’s not a gifted low post scorer, but this team already has enough guys who can put the ball in the bucket.
9. Philadelphia 76ers 22-36
The Samuel Dalembert signing was a bust and they still need help at the center position. Kentucky C DeMarcus Cousins is the best available center and one of the more dominant big men in the country this year. Unlike other centers in come out in years past, Cousins is proven offensively on a college level. The only issue is his attitude.
10. Los Angeles Clippers 24-34
No major needs for this team other than time to mature, come together, and Blake Griffin to get healthy, so they can go best available player and add another young athlete to the mix. Wake Forest F Al-Farouq Aminu is a raw combo forward that fits that description. He would be a good replacement for Al Thornton and a decent backup plan assuming they can’t get LeBron this offseason.
11. Charlotte Bobcats 28-29
No major needs so I’m just expecting them to go best available. Michael Jordan and Larry Brown both like taking proven college guys so Texas F Damion James could be viewed as the best available player in their eyes. He has good versatility and has been filling the stat sheet this year as a Longhorn.
12. Memphis Grizzlies 29-29
The Grizzlies are somehow at .500, but they still find themselves in the lottery. They can use this opportunity to take a big time college basketball player again and luckily, they can get a steal here with Kansas C Cole Aldrich. They did draft a center last year, but Hasheem Thabeet has not shown himself to be much yet and Aldrich would compliment him well as they share duties inside.
13. Houston Rockets 29-28
The Rockets have good supporting pieces, but lack a star. Oklahoma G Willie Warren is a great scorer and has more upside than anyone on the board. He’ll be that big time scorer they’ve lacked this season. He reminds me a lot of Gilbert Arenas only less dangerous.
14. New Orleans Hornets 31-28
The Hornets really need to get more athletic on the wings, especially defensively. Athleticism and defense, steals and blocks, are the specialty of the extremely long West Virginia SF Devin Ebanks. He would be an excellent fit for their needs and he is the best player available at this juncture.
2/27/10
