2010 NBA Draft

Madison Square Garden

6/24/10

Predraft trades: The Bucks obtained veteran forward Corey Maggette and a second-round pick from the Warriors for backup center Dan Gadzuric and guard Charlie Bell. GM John Hammond likes Maggette's toughness and work ethic as well as his ability to get to the foul line. "One of the issues with our team this year was our inability to get to the free-throw line and that was a concern this off-season," Hammond said. "If we could address that we thought it would be beneficial. Corey is one of the most efficient players in the NBA at getting to the free-throw line. So just for that we think that he can help us." … The Bucks also picked up guard Chris Douglas-Roberts from the Nets for a 2012 second-round pick. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.0 rebounds last season and can play guard and forward.

Washington and Chicago agreed to a trade (that becomes official July 8) that will send guard Kirk Hinrich and Chicago's first-round pick to Washington for a future second-round pick. The deal was made free up Hinrich's $9 million salary that should allow the Bulls to be able to sign two maximum salaried free agents. The 29-year-old Hinrich provides a veteran presence in the backcourt for John Wall as he can play both guard spots. The deal also provides insurance in case Gilbert Arenas does not return to from his NBA suspension. The Wizards now will have a solid three-guard rotation.

Miami traded backup guard Daequan Cook and the #18 pick in the first round to Oklahoma City for a non-guaranteed second-round pick.

Samuel Dalembert was traded to Sacramento for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes, providing a defensive presence for Paul Westphal.

Martell Webster was traded to the Timberwolves with Luke Babbitt and Ryan Gomes going to Portland. Webster will battle rookie Wesley Johnson for playing time. The Blazers plan on releasing Gomes.

1. John Wall, Washington Wizards, 6’4, 196, Kentucky, 19, freshman, PG – Wall is ultra confident and talented with speed explosiveness. Outstanding vision and body control for passes. Excellent finisher in transition as well as excellent defensive player averaging 1.8 steals per game ... Shows leadership ability and runs the floor well. Decent shooter but needs some work in that area. Wall is not a good set shooter, preferring to create a rhythm using the bounce. More comfortable in the open floor than in the half court. Turns the ball over a bit much and needs to add some strength. Wall is the starting point guard and an excellent keeper league fantasy pick.

2. Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers, 6’7, 214, Ohio State, 21, SG – Excellent ball handler who can drive to the hoop and execute in the mid-range game with pull up jumper and the ability to change directions quickly. Strong finisher, even after contact, and draws fouls. Solid vision and a good passer. Aggressive. Decent free throw shooter at 79%. Needs work on his outside game. Turner should plus in as the starting shooting guard and will be a star in 2-3 years.

3. Derrick Favors, New Jersey Nets, 6’10, 245, Georgia Tech, 19, freshman, PF – Favors has big tine power and unusual quickness. Tremendous leaping ability and reach. Finishes with power dunks that crowd loves. Nice hook shot and is quick in the post with nice range from 12-15 feet. Rebound machine at both ends of the court. Blocks lots of shots as well.  Needs work on his jump shot, ball handling and double teams. Does not pass well. Favors is an excellent power forward pick with upside for fantasy players. He will split time with Yi Jianlian this coming season.

4. Wesley Johnson, Minnesota Timerwolves, 6’7, 206, Syracuse, junior, 23, SF – Johnson is quick in the lane and can out-jump defenders up close. Nice jump shot and mid-range game and can create separation for the shot. He shoots 50% from the field and 39% from 3-point range. Excellent vision and passing skills and finish in transition. Decent defensively, excellent rebounder and can block a couple of shots per game. Needs to develop a post game and has trouble creating off the dribble. This will be the key to his scoring success in the NBA. Won’t have a lot of fantasy value right off the bat but he could be starting.

5. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings, 6’11, 292, Kentucky, freshman, 19, PF/C – Cousins is tall, strong and dominanat and could have a fine rookie season if he keeps his head on straight. He has an offensive presence in the post, along with his rebounding and shot blocking abilities. There are questions about his charater and work ethic but if they can harness his skills, he will be a dominant big man for years to come. Not sure anout this year though.

6. Ekpe Udoh, Golden State Warriors, 6’10, 237, Baylor, junior, 23, PF – Big time shot blocker and rebounder. Demonstrates nice agility and quickness for a big man. Has also showed improved scoring, passing and ball handling skills. Has nice touch on short range and mid-range jumper and can hit the three on occasion but overall offensive game still needs work. Still needs work in the post and could stand to add some strength. Not a lot of upside.

7. Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons, 6’11, 247, Georgetown, sophomore, 20, PF – Lefty shooter and character guy who runs the floor like a guard. Excellent passer and ball-handler and can shoot or go the hole. He rebounds, blocks shots and has very quick hands for steals. Needs to be more aggressive, in transition and in the post and is prone to turnovers. Average free throw shooter. Could start with a good camp but probably won’t have a lot of value.

8. Al-farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers, 6’8, 216, Wake Forest, sophomore, 20, SF – Great athlete with tremendous leaping ability for rebounding and blocked shots, explosiveness with excellent rebounding and defending skills. High energy player with an improved post game and excellent transition game as he runs the floor well. But he cannot create or shoot well from the outside nor can he pull up off the dribble so he might start off at power forward until he can improve his perimeter skills. With Chris Kaman at center and Blake Griffin at power forward, the small forward slot could be Aminu's unless they sign a free agent.

9. Gordon Heyward, Utah Jazz, 6’8, 211, Butler, sophomore, 20, SF – Has a deadly outside jumper and is excellent free throw shooter but his three-point accuracy comes and goes. He is also an excellent offensive rebounder and averaged 8.3 total rebounds per game. Intelligent. Decent enough ball handler and passer to play point forward at times. He lacks aggression and a post-up game. Decent defender but might not be able to match up with the quicker small forwards in the NBA. He’ll back up the SF and SG positions for now.

10. Paul George, Indiana Pacers, 6’9, 214, Fresno State, sophomore, 20, SF – One of the better shooters in the draft, he also has athleticism and ability to run the floor in transition, resulting in big time dunks and had improved his free throws to 91%. Also an adept passer and rebounds well for a small forward. He also averaged two steals and almost a block per game. He cannot create and has trouble when pulling up off the dribble so he shoots the long ones too often. Defense needs work but he has a lot of potential in that area. His minutes would increase if Danny Granger is traded.

11. Cole Aldrich, Oklahoma City Thunder, 6’10, 236, Utah, junior, 22, C – Developing skills has made him into the premiere center in the draft. He is a smart player with long arms and agility to develop body control and offensive moves, especially in the post. He can hit shots facing the basket and also has a nice hook shot. He runs the floor well and can finish on the break. He also passes well, rebounds and blocks shots and is a decent free throw shooter. He will need to bulk up for the pros. Also needs to work on a more aggressive demeanor. He won’t have much fanatsy vlaue this year although he could be starting by default.

12. Xavier Henry, Memphis Grizzlies, 6’6, 210, Kansas, freshman, 19, SG – He can play shooting guard or small forward who can shoot mid-range and the long threes. He can also drive to the hoop and finishes well. Good free throw shooter and rebounder. Aggressive defender who averaged 1.7 steals. Works hard. Does not have explosive speed or leaping ability. He also needs to improve ball handling skills and turnovers. He'll play behind O.J. Mayo this year.

13. Ed Davis, Toronto Raptors, 6’10, 227, North Carolina, sophomore, 21, PF – Athletic, aggressive, lefty post player who is a strong rebounder and shot blocker but needs to extend his shooting range. Has a nice hook shot and dunks a lot. He also runs the floor well and wants to hit the weight room to get stronger. His father Terry played 10 seasons in the NBA. There are questions about his makeup and work ethic but he could play significant minutes if he matures quickly.

14. Patrick Patterson, Houston Rockets, 6’9, 240, Kentucky, junior, 21, PF – Can score in the post with a soft touch and a little hook shot as well as a decent outside jump shot. Has toughness with a power demeanor. He is smart with a strong work ethic and can be aggressive on defense but needs work there and is not a super rebounder. Has trouble beating his man and creating. Decent player but not a lot of upside. Will play behind Luis Scola this year, if Scola re-signs.

15. Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks, PF – He can block shots and rebound but won’t score much. They want him to play center and forward and plan on using him a lot if all goes well in camp. "He has good hands; he can block shots," GM John Hammond said. "He's going to be a good rebounder. We really think that he can earn his way onto the floor early on because of what he can do on the defensive end, and because he can rebound the basketball."

16. Luke Babbitt, Portland Trail Blazers, 6’9, 218, Nevada, sophomore, 21, SF/PF – Babbitt is a smooth Chris Mullin-type lefty player with 3-point range and a solid mid-range shooter off a pass, as well as off the dribble. Excellent free throw shooter and is working on a nice post game. Can run the floor and finish in transition with loads of energy. He is an excellent rebounder, but is not physically strong enough to guard a power forward so his role will likely be scoring off the bench. Borderline fantasy pick depending on his minutes.

17. Kevin Seraphin, Chicago Bulls, C – Seraphin will go to the Wizards once the Kirk Hinrich trade is approved July 8. Raw talent.

18. Eric Bledsoe, LA Clippers, 6’1, 190, 20, PG – Bledsoe, who has explosiveness with the ball and a consistent jump shot, will back up Baron Davis. Davis is injury-prone though, so Bledsoe could get some playing time this year.

19. Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics, 6’3, 180, Texas, freshman, 20, SG – A shooter with excellent athleticism and explosiveness. He creates, shoots off the pass, off the dribble, everything. He is aggressive and an excellent defensive player but taller guards in the pros will be able to shoot over him.  He always thinks to shoot and lacks vision and playmaking ability. His size will make it tougher for him to get off the shots in the pros and is inconsistent to the basket, so he doesn’t shoot many free throws. He could move at shooting guard if Ray Allen leaves.

20. James Anderson, San Antonio Spurs, 6’6, 208, Oklahoma State, junior, 21, SG – Likes to shoot and scores a lot from everywhere on the court including a newfound aggression to the basket. He can also run the floor, get his share of rebounds and is an aggressive defender who will block a shot here and there.  Needs work on handling, passing and creating shots for himself and others. Could use a little bulk.

21. Craig Brackens, New Orleans Hornets, 6’10, 229, Iowa State, junior, 23, PF – Athletic big man who can score from most anywhere on the court, including three point range. Runs the floor well and is a good defensive rebounder. His jump shot is inconsistent and he needs work on his shot selection and aggressiveness inside. Needs work defensively as well. Limited upside.

22. Elliot Williams, Portland Trail Blazers, 6’4, 180, Memphis, sophomore, 21, SG/PG – Lefty with very good athleticism who can play either guard position. He is very quick and finishes extremely well in traffic. Tremendous leaping ability and excellent defender. Will also get a few steals and rebounds. Needs work on his ball-handling, passing, jumper, three and midrange game. Needs bulk. He has said that he expects to play point guard in the NBA. “He’s an explosive guard,” coach Nate McMillan said. “He’s a guy who will get after you offensively. Very explosive going to the basket.”

23. Trevor Booker, Washington Wizards, 6’7, 240, Clemson, 22, PF – Big, strong rebounder but not much of a scorer. They feel he could eventually fill the team's need for an aggressive rebounder and finisher in the front court despite being a bit undersized for a power forward.

24. Damion James, New Jersey Nets, 6’7, 225, Texas, 22, SF – He is strong and leaves college as the top rebounder in Big 12 history. He also has a reputation for being able to guard three positions. “He’s very talented and he can come and play minutes at the three positions right now,” new head coach Avery Johnson said. “He’s tough, hard-nosed, and for a team that couldn’t play much defense last year, you’ve got to get some guys that can help you on that end of the floor.” James is a streaky shooter and only hit 63 percent from the line last year.

25. Dominique Jones, Dallas Mavericks, 6’4, 205, South Florida, 21, SG – Jones can penetrate and score, something the Mavs needed. "Dominique is a guy we had as a top-three [shooting] guard in the draft," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We like his toughness and his ability to score." Team president Donnie Nelson said he feels Jones and last year’s first-rounder, PG Roddy Beaubois, are their future starting guards. "We feel like we have two young guards that are going to make a nice backcourt tandem for the future," Nelson said. "Dominique has an NBA-ready body, and he's a little like Jerry Stackhouse in that he loves the contact."

26. Quincy Pondexter, New Orleans Hornets, 6’6, 215, Washington, SF – Decent scorer and rebounder. He provides depth at small forward behind Peja Stojakovic.

27. Jordan Crawford, Atlanta Hawks, 6’4, 195, Xavier, 21, PG – Good shooter and could garner minutes off the bench if things fall his way this summer. "Jordan Crawford is as dynamic a scorer as there was in college basketball," one coach said. "He's an offensive player. He'll probably shoot some questionable shots. Now can he run a team? He's an offensive-minded point guard."

28. Greivis Vasquez, Memphis Grizzlies, 6’6, 200, Maryland, 23, PG – Has talent and will backup Mike Conley this year. He can score, run the floor and can play both guard positions. He is a good passer but lacks strength and athleticism.

29. Daniel Orton, Orlando Magic, 6’10, 255, Kentucky, 19, PF – Big man is unproven as he battled knee problems, conditioning and off-court issues last year that held his playing time down. A project.

30. Lazar Hayward, Minnesota Timberwolves, 6’6, 225, Marquette, 23, SF – Big scorer who can also get his share of boards. Played power forward in college but is not big enough for that in the pros. "He caught not only my eye, but Kurt's eye [coach Kurt Rambis] during workouts," Wolves president David Kahn said. "He's a mature, solid college player, a tough kid. I expect him to really challenge for playing time next season."

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