Mock Draft 5.0

Mock Draft 5.0



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Washington

John Wall
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 196 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky


(Wall's previous position: No. 1 to Washington)



Analysis: Here's all we know for sure with a week to go -- John Wall will be the No. 1 pick. Multiple team sources -- off the record, of course -- have been telling us for weeks that Wall is their man. Plus, the Washington Post reported over the weekend that Evan Turner won't even be working out for the Wizards and is conceding the No. 1 spot to Wall.

The task for the Wizards now turns to filling in the spaces around him -- getting a healthy and focused Gilbert Arenas, looking for bargains or perhaps Rudy Gay in free agency, and figuring out how to turn the Wizards into a powerhouse franchise. Adding Wall is a big step in the right direction, but only one of many the Wizards are going to have to take.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Philadelphia

Evan Turner
Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 214
Age: 21
School: Ohio State


(Turner's previous position: No. 2 to Philadelphia)



Analysis: We still have Turner penciled in here as we continue to receive strong signals from inside the Sixers' organization that he is the guy they'll take at No. 2. However, while those signals certainly could be legit, I take them with a grain of salt.



Turner is the most polished player in the draft, but I'm not sure he has the upside (and he certainly doesn't have the size and athleticism) of Favors, and I continue to hear that head coach Doug Collins prefers Favors to Turner.



Because Turner is almost the consensus No. 2 pick, the Sixers want other teams that are contemplating trading up for him (the Wolves and Pacers seem to be the hottest suitors) to believe they're taking him. If teams think he'll slip past Philly, they'll begin dealing with New Jersey instead.



I do think it will take a blockbuster to convince Philly to move the No. 2 pick. Either someone is going to have to take Elton Brand off the Sixers' hands or offer them a young All-Star in return. If they don't get that offer, it's more a toss-up between Turner and Favors than some think.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New Jersey

Derrick Favors
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 245
Age: 18
School: Georgia Tech


(Favors' previous position: No. 3 to New Jersey)



Analysis: While New Jersey would be happy if Turner were to slide to No. 3, the Nets also have a high level of interest in Favors and some interest in DeMarcus Cousins. The two are scheduled to go head-to-head in a workout for the Nets on Monday.



Favors has the type of athleticism and upside to complement Brook Lopez nicely in the middle. Cousins isn't as good of a fit next to Lopez defensively, but he's also more NBA-ready than Favors and the team has a mandate to win now.



Of course, the Nets are also targeting a number of veteran big men this summer, including Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer. With the amount of cap space they have, the Nets have the luxury of drafting the best player available as opposed to drafting to fill a need.



The team also is high on Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson. I'm told he's in the mix at the No. 3 spot as well. But for now, Favors has the edge.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota

Wesley Johnson
Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 206
Age: 22
School: Syracuse


(Johnson's previous position: No. 4 to Minnesota)



Analysis: The Wolves are exploring possibilities of moving up in the draft. Evan Turner is their target and they have the assets (the 16th and 23rd picks) to make a deal with either Philly or New Jersey if either team is so inclined.



If they keep the pick, it looks like Wesley Johnson is their man. We've had him going to Minnesota in our mock draft since May and that projection is looking like it's been dead on. Johnson was in Minnesota on Monday and he wowed everyone in the organization. Not only is he a great basketball player, but he's a great young man. He's the type of locker-room guy that a young team wants to build with.



Unless Derrick Favors falls to No. 4, I think you can use a Sharpie with Wes Johnson here.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Sacramento

DeMarcus Cousins
Position: C
Height: 6-11
Weight: 292
Age: 19
School: Kentucky


(Cousins' previous position: No. 6 to Golden State)



Analysis: Another mock draft and, yes, a new pick for the Kings. Last week we had Greg Monroe going to Sacramento. But this week things changed pretty dramatically when DeMarcus Cousins came into town to work out with the Kings. He was, in a word, awesome.



Cousins was red hot shooting the ball (he converted 78 percent of the shots he took) and had the Kings' brass drooling by the end of the workout. While GM Geoff Petrie still has his reservations about Cousins as a person, it sounds like the Kings have fallen in love with him as a player and he now has the edge over Greg Monroe for the No. 5 pick should Wes Johnson not be on the board.



However, the process isn't over yet. Monroe is coming in for a second workout with the Kings against Hassan Whiteside on Saturday. That should be interesting.



The Kings are also exploring trading picks, with one team (Detroit) squarely on the radar. If the Pistons would give up the No. 7 pick and Tayshaun Prince for the No. 5 pick and Andres Nocioni, I think they'd have a deal. But so far the Pistons have been adamant that they're holding on to Prince, and I don't think the Kings would do a Rip Hamilton-for-Nocioni swap.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Golden State

Greg Monroe
Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 247
Age: 19
School: Georgetown


(Monroe's previous position: No. 5 to Sacramento)



Analysis: The Warriors are among the most difficult teams in the draft to predict right now. Over the course of the past week, I've heard a number of players were atop their list, including DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Xavier Henry, Ekpe Udoh, Patrick Patterson ... I could go on.



To me, this is where the gamesmanship really starts. The Warriors could go in almost any direction. The team itself is a bit of a mess. We're not sure who's going to own the team in a month, the coaching situation is up in the air, players are on the trading block and agents who've had their players work out for Golden State don't particularly want their guys to end up there.



For weeks, the word I've been getting is Cousins is the guy. If he's off the board, the next closest consensus among sources (and I use the word consensus loosely) is Monroe. The Warriors need more size, and Monroe's high basketball IQ and skill level should be a nice fit in Golden State.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Detroit

Al-Farouq Aminu
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 215
Age: 19
School: Wake Forest


(Aminu's previous position: No. 7 to Detroit)



Analysis: Pistons president Joe Dumars has said he wants his team to regain the grit and toughness of past Pistons teams. But picking at No. 7 makes that a bit of a challenge. Detroit is really high on both Cousins and Favors, but most likely it'll have to move up in the draft to get one of them. Regardless, the team needs a big man.



So why do I have the Pistons taking Aminu, who's listed as a small forward? Two reasons:



First, the Pistons feel they don't have to solve their big man issue through the draft. There are always trades and free agency options to help shore up the middle. Second, the Pistons are among a handful of teams who think, given Aminu's length, that he can play the 4 in the NBA. He's going to need to get stronger, but he has a penchant for rebounding and runs the floor like a deer.



Ed Davis, Greg Monroe and Ekpe Udoh all have a shot here as well. But for now, I'm still leaning toward Aminu. It's a bit of a risky pick for Dumars, but he hasn't been afraid to swing for the fences in the past.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Los Angeles Clippers


Gordon Hayward
Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 211
Age: 20
School: Butler
(Hayward's previous position: No. 8 to L.A. Clippers)



Analysis: The Clippers could go in a lot of directions with this pick, and I keep getting mixed signals. The latest word has them narrowing the field down to Al-Farouq Aminu, Greg Monroe, Ed Davis, Hayward and Paul George.



Of those five names, George may be the guy who's the most intriguing to the Clippers. But they also feel he's the biggest risk. The Clips would probably take Monroe or Aminu, but they likely will be off the board here.



So that narrows it down to Davis or Hayward. While the team is intrigued with Davis, the Clippers have no one at the 3 right now. And they feel that if Hayward can refine his stroke, he could be a star in the league down the road.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Utah
(via New York)

Luke Babbitt
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 214
Age: 20
School: Nevada


(Babbitt's previous position: No. 9 to Utah)



Analysis: The Jazz are crossing their fingers that Greg Monroe slips to them. If he doesn't, as we've projected here, they have a tough choice. They can choose from a couple of big men -- Ed Davis, Ekpe Udoh or Cole Aldrich. Or they can address a big need at the wing. Babbitt, Xavier Henry and Hayward are all options the team would be comfortable with.



Which way are they leaning? GM Kevin O'Connor is keeping his cards close to the vest. I think Babbitt has a slight lead over Henry and Davis at the moment. But this one could come down to draft night.



I'll say this: The Jazz have been consistently high on Babbitt all year. They have had success with sweet-shooting small forwards like him and he can come in and contribute from Day 1. All of that should give him the edge.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Indiana

Ed Davis
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 227
Age: 20
School: North Carolina


(Davis' previous position: No. 10 to Indiana)



Analysis: The Pacers had a number of top bigs (Daniel Orton, Ekpe Udoh and Hassan Whiteside) and guards (Avery Bradley and Eric Bledsoe) in to work out last week. This week the team has looked at a number of forwards, including Damion James, Paul George, Xavier Henry and Patrick Patterson.



All of the players listed, however, are part of Plan B. If the Pacers are fortunate enough to see Davis slip, they're in a much better place. While Davis is very raw, he's got the size, athleticism and shot-blocking ability that the team has been craving for years.



The Pacers are looking to shore up their team via trades and have some assets, including the expiring contracts of both Troy Murphy and T.J. Ford, so they are free to go with the best talent available.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New Orleans

Cole Aldrich
Position: C
Height: 6-10
Weight: 236
Age: 21
School: Kansas
(Aldrich's previous position: No. 11 to New Orleans)



Analysis: The Hornets have a new head coach and job No. 1 is filling a pretty large hole on the front line. The Hornets have Emeka Okafor and David West and not much else.



Their choices here are Aldrich, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton and Hassan Whiteside. While Orton and Whiteside have more upside, Aldrich is, by far, the most NBA-ready of the group and could become a Joel Przybilla-like player in the middle. If the Hornets decide to address the power forward position instead, then Patterson could be the guy.



Ultimately, I think Aldrich gets the nod. Considering that Aldrich could go as high as No. 5, he's a bargain at No. 11.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Memphis

Patrick Patterson
Position: PF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 245
Age: 21
School: Kentucky
(Patterson's previous position: No. 22 to Portland)



Analysis: The Grizzlies have had their sights set on Luke Babbitt for weeks and he could fall here. However, if he's off the board, expect them to look elsewhere for an NBA-ready player.



We've heard Paul George's name here and he would be an excellent replacement for Rudy Gay if he leaves via free agency. But Patterson has worked out to pretty strong reviews. GM Chris Wallace wants a player who can step in and immediately contribute, and that is Patterson's greatest strength.



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Toronto

Avery Bradley
Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: Texas
(Bradley's previous position: No. 13 to Toronto)



Analysis: The Raptors could go a number of different directions here. With Chris Bosh likely out the door, Hedo Turkoglu pining for a trade and the team shopping Jose Calderon, you can expect the Raptors to look radically different next season.



Finding a center is atop GM Bryan Colangelo's list. If Bosh leaves he'd like to move Andrea Bargnani to the 4. But of the top big men left on the board -- Orton, Whiteside and Alabi -- none of them is close to being ready.



That may shift the Raptors' focus to the backcourt. Assuming they can move Calderon this summer, they'll have a need at the point and Bradley, who can play both backcourt positions, is the type of explosive athlete they're looking for.



Bradley sprained his ankle badly during a workout at Oklahoma City on Sunday. The injury will keep him out of workouts until the draft, but he should be ready to go by summer league.



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Houston

Ekpe Udoh
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 237
Age: 22
School: Baylor


(Udoh's previous position: No. 14 to Houston)



Analysis: Udoh is the type of long, shot-blocking forward who should find a comfortable home in Houston. While he's a bit older than the rest of the class and doesn't have elite athleticism, he's still improving -- one of the few older players in the draft with any real upside left. Patrick Patterson and Hassan Whiteside are other possibilities here.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Milwaukee
(via Chicago)

Xavier Henry
Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210
Age: 19
School: Kansas
(Henry's previous position: No. 15 to Milwaukee)



Analysis: The Bucks have a big need at the wing position with Michael Redd coming back from injury and John Salmons looking to opt out of his contract.



Of the players left on the board, Henry and Paul George look to be, by far, the best values. Both players can play either the 2 or 3, both can shoot the lights out and both have upside.



Speaking of upside, we probably should add one more name to the list. It's a long shot but Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson has impressed in workouts and the Bucks have had their eye on him for a while. It seems like that's a bit of a reach at 15, but John Hammond rolled the dice on a former high school phenom with a bad rep last year and it paid off. Will he do it again this year?



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota
(via Charlotte)

Paul George
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 214
Age: 20
School: Fresno State
(George's previous position: No. 12 to Memphis)



Analysis: The Wolves have been eyeing Paul George for a while and the team will feel pretty lucky if he falls here. George is getting consideration as high as No. 8 and the Grizzies at No. 12, Raptors at No. 13 and Bucks at No. 15 will all give him a long look, too.



Why would the Wolves take George here if they're drafting Wesley Johnson at No. 4? Because the Wolves see George as more of a 2-guard. They desperately need some perimeter shooting and George has a gorgeous stroke from behind the arc. Team him and Johnson with Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love and Darko Milicic (whom the Wolves are likely to re-sign this summer) and the Wolves have a nice young nucleus.



Hassan Whiteside and Damion James are also real possibilities here.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Chicago
(via Milwaukee)

James Anderson
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 210
Age: 21
School: Oklahoma State
(Anderson's previous position: No. 17 to Chicago)



Analysis: Anderson was one of the best scorers in college basketball and could be a very good fit in the Bulls' backcourt. His ability to stretch the defense and attack the basket would make him a nice complement to Derrick Rose.



Even if the team ends up landing LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, look for Anderson to be the guy. As far as NBA-ready players go, there are few better in this draft. I'd expect him to play the same sort of role James Harden did in OKC last season.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Miami


Eric Bledsoe
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 192
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
(Bledsoe's previous position: No. 18 to Miami)



Analysis: Bledsoe is a tough, Pat Riley-type of player and could be a long-term upgrade from the Mario Chalmers-Carlos Arroyo duo at point guard.



Bledsoe was one of the players who really helped himself at the draft combine. Playing outside of John Wall's shadow, he often looked like the best guard on the floor. Physically, he's ready for the NBA right now. But he still needs more experience running the point. In the long term, Bledsoe could pay off.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Boston

Solomon Alabi
Position: C
Height: 7-1
Weight: 237
Age: 22
School: Florida State
(Alabi's previous position: No. 19 to Boston)



Analysis: Alabi may seem like a bit of a reach to some, but he appears to be one of the hotter names in the draft at the moment. The Raptors, Celtics, Spurs, Thunder, Heat and Blazers are all showing interest. Those are all teams with historically good draft track records, so watch carefully. Alabi measured as one of the tallest and longest players in the draft, and he showed a nice skill game and a terrific motor in the drills.



Some scouts are comparing him to Dikembe Mutombo. I don't think Alabi has the same sort of rebounding and shot-blocking ability, but he does have a similar demeanor and presence on the court.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

San Antonio

Damion James
Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 227
Age: 22
School: Texas
(James' previous position: No. 20 to San Antonio)



Analysis: James is one of the more underrated players in the draft. Very few players have his combination of athleticism and motor.



He doesn't have a position on offense, but he can defend multiple positions on the floor. He would be able to step in right away with the Spurs' vets and provide meaningful minutes.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Oklahoma City

Daniel Orton
Position: C
Height: 6-10
Weight: 269
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
(Orton's previous position: No. 21 to Oklahoma City)



Analysis: Orton is a bit of an enigma. His 3 ppg and 3 rpg as a freshman at Kentucky certainly won't wow you. But he's got the raw tools to be a successful big man in the pros.



The Thunder were among the teams that were on him early and they might just get lucky and get him here. While Orton is in the discussion starting at the 10th pick, concerns about his knees and his relative lack of playing time over the course of the past two seasons are weighing on teams.



He could easily end up in the lottery, but I doubt he slips further than this.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Portland


Hassan Whiteside
Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 227
Age: 20
School: Marshall
(Whiteside's previous position: No. 16 to Minnesota)



Analysis: The Blazers, as we reported on Tuesday, have been active trying to move up to No. 19 or higher in the draft. Their target? I've been doing some research and I believe they're after Solomon Alabi.



To get him, they'll likely have to get up higher in the draft. If they can't get him, or one of their other targets, look for them to be content to grab Whiteside. The Blazers love his talent though, like the rest of the NBA, they're worried about his maturity.



However, the Blazers have the resources and culture in place to bring him along slowly, and help give him the on-court and off-court skills he needs to succeed. He's a long-term project, but with Marcus Camby mentoring him, he could be a home run.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota
(via Utah)

Kevin Seraphin
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 258
Age: 20
Country: France
(Seraphin's previous position: No. 23 to Minnesota)



Analysis: With their third pick of this draft, you can expect the Wolves to stash a player overseas. Seraphin hasn't really produced big numbers in France, but he has Serge Ibaka-like physical upside.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Atlanta

Lance Stephenson
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 227
Age: 19
School: Cincinnati
(Stephenson's previous position: No. 24 to Atlanta)



Analysis: The Hawks aren't known for really swinging for the fences. But they just might try with Stephenson. With Joe Johnson looking as though he may bolt this summer, the team is going to need another wing and Stephenson has as much talent as anyone left on the board.



He has an NBA body, can play the iso game and has a high basketball IQ. His lack of a 3-point jump shot could be a concern for the Hawks, but at this point I think you have to take the best player available.



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Memphis
(via Denver)

Dominique Jones
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 216
Age: 21
School: South Florida
(Jones' previous position: NR)



Analysis: Jones was one of the best scorers in college basketball last season, but that's not why the Grizzlies will be in the hunt for him. A number of teams, including Memphis, believe he could also play the point. With the Grizzlies still less than confident in Mike Conley, that's the appeal.



PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Oklahoma City
(via Phoenix)

Craig Brackins
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 229
Age: 22
School: Iowa State
(Brackins' previous position: No. 26 to Oklahoma City)



Analysis: Brackins would be a good pick for the Thunder. He's a high-character guy who can score inside and outside and will play hard. Right now, Nenad Krstic is the only big who can really get it done in the post. Brackins could be a nice long-term fit.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New Jersey
(via Dallas)

Jordan Crawford
Position: SG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 198
Age: 21
School: Xavier
(Crawford's previous position: NR)



Analysis: The Nets were high on Terrico White earlier in the year, but appear to be gravitating toward either Crawford or Dominique Jones at No. 27. Both players are lights-out scorers and can handle the ball. What gives Crawford the slight edge is his shooting ability. He's got deep, deep range.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Memphis
(via L.A. Lakers)

Larry Sanders
Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 222
Age: 21
School: Va. Commonwealth
(Sanders' previous position: No. 28 to Memphis)



Analysis: If the Grizzlies go with a wing and combo guard with their first two picks, they can swing for the fences with Sanders. With a freakish wingspan and terrific athleticism, Sanders could add a different look to the Grizzlies' frontcourt.



Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Hasheem Thabeet are all big bodies, but none can run the floor and do the things Sanders can do.






PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Orlando

Armon Johnson
Position: PG
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Age: 21
School: Nevada
(Johnson's previous position: No. 29 to Orlando)



Analysis: It was pretty clear in the playoffs that the Magic could use some more help in their backcourt and, from the sound of things, Johnson has been impressing in workouts.



He's a great athlete who can break down the defense and get to the basket. He's not a great shooter, but the Magic are already loaded with guys who can stretch the floor.





PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Washington
(via Cleveland)

Quincy Pondexter
Position: SF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220
Age: 22
School: Washington
(Pondexter's previous position: No. 30 to Washington)



Analysis: Pondexter is coming off a great senior season and is one of the best athletes in the draft. With the Wizards trying to rebuild with young players who can get up and down the floor, Pondexter seems like a good bet here.




Next Five In: Keith Gallon, PF, Oklahoma; Terrico White, G, Mississippi; Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma; Devin Ebanks, F, West Virginia; Stanley Robinson, F, UConn

Chad Ford

 

Eh they suck ass too IMO. Mostly very biased toward upperclassmen and guys with exceptional attitudes and what not.