| 2010 NBA Draft Lottery Preview | |
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The 2010 NBA Draft has raised many questions around the NBA. Surprisingly, the Washington Wizards have stole the number one pick in which many thought would be the New Jersey Nets. At the end of the day, no matter which player a team chooses to better their organization its quite a gamble. Each year in the draft there are players that can be the franchise changer or a complete bust. Will John Wall live up to the hype and end up as an elite NBA point guard? Should the 76ers draft Evan Turner to take the team to new heights, with the hiring of coach Doug Collins and who will the New Jersey Nets choose now, since the number one pick is no longer an option? QtheQuestion.com offers a NBA Draft 2010 preview as writer Dwight Moore offers his insight.
1. Washington Wizards: John Wall (PG) Kentucky. Far and away the most exciting player in the draft, Wall should be a top 5 point guard in the NBA after his first few seasons. Selecting Wall will allow the Wizards to move Gilbert Arenas to the shooting guard position possibly giving them their backcourt for the next 5 to 7 seasons. Wall will also provide a burst of energy and excitement to the Washington franchise that suffered during the 2009-10 season. He will need to improve his jump shot at the next level but Wall is by far the best player in this draft. Player most compared to: Russell Westbrook/Derrick Rose. Other possible selections: None. 2. Philadelphia Sixers: Evan Turner (SF/SG) Ohio State. Many consider Turner to be the most complete player in the draft. The consensus national player of the year is a polished player who played and guarded four positions last season for Thad Matta’s Buckeyes. He has an excellence mid-range jump shot and is great at getting his teammates involved. He needs to improve his shot range at the next level and be able to hit the three on a consistent basis. Player most compared to: Brandon Roy. Other possible selections: Derrick Favors, Demarcus Cousins. 3. New Jersey Nets: Derrick Favors (PF) Georgia Tech. Favors is an explosive athlete with incredible power, athleticism and quickness around the rim. His production at Tech was not as great has it could have been due to poor guard play. Favors must continue to work on his footwork around the basket and learn to stay out of foul trouble. Playing Favors along side Brook Lopez at center could give the Nets one of the best young frontlines in the league. Player most compared to: Al Hortford. Other possible selections: Demarcus Cousins, Al-Farouq Aminu, Wesley Johnson. 4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Demarcus Cousins (PF/C) Kentucky. The All-American from Lexington is the most talented big man in the draft. However, he may also be the biggest risk in the draft as well. Cousins was almost unstoppable in his one season at Kentucky but his character issues are too hard to ignore. If he is not getting the ball or playing well his body language reflects that. He has been known to throw his headband from time to time. The word immature is used often to describe him. He lacks the explosiveness of Favors but his soft hands and touch are almost unmatched in this class. He also needs to improve his foul shooting. Cousins is a high risk, high reward type of player. Player most compared to: Eddy Curry. Other possible selections: Greg Monroe, Cole Aldrich, Al-Farouq Aminu, Wesley Johnson. 5. Sacramento Kings: Al-Farouq Aminu (SF/PF) Wake Forest. One of the best athletes in the draft, Aminu will provide the Kings with the athleticism they have lacked on the wings throughout the last few seasons. He is capable of guarding any of the three perimeter positions thanks to good length and quickness which also allows him to be a good rebounder from the small forward position. However, to be a solid small forward he has to improve his jump shot and the ability to create his own shot. Player most compared to: Josh Smith. Other possible selections: Wesley Johnson, Greg Monroe. 6. Golden State Warriors: Wesley Johnson (SF) Syracuse. Johnson has all the tools to be a great small forward in the NBA, long and athletic with a good jump shot and solid range. He should be able to score a lot of points in Don Nelson's system. He is somewhat unknown on the defensive end since he played in a 2-3 zone his one season in Syracuse. Johnson will not be able to rely as much on his jump shot at the next level which was something he did in college. He must learn to create off the dribble and he must learn to get to the free throw line. He averaged less than 4 free throws at Syracuse. Player most compared to: Shawn Marion. Other possible selections: Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Epke Udoh. 7. Detroit Pistons: Hassan Whiteside (C) Marshall. There is always surprise in the lottery in this could be the first one. The Pistons have lacked shot blocking since Ben Wallace and 7-foot Whiteside gives them that with a 7-6 wingspan. He averaged over 5 blocks per game in his one season at Marshall. He is still raw offensively and needs to work on his upper body strength. However, his potential is unquestionable. He will be a project. Player most compared to: Tyson Chandler. Other possible selections: Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Epke Udoh. 8. Los Angeles Clippers: Ekpe Udoh (PF/C) Baylor. The long arm with a 7-4 ½ wingspan,Udoh, could be very effective playing along Blake Griffin in the Clippers frontcourt. Maybe the best shot blocker in the draft, Udoh is surprisingly comfortable playing defensive on the perimeter which is important for a big man in today’s NBA. He also has a solid mid range He needs to continue working on his offensive game to catch up to his defensive game. He needs to also work on finishing the play through contact and getting to the foul line. Player most compared to: Jason Thompson. Other possible selections: Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich. 9. Utah Jazz: Cole Aldrich (C) Kansas. Coming from one of the best programs in the country, Aldrich gives the Jazz size that they need to compete with some of the elite teams in the West. A true center, Aldrich has excellent footwork in the paint that has allowed his offensive game to develop over 3 seasons at Kansas. His shooting style is unorthodox but he may be too late to try and fix it. He isn’t the same athlete that some of the other big men in the draft are but it shouldn’t hurt him in Utah’s system. Player most compared to: Joel Przybilla. Other possible selections: Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Ed Davis. 10. Indiana Pacers: Greg Monroe (C) Georgetown. The Pacers have struggled at the point guard position for the last few seasons and address the situation with one of the best passing big men in years. Monroe is a guard in a center’s body. The lefty has a solid jump shot and a good face up game. Monroe will have to find a nasty, aggressive streak to play defense in the NBA. He also needs to improve his rebounding and his post up game to go along with his exceptional passing skills. Player most compared to: Lamar Odom. Other possible selections: Patrick Patterson, Ed Davis, Donatas Motiejunas. 11. New Orleans Hornets: Patrick Patterson (PF) Kentucky. The third Wildcat to go in the lottery, Patterson has an NBA ready body to go along with solid athleticism. He developed a solid jump shot last season, which should make him a great pick and roll forward in the NBA with Chris Paul. Has a great work ethic and should be a great teammate. He needs to work on being able to score off the dribble and develop a pull up jump shot. Will need to learn how to become a better rebounder despite going up against bigger opposition. Player most compared to: Buck Williams. Other possible selections: Ed Davis, Daniel Orton, Donatas Motiejunas. 12. Memphis Grizzles: Luke Babbit (SF) Nevada. Babbit is the hottest prospect in the draft right now believed to be a borderline first round pick, he has worked himself into the lottery. He is one of the most skilled players in the draft. The lefty has a great touch from the 3 point line and his mid range is superb. He also started to develop a post game last season. He does not have much lateral quickness which will hurt him trying to guard other small forwards in the league. His overall defense will need to be worked on although he is a solid rebounder Player most compared to: Chris Mullins. Other possible selections: Daniel Orton, Donatas Motiejunas, Xavier Henry. 13. Toronto Raptors: Daniel Orton (C) Kentucky. Orton would be the fourth Wildcat to go in the lottery and is easily the biggest mystery of the five expected first round picks. Orton averaged only 3 points and 3 rebounds in his one year at Kentucky and before that was coming off of a serious knee injury in his senior year of high school. He is certainly going to develop into a solid NBA body and has the potential to be a good center. However, he has not shown that ability on the court yet. Toronto will have to wait a few years to see results from this pick. Player most compared to: Erick Dampier. Other possible selections: Donatas Motiejunas, Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi. 14. Houston Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas (C/PF) Benetton Treviso (Italy) 1990 International. The first international player taken could be just as good as Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol according to some experts. The European has all the skills that basketball fans would expect because he has a great inside/outside game, he is a good jumper, he has great footwork and good passing skills. He must learn to keep his intensity level high and not lost focus. He needs to add weight to his frame which experts say should not be a problem for him. Player most compared to: Andrea Bargnani. Other possible selections: Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi, Xavier Henry, Damion James . |
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 August 2010 21:46 ) |

Comments
Evan Turner would be a great pick for Philly, its a given. Evan Turner is going to be the face of the Sixers. Haven't felt this hyped over them since the AI days!(=
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