With the NBA All-Star weekend upon us, it is time for an annual tradition here at The Sports Bank; the NBA Draft Lottery Re-do. Peter Christian and David Kay will alternate re-drafting the top fourteen picks in the 2010 NBA Draft taking into account what they know about the rookies based off their performances so far this season. They will factor in how each team’s roster looked at the time of the draft (for example, Gilbert Arenas was still with the Wizards and not the Magic, so when the Wiz pick first, Arenas will be part of the team) and give their reasons as to why the selection would be made. You can check out our 2011 NBA Mock Draft by clicking here.
1. Washington Wizards-
Actual Pick: John Wall, PG, Kentucky
Re-Do Pick: John Wall, PG, Kentucky
(DK) Without question, Wall is the cream of this year’s rookie crop. He is averaging almost 15 points, 9 assists, and 4-plus rebounds per game and has displayed the abilities to be the next great point guard in the NBA. If it were not for Blake Griffin taking the league by storm, Wall would hands down be the Rookie of the Year.
(PC) No doubt that Wall was the best fit for the #1 pick. He’s a stud in the making. He’s already at a point where he just needs to work on his shooting to become an elite PG.
2. Philadelphia 76ers-
Actual Pick: Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State
Re-Do Pick: DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky
(PC) Cousins fell out of top 2-3 consideration because of his label as a bit of a headcase and even though it has come to fruition in Sacramento, his first few months in the league have been very successful. The Sixers took Turner because he was supposed to be Mr. Versatile and could fit with almost any rotation they put on the floor. That hasn’t been the case yet.
Meanwhile, Cousins has shown flashes of greatness in his first four months as an NBA player. Cousins might not fill an immediate need for the 76ers but his ability would likely make some of the team’s current bigs (who make a lot more money) expendable.
(DK) Cousins is without question the second best rookie in this class but you hit the nail on the head with his maturity issues. I actually think he would fill an immediate need for Philly at center as he would easily log more minutes than Spencer Hawes or Marreese Speights and also allow Elton Brand to play more at the four.
3. New Jersey Nets-
Actual Pick: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
Re-Do Pick: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
(DK) Remember, at the time of the draft, the Nets only had a handful of players under contract so they were in a “take the best available prospect” position and would once again do so with Favors. He is not having the best rookie season in New Jersey but his potential makes him their pick once again with hopes that he and Brook Lopez could make a formidable frontcourt tandem in the near future.
(PC) I think the argument could be made for Greg Monroe at this pick, especially since his rebounding numbers have jumped in the last few weeks. However, I’m still pretty sure Favors has more potential than Monroe so I’m not going to disagree here.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves-
Actual Pick: Wesley Johnson, SG/SF, Syracuse
Re-Do Pick: Wesley Johnson, SG/SF, Syracuse
(PC) I can’t believe that the 2010 NCAA POY in Evan Turner would slip past the Timberwolves if we took a mulligan on the 2010 NBA Draft, but I’m sticking with the better shooting Johnson for the Wolves. Johnson and Turner have nearly identical stat lines through the first four months of their career with one glaring exception: 3 point shooting. Johnson shoots 9% better than Turner and the Wolves really needed a shooter on draft night (prior to acquiring Martell Webster).
(DK) Honestly, I would have gone with Paul George here. Let’s be honest, the T-Wolves won’t be a playoff team anytime in the near future and I think George has shown the potential to be a better long-term player than Wesley.
(Editors Note: The Timberwolves have a 3 year plan to make the playoffs. A THREE YEAR PLAN!!!!)
5. Sacramento Kings-
Actual Pick: DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky
Re-Do Pick: Ed Davis, PF/C, North Carolina
(DK) You can eliminate Turner because he would not compliment Tyreke Evans as the two are too similar in their need to have the ball in their hands to be successful. Davis edges out Monroe because I think his ceiling is greater.
(PC) I’m not as convinced on Ed Davis’ ceiling being higher than Greg Monroe’s. Monroe has impressed me since the calender changed to 2011 and I would lean to taking him over Davis, but Davis has shown glimpses of NBA ability as well. I’d call that choice a coin flip.
6. Golden State Warriors-
Actual Pick: Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor
Re-Do Pick: Greg Monroe, PF/C, Georgetown
(PC) Golden State thought they were getting a shot blocking machine in Udoh to create a formidable front line with David Lee’s rebounding skills. And while Udoh might be that player someday, it probably won’t be for Golden State. He struggles to find minutes and hasn’t produced in those minutes. Monroe has been a solid rookie contributor and would be a better choice for the Warriors
(DK) Agreed. A pre-season injury derailed the start to Udoh’s NBA career as he missed the first month and a half of the season. Monroe seems like the better prospect though he is the not the defensive-minded big the Warriors were looking for in this draft.
7. Detroit Pistons-
Actual Pick: Greg Monroe, PF/C, Georgetown
Re-Do Pick: Evan Turner, SG/SF, Ohio State
(DK) Detroit sorely needed a big man out of this draft but with Davis and Monroe coming off the board with the last two picks, they are better served taking Turner than any other big. He would fit the role that T-Mac is currently playing in Detroit since McGrady was not yet on the Pistons at the time of the draft. I still think Turner can be a solid pro, it just seems like he does not fit in Philly which was a concern of many when the 76ers took him second overall.
(PC) Yeah, even with Turner’s struggles this is too far for him to fall. If Turner had slipped this far some GM would have made a Godfather offer to jump up and grab him. I mean, he’s struggled but everyone agrees he’s still an NBA player, no?
8. Los Angeles Clippers-
Actual Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
Re-Do Pick: Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky
(PC) Bledsoe has been a bit of a surprise thus far for the Clippers who was taken 18th by the OKC Thunder then traded to the Clips on draft day. Since then, he’s started 22 games and been a good spark for the young squad when Baron Davis needs to take a breather. This pick leaves them thin at the 3, but Bledsoe is a very good back up to BD and has a bright future as an NBA point guard.
(DK) With Paul George and Landry Fields still on the board, I would think the Clips take one of them instead of a back-up point guard. We didn’t know Baron Davis was going to be a piece of crap at the beginning of the season and that L.A. would need Bledsoe so I think a SF is still the way they would have gone.
9. Utah Jazz-
Actual Pick: Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler
Re-Do Pick: Paul George, SF, Fresno State
(DK) This would be a great value for the Jazz at nine. As the season has moved along, George has shown tremendous upside due to his athleticism and potential. Hayward has not been the answer on the wing and could pan out down the line but George has a much brighter NBA future.
(PC) Paul George is a great pick at 9. He could immediately help the Jazz while also developing into an established NBA player for years to come. It’s hard to believe a player slid in our re-do, but George just did that.
10. Indiana Pacers-
Actual Pick: Paul George, SF, Fresno State
Re-Do Pick: Landry Fields, G/F, Stanford
(PC) Fields was a 2nd round pick last June, but he’s a top ten pick in the re-do draft. On the Knicks Fields has flourished as an everyman who has multiple talents and can fill many different voids for the Pacers who could use some versatility in their lineup.
(DK) Based on his production this season, Fields is a great get at ten. However, I cannot help but wonder if his success stems from a good situation playing in an up-tempo Knicks offense or if he is just a diamond in the rough who slipped through the cracks ala Wesley Matthews a year ago.
11. New Orleans Hornets-
Actual Pick: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
Re-Do Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
(DK) If the Hornets had to do it over, I think they keep this pick rather than make a trade with the Thunder to get two picks in the twenties since the depth in this class has been so weak. At the time of the draft, Trevor Ariza had not been acquired by New Orleans whose main small forward option was Peja Stojakovic. Aminu would not have been an immediate solution beyond contributing off the bench but would give them a better option for the future than the Quincy Pondexter/Craig Brackins selections they made with the 21st and 26th picks.
(PC) In my mind Aminu is the last of the decent in the 2010 NBA draft so this pick fits the “best available” mold and also the biggest need for the Hornets. Can’t argue with this one.
12. Memphis Grizzlies-
Actual Pick: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas
Re-Do Pick: James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State
(PC) It’s my professional opinion that the rest of this draft class sucks so the Grizzlies are taking a player that could best help them moving forward. Anderson has enough size to play the two or the three (though he’s a shooting guard to the core) and he’s an excellent shooter. The Grizzlies would probably like to get someone that could play a more conventional small forward as they have decent depth at the two guard, but Anderson is my guy and I’m sticking with him.
(DK) It is sad that a guy who has played in nine games this season goes 12th overall. I can’t totally disagree with the pick though I think Henry has more potential than Anderson and since that is all you are getting from this point on other than a guy who could maybe contribute five minutes a game, I would lean towards sticking with him.
13. Toronto Raptors-
Actual Pick: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
Re-Do Pick: Larry Sanders, PF, VCU
(DK) Power forward was the obvious way to go for the Raptors since they knew they were losing Chris Bosh and needed to find a young player to help fill that void for the future. Of the top remaining fours, (Sanders, Udoh, and Patrick Patterson) Sanders has shown the most potential. Plus, his defensive prowess and ability to rebound is a good fit along a soft, perimeter-based big like Andrea Bargnani.
(PC) Larry Sanders? Sure. Sounds great. I’m not sure how else to illustrate that the 2010 Draft class is about as promising as Charlie Sheen staying sober beyond his July 4th party which will take place in his “Porn Room”
14. Houston Rockets-
Actual Pick: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
Re-Do Pick: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
(PC) If this re-do were real and Rockets GM Daryl Morey got to this point he’d likely be throwing around F-Bombs like Rajon Rondo drops dimes. To think you’re going to be able to improve your pick only to be saddled with the same dude would have to be frustrating. No disrespect to Patterson, but he hasn’t really shown anything special. What it comes down to is choosing between Patterson and Ekpe Udoh. Udoh’s got the size but Patterson fits the Houston mold better (smaller forward, hard worker) and Patterson is two years younger. I’ll take the youth and bolt.
(DK) Patterson is a nice energy player off the bench but just has not found enough PT on a crowded Rockets front court. Morey is a smart dude so maybe he goes with an up-side player like Henry or Gordon Hayward instead, but I cannot argue with Patterson. Of course if I was Houston GM, I am taking my boy Lazar Hayward without a doubt. By the way, Charlie Sheen has a porn room?
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and former contributor for The Washington Times Communities. You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
The post 2010 NBA Draft Lottery Re-Do appeared first on The Sports Bank.