16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Bobcats) – James Anderson G/F Oklahoma StateThey've got
Jonny Flynn (and eventually (maybe)
Ricky Rubio) to run the point, and
Corey Brewer at shooting guard. Anderson looks like an NBA swingman, and while he won't be a great player, he is a very good shooter – and Minnesota could certainly use one of those.
17. Chicago Bulls (via Bucks) – Eric Bledsoe G KentuckyHe can play either guard spot and would make for a nice backup for
Kirk Hinrich and
Derrick Rose. He's primarily a shooting guard, although he's undersized and struggled in the NCAA Tourney.
18. Miami Heat – Avery Bradley G TexasThe Heat are obviously desperate for a point guard, so they may throw Bradley out there and see if he sticks. He loves to shoot and isn't the fastest guy around, but should be able to have a decent NBA career. It's possible Bradley could end up going in the Top 10, but for now, my guess is the Heat would love to get their hands on him. He could also go much earlier, if the Pacers decide they want another point guard.
19. Boston Celtics - Paul George G/F Fresno State Tony Allen is probably not the answer for the Celtics' bench and knee surgeries are surely going to cut his career short. The Celtics could get a steal by taking George here. He started out as a relative unknown this year, but is quickly gaining fans in the NBA. He's an athletic power dunker who can contribute in almost any fantasy-scoring category, and averaged nearly 17 points and seven boards for Fresno. He's my favorite sleeper in the draft, and I doubt I'm alone in that thinking.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Patrick Patterson PF KentuckyPatterson reminds me of guys like
Carl Landry,
DeJuan Blair and
Jason Thompson, and could end up being a double-double machine. The Spurs already have Blair, but
Tim Duncan's years are running out and the Spurs could use another big man.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Larry Sanders PF VCUFirst of all, I love
Larry Sanders, the fictional talk show host, and his sidekick Hank. But I also kind of love the
Larry Sanders who played at VCU last year. He plays great D, rebounds and blocks shots. The Thunder could use another big body to complement
Russell Westbrook,
Kevin Durant,
Jeff Green and
James Harden. Hey now…
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Devin Ebanks SF West VirginiaEbanks is known for his long arms and strong rebounding for a small forward. He's not a prolific scorer, but the Blazers are set at most other positions. Ebanks seems to make sense here, but what Portland will do with this pick is anyone's guess.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Jazz) – Quincy Pondexter SF WashingtonIf the Wolves follow my script, they may not need a small forward like Pondexter here. But
Ryan Gomes may not be the long-term answer at SF for the Wolves, and Pondexter will surely be in play here. He's aggressive and quick, and could become a solid bench player for the Wolves.
24. Atlanta Hawks – Solomon Alabi C Florida StateAlabi averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and a school-record 2.1 blocked shots in 77 games for the Seminoles. The Hawks need a coach and some leadership, but they also desperately need a center. Maybe Alabi will be the answer.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (via Denver) – Damion James F TexasRudy Gay is a free agent and
Zach Randolph is entering the last year of his contract, so the Grizzlies might need a small forward ASAP. James may not be around at No. 25, but would be the pick if he falls. James seems to have all the tools to be a quality combo forward in the NBA, but will need to improve his jump shot.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Suns) – Elliot Williams SG MemphisJames Harden appears to have a solid future in the NBA, but with no great center prospects available this late, they might grab a back up for
Thabo Sefolosha and Harden. Williams is a strong offensive player and could eventually provide some instant offense in the NBA.
27. New Jersey Nets (via Dallas) – Stanley Robinson SF Connecticut Terrence Williams' strong finish makes him look like the SF of the future in Jersey, but some good old-fashioned competition would be good for him. Robinson isn't guaranteed to go in the first round, but the Nets taking him here seems to make sense. He's a good defender, can score, and will hit some threes if left open.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (via Lakers) – Craig Brackins PF Iowa StateZach Randolph is in the last year of his contract and Brackins' stock is on the rise. He's got a high basketball IQ and is a team player in every sense of the word.
Darrell Arthur doesn't look like the answer, but Brackins might be.
29. Orlando Magic – Terrico White SG MississippiWhite is freakishly athletic and has as much potential as any player outside of the Top 5. He is inconsistent and might lose concentration at times, but with
Vince Carter's future in Orlando (and the NBA) running out of steam, taking White here makes sense.
30. Washington Wizards (via Cleveland) – Dominique Jones G South FloridaJones is a combo guard out of South Florida who could slide into Round 2. He can create his own shot and looks like he'll play shooting guard in the NBA. The Wizards need all the help they can get, and Jones could be a solid NBA player.
Here is Version 4 of my NBA Mock Draft. The big news since the last update is that
Donatas Motiejunas has pulled out of the draft. Chad Ford also has the Sixers passing on
Evan Turner and taking
Derrick Favors, but I still don't think I'm ready to go there - yet.
1. Washington Wizards – John Wall PG Kentucky Congratulations to the Wizards, who will almost certainly take Wall with the first pick. The bigger question is whether or not
Gilbert Arenas is back with the Wizards or moved at a discounted price. But either way, Wall is now the future in Washington, despite the fact they don't have much to surround him with right now.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner SG Ohio StateI keep hearing
Brandon Roy's name when people are talking about Turner, and perhaps no player is as NBA-ready as the Ohio State product. He should vie for Rookie of the Year in Philly, who was the other big winner on draft night. And if the Wizards somehow pass on Wall, the Sixers will gladly take him, even if it doesn't make a ton of sense with
Jrue Holiday coming on. Rumors are swirling that the Sixers might take
Derrick Favors with this pick, and while I may eventually buy into that theory, I still think Turner is the pick here.
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech I slept on Favors in Version 1, but he's going to be a Top 5 pick. He's still somewhat of a project – as in a guy who won't be ready to really produce for a couple years. I doubt he is in the running for Rookie of the Year and offensively, he's probably going to struggle. But a timeshare with
Yi Jianlian might be just what the doctor ordered, and three years from now he could be a beast. Favors could be taken with the No. 2 pick by the Sixers, and the Nets will
gladly take Turner if it happens.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson SF Syracuse The Wolves don't need another big man and Johnson's stock appears to be rising quickly. The Wolves aren't exactly strong at small forward, and Johnson looks like he's ready to step in and contribute on Day 1.
5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins C KentuckyThe Kings have
Spencer Hawes and
Jason Thompson, but given the inconsistency of Hawes, could go with this big man as an insurance policy. Some people love Cousins, while others see him as a serious bust candidate. Either way, it's not likely he'll go later than No. 5 or 6 in the draft. They could also take a small forward like
Al-Farouq Aminu here, which would make sense.
6. Golden State Warriors – Cole Aldrich C KansasWith the disastrous, injury-plagued season the Warriors' big men had (
Andris Biedrins,
Ronny Turiaf,
Anthony Randolph,
Brandan Wright), the Warriors would have
loved to get their hands on Cousins, and its' possible he could fall to them. If not, Aldrich seems to make the most sense at No. 6. Can Aldrich play for Nellie? We may be close to finding out.
7. Detroit Pistons – Al-Farouq Aminu SF Wake ForestThe Pistons need help at almost every position and Aminu's stock is rising. If he's still available at seven, it's hard to imagine the Pistons passing on him. It would also clear the way for them to trade
Tayshaun Prince, which seems like something
Joe Dumars wouldn't mind doing.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – Greg Monroe PF Georgetown Ford has the Clips taking
Gordon Hayward here, which is funny, since the early prediction was that he wasn't a lottery pick. It also makes my call for the Pacers to take him at No. 10 look that much more legit. Monroe's another player whose stock is rising and the Jazz love him. If he's still available at No. 9 the Jazz will bite, but I doubt he's there after the Clips pick. The Clippers are still unsure of how healthy
Blake Griffin's going to be, so Monroe might be a nice insurance pick.
9. Utah Jazz (from Knicks) – Ed Davis SF North CarolinaThe Jazz will likely need a replacement for free agent
Kyle Korver, as well as some insurance for oft-injured
Andrei Kirilenko. Davis is a legitimate Top 10 pick, and he could end up going anywhere from No. 6 to 11. He has the potential to be an
Al Horford clone, which is why he will go in the lottery. The Jazz would be pleased to see Monroe here, and also have an eye on
Gordon Hayward.
10. Indiana Pacers – Gordon Hayward F ButlerDo I really believe the Pacers will reach for Butler's phenom at No. 10? I'm starting to – if he's even available this late. For some reason, his stock is rising and Ford has Hayward going at No. 8 to the Clippers. He'd sell tickets in Indy, and they need as much help in that department as they do on the court. If Hayward doesn't blow them away in workouts, guard
Avery Bradley could be the guy.
11. New Orleans Hornets – Luke Babbitt SF NevadaBabbitt is a lefty with an eagle eye from the free throw line and beyond the arc. The Hornets could use a shooter with
Peja Stojakovic usually hurting, and Babbitt's stock is on the rise. No. 11 might be a bit too early, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the Hornets take a gamble on him there. Defense is the big question mark with Babbitt, and there is a concern that he could be the next
Adam Morrison. We'll see.
12. Memphis Grizzlies - Ekpe Udoh PF BaylorZach Randolph isn't going to be around forever and
Darrell Arthur hasn't exactly knocked anyone's socks off. Udoh averaged 14 & 10 at Baylor, but will probably be more of a role player in the NBA.
13. Toronto Raptors - Daniel Orton F/C Kentucky Chris Bosh seems good as gone in Toronto, while
Andrea Bargnani is a center only on paper. Orton would provide some immediate size and strength for the Raptors and seems to make a lot of sense here. The only problem is that Orton averaged just three points and three boards while playing behind some studs at UK last year, meaning he's going to be a project.
14. Houston Rockets – Xavier Henry G KansasThe Rockets have
Aaron Brooks and
Kevin Martin, but also don't really need any more big men who aren't centers. Henry's draft position is up in the air and he could easily go 10 picks later than this, although I have a feeling his stock will rise.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (via Bulls) – Hassan Whiteside PF MarshallWhiteside will be a bit of a project, but is still a possible lottery pick. His wingspan is huge and he's been impressive in workouts. He should become a defensive specialist, somewhat like a junior version of
Marcus Camby. But it could take him a few years to develop.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Bobcats) – James Anderson G/F Oklahoma StateThey've got
Jonny Flynn (and eventually (maybe)
Ricky Rubio) to run the point, and
Corey Brewer at shooting guard. Anderson looks like an NBA swingman, and while he won't be a great player, he is a very good shooter – and Minnesota could certainly use one of those.
17. Chicago Bulls (via Bucks) – Eric Bledsoe G KentuckyHe can play either guard spot and would make for a nice backup for
Kirk Hinrich and
Derrick Rose. He's primarily a shooting guard, although he's undersized and struggled in the NCAA Tourney.
18. Miami Heat – Avery Bradley G TexasThe Heat are obviously desperate for a point guard, so they may throw Bradley out there and see if he sticks. He loves to shoot and isn't the fastest guy around, but should be able to have a decent NBA career. It's possible Bradley could end up going in the Top 10, but for now, my guess is the Heat would love to get their hands on him. He could also go much earlier, if the Pacers decide they want another point guard.
19. Boston Celtics - Paul George G/F Fresno State Tony Allen is probably not the answer for the Celtics' bench and knee surgeries are surely going to cut his career short. The Celtics could get a steal by taking George here. He started out as a relative unknown this year, but is quickly gaining fans in the NBA. He's an athletic power dunker who can contribute in almost any fantasy-scoring category, and averaged nearly 17 points and seven boards for Fresno. He's my favorite sleeper in the draft, and I doubt I'm alone in that thinking.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Patrick Patterson PF KentuckyPatterson reminds me of guys like
Carl Landry,
DeJuan Blair and
Jason Thompson, and could end up being a double-double machine. The Spurs already have Blair, but
Tim Duncan's years are running out and the Spurs could use another big man.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Larry Sanders PF VCUFirst of all, I love
Larry Sanders, the fictional talk show host, and his sidekick Hank. But I also kind of love the
Larry Sanders who played at VCU last year. He plays great D, rebounds and blocks shots. The Thunder could use another big body to complement
Russell Westbrook,
Kevin Durant,
Jeff Green and
James Harden. Hey now…
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Devin Ebanks SF West VirginiaEbanks is known for his long arms and strong rebounding for a small forward. He's not a prolific scorer, but the Blazers are set at most other positions. Ebanks seems to make sense here, but what Portland will do with this pick is anyone's guess.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Jazz) – Quincy Pondexter SF WashingtonIf the Wolves follow my script, they may not need a small forward like Pondexter here. But
Ryan Gomes may not be the long-term answer at SF for the Wolves, and Pondexter will surely be in play here. He's aggressive and quick, and could become a solid bench player for the Wolves.
24. Atlanta Hawks – Solomon Alabi C Florida StateAlabi averaged 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and a school-record 2.1 blocked shots in 77 games for the Seminoles. The Hawks need a coach and some leadership, but they also desperately need a center. Maybe Alabi will be the answer.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (via Denver) – Damion James F TexasRudy Gay is a free agent and
Zach Randolph is entering the last year of his contract, so the Grizzlies might need a small forward ASAP. James may not be around at No. 25, but would be the pick if he falls. James seems to have all the tools to be a quality combo forward in the NBA, but will need to improve his jump shot.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Suns) – Elliot Williams SG MemphisJames Harden appears to have a solid future in the NBA, but with no great center prospects available this late, they might grab a back up for
Thabo Sefolosha and Harden. Williams is a strong offensive player and could eventually provide some instant offense in the NBA.
27. New Jersey Nets (via Dallas) – Stanley Robinson SF Connecticut Terrence Williams' strong finish makes him look like the SF of the future in Jersey, but some good old-fashioned competition would be good for him. Robinson isn't guaranteed to go in the first round, but the Nets taking him here seems to make sense. He's a good defender, can score, and will hit some threes if left open.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (via Lakers) – Craig Brackins PF Iowa StateZach Randolph is in the last year of his contract and Brackins' stock is on the rise. He's got a high basketball IQ and is a team player in every sense of the word.
Darrell Arthur doesn't look like the answer, but Brackins might be.
29. Orlando Magic – Terrico White SG MississippiWhite is freakishly athletic and has as much potential as any player outside of the Top 5. He is inconsistent and might lose concentration at times, but with
Vince Carter's future in Orlando (and the NBA) running out of steam, taking White here makes sense.
30. Washington Wizards (via Cleveland) – Dominique Jones G South FloridaJones is a combo guard out of South Florida who could slide into Round 2. He can create his own shot and looks like he'll play shooting guard in the NBA. The Wizards need all the help they can get, and Jones could be a solid NBA player.