2010 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

After finishing the first ten picks, now I'm going to look at the next 10 picks, from 11 to 20. The first pick in this group goes to the New Orleans Hornets.

11. New Orleans Hornets - F/C Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
A European 19 year-old is an unknown in the US, but many scouts are very high on him. He has the ability to go to both sides, and is a huge matchup problem for any big men (he's 7'0") with his versatility. He is also very quick and agile, and he also possesses strong ball handling skills. Motiejunas also has improved on the low post, and has great offensive potential. He's still a project, but he can definitely improve on both sides of the ball to get better.

12. Memphis Grizzlies - G James Anderson, Oklahoma State
The Grizzlies don't really have that many teams, and were in the hunt for the eighth seed for a while. Anderson is a great shooter, and can provide them some extra depth at the guard position (they already have OJ Mayo and Ronnie Brewer), but Anderson is a strong offensive player, and I think the Grizzlies could use some more young offensive talent.

13. Toronto Raptors - F Xavier Henry, Kansas
The Raports have some good players, but they are in need of a strong wing player to start for them. Henry is very big for a wing, and has a very NBA-ready body. He's polished offensively, and plays defense at a very high level. He could fit into the gaping hole Toronto has on the wing.

14. Houston Rockets - C Hassan Whiteside, Marshall
Whiteside is a freakish athlete (he measured a 7'7"wingspan in a pre-draft camp) who was largely unknown coming into the season. However, he emerged as the CUSA Freshman of the Year, and he led the NCAA in blocked shots. He is still very raw, but has shown some great potential to known down mid-range shots and handle the ball.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - G Gordon Hayward, Butler
Hayward was a surprise entrant from National runner-up Butler. The sophomore star of the team, he possesses a solid jumper and good speed. The Bucks drafted Joe Alexander a few years ago, a similar player to Hayward, but Hayward seems much more skilled.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves - F/C Larry Sanders, VCU
Sanders became a prolific and efficient scorer this year at VCU, and now looks like a productive player in the paint. He is a great athlete and a huge wingspan, but needs to add strength to grow into a solid NBA player. The Timberwolves have Kevin Love and Al Jefferson in the front court, but Sanders is a solid player to add.

17. Chicago Bulls - F Paul George, Fresno State
George is a late bloomer and very unknown in college basketball, but he is very dynamic and fluid. He could put on some weight, but he stands a solid 6'9". George played AAU with future UCLA-bound guards Malcolm Lee and Jrue Holliday. George could definitely find some untapped potential and become a solid player.

18. Miami Heat - F/C Epke Udoh, Baylor
A lot of mock drafts have Udoh going much higher, even in the lottery, but I think Udoh still has more to prove as a post player to be drafted that high. He is a great shot blocker and athlete, and the Heat can definitely use someone down low, and to try and keep Dwayne Wade.

19. Boston Celtics - G Elliot Williams, Memphis
Williams, a transfer from Duke, is a little bit of a reach for the Celtics here, but they really need to start finding the eventual replacement for Ray Allen, and Williams can definitely score with a great deal of ease. If he improves his shooting a little bit, he can be a very potent offensive threat for Boston.

20. San Antonio Spurs - F Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Babbitt is another unknown player who will most likely be drafted in the first round. He is not that athletic, but is a solid scorer inside and out. He stands 6'7", so he probably won't be able to play PF, but can still be a solid player for San Antonio.

So with picks 11-20, I'll finish out the rest of the first round, and talk about other guys, who could be taken in the first round and early second round. Sorry for the delay in this post. Enjoy!

2010 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 1-10

After the draft lottery on Tuesday, the Washington Wizards received the first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Wizards, a team that's season contained the Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton gun incident, and the trading away of All-Star caliber players Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Overall, the Wizards appear to be in a rebuilding mode. Let's take a look at the top 10 picks in the draft.

1. Washington Wizards - PG John Wall, Kentucky
With Arenas being a distraction, I think the Wizards are going to cut ties with their veteran point guard. Wall is a great player, and can help the Wizards rebuild their team. Pairing Wall, a great play maker, with their other 1st round pick (30th overall) could provide the Wizards a dynamic duo for the future.

2. Philadelphia 76ers - F Wesley Johnson, Syracuse
Many people are saying that Evan Turner should be the pick here, and I do feel Turner is the better player. However, if the the 76ers take Turner, they will have 4 guards in Turner, Lou Williams, Jrue Holliday, and Andre Iguodala, and none of them are great jump shooters. Johnson is a solid wing player, who can catch and shoot at a great percentage (he shot 41% percent from 3 last year at Syracuse).

3. New Jersey Nets - F Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
While Evan Turner is still the best player on the board, he just doesn't fit well with New Jersey. The Nets already have 4 players of their future lineup complete (Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, and Brooke Lopez), and Favors could fit in with their new lineup. Favors did not produce stellar numbers at GT, but his potential is great enough to justify being drafted this high.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves - G Evan Turner, Ohio State
In my opinion, Turner is the best player on the board, but none of the top 3 teams have needs at the 2 guard. The Timberwolves should try to build around Jonny Flynn and their big men Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. Evan Turner would be a great piece to add to the lineup, and Corey Brewer is turning out to be a solid pro. If the Timberwolves could get Turner, they could have a bright future.

5. Sacramento Kings - F/C Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Monroe is a great post player, and an above average passer. Monroe had decent stats at Georgetown in his two year career, and still has some untapped scoring potential. Pairing Tyreke Evans and Monroe can provide a solid duo for the Kings. If Wes Johnson is available here, I could see the Kings taking him to give them a wing presence, but if he isn't Monroe is a decent pick.

6. Golden State Warriors - F/C DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins was one of the most dominating post players in college last year at Kentucky. He could provide a post presence that the Warriors have lacked the past few years. The Warriors have a dominant back court with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, and Cousins could give them a player to feed the ball to in the low post.

7. Detroit Pistons - F Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
The Pistons, a perennial playoff team, had a pretty bad year this season, but Aminu can help them reload and possibly contend for a spot next year. The Pistons have some good pieces in place with Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon. Adding Aminu could provide them with a good low post player to rebound and score. Aminu also has a solid mid-range jumper.

8. Los Angeles Clippers - F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
The third Kentucky player in the top 10, Patterson might not have as high a profile as Cousins and Wall, but he can have a huge impact for the Clippers. With Patterson, Blake Griffin, and Eric Gordon, the Clippers can try to create a young nucleus to push them closer to playoff contention in a few years.

9. Utah Jazz - C Cole Aldrich, Kansas
The Jazz have some good young player in Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews, but with Carlos Boozer possibly leaving, and Mehmet Okur injured, the Jazz low post game could really suffer next year. Aldrich is a great shot blocker as well as a great offensive big man. He can replace Boozer as their main scorer down low if Boozer chooses to leave Utah in the free agent period.

10 Indiana Pacers - F Ed Davis, North Carolina
The Pacers have Danny Granger, but not many other players they can count on. Ed Davis had a very limited career at North Carolina, playing as a role player in his freshman year, and breaking his wrist in his sophomore year and missing the entire season. Still, Ed Davis has a lot of potential to be a great forward, and the Pacers here are just taking the best player available.

Be sure to check out picks 11-20 which will hopefully be up this week. In the NBA Playoffs, the Celtics have a 3-1 lead on Orlando, and the Lakers have a 2-1 lead on Phoenix. In the NHL Playoffs, the Flyers and the Blackhawks have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia won 4-2, and the Blackhawks swept the San Jose Sharks. Enjoy this week in sports!

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