John Wall: There is almost no doubt that John Wall is the top overall selection in the 2010 draft; he will be the focal point of Kentucky's new offense under John Calipari and unless the 6'3 Wall falls flat on his face (unlikely) he's the best of the bunch for 2010. Wall has impressive athleticism, is a fairly decent on the ball defender and has an array of moves with the ball. His YouTube video's look like Streetball tapes with wicked crossovers and step back jumpers, but scouts who have seen most of his high school games say he has the complete package to be a quality NBA point guard. Wall will be on a very big stage this year in Kentucky, he's going to be hard to miss.
Derrick Favors: Favors looks to be the top big man in the class. At 6'9 Favors looks to be part of a very impressive Georgia Tech team that could make some noise this year. Favors is a legit post player, although his footwork and post moves are somewhat limited. Favors is an incredible above-the-rim athlete and is a very exciting player to watch. Of all the players with hype, Favors is going to have to show some skills this season in order to be the first big man off the board next June. There is little doubt he's a lottery pick as he stands today, how high he goes will be greatly influenced on how well he plays this season at Tech. He too will have a tremendous spotlight and will be hard to miss.
Willie Warren: Willie could have been a first rounder in this year's draft but he opted for another year at Oklahoma. Warren was the second option with Blake Griffin last year and this will be his year to prove he's an elite NBA talent. Warren was at LeBron James' Skills camp this summer (site of the infamous dunk) and was one of the most impressive offensive players in attendance. At 6'4 Warren looks every bit the part of an impact scoring guard. He is a bit undersized for the NBA's two guard position so Warren will have to show he is an elite scorer like Ben Gordon or that he is a playmaker at the next level. Warren could have a very James Harden-type ride this season. Scouts know who he is and what he can do, now he just has to improve on his weaknesses (being a playmaker for others and better on the ball decision making) and stay healthy, if he can do both he'll be one of the top names called in June.
Patrick Patterson: Patrick tested the NBA waters this year and ultimately opted to return to Kentucky and should be another focal point for John Calipari's new system. The 6'8 Patterson is an amazing finisher around the rim and a decent post player, and was one of the most efficient players in the nation in the post. Patterson is shockingly right hand dominate – Synergy (the top video scouting tool) charts 90% of Patterson's offensive plays as coming from his right hand. A strong season at Kentucky could do wonders for Patterson's stock as he was considered one of the top post players this year, he will have a big stage to showcase his game and he could be a top 10 player next June, he could be the prime candidate to unseat Favors as the first Big Man off the board.
Greg Monroe: At 6'11 and 240, Greg Monroe is a long, athletic player and as this year's draft proved - with 6'11 Austin Daye going 15th to Detroit and 6'10 Earl Clark going #14 to Phoenix – the NBA is enamored with long, athletic players. Monroe was not a solid around the rim player last year which is likely why he opted for another year at Georgetown. Monroe has the dreaded "finesse" label which scouts use to say "not very tough." Greg will have to show some aggressiveness in his game this year and be a stronger finisher around the rim. If he can add that to his skill set already he should be a solid first round prospect this year and could go in that same 12 to 18 range other 6'11 players went this year.
Ed Davis: The North Carolina program will really be the Ed Davis show this year after losing three of their studs to the NBA. Davis was on the NBA radar last year, but really looks to be a focal point guy this year. Davis is a tremendous face up player and can shoot the ball pretty effectively. He'll need to showcase a wider range of skills to be a serious NBA prospect, but he should be someone to watch. At best Davis is a mid-first rounder, although if he does not show big improvements this year he may be best suited to stay out of the 2010 class as he could drop to other more proven players.
Al-Farouq Aminu: Al-Faroug may have missed his boat in opting to stay at Wake Forest for another year. His teammates James Johnson and Jeff Teague were first rounders this year and now Aminu is left without a big supporting cast. Aminu was also at LeBron James' Skill academy this summer and was underwhelming according to reports. Aminu is going to need a strong showing this season to stay among the top names in the class, but with less talent around him at Wake next season Aminu could be in for a long season.
Gani Lawal: Gani tested the NBA waters this summer and opted for another season at Georgia Tech where he'll share the front court with Derrick Favors, which means a lot of his games will be scrutinized more than last year. The biggest knock on Gani this year was consistency of his shots and ball handling. He is a monster around the rim and his knack for strong play in the post offsets his smaller frame (6'9 in shoes). Another strong season at Tech and Gani could cement himself as a legit first rounder; a breakout season at Tech could move him into the Top 15. The Detroit Pistons were very high on Gani in the draft process so don't be surprised if they are at every one of his games this season.
Solomon Alabi: Alabi looks to be among the top center prospects in the country, measuring in at over 7'1 and is coming along as a basketball player. The Nigerian-born Alabi had a reasonable season last year for a Florida State team that was near the top in the ACC. Alabi will have to show a lot of progress this season to be a serious prospect, but as previous drafts have proven, the NBA will draft project centers and Alabi could be one of those next June. Alabi is an extremely raw player, so marked improvement this season will likely be the measure on whether he's on track for the NBA. Alabi could be a player that needs two more seasons before heading to the NBA especially if Hasheem Thabeet (a good comparison player), this year's project, doesn't pan out.
Cole Aldrich: At 6'11 and a true center Cole is going be mentioned as a top-15 prospect all year. He sniffed at the NBA this summer but opted for another season at Kansas. The problem with Aldrich is he is simply big, is not overly skilled or polished, and is not the proven commodity that someone like Blake Griffin was this time last year. Aldrich needs a strong season at Kansas and to show that he has a skill set that not tied to being tall – improved footwork, a better offensive array and more fluidness to his game. Aldrich's name will be on the prospect lists, but his game does not translate well today, and improvement this year will go a long way toward proving if he can be a first round player. He is a guy to watch, he just may not be a guy taken in the first 15 picks.
The Latest: NBA training camp will open in less than 64 days, and several teams have yet to address their needs. The Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks have been the busiest teams in the league with the Mavericks reaching a deal yesterday with Tim Thomas, and the Raptors seem poised to seal the deal with Carlos Delfino this week – both sides remain eager to get a deal done. Here are some notes for today:
Odom And The HEAT: Yesterday there was some confusion over whether Lamar Odom and the HEAT had actually met on Monday in L.A. A CBS2 report from L.A., suggested that HEAT president Pat Riley and star guard Dwayne Wade were meeting with Lamar Odom on Monday.
Dwyane Wade is said to be headed to Portland this week for Nike (Brand Jordan) endorsement meetings, which puts a meeting next Monday with Odom unlikely. HEAT sources say "the plan" was to meet with Odom Monday night, but no one seems to be able to confirm if the meeting did indeed take place.
The HEAT would not confirm if Riley did meet with Odom Monday, nor would the Lakers.
Sources close to the situation said yesterday that Odom and the Lakers were still talking and that they seemed to be closing in on a deal. The same sources said Lamar's stance was to try and get a deal done with the Lakers and would look to Miami as his plan B if the talks did not progress this week.
The HEAT are rumored to be closing in on a $1.9 million deal with point guard Jamaal Tinsley that would use their Bi-Annual exception, while leaving all of their $5.8 million median exception open for Odom should talks with the Lakers fall apart.
Carlos On Lock Down? Carlos Boozer is still the top trade target of the summer and he has been doing his part to try and make things difficult for the Jazz by adding pressure to get a deal done sooner than later. Boozer confessed yesterday that he was asked to not talk about the situation by the Jazz.
"I can't speak about it anymore," Boozer said to Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "I was asked to let my agent and the Jazz take care of the situation and I'm gonna leave it at that. I'll let them take care of it and you guys will probably hear something before I do."
"[My agent is] definitely trying to help the Jazz do what they want to do by talking to different teams and seeing what will make their team better."
"Obviously, I'd have liked for it to have been over, of course, but at the same time I know whatever happens is meant to be and I look forward to it," Boozer said. "I'm just working my butt off ready for a monster season. And I'm just looking forward to dominating in the NBA again."
"Everything lays in the Jazz's hands. I know they're doing their homework and their due diligence and I'm gonna step back and not speculate about what I see on TV or what I hear on the radio and just let them do what they're gonna do."
"If I was traded to Miami, I would welcome that. That's what I meant. I don't have a No. 1 destination," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing next season and I'm looking forward to whatever jersey I do put on... I'm very interested and looking forward to see what the Jazz do."
Hornets Took Their Time: Hornet's GM Jeff Bower was a popular guy during the Las Vegas Summer League, executive after executives stopped by to chat with Bower and it was clear Tyson Chandler with the topic of many of those chats. HOOPSWORLD joked with several of them after their chats asking "So what's Chandler gonna cost you?" - a joke that never got old. Yesterday Bower consummated his deal sending out Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor living up to the pledge he made several weeks ago, saying that the Hornets were not holding a fire sale that it was about improving and competing. Bower admitted that the Chandler deal had been on the table for some time, the decision to take on the $60 million owed to Okafor was considered thoroughly and Okafor's upside was deemed worth the investment.
"Emeka will bring is a physical presence in the low post, someone who can become a threat for us down low and in the paint," Bower said to John DeShazier of The Times-Picayune. "We think he's a very good individual defender on the ball on the blocks, as well as a strong defensive rebounder and offensive rebounder. (Those characteristics and) the consistency that he's shown -- over the past season for instance -- are all elements that we think he'll add to our team."
"I think it shows that we are interested in improving and that we are interested in competing in the Western Conference, and we are willing to pay the price to do that," Bower said. "I think this trade did accomplish a number of objectives, and that's something that's a byproduct of it.
"We see the teams around us and we hear the comments in the community, and we understand the passion that exists in this community -- now, especially -- for the Hornets. We're right with them. We all feel the same thing. We are committed to improving.
"The commitment that Mr. Shinn and his family have made to allow this trade to go forward shows that he's interested in building a winner, and that he's interested in competing, and that that's what he wants. That's the message that's delivered from the highest part of the organization, and it's our job to try and make that happen."
Warrick To Milwaukee?: Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix is reporting from his Twitter account, that free agent Hakim Warrick could be headed to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Memphis Grizzlies recent rescinded their Qualifying Offer to Warrick making him an unrestricted free agent. Warrick's camp has said as many as six teams expressed interest in a multi-year deal. The Bucks are currently sitting on $68.5 million in salary commitments and have been clear that avoiding the Luxury tax would be a priority, suggesting that the Bucks may not be offering Warrick a sizable contract.
The Bucks also have the unresolved Ramon Sessions' situation to consider, word was they would match any contract offers under $5 million for Sessions, a Warrick deal would almost surely change those plans.
The Bucks can still clear $2 million off their cap by waiving Bruce Bowen's 50% guaranteed contract (valued at $4 million).
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