Tonight at 8pm is arguably the 2nd most important moment the NBA will face in the next boatload of years.
The first being July 1st, 2010 of course, the day teams are allowed to start talking to free agents.
The worst team in the NBA last year, the New Jersey Nets have a 25% chance of winning the lottery and can finish no worse than the 4th pick. All signs point to John Wall the star Kentucky point guard as the #1 pick this year.
You can not really blame any team for taking Wall, he is an explosive guard who can score at will, create off the dribble and take over when he wants, much like Chicago Bulls point guard and former Memphis Tigers stud Derrick Rose.
The teams in the lottery are New Jersey, Minnesota, Sacramento, Golden State, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah, Indiana, New Orleans, Memphis, Toronto and Houston.
The first two picks have been known for a very long time, Wall and Evan Turner the 6'7 versatile forward for Ohio State.
After those two things are up in the air. It will be all based on need and what fits, not necessarily the best player available.
For a long time I went back and forth on whether it makes basketball sense for the Nets to draft John Wall with Devin Harris already running point. But because he is injury prone the move will have to be done. Plus if healthy that is the fastest guard tandem in the NBA bar-none.
DeMarcus Cousins who was so dominating for Coach Cal at Kentucky has good post moves for a young player. His big frame will carry him early on but his big thick head will cause problems. He is a type of player who will see the floor and potentially get technical fouls at the rate of Rasheed Wallace.
Derrick Favors out of Georgia Tech has been tabbed as an NBA player for years. He played well for the Yellow Jackets but I still feel he is very raw.
Georgetown's Greg Monroe is the best passing big man since Vlade Divac. Although he is soft in the paint he will be able to use his 7'0 body to play around the rim. He has also developed a medium range jump shot that should help him as well.
Syracuse's Wes Johnson, Wake Forrest's Al-Farouq Aminu, North Carolina's Ed Davis are all players with big upsides. They have talent but need to be in the right system in order to utilize them properly. Johnson in my opinion would be a great fit with Utah who could use a good play maker along with Derron Williams. Ed Davis I feel will be THE BIGGEST REACH in this draft. i felt he more than anyone else in the draft could have used more time in college. He needs to develop mass on his body as he is easy to push around in the paint, especially in the NBA. Aminu will be a big work in progress for which ever team will draft him. Time will tell if his skills translate to the NBA.
Of course it will be easier to pin point who will go where later tonight, but as of right now the future of the NBA seems very bright.
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