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By: Slam
After a crazy NCAA tournament and amazing championship game, we get the Duke Blue Devils as our NCAA Champions. While Slam soaks in his misery, Freaknick has probably been on the phone with his Dad for hours reliving every Kyle Singler jumper. With the championship game over just yesterday, I give to you an instant NBA mock draft before any of the overrated workouts begin. This is pure hoops scouting by one of the best. I will use the current standings as my draft order and the picks are based more on what players I think will succeed as opposed to team fit.
1. New Jersey Nets- John Wall, Point Guard, Kentucky
2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Evan Turner, Guard, Ohio State
3. Detroit Pistons-Wesley Johnson, Forward, Syracuse
4. Golden State Warriors- Derrick Favors, Power Forward, Georgia Tech
5. Washington Wizards- DeMarcus Cousins, Center, Kentucky
6. Sacramento Kings- Greg Monroe, Center, Georgetown
7. Philadelphia 76ers- Cole Aldrich, Center, Kansas
8. Los Angeles Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu, Forward, Wake Forest
9. Utah Jazz- Ekpe Udoh, Power Forward, Baylor
10. Indiana Pacers- Jan Vesely, Forward, Partizan Belgrade
The first European player off the board is Vesely. He will try and turn the Euroleague Final Four, into a stage like it was for Kyle Singler and Gordon Hayward. This is a prime time platform where one great game could do wonders to your draft stock. Yes, someone of you out there might be saying why should one game matter so much, but it shows scouts that he can perform on the big stage. The Final Four is as close to NBA competition you are going to find outside the NBA, and will really give scouts and idea on Vesely’s toughness. Believe me all eyes, including my own, will be on the young kid from the Czech Republic.
11. New Orleans Hornets- Xavier Henry, Shooting Guard, Kansas
12. Milwaukee Bucks- Ed Davis, Power Forward, North Carolina
13. Houston Rockets- Donatas Motiejunas, Power Forward, Bennetton Basket
Donatas doesn’t have quite the stage of a Final Four, but he does have the Italian League. If Bennetton can make a run to the title game or the semi-finals of the league, then there will be a far greater chance that more scouts will be able to see him live. The better competition your teams plays, the more eyes you have on you, and the more your play matters. Donatas has been improving as the year has gone on by becoming more assertive, a strong finish to the season will leave a very good taste in a lot of scouts mouths.
14. Memphis Grizzlies- Patrick Patterson, Forward, Kentucky
15. Miami Heat- James Anderson, Small Forward, Oklahoma State
16. Minnesota Timberwolves- Damion James, Forward, Texas
17. Chicago Bulls- Jordan Crawford, Shooting Guard, Xavier
18. Miami Heat- Solomon Alabi, Center, Florida State
19. Portland Trailblazers- Gani Lawal, Power Forward, Georgia Tech
20. San Antonio Spurs- Devin Ebanks, Small Forward, West Virginia
21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Hassan Whiteside, Center, Marshall
22. Boston Celtics- Paul George, Guard, Fresno State
23. Oklahoma City Thunder- Gordon Hayward, Small Forward, Butler
24. Atlanta Hawks- Larry Sanders, Power Forward, Virginia Commonwealth
25. Memphis Grizzlies- Eric Bledsoe, Point Guard, Kentucky
26. Minnesota Timberwolves- Quincy Pondexter, Guard, Washington
27. New Jersey Nets-Kyle Singler, Forward, Duke
28. Orlando Magic- Avery Bradley, Guard, Texas
29. Memphis Grizzlies- Stanley Robinson, Small Forward, Connecticut
30. Washington Wizards-Dominique James, Shooting Guard, South Florida