The 2010 NBA draft is only seven weeks away! Don’t try to hide your excitement. We took a stab at the draft lottery in February, and here’s a glimpse at the first round. The order will be set May 18 after the draft lottery. That’s the night someone will win Kentucky’s John Wall, the runner-up prize will most likely be Ohio State’s Evan Turner, and then the third team will have a decision to make between two imposing post players. Hopefully, neither is a bust along the lines of the Candy Man. Team storylines: the Timberwolves and Grizzlies are both sitting on three picks, and the Jazz have have the Knicks’ Top 10 pick.

1 New Jersey – John Wall, PG, Kentucky. And then, the Nets can focus on free agents.

2 Minnesota – Evan Turner, SG/SF, Ohio State. Everyone says Evan Turner. But do the Wolves get another point guard? Ricky Rubio is still waiting in Spain.

3 Sacramento – DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky. We give him the edge over Favors.

4 Golden St. – Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech. The Bay Area is where power forwards go to sit in the doghouse, but perhaps Favors bucks that trend, or Don Nelson is elsewhere before the season begins.

5 Washington – Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse. Could start at SF from Day 1.

6 Philadelphia – Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest. Because there isn’t a center of value here. Plus they could run with a young, exciting core of Speights, Aminu, Iggy, Williams, Holiday.

7 Detroit – Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas. Pistons allowed opponents 48 percent shooting last year, so they go defense. Also, Detroit was one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and among the worst teams at blocking shots. Aldrich excels at all of these things.

8 LA Clippers – Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler. Of course this is a reach. But with Rasual Buter and Travis Outlaw needing to be resigned, why not bring in a fan-friendly player who won’t be forced to do much besides be a role player on a team with guys like Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon? A sleeper here is Eric Bledsoe (wayyyyyyy early) as the heir apparent to Baron Davis.


9 Utah – Greg Monroe, PF, Georgetown. Great value here, plus, he’s a perfect fit for the departed Carlos Boozer. On talent alone he should be a top six pick.

10 Indiana – Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina. Second year in a row they take a Tar Heel in the lottery. With a major overhaul expected in the summer of 2011, the pick here is best-on-board. Roy Hibbert and Ed Davis are a long C-PF combo.

11 New Orleans – Damion James, SF, Texas. Tough spot considering the Hornets are set in the backcourt and David West and Emeka Okafor are a solid 1-2 punch at PF/C. Ideal need is a SF, and James fits. But is he too much like a tweener they previously drafted, Julian Wright?

12 Memphis – Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia. Slips into the SF spot vacated when Rudy Gay walks in July, but only provides defense, as his offense is very raw. (But with Randolph and Mayo, they don’t need offense.)

13 Toronto – Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor. If he falls this far, what a gift for the Raptors. A top 10 talent and probably fits in nicely at PF when Chris Bosh goes to NY or Chicago.

14 Houston – Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky. Could be forced into the rotation quickly if Yao doesn’t return to start the season.

15 Milwaukee – Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas. Insurance if John Salmons bolts in pursuit of a more lucrative deal. If Salmons is sticking around, a PF might make sense – Patrick Patterson?

16 Minnesota – Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall. Assuming Darko walks, and you don’t think Ryan Hollins is the long term answer, then why not try the rangy 20-year old who could be a player in two years?

17 Chicago – James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State. It’s unlikely he’ll fall this far, but a Rose-Anderson backcourt, combined with Deng and Noah should be enough to get the Bulls beyond the first round of the playoffs. If the Bulls feel like D Wade is a lock to go to Chicago, we’re bullish on raw shot blocker Solomon Alabi from FSU.

18 Miami – Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma. Could be starting over if Wade leaves … or perhaps keeping their best player and adding a marquee free agent like Chris Bosh. We’re going Warren under the assumption that Wade is gone, and they’ll need somebody to jack up 20 shots a game.

19 Boston – Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada. Because Paul Pierce is showing his age, Babbitt is an inside-outside player, and somebody will inevitably make a comparison to Larry Bird (simply because Babbitt is white).

20 San Antonio – Donatas Motiejunas, PF, Lithuania. Not familiar with his game other than a few youtube clips and what has been written. Rest assured the Spurs know what they are doing and whomever they draft will produce at some point.

21 Oklahoma City – Solomon Alabi, C, Florida State. He’s like Serge Ibaka, but taller, and with longer arms. Has the potential to be very good in a few years

22 Portland – Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington. They keep the college star in the Northwest. Could be an instant-offense type of 6th man.

23 Minnesota – Jordan Crawford, SG, Xavier. Having a 3rd pick in the first round, they could try to take a chance on a young foreign player, or just pick the best player on the board. In two years, this could be their lineup: Ricky Rubio, Jordan Crawford, Evan Turner, Al Jefferson, Hassan Whiteside. On paper, that’s sweet.

24 Atlanta – Avery Bradley, G, Texas. Doesn’t have the offense yet, but even if Joe Johnson leaves, Jamal Crawford can pump in 20-25 a night while Bradley battles Jeff Teague for playing time.

25 Memphis – Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky. This puts some pressure on Mike Conley to deliver in the next two years.

26 Oklahoma City – Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky. The Thunder vow to not get dominated on the interior again in the playoffs. Between the rotation of Collison, Ibaka, Kristic, Mullens, Larry Sanders and Patterson, two have to stand out. Right?

27 New Jersey – Luke Harangody, F, Notre Dame. Worst scoring and shooting team in the league adds talented scorer who can probably play SF or PF.

28 Memphis – Craig Brackins, PF, Iowa State. Insurance in the event Zach Randolph departs in two years. Once upon a time, Brackins was thought to be lottery material.

29 Orlando – Greivis Vazquez, G, Maryland. Deepest team in the league adding the ACC POY. Nice. White Chocolate can retire again.

30 Washington – Larry Sanders, PF, VCU. He’s like Washington’s Javale McGee, except a bit shorter, a better shot blocker, and with a bit more offense.