Chad Ford Mock Draft v3.0

Here's 1-16 from Insider:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ory?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-100609

With all of the NBA draft camps behind us and teams in the midst of individual workouts, it's time to take another look at the first round.

NBA teams have narrowed their draft lists but have plenty left to decide in the final couple of weeks before the draft.

Here's our best stab, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, at how the draft will play out on June 24.

Mock Draft 4.0

1. John Wall - Washington

Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 196 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky

Analysis: While the Wizards continue to maintain publicly that they are looking at a number of options, at this point there's very little suspense. Numerous sources have told ESPN.com that the Wizards will take Wall with the No. 1 pick.

The question now is, with whom will they surround Wall? Most likely Gilbert Arenas will be back to fill out the backcourt.

The Wizards will have enough cash to make a serious run at a player like Rudy Gay or a true frontcourt player if they so desire, but they may decide to sit this summer free-agent period out, get another high draft pick next year and rebuild the team more slowly.

2. Evan Turner - Philadelphia

Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 214
Age: 21
School: Ohio State

Analysis: After shaking things up last week and putting Derrick Favors here, I received a number of strong signals from inside the Sixers' organization that Turner is the guy they'll take at No. 2.

While those signals certainly could be legit, I take them with a grain of salt. Turner is the most polished player in the draft, but I'm not sure he has the upside and he certainly doesn't have the size and athleticism of Favors.

But because Turner is almost the consensus No. 2 pick in the draft, the Sixers want other teams trying to trade up for him (the Wolves and Pacers seem to be the hottest suitors) to believe they're taking him. If teams think he's slipping past Philly, they'll begin dealing with New Jersey instead.

For now, we're putting Turner here. Whether the Sixers draft him or use this pick as a trade chip, it looks as though he has the inside track at going second.

3. Derrick Favors - New Jersey

Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 245
Age: 18
School: Georgia Tech

Analysis: While New Jersey would be happy if Turner were to slide to No. 3, the Nets also have a high level of interest in Favors. Brook Lopez has been solid in the middle and Favors has the type of athleticism and upside to complement him nicely.

Of course, the Nets are also targeting a number of veteran big men, including Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer this summer. With the amount of cap space they have, they have the luxury of drafting the best player available and can ignore need.

The team also is high on Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson. I'm told he's in the mix at the No. 3 spot as well. But for now, Favors has the edge.

4. Wesley Johnson - Minnesota

Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 206
Age: 22
School: Syracuse

Analysis: The Wolves are exploring possibilities of moving up in the draft. Evan Turner is their target and they have the assets (the 16th and 23rd picks) to make a deal with either Philly or New Jersey if either team is so inclined.

If they keep the pick, Johnson seems like a terrific fit. He is long and athletic, rebounds from the 3 spot and can hit an open jumper. Some believe he's the next Shawn Marion.

There's also been some thought that DeMarcus Cousins could go here. But given Cousins' lack of elite athleticism, he seems like a strange fit next to Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. GM David Kahn is exploring moving one of those two players, but at the moment I think Johnson has the edge on Cousins.

5. Greg Monroe - Sacramento

Position: PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 247
Age: 19
School: Georgetown

Analysis: Last year it took us until the day of the draft to nail this pick for the Kings and I have a feeling it's going that direction again this year.

I don't have a good feel for which way the Kings are leaning. That's partly because the Kings play things close to the vest. It's also because there is no consensus player at No. 5. On talent, it's DeMarcus Cousins all the way if he's still available. But Cousins makes some teams wary, and I'm told the Kings are among those teams that, for the moment, are unsure.

That leads us to Monroe. He has the talent and size to be a legit NBA center. He's the best passer in the draft and is offensively gifted. He takes games off on occasion and lacks a killer instinct, but the talent is there.

The fact that a number of veteran NBA GMs have compared him to Vlade Divac shouldn't hurt.

6. DeMarcus Cousins - Golden State

Position: C
Height: 6-11
Weight: 292
Age: 19
School: Kentucky

Analysis: I think the Warriors will do backflips if Cousins slips this far. Several NBA GMs have told me that based on Cousins' body of work, interviews and his measurements, they believe Cousins is as good as any other prospect in the draft, including John Wall.

Cousins has been compared to everyone from Shaq to Zach Randolph, but here's an interesting historical comparison to ponder -- could he be the next Moses Malone?

While the Warriors have Andris Biedrins in the middle, he's nothing like Cousins, who can come in and be a big-time scorer right away. Teaming Cousins with Stephen Curry and Anthony Randolph would give the Warriors a great foundation.

7. Al-Farouq Aminu - Detroit

Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 215
Age: 19
School: Wake Forest

Analysis: Pistons president Joe Dumars has said he wants his team to regain the grit and toughness of past Pistons teams. But picking at No. 7 makes that a bit of a challenge. The Pistons are really high on both Cousins and Favors, but most likely they'll have to move up in the draft to get one of them. Regardless, the Pistons need a big man.

So why do I have them taking Aminu, who's listed as a small forward in his draft card? Because the Pistons are among a handful of teams who think, given Aminu's length, that he can play the 4 in the NBA. He's going to need to get stronger, but he has a penchant for rebounding and runs the floor like a deer.

It's a bit of a risky pick for Dumars, but he hasn't been afraid to swing for the fences in the past.

8. Gordon Hayward - Los Angeles Clippers

Position: SF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 211
Age: 20
School: Butler

Analysis: The Clippers could go in a lot of different directions with this pick and I keep getting mixed signals.

The latest tip to come out of Chicago pointed in the direction of Hayward. He's one of the most versatile guys in the draft, and while he struggled a bit this season, he can really knock down shots. Given that the team plans to feature Blake Griffin next season, that's a big deal.

With the loss of Marcus Camby, Ekpe Udoh is also a real possibility here, as is Xavier Henry.

9. Luke Babbitt - Utah (via New York)

Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 214
Age: 20
School: Nevada

Analysis: On Friday, the Jazz brought in Greg Monroe for a solo workout. That was followed up, on Sunday, with a big workout featuring Aminu, Hayward, Babbitt and Xavier Henry.

Monroe would fit a need if Carlos Boozer were to leave this summer. Henry, Babbitt, Hayward and Aminu could all fill a void left by Kyle Korver hitting free agency.

From the sound of things, Monroe is still atop the Jazz's list, but in this scenario he's off the board before the Jazz pick. It seems as though Babbitt is strongly in the running, too. The Jazz have been higher on Babbitt than most all year. The rest of the league is playing catch-up to what Utah was saying in January.

10. Ed Davis - Indiana

Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 227
Age: 20
School: North Carolina

Analysis: The Pacers, like the Jazz, have already had in many of the top prospects they're considering. On Tuesday of last week, they brought in Daniel Orton, Ekpe Udoh and Hassan Whiteside. The next day, they watched Avery Bradley and Eric Bledsoe go head-to-head.

Orton, Udoh, Whiteside, Bradley and Bledsoe are all part of Plan B, however. If the Pacers can get fortunate enough to see Davis or Monroe to slip, they're in a much better place. While Davis is very raw, he's got the size, athleticism and shot-blocking ability that the team has been craving for years.

The Pacers are looking to shore up their team via trades and have a some assets, including the expiring contracts of both Troy Murphy and T.J. Ford -- so they are free to go with the best talent available.

11. Cole Aldrich - New Orleans

Position: C
Height: 6-10
Weight: 236
Age: 21
School: Kansas

Analysis: The Hornets have a new head coach and job No. 1 is now turning toward filling a pretty large hole in the middle. The Hornets have Emeka Okafor and not much else.

Their choices here are Aldrich, Daniel Orton and Hassan Whiteside. While Orton and Whiteside have more upside, Aldrich is, by far, the most NBA-ready of the group and could become a Joel Przybilla-like player in the middle.

Considering that Aldrich could go as high as No. 5, he's a bargain at No. 11.

12. Paul George - Memphis

Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 214
Age: 20
School: Fresno State

Analysis: The Grizzlies have had their sights set on Luke Babbitt for weeks and he could fall here. However, if he's off the board, expect them to look at the next best available wing.

With Rudy Gay headed toward restricted free agency, it's a place where they could be vulnerable. George, Xavier Henry and Damion James all have a shot here. As does Kentucky's Patrick Patterson.

However, of the group George has the game that most resembles Gay and he'd come at a tenth of the price if the Grizzlies decide not to match an offer for Gay this summer.

13. Avery Bradley -Toronto

Position: SG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Age: 19
School: Texas

Analysis: The Raptors could go a number of different directions here. With Chris Bosh likely out the door, Hedo Turkoglu pining for a trade and the team shopping Jose Calderon -- you can expect the Raptors to look radically different next summer.

Finding a center is atop GM Bryan Colangelo's list. If Bosh leaves he'd like to move Andrea Bargnani to the 4. But of the top big men left on the board -- Orton, Whiteside and Alabi -- none of them is close to being ready.

That may shift the Raptors' focus to the backcourt. Assuming they can move Calderon this summer, they'll have a need at the point and Bradley, who can play both backcourt positions, is the type of athletic, explosive athlete they're looking for.

14. Ekpe Udoh - Houston

Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 237
Age: 22
School: Baylor

Analysis: Udoh is the type of long, shot-blocking forward who should find a comfortable home in Houston. While he's a bit older than the rest of the class and doesn't have elite athleticism, he's still improving -- one of the few older players in the draft with any real upside left. Patrick Patterson and Hassan Whiteside are other possibilities here.

15. Xavier Henry - Milwaukee (via Chicago)

Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210
Age: 19
School: Kansas

Analysis: The Bucks have a big need at the wing position. With Michael Redd coming back from injury and nearing the end of his career and John Salmons looking to opt out of his contract, it's time to shore up that position.

Of the players left on the board, Henry looks to be, by far, the best value. He's being looked at as high as No. 6 by the Warriors, No. 8 by the Clippers, No. 9 by the Jazz and No. 10 by the Pacers.

If he slides past all four, he'd be a great addition in Milwaukee. The Bucks need his 3-point shooting.

16. Hassan Whiteside - Minnesota (via Charlotte)

Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 227
Age: 20
School: Marshall

Analysis: The Wolves have been eyeing Paul George for a while, but if he's gone here, they could roll the dice on Whiteside. Minnesota doesn't have much in the middle.

The Wolves will likely re-sign Darko Milicic this summer, but it's still unclear whether he's the long-term answer. Darko played well in his brief stint in Minnesota, but will he continue to play well once he gets a multiyear deal?

Whiteside's one of those players who will be either boon or bust. He has the athletic gifts and size to be a star. But he's going to need a lot of work on and off the court to reach his potential. If a team has patience (and the Wolves should) he'd be a great risk at this point in the draft.