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Well folks, the 2010 NBA draft is right around the corner and as usual, there will be lots of anticipation as all 30 NBA teams prep for the event. Having said that, I will again stick my neck out there and predict which teams and players are drafted on Thursday night.

Without further adieu, here I go:

Round 1

1. Washington Wizards – John Wall, PG, Kentucky. Pretty much a no-brainer; however, since Gilbert Arenas is going to be a Wizard, it would seem to me that they would need a shooting guard, along the lines of Evan Turner. But since Ernie Grunfeld’s running the show…but I digress.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner, SG, Ohio State. The second best player – and best shooting guard – of the draft, Turner just ensured that some veterans will ride some pine. He isn’t getting drafted to simply read X’s and O’s. I expect Turner and Louis Williams to fight for playing time.
3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech. I’m not sre what to make of the Nets’ power forwards. You have Yi Jianlian, Kris humphries and sometimes Josh Boone. That trio don’t exactly scream confidence, so Favors should be the pick here. The big question is which of the aforementioned three leave New Jersey – not a matter of when but who in this case.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas. One thing is for certain – I think – and that would be that the T-Wolves do not draft a point guard. I’d like to think they learned that lesson last year when they drafted three of them. I don’t like the trio of centers on their team; neither would you if they consisted of Ryan Hollins, Darko Milicic and Greg Stiemsma. Elimination by addition in taking Aldrich.
5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins, PF, Kentucky.  Is it any coincidence that so many KY players this year are being taken? Cousins is like the little girl with the curl. He can be very good or he can just as easily project as a bust down the road. Time will tell.
6. Golden State Warriors -  Luke Babbitt, SF, Nevada. The Warriors traded for Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric and lost Corey Maggette. That means that Don Nelson will soon be gone as he abhors big guys. And since they have enough guards to go around, expect Golden State to take a SF. Preferably one who can contribute right away.
7. Detroit Pistons – Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor. I think it’s time that the Pistons went retro and go back to the blue-collar days when the Pistons were relevant and successful. Udoh seems to fit that mold perfectly, not to mention that he has a 7-4 wingspan.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State. I’m not enamored with the 2 guards on the Clips. You have Eric Gordon then Mardy Collins. Avery Bradley is a bit too smallish for a shooting guard, in my humble opinion.
9. Utah Jazz – Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky. The Jazz are fortunate to have such a high spot in the draft for a successful team. Carlos Boozer’s situation may have a bearing as to woh they pick; however, Deron Williams needs someone to help him out. And you can;t go wrong with a KY product.
10. Indiana Pacers – Armon Johnson, PG, Nevada. The Pacers obviously need a 1 guard since T.J. Ford, Luther Head and Earl Watson just don’t do it for me; but at the same time, Larry Bird has had discussions with other teams about moving the #10. Assuming the Pacers stand pat, expect them to take the best available point guard remaining when their turn comes.
11. New Orleans Hornets – Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall. Emeka Okafor doesn’t really have anyone to back him up at center. Ok, they have Aaron Gray and Sean Marks. They’re set at most other positions, so center is where it’s at. Did I mention that Whiteside has a 7-7 wingspan?
12. Memphis Grizzlies – Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest. The Grizz needs someone who is athletic around the perimeter. Since it appears that they’re set at guard, the likeliest position of need is small forward. But since Wallace is running the ship Thursday, who knows who they actually draft?
13. Toronto Raptors – Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina.  It looks like Chris Bosh is a goner, so this pick is simply to replace him. And as such, this player will have to contribut ealmost immediately. If Bosh stays, then this changes everything. But I don’t envision Bosh being a Raptor next season.
14. Houston Rockets – Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky. Assuming that Yao Ming is healthy come the regular season, he will need some front court help. This is a team clearly in transition, which means tearing up the team and starting fresh. And you can do worse than taking a PF from Kentucky.
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Solomon Adabi, C, Florida State. Charlie Bell is gone as is Dan Gadzuric. But they obtained Corey Maggette, which means SF and PG is taken care of. But they do need someone to back up Andrew Bogut – and Primo Brezec isn’t the answer.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Paul George, SF, Fresno State. Assuming that the T-Wolves take Aldrich, they now need to address another need – a wingman who can score. George definitely can do that.
17. Chicago Bulls – Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas. It really isn’t a secret that the Bulls need outside scoring help, so shooting guard seems to be the answer here.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder - Larry Sanders, PF, Virginia Commonwealth. The Thunder did a trade Wednesday which gave them this pick and Daequan Cook for their #32 pick.
19. Boston Celtics – Domique Jones, SG, South Florida. My guess is that Ray Allen will depart Boston, hence the need for a shooting guard. the Celtics are retooling in this instance.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Derrick Caracter, PF, UTEP. The Spurs need size upfront as it looks like Tim Duncan will play center more than power forward. This dude’s a load – all 6-9 and 280 pounds of him. Might need to lose 20-30 pounds to make an impact.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jarvis Vanardo, PF, Mississippi State.  It would be nice to see the Thunder get a player who can not only back up Jeff Green, but also complement Kevin Durant in the frontcourt.
22. Portland Trail Blazers – Terrico White, PG, Ole Miss. A nice dilemma for Portland to have – grab a PG to back up Andre Miller or get a wingman? My best guess is to grab a 1 as the position is one of weakness for the Trail Blazers.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tibor Pleiss, Bross Baskets (Germany). They need a defensive-minded big man along the lines of Jeff Foster. that being the case, they’ll do what they did last year – go overseas to get that big man.
24. Atlanta Hawks – Willie Warren, PG, Oklahoma. They definitely need a point guard; at the same time, they need a backup center. I never was a Mike Bibby fan a she is too inconsistent for my liking, hence the need for a 1 guard.
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Elliot Williams, SG, Memphis. That’s right, a hometown pick. That aside, they could use some perimeter scoring help. No pressure Elliot.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder – Miroslav Raduljica, FMP Zeleznick (Serbia). I suspect that this pick is a project pick more than trying to fill an actual need. And truth be told, center is the Thunder’s Achilles’ heel.
27. New Jersey Nets – Lance Stephenson, SG, Univ of Cincinnati. The Nets would like to address their outside shooting needs. And it looks like Stephenson is what’s the best of the rest.
28. Memphis Grizzlies – Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler. More perimeter scoring is what the Grizz hopes for. Their pick of Hayward will shock most as while Butler is a successful program, they don’t often get players drafted this high in the draft. A good example of this is George Hill of the Spurs – he went to IUPUI.
29. Orlando Magic – Keith Gallon, PF, Oklahoma. Gotta love this player’s nickname – Tiny. I can assure you – he is anything but tiny. How he dropped this far is anyone’s guess, but he can spell Rashard Lewis. Not excirted about the Magic’s PF’s other than Lewis (Brandon Bass, Adonal Foyle).
30. Washington Wizards – Devin Ebanks, SF, West Virginia. Since the Wizards are offensively challenged, some perimeter scorin is in order here. The best player on the Mountaineers would fill the bill nicely.