Your ITH 2010 NBA Draft guide
Update: Here’s how it all went down: Turner No. 2 to Philadelphia; Hayward No. 9 to Utah; Crawford No. 27 to New Jersey; Ebanks No. 43 to LA Lakers; Harangody No. 52 to Boston.
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As some of you may know, I write for ESPN’s NBA Rumor Central every day (and lately, most Sundays). As of the last few weeks, this means I’ve been reading a lot about tonight’s NBA Draft. As a change of pace around these parts in the dead season of IU basketball, here’s a look at where some players of interest could land this evening.
BIG TEN
Evan Turner — The Ohio State University
He’ll likely go to the Sixers with the second pick, after John Wall goes No. 1 to the Wizards. Though Turner filled up the box score in college and was a pretty efficient scorer, there are some concerns about him at the next level. Some question whether he has the elite athleticism to play in the NBA, and wonder if getting guarded by smaller players during Big Ten season made him look better than he really is.
In any event, he’s projected to be a Brandon Roy-type player in the league. Good. But perhaps not great.
Manny Harris — Michigan
When Harris declared for the draft, I wondered whether he was going to get drafted or not. But in the latest rendition of Chad Ford’s mock draft, he has Harris going in the second round (No. 52) to the Celtics. So expect him to land mid-second round somewhere.
Harris knows how to put the ball in the hole, so if he works hard, he may be able to fill the role of a guy off the bench that can come in and provide energy and scoring.
INDIANA KIDS
Gordon Hayward — Butler
Hayward had been slated as high as No. 8 the Clippers, and a team featuring him and Eric Gordon would have been fun. The Clippers need a small forward, but they also have enough cash to sign a max free agent, so it’s possible they might try to go that route. LeBron James is unlikely, but Rudy Gay could be had for the right price.
Ford now has Hayward going No. 10 to the Pacers for some home-state lovin’.
But the Pacers are trying to trade for a point guard, and the No. 10 pick might be included in such a deal.
Hayward needs to get stronger at the next level, and his shot fell off a bit last year, so he needs to get that back as well.
Luke Harangody — Notre Dame
He could sneak into the late second round, but it seems like he might just miss out on getting drafted.
KELVIN SAMPSON ALL-STARS
Jordan Crawford (The Undisciplined One) — Xavier
There’s talk Crawford could go as high as No. 17 to the Bulls, as they need scoring from the shooting-guard position. (That’s if the Bulls keep their pick. They are looking to trade it for cap space to try and have enough money to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh.) But Ford has him slated at No. 25 to the Grizzlies, though teams in-between 17 and 25 could bite on him, too.
Crawford has a knack for putting the ball in the basket, but at 6-4, he doesn’t have great size for a shooting guard. And there are concerns about whether he could run an offense like a point guard should from the 1.
He is, after all, The Undisciplined One.
Devin Ebanks — West Virginia
Ebanks could sneak into the late first-round, but Ford has him going in the second round to Miami (No. 42). Another year in college might have served him well.
Ebanks has a ways to go with his offensive game, but he’s got a reputation as a good defender at multiple positions, which teams are always in need of.
Armon Bassett — Ohio University
In the fall, Bassett will likely be in one of two places: 1. The D-League or 2. Europe. In other words, it’s unlikely he gets drafted this evening.
Filed to: 2010 NBA Draft