NBA Draft Position Rankings: Power Forwards

An undersized power forward, Cunningham makes up for what he lacks in height with an incredible mid-range game. Cunningham is a prototypical pick-and-pop big man at the next level, with a deadly jumper and improving face-up skills. Right now, his jumper doesn’t extend too far beyond 15 feet, but Cunningham has great form and could easily extend that range out to at least 18 or 19 feet.

Cunningham has downfalls, too. For an undersized power forward, he does not possess a lot of athleticism to make up for his lack of size. Additionally, his lack of size and leaping ability keeps him from being a very good rebounder

Despite his fallbacks in the athleticism and size categories, Dante Cunningham’s lethal jumpshot should allow him to be a solid performer in the NBA. Most draft gurus have Cunningham a bit lower, but I find him to be so solid that he deserves a place in my top ten.

8. DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (Last year’s stats: 16.6 points, 7.2 rebounds)

From a skill standpoint, Carroll is not one of the most talented draft-eligible power forwards. He doesn’t have a great handle, can’t shoot very well, and doesn’t have much of a post game, either. He may also struggle defensively in the NBA, where he will have to gain weight to guard power forwards or gain quickness to guard small forwards.

What he lacks in skills, though, Carroll makes up for with energy and hustle. DeMarre has a constant motor, playing the game at full-speed at all times, making all the scrappy plays that help teams win ballgames. Because of his tough play, Carroll gets to the free throw line a lot, averaging five trips to the line per game.

Though Carroll is far from a finished product, I look for him to be a productive, active player off the bench in the NBA. He will probably never crack an NBA starting lineup, but Carroll should be a helpful NBA player along the lines of Renaldo Balkman.

7. Derrick Brown, Xavier (Last year’s stats: 13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds)

One of the least polished players in the draft, Derrick Brown relies almost solely on his outstanding athleticism for his production. Standing 6’8” with an outrageous 7’3” wingspan, Brown attacks the rim with reckless abandon, resulting in 73 dunks over last season.

Other than his athleticism, Brown has few skills that are ready for the NBA. His jump shot needs major work, only making 11 total three point shots last season and only attempting those shots when the defense left him no choice.

Defensively is where Derrick Brown is ready to make his greatest contributions. Because of his great physical attributes, Brown is a truly versatile defender, quick enough to stay in front of smaller players and strong enough to guard larger post players. Brown is not yet ready to make contributions at the NBA level, but his outstanding athleticism make him a very intriguing prospect looking into the future.

6. Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State (Last year’s stats: 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds)

Playing largely in James Harden’s shadow, Jeff Pendergraph was a solid player all year long, producing offensively and on the boards.

Pendergraph possesses decent offensive skills, with the ability to finish around the basket and a developing turnaround jumper from the post. Despite his developing skills on the offensive end of the floor, Pendergraph does not yet have a refined post game. He makes some nice moves, but is far from a finished product in the post. Because of his unrefined skills, Pendergraph right now remains a garbage man, capable of scoring on putbacks and open layups, utilizing his deceptive athleticism to get most of his points. Pendergraph is a consistent offensive performer, but not a go-to scorer by any stretch of the imagination.

Defensively, Pendergraph projects to be a solid positional defender and average rebounder. He probably will never become a defensive stopper, but won’t be a liability, either.

Pendergraph should be able to develop into a solid role player in the NBA, where he will continue to be a scrappy garbage man just like he was in college.

5. Taj Gibson, USC (Last year’s stats: 14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.9 blocks)

Extremely effective in and around the paint, Taj Gibson possesses some physical skills that will be very attractive to NBA GMs. Super long, with above-average athleticism, Gibson will have prototypical athletic ability for a power forward if he can add some weight to his 6’9” frame.

Offensively, Gibson possesses the makings of a very nice post game. He has a good arsenal of back-to-the-basket moves, with the capability to turn to either shoulder and make plays. Gibson has also shown signs of a decent face-up game. If he can ever fully develop his face-up game to match the level of his post game, Gibson will be a very well-rounded offensive performer. Still, without a developed face-up game, Taj has been an incredibly efficient scorer throughout his college career, shooting a scorching 60.1% from the field this past year.

On the other end of the court, Gibson also displays his immense physical tools. With great timing while blocking shots and a long wingspan, Gibson averaged almost three blocks per game for the past season. Despite his great shot-blocking ability, Gibson could struggle guarding defenders in the post at the next level because of his frail frame. If Gibson can add weight, he should be able to develop into a game-changer defensively, and could be a very complete player.

4. Tyler Hansbrough, UNC (Last year’s stats: 20.7 points, 8.1 rebounds)

One of the most celebrated NCAA performers in recent history, Tyler Hansbrough had an absolutely marvelous college career, winning every award a college player can possibly win.

After three straight All-American years to start his storybook college career, Hansbrough could have easily rested on his laurels over the offseason. Instead, he took it upon himself to develop a dependable mid-range jumper to go along with his bruising low-post repertoire, making himself even more difficult to guard.

Because of his improving mid-range game, I am no longer as skeptical about Tyler Hansbrough’s professional prospects. Before, when his only means of scoring were bulling into or through his defender for either a layup or two free throws, I felt his NBA potential was very limited. Now, as his skill level increases, Hansbrough should be able to carve out a very solid career in the NBA.

Hansbrough will be able to score in the NBA, but his success at the next level will depend on how much he can improve defensively. Not possessing great quickness or leaping ability, Hansbrough will have to rely on his basketball IQ to make improvements defensively. If he can show the ability to defend NBA post players, Hansbrough should see a lot of playing time early on and throughout his NBA career.

3. Dejuan Blair, Pittsburgh (Last year’s stats: 15.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals)

An absolute beast at the college level, Dejuan Blair was a force of nature on the glass at both ends. Possessing great hands and an unbelievably long wingspan (7’2”) to go along with his preternatural strength, Blair carves out space in the lane like a Mack Truck, attacking the ball like a hawk attacks his prey.

Though he was a terrific rebounder in college, Blair still has to show he will be able to translate his game to the NBA, where he will be facing taller, stronger opponents than he’s ever faced on a nightly basis. In college, Blair showed the ability to perform against much taller players, thoroughly destroying the draft’s top center prospect, Hasheem Thabeet, in both of their matchups.

Still, standing only 6’6” tall, Blair will be up against much bigger players every night, and must prove that his rebounding, low-post scoring, great defensive footwork, and solid face-up game will translate to the NBA. I believe it will, and Blair should be a devil to keep off the NBA boards for a long time to come.

2. Jordan Hill, Arizona (Last year’s stats: 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks)

Before this past season, I called Jordan Hill one of the more overrated players in college basketball. Boy, did he prove me wrong.

Possessing a solid array of post moves and a great motor around the basket, Hill was very productive during his junior season at Arizona. He is a very long, athletic player who can beat almost any big man down the floor.

Still, Hill has a long ways to go before he can become a great contributor on the NBA level. Right now, he reminds me a lot of Joakim Noah, a player who relies a lot on his superior athletic ability and outstanding hustle to make plays and produce for his team. Down the road, Hill has the potential to develop into a far better offensive player than Noah, and already has a decent jump hook with both hands.

If Hill can continue to improve, he could be a stud in the NBA, but he still has his work cut out for him. Even without improvement, he should be a good energy guy capable of providing hustle points and solid defense to go along with solid rebounding.

1. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma (Last year’s stats: 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds)

The biggest sure thing the 2009 NBA Draft has to offer, Blake Griffin is an absolute freak of an athlete. 6’10” tall, built like an ox, and with a much smaller man’s quickness and coordination, Griffin was a man amongst boys in college basketball, attacking the rim with a ferocious fire and competitive nature which likens him to Amare Stoudemire and a young Shawn Kemp.

Offensively, Griffin has a lot more than merely his superb athleticism. He is far more skilled than most men his size, with a legit handle and the ability to go coast-to-coast after a defensive rebound. Additionally, Griffin has great court vision, allowing him to make passes that most big men wouldn’t even think of. Still, his best attribute on the offensive end remains his rim-shaking ability to finish. Griffin was by far the best finisher in the country, and should be able to be a terrific finisher in the NBA.

On the other side of the ball, Griffin still has a lot more work to go to become a polished defensive player. Griffin blamed his tendency to get scored on to not wanting to get in foul trouble but, whatever the reason for his defensive inadequacy, Griffin needs to get better. Despite being incredibly strong, Griffin somehow gives up tremendous position on the block, failing to keep his opponent away from the hoop.

However, it’s tough to nitpick the young beast’s game, as Griffin is both the best player in this draft and the player with the most potential to develop into a superstar. Look for Griffin to be a prime-time player from day one, and to take home the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year.

NBA Draft Position Rankings - Small Forwards

It’s time for the third part of the NBA Draft positional rankings list presented by Celtics Town. In today’s portion, we will discuss the small forward. Though there are seemingly no stars to be found at small forward, plenty of players could be contributors at the NBA level. I just want to let everyone know before they read this that we did not forget Demar Derozan, we merely included him in our shooting guards list. Read on to check out Celtics Town’s top ten draft prospects at the small forward position.

10. Danny Green, UNC (Last year’s stats: 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals)

Playing for the NCAA-champion North Carolina Tar Heels, Danny Green’s per-game statistics didn’t increase much from his junior to senior season, but his professional prospects did. Green improved his three-point shooting, raising his percentages from 37% to 42% despite the college line moving back a foot. Green not only improved his percentages, he also improved his shot’s consistency, range, and footwork. Pairing his newfound shooting prowess with his impressive defense, Green has great role player potential in the NBA, and could be a solid NBA player for years to come. While not as NBA-ready as Courtney Lee, Danny Green is a very similar player, a tough, gritty defender who uses above-average athleticism to make up for his lack of elite NBA length. I believe Green could have a Lee-like rookie year as a defensive stopper and occasional scorer.

9. Victor Claver, Pamesa Valencia (Spain) (Last year’s stats: 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 41.5% 3pt)

Despite missing a large part of last season due to a knee injury, Claver was able to impress NBA scouts prior to his injury. An incredibly long, 6’10” small forward, Claver has terrific shooting ability, especially from beyond the arc. Despite his height and shooting, Claver projects as more of a role player in the NBA. He is an athletic 6’10”, yet his lack of ball-handling skills keeps him from getting to the rim against less athletic players. Claver is better at finishing plays started by his teammates than he is at creating his own shot. Even if his offensive playmaking skills don’t progress, Claver could still be a productive NBA player based solely on his athleticism, height, and shooting.

8. Dajuan Summers, Georgetown (Last year’s stats: 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals)

I could never really get a good read on Dajuan Summers’ game. At times, I was struck by his NBA-ready physique, terrific athleticism and smooth jumpshot. Summers put together streaks within games where he would make a great block, grab the rebound, outlet, sprint the floor and finish with a dunk at the offensive end. During those plays, Summers would look like a future NBA All-Star, capable of igniting his team with his energy and leading them with his skills. However, Summers had a tendency throughout his career of disappearing for large portions of games, somehow failing to impact the game despite his vast array of skills and physical attributes. Summers still has all the physical tools you’d want in a small forward, but he has to learn to put it together for the entire game. He could start by improving his ball-handling skills, which are more or less non-existent. Because he has a poor handle, Summers can’t create his own offense and has to rely on hustle plays and his jumpshot to score. Just based on his physical tools, Summers should still be a solid player in the league, but he’ll have to work to round out the rough edges of his game.

7. Omri Casspi, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) (Last year’s stats: 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds)

Playing for a European powerhouse, Casspi has yet to play major minutes overseas. Still only twenty years old, Casspi has a ton of potential but, like almost everybody at the small forward position, looks to be more of a role player in the league than a star. Just like the rest of the small forwards on this list, Casspi is more of an opportunistic scorer than a guy who creates offense. He finds his offense by running the floor in transition, spotting up for open jumpers, and making hustle plays around the basket. Casspi still has a ways to go to be a productive player, but he has a very high skill level and has been a productive role player for one of the elite European teams at a very young age. Look for him to also be productive once he moves his game to the NBA.

6. Austin Daye, Gonzaga (Last year’s stats: 12.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks)

Probably the most talented small forward in the draft, nobody questions Daye’s skills. At a legitimate 6’10”, Daye can handle the ball, pass the ball, and shoot the ball like a far smaller player. He has great jab step moves, and a highly advanced offensive repertoire. He has incredible size and an amazing skill set to go with it. Still, Daye wasn’t nearly as productive as he should have been at Gonzaga. While he was an impact player, Daye was nowhere near the star his size and skill says he should be. Daye needs to become physically and mentally tougher in order to compete in the NBA, but he is probably the only guy on this list who has star potential at the next level. If Daye can get in the weight room and had twenty to thirty pounds to his frame, he could immediately be an impact player and a huge mismatch similar to Rashard Lewis. Otherwise, look for him to fail to live up to his tremendous potential.

5. Chase Budinger, Arizona (Last year’s stats: 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists)

As a scorer, Chase Budinger has every talent you’d want. He is super smooth, with solid ball-handling skills and a soft touch from the outside. He moves very well without the basketball and has a nice vertical leap to be able to finish inside. However, Chase lacks the mentality of a star, preferring to get his points in the flow of the game rather than truly taking over and forcing his imprint upon the game. Budinger could be a very good role player in the league, but the true questions about him reside on the defensive end of the floor. Defensively, Budinger hasn’t shown the lateral quickness to guard a soul in the NBA. He is a good positional, help defender but often fails to stay in front of his own man. If Chase can become tougher and learn to keep his man from scoring, whichever team drafts him could have a huge steal.

4. James Johnson, Wake Forest (Last year’s stats: 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals)

Deciding whether James Johnson was a power forward or small forward, we looked at his skills and height rather than his bulk. Johnson is a highly skilled, physical player with the ability to create offense for himself or others. He has a very good handle for someone as strong as he is, and also possesses above-average court vision, making him a good passer. Johnson isn’t an amazing athlete, but makes up for what he lacks I athleticism with physical strength, great toughness, and versatility. He opens up the floor for others and is very unselfish. Johnson has tons of skills, but must improve on his shooting to be a truly effective pro. On the defensive end of the floor, Johnson lacks elite quickness, but still manages to do a pretty good job guarding either small forwards or power forwards. He projects to be a solid NBA defender, but not a lock-down one. Look for whatever team drafts him to be happy with his performance and lucky to have such a versatile player.

3. Sam Young, Pittsburgh (Last year’s stats: 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds)

If you’re looking for the most NBA-ready small forward, look no farther than number three on our list, Sam Young. Possessor of an incredibly lethal shot fake (where he nearly comes off the ground himself), Sam Young has a very advanced offensive game. He is a strong, physical player able to score in the post, off the dribble, or in catch and shoot situations. He knows what he can and can’t do, and plays to his strengths rather than his weaknesses. A jack of all trades but a master of none, Young can do a little bit of everything offensively, and showed go-to-scoring ability in college. In the NBA, however, Young will likely never be a number one option, but should still be a solid performer capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. Defensively is where Young should really shine in the NBA. He has great quickness, strength and a nearly seven foot wingspan, giving him the ability to cover a wide array of offensive players. Young is also super-tough, demonstrating his readiness to get down and dirty throughout his college career. With his complete package on both sides of the ball, Sam Young should be an instant impact player and could develop into a special player down the road.

2. Earl Clark, Louisville (Last year's stats: 14.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists)

A tantalizing prospect, Earl Clark has oodles of athletic ability and a myriad of skills. Nonetheless, he's frighteningly inconsistent, fading from production throughout a lot of games. When he puts his package together, Clark can be devastating, with the ability to create more or less any shot he wants, and a pretty good mid-range game. Clark is a lot like Julian Wright, a multi-talented player who oozes talent but doesn't necessarily bring his "A" game every night. In the NBA, Clark could either struggle to get minutes, like Wright, or he could learn to bring constant effort for the full 48 minutes and become an instant impact player with his skills, height, and energy. Clark has all the talent in the world, but he has yet to fully utilize it. Whether he does will determine how productive an NBA career he has.

1. Terrence Williams, Louisville (Last year's stats: 12.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists)

Terrence Williams possesses every skill you would want in a player except a go-to-scorer's mentality and a consistent jumpshot. Coming into last season, the only knock on Williams' game was his ability to shoot the three-pointer, but he vastly improved his shot, finishing at 38.5% from beyond the arc. Still, Williams has a lot of work to do in order to complete his improvement from three, as his form isn't very consistent and he remains a streaky shooter from deep. Despite his two shortcomings, Williams should be able to help any team. With the ability to play point-forward, T-Will has amazing playmaking ability and the explosiveness to translate that area of his game to the next level. If he ever develops a consistent jumpshot with NBA range, Williams will be hell to guard, and should already produce as a great passer and energetic defender in his rookie year.

2009 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: The Shooting Guards

In the second part of the Celtics Town NBA Draft position rankings, I am going to rank the top ten shooting guards. The top of this year’s shooting guard crop is very talented, but beyond the top four or five, not too many players are certain of getting drafted, nevermind drafted in the first round.

It’s fun to look ahead at how players attributes project to the NBA. Certain guys on this list are built for the NBA’s pace and game. Others might see their college production be the last time they produce on a big stage, the end of their glory days. We at Celtics Town have done the research and watched enough games to predict how these players games translate to the next level, and have written our player profiles for each of the players.

Enjoy today’s top ten shooting guards.

10. Robert Vaden (Last year’s stats: 17.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 1.0 spg 34.6 3P %)

Debuting at our No.10 spot is Robert Vaden, the sharpshooting stud out of UAB. He is an unknown player that gets limited credit because he plays in Conference USA. With that said, this dude can flat-out shoot. He is the type of player who can catch fire with the flick of a switch. His size and strength indicate that he can be successful at what he does best at the next level. Personally I think he would have been a tremendous player in one of the power conferences (where he was good at Indiana for two years), which would have gotten him more exposure at the national level. I like the fact that he is 24 years old and has more maturity then most shooting guards in this draft, but most NBA draft executives find his ceiling to be rather limited due to his older age. He scored 28 second-half points at Kentucky this season which shows me that he can perform on the big stage. Scouts will knock his poor shot selection, however I just see the fact that he played on only a decent team in a bad league. Basically it was him trying to get on the radar of NBA scouts. Put on the right team with good coaching it seems evident to me that RV can be successful at the next level. He is a not a guaranteed draft pick, but look for him to play well on someone’s summer league team earning him a spot on a roster. I would like to see the Knicks or Warriors somehow get their hands on him.

9. Jermaine Taylor (Last year’s stats: 26.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 1.9 apg)

Jermaine Taylor is likely unkown by most casual basketball fans, but NBA Draft gurus and NBA GMs have become quite fond of the 6'4" shooting guard. Taylor is as good a scorer as there is in this draft. He slashes with the best of them but, if the defense takes away the lane, he has the ability to step out and hit the three. Already possessing an NBA body and NBA athleticism, Taylor must improve his shot selection to become a valuable NBA contributor. Playing at Central Florida, Taylor was more or less a one-man show, but he will have to learn how to become more of a role player to succeed in the league.

8. Marcus Thornton (Last year’s stats: 21.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 1.6 spg 47.2% FG)

With less weight on his back than he had at LSU, Marcus Thornton should thrive on the NBA level. He played a very large role for LSU this past season but figure he will not have a similar role in the NBA. Thornton does a little bit of everything, which will make him a lucrative selection for a team in the late first round early second. He is the type of player who can thrive in any system, as he does not lack intangibles. He is certainly not going to kill you with isolations, but if you get caught sleeping defensively he will kill you with his ability to move off the ball. Thornton can even post, however I do not know how many shooting guards he can post up at the NBA level. His weaknesses consist of a mediocre pull-up jump shot, scoring off of pick and rolls, and scoring through isolations off of the dribble. He would be a good fit for a team like the San Antonio Spurs a team in desperate need of youth. He definitely possesses first-round credentials and he would be higher on my board except for the fact that he played in the weakest of the power conferences.

7. Jerel McNeal (Last year’s stats: 19.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.0 spg, 39.8 3P %)

I totally fell in love with McNeal prior to the 2008-2009 season and he did not let me down. He was the best player on a good Marquette team that lost in the NCAA tournament to Missouri in a tough game. He played well this past season, picking up the slack for injured point guard Dominic James. McNeal has the ability to be a good defender in the NBA. Sometime down the road I would like to see if he can make a transition to point guard. I think he can as he possesses good ball handling skills and is a good playmaker. With his athleticism and wing span he could pose a serious matchup nightmare for opposing point guards. For now though, we will consider that he will be playing off guard to start his career. His ability to catch and shoot and move without the ball makes him really appealing to a team selecting in the mid second round. Add that to the fact that he is one of the toughest players in this draft and you have the ingredients of a solid professional down the road. He does not possess any glaring weakness except for the fact that he is small for the position in the NBA. Look for a team like the Utah Jazz to take him if he still on the board at No. 20 in the second round. I think McNeal had first round talent, however I do not think a team will take the chance on an undersized shooting guard in the first round.

6. Dionte Christmas (Last year’s stats: 19.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 35.2 3P %)

I like Christmas a lot, as he has grown on me a fair deal this year while he was posting good numbers at Temple. He has the ability to stretch the defense with his shooting ability, but will attack the basket when necessary. He is not the type of player who tends to force anything offensively. He plays within in the flow of the offense which should help his draft stock. Depending on how the top of the first round plays out Christmas has a chance to be selected late in the 1st round. He has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble; something always looked upon by NBA scouts. Christmas has good size and good sense of how to move the ball. He is also a product of playing in a weaker league in the Atlantic 10 conference. He was probably the No.2 player in that conference behind Xavier’s Derrick Brown. He has a good upside if he can somehow improve his ball handlings skills and become just a little more athletic. If he did this, he would be more versatile and be able to play some point guard in addition to the shooting guard. Could go as high as 29 to the Lakers, but do not expect him to fall any further than Portland at No. 38.

5. Wayne Ellington (Last year’s stats: 15.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 48.3%FG)

The tournament MOP will not let down, I repeat will not let down, the GM that decides to take him. I have seen him all over draft boards but honestly he is the type of player that will make an impact immediately at the next level. He possesses a skill set that can drive NBA scouts wild. He did not get to show out as he was on a loaded UNC team that rolled through most of their opponents. I saw Wayne four years ago and he has improved his all-around game. He can shoot in variety of ways from off the dribble, coming off screens and spotting up anywhere on the floor. Ellington really knows how to play the game which should translate to playing minutes for someone next season. He should make an immediate impact in the NBA solely off his shooting ability. In some ways I see a little bit of Joe Johnson in him, and if the Hawks are smart they won’t pass on him if he is still on the board at No.19. The dude is simply a winner and he knows what kind of work he must put in to be successful at the NBA level. I believe that Ellington is an underrated athlete, as a lot of scouts say that is one of his weaknesses.

4. Jeff Teague (Last year’s stats: 18.8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1.9 spg, 48.5 FG % 44.1 3P %)

When I see Mr. Teague play, I can only imagine what it would be like to be guarding him. He terrorizes defenders by using his quickness and his ability to get to the rim. He is built more like a point guard, which could hurt his stock in the draft. He is similar in a way to Allen Iverson when you actually think about it. He is not a natural point guard. but can score in bunches in a variety of ways. He is fearless attacking the basket and he will finish above the rim on defenders. All of his weaknesses come into effect when he is put into the roll of point guard. His only weakness at the shooting guard position is the fact that he is too small to guard the position in the NBA. Ideally, he is the best fit for a team that has a bigger point guard that can defend the shooting guards. Teague possesses the tools that NBA scouts love at the shooting guard position. His quick release and ability to get to the free throw line should land Teague somewhere in the lottery. If he is still on the board when Detroit picks at No.15, they should give him serious consideration.

3. Gerald Henderson (Last year’s stats: 16.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 45% FG)

Finally we have reached my favorite prospect at this position. Henderson has all the credentials to be a star in this league. He played at Duke under arguably the greatest basketball coach of all-time. He has a real defensive mindset to go along with superior athleticism. He can be a force in the NBA on the defensive end for years to come if he fulfills his full potential. He has a good mid-range shooting ability. He can score in a variety of ways including creating his own shot. He is already matured coming out of college as a junior and he is the type of player willing to do the intangibles. The only knock on Henderson is the range on his jump shot and the fact the he doesn’t posess a killer instinct offensively. This can easily be fixed as NBA workouts can truly help a player like Henderson. Henderson has a high ceiling and he should certainly be a lottery selection. I must note in this that Gerald Henderson has an array of dunks that I have not seen out of such a complete player.

No. 2 DeMar DeRozan (Last year’s stats: 13.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 52.3 FG %)

In his first season at USC DeMar showed why he still has a ways to go, but he also showed just how tantalizing a prospect he is. The first half of the year, Derozan largely disappeared, unwilling or unable to take control of a game. Once he became acclimated to the college game, Derozan showed why critics have been raving about him, becoming USC’s best player, a force on offense, defense, and the boards. This athletic freak-show defies gravity when he attacks the basket. Add to that a great work ethic and you have the formula to create an NBA All-Star. He is not the best defender in the country, however with his size and strength he could become one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. The sky is the limit for this kid but he will need some time to come into his own in league. He would be a perfect selection for the T’Wolves with the 6th pick because he can easily to be added to that young rotation.

No. 1 James Harden (Last year’s stats: 20.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg 48.9 FG %)

The things I like about Harden the most is his play-making ability, along with his old school savvy. It almost like he plays like a modern day crafty veteran. Harden doesn’t possess blazing speed, but he knows how to get past his defender and to the hoop. He reminds me of Paul Pierce in the way he seems to be going in slow motion as he goes by his defender, all the way to the hole for a layup or dunk. Harden is strong, and utilizes his strength greatly. Some people will knock him for his underwhelming (to say the least) performance in the NCAA tournament, but seeing Harden for the rest of his college career tells me not to doubt him He is in my opinion the most NBA ready player in this year’s draft. He has a great understanding of the game of basketball, and should be ready to step right into an NBA starting rotation.

NBA Draft Position Rankings - The Centers

Ending up the Celtics Town first annual Draft Position Rankings is our centers (see our point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, and power forwards here). With only two potential first round choices, the center position is by far the weakest position in this year’s draft. This could be a result of the center position evolving so much over the years. It also could the fact that some of the players who played center in college will be power forwards in the NBA.

As a result of this weak center class, we at Celtics Town have decided to only mention the top five centers on our draft board. I’d honestly be shocked if even five centers were drafted on Thursday. The guys that have made our top five have potential to be good players in this league. I do not particularly see much star power in this crop of center, but one of these guys might just be a diamond in the rough.


5. John Bryant, Santa Clara (Last year’s stats: 18.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks)


Bryant does not remind me of any prototypical NBA draft prospect when I see him, but he certainly knows how to play the game, posting huge numbers this past season at Santa Clara. His play, which included leading the nation in double doubles with 26, earned him the WCC player of the year this past season, while also helping him to an honorable mention all-american selection.


Bryant is a massive force on the low block and is surprisingly very effective because of his physique. Simply a load down low with a great understanding of how to use his wide body, Bryant is one of the more skilled big men in this draft; however, his lack of athleticism will hurt his stock. His mobility is not bad for a man his size but in the NBA it will be a huge liability - some teams will just murder him up and down the court. I do not ever see him becoming a good defender in the NBA because he is way to slow to keep up with some of the more athletic centers in the league, and even some of the lesser athletes.


He has a shot of getting selected somewhere in the 2nd round but don’t expect much from Bryant in terms of being a contributor in the NBA. He will be a guy that can practice with a team and maybe play spot minutes using fouls against someone like Dwight Howard.


4. Goran Sutton, Michigan State (Last year’s stats: 10.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 43.5% 3PT)


Sutton played well last year for Michigan State, producing solid numbers in a tough conference. He has the European style of play, with a soft touch around the basket and the ability to knock the three-point shot. Despite great play in the NCAA tournament, Sutton’s chances of getting drafted might have gone when he declined to play in the Portsmouth invitational.


He struggles getting to the free throw line because he tends to settle for jump shots. Still, Sutton managed to show a tough streak, helping to lead Michigan State to the finals with his inspired NCAA tournament play. With a 6’10", 245 pound frame Sutton has enough size to be a contributor for someone in the NBA. He has above average ability to put the ball on the floor for a center. I would like to see the Boston Celtics select him with the 58th pick.


3. Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga (Last year’s stats: 14.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.9 blocks)


If he can play the center in this league, Josh Heytvelt would be a really valuable piece to a team that likes to play fast. He is an above average athlete for a big man and possesses some of the tools that NBA GM’s love in post players. Heytvelt might be classified as a power forward after the draft, but for now we will keep him in an already weak center class.


Immediately, Heytvelt could be a good pick-and-pop player, with the ability to consistently knock down the 15-18 ft jump shot. With NBA training, he could easily extend his range to three-point territory, utilizing his terrific release and smooth shooting mechanics. Defensively, Heytvelt will have to bulk up and get stronger if he wants to play center in this league. He has had his share of problems off the court, which I believe will hurt his stock.


Ultimately, there will be a GM that will be willing to take the chance on Heytvelt, with hopes that he will stay out of trouble and help their team compete for a championship. Potentially, I can see him being a more agile version of Brad Miller. He would be a good pick for teams like Charlotte or Indiana late in the 2nd round.


2. B.J Mullens, Ohio State (Last year’s stats: 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks)


At this time last year, Mr. Mullens was a definite lottery selection and potentially a top five pick in this year’s draft.

Then, his freshman season happened, and Mullens produced lackluster numbers, especially for a player who came to school surrounded by so much hype.


Even though Mullens didn’t produce much at all during his freshman season, he will still likely be drafted in the first round, based solely on his potential. He has good hands, good touch, the ability to establish early post position, athleticism, and can run the floor really well for a post player, all great qualities for a potential first round center to have.


Still, I doubt that Mullen will put it together in the NBA. For someone to produce so little in the NCAA, there must be something wrong. To add to his offensive struggles at Ohio State, B.J. is not good on the defensive end of the court at all. He will need to make improvements there before he sees any playing time for any team that actually wants to win ball games. Mullens is a project and, for a team looking to stockpile talent for the future, he is the perfect selection.


1. Hasheem Thabeet, UConn (Last year’s stats: 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 blocks)


Thabeet is a super-long, athletic big that will be able to impact the game on the defensive end immediately. Thabeet is a better fit for the NBA game than the college game for a variety of reasons. For one, he will not see as many teams playing zone defenses, which will enable him to play more one-on-one down on the blocks. Secondly, the NBA game is not as guard-oriented as its college counterpart, with more isolations in the low post. At Connecticut he dominated games from the defensive end which is extremely impressive seeing they played in the best conference in the country last season.


Offensively is where Thabeet will have to improve if he wants to truly separate himself from the rest of the centers in the league. Showing some ability to finish around the basket, Thabeet was actually fairly efficient when he caught the ball in the post last year. If he can continue to develop a reliable jump hook and mid-range jumpshot, Thabeet could become a very good offensive player, in addition to his already game-changing defensive skills.