NBA Draft Mondays

I was assigned to Mondays. I get the prime time day here at BBNR. :). Nonetheless as we head up to the draft I will dedicate the Mondays at looking at the stocks of Kentucky Wildcats who are battling for spots in the draft.

JOHN WALL- TOON SAYS: #1 pick WASHINGTON WIZARDS- Franchise changing draft pick. Wesley Johnson and Evan Turner may have better jumpers and may do more things all around but any Kentucky fan can tell you Wall will bring the excitement night in and night out. He will also put butts in the seats in DC and breath life into a dead franchise. No brainer. #1 pick is Wall. If Washington can trade Arenas and get some good wings to go along with what will be a run and gun offense in Washington, sunny days will be ahead for the Wiz.

DEMARCUS COUSINS- TOON SAYS: #5 to the Sacramento Kings- The best player in the draft. If it wasn't for "character issues" Cousins would go #1 in the draft. DeMarcus Cousins can be a Shaquille O'Neal type interior force. He is one of the most agile, nible big men to come along since Shaq. He can block shots, shoot jumpers, and rebound with the best of them, a physical beast. The Timberwolves, who are trying to trade Al Jefferson would be wise to shore up their inside with Cousins. However, I think Cousins will slide to the Kings who end up getting the best player in the draft. With NBA Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans and the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings are on the up and up. Mark it down.

PATRICK PATTERSON- TOON SAYS: #8 to the LA Clippers or #9 to the Utah Jazz- Either team would love to have a workhorse like Patrick Patterson. Patterson was unselfish in his final UK campaign taking a backseat to Cousins and Wall. Patterson can score, pass, and be a natural leader. He would fit the Jazz well with Boozer leaving. Los Angeles would pair him with Blake Griffin on the inside and possibly play him at the wing giving the Clippers a dynamic frontcourt. However, the Clipper curse is nothing I would wish on P Dub. Patterson also impressed scouts with his ability and selflessness, as he was one of the few to workout with teams in the Chicago rookie camp. P Dub's stock is rising.

ERIC BLEDSOE- TOON SAYS: Tough read on this one. I think Daniel Orton and Bledsoe are both in play at the #18 pick with the Miami Heat. I am going to say that Bledsoe goes to the Portland Trailblazers at #22. Bledsoe would be the first PG off the board in the 2011 draft. However, this is 2010 and Bledsoe stayed in. The Blazers have a need at PG with the aging Andre Miller leading the way and the need to move Brandon Roy off of the PG spot. Bledsoe comes in and makes an already young and dangerous Portland team even more young and dangerous.

DANIELLE ORTON, AHEM, DANIEL ORTON- Sorry folks, bitter. I just don't like the way the whole Orton thing went down. Out of all the freshmen he seems like he didn't care about what Kentucky stands for and didn't embrace it like the other freshmen did. Anyway, the Miami Heat are taking him at #18. Udonis Haslem is walking this offseason, Michael Beasley is too soft to play the four. The Heat need a big man and Orton, while he is still a project, can be a fine big man in the future, as he showed flashes of greatness at Kentucky. He can block shots, score and rebound on the inside. He lacks the disipline that is needed for a seasoned big man. Simply put, he is a project. A worthwhile one at that. Unless his dad is his agent. HEYO!

That is the initial look at the NBA draft as it pertains to Kentucky. Next week we will look at some of the other prospects that could come in and alter draft positions that Kentucky players currently hold.