Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 8:00 am  |  18 responses

2010 NBA Draft – Power Forwards

Need a power forward next season? You’re in luck.

by Jeff FoxDerrick Favors

The “bigger and better” trend we illustrated last week has continued on with the 2010 NBA Draft power forward class. This position is stacked with quality prospects, offering a wide array of skill packages. You’ve got the long, young, athletic types (Derrick Favors, Ed Davis), the skilled yet mysterious Europeans (Donatas Montiejunas, Jan Vesely) — even some “old” prospects who have improved their stock by staying in school (Patrick Patterson). So if your team is looking for a quality 4-man for next season, you’re in luck.

1) Derrick Favors | Georgia Tech | Freshman

The top-rated high school prospect in 2009 (yes, even ahead of John Wall), Derrick Favors is one of a handful of players in the running to go second overall in June. He’s extremely long and athletic and has proven to be one of the top rebounders in college this season. Should have a long NBA career with All-Star potential.

2) Ed Davis | North Carolina | Sophomore

Ed Davis’ stock has been rising and falling like the tide, with it now apparently on the rise again. The 6’9″ lefty (don’t underestimate the importance of left handedness) already has eight double-doubles this season and is posting a real impressive statline of 16 & 10 as well as three blocks a game. Should end up going in the top 10 or perhaps top five in the draft.

3) Patrick Patterson | Kentucky | Junior

Overshadowed by all the John Wall hoopla is the continued development of teammate Patrick Patterson’s game. The rugged power forward has wisely added an outside shot to his repertoire (he’s already in double-digits in three-pointers made this season after not hitting any his first two years) and has improved his stock so much that he now appears to be a legit top 10 prospect. See kids, staying in school can be cool!

4) Donatas Montiejunas | Benetton Treviso | 1990

Another lefty, 7-foot Lithuanian Donatas Montiejunas is still an intriguing prospect, despite his stock dropping a bit recently. He’s still a work in progress, but Montiejunas is a skilled offensive player with the ability to put the ball on the floor and take his man off the dribble or work in the low post. He’s currently getting valuable experience in the Italian pro league.

5) DeMarcus Cousins | Kentucky | Freshman

John Wall shouldn’t be the only Kentucky freshman to be drafted in the top 10 this June — DeMarcus Cousins is also projected to go before pick number 11 rolls around. Currently only playing about 20 minutes a game, Cousins is putting up ridiculous numbers — 15 points, 10 boards and two blocks a game. Accordingly, his stock is on the rise.

Next in line:Ekpe Udoh, Baylor; Greg Monroe, Georgetown; Larry Sanders, VCU; Jan Vesely, KK Partizan Belgrade; Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech.

Next up: Centers

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.

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  • lalala

    first…. thats how we roll

  • http://www.behindtheback.webeden.co.uk Sam Raphael Chadwick

    I expected Greg Monroe to be higher altough he could be mentioned as a centre as well also Jeff im guessing Luke Harengody is a centre? if not how could you leave him off?

  • http://www.yahoo.com Logues

    completely agree with favors, and patterson kinda reminds a little of jason maxiell(maybe not as big and explosive, but close), could be a good nba role player, and am i the only person that thinks demarcus cousins is overrated? he just seems to slow, cant jump very well(has good footwork tho), and not athletic enough to play with the bigs in the nba

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    Patterson (with the new and improved jumper) really reminds me of a young Elton Brand. He’s bigger than Maxiel, but probably not as “explosive”. Cousins still has a little baby fat but his upside is as high as anyone on this list except Favors.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    The Patterson-Brand comparison I mentioned last year I believe and it is even more true now. Harangody is a small forward/power forward in the NBA and it is no accident he isn’t included on either list – I’m not sold on him as a NBA player yet.

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  • JoeMaMa

    Jeff, I can see Harangody out of the league after his rookie contract, but perhaps being a solid gamer; maybe a rich man’s brian cardinal? I’m not sold on him, but he’ll definitely convince someone to call his name. His numbers are nice.

  • Tyler Whitcomb

    Jeff: Your 100% correct with your Power forwards. Luke Harangody is not Brian Cardinal. He is white, slow, and very physical, but damn Harangody’s numbers are ridiculous every night every game against whoever you throw at him. He’s an absolute beast. He is going to suprise people in the league.

  • k

    Can’t agree about Harangody. Much like Tyler Hansbrough did, he gets those numbers by pushing everyone around because he’s bigger and stronger than everyone around him and not sufficiently less athletic, at the college level, for it to hurt him. When he gets to the NBA everybody is that big and strong and more athletic, and he will turn into a 12-minutes-a-game energy big with very respectable per-48-minutes numbers but no one good will ever dream of starting him because of his obvious limitations. He’ll be on the receiving end of a lot of blocks, and any decent NBA power forward will work him on the boards like DeJuan Blair did last season (11 offensive rebounds in 31 minutes, 22 total).

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    MARCUS MORRIS!!!

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    will be staying at least one more season, but is very good at many things.

  • Tyler Whitcomb

    Luke Harangody won’t be an NBA starter, I agree. Dujuan Blair did this to everybody, including Hasheem Thabeet (No.2 overall pick) and Greg Monroe (Possible lottery pick). I’m not completely sold on Harangody because of his lack of athleticsm, but he’s very crafty and finds ways of making up for his lack of quickness. What I like about him is his ability to get it done every single night. He has a knack for knowing where the ball is on rebounds and fights for it. To compare him to Hansbrough is a good thing for Harangody. Hansbrough will be fine in the NBA,he’s coming along now. Harangody should be a fine gamble pick because of athleticsm, he won’t go to high and because of his numbers he should stay in the 1st round or go early in the 2nd.

  • Saku 39

    I really like Greg Monroe. He’s a little passive but not necessarily soft. I think he’ll be better than Chris Bosh in three years.

  • nora

    nice power forward class this year, hu? i think i’m a little higher on cousins then others are. he’s active and athletic, physical and skilled and as you mentioned huge upside. you mention favors as a top rebounder in college and 9 boards a game is very legit but i see him a little raw there at this point, using more of his dwight-like shoulders and athleticism rather then rebounding skills. lawal, on the other hand, to me is the best pure rebounder i’ve seen in college ball – hopefully the skills will translate

  • k

    Tyler, I think that’s a fair assessment of Harangody as a prospect. I guess I just am not as excited about the prospect of getting that from a guy, whether it’s Harangody or Hansbrough, as you are. Like I said, limited minutes, energy guy, will never average more than 20 minutes a night for any full season, but will do little things for you that almost every team has at least a limited use for. But I wouldn’t use a first round pick on a guy like that. They’re all over the place. For what it’s worth, I think he could perhaps be a force in Europe, where his is the style of choice in the foul-happy Euroleague, but the other players don’t have the physical tools of NBA players.

  • http://IdontthinktheLakersneedanymorescoring.whattheyneedisacenterthatfillsinalltheintangibles.AcenterlikeNoahwouldbeperfectforthelakersbecausehewoulddoallofthedirtyworkthatGasolOdomdontwanttobeaparto drock

    I believe if the Nets get the first pick they should go with Cousins because its obvious they need more toughness than skill and he can bring the Nets both aspects unlike any other college player. He could be a true enforcer for Lopez and there would be less turnover needed in the roster. A healthy Harris at the point, Lopez in the middle and Cousins doing the dirty work would give them excellent building blocks for the future.

  • Lazarus

    Monteijunas is number 1 in my books and Demarcus should be the number 1 or 2 ranked center, also i think cousins has way more pot than patterson

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