The ESPN czar of the NBA mock draft has released his first mocking, and it comes as no surprise that Chad Ford already thinks very lowly of the Indiana Pacers' fake pick-up. In his ESPN Insider post, Ford sends the blue and gold Ekpe Udoh at the No. 10 slot. The 6-foot-10 power forward from Baylor is also the Pacers' pick in the Draft Express.com early release and he appears to be hanging around the No. 10-15 range in most of the mock drafts that I've seen.
Ford, spewing the sentiments of many Pacers fans, does not find this pick very appetizing for the Pacers. Ford put it bluntly writing:
"Barring a lottery miracle, the Pacers are screwed. A month ago, they were looking at possibly drafting No. 4 and adding a building block next to Danny Granger. But a late-season run dropped them all the way to 10th and ended any realistic chance they'll get a star. Udoh, however, would fit a need as an athletic shot-blocker who can run the floor."
Udoh apparently doesn't hold the same stature as a DeMarcus Cousins, who went at the previously mentioned No. 4 slot in Ford's draft. Ford has Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Greg Monroe going directly in front of the Pacers' pick, followed by Daniel Orton and Patrick Patterson in the 11th and 12th spots, respectively.
God knows that Ford's list will go through several incarnations between now and July, but it's interesting to get an early take on what he sees coming in this draft. I still contend that the Pacers need to just win the Lottery and leave us out of this mess. But then we wouldn't need all these mock drafts, and I wouldn't have anything to post before dawn every morning.
More links after the jump.
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Prospects find testing waters isn't working out
CBSSports reports that underclassmen are finding it difficult to find anybody willing to watch them play basketball before the early entry deadline on Saturday. -
All-NBA Team: LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade
The All-NBA Team was announced yesterday.
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New Orleans Hornets interview prospective coaches Tom Thibodeau, Mark Jackson
Former Pacer Mark Jackson continues being linked to every NBA coaching job available (this time it's with the Hornets) as he still waits for somebody to give him the green light to begin his career. Any time that Larry Bird would like to step in here would be great. -
Former Raptors coach Mitchell latest to talk to Sixers
More coaching news as former Pacer Sam Mitchell, unlike Jackson, actually goes after the Sixers opening, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. -
Here's An Exclusive Clip From Tonight's Parks And Recreation, Featuring Detlef Schrempf
If you missed former Pacer Detlef Schrempf's comedic performance on NBC's Parks and Recreation, here's a clip that was Deadspin last night.