The 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft is still underway, with each SB Nation blogger making selections for their respective teams. Mike Payne, editor at SB Nation's Detroit Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys, checks in to make the seventh overall selection in this year's mock.
With the seventh overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft, the Detroit Pistons have selected Cole Aldrich, Center, Kansas Jayhawks.
Payne explains: The guy has the talent, size, character and determination to be a solid role player for many years to come. While he won't individually turn this team around, he could very well be the sizeable defensive stopper this team needs. If Detroit can subsequently swing Prince and others for a scoring power forward, Detroit would be a big step toward the playoffs once again.
There was a time when a specialist in rebounding, defense and shot-blocking would have inspired more than yawns from most GMs in the league (except for Hasheem Thabust). A 6'9" power forward from Virginia Union fit that bill, and not only did he fall in draft charts-- he ended up undrafted by NBA GMs. Now that is where the comparison ends, as Pistons fans cannot expect the next Ben Wallace out of Cole Aldrich. What can they expect?
Defense. Rebounding. Shot-blocking. The kind of paint-focused player that gives every other player on his team a better shot from the field. He'll give his man problems, and he'll make the paint deadly territory for driving guards. Is he going to score 20 points a game, is he going to even impact your team's offense in a productive way?
No. He's a specialist. His ceiling is pretty much hit his sophomore year. But 10/10 and 2 ain't nothing to cough about, especially on a rookie contract.
Detroit has so many un-certain variables on its roster that it can net either a 40 win season or a 20. Drafting Aldrich would be picking a sure thing. You're getting a player who can contribute right away, who will never be the Kevin Garnett that he has dreamed of being, but he will get you efficient production moreso than any other player on this roster. Basically, in drafting Aldrich, you're getting a super-efficient, handle-his-own center who will spend every second he has getting better. You're guaranteeing that for the next 5 years, your center position is entirely taken care of, and you can focus on upgrades from 1 through 4. He won't be pretty, he may not be an all star, but he'll fight to prove himself in the paint against the league's best.
DeMarcus Cousins is the prize, and if he falls to us, a playoff berth will be ours to lose. But Cole Aldrich is a lock to run the blue collar bad-assery our team has needed since Ben left in '05. Don't expect highlight reels, all star nominations or turn-around performances out of Aldrich, expect hard-nosed defense, hard work and a game-in-game-out commitment to the things this team truly needs. Defense, rebounding, and shot-blocking.
Ridiculous Upside reacts: Aldrich fits a need and fits, as Payne said, with the Pistons profile. Is it a sexy pick? No, not at all. Is it a Pistons pick? Definitely.
Kansas blog weighs in: Rock Chalk Talk's Aldrich season review began with the following:
Cole Aldrich will have his way and dominate the opposition with thunderous dunks and an NBA-ready game.
Keyword (phrase?): NBA-ready. Sounds good to me.
Ridiculous Upside's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest. 2 - Patrick Patterson PF, Kentucky. 3 - Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada. 4 - Ekpe Udoh, PF/C, Baylor. 5 - Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas.
Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of the Aldrich-to-Detroit pick?
And please, remember to check out Detroit Bad Boys for everything you need to know about the Pistons.
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