2010 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been
The 2010 NBA draft class has not aged gracefully, featuring only one current All-Star among its ranks.
To be fair, three additional All-Stars from this class were unfortunately plagued by injuries, which prematurely ended their prime years much sooner than anticipated.
Below, check out our 2010 NBA re-draft, with players taken in the order we believe they should have gone in.
No. 1 pick: Paul George
Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
There was some uncertainty regarding Paul George as a draft prospect considering he was coming out of Fresno State, not exactly a powerhouse college program. But by Year 3, George had made the question marks look foolish, as he was already an All-Star by then. Now, George remains one of the top two-way players in the league, a high-level scorer from deep, midrange and near the rim, as well as a versatile defender with length and athleticism.
Actual position: No. 10
Career earnings: $218,962,361
Career stats: 20.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, 43.7 FG%, 38.2 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 2 pick: John Wall
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The consensus top prospect from the 2010 draft, John Wall only falls one spot in our re-draft, which in part speaks to how good he was in his prime (he was a five-time All-Star and a one-time 3rd Team All-NBAer), and also how disappointing this class turned out to be, albeit mostly due to injuries. Wall was coming off five straight All-Star seasons when the injury bug bit him, at one point looking like the most explosive point guard in the league.
Actual position: No. 1
Career earnings: $229,235,106
Career stats: 18.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 8.9 apg, 43.0 FG%, 32.2 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 3 pick: DeMarcus Cousins
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Wall’s teammate at Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins was at one point one of the best centers in basketball and certainly the most versatile – think Nikola Jokic before Jokic, just not as good. Cousins could score at a very high level, rebound and even create for others. At his peak, Cousins averaged 4.3 assists over a three-season span. Like Wall, Cousins got hit with injuries when he was just starting to hit his peak, which was unfortunate because it happened to him in a contract season when Cousins was really about to strike it rich in free agency.
Actual position: No. 5
Career earnings: $91,978,28
Career stats: 19.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 4 pick: Gordon Hayward
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
We’re going to sound like a broken record here but like the previous two players in this re-draft, Gordon Hayward got hit with a brutal injury right at he was hitting his apex, though at least Hayward’s happened after he signed a big contract in free agency. Prior to the injury, Hayward was one of the league’s best swingmen, a three-level scorer with playmaking and rebounding ability on the wing.
Actual position: No. 9
Career earnings: $209,347,778
Career stats: 15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 45.4 FG%, 36.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 5 pick: Eric Bledsoe
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
That Kentucky team from 2009-10 was so loaded that it had Eric Bledsoe on it along with Wall, two players that have gone in the Top 5 of our re-draft. Bledsoe is now playing in China yet still did enough in his career to go fifth overall in this exercise, in part because he was very good as a starting point guard in the NBA and in part because this class was not very top-heavy. Bledsoe was a top-notch defender at point guard, though he could also do some scoring and playmaking.
Actual position: No. 18
Career earnings: $128,040,553
Career stats: 13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.7 apg, 45.2 FG%, 33.6 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 6 pick: Hassan Whiteside
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Now playing in Puerto Rico, Hassan Whiteside had a ton of ability coming out of high school and college, though he had to go to Marshall and fell to the second round afterward because of maturity concerns, which kind of came to fruition in the NBA. Even so, Whiteside did make his mark in the NBA, providing elite shot-blocking and rebounding for the Miami Heat for a number of years.
Actual position: No. 33
Career earnings: $105,390,288
Career stats: 12.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 58.6 FG%, 30.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 7 pick: Derrick Favors
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
A five-star prospect coming out of high school, Derrick Favors never really developed into the player many thought he could be as a prospect. Regardless, he was a reliable big man who could set hard screens, score near the rim or on face-ups and block a shot here and there.
Actual position: No. 3
Career earnings: $120,866,966
Career stats: 10.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 53.4 FG%, 19.8 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 8 pick: Avery Bradley
Harry How/Getty Images
Another relative five-star bust from the 2009 class (ESPN had him as the No. 1 player in the country and Favors as No. 2), Avery Bradley never developed much in the way of scoring or playmaking, but he was a top-level guard defender in the NBA for many years, one who could hit open shots and suited up for various contenders.
Actual position: No. 19
Career earnings: $64,128,563
Career stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 43.4 FG%, 36.5 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 9 pick: Lance Stephenson
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
It didn’t last long but Lance Stephenson had a fun peak in the NBA, particularly in 2013-14 when he averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a bit of a do-everything guard/swingman type for the Indiana Pacers. That peak was short-lived but he was a solid role player in the NBA, which, for the 2010 class, is good enough to earn you a Top 10 spot in the re-draft.
Actual position: No. 40
Career earnings: $37,072,089
Career stats: 8.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 44.5 FG%, 31.4 3P%
Lance Stephenson Rumors
No. 10 pick: Jeremy Lin
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of fun, unexpected and short-lived peaks, Jeremy Lin’s run, remembered as Linsanity, came out of nowhere but was legitimately exciting to watch unfold as Lin looked like one of the best point guards in the league for about two weeks as a member of the New York Knicks in 2011-12. Lin would go on to be a double-digit scorer in the league for a few more years but was never quite able to recreate Linsanity.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $64,498,737
Career stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 43.3 FG%, 34.2 3P%
Jeremy Lin Rumors
No. 11 pick: Greg Monroe
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
A star in college at Georgetown, Greg Monroe was a solid scorer and rebounder in the NBA with some playmaking ability out of the short roll, but he was never the star he was in college. Still, Monroe was a solid big man for many years, one who fell out of the NBA as the league went on to favor quicker, more athletic big men who could space the floor, none of which were strengths of Monroe’s.
Actual position: No. 7
Career earnings: $76,550,511
Career stats: 13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 51.4 FG%, 70.3 FT%
Greg Monroe Rumors
No. 12 pick: Evan Turner
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
In many other re-drafts, a player with Evan Turner’s NBA career would have fallen out of the Top 20 but this class struggles so mightly with regard to high-level talent that Turner still goes in the lottery. Turner was underwhelming considering the expectations placed upon a No. 2 pick, but he was a decent role player off the bench for some time in the NBA, a big guard that could rebound and create some.
Actual position: No. 2
Career earnings: $98,227,016
Career stats: 9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 43.4 FG%, 29.4 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 13 pick: Al-Farouq Aminu
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
A 3-and-D role player, Al-Farouq Aminu knew his role and didn’t try to do too much, which helped him stick it out in the NBA for 11 seasons despite his lack of reliable shooting touch, dribbling ability or playmaking. Aminu was a solid slasher and rebounder off the wing.
Actual position: No. 8
Career earnings: $72,262,285
Career stats: 7.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 42.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 14 pick: Ish Smith
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A fun story that hasn’t ended yet, Ish Smith went undrafted out of Wake Forest due to his lack of size despite being productive in college. His elite quickness has helped him stick it out in the NBA to this day, though, as has his ability to set up teammates for good looks. Smith owns the record for most teams played for, as the undersized guard has suited up for 13 NBA teams in his career.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $40,522,075
Career stats: 7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.8 apg, 43.0 FG%, 32.5 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 15 pick: Ed Davis
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
A pick-and-roll specialist, Ed Davis could score and rebound a bit as a lanky southpaw big man, though he never put up big numbers. Still, Davis was reportedly a well-respected locker room member on various teams and did last in the NBA for 12 seasons, which speaks to his professionalism in his minor on-court role.
Actual position: No. 13
Career earnings: $47,187,225
Career stats: 5.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.7 apg, 56.7 FG%, 58.3 FT%
Scouting Report
No. 16 pick: Nemanja Bjelica
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A floor-spacing power forward with deep range on his jumper, Nemanja Bjelica could also do some playmaking as a frontcourt player, though he lacked the defensive prowess and rebounding to be anything more than a high-end backup at his peak.
Actual position: No. 35
Career earnings: $34,264,448
Career stats: 7.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 46.6 FG%, 38.4 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 17 pick: Patrick Patterson
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The fourth Kentucky player in the Top 20 of this ranking, Patrick Patterson lasted 11 seasons in the NBA as a floor-spacing big man with some defensive versatility. Shocking that Wildcats team wasn’t able to win the national title in 2010 despite having four long-term NBA players, two of whom were All-NBAers, on their roster.
Actual position: No. 14
Career earnings: $44,662,333
Career stats: 6.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 44.7 FG%, 36.9 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 18 pick: Wesley Johnson
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Another bust from the 2010 class, Wesley Johnson went fourth overall based on a breakout junior year at Syracuse where he upped his three-point percentage from 31.6 percent over his first two seasons (at Iowa State) to 41.5 percent while playing elite defense and possessing prototypical size and length for a wing. The Minnesota Timberwolves should have trusted the bigger sample size, as Johnson would never average double-digit points in the Association, playing for six teams in nine seasons before seeing his NBA career end.
Actual position: No. 4
Career earnings: $32,659,285
Career stats: 7.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 40.4 FG%, 33.7 3P%
Scouting Report
No. 19 pick: Trevor Booker
Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
A tough-nosed big man who made up for a lack of size with heart and tenacity, Trevor Booker was a good finisher around the basket and was strong on the glass, though he lacked the athleticism to be much more than a role player for his entire career.
Actual position: No. 23
Career earnings: $34,831,717
Career stats: 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 51.5 FG%, 30.5 3P%
Trevor Booker Rumors
No. 20 pick: Greivis Vasquez
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
One of the few Venezuelans in NBA history, Greivis Vasquez was a solid backup guard who could create and rebound some, but injuries caused for his NBA career to end sooner than he was hoping.
Actual position: No. 28
Career earnings: $22,838,814
Career stats: 9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, 41.8 FG%, 34.9 3P%
Greivis Vasquez Rumors
No. 21 pick: Boban Marjanovic
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most universally well-liked NBA players ever, Bojan Marjanovic is a lovable big man, a giant who towers over anyone he has ever faced. His plodding feet make it so he doesn’t get much playing time in the NBA but when he does get out there, he can do some scoring down low.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $32,700,000
Career stats: 5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.3 bpg, 57.8 FG%, 76.5 FT%
Scouting Report
No. 22 pick: Quincy Pondexter
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
A high-flying wing, Quincy Pondexter saw injuries end his prime prematurely, though he did come back for two more seasons after missing two campaigns with knee issues. Pondexter was a solid 3-and-D wing before going down.
Actual position: No. 26
Career earnings: $21,852,359
Career stats: 4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.7 apg, 42.3 FG%, 35.6 3P%
Quincy Pondexter Rumors
No. 23 pick: Lance Thomas
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
A no-nonsense big man, Lance Thomas would do the dirty work, set good screens and fight on the glass during his time in the NBA.
Actual position: Undrafted
Career earnings: $24,514,753
Career stats: 5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 41.6 FG%, 38.1 3P%
Lance Thomas Rumors
No. 24 pick: Ekpe Udoh
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Yet another disappointment from this draft class, Ekpe Udoh went sixth overall to the Golden State Warriors after a junior season at Baylor that saw him average 13.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. Udon wouldn’t come close to replicating those numbers in the NBA, struggling due to his lack of strength and athleticism.
Actual position: No. 6
Career earnings: $21,895,511
Career stats: 3.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 45.3 FG%, 71.8 FT%
Ekpe Udoh Rumors
No. 25 pick: Larry Sanders
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Big man Larry Sanders had all of the ability to at least be a high-level backup in the NBA, but his unfortunate struggles with mental health led to him not sticking it out in the league as long as he could have. Just to show what kind of player Sanders was, in his third season, he averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over 71 games, 55 starts, for the Bucks – a real What could have been? situation here. (Sanders, who last played for Milwaukee in 2014, was still getting paid by the team in 2021-22).
Actual position: No. 15
Career earnings: $38,577,822
Career stats: 6.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 48.0 FG%, 55.3 FT%
Larry Sanders Rumors
No. 26 pick: Landry Fields
Now the general manager for the Atlanta Hawks, Landry Fields was a decent backup for a brief spell in the NBA, a 3-and-D minded wing who gave good effort but just lacked the athleticism for a long career in the top league in the world.
Actual position: No. 39
Career earnings: $19,960,799
Career stats: 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 47.3 FG%, 33.2 3P%
Landry Fields Rumors
No. 27 pick: Kevin Seraphin
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
French big man Kevin Seraphin was a solid backup, end-of-bench type in the NBA for a few years – a hard screen-setter who would crash the glass and could clean up around the basket.
Actual position: No. 17
Career earnings: $16,314,884
Career stats: 5.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.7 bpg, 48.9 FG%, 71.5 FT%
Kevin Seraphin Rumors
No. 28 pick: Jordan Crawford
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring wasn’t much of a problem for Jordan Crawford as he once dropped 41 points in an NBA game. He was certainly not lacking in confidence, though he wasn’t very efficient with his bucket-getting and didn’t offer much outside of high-difficulty buckets off the bench.
Actual position: No. 27
Career earnings: $7,468,316
Career stats: 12.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 41.1 FG%, 31.7 3P%
Jordan Crawford Rumors
No. 29 pick: Cole Aldrich
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
An elite shot-blocker in college as well as a 2nd Team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Cole Aldrich was a bit fortunate his career didn’t come 10 years later, as there’s little chance he would have sniffed being a lottery pick in the modern NBA, not with lack of offensive skill and slow feet.
Actual position: No. 11
Career earnings: $27,453,298
Career stats: 3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.7 bpg, 52.7 FG%, 73.8 FT%
Cole Aldrich Rumors
No. 30 pick: Luke Babbitt
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
On the other hand, Luke Babbit might have been better served coming out a decade later, as his left-handed shooting would have been more coveted by NBA teams.
Actual position: No. 16
Career earnings: $10,977,646
Career stats: 4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 40.8 FG%, 40.2 3P%
Luke Babbitt Rumors
Biggest risers
Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Lin: From undrafted to No. 10
Ish Smith: From undrafted to No. 14
Boban Marjanovic: From undrafted to No. 21
Lance Thomas: From undrafted to No. 23
Lance Stephenson: From No. 40 to No. 9 (+31)
Hassan Whiteside: From No. 33 to No. 6 (+27)
Nemanja Bjelica: From No. 35 to No. 16 (+19)
Eric Bledsoe: From No. 18 to No. 5 (+13)
Landry Fields: From No. 39 to No. 26 (+13)
Highest picks not listed
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Xavier Henry: No. 12
James Anderson: No. 20
Craig Brackins: No. 21
Elliot Williams: No. 22
Damion James: No. 24
Dominique Jones: No. 25
[listicle id=1942229]
[listicle id=1934887]
[listicle id=1927284]
[listicle id=1917951]
[listicle id=1914685]
[listicle id=1905912]
[listicle id=1880261]
[listicle id=1408781]
[listicle id=1868180]
