If players cannot sign or collect a paycheck during a lockout, would this likely affect players deciding to go pro early?

Heitner: It certainly is affecting players’ decisions to leave college early to play professional basketball. We already have witnessed Sullinger state he is coming back, and more recently, Harrison Barnes has indicated he will return to North Carolina. These are two players who had a very strong chance at being selected in the top 5 of the first round. Others such as Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, and Brandon Knight are rumored to be waiting and listening as to what will occur in CBA discussions between now and the deadline to withdraw from the Draft.

There are mixed reports that some agents are attempting to gather funds to help their players during an extended lockout. Is this accurate, or just speculation, and if true, would it extend to players entering the draft?

Heitner: At this point, it seems to be mere speculation, but I certainly would not count that out. I remember last year when Xavier Henry would not sign with the Grizzlies because the team refused to sign him at 120% of his slot (which many teams do without even questioning the player selected). His agent, Arn Tellem, told a newspaper that he was ready to pay his client the difference if the team would not oblige. The bigger agents and agencies with large reserves will certainly be in a better position to provide funds to clients in the event of an extended lockout.

For players who are seniors entering the NBA, is there a possibility that a long term lockout would lead some to try playing overseas for a year?

Heitner: It is not only a possibility, I see it as a likely consequence. Many of these players do not come from the best socio-economic backgrounds and need to start earning money as soon as they leave school. The domestic leagues other than the D-League leave much to be desired in terms of level of play and payments. Furthermore, players need to continue to develop and not lose any part of their games. I do believe that in the case of an extended lockout, players will look to go overseas, but it will not happen until it is clear that the lockout will cancel a majority of the NBA season.

An NBA Lockout May Affect Early Entries And The Overseas Market from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Cole Aldrich – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management)
• Darrell Arthur – Jerry Hicks
• Mario Chalmers – Sam Goldfeder (Excel Sports Management)
• Nick Collison – Mike Higgins (The Higgins Group)
• Drew Gooden – Dan Fegan (Lagardere Unlimited). Formerly with Calvin Andrews (BDA Sports)
• Xavier Henry - Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
• Kirk Hinrich – Jeff Austin (Octagon)
• Darnell Jackson – Roger Montgomery (Montgomery Sports Group)
• Sasha Kaun – Justin Zanik (ASM Sports). Currently playing for powerhouse, CSKA Moscow.
• Raef LaFrentz – Mike Higgins (The Higgins Group). Retired.
• Paul Pierce – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management)
• Scot Pollard – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports & Entertainment). Retired.
• Russell Robinson – Bob McClaren (McClaren Sports). Playing for DKV Joventut in Spain’s Liga ACB.
• Brandon Rush – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports and Entertainment)
• Wayne Simien – Leigh Steinberg. Retired.
• Jacque Vaughn – Jeff Austin (Octagon). Assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.
• Julian Wright – Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)

Kansas produces professional basketball players.  This is only a partial listing of the many high quality basketball players to come out of the Jayhawks program in the past couple of decades.  No one agency dominates the school, and there is quite a wide spread of agents who have been able to effectively pitch their services to Kansas players.  Excel Sports seems to have a nice mix with two younger players in Mario Chalmers and Cole Aldrich, along with the best in the group, Paul Pierce.

Power forward Markieff Morris should be drafted in 2011.  The senior is 6’10, 235lbs, and puts up over 13 points per game.  Marcus Morris will not definitely leave, but if he does, he is likely to be selected above Markieff.  Josh Selby is a very talented young shooting guard, but the Freshman will likely stick around for at least one more year.  If not, he could be taken in the first round.  Thomas Robinson has a lot of potential and will be returning to Kansas next year as well.  If Tyshawn Taylor leaves, he could be a 2nd round pick, but he also has one year left if he chooses to play it out at Kansas.

Agent Selection Scenarios: Kansas Basketball from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

When I originally wrote about the Grizzlies caving into pressure, I mentioned that the San Antonio Spurs might suffer the most based on the Grizzlies folding its hand.  The Spurs are known to make its players perform on their rookie contracts if they want to earn the max on their contracts.  And they have had quite a bit of success under that model.

This year, James Anderson was selected by the Spurs at #20 overall.  He also accepted a rookie deal that includes performance bonuses.  The thing that may end up saving the Spurs is that Anderson will likely meet the performance goals that were set.  As long as the Spurs did not and continue to not set those goals at a level that is unconscionable, and their rookies have a track record of meeting the goals, I do not see why the Spurs will be held back from continuing the practice of making their rookies earn top dollars.

Will any teams attempt what the Grizzlies aimed to do this past offseason and demand that their first-round selection(s) sign a rookie contract that includes performance bonuses for the extra 20% over slot?  If so, I have to imagine they will use the Spurs as Exhibit A.

Rookies “Earning” The Extra 20% Over Slot from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Sports Law

• Was the damage preventable? [With 3 players gone, UNC will tighten rules]
• A state of Ohio lawmaker wants to expand the authority of the Ohio attorney general [Sports Agents In Crosshairs At Statehouse].

Basketball

• And now every agent thinks his players deserve big contracts in Turkey [Turkish team offers Iverson $2 million deal].
• And the 19-year-old is still smiling [Xavier Henry knows all about the business of basketball].

Football

• Some Doc guy and a white dude named Josh wanted to talk to one of Bechta’s clients [Agent Josh Luchs tells all for SI].
• Another Jack Bechta piece.  How many top rated juniors and seniors are currently on the take? [Majority of highest-rated players on the take].

Hockey

• About ‘Make My Day Mondays #MMDM’ [Interview with NHL Sports Agent Scott Norton on Social Media, Twitter Campaigns].

Tennis

• Mahesh Bhupathi has won 11 Grand Slam titles, but after the 2012 Summer Olympics, he plans to devote his time to being an agent [Indian Tennis Star Looks To Double Pleasure As Sports Agent].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (10/15/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

No more ragging on the Memphis Grizzlies…for now.  Last week the Grizz finally came to terms with first-round selections Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez.  No training camp missed.  No harm, no foul, right?  That’s true to an extent.  The players shouldn’t suffer.  They ended up with the historically agreed upon rookie contract of 120% of the league’s rookie salary scale, after the Grizz did not want to give up more than 100% of the rookie salary scale and make the rookies “earn” the additional 20% through performance bonuses.  Their agents won’t suffer either.  Henry’s agent, Arn Tellem, said the following:

“I assured the Grizzlies that I wouldn’t yield to pressure. I also informed them that to take any pressure off Xavier, I would pay his salary myself if a deal couldn’t be reached.”

That is quite a bold statement for an agent to make, and speaks to the type of person Arn Tellem is.  At the same time, he is blessed to be surrounded by people and a company (Wasserman Media Group) with deep pockets, so when he makes that kind of claim, he can back it up.  Not many of his competitors could or would do the same.  Henry noticed that and showed his appreciation.

“My agency was behind me, and they were fighting for me.  My agent took a step forward and said if they weren’t willing to cooperate then we were prepared to go as far as we needed on principle. … But I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while. I’m anxious to play.”

Tellem won’t have to spend any of that money, though.  So who might suffer the most out of all of this?  How about a team that had zero involvement in the entire matter?  The San Antonio Spurs have bucked the trend of throwing 120% to rookies for a long time.  The Spurs load up their rookie contracts with performance bonuses, which if reached, don’t always pay the players the 120% slot ceiling.  Will the battle won by Arn Tellem change things for the Spurs?  They have been extremely quiet over the years regarding their rookie contracts.  Will they now be under the radar.  Will an agent step up and challenge them next year on a rookie deal?

The Grizzlies Cave In To Pressure. Will It Affect Other Teams? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The Memphis Grizzlies kick-off their 2010-11 campaign against the Indiana Pacers on October 6.  The date is only a little more than a month away, and the Grizzlies have still yet to lock up their most recent #1 overall pick, Xavier Henry.  They also have failed to sign their second 1st round pick, Greivis Vasquez.  All other teams have signed their domestic 1st round picks.

This whole topic of conversation is a new one for the basketball media to cover.  Traditionally, a 1st round pick signs a deal at the mandatory slot, and the team throws in easily attainable bonus clauses (like promotional appearances on behalf of the team, perform in a conditioning program, and sometimes minutes played), which allows the player to end up with a payment at 120% of the slot (the ceiling as proscribed by the NBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement).  Some rookie contracts do not contain these bonuses, and the team guarantees all 120% of the slot, but this type of treatment is not the norm.  Occasionally, but very rarely, a team will not give a first rounder a chance to earn 120% of the slot (almost strictly players drafted by the San Antonio Spurs).  Just because giving 1st rounders a chance to earn up to 120% of the slot is standard practice, though, does not mean that the Grizzlies have to follow suit.  And they are trying to break tradition…getting some flack in the media in the process.

The word is that the Grizzlies are willing to sign Xavier Henry to a contract that could be worth up to 120% of the slot that he was selected, but that the bonus clauses are much more difficult for a player to attain than the types of incentives that are more common in 1st round players’ contracts.  Instead of including easy promotional incentives or performance incentives, the Grizz might be trying to push unlikely performance incentives (think along the lines of large minutes played) on Henry and his agent, Arn Tellem.  If the Grizzlies are not in contention for the playoffs, Henry could receive the Nate Robinson treatment, where a team sits a player as a cost prevention strategy.  Such a move could cost Henry $1.7 million over the course of his rookie deal.

I almost want to side with the Grizzlies on being bold to challenge an unwritten rule that has allowed 1st rounders to basically earn 120% of the slot without doing much, but then I remember that the team just paid Rudy Gay over $80 million.

The Memphis Grizzlies Not Budging With Xavier Henry from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Article VIII of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), explains how the Rookie Scale works for players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.  Each contract is good for two seasons of play, followed by a club option for the 3rd season and a club option for the 4th season, should the club pick up the 1st of the 2 options.  Salaries are determined by the slot at which the player is selected.  The reason that it is called a scale is because the club and the player’s agent may negotiate a contract that will be worth as low as 80% and as high as 120% of the slot value.

Exhibit B of the CBA actually breaks down the slot values by pick.  The value for this year’s #12 overall pick is $1,683,500 in year 1, $1,809,700 in year 2, $1,936,000 in year 3 option, and the 4th year option percentage increase over 3rd year salary is 37.8%.  This year’s #12 overall pick is former AAU star and University of Kansas guard, Xavier Henry.  Henry is being represented by Wasserman Media Group’s Arn Tellem.

Arn Tellem wants Henry to get closer to the 120% ceiling than the 80% floor.  In fact, Tellem has been holding Henry out of the Memphis Grizzlies Summer League because Henry’s rookie contract is still not signed.

What’s the hold up Chris Wallace?  You just gave Rudy Gay $80+ million.  Can’t fork out a few more thousand dollars to lock up the #12 overall pick in the most recent draft?

Xavier Henry Still Not Signed With The Grizzlies from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

First Round

1. John Wall (Washington Wizards) - Dan Fegan (Lagardère) – Washington D.C. is getting used to having 1st overall picks.  Last year it was Strasburg.  This year, it is Harper and Wall.  This is the first draft for new NBA mover, Lagardère, which recently acquired Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST).  Nice way to make a splash with a #1 overall pick.
2. Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) – David Falk – David Falk’s biggest draft client since re-launching his agency, FAME, back in 2007.  Falk is best known for his representation of Michael Jordan.
3. Derrick Favors (New Jersey Nets) – Wallace Prather – Prather represents NBA players Josh Smith, Randolph Morris, Javaris Crittenton, and Anthony Morrow.
4. Wesley Johnson (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Rob Pelinka – Pelinka represents quite a few players, but none more popular than Kobe Bryant.
5. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings) – John Greig – A huge win for Greig. His other client is Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
6. Ekpe Udoh (Golden State Warriors) – Chris Grier Luchey – The music on his website really pumps me up. Interestingly designed, as well.
7. Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons) – David Falk – 2nd David Falk client off of the board. Falk doesn’t spend much time recruiting these days, yet he still gets 2 clients drafted in the top 7.
8. Al-Farouq Aminu (Los Angeles Clippers) – Raymond Brothers – My man Justin Herzig swore by him before he ever set foot on Wake Forest’s campus.
9. Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports) – I don’t see this as a reach. Nice pick by the Jazz.
10. Paul George (Indiana Pacers) – Aaron Mintz (Priority Sports) – 2 in a row off the board for Priority Sports. Tied with Falk for 2 clients taken in the top 10.
11. Cole Aldrich (New Orleans Hornets) – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management) – Schwartz represents the #1 pick from last year’s draft – Blake Griffin.
12. Xavier Henry (Memphis Grizzlies) – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group) – I had the privilege of watching Henry play AAU ball for the Okalhoma based Athletes First team.  He is truly something special.
13. Ed Davis (Toronto Raptors) – Rob Pelinka – Pelinka’s 2nd client off the board.  Remember this post regarding Davis?
14. Patrick Patterson (Houston Rockets) – Odell McCants – This is McCants’ coming out party.  Patterson is the 3rd UK player selected thus far.
15. Larry Sanders (Milwaukee Bucks) – Happy Walters – Here is our Agent Spotlight on Walters.
16. Luke Babbitt (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports) – BDA Sports represents stars like Steve Nash and Rajon Rondo.
17. Kevin Seraphin (Chicago Bulls) – Bouna Ndiaye (Comsport) – An agency that seems to strictly represent players born overseas.
18. Eric Bledsoe (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Leon Rose (CAA) – Definitely something to celebrate, although the real celebration will come once CAA finishes deals for Wade, Bosh, and LeBron this offseason.
19. Avery Bradley (Boston Celtics) – Mitchell Butler (Lagardère) – I have never heard of Mitchell Butler, but word is that he is working close with Dan Fegan for Bradley.
20. James Anderson (San Antonio Spurs) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
21. Craig Brackins (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
22. Elliot Williams (Portland Trail Blazers) – Thad Foucher  (Wasserman Media Group)
23. Trevor Booker (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
24. Damion James (Atlanta Hawks) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports)
25. Dominique Jones (Memphis Grizzlies) – Mike Hodges – Name you may not know. Also represents Kyle Weaver.
26. Quincy Pondexter (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
27. Jordan Crawford (New Jersey Nets) – Aaron Mintz (Priority Sports)
28. Greivis Vasquez (Memphis Grizzlies) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
29. Daniel Orton (Orlando Magic) – Raymond Brothers
30. Lazar Hayward (Washington Wizards) – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management)

Second Round

1. Tibor Pleiss (New Jersey Nets) – Rade Filipovich (BDA Sports)
2. Dexter Pittman (Miami Heat) – Reggie Brown (Priority Sports)
3. Hassan Whiteside (Sacramento Kings) – Andre Buck
4. Armon Johnson (Portland Trail Blazers) – Michael Lindeman (Excel Sports Management)
5. Nemanja Bjelica (Washington Wizards) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
6. Terrico White (Detroit Pistons) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
7. Darington Hobson (Milwaukee Bucks) – Mike Hodges
8. Andy Rautins (New York Knicks) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
9. Landry Fields (New York Knicks) – Chris Emens (Octagon)
10. Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers) – Alberto Ebanks – Dug this up.
11. Jarvis Varnado (Miami Heat) – Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports)
12. Da’Sean Butler (Miami Heat) – Richard Katz
13. Devin Ebanks (Los Angeles Lakers) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
14. Jerome Jordan (Milwaukee Bucks) – Todd Ramasar (BDA Sports)
15. Paulao Prestes (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Unknown
16. Gani Lawal (Phoenix Suns) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
17. Tiny Gallon (Milwaukee Bucks) – Marc Cornstein (Pinnacle Management)
18. Latavious Williams (Miami Heat) – Tony Dutt
19. Ryan Richards (San Antonio) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
20. Solomon Alabi (Dallas Mavericks) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
21. Magnum Rolle (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Fletcher Cockrell – Served a 2 year NCAA probation? Wrote a book.
22. Luke Harangody (Boston Celtics) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports)
23. Pape Sy (Atlanta Hawks) – Levy Pascal
24. Willie Warren (Los Angeles Clippers) – Kim Grillier
25. Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz) – Mike Naiditch (Naiditch EntertainmenT)
26. Hamady Ndiaye (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Keith Glass
27. Ryan Reid (Indiana Pacers) – Unknown
28. Derrick Caracter (Los Angeles Lakers) – Happy Walters
29. Stanley Robinson (Orlando Magic) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
30. Dwayne Collins (Phoenix Suns) – Mitch Frankel – Known as a football agent with Impact Sports.

Breaking Down The 2010 NBA Draft from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

2010 NBA Mock Draft 2.0 (First Round) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

However, before LeBron can start really looking for a mansion on South Beach (yeah I said it), the NBA draft is coming. Remember all of these guys were a part of the draft once, so you have to pay some attention to which players your team can select, and  who may possibly be a contributor on the way to an NBA championship.

Lottery Draft order projected statistically.

1. New Jersey Nets: John Wall/Kentucky – After being arguably the best in college basketball for an entire season, he will rightfully go first overall.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Evan Turner/Ohio St. – The most NBA ready player in draft, could be the best out of the draft if health allows him to be.
3. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins/Kentucky – Cousins is not the usual fit for the Kings and its owners (the Maloof brothers), but he is the only real post threat in the draft. Add him to a nucleus of Tyreke Evans and Jason Thompson and you have the first team in Sacramento to sniff the playoffs since Vlade Divac was flopping in the purple and black.
4. Golden State Warriors: Derrick Favors/Georgia Tech – Had Favors put up the numbers that were anticipated when he arrived at GT, the Nets would be selecting him first overall. Although Golden State will be a good fit, Favors will be able to run the high paced offense the Nelly loves to utilize.
5. Washington Wizards: Wesley Johnson/Syracuse – A freak athlete who can score. The Wizards cannot afford to let a talent like Johnson slip past them.
6. Philadelphia 76ers: Ed Davis/North Carolina – Davis seems to be one of the players who left early to keep from suffering completely if the NBA bargaining agreement keeps the 2011-2012 season on ice. Davis is going to be Samuel Dalembert’s replacement after his contract expires. Additionally, look for the 76ers to try and unload Elton Brand on draft day for either money, another first round pick, or a sign and trade.
7. Detroit Pistons: Cole Aldrich/Kansas – Aldrich is a spitting image of Paul Davis, the former Michigan State center who was a sound, tough rebounding big in college, but that’s pretty much where the story ended. Aldrich lacks the footwork of other big men in the draft and is going to struggle when he can’t go over the top of defenders.
8. Los Angeles Clippers: Al-Farouq Aminu/Wake Forest – An athlete who can and hopefully will develop a perimeter game to play alongside Blake Griffin. Aminu is going to be a tougher version of Al Thornton, who never turned out the way the Clippers expected before they sent him packing.
9. Utah Jazz: Greg Monroe/Georgetown – Georgetown being upset in the first game of the big dance did not help Monroe’s stock, but the Jazz will lose Boozer and will realize that Mehmet Okur is not a center. Monroe possesses phenomenal footwork and can stretch the floor, and if big men could ever win the rookie of the year award, he would be the leading candidate.
10. Indiana Pacers: Ekpe Udoh/Baylor – A fantastic shot blocker, he will play alongside an emerging Roy Hibbert, and with the NBA’s stars relocating, the Pacers could be in playoff contention come April.
11. New Orleans Hornets: Daniel Orton/Kentucky – Orton has the least playing experience of all prospects in the entire draft. He has NBA size, but with unproven skill. He will become the mid-season bandage when Okafor goes down with an injury, again. Orton will benefit playing with CP3, and scouts believe he has the talent to be the best big man out of Kentucky, eventually.
12. Memphis Grizzlies: Patrick Patterson/Kentucky: A physical specimen coming out of college, he is sound fundamentally and can contribute at the power forward position right away.
13. Toronto Raptors: Hassan Whiteside/Marshall – Whiteside will be drafted just in time to go to Bosh’s  Bon Voyage party, maybe as Turkoglu’s plus one? Whiteside can block shots, score around the basket, and rebound. Look for Dwight Howard comparisons throughout his entire career.
14. Houston Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas/Lithuania – This guy gets the label of highest bust probability. He is another thin seven footer who will refuse to rebound and put up 5 too many threes a game.
15. Milwaukee Bucks: James Anderson/Oklahoma St. – Attacks the basket really well, put up a lot of points in college, and could complement Jennings really well. NBA fans will continue to Fear The Deer!
16. Minnesota Timberwolves: Gordon Hayward/Butler – The last chance of having the next “Great White Hope”. Hayward can shoot the ball from almost anywhere on the court – lucky for Duke.
17. Chicago Bulls: Xavier Henry/Kansas – Regardless of what moves are made in the off-season, Chicago is going to take the best talent available and someone who can run with Rose. Henry couldn’t be a better fit.
18. Miami Heat: Eric Bledsoe/Kentucky – Playing in John Wall’s shadow at Kentucky, Bledsoe did not receive the publicity he deserved. He is an NBA ready point guard who will fill the Heat’s need of a ball handler and distributor.
19. Boston Celtics: Damion James/Texas – Doc Rivers is going to steal James from the Spurs, who pick right behind them. A hard nosed defender who can make stops and be a spark off the bench. He’s the pick because of the possibility the Celtics could lose Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Tony Allen.
20. San Antonio Spurs: Larry Sanders/VCU – Sanders can block shots and has the frame to become a dominating post presence. Let the mastermind better known as Mr. Popovich get his hands on him and you have the frontcourt of the future with Sanders and Blair down low.
21. Oklahoma City: Solomon Alabi/Florida St. – The Thunder learned their lesson the hard way when a team lacks decent big men. Unfortunately, they are not getting that in Alabi, who comes with the buyer beware warning due to his raw talent and what looked like genuine clumsiness around the basket in college.
22. Portland Trailblazers: Kevin Seraphin/France – With Nicolas Batum becoming a larger role in the Blazers rotation, Portland will take the chance on Seraphin. The Blazers will likely allow him to play one more year overseas and then use him as a post defender, praying he won’t collapse like every other big in Portland.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves: Luke Babbitt/Nevada – This being the T’wolves third pick in the first round, this is potential trade bait to a team like Memphis who covets Babbitt’s scoring and rebounding ability.
24. Atlanta Hawks: Quincy Pondexter/Washington – This is a steal for Atlanta. Pondexter could either replace a possible departing Joe Johnson or give Marvin Williams his pink slip, and either way, Pondexter will have a bright future in the NBA.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Avery Bradley/Texas – This is probably the biggest slide of the first round, due to Bradley’s lack of scoring ability right now. If he finds a way to score, then the Grizzlies will have made off like bandits with a guy who could easily be a lottery pick.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder: Paul George/Fresno State – Another great athlete who can score, giving the Thunder a fourth or fifth scoring option.
27. New Jersey Nets: Devin Ebanks/West Virginia- A perimeter defender with the height of a big man. His jump shot is less than questionable, which is why he is still available this late.
28. Memphis Grizzlies: Terrico White/Mississippi – The possibility that Rudy Gay may be leaving forces the Grizzlies to take someone who can put up points. White can do just that.
29. Orlando Magic: Willie Warren/Oklahoma – The second coming of Courtney Lee to the Magic. Warren’s questionable attitude at Oklahoma is the reason for such a fall, but the Magic are the big winners after such a painful loss in the Finals.
30. Washington Wizards: Darington Hobson/New Mexico – Will be looked at as a reach, but his ability to lead the Lobos to such a great season gives him a great upside with good scoring ability.

After the glory of the first round has gone, there are a few real players that could make a difference when drafted. The second round sleepers are: Dominique Jones/USF, Jordan Crawford/Xavier, Stanley Robinson/UConn, and Lance Stephenson/Cincinnati.

2010 NBA Mock Draft from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules