NBA Draft Top Five Picks Set?

Filed under: 76ers, Kings, Nets, Timberwolves, Wizards, NBA Draft

DeMarcus Cousins worked out for the Kings Saturday, reportedly impressing the team with his offensive repertoire. Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski cites a source who claims Cousins hit 78 percent of the 200 shots he took for Kings brass, more than any prospect Sacramento has seen this offseason, including Georgetown center Greg Monroe. The Kings have the No. 5 pick in June 24's NBA Draft. (Our most recent mock draft has the Kings beguilingly selecting Marshall center Hassan Whiteside. The Kings are very confusing.)



Meanwhile, Minnesota is reportedly focusing in on Syracuse wing Wesley Johnson with the fourth pick. DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony reports the Wolves won't have Cousins in town, and it's appearing that, as expected, Derrick Favors will not drop past New Jersey at No. 3. The Nets have gotten Favors to agree to work out against Cousins next week, something the Kings couldn't pull. (Favors and Cousins worked out for Sacramento at the same time, but didn't participate in head-to-head action at Favors' camp's behest.)



There's been talk of both Minnesota and Sacramento dropping down or out of the top five. But if the teams stick, it looks like the first five picks of the draft could be set, with Washington taking John Wall at No. 1, Philadelphia picking either Ohio State guard Evan Turner or Favors at No. 2, the Nets taking Philadelphia's leftover at No. 3, Johnson going to Minnesota at No. 4 and Cousins to Sacramento at No. 5.



It's not clear what if anything will shake this up. The only potential hiccup would be Minnesota trading out to a team targeting Cousins at No. 4, and the Kings subsequently trading down to a team seeking Monroe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis or one of the other late-lottery prospects. ESPN's Chad Ford reports the Kings could be looking to offload contractual liabilities Andres Nocioni or Francisco Garcia in such a trade.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/06/14/nba-draft-top-five-picks-set/