2010 NBA Draft Preview: Daniel Orton

Originally Published: Jun 23, 2010 12:1 PM CDT

2010 NBA Draft previews from Oklahoma Sports:
- Latavious Williams
- James Anderson
- Tommy Mason-Griffin
- Tiny Gallon
- Willie Warren
- Ben Uzoh
- Jerome Jordan
- Ekpe Udoh
- Daniel Orton
- Xavier Henry

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Despite averaging just 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and just .4 assists, Daniel Orton remains a wanted man.

The six-foot-ten-inch center may not have posted impressive numbers during his freshman season with Kentucky, but Orton may not have seen as much playing time knowing he was a “one-and-done.”

Do you think of the “one-and-done” rule is good for the NBA or simply bad for college basketball fans?

The Bishop McGuinness graduate is almost the complete package. He has an impressive 7’ 4.25’’ wingspan, has a strong, athletic build and is surprisingly quick on his feet. The lack of playing time doesn’t help sell the young center, however, he when he is on the hardwood, Orton is a dominant presence. He’s an extremely stout player and often times hard to push around. He uses his length to snatch rebounds and capitalize off put-backs.

The 19-year-old may be a little less convincing due to his lack of experience, with his weaknesses displayed through poor decision making. Time to develop on the college level may have helped this, but it wouldn’t be so big of an issue that NBA coaching couldn’t help. He could very well be worth the extra time and resources invested for an NBA team, developing into a strong, low-post threat with ability to create space. With a little work on his shot and a few years to smooth out the rough spots, Orton could be a worth the wait.

Rumor has it the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken interest in Orton, despite his attempts to squash the report. The center could also be getting looks from the Indiana Pacers.