Last week we posted our first official NFL Mock Draft. We alternated picks and did the draft together as opposed to individually. And since we just passed NBA All-Star Break, we decided it is a great time to do an official mock for the NBA as well. Andrew has discussed the draft a few times already, but doing one together is what this site is really about. Just like that NFL mock, Greg will take the odd numbered picks, Andrew the evens. We’ll switch this in our second mock.
The first order of business in this mock was to determine who we thought would stay, and who we thought would go pro. We listed out all of the undergrads who would be first round prospects and voted on them (Leaving or Staying). Our rule was that it had to be unanimous for them to go pro. So if either thought a player would stay in school, that’s where we left them. Here’s how it turned out:
Stars Staying: Noah Vonleh, Zach LaVine, Gary Harris, Rodney Hood, Aaron Gordon, Nik Stauskas, Chris Walker, Terran Petteway, Brandon Ashley, Mitch McGary, Spencer Dinwiddie, Roscoe Smith, Marcus Lee, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jabari Bird, Kaleb Tarczewski, Shaq Goodwin, Perry Ellis, Chris LaVert, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Sam Dekker, Jordan Adams, Alex Polythress, LaQuinton Ross, Dakari Johnson, Jarnell Stokes, Rasheed Sulaimon
Obviously, that list may change as we inch closer to the end of the college season, but that’s what we think now. Once that was established, we listed the draft order based upon the standings as of the All-Star Break, and we also reflected the existing trades that affect the draft. Then, we drafted… Enjoy!
2014 NBA Mock Draft 1
1. Milwaukee Bucks select: Joel Embiid (C, Kansas)
This is less about need and more about potential and value. Embiid is already a very good defensive player and his offensive game is progressing quickly. He has a good shooting motion and excellent basketball IQ. His ceiling Hakeem Olajuwon, and his floor is something like a Samuel Dalembert. The Bucks need a star, and Embiid can become one.
2. Philadelphia 76ers select: Jabari Parker (SF, Duke)
With MCW and Noel, Philly believes they have a great point guard and big man moving forward. They would love to add a wing to the mix with this pick. Parker got the edge here over Wiggins due to his offensive arsenal and steadier play. I think Parker has been truly special this season and teams wouldn’t be wrong for taking him #1 overall.
3. Orlando Magic select: Julius Randle (PF, Kentucky)
The Magic have some decent backcourt scoring options right now. Randle gives them a low post scoring option and an NBA ready offensive game. He will complement their group of young players already there and will be star in that market.
4. Los Angeles Lakers select: Andrew Wiggins (G/F, Kansas)
The Lakers need a star to replace Kobe when he retires in a couple years. Wiggins can be that guy. He’s got the most upside of any player in the draft, but it won’t happen immediately. In the short term, he could be a complementary player on the perimeter. If the Lakers add Carmelo in free agency, then this pick will become Dante Exum.
5. Sacramento Kings select: Dante Exum (PG, Australia)
The Kings traded Tyreke Evans because he was a shoot first player and was essentially a scoring #2 guard. Exum is raw, but his size (6’6’) will translate very well to the point guard position. He also has dominated international competitions when he has participated in them that have included more than a few players in this draft. He could become the best player in this draft, and that is really saying something. Sacramento needs a spark of some sort to rejuvenate their franchise and Exum is a really good start.
6. Boston Celtics select: Marcus Smart (PG, Oklahoma State)
This all depends on Rondo, but I’m fairly sure he won’t be around next season. Smart would give Coach Stevens a point guard that is effective on both sides of the court. He needs to continue to improve his outside shot, but that’s his only weakness.
7. Utah Jazz select: Dario Saric (F, Croatia)
The Jazz have a good young core of players, but adding a talent as good as what Saric is supposed to be with a refined game similar to that of Dirk Nowitzki would be a nice addition to this team. They are a hard nosed, grind it out kind of team who struggles a little bit to spread the floor. Saric gives them an inside out presence that should space the floor and make everyone on the team currently a little bit better.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers select: James Young (SF, Kentucky)
My guess is that Deng will be gone and they won’t lure Lebron back to his hometown. I also believe that Anthony Bennett isn’t their long term answer at the 3, as I still think he’s an undersized 4. Therefore, they need a small forward. Young is a terrific scorer and athlete that would compliment Irving well. Rodney Hood could be another good option for Cleveland if he declares (which we said he wouldn’t).
9. Denver Nuggets (from New York) select: Doug McDermott (F, Creighton)
The Nuggets need a legitimate star. McDermott is in the mold of Kevin Love. He’s not athletically as gifted as Love is, and is not quite in as great of shape as he could be, but neither was Love when he got out of college. He will be a double double machine, can score down low, and can stretch the floor. The Nuggets would love to have him slide this far.
10. Charlotte Hornets (from Detroit) select: Tyler Ennis (PG, Syracuse)
Charlotte currently starts Kemba Walker at point guard, but he doesn’t make others around him better like Ennis would. Ennis has been a star at Syracuse and he’s the main reason they are currently undefeated and ranked #1 in the country. He may not have any elite physical strengths, but he doesn’t have any weaknesses in his game and gets the most out of his teammates. Oh, and he’s the most clutch player in college basketball.
11. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans) select: Willie Cauley-Stein (C,Kentucky)
This may be a puzzling pick to some, but I think that the 76ers will want to supplement their pick last year of Nerlens Noel with another big man to go with him. Cauley-Stein is a gifted athlete, and a legitimate 7 footer. This would allow the 76ers to play Cauley-Stein at the 5 and Noel at the 4 in order to really have a lot of height, length, and athleticism at those two positions.
12. Orlando Magic (from Denver) select: Jordan Clarkson (PG, Missouri)
With Orlando’s earlier pick, they went with a big man (Randle). That means they would take a guard here. With Jameer Nelson not apart of the team’s future, it seems that a point guard would make sense here to pair with Oladipo, who has been much better at the 2-guard spot this season. Clarkson would give the team a great catalyst on offense, and a player that has great athleticism and upside.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves select: Nick Johnson (SG, Arizona)
Nick Johnson would give the T’Wolves a nice compliment to Ricky Rubio. Rubio is a distributor who can score effectively when he needs to. Johnson is a scorer who can distribute when he needs to. He has solid intangibles and is not afraid of big shots either, which only would help on a team that is starting to improve.
14. Memphis Grizzlies select: TJ Warren (G/F, NC State)
TJ Warren has been an absolute beast this season at NC State. He’s emerged as one of the top players in the ACC, and has shown great versatility. Memphis desperately needs an infusion of talent on the wing, as they have struggled there ever since Rudy Gay’s departure (via trade). Warren is one that can do it all: score, rebound, defend, pass, and lead. He would compliment Conley and Gasol very well.
15. Chicago Bulls (from Charlotte) select: P.J Hairston (SG, Formerly UNC)
Hairston’s ineligibility probably hurt him in terms of the draft this year as he was forced to move to the NBDL. However, he is excelling in the D-League so far having scored 40+ points twice and averaging a tick over 26 ppg and shooting nearly 40% from the 3 point line. The Bulls need a secondary scorer to Derrick Rose and Hairston can develop into that for them.
16. Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn) select: Jerami Grant (SF, Syracuse)
Atlanta has been a team that for years has been good, but not great. Once again, their draft position really does keep them from landing a sure star (which they need again with Josh Smith gone). However, Jerami Grant has all the physical tools that could make him a very good player in the NBA; in fact, it’s nearly the type of athleticism that made Josh Smith great. It will take time though, as he is far from polished, but this is a gamble I’d take if I were them.
17. Phoenix Suns (from Washington) select: Isaiah Austin (F/C, Baylor)
Austin fits the style that the Suns play, and could really develop into a Channing Frye-esque type of player long term in the NBA. He has exceptional length being a true 7-footer and is a decent athlete for his size, but his real attribute is his ability to shoot the basketball. He will need to add quite a bit of bulk to his frame to succeed in the NBA, but that will only help his effectiveness long term. Austin is a good fit on this team.
18. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn via Atlanta) select: Wayne Selden Jr. (SG, Kansas)
Boston has taken big men recently in drafts (Sullinger and Olynyk), so this draft is about the guards (took Smart at #6 also). Selden gives the Celtics a great young talent that can play multiple positions (2 or 3) and can do a lot of things on the basketball court. He’s been a little overshadowed at Kansas due to fellow freshmen Wiggins and Embiid, but Selden can be a solid contributor in his own right.
19. Chicago Bulls select: Markel Brown (SG, Oklahoma State)
As I said earlier, the Bulls need secondary scoring. Hairston is a good start, but Brown has more potential upside as I see him as a better overall athlete than Hairston. Brown probably should be picked before Hairston, but seeing as Andrew is drafting here also I know that he likes Hairston and I needed to take him as a representative of both of the Bulls picks. Brown has carried Oklahoma State this season as Marcus Smart has struggled since the opening few games of the season. This will be similar to the Bulls if Derrick Rose struggles, but he will have significantly more talent around him and should be able to excel in that situation.
20. Toronto Raptors select: Kyle Anderson (G/F, UCLA)
Toronto has emerged this season as a young team on the rise. They have done it behind great guard play (Lowry and DeRozan) and some beefy dudes inside (Jonas is a young star). Anderson is a unique player that would be a good fit here, especially if they lose Lowry before the trade deadline or this summer (pretty much expected). Anderson would fill in at SF, but could function more as a PG like he does at UCLA. He’s a stat sheet filler that can do a lot of things well, especially when used correctly.
21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State) select: Adreian Payne (PF, Michigan State)
Earlier in this round the Jazz selected Dario Saric. Payne is the anti-Saric from a stereotypical physicality standpoint. He is a long, physical, tough player who will be accustomed to the physicality of the NBA because of his play in the Big Ten. He also can be a second-fourth option offensively on a good team. He can step in right away and help this team.
22. Phoenix Suns select: Clint Capela (PF, Switzerland)
The Suns could end up with four picks in the first round, so there is a extremely high chance they draft at least one international player they could stash overseas until ready. Capela is the consensus second best international prospect (behind Saric), but he’s the one that’s been rising up draft boards recently. He’s only 19 too, which makes him an even more attractive option. What makes him special is his length, which he uses on both ends of the court.
23. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas) select: Mario Hezonja (SF, Croatia)
The Thunder do not have a lot of pressing needs. This is a draft and stash pick, with the Thunder letting Hezonja continue to develop overseas while not tremendously affecting their current roster or financial ability to spend to contend now.
24. Los Angeles Clippers select: Montrezl Harrell (PF, Louisville)
The Clippers don’t have a ton of pressing needs, but depth inside is one for sure. Harrell emerged last summer at the World University Games, and has been locked in as a first round pick ever since. He may be slightly undersized, but his length and athleticism makes up for it. In fact, he’s like Blake Griffin in that regard, who he’d back up if selected by LAC.
25. Charlotte Hornets (from Portland) select: Jabari Brown (SG,Missouri)
The Hornets have a dynamic defender in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist already at the 2-3 guard position, but they do not get a lot of scoring there. Gerald Henderson is a little bit older and does not give much reason to be excited. Even if Brown is equal to what Henderson does now, it is a win for Charlotte because Brown is younger. Brown is also scoring over 20 ppg this season, and even though the SEC as a conference is down, he has done it consistently. He should add some value to this roster.
26. Houston Rockets select: James McAdoo (PF, UNC)
What the Rockets really need is a defensive stopper on the wing, but they’ll likely be better served finding one of those in free agency. But they do also lack a true power forward, and McAdoo was once considered a sure lottery pick. He could be a nice complement to Howard, unlike Asik who will be on the move within a week. He’d back up Terrance Jones at first, but would be a nice bench player now.
27. San Antonio Spurs select: Elfrid Payton (PG, Louisiana-Lafayette)
Payton has some glaring weaknesses in his game, notably his 3 point shooting, but he has a knack for getting to the rim and subsequently the free throw line. He has good height (6’3”) for a PG and can learn from Tony Parker for a few years as he continues to develop his shot and decrease his turnover rate (3.88 turnovers per game).
28. Miami Heat select: AJ Hammons (C, Purdue)
I’m not one to think Greg Oden is the fix in Miami long term at center, and they need one to contend with Indiana in the playoffs. Hammons has been playing great basketball as of late and he possesses something you can’t teach: size! He actually is fairly nimble and skilled too for a big man, so this could end up being a steal.
29. Phoenix Suns (from Indiana) select: C.J Wilcox (SG, Washington)
With their third pick in the first round, the Suns can afford to take a risk on a guy. I’m not particularly sold on him, but to end up with Austin, Capela, and Wilcox, I’d be fairly satisfied as a general manager. None of these picks is likely going to give you an All-Star player, but each of them have an opportunity to come in and contribute right away. Wilcox is a gifted scorer obviously, but is also a well-rounded player. He’s a good pick in this spot in the draft.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder select: Vasilje Micic (PG, Serbia)
Like we said above, OKC doesn’t have many pressing needs at the moment. They are the best team in the league, and that’s playing without Russell Westbrook (injured since December). So here is another international prospect that they can stash overseas. He is especially important if they can’t re-sign Reggie Jackson when his contract is up after next season. Micic is a pass first point guard, which is actually something they don’t have on their current roster, and could really be an asset down the road.
Ten Others Considered: Semaj Christon, Deonte Burton, CJ Fair, Jahii Carson, Johnny O’Bryant, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marcus Paige, Olivier Hanlan, Shabazz Napier, Cleanthony Early
By: The Sports Guys
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