In February, we released our first official 2014 NBA Mock Draft. It’s now time for our second mock. The NBA regular season is over, which means we have a tentative draft order that can now only be altered by the lottery or through future trades. In addition, the early entry declaration deadline has passed, which means we know for sure what players are turning pro and which are returning to school (or staying overseas). Due to that, this mock will look very different from the last one.
In our first mock, Greg took the odd numbered picks, Andrew took the evens. We’ll do the opposite here. This mock may also reflect trades, although they rarely occur compared to the NFL. After the lottery, we’ll post our third mock. Let us know your thoughts though… Enjoy!
2014 NBA Mock Draft 2
1. Milwaukee Bucks select: Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
1st Mock: Joel Embiid (C, Kansas)
The consensus around the league is that this pick will be Parker, Wiggins, or Embiid. Scouts have been saying that the boys from Kansas may have a tad more upside, but Parker is the safest choice with the highest floor. Due to that, I believe this pick will be Jabari Parker. It makes sense for Milwaukee especially, because they need a go-to scorer on the wing. Parker will be able to contribute instantly, and he is my frontrunner for Rookie of the Year in 2015.
2. Philadelphia 76ers select: Andrew Wiggins, G/F, Kansas
1st Mock: Jabari Parker (SF, Duke)
The 76ers traded Evan Turner to the Pacers at the trade deadline, which will clear the way for Wiggins to come in and start right away. Wiggins is a nice fit for the 76ers since they have Nerlens Noel waiting in the wings at the center position, and can pair Wiggins with Carter-Williams in the backcourt.
3. Orlando Magic select: Dante Exum, G, Australia
1st Mock: Julius Randle (PF, Kentucky)
The Magic are in a tough spot here because Embiid is the top player available but they don’t need another center. They’d love to draft either player above to play small forward, but in this mock they would have to “settle” for drafting their point guard of the future. Exum has the most upside of any guard, and some scouts believe he could turn out to be the best player in this draft. He and Oladipo would be a great (and versatile) backcourt to build around.
4. Utah Jazz select: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
1st Mock: Andrew Wiggins (G/F, Kansas)
The rotation of Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Joel Embiid would give the Jazz a very exciting, young, and flexible frontcourt. Embiid could be the next coming of Hakeem Olajuwon and can come in and contribute right away. The Jazz would be ecstatic if he fell this far.
5. Boston Celtics select: Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
1st Mock: Dante Exum (G, Australia)
I think that Boston would prefer any of the four players above and could go in many different directions with this pick. In fact, I wouldn’t rule out a draft night trade in this scenario. But when it comes down to it, I believe Boston would take the best player available, which is Randle, despite having some nice forwards already.
6. Los Angeles Lakers select: Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
1st Mock: Marcus Smart (PG, Oklahoma State)
The Lakers have been linked to Kevin Love for the last few years. McDermott has a really good chance of becoming a very similar player in his pro career. Marcus Smart is more of a 2-guard and would not be a good fit with Kobe Bryant in LA. I like McDermott here, especially since they want to win immediately.
7. Sacramento Kings select: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
1st Mock: Dario Saric (F, Croatia)
Assuming they keep Isaiah Thomas at point guard, the Kings need a solid power forward more than any other position. Vonleh is the best forward remaining, and has the most upside of any player left on the board. I think he’d be able to stretch the floor a little bit as well, which would compliment Cousins perfectly.
8. Detroit Pistons select: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State
1st Mock: James Young (G/F, Kentucky)
This is a good fit for the Pistons. Brandon Jennings might not be an All-Star at point guard, but he plays the position respectably. Adding Smart to the backcourt though would give it some more toughness and allow Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to become more of a sixth man scoring option, which would suit his game better.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers select: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
1st Mock: Doug McDermott (F, Creighton)
Gordon would give the Cavs a great defensive player and a dynamo in the open court. His offense may be raw, but his productivity makes up for it. I view him as a slightly smaller Blake Griffin, but his perimeter game is more refined so he could play small forward too. The combination of that versatility and upside makes Gordon a great prospect. I think they should still bring back Luol Deng, so Gordon can come off the bench initially.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans) select: James Young, G/F, Kentucky
1st Mock: Tyler Ennis (PG, Syracuse)
The Sixers took Andrew Wiggins with the #2 pick and can now pair he and James Young at the wing positions and have some extremely skilled and young offensive talent. When these two are paired with Michael Carter-Williams, you are looking at a backcourt that goes 6’7”, 6’7”, 6’7”, and whose games compliment one another very well.
11. Denver Nuggets (from New York) select: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
1st Mock: Willie Cauley-Stein (C, Kentucky)
Not only is Harris the best player on the board, but the Nuggets could use an upgrade at shooting guard. Harris is a terrific defender and a great team player. Assuming he shoots as well as he did as a freshman, Harris has great range and a knack for scoring. His athleticism should also translate well to the pro game.
12. Orlando Magic (from Denver) select: Cleanthony Early, F, Wichita State
1st Mock: Jordan Clarkson (PG, Missouri)
This may be a bit of a reach, but I think Early could be the steal of this draft. Some years he may have received consideration for the #1 pick. Take the game he had against Kentucky. Kentucky played the best game they possibly could have played, and are going to have 5 or 6 first round draft picks from that team, yet it was Early who was clearly the best player on the court that day. Pairing Early with Victor Oladipo and Dante Exum, and allowing Tobias Harris to come off the bench, helps the Magic improve significantly.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves select: Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
1st Mock: Nick Johnson (SG, Arizona)
Thought about Dario Saric here, but they need to win immediately if they wish to keep Kevin Love happy. That means Stauskas is the pick because this kid can come in and spread the floor immediately. He is clearly the best shooter in the draft, and could quickly become the best shooter in the entire league. That’s important for Minnesota as current perimeter starters Rubio and Brewer don’t shoot it that well from deep.
14. Phoenix Suns select: Dario Saric, F, Croatia
1st Mock: T.J. Warren (G/F, NC State)
Saric will be able to come in and contribute right away. I do not think this is a draft and stash pick. Saric will give the Suns a dimension they have lacked for quite some time in an athletic big man who has guard like skills.
15. Atlanta Hawks select: Rodney Hood, SF, Duke
1st Mock: P.J. Hairston (SG, D-League)
I think Hood has lottery like talent, so the Hawks could get a steal here. Hood will give them another athletic wing that could stretch the floor, but he has decent size at 6’8”. He’s also able to contribute right away, so they could build upon their playoff appearance.
16. Chicago Bulls (from Charlotte) select: Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse
1st Mock: Jerami Grant (F, Syracuse)
The Bulls desperately need a good option behind Derrick Rose other than the aging Kirk Hinrich. Ennis has shot making ability and can effectively handle the ball. This will make the Bulls smaller in the backcourt, but as long as they get a longer player at 19 this should not be an issue.
17. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn) select: Zach LaVine, G, UCLA
1st Mock: Isaiah Austin (F/C, Baylor)
With the Celtics drafting Randle at #5, they selected a big man and made a “safe” pick. That means here at #17, they should take a guard and can afford to be a bit risky. LaVine is the ultimate risk/reward player. His upside is huge, but he could also be a bust. Some believe he could go in the lottery, while others think he could slide into the 20’s. I’ll split the difference here.
18. Phoenix Suns (from Washington) select: Kyle Anderson, G/F, UCLA
1st Mock: Wayne Selden Jr. (SG, Kansas)
The Suns got a big time weapon in Dario Saric at #14, and grab a Magic Johnson style PG here at #18. The Suns will not use Anderson in the PG role, as they already have Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic at that position, but Anderson is young enough, and versatile enough, to be able to play the point forward position and help the Suns offense.
19. Chicago Bulls select: Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
1st Mock: Markel Brown (SG, Oklahoma State)
Most believe that Carlos Boozer will be amnestied this summer, which would allow Taj Gibson to jump into the starting lineup. If that’s the case, Payne would be a perfect bench player for them at the 4. He has size, plays solid defense, and can stretch the floor with range. That shooting touch is something Gibson nor Noah have, so he’d be a great complement to them inside. Along with Ennis (picked at 16), their bench seems better already.
20. Toronto Raptors select: Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn
1st Mock: Kyle Anderson (G/F, UCLA)
Yes, the Raptors already have Kyle Lowry, coming off of arguably his best season as a pro player. However, this team needs another scorer and facilitator. Napier can come in and not have to be “the guy” right away and provide good production to a team that is already on the verge of the second round of the playoffs.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas) select: P.J. Hairston, SG, Texas Legends
1st Mock: Adreian Payne (PF, Michigan State)
Thought about stashing an international player here, but OKC is looking to win now, and Hairston can contribute immediately. He averaged about 22 points a game for the season in the D-League, so he’s clearly capable of producing off the bench for the Thunder.
22. Memphis Grizzlies select: TJ Warren, G/F, NC State
1st Mock: Clint Capela (PF, Switzerland)
Warren may be a bust in the NBA and I’m really not sold on him. However, the Grizzlies need more scoring and Warren did that as well as anyone this year in the ACC. He also has the reserved, team-oriented persona that would fit in perfectly with the current Grizzlies players. The Grizzlies might get excellent value here, or they may get a bench warmer who doesn’t have the athleticism to do what he did in college at the pro level.
23. Utah Jazz (from Golden State) select: K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson
1st Mock: Mario Hezonja (SF, Croatia)
Utah really needs another wing to pair with Gordon Hayward. Since they went with a big at #4, they’ll take the best available one here. McDaniels has been a steady riser on draft boards and brings elements that Hayward doesn’t. He’s athletic and a great defender, despite a shaky jumper. Many believe he could be a steal in the late first round.
24. Charlotte Hornets (from Portland) select: James McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
1st Mock: Montrezl Harrell (PF, Louisville)
McAdoo was considered a top ten talent a couple years ago, but his stock has fallen since then. I still think he’s a borderline first round pick though, and Charlotte has been known to take risks like this in the draft. With McRoberts being a free agent for them this summer, Charlotte could be looking for a power forward (probably as a backup to Zeller). That’s why they do this.
25. Houston Rockets select: Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse
1st Mock: Jabari Brown (SG, Missouri)
The Rockets need defenders, so although Grant is raw on offense, he’ll be able to contribute on the other end of the floor immediately. He’s long, athletic, and versatile, despite not having a true position in the NBA. Some still think he’s got lottery pick potential, so I like this value.
26. Miami Heat select: Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan
1st Mock: James McAdoo (PF, UNC)
I hate Miami, but this pick improves their team. McGary is a legitimate 6-10 with potential to be a David Lee type of player with a high ceiling of Kevin Love. He has great feet and hands, and is a rebounding machine. He would be a good fit on this team, and worth the slight risk (injury history).
27. Phoenix Suns (from Indiana) select: Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland
1st Mock: Elfrid Payton (PG, Louisiana-Lafayette)
Phoenix could use a great big man for the future, as it seems last years pick (Alex Len) won’t turn into what they expected. Capela will likely get stashed, but with two picks already and money to spend in the summer, they can afford to do so.
28. Los Angeles Clippers select: Russ Smith, G, Louisville
1st Mock: A.J. Hammons (C, Purdue)
Maybe a little bit of a reach here, but Darren Collison has struggled as a backup at times. Plus, Smith’s toughness and scoring ability to compliment Jamaal Crawford will improve the bench. I don’t like a lot of the other options here... I considered Glenn Robinson III but ultimately saw PG as more of a need.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder select: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia
1st Mock: C.J. Wilcox (SG, Washington)
With OKC’s second pick in the first round, I think they look to their future and stash Nurkic. He’s a big man with a ton of potential that could be a longterm solution for them inside when he comes over to the US. If he had played in college this past year, he’d be a lottery pick most likely.
30. San Antonio Spurs select: Vasilje Micic, PG, Serbia
1st Mock: Vasilje Micic (PG, Serbia)
I don’t know much about this guy, but it seems like a good time for the Spurs to draft another quality international player. They’ll stash him overseas to come over whenever Tony Parker decides to retire or his play starts to decline.
Ten Other Possible First Round Picks: Elfrid Payton, Glenn Robinson III, DeAndre Daniels, Jordan Clarkson, Nick Johnson, Semaj Christon, C.J. Wilcox, Jarnell Stokes, Jordan Adams, Spencer Dinwiddie
By: The Sports Guys
