Kyrie Irving moves back to the top spot as it appears Cleveland wants to take what they see as the safest pick in the draft. Derrick Williams would be the best option at the top pick in our minds. With a week before the draft, here’s how we see things playing out.
| 1. |  | Kyrie Irving 6-3 191 PG Duke Fr. | Signs are pointing towards Kyrie being the first pick, although Derrick Williams remains in the mix. We still endorse Williams as the top player in the draft and the player the Cavs should select to build their team around. Kyrie has a chance to be an all star level guard when he reaches his prime, but the expectations on him will be considerable as the top overall pick. He lacks superstar athleticism and the Chris Paul comparisons are likely raising the expectations too high. But if Cleveland is certain in Utah selecting Knight at 3, taking Kyrie first and then Kanter at 4 might not be such a bad 1-2 punch. | |
| 2. |  |  | Derrick Williams 6-8 248 SF/PF Arizona So. | Williams worked out for Minnesota on Thursday and was described as "a monster" by their scouting staff. The T-Wolves best play would be to hope that the Cavs take Irving 1 and take Williams at 2 and move Beasley. It’s unclear if B-Easy has much trade value considering most teams are skeptical that you can win with him. Williams, who measured and tested extremely well at the combine has proven that he’s a winner. He remains a possibility to go first. Enes Kanter is also an intriguing option, especially if they could put a deal together with Cleveland to get him at 4 and add something to the deal. Monta Ellis has been linked to Minnesota in trade rumors so it’s possible this pick could get moved in a deal to obtain him. |
| 3. |  |  | Brandon Knight 6-3 177 PG Kentucky Fr. | Devin Harris doesn’t appear to be the long term answer at point guard and GM Kevin O’Connor has been coveting Brandon Knight since the season was still taking place. After doing the right thing by cutting Deron Williams loose following his mistreatment of coach Jerry Sloan and likelihood that he would ultimately sign elsewhere, the Jazz will look to shore up their PG position. Utah is said to be considering Valanciunas here, but that seems extremely high for a player with so many question marks. |
| 4. |  |  | Enes Kanter 6-11 259 C Kentucky Fr. | The Cavs invited Kanter back after a strong workout against Tristan Thompson. Kanter gives them a legitimate bigman for the future. He’s missed 2 years of development, but has kept himself in great shape and got a chance to practice every day with a Final Four team. Jonas Valanciunas is also considjonas-valanciunas-hd.jpgered a possibility as he would stay over in Europe and help insure the team is in great position to win the lottery once again next year. |
| 5. |  |  | Jonas Valenciunas 6-11 240 C Lithuania 1992 | The consensus among European scouts is that Jonas Valanciunas is worthy of a top 5 pick and has even more potential than Enes Kanter. While we don’t like him quite that much, he truly loves the game of basketball and shows a lot of skills. The lockout actually creates a perfect situation for him, considering his huge buyout and preference to stay in Europe for another season. Toronto would love to see Knight available here but that appears unlikely. They could also be tempted to select Kemba after his incredible season. |
| 6. |  |  | Jan Vesely 6-11 230 SF/PF Czech Republic 1990 | The Wizards have long been high on Vesely and his transition game would work extremely well with John Wall. Vesely finished the season strong with some nice playoff performances including a season high point total. He shoots free throws about as well as Shaq, but his outside shot isn’t so terrible, so there’s hope he can improve upon it with work. Vesely is not a great defender but his length and athleticism gives him a chance to develop. |
| 7. |  |  | Kawhi Leonard 6-7 227 SF San Diego St. So. | The Kings pick will likely come down to a choice between Kahwi Leonard and Kemba Walker. His poor combine athleticism results could be attributed to the fact that he didn’t warm up ahead of time. Leonard’s lack of shooting ability is a concern, although he has shown some improvement since the season ended. The Kings could always opt for a PG here (Walker or Jimmer) but they appear to be leaning towards Leonard and could potentially find a sleeper like Norris Cole at 35. |
| 8. |  |  | Kemba Walker 6-1 184 PG UConn So. | The Pistons are still trying to pick up the pieces after the monumental collapse that ensued after the Billups trade. Kemba will not be able to replace Billups, but would give the team a young, inspirational leader to build around. Despite his incredible season, there are some concerns over whether Kemba is a true point guard. His fearlessness, leadership, and character cannot be questioned, however. |
| 9. |  |  | Tristan Thompson 6-9 227 PF Texas Fr. | Thompson is a little similar to Tyrus Thomas but would give the team another athletic forward to compete for playing time. Tristan has worked out extremely well and is showing tremendous hunger and will get consideration before this pick. His forte is defense and energy, while his offensive game remains raw. One of the real boom or bust picks for this year’s draft. |
| 10. |  |  | Alec Burks 6-6 193 PG/SG Colorado So. | Burks is likely to fall somewhere in the 9-15 range, with teams such as Milwaukee, Utah and Phoenix potentially targeting him. Burks has struggled some in workouts as his strength needs to improve allowing players to muscle him. Burks was one of the top performers in college basketball all season and is our top rated SG prospect. His versatility and ability to fill in at the point adds to his intrigue. He’s tremendous in the open floor, but struggles to beat elite athletes and get to the rim in the half court. A consistent outside shot remains the missing piece to his game. Has a very quiet personality/demeanor but is focused and driven. |
| 11. |  |  | Marcus Morris 6-8 230 PF Kansas Jr. | The Warriors have Dorrell Wright at the 3 and David Lee at the 4. If the team feels Morris can play the 4, he could eventually push Lee for the starting position. Morris was one of the most productive players in the country last year and has the versatility to play either forward position. The Warriors took Ekpe Udoh over Greg Monroe last year, one of the worst draft day decisions. Drafting a one dimensional player like Biyombo this high would be making a similar mistake. Klay Thompson is also a possibility and will work out for the team on Friday. |
| 12. | |  | Klay Thompson 6-7 206 SG Washington St. Jr. | Thompson would give Utah a sharpshooter to compete for the starting SG job with CJ Miles. The long, lanky 2-guard is an above average shooter who measured very well. Unlike many players in this year’s draft, Klay instantly has an NBA skill with his ability to shoot the ball. Very adept at coming off screens for shots. Lacks elite level athleticism but his length helps to make up for his lack of speed and leaping ability. His marijuana charge at the end of the season isn’t considered to be a huge detriment to his stock. |
| 13. |  |  | Jimmer Fredette 6-2 196 PG/SG BYU Sr. | There’s a large contingent of folks from Utah in Phoenix so Jimmer would be an extremely popular pick. He would also have the perfect mentor to learn the ropes of playing NBA lead guard with a 2 year apprenticeship under Steve Nash. Phoenix would love to have Fredette "Show them how to Jimmer". |
| 14. |  |  | Donatas Motiejunas 7-0 224 SF/PF Lithuania 1990 | Houston Rockets GM Darryl Morey was in Treviso and although Motiejunas struggled to impress, the team would likley grab him here if he fell to them. Despite receiving a lot of criticism for his perceived lack of intensity, Motiejunas had himself a very solid season. He would be an excellent value in the 10-15 range. He’s a finesse forward and despite lacking great toughness and rebounding, he could develop into a poor man’s Dirk. |
| 15. |  |  | Marshon Brooks 6-5 195 SG Providence Sr. | Indiana has Brooks high on their list and will consider him here at 15. Brooks proved to be a deadly scorer this year at Providence and a handful to guard with the ball in his hands. The Friar is being looked at by teams in the top 20 and would provide the Pacers a nice wing prospect to groom for the future. He may remind some of Jordan Crawford with his unorthodox style and aggressive nature. His length (7-foot-1 wingspan) allows him to play a few inches bigger than his 6’5 height. |
| 16. |  |  | Markieff Morris 6-9 241 PF Kansas Jr. | The Sixers are looking to add a rugged PF in this draft and will hope that a player such as Markieff Morris is available to them. Bismack Biyombo is also a possibility as the team is desperate for an athletic post, but Morris would be the safer option. The Morris Twins have built a reputation for bringing intensity and toughness every time out. Some envision Markieff becoming the better pro (over Marcus) due to his size and better ability to fit a position (PF). |
| 17. |  |  | Chris Singleton 6-9 230 SF/PF Florida St. Jr. | The Knicks would love to add an eventual PG replacement for Chauncey Billups, but may decide to go with BPA instead of reaching on a PG here. Singleton is a player the Knicks are said to be targeting. One of the nation’s elite defenders, he was having a breakthrough junior season before breaking his foot. His shot improved, as did his his overall consistency. He wasn’t the same after returning from injury, showing less ability to be an offensive factor, but should still find a place in the late teens to early 20s on draft night. |
| 18. | |  | Tobias Harris 6-8 223 SF/PF Tennessee Fr. | Harris proved that he’s a lot more athletic than he looks with his combine athleticism numbers. The Wizards are thinking long term with John Wall in the fold and Harris is one of the youngest players in the entire draft. There aren’t many freshmen, much less players in the nation with the polish and feel for the game that Harris possesses. Tobias can do a little of everything with good vision, passing and ball handling abilities. He also gets good extension at the rim. His body needs better definition and his lateral speed isn’t ideal. But he is a bright kid with has a professional demeanor. |
| 19. |  |  | Jordan Hamilton 6-8 228 SG/SF Texas So. | The Bobcats could use Hamilton’s scoring ability and readiness to contribute. He’s one of the draft’s top shooters and measured very well at a legit 6’8. He failed to impress athletically, however. Hamilton has a bit of a short temper and had some minor run ins with Coach Barnes during his tenure at Texas, but nothing that concerns teams too heavily. |
| 20. | |  | Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 187 SF UCLA So. | Tyler’s 33 point breakout performance opened some eyes as scoring 20+ is never easy in Ben Howland’s methodical offense. He cooled off the second half of the year, but showed enough potential to land in the first round. He has surprising vision and passing skills for a SF and also possesses some ability to knock down shots off the dribble. Despite being slight of frame and having a perceived lack of toughness, Honeycutt crashes the boards hard. |
| 21. |  |  | Bismack Biyombo 6-9 243 C Congo 1992 | Portland is the place where Biyombo made a name for himself at the Hoop Summit so it would be appropriate for the Blazers to select him with their pick. Bismack’s lack of offensive skills were readily apparent in his workout in Treviso. How much offensive game he can develop is debatable as is his true age. Biyombo began playing at the senior level in the Spanish ACB league on January 9th. Since then he’s created a huge buzz about his NBA potential with the first triple-double Hoops Summit history, recording 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. A tremendous shot blocker using his quick reflexes, length (7’7 wingspan) and explosiveness to protect the rim. Scouts are intrigued with him as you don’t often find a combination of his physical attributes along with his energy level and motor, but Ibaka he is not. |
| 22. |  |  | Kenneth Faried 6-7 225 PF Morehead St. Sr. | Denver worked out Faried and was very impressed with his strength and motor. Despite lacking much in the way of offensive skills, Faried’s freakish athleticism and relentless approach to rebounding is intriguing. Due to being so one dimensional, some teams have soured on Faried. Regardless, many scouts love his strength, demeanor and passion for the game and see him as a potential top 20 pick despite his shortcomings. |
| 23. | |  | Darius Morris 6-4 190 PG Michigan So. | After beating Fredette in his workout for the Knicks, Morris has established himself as a legit mid-first rounder. With Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic, the Rockets find themselves weak at the PG position. Morris could be the only "pure" PG in the entire draft. A big point that shows the ability to run a team and make those around him better is a rare commodity. |
| 24. |  |  | Reggie Jackson 6-3 200 PG/SG Boston College Jr. | With Jackson sitting out the NBA predraft combine and workouts, there has been a lot of speculation that he has a promise in place and we’ve received word that OKC are likely the perpetrators. The team is said to be shopping backup point guard Eric Maynor and that could be to clear room for Jackson. Reggie lacks great point guard skills but has a huge (7-foot) wingspan and is a quality isolation player. OKC will hope he can become something in the mold of a Russell Westbrook. He’s one of the draft’s high risk/reward picks. |
| 25. |  |  | Trey Thompkins 6-10 239 PF Georgia Jr. | Danny Ainge will likely look to bolster the team’s aging and depleted frontcourt. After receiving heavy criticism for his high body fat and perceived laziness, Thompkins could end up falling into the second round. He’s easily the most polished offensive bigman available. The big question is whether he will stay motivated. A player who entered the season as a projected lottery pick has not gotten great reviews and finds himself fighting to stay in the first round. Thompkins is a highly skilled offensive player with range out to college three. He doesn’t wow you with athleticism, but his skill level is that of an NBA vet. Needs to cut out the fast food. Questionable motor, toughness, and work ethic (15% body fat) have him sliding. If Jeremy Tyler doesn’t set off major red flags in psychological testing, he’s a real possibility here. |
| 26. |  |  | Justin Harper 6-9 228 SF/PF Richmond Sr. | After their inspirational title and a window of opportunity to win another, the Mavs will likely look to add a player that can help them now. The champs would love to add an NBA ready player that can contribute something right away. Harper is a late bloomer who can really shoot it and appears to have upside left to develop despite being a senior. He probably is capable of eventually playing either forward position. |
| 27. |  |  | Davis Bertans 6-9 211 SF Latvia 1992 | Bertans is said to have a promise in the 20s somewhere. There’s a good chance that a team will trade into this range to acquire a pick to select him. Bertans is possibly the top shooter in the entire draft and although he’s a few years away, he could be a very intriguing option to stash overseas with the uncertainty regarding next year’s season. Bertans impressed scouts with his feel for the game and desire on top of his tremendous shooting ability at the 2011 Hoop Summit. |
| 28. |  |  | Shelvin Mack 6-2 205 PG/SG Butler Jr. | Mack could add the type of scoring punch off the bench that Chicago needs. He scored extremely well in the athleticism tests with an eye popping 39 inch vertical. Mack led Butler to back to back title games, putting up numerous clutch performances along the way. Is he a true point guard? No. Is he a clutch basketball player? One of the best in the country. He’s not a lock for the first round, but his stock wasn’t going to get any higher. He’s a Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson type who could be a valuable asset to a winning team with the ability to score clutch baskets. |
| 29. |  |  | Kyle Singler 6-9 228 SF Duke Sr. | While Singler’s combine athleticism numbers (30 inch vertical) didn’t help his cause, his feel for the game, skill level and toughness should make him a mainstay in the NBA for years to come. Playing the SF position, his lack of athleticism won’t be as big a factor as it might at other positions, and look for his shooting numbers to end up being better than what he showed this season. San Antonio has long been a place where lesser athletes can thrive playing alongside Duncan in their system. Duncan’s time left is fleeting, but Singler would give the team an instant contributor off the bench. |
| 30. | |  | Chandler Parsons 6-9 210 SF Florida Sr. | The Bulls could roll the dice on a post player like Trey Thompkins if he falls to their picks, or even Jeremy Tyler. Parsons figures to be an excellent role player for whichever team selects him. The SEC player of the year never became a prolific scorer, but his passing ability and team play are giving him some late first round buzz. Malcolm Lee is another possibility here. |
I would much rather have
I would much rather have Jeremy Tyler over Trey Thompkins if I were the Celtics, and how did Darius Morris fall from 14 to 23 and passing the Knicks who he apparently had an excellent workout with and they loved?
stupid
you obviously don’t watch any Rockets games because their definitely not weak at the point guard spot. Kyle Lowry is a beast and had a career year, he’s 100% their MVP and as for Dragic, the guy is one of the best back ups in the league.
I really hope the Kings get
I really hope the Kings get either Kemba or Jimmer. I just see them having a better chance in Sacramento than Leonard.
Kings
I think the Kings will shock the world and take Jimmer with the seventh pick, they want to bring some excitement to town with a guy that can stretch the floor opposite Tyreke Evans. Marshon Brooks will get picked up by the Bucks or the Pacers. Will anyone stretch and take Jereme Richmond in the first round?
Kings
If kings pick up leonard in the first and then someone like norris cole in the second they have some solid pieces.
sooooo
nolan isnt worth a 1st round pick? if not he will be a hell of a steal i the 2nd round
my draft pick for the celtics would be?
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3mc5s6l
first of all i would try to get a true veteran center chris kaman trade ray allen to the clipper for chris kaman and jermaine oneal to the pacer for james posey then draft either 1st rd jeremy tyler or jajuan johnson and 2nd pick E’Twaun Moore,Scotty Hopson