With the 2014 NBA draft less than a month away, here is our fifth look at the first round with team needs factored in and possible trade scenarios noted.
| 1. |  | Joel Embiid 7-0 250 C Kansas Fr. | Jo-EL remains our #1 projected pick and prospect, having been there since December. Embiid possesses the most upside of any prospect in this year’s draft, and stands a real chance of becoming the league’s best center in his prime. It’s extremely rare to find a kid with his package of attributes. He’s got a tremendous basketball body with not only great athleticism but the ability to add size and strength to his frame. The fact that he’s shown an ornery side and has been willing to mix it up is only seen as a positive by scouts. He already shows signs of being an enforcer defensively with his length, explosiveness and timing on blocks. He must learn discipline on fakes and how to stay out of foul trouble and he will be a force. Embiid is a raw talent who has come a long way in a very short time. He shows terrific form and touch on his shot, plus amazing footwork, giving his potential as an offensive center great intrigue. Embiid’s back checking out in physicals will also be imperative. NBA Comparison: Tim Duncan | |
| 2. |  |  | Andrew Wiggins 6-8 200 SF Canada Fr. | The Buck’s best current prospect, Giannis Antetokounmpo, happens to play the 3 position, and a year later he’s generally considered the best prospect to come out of the 2013 draft. So Embiid would likely fit their plans the best of any of the top 3, but barring a redflag of his back, he’s likely to go first. Andrew Wiggins is never going to be confused for a shooting guard, so a trade with Philly swapping picks and adding a future first or a young player and then selecting and moving Parker to the 4 would make a lot of sense. Wiggins is as physically talented as any wing player to come along since LeBron James. He still has only begun to scratch the surface in terms of skill development and realizing his abilities. After inconsistency through the first half of the season, Wiggins answered his critics with a strong finish. He really emerged in the season’s final month putting up a 41 and 30 in back to back games, though he struggled with just 4 points in Kansas’ season ending tourney loss to Stanford. His defensive potential is far superior to Jabari Parker’s, though he seems likely to struggle to score initially. NBA Comparison: Vince Carter |
| 3. |  |  | Jabari Parker 6-9 240 SF/PF Duke Fr. | The Sixers landed the third pick in a draft with 3 standout players, so the team’s decision to tear things down (trading Jrue Holiday) and tank is looking brilliant. Jabari Parker is a bona fide franchise player to build around. There is also the chance that Philly attempts to move up to 2 for Wiggins. Despite an unimpressive tournament performance, Parker’s stock remains high. He’s a lock for the top 3, with a chance to go first depending on who lands the pick. Parker may lack the long term potential of a Joel Embiid or the freakish athleticism of an Andrew Wiggins, but his offensive polish and maturity makes him a highly regarded prospect. He’s both polished and versatile and understands what it means to be a professional having grown up around the game with his father a former standout, Sonny Parker. Parker is a much better athlete than he appears at first glance. He’s also sure to blow away the competition during team interviews, as he’s a mature, high character guy. Parker lacks great foot speed and some scouts are worried about his ability to defend on the perimeter. NBA Comparison: Carmelo Anthony |
| 4. |  |  | Dante Exum 6-6 196 SG/PG Australia Fr. | Orlando already has an experiment going on trying to turn a SG (Oladipo) into a PG. Are they ready for a second one? A trade here is possible with a team such as the Lakers moving up for Exum and the Magic targeting a big such as Vonleh or Randle a few spots down. Exum is the biggest wildcard of this year’s draft. He’s a terrific kid with a great deal of talent, but without question he’s still very unproven as his biggest accomplishments have been in the form of international matches playing against low level of competition. He was very impressive playing for his Australian national team in competitions such as the U19 World championships in Prague. He’s got a ton of upside due to his versatility to potential to play either guard position and extreme quickness off the dribble, and has drawn comparisons to Penny Hardaway. he may scare away some teams due to unfamiliarity. He has some kinks to work out such as a shot that lacks much trajectory. Is he a PG or SG at the NBA level? Scouts appear to be split down the middle on this. He must learn to either become a facilitator or learn to play off the ball. But surely a kid with a bright future. NBA Comparison: Penny Hardaway |
| 5. |  |  | Noah Vonleh 6-9 247 PF Indiana Fr. | Utah and Orlando flopping picks would seem to make a lot of sense as Utah’s frontcourt appears stronger than their backcourt in terms of long term talent. Vonleh is a player who will likely need a few seasons before things fully click. He made a surprisingly quick transition to the college level, but remains raw in terms of skill level. He lacks much in the way of post moves. He shows some solid instincts around the basket and has learned how to use his size and length to his advantage. His rebounding has turned into a real weapon. He’s a bright, coachable kid who works hard and showed steady improvement as the season progressed. While Vonleh lacks the offensive polish and explosiveness of Julius Randle, he may have more upside due to his length. With a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Vonleh is well liked due to his length, upside and desire to improve. NBA Comparison: Wayman Tisdale |
| 6. |  |  | Julius Randle 6-9 250 PF Kentucky Fr. | The Celtics could look to use Rondo, their own 6th pick and possibly future picks in an effort to move up for Parker or Embiid. If they stand pat, Randle would offer a lot of value here and would land in the perfect situation to maximize his potential in Boston. Kentucky’s unexpected run to the title game did nothing but help Randle’s stock. While he may lack the franchise changing ability of the top three, he’s a strong bet to be a productive NBA player. His combination of power and skill set him apart. He’s received positive reviews from scouts about his willingness to be coached and learn, though there was some frustration from Coach Cal about his ability to manage his minutes late in the season. While his face the basket skills are ahead of his back to the basket game, he has the strength and foot work to develop into a quality inside/outside threat in the league. Randle seems to be one of the prospects whose success will be contingent upon landing in the right situation. NBA Comparison: David Lee |
| 7. |  |  | Marcus Smart 6-3 227 PG Oklahoma St. So. | The Lakers moving this pick for veteran help would be as shortsighted as the Kobe contract. They find themselves in a difficult situation with an aging, overpaid Kobe and very little young talent on their roster. To make matters worse, their inter-city rivals are riding high and may soon be ridding themselves the league’s resident curmudgeon owner, leaving the Lakers with the worst owner in town and possibly league wide. One bold move would be to move down a few spots if there was enough interest in this pick (Phoenix perhaps with 14, 18 and 27) and target Kyle Anderson in the late lottery or even later. Smart will need time to lock into the PG position, but Kobe would have to respect this kid’s competitiveness and heart. Smart struggled in his sophomore season as questions arose about his shooting ability and maturity. He could slide some on draft night, though he remains our top PG available. He had some bumps in the road including the incident shoving the Texas Tech fan, but his character is not in question according to scouts. He’s a natural leader and the kind of player that makes everyone around him better just with his presence. While he’s obviously a work in progress, scouts really like his competitiveness and will to win. He appears to be a guy that will work hard to correct all of the deficiencies in his game. Comparing Smart to past NBA guys is very difficult, as he’s such a unique player. NBA Comparison: Dwyane Wade |
| 8. |  |  | Doug McDermott 6-7 220 SF Creighton Sr. | The Kings finally appear to be assembling some quality young talent. They were one of the NBA’s worst shooting teams in the league last season, so grabbing the draft’s best shooter would make for a good fit. The fifth leading scorer in the history of the NCAA, something tells me Dougie Fresh will figure out how to score at the next level. In today’s NBA, having one standout skill can be better than being just good in many areas. McDermott is an elite level shooter with a tremendous feel for the game. A player that can spread the floor as well as pass and competes with a high level of intensity would be a solid fit. McDermott may never be much of a defender due to lack of foot speed and athleticism, but his offensive arsenal should be enough to make up for that. NBA Comparison: Wally Szczerbiak |
| 9. |  |  | Zach LaVine 6-6 180 SG/PG UCLA Fr. | The Hornets can afford to roll the dice on an upside prospect like LaVine with a pick that fell into their laps with the Detroit selection. A pick that became theirs due to Cleveland beating the odds and moving into the top 3 from the 9th spot in the lottery. For a player that wasn’t even ranked in many recruiting service’s top 50 coming out of high school, LaVine’s ascent this year was astronomical. Despite the national hype around Arizona’s Aaron Gordon, LaVine is the prospect that we consider to be the Pac 12’s best. While he struggled late in the season, LaVine garnered a good deal of national exposure. He’s got a highly intriguing combination of explosiveness and shooting ability. LaVine is a player who will likely take some time to become a contributor, but his upside is among the very best in the this draft. Probably the draft’s biggest boom or bust pick. NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook |
| 10. | |  | Aaron Gordon 6-9 220 PF Arizona Fr. | Scouts point to Gordon’s age, he is very young for his grade, as a selling point for his potential. Despite being a tweener with limited offensive skills, he’s an elite level leaper with a tireless motor. He had a solid freshman season providing energy to a 1 seed Arizona squad. He has impressed teams in interviews and has proven himself as a focused, team oriented player. He made an excellent impression on scouts last summer winning MVP of the U19 Championships in Prague. He started out the season determined to turn himself into a small forward, but it is apparent that his future is as a 4. His main weakness is very concerning. To be blunt, his jumpshot is broken (similar to MKG) and while it can look solid in 1-on-0 situations, the mechanics break down when he is forced to shoot it within the speed of a game situation. While some envision a future star at the next level, look for Gordon to ultimately become an excellent defensive oriented, energy role player as a small 4. NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried |
| 11. |  |  | Gary Harris 6-4 205 SG/PG Michigan St. So. | The Nuggets could go in a lot of different directions here but shooting guard seems to be a position where need and value intersect. Nik Stauskas, James Young and Zach LaVine are all possibilites. Harris played sporadic, in particular his shot selection, and there is some thought that he could fall out of the lottery because of it. Though a tad undersized at 6’4, he has solid length, athleticism and good quickness. He also shows a textbook shooting form and range from deep. He didn’t have the type of season shooting the ball as many anticipated, though he did finish the season strong and played well in the tournament. His ability to potentially be a combo guard gives him added intrigue. NBA Comparison: OJ Mayo |
| 12. | |  | Dario Saric 6-10 225 PF/SF Croatia 1994 | If the Magic stand pat and select Exum at 4 as many are projecting, opting for one of the few bigger prospects like Saric at 12 would seem to make sense. Kyle Anderson would also be an intriguing option here, and despite having less hype around him is eerily similar to Saric, and in fact a superior prospect in our estimation. Saric is a potential lottery pick as this year’s top European prospect. He’s been on scout’s radar from some time now proving to be an effective player at the European pro level at a young age. His highly polished skill set may be a better fit for Europe, however his toughness and feel for the game gives him some intrigue for the NBA. What he lacks for in speed and athleticism he makes up for in skill level and desire. Saric was a point guard as a youth, and retains a tremendous feel and the vision and passing to create for others. His jumpshot continues to be a work in progress. He’ll also need to continue to get stronger as his lack of speed on the perimeter likely makes him a PF in the NBA. NBA Comparison: Luis Scola |
| 13. |  |  | Nik Stauskas 6-6 207 SG Michigan So. | Stauskas would certainly benefit playing next to a table setter, and there aren’t many better passers in the league than Ricky Rubio. Stauskas is one of the nation’s premiere shooters and has developed some of the other aspects of his game showing an adept ability to run the pick and roll and be a facilitator. The Big 10 Player of the year has garnered enough hype from scouts that he has a chance to be selected in the lottery. He’s drawn comparisons to Kyle Korver and JJ Redick and could end up one of the better 3 point shooters at the next level. He may always struggle with the speed and athleticism of NBA 2 guards, but he shows the athleticism finish with off drives with dunks. He lacks great foot speed and doesn’t show much lateral quickness, but pure shooters are always highly regarded in the league. There is a wide spectrum of opinions regarding Stauskas with some seeing a late lottery pick, and others questioning him as a first rounder. Look for him to find a spot in the 10-20 range. NBA Comparison: Jason Kapono |
| 14. |  |  | Rodney Hood 6-8 208 SF Duke So. | The Suns could look to package picks and move up trading with a team like the Lakers. Hood would provide Phoenix with outside shooting and length at the SF position. How much a dismal tourney performance will hurt his stock remains to be seen, but some scouts do not have him pegged as a lottery pick. We are still high on him due to his versatility and scoring ability. One of Hood’s main areas of weakness is lack of physicality and strength so that will be something that he will need to focus on leading up to draft workouts. Despite impersonating a ghost in the NCAA tourney, Hood stands a chance to grab a spot in the late lottery, though after the top 6-7 picks, things become extremely murky. NBA Comparison: Rashard Lewis |
| 15. |  |  | James Young 6-6 215 SG Kentucky Fr. | Young proved what an explosive athlete he can be with his dunk over UConn’s bigmen in the National Championship game. Young is an athletic lefty two guard with a sweet shot, and plays with good intensity. Though he ran into some bumps during his freshman season and did not shoot as well as scouts would have liked, he remains UK’s second best prospect and shows a real competitive fire. Young was projected as a one and done lottery pick entering the season, and over his final 10 games he looked as much. NBA Comparison: Michael Redd |
| 16. |  |  | Jerami Grant 6-8 214 SF/PF Syracuse So. | Grant lacks readiness, but his athleticism is among the top players in this year’s draft. Defensively, he shouldn’t have any trouble guarding small forwards. But his skill level makes him a tweener as he is very raw in terms of passing and ball handling. Jerami is the son of former NBA forward Harvey Grant, twin brother of Horace Grant. He’s a high level athlete with great length and quickness. His offensive game showed solid development in his sophomore season at Syracuse. Jerami shows a lot of potential but whether he has given scouts enough to work with and can overcome the tweener label to be a top 20 pick is the question. The team was not as effective when he went down to injury, but he bounced back quickly and is one of the draft’s top overall athletes. NBA Comparison: Thaddeus Young |
| 17. | |  | Elfrid Payton 6-4 185 PG Louisiana Lafayette Jr. | The Celtics struck gold with a sophomore PG with shooting concerns 8 years ago drafting Rajon Rondo at the 21st pick. Rondo, who is known for being one of the league’s most difficult players, may no longer be in the team’s long term plans. Payton shares some of Rondo’s attributes, namely elite level quickness, great length and innate PG skills. Payton made a name for himself by being a valuable contributor to the U19 USA team that won gold in Prague at the World Championships, where he received high praise from all of the coaches. He followed up a tremendous summer by leading the Raging Cajuns into the Big Dance. He is an elite level athlete for a PG with great length and quickness, and although his shot remains a work in progress, it showed signs of improvement towards the end of the year. Payton has a chance to be a standout starter in the league, which is something that cannot be said about many PGs on the college level. He’s still got a long ways to go, but being the age of a sophomore gives him added intrigue. Look for Payton to get looks beginning at the end of the lottery and find a spot in the mid first round. He has even drawn some comparisons from scouts to another former Payton, (Gary) due to his defensive prowess. NBA Comparison: Rajon Rondo |
| 18. | |  | Kyle Anderson 6-9 230 PG/SF UCLA So. | The Suns have multiple picks and can afford to take a chance on a player who has been difficult for many scouts to project. Anderson had among the greatest impacts of any player to their respective team in college this season. His ability to set up teammates and handle the ball at 6-foot-9 is extremely rare. Slow Mo showed excellent improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons, cutting down on turnovers and developing his offensive game. He looks much more comfortable creating offense for himself and others and his once inconsistent jump shot has become much more reliable. He’s even became effective from college 3 point. While there is still concern about his lack of speed and quickness, his skill level and length makes him a very intriguing prospect. Becoming a lottery selection now looks within his grasp. NBA Comparison: Jalen Rose |
| 19. | |  | Shabazz Napier 6-0 175 PG UConn Sr. | Nobody’s stock improved more with their tourney performance than Napier’s, leading the Huskies to their (and his) second National Championship in four seasons. Napier went from a player who some criticized for lack of chemistry in past years to the ultimate leader. He refused to allow his team to lose, repeatedly putting the Huskies on his back to "survive and advance". Though he’s not an explosive athlete, his talent has never been in question as he shows great quickness and belief in his abilities. His tournament performance has made him a lock for the first round and a player that could challenge to be one of the top point guards selected. NBA Comparison: Tyronn Lue |
| 20. |  |  | Cleanthony Early 6-7 210 SF/PF Wichita St. Sr. | Raptors GM Masai Ujiri loves athletes and Early confirmed that he’s one of the very best in this draft with his combine numbers. Early impressed scouts all season with his energy level and outside shooting ability. His excellent tourney performance against Kentucky sealed the deal for him as a likely first rounder. He’s without question a tweener for the next level lacking great size to play in the post and skill level to play on the perimeter. But looking at his strengths, he’s an above average athlete who plays with good energy and has excellent touch from the perimeter. NBA Comparison: Cliff Robinson |
| 21. |  |  | TJ Warren 6-7 220 SF NC State So. | Warren is a talented forward with a nose for scoring. He spring boarded off of a solid freshman campaign to become one of the most prolific scorers in the country, 3rd in the nation at over 24 per game. Though just an average NBA level athlete, Warren shows a knack for taking what the defense gives him and one of those guys that makes the game look easy. He still needs to extend his range and add a 3 point shot to his repertoire, but he shows good form on his shot and should be able to improve that over time. Warren’s incredible season taking home ACC POY honors virtually locks up a first round selection.NBA Comparison: Ryan Gomes |
| 22. |  |  | Adreian Payne 6-10 240 PF Michigan St. Sr. | Payne proved to be a clutch performer and a true weapon as a 3 point shooter. While he still has some work to do as a post threat, his potential to be an inside, outside big forward, with high level athleticism gives him real intrigue. He was a top recruit and stayed 4 years, developing a once questionable work ethic under Coach Izzo. His jumpshot has become extremely accurate with excellent form and rotation. His standout tournament performance helped him. NBA Comparison: Robert Horry |
| 23. | |  | CJ Wilcox 6-5 201 SG Washington Sr. | Wilcox isn’t flashy but has a solid all around game and underrated athleticism, as his combine numbers reinforced. He’s got solid length with a 6’8 wingspan and can fill it up from outside with one of the purest strokes in the draft. Wilcox flew under the radar throughout his college career, but could end up hearing his name called in the first round. He is well liked by scouts due to his composed, mature game and outside shooting ability. While not great at creating offense for himself, if he’s put next to a quality point guard, he could become an excellent catch and shoot scorer. Wilcox grew up in Utah, with his father having played at BYU, so he would be a good fit for the Jazz. So if he exceeds expectations and becomes a valuable asset, Utah would likely have an easier time resigning him, than other players. NBA Comparison: Hubert Davis |
| 24. |  |  | Glenn Robinson III 6-6 211 SF Michigan So. | Probably the biggest head scratcher among the early entrants. GRIII really had a disappointing season, struggling to live up to preseason first team All American hype. He often found himself as the third option with more assertive teammates Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert taking over games late. His tourney performance was solid, but he had far too many ups and downs for scouts. Regardless, he should make an excellent role player and could be underrated due to a down sophomore season. He’s a player who some thought could be a mid lottery pick coming into the season, so he might be viewed as one of those "inefficiency in the market" type of prospects. NBA Comparison: Trevor Ariza |
| 25. |  |  | Tyler Ennis 6-2 180 PG Syracuse Fr. | Ennis turned into one of the most consistent and valuable freshmen in the country, leading the Orange to an undefeated record through more than half the season. Although he lacks elite level athleticism, he does a good job of changing speeds and getting by defenders into the paint. He’s very good at finding teammates for baskets while on the move. His command of the PG position and decision making were advanced for a college freshman. Ennis’s game likely would have benefited from another season or two in college, but as a possible lottery pick, and probable first rounder, he made the right decision from a financial standpoint. It’s unlikely his stock would have ever been any higher.NBA Comparison: Kendall Marshall |
| 26. |  |  | Jordan Clarkson 6-4 186 PG/SG Missouri Jr. | Clarkson transferred from Tulsa and became one of the top playmakers in the nation. The fact that this team underachieved is chalked up by most to bad coaching. Clarkson is a real talent, and when he decided to be a little more selfish and take over games, his talent became obvious. He’s got the athleticism and skill level to be an NBA starter at the PG position and could be one of this draft’s biggest sleepers. NBA Comparison: Michael Carter-Williams |
| 27. | |  | Clint Capela 6-11 222 PF/C Switzerland 1994 | Capela’s poor performance in front of numerous scouts in Portland at the Hoop Summit has dropped him to a bubble first rounder. Capela is a freakish athlete who fits a number of team’s idea of the perfect draft and stash type of pick. He probably won’t be an NBA contributor for a few seasons, but for a team with patience, he’s a great athlete who could be a force by the time he is 24-25. He doesn’t always play with a high level of intensity, his main drawback, but when he’s on he’s a handful and he’s only 20 years of age. His progression this season has been remarkable, with a number of big scoring and rebounding outbursts, giving him a lot of intrigue as a late first round pick.NBA Comparison: Ian Mahinmi |
| 28. |  |  | Samaj Christon 6-3 186 PG Xavier So. | Christon helped Xavier to an excellent season, but the issues with his shot and ability to play PG make him a borderline first rounder. He has the speed and quickness to get to the basket, as well as the length to give opposing point guards headaches as an on ball defender. He shot very effectively as a sophomore, but his mechanics leave some question marks about his ability to extend his shot with consistency at the next level. His shooting in workouts will likely be key to his draft stock.NBA Comparison: Keyon Dooling |
| 29. | | Spencer Dinwiddie 6-6 205 PG/SG Colorado Jr. | The Thunder have been known for enticing players to enter the draft by giving them a promise early on in the draft process. Dinwiddie’s decision to leave school after suffering a season ending ACL injury is a little bit suspicious. He was playing tremendous basketball pre-injury and his absence torpedoed the Buffalo’s season. Dinwiddie is a cerebral combo guard who just needs to play with more consistency. He bolsters an already loaded PG class. NBA Comparison: Brian Shaw | |
| 30. |  |  | Vasilije Micic 6-5 200 PG Serbia 1994 | Micic’s vision and passing ability, along with his ability to stay in Europe, would fit right into the Spurs M.O. While Micic isn’t the fleetest of foot, his leadership and ability to run a team makes him extremely intriguing. There are not many players on any level with the vision and passing ability that he possesses. He also seems to have gained some speed and athleticism over the past 6 months, after coming back from a leg injury, and looking a step slow at the 2013 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso. There are still some concerns with his foot speed and ability to score, but his heart for the game and determination are excellent. For those that enjoy imaginative passing, Micic is a true joy to watch. NBA Comparison: Jose Calderon |
Um
What could the Lakers possible offer to move up to 4 ???? There isn’t a player on that roster I’d want and I think they are precluded from dealing a future 1st
Um
What could the Lakers possible offer to move up to 4 ???? There isn’t a player on that roster I’d want and I think they are precluded from dealing a future 1st
How does Dario Saric play
How does Dario Saric play like Luis Scola at all?
How does Dario Saric play
How does Dario Saric play like Luis Scola at all?
NBA Comparisons
I think the NBA comparisons need a lot of improvement. Just a suggestion, why not make a poll for every prospect?
A way that I started using is
A way that I started using is the player season finder on Basketball Reference. I put in the stats that the prospect could achieve from ages 23-28 (prime years) and look for guys with both a similar playing style, similar stats, and a similar build. It’s not perfect, but it has been very successful for me so far to find best case scenarios for prospects and could also be used for realistic and worst case comparisons too.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi
NBA Comparisons
I think the NBA comparisons need a lot of improvement. Just a suggestion, why not make a poll for every prospect?
A way that I started using is
A way that I started using is the player season finder on Basketball Reference. I put in the stats that the prospect could achieve from ages 23-28 (prime years) and look for guys with both a similar playing style, similar stats, and a similar build. It’s not perfect, but it has been very successful for me so far to find best case scenarios for prospects and could also be used for realistic and worst case comparisons too.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi
You estimated wrong on the
You estimated wrong on the Dario Saric vs Kyle Anderson debate; it’s not even close really as to who the better prospect is. And Luis Scola comparison for Dario is pretty bad considering his game resembles nothing like Scola’s at all. Also no way the Suns select Rodney Hood and Anderson. Props for putting Micic in the first round, but Bogdanovic should be there as well.
You estimated wrong on the
You estimated wrong on the Dario Saric vs Kyle Anderson debate; it’s not even close really as to who the better prospect is. And Luis Scola comparison for Dario is pretty bad considering his game resembles nothing like Scola’s at all. Also no way the Suns select Rodney Hood and Anderson. Props for putting Micic in the first round, but Bogdanovic should be there as well.
Nurkic, Porzingis?
Nurkic, Porzingis?
Gesundheit.
Just kidding, of
Gesundheit.
Just kidding, of course. I think that predicting the international "draft and stash" prospects is really hard to determine during mock drafts. I think the Magic are offering $500,000 for predicting the 1st round correctly, or less money for the 100% correct lottery or something. I heard one of the front office members of the Magic basically say that whomever predicts the 1st correctly should be offered a front office job in addition to that bonus money. I know as a Bulls fan, I didn’t have any clue they would draft Omer Asik 6 or so years ago and Mirotic a few years back. Especially since they had to make a few minor moves in order to make those happen. I heard nothing about them taking those guys before the draft and even this year…I don’t know if they are going to use both their picks at 16 and 19, trade up (possibly the rumored 11th pick in a trade with Denver) for not just a guy they target but also a savings of $850,000 on the roster (especially if they trade into the 2nd round again to get lower priced roster filler at less than the $500,000 or so minimum). I don’t know if they are going to trade out of the draft altogether. If they do trade out, is it in a move for Carmelo or Love or just to maintain future assets while having less committed salary for the next 2 summers (especially 2015, which is a loaded class of free agents). Will they draft international guys who have quite a bit of talent but won’t come over for a few years like Mirotic? Especially after the positive results they have gotten from Mirotic, where he gains professional experience on someone else’s dime and (buyout with his Spanish club or not) can be brought in for what should be considered a "team-friendly" deal since they have exclusive negotiating rights?
Sorry this is so long winded but I have a very hard time predicting international player’s draft position, unless they are players who are college aged like Dante Exum (who also has top of the draft talent) and I think that Aran and the rest of the NBADraft.net crew have similar issues until you get within days of the draft and agents start leaking draft promises and buyouts start to get negotiated with international teams.
Nurkic, Porzingis?
Nurkic, Porzingis?
Gesundheit.
Just kidding, of
Gesundheit.
Just kidding, of course. I think that predicting the international "draft and stash" prospects is really hard to determine during mock drafts. I think the Magic are offering $500,000 for predicting the 1st round correctly, or less money for the 100% correct lottery or something. I heard one of the front office members of the Magic basically say that whomever predicts the 1st correctly should be offered a front office job in addition to that bonus money. I know as a Bulls fan, I didn’t have any clue they would draft Omer Asik 6 or so years ago and Mirotic a few years back. Especially since they had to make a few minor moves in order to make those happen. I heard nothing about them taking those guys before the draft and even this year…I don’t know if they are going to use both their picks at 16 and 19, trade up (possibly the rumored 11th pick in a trade with Denver) for not just a guy they target but also a savings of $850,000 on the roster (especially if they trade into the 2nd round again to get lower priced roster filler at less than the $500,000 or so minimum). I don’t know if they are going to trade out of the draft altogether. If they do trade out, is it in a move for Carmelo or Love or just to maintain future assets while having less committed salary for the next 2 summers (especially 2015, which is a loaded class of free agents). Will they draft international guys who have quite a bit of talent but won’t come over for a few years like Mirotic? Especially after the positive results they have gotten from Mirotic, where he gains professional experience on someone else’s dime and (buyout with his Spanish club or not) can be brought in for what should be considered a "team-friendly" deal since they have exclusive negotiating rights?
Sorry this is so long winded but I have a very hard time predicting international player’s draft position, unless they are players who are college aged like Dante Exum (who also has top of the draft talent) and I think that Aran and the rest of the NBADraft.net crew have similar issues until you get within days of the draft and agents start leaking draft promises and buyouts start to get negotiated with international teams.
McDermott at 8???
McDermott to the Kings is a real head scratcher to me. They already have Gay playing the 3, and he’s doing great there, so unless he has a real dull year, McDermott will be backing him up. He can’t play the 4 because he’s not laterally quick enough, nor will he play the 2. Besides the Kings already have McLemore at the 2. So, while McBuckets is a great shooter he is not a good fit for the Kings, even though they struggle to score. What they need is a better 4 or a point guard. Smart is the golden pick here, but according to this mock he is not available at 8, so I’m looking at the 4. You may think they are loaded at the 4 with Thompson and Landry, and Derrick Williams. But I think we all saw that once Gay took over this team, Williams disappeared. Maybe he’d be better as a backup or on a team where he is the best option offensively (meaning the ball is often in his hands. He did well in Minny when Love was hurt and he was left to play the 4 but struggled once Love came back. Same thing happened with the Kings. Before Gay came over he was great, then once Gay got there he disappeared.) They aren’t happy with Thompson so he’ll be traded, and Landry probably won’t stay a King for too long, so really their best 4 right now is Williams. Surely the Kings don’t think they can succeed with a 4 who disappears on a regular basis because is the ball not in his hands enough. They need more defense next to Cousins. Aaron Gordon really isn’t that bad of a pick for them. I don’t know why but this site always seems to be undervalueing him. He really isn’t that far off from Randle and Vonleh. So in all reality Gordon is not a reach at 8. He could even be gone by the 6th pick! So if Smart is already gone by the time the Kings are on the clock I expect them to go for a 4 probably Gordon or whomever of the top 3 is still on the board. (Randle, Vonleh or Gordon)
I agree that I dont think
I agree that I dont think McDermott is the pick here, but to me LaVine seems like a dang near perfect fit for Sacramento. The Center spot is covered with Cousins, the SG spot they just draft McLemore, Gay is holding the 3 spot, the PF is up for debate but as you stated they have serviceable bodies there(DWill, Landry, JT) all whom have started at sometime in the league, so they dont have to address it unless they absolutely fall in love with a player there. They need help at the PG spot even if the re-sign Thomas, LaVine is a Cali kid that probably has a little name value there, he could be a big surprise or major flop but he gives them a chance to hit on a star level player, fits a postion of need & has local ties.
McDermott at 8???
McDermott to the Kings is a real head scratcher to me. They already have Gay playing the 3, and he’s doing great there, so unless he has a real dull year, McDermott will be backing him up. He can’t play the 4 because he’s not laterally quick enough, nor will he play the 2. Besides the Kings already have McLemore at the 2. So, while McBuckets is a great shooter he is not a good fit for the Kings, even though they struggle to score. What they need is a better 4 or a point guard. Smart is the golden pick here, but according to this mock he is not available at 8, so I’m looking at the 4. You may think they are loaded at the 4 with Thompson and Landry, and Derrick Williams. But I think we all saw that once Gay took over this team, Williams disappeared. Maybe he’d be better as a backup or on a team where he is the best option offensively (meaning the ball is often in his hands. He did well in Minny when Love was hurt and he was left to play the 4 but struggled once Love came back. Same thing happened with the Kings. Before Gay came over he was great, then once Gay got there he disappeared.) They aren’t happy with Thompson so he’ll be traded, and Landry probably won’t stay a King for too long, so really their best 4 right now is Williams. Surely the Kings don’t think they can succeed with a 4 who disappears on a regular basis because is the ball not in his hands enough. They need more defense next to Cousins. Aaron Gordon really isn’t that bad of a pick for them. I don’t know why but this site always seems to be undervalueing him. He really isn’t that far off from Randle and Vonleh. So in all reality Gordon is not a reach at 8. He could even be gone by the 6th pick! So if Smart is already gone by the time the Kings are on the clock I expect them to go for a 4 probably Gordon or whomever of the top 3 is still on the board. (Randle, Vonleh or Gordon)
I agree that I dont think
I agree that I dont think McDermott is the pick here, but to me LaVine seems like a dang near perfect fit for Sacramento. The Center spot is covered with Cousins, the SG spot they just draft McLemore, Gay is holding the 3 spot, the PF is up for debate but as you stated they have serviceable bodies there(DWill, Landry, JT) all whom have started at sometime in the league, so they dont have to address it unless they absolutely fall in love with a player there. They need help at the PG spot even if the re-sign Thomas, LaVine is a Cali kid that probably has a little name value there, he could be a big surprise or major flop but he gives them a chance to hit on a star level player, fits a postion of need & has local ties.
Wayman
Props for being the first person I’ve seen to compare McDermitt to Wally Szcerbiak. Most of the other comparisons need help though. I mean seriously Wayman Tisdale?
Not trying to be that guy,
Not trying to be that guy twolf, but I compared Dougie McBuckets to Wally World as a best case scenario months ago
Wayman
Props for being the first person I’ve seen to compare McDermitt to Wally Szcerbiak. Most of the other comparisons need help though. I mean seriously Wayman Tisdale?
Not trying to be that guy,
Not trying to be that guy twolf, but I compared Dougie McBuckets to Wally World as a best case scenario months ago
God the comparisons are tough
God the comparisons are tough to look at. Just don’t even put comparisons if they are going to be so far off.
God the comparisons are tough
God the comparisons are tough to look at. Just don’t even put comparisons if they are going to be so far off.
COMPARISONS
Comparisons are always difficult to pinpoint. I think that this article actually did a SPECTACULAR on most of them, but a few are glaringly off. With appreciation for the good in mind, let me attempt to rectify the bad: EMBIID – more like the Robinson than Duncan, if you must use a Spur. I still think the Olajuwon is the most spot-on WIGGINS – Carter is a different body type, even coming out of college. His cousin McGrady is a closer match, but Paul George is even more accurate IMO VONLEH – seems like a lazy comparison, but I feel he shares many similarities with fellow Hoosier Jeffries (long, smooth and positionless) RANDLE – Lee is a junkyard dog, not Julius’ mentality at all. Webber was a do-it-all bigman with an array of post moves HARRIS – I would choose Ellington instead. OJ is not a PG, but can set the table more than Gary SARIC – from what I’ve seen… Turkoglu? Schrempf? Odom? EARLY – Cliff was a 6’11 SF/PF/C, Cleanthony is a 6’7 SF. Rasual Butler is a reasonable expectation
COMPARISONS
Comparisons are always difficult to pinpoint. I think that this article actually did a SPECTACULAR on most of them, but a few are glaringly off. With appreciation for the good in mind, let me attempt to rectify the bad: EMBIID – more like the Robinson than Duncan, if you must use a Spur. I still think the Olajuwon is the most spot-on WIGGINS – Carter is a different body type, even coming out of college. His cousin McGrady is a closer match, but Paul George is even more accurate IMO VONLEH – seems like a lazy comparison, but I feel he shares many similarities with fellow Hoosier Jeffries (long, smooth and positionless) RANDLE – Lee is a junkyard dog, not Julius’ mentality at all. Webber was a do-it-all bigman with an array of post moves HARRIS – I would choose Ellington instead. OJ is not a PG, but can set the table more than Gary SARIC – from what I’ve seen… Turkoglu? Schrempf? Odom? EARLY – Cliff was a 6’11 SF/PF/C, Cleanthony is a 6’7 SF. Rasual Butler is a reasonable expectation
And I know there were many
And I know there were many others besides me who saw that comparison as well
And I know there were many
And I know there were many others besides me who saw that comparison as well
kyle anderson overated on here.
as intriguing as he is with his size and passing ability,there is no way he is fast enough to guard nba pg’s,which significantly hurts his draft stock. He can definitely find a place in a rotation somewhere and sure some team like pheonix who is already loaded with much more athletic players might take him late first if theyve used one of their previous picks on an intl. that will stash for awhile.Yet, I doubt suns keep all their picks, and I doubt any other team besides maybe the jazz at 23 even considers drafting anderson in the first round.
kyle anderson overated on here.
as intriguing as he is with his size and passing ability,there is no way he is fast enough to guard nba pg’s,which significantly hurts his draft stock. He can definitely find a place in a rotation somewhere and sure some team like pheonix who is already loaded with much more athletic players might take him late first if theyve used one of their previous picks on an intl. that will stash for awhile.Yet, I doubt suns keep all their picks, and I doubt any other team besides maybe the jazz at 23 even considers drafting anderson in the first round.
Dario Saric
I agree with CameronCrazy11. The comparison of Dario Saric with Luis Scola seems far-fetched. Luis Scola is a blue collar banger with some inside moves. From what I’ve seen in limited video highlights, Saric seems to be more of a playmaker who’s most effective with the ball in his hands. The guy he reminds me of is Toni Kukoc.
Dario Saric
I agree with CameronCrazy11. The comparison of Dario Saric with Luis Scola seems far-fetched. Luis Scola is a blue collar banger with some inside moves. From what I’ve seen in limited video highlights, Saric seems to be more of a playmaker who’s most effective with the ball in his hands. The guy he reminds me of is Toni Kukoc.
I don’t get the suggestion of
I don’t get the suggestion of moving down to select guys that are there. For example the Bucks 76ers suggestion? Why would the bucks trade down one spot to select a player that is there when they are picking? Likewise why would the 76ers trade up a spot, give up an additional asset and sign up for a higher salary slot when you say the bucks want Parker and Philly wants Wiggins? You also do the same thing with Utah and Orlando… Makes zero sense to me.
@Magic
Teams will do this to pay players less money – as the draft is a money slotting system. Each draft slot has a certain value; therefore if a team can get its player at 10 instead of 7; they will save money as well as probably pick up some assets in the process.
I don’t get the suggestion of
I don’t get the suggestion of moving down to select guys that are there. For example the Bucks 76ers suggestion? Why would the bucks trade down one spot to select a player that is there when they are picking? Likewise why would the 76ers trade up a spot, give up an additional asset and sign up for a higher salary slot when you say the bucks want Parker and Philly wants Wiggins? You also do the same thing with Utah and Orlando… Makes zero sense to me.
@Magic
Teams will do this to pay players less money – as the draft is a money slotting system. Each draft slot has a certain value; therefore if a team can get its player at 10 instead of 7; they will save money as well as probably pick up some assets in the process.
Head Scratcher
I do player analysis on the top 125 players coming into the draft, yet you do about 50! You have a website on one topic…. THE NBA DRAFT, and it sucks. Also, Saric isn’t a banger down low like Scola, Saric is a better shooter, and it is just a desperate attempt to find a comparison when there is really no one like him. The closest guy would probably be a bigger Hedo Turkoglu, and even that is a little out there.
Head Scratcher
I do player analysis on the top 125 players coming into the draft, yet you do about 50! You have a website on one topic…. THE NBA DRAFT, and it sucks. Also, Saric isn’t a banger down low like Scola, Saric is a better shooter, and it is just a desperate attempt to find a comparison when there is really no one like him. The closest guy would probably be a bigger Hedo Turkoglu, and even that is a little out there.