2014 NBA Mock Draft: Projecting Entire 1st Round in Loaded Class: The secret has been out for quite some time now—the 2014 NBA draft class is absolutely loaded with talent. Yes, there are the headliners on the top in Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, but there will be game changers available into the second round this year. Whichever teams choose wisely come June 26 should be firmly in playoff contention for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a projection for the entire first round and see where the pieces fall. 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Joel Embiid, Kansas Cleveland’s task of choosing between Embiid, Parker, Wiggins or a trade with the No. 1 pick is one that a lot of franchises would love to have, but there is certainly some risk involved. Will Embiid stay healthy? Will Wiggins ever actually reach that LeBron James-like upside? Is Parker a good enough defender to excel in the NBA? Ultimately, the Cavaliers will decide that the potential reward of landing a franchise-altering center who can anchor a defense for 10-12 years with blocked shots and rebounds and score with ease on the low blocks will outweigh the health concerns that come with Embiid. 2. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t had star power like Wiggins for years, and they will likely market their entire season and rebuilding effort around the Kansas product. Wiggins has everything you can look for in a forward prospect, from jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism to a solid shooting stroke and impressive defense and quickness. He could very well be the crown jewel of this class when we look back at it five years from now. 3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker, Duke The narrative surrounding Parker is that he is a polished scorer who is ready to come in and contribute right away but may not have the athleticism to excel in the NBA. If this is unathletic, via Bleacher Report, then the league will have a serious issue on its hands when an athletic prospect comes through: The Philadelphia 76ers will be more than happy to pair Parker with Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams as their youth movement proceeds forward. Yes, Parker needs to improve defensively, but his offensive skills and ability to hit the glass more than make up for that. 4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, Australia The Orlando Magic miss out on the top three collegiate prospects at No. 4, but they will be pleased with Dante Exum. Exum can play either point guard or shooting guard and will pair nicely with Victor Oladipo. The defensive tenacity and overall speed on the floor between those two will be nearly impossible to counter for any team in the league. 5. Utah Jazz: Julius Randle, Kentucky Interestingly enough, Julius Randle may be hoping to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft day, via InsideSoCal’s Mark Medina: He was my favorite player. I loved Kobe’s persona and swagger and how he played, Randle said. He was someone I always looked up to at a young age. Hence, why Randle’s eyes lit up about the possibility playing with Bryant. It would be extremely fun, Randle said. I could learn a lot from him and talk to one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of all time. There’s a lot I could learn from and pick his brain in just how to get better and dealing with adversity. Randle will not get that chance though, as the Utah Jazz will scoop him up. The Jazz don’t have a glaring need at power forward, but they will be enticed by Randle’s overall strength and ability to grab any rebound that comes his way. 6. Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State Whether Rajon Rondo remains in Boston or not, Marcus Smart will have a chance to contribute right away for the Celtics. Smart can play either point guard or shooting guard and is arguably the top perimeter defender in the class. He has a tremendous three-point stroke and attacks the rim off the bounce with an explosive first step as well, so playing next to Rondo would not be an issue. 7. Los Angeles Lakers: Noah Vonleh, Indiana Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ believes the Lakers will take Noah Vonleh with the No. 7 pick: The Lakers are looking to replace power forward Pau Gasol, who is set to become a free agent this summer. Vonleh brings some of the same aspects Gasol does, as he has solid range on his jump shot, but can also score with his back to the basket. Vonleh is a better athlete than Gasol, and for the Lakers, is the perfect player to help start their rebuilding. A younger and more athletic Gasol likely sounds pretty good in Los Angeles right now. 8. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Gordon, Arizona The Sacramento Kings have DeMarcus Cousins in place down low, which means Aaron Gordon will have plenty of room to operate as a stretch forward from mid-range or around the basket. Gordon gets out in transition like a guard and finishes with authority at the rim when he gets there. His explosive athleticism will be a breath of fresh air for Sacramento fans looking for athletes to contribute. 9. Charlotte Hornets: Dario Saric, Croatia Speaking of stretch forwards, Dario Saric can do a little bit of everything. He is a formidable scorer and hits the boards hard, and if the defense collapses on him with the ball in his hands, he can find open teammates. He will slide in as a point forward for the Charlotte Hornets and will pair nicely with the traditional center Al Jefferson. 10. Philadelphia 76ers: Gary Harris, Michigan State In this scenario, the 76ers grabbed Parker to match with Noel down low and Carter-Williams at the point, so they could use a shooting guard. Gary Harris may just be the best shooting guard in this draft thanks to his ability to connect from behind the three-point line and lock down his man on defense. Parker will attract a lot of defensive attention, which will open up Harris for plenty of open looks. 11. Denver Nuggets: Adreian Payne, Michigan State The Denver Nuggets were something of a train wreck on defense this season (28th in points allowed per game) and will look to get physically tougher in this draft. Adreian Payne is about as bruising of a prospect as you can find in this class, and he has the capabilities to mix it up down low against centers and power forwards and keep up with point forwards. What’s more, Payne is an excellent rebounder and can stretch the floor on offense because of his ability to hit from behind the three-point line. 12. Orlando Magic: Nik Stauskas, Michigan Yes, Orlando went guard at No. 4, but Nik Stauskas can play small forward if needed. Playing with Exum and Oladipo will open up plenty of three-point looks in a helter-skelter transition offense, and there aren’t many players better suited to connect on those in this draft than Stauskas. 13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Doug McDermott, Creighton Doug McDermott is far from a replacement for Kevin Love (assuming Love is traded), but his ability to score from anywhere on the floor will open up the scoring for the Minnesota Timberwolves. McDermott is the best three-point shooter in this draft, but that shouldn’t overshadow his ability to score near the basket and grab plenty of rebounds. He can at least help make up for some of the lost production that leaves with Love. 14. Phoenix Suns: James Young, Kentucky The Phoenix Suns were a healthy playmaker or two away from making the playoffs this season, and James Young is one of the most dynamic athletes in this draft. He will match nicely with the Suns’ exciting backcourt and take advantage of the open lanes and shots that it creates. What’s more, he is a solid defender who can guard shooting guards or small forwards, which will provide a few more options in the rotation. 15. Atlanta Hawks: Jusuf Nurkic, Bosnia The Atlanta Hawks need more depth down low, especially after Al Horford missed much of the season with injury, and Jusuf Nurkic can provide just that. Nurkic is a high-motor center who attacks the boards with a tenacity not seen from a lot of NBA centers. He can score on the low block and challenge opponents who attack the rim off the dribble. 16. Chicago Bulls: Tyler Ennis, Syracuse It may be the biggest understatement in the entire NBA to say Derrick Rose is snakebitten right now, so the Chicago Bulls will need a contingency plan at point if Rose goes down again. Tyler Ennis is a floor general who can score on his own, set teammates up with open looks and control the tempo of the game with his ball-handling skills and high basketball IQ. Chicago doesn’t necessarily need Ennis to be Rose. Just a solid backup who can play in a platoon until Rose gets his legs underneath him would work. 17. Boston Celtics: T.J. Warren, North Carolina State Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated believes that T.J. Warren is the option for the Boston Celtics at No. 17: The search for Paul Pierces replacement at small forward continues. Warren has a little Pierce in him -- he owns a nice mid-range game, rebounds well for his position and attacks the angles relentlessly -- though he shot only 26.7 on threes. With Jeff Green on the trade block and Gerald Wallace not part of the Celtics long-term future, Warren fills a need. Warren, much like Pierce, will find a way to get it done at the NBA level even with a lack of elite athleticism. 18. Phoenix Suns: Zach LaVine, UCLA The Suns grabbed a forward with their first pick, so they will look for more backcourt depth at No. 18. Zach LaVine is an explosive athlete who could develop into a game-changing scorer on the offensive end if his jump shot catches up to his leaping ability. There are few players LaVine cannot beat off the dribble either, and he is strong enough to finish at the rim when he gets there. The Suns will find a spot for him in his first season. 19. Chicago Bulls: Rodney Hood, Duke The Bulls grabbed a backup for Rose with their first pick, and now they will look for more scoring with their second selection. Rodney Hood is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft because he can score from anywhere on the floor. He is automatic from the free-throw stripe, can hit the three if given too much space and is lethal from mid-range. Hood can also contribute on the boards and is a solid defender. 20. Toronto Raptors: Shabazz Napier, Connecticut Kyle Lowry may be on the way out, so the Toronto Raptors will look in the point guard aisle in the prospect store. They will come away with Shabazz Napier, who just so happened to lead his Connecticut Huskies to the national title as a lockdown defender and offensive force. He racks up steals at an impressive pace, demonstrated his ability to shut down opposing guards at the Final Four and is a tremendous shooter when given open looks. He will be a solid replacement for Lowry right away. 21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Mitch McGary, Michigan Mannix thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder could use Mitch McGary at No. 21: McGary, who skipped the combine while rehabilitating a back injury that ended his season in mid-December, is a wild card. At his best, McGary is a high-energy player who rebounds, runs the floor and finishes at the rim. Hes also an excellent screener with good pick-and-roll potential, two strengths that will play well in Oklahoma City. With center Kendrick Perkins an amnesty candidate, the Thunder could use (cheap) frontcourt help. Even if Perkins remains on the roster, the Thunder need help down low. If McGary can stay healthy, he is a double-double threat who will take some of the scoring pressure off the Oklahoma City superstars. 22. Memphis Grizzlies: Jerami Grant, Syracuse The Memphis Grizzlies are something of the Western Conference complement to the Chicago Bulls as a lockdown defensive team that needs scoring. Jerami Grant isn’t the best shooter from the small forward/power forward spot, but he has an explosive first step and can score at will inside the arc. He will help the Grizzlies in the scoring department and open up more room for the big men to operate down low when he hits a couple of mid-range shots early in games. 23. Utah Jazz: Kyle Anderson, UCLA Mannix pointed out that Kyle Anderson is a playmaker on one side of the floor but needs to improve on the other: Fortunately for the Jazz, they snatched up a solid interior defender in Randle early in this draft and can afford to look offense here. Anderson is a triple-double threat when he is on the floor, and he will find ways to get Randle and the rest of the young players involved. What’s more, he is versatile enough to play the shooting guard spot, so sliding in next to Trey Burke will not be an issue. 24. Charlotte Hornets: Cleanthony Early, Wichita State The Charlotte Hornets could use some more perimeter shooting and explosive playmakers alongside Jefferson, and that is exactly what Cleanthony Early can be at the next level. Additionally, Early gives Charlotte a versatile defender that could help it next time it runs into someone like LeBron James in the playoffs. The Hornets simply didn’t have anyone who came close to matching James’ speed and strength (who does?), and having an athlete with size like Early could help counteract players like that. 25. Houston Rockets: P.J. Hairston, North Carolina/NBDL The Houston Rockets get a steal at No. 25, as P.J. Hairston falls to the latter stages of the first round. Hairston is a tremendous scorer from the outside and will give the Rockets another three-point shooter to surround Dwight Howard. What’s more, he is a solid ball-handler (remember, turnovers killed Houston in the series with Portland) who provides the Rockets with another outside playmaker besides James Harden. 26. Miami Heat: Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette Pairing James and the rest of the Miami Heat with an explosive point guard like Elfrid Payton seems borderline unfair. Payton is incredibly fast in transition and will blow past guards at the NBA level. He is a tremendous rebounder for his size as well, but his ability to get the ball and go in an effort to create easy opportunities is what stands out. 27. Phoenix Suns: Patric Young, Florida Taking Patric Young here is something of a reach for the Suns, but they went with a guard and forward earlier in the draft. Young is a rebounding and shot-swatting machine with an NBA-ready body. He is durable as well, which means Phoenix can count on him to be a part of the rotation throughout his rookie season. 28. Los Angeles Clippers: C.J. Wilcox, Washington The Los Angeles Clippers love to get out and run, and C.J. Wilcox is a sharpshooter who will make it rain with three-pointers in that offense all day long. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin attract plenty of attention from opposing defenders, so Wilcox should have plenty of open looks when double-teams come. 29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee Ben Frederickson of GoVolsXtra passed along this tidbit from Chad Ford of ESPN regarding Jarnell Stokes’ professional prospects: Stokes is a dynamic athlete who the Thunder can pair with Serge Ibaka down low. Stokes is incredibly versatile as well, but he is always ready to rebound from whichever position he is playing. 30. San Antonio Spurs: Glenn Robinson III, Michigan The San Antonio Spurs could use some more athletes on the wing if we are looking long term to match with Kawhi Leonard, especially on defense. Glenn Robinson III is a lengthy stretch forward who has the lateral quickness to dart into passing lanes and prevent dribble penetration. On the offensive end, Robinson can stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting and attack the rim if defenders crash on his shot too hard. Follow me on Twitter: Follow @ScottPolacek Read more NBA news on BleacherReport #Basketball #NBA #Opinion #2014NBAMockDraft #fantasybasketball
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:15:17 +0000
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