The NBA offseason is filled with excitement, but it usually ends in a letdown. Rumors start flying. You start to think there will be a handful of trades. And no one goes anywhere. I think this will be one of those years when multiple trades actually happen on draft night. However, this mock draft doesn’t consist of any trades.
I wanted to try a mock draft with a different approach this year. So just the other day a few of us from Oregon Sports News got together to make things interesting as we partook in a live draft format. The draft went too fast to even think about trades. Everyone did their homework and was ready with their pick even when their first option was snagged right ahead of them. It was a lot of fun. Without further ado, here is how it turned out.
Writers: Ryan Chase (RC), Jason Hartzog (JH), Casey Mabbott (CM), and Garrett Thornton (GT).
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (RC): Andrew Wiggins, Shooting Guard, Kansas
To this point, the Cavaliers are down to two possible picks, Wiggins or Jabari Parker. Wiggins gives them a strong defender at the guard position, a strong court-manager with great vision, and the occasional high-scoring game (though expecting Wiggins to average 20 a game is probably asking too much). I think the deciding factor is last year’s selection of Anthony Bennett first overall. Despite Bennett’s poor first season, taking his replacement first overall the year after screams demoralizing to Bennett and the Cleveland fanbase.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (JH): Jabari Parker, Small Forward, Duke
This was easy. I was left with whoever didn’t go first between Wiggins and Parker – the two most talented players in the draft that don’t have screws in their feet. More NBA ready than Wiggins, the Bucks would be foolish to pass up on Parker. He’s an elite scorer and solid rebounder. He could average close to 25 and 8 for the Bucks within his first few seasons.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (CM): Dante Exum, PG/SG, Australia
It’s extremely likely that the 76ers will take Joel Embiid here, but with second year rookie Nerlens Noel already on the roster, it just doesn’t make sense to take another center, as tempting as it is. The 76ers need help at virtually every position, and two potentially injury prone centers (neither of which were able to complete their lone season in college) is not how you rebuild a franchise, even if it could become a Ralph Sampson/Hakeem Olajuwon or even better a David Robinson/Tim Duncan type of scenario, but I’ve been wrong before. I also considered Julius Randle here as he could make life easier for whoever plays at center if Noel is not ready or doesn’t pan out, but Thaddeus Young is a similar type of player and you need a scorer to pair with Michael Carter-Wiliams, and Dante Exum is that. True, he hasn’t been tested against elite amateur athletes on a consistent basis and it’s not known if his game will translate to the NBA, but he absolutely has the aggressiveness, speed, and scoring ability to make it work. Pairing Exum with Carter-Williams, a healthy Noel, and ideally pursuing a veteran center or forward (Pau Gasol?) to play with the young backcourt would make this team really fun to watch, and they still hold the 10th pick to use on a big if they pass on Embiid here, but it’s unlikely they’ll get a scorer with Exum’s ability that late.
4. Orlando Magic (GT): Marcus Smart, Point Guard, Oklahoma State
With Dante Exum off the board, the Orlando Magic flip a coin between gambling on Joel Embiid and going with a position of need. Cooler heads win out and the Magic select the best player available at a position of need. Smart comes in with a chip on his shoulder and a well-rounded game. In the last three years, a point guard has won the Rookie of the Year Award (Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Michael Carter-Williams). Can Smart be the next point guard to keep the trend going?
5. Utah Jazz (RC): Noah Vonleh, Power Forward, Indiana
The Jazz have a pretty severe need at the power forward position. Vonleh gives them a player with tremendous rebounding potential on the defensive glass, and an inside-outside game that lead one scout to compare him to Rasheed Wallace. While his experience is lower than other candidates at this position, the raw potential and ability to pair him with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter is too attractive to pass up.
6. Boston Celtics (JH): Joel Embiid, Center, Kansas
The Boston Celtics are ecstatic that Embiid fell to them here. He is by far the most talented player… while healthy. His projected recovery time is 4-6 months. That being said, he does have two screws in his foot. It’s hard to say how he will return from the surgery, or if the Celtics will even allow him to do so. They could easily take a similar approach that the 76ers did on Nerlans Noel last season. He can affect a game from both ends of the floor. He is the next big thing, just as long as he doesn’t suffer from Oden-itis.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (CM): Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
The Lakers need young building blocks that can provide instant and consistent impact, and Julius Randle is their guy. Virtually everyone who was on the Lakers roster as recently as April is now a free agent, and there are limited assets to work with for those who stuck around. Kobe Bryant is 35 and entering his 19th season in the NBA and coming off two major injuries. Pau Gasol is a free agent (and turning 34 even if he opts to re-sign), and Steve Nash is 40 and probably doesn’t have enough left in the tank to be the starting point guard even if he is finally healthy. Randle is a double-double machine who needs to learn to play defense, but will provide plenty of post points and crash the boards to get second chance opportunities for Kobe and whoever else L.A. can sign. He will probably struggle if he is the lone bright spot and has to constantly battle double teams, but if they get enough talent to spread the floor, he’s the most consistent player in the draft, with plenty of talent to boot. If they build around him correctly, he’s the kind of player that can return the Lakers to championship contention inside of 5 years.
8. Sacramento Kings (GT): Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana Lafayette
The Kings have put themselves in a tricky situation where they have a logjam at the Power Forward position. They have a roster with Derrick Williams, Reggie Evans, Carl Landy, Jason Thompson, and Travis Outlaw. There is absolutely no room for the best player available, Aaron Gordon. So they go with a position of need and draft Elfrid Payton. Isaiah Thomas is heading into Free Agency and even if he comes back, it’s never a bad time to add depth for the primary ball handling position.
9. Charlotte Hornets (RC): Aaron Gordon, Forward, Arizona
The Hornets are completely delighted to take Aaron Gordon, one of the brightest young players last year, to team with Al Jefferson. Gordon does not have the strength or reach of Vonleh, but is a better athlete with great quickness for a 6’9 player. He is an effective scorer in the paint and at mid-range, giving the Hornets a fantastic athletic tandem.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (JH): Doug McDermott, Forward, Creighton
The 76ers drafted Exum at number 3. As I do believe that they could make that work, neither he nor Michael Carter-Williams can shoot very well. They take one of the best shooters in the draft at a position that fits alongside the two guards. McDermott can flat out get buckets. He can shoot from anywhere on the court. Hence the name, Dougie McBuckets.
11. Denver Nuggets (CM): Zach LaVine, PG/SG, UCLA
The Nuggets really need a proven scorer like Doug McDermott to put at small forward, but they will gladly “settle” for Zach LaVine to pair with Ty Lawson to run and shoot circles around the other NBA Backcourt duos.
12. Orlando Magic (GT): Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
Orlando has the luxury of filling two of their holes in the draft lottery. A lot of analysts have said that the top 12 guys in this draft are distinctly separated from the rest and Stauskas is one of those guys. Earlier in the draft the Magic added Marcus Smart as presumably their starting point guard. Now they add Stauskas to come off the bench behind Victor Oladipo. Stauskas adds a deep threat to a team that desperately needs a scoring punch off the bench.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (RC): Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
Harris fills a complex role for the T-Wolves as a scoring guard that can handle the ball in traffic, taking some pressure off of Ricky Rubio. While Harris has suffered from injuries recently, when healthy he is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft, with a light scoring touch and good speed.
14. Phoenix Suns (JH): James Young, SF/SG, Kentucky
The Suns would love to add a versatile scorer at the wing, and Young showed great scoring potential last season. He can shoot from mid-range or 3-point, and with two penetrating guards in Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, Young could get a lot of easy looks in his rookie season.
15. Atlanta Hawks (CM): Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
The Hawks need a boost to the frontcourt given that they can’t rely on Al Horford or Pero Antic to stay healthy long-term. Dario Saric can provide points, boards, and depth, and potentially start if/when Horford or Paul Millsap suffer injuries.
16. Chicago Bulls (GT): T.J. Warren, SF, North Carolina State
Warren fits the biggest need on this roster as a wing scorer. After trading Luol Deng, the Bulls had to rely far too heavily on Mike Dunleavy Jr. at the small forward position. Warren can come in day one and be a legitimate scorer from the wing.
17. Boston Celtics (RC): Adreian Payne, Forward, Michigan State
Payne was the focal point of the Spartans offense, and has worked on his game to translate well to the NBA. While he can work well in the post, he started increasing his shooting range to be able to shoot three-point shots if needed.
18. Phoenix Suns (JH): Jusuf Nurkic, C/PF, Bosnia
I almost went with Rodney Hood here, who is a great shooter and could excel in the Suns system. The Suns have 3 first round picks this year, so the assumption here is that they are allowed one draft and stash. Nurkic can continue to develop overseas and in a few years help bolster their front court with his monstrous 6’11”, 280 pound frame.
19. Chicago Bulls (CM): Rodney Hood, SG/SF, Duke
The Bulls need scoring in the worst way, so in addition to drafting TJ Warren, they take Rodney Hood three picks later, and at best one can supplant Jimmy Butler while the other takes over the starting small forward slot, and at worst the Bulls have some much needed depth and firepower.
20. Toronto Raptors (GT): Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut
Kyle Lowry is a free agent and will demand somewhere upwards of $10 million a year. The Raptors will sign him but will want to clear some space for that large of a contract. Gervais Vasquez may be a roster casualty, leaving the Raptors without a backup point guard. Napier is a seasoned winner that can be a solid backup for years to come.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (RC): C.J. Wilcox, Guard, Washington
Wilcox is a lights-out shooter from multiple areas on the court, and an effective, though unrefined, passer. He gives the Thunder great depth off the bench as a scoring replacement.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (JH): CleAnthony Early, SF, Wichita State
The Grizzlies have lacked a decent scorer at the small forward position since trading away Rudy Gay. Early can provide instant offense at the position, but he can also do something Gay didn’t do too much of, and that’s play defense. He would be a good fit in Memphis.
23. Utah Jazz (CM): Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA
The Jazz were eying getting a big body and scorer as they selected a very well rounded power forward in Noah Vonleh with the 5th overall pick to pair with Derrick Favors, so they will take UCLA’s versatile forward Kyle Anderson to help them put up points and crash the boards, and provide much needed depth if he cannot overtake Marvin Williams’ spot.
24. Charlotte Hornets (GT): Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse
Earlier in this edition of our Mock Draft, the Hornets selected Aaron Gordon to solidify their frontcourt. Now they look for a backup point guard that can give Kemba Walker a break and replace the departing Luke Ridnour. Ennis is young and has a lot of untapped potential, could be a very good fit.
25. Houston Rockets (RC): Mitch McGary, PF/C, Michigan
McGary gives the Rockets what they were missing during the playoffs: a powerful rebounding and shot-deflecting presence off the bench with a temper and attitude to give the second-unit a quick burst of energy.
26. Miami Heat (JH): P.J. Hairston, SG, Texas Legends (D-League)
I don’t think Hairston slips past Charlotte at 24. They need shooting and would be rewarded with Hairston’s shooting touch. Since none of the point guards slipped to them, the Heat adds Hairston, who is one of the best scorers in this draft who could ease some pressure off of Dwyane Wade and his knee issues.
27. Phoenix Suns (CM): Jordan Adams, SG, UCLA
Drafting James Young at 13 and Jordan Adams at 27 provides the young and surprising Suns team with high quality depth, and potential starters depending on whether they can keep Eric Bledsoe and P.J. Tucker in uniform for 2014-15.
28. Los Angeles Clippers (GT): Jordan Clarkson, PG/SG, Mizzouri
Darren Collison is all but out the door for the Clippers. That leaves a void at the backup point guard position. Clarkson comes in with a versatile game, a big body, and a scoring attitude. This pick can help the team as a backup point guard and scorer off the bench.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder (RC): Jordan Bachynski, C, Arizona State
Bachnyski is a shot-blocking machine and a devastating rebounder on both sides of the floor. Best case Oklahoma City gets a Roy Hibbert, worst case they get a Ben Wallace, averaging eight or nine rebounds and two blocks a night to go with four points.
30. San Antonio Spurs (JH): Clint Capela. PF/C, Switzerland
They hoped for Mitch McGary to fall here, but instead take the foreigner out of Switzerland, adding to their 8 foreigners from their championship team. The Spurs get an excellent shot-blocking PF/C, who also ranked 2nd among all draft prospects with a 3.4 WARP (wins above replacement player).
Other Notes
*The Portland Trail Blazers do not have a draft pick in this year’s draft. Not yet at least. If they do trade into the draft, the above mock draft might give you an idea of who they could be targeting.
*Among the 30 picks you see above, 6 Pac-12 players were selected.
NBA Draft kicks off at 4:30 PM PT
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