1. Orlando Magic – Nerlens Noel (6’11” PF/C, Kentucky)
The first pick is probably the toughest. Most consider Nerlens Noel to be the best player in the draft, but Orlando already has Nikola Vucevic and another solid big man in Andrew Nicholson while they’re currently relying on the quickly aging Jameer Nelson at point. Marcus Smart returning to school was a real hit for the Magic’s draft plans as I really think he would’ve been the pick. For now, Noel is their guy, but don’t be surprised to see Trey Burke in this spot in the future.
2. Charlotte Bobcats – Ben McLemore (6’5” SG, Kansas)
The Bobcats could go a couple of different ways with this pick. Gerald Henderson finally began to show aggression on offense for a team lacking efficient scorers, so they could decide to re-sign him and draft a guy like Anthony Bennett to shore up a putrid front line (despite his lack of true PF size). However, I don’t think they will be able to pass up McLemore’s potential and will look to sign a big man in free agency.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Otto Porter (6’8” SF, Georgetown)
Cleveland lucks into getting a player who is a perfect fit for their roster. With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters being capable scorers and Tristan Thompson being a tough banger down low, they could really use Porter’s Jack-of-all-trades skill set as a connector. He won’t need a lot of shots to be effective and has the defensive potential to be a pest for most of the wings around the league. Alex Len could sneak his way into consideration with a strong pre-draft showing.
4. Phoenix Suns – Victor Oladipo (6’5” SG, Indiana)
I really wanted to go with Anthony Bennett here, but I think Phoenix is afraid of running him in their offense with his asthma issues and lack of top-level conditioning. In that situation, Victor Oladipo would be a great choice for them. He’s an elite run-and-jump athlete and has shown tremendous improvement. He would be an instant upgrade for a team rotating the likes of Jared Dudley and PJ Tucker in their starting lineup.
5. New Orleans Pelicans – Alex Len (7’1” C, Maryland)
Many people have Trey Burke going here, but I’m not so sure the Pelicans will go that route. Greivis Vasquez has really shined for them in the role of a pass-first PG, so while he may not be an elite player, he is a great fit for the personnel on that roster. Len would be a perfect inside presence for a stretch PF like Anthony Davis and allows Ryan Anderson to backup both players as a great change of pace player.
6. Sacramento Kings – Trey Burke (6’1” PG, Michigan)
Sacramento desperately needs leadership. Luckily, National Player of the Year Trey Burke can provide that in spades. It doesn’t hurt that he’s more than capable of running an NBA offense and could follow Damian Lillard of last year as a guy who has a bigger impact than many guys taken before him. Burke would go a long way into managing the talented, yet dysfunctional squad in Sacramento.
7. Detroit Pistons- Shabazz Muhammad (6’6” SG/SF, UCLA)
With Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, the Pistons seem to have their big men set for the long haul. Unfortunately, there are some slim pickings on the wing. The only two wings left in the top 14 of our Big Board are Shabazz Muhammad and Michael Carter-Williams. I don’t think they’ll be able to pass on Muhammad’s potentially elite scoring ability with this pick.
8. Washington Wizards – Anthony Bennett (6’7” PF, UNLV)
The Wizards get great value with this pick. They have a promising young backcourt with John Wall and Bradley Beal, but their bigs are old and overpriced, so they could really do well to inject some youth into that rotation. Adding Bennett would create a potentially scary young and athletic core for a very long time, especially if he can work on his conditioning.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – CJ McCollum (6’3″ PG/SG, Lehigh)
Minnesota is in a tough spot in this scenario. The best available players are all bigs, but they’re fine with Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic. Their SG slot has been a revolving door of not good to much worse talent, so they could really use some help next to Rubio. They might do better to trade this pick for a veteran SG, but assuming they keep it, I see CJ McCollum being the only viable option.
10. Portland Trailblazers – Steven Adams (6’11” C, Pittsburgh)
With their pick of the litter as far as big men go, the Blazers could go a number of different ways. I don’t see them going with guys like Cody Zeller or Kelly Olynyk due to them potentially being bad fits with LaMarcus Aldridge. Steven Adams has a lot of potential and could be a nice fit as a defensive stopper playing off of Aldridge and Damian Lillard.
11. Philadelphia 76ers – Cody Zeller (7’0” PF/C, Indiana)
This season didn’t go at all according to plan for the 76ers. They made a big trade for Andrew Bynum that proved disastrous as he spent more time in bowling alleys than on NBA courts, and he may leave the team in free agency this summer. They don’t have a lot of top flight talent outside of Jrue Holiday, so they could go a number of different ways. My guess is that they go with whichever big they deem the best value. For now, that player is Zeller.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Michael Carter-Williams (6’6″ PG, Syracuse)
A complete team like the Thunder could go all sorts of different directions with this pick. Bigs like Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, or even Dario Saric could be in play, but I’m betting the injury to Russell Westbrook scares them into going with Michael Carter-Williams. This could change if Reggie Jackson proves to be a capable backup, so keep an eye on this slot.
13. Dallas Mavericks – Dario Saric (6’10” PF/SF, Croatia)
The Mavericks are another team that had a rough campaign. Dirk Nowitzki had injury issues, and the rest of the lineup struggled all season long. Next-best-player OJ Mayo may be gone in free agency, and owner Mark Cuban is as unpredictable as they come. My guess is that they target some bigger name free agents for another last hurrah before Dirk’s window closes and take one of the high upside Euro prospects in the draft. Dario Saric is a particularly interesting choice for them.
14. Utah Jazz – Dennis Schroeder (6’1” PG, Germany)
Schroeder is another hot name among draft circles these days, so don’t be surprised to hear his name more and more often as the summer wears on. Utah has some talented youngsters in Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, and Gordon Hayward, but they could really use some help everywhere else. Schroeder could be a trendy pick for them going forward.
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6’4” SG, Georgia)
Monta Ellis is set to become a free agent, so the Bucks are really going to need to add some backcourt depth; most notably at shooting guard. Pope was one of the most dynamic scorers in college basketball last year (18.1 ppg) and averaged over seven boards per game.
16. Boston Celtics – Rudy Gobert (7’1” PF/C, France)
Who knows if Garnett will return for the Celtics next year, but even if he does, the Celtics really need help on the interior. They’ll have a ton of options here (Gobert, Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee, and Giannas Adetokunbo). Gobert is a versatile big that can play either PF or C, and he possesses an incredible 7’9″ wingspan. Some team will fall in love with his potential.
17. Atlanta Hawks – Giannis Adetokunbo (6’9” SF, Greece)
The Hawks are expected to do a complete overhaul of their roster this off-season. One player that definitely won’t return is SF Josh Smith. The Hawks will look to take the BPA (Best Player Available) with at least one of their first round picks, and right here Adetokunbo is arguably the BPA and fills a need. Some scouts think Adetokunbo could sneak into the top-10 so this could be a steal at the 17th pick.
18. Atlanta Hawks – Kelly Olynyk (7’0” C, Gonzaga)
The Hawks could also use another big to complement Al Horford. Olynyk has really expanded his offensive game and has developed a solid jump shot. He’s added weight to his frame and now weighs right at 240 pounds. This should allow him to spend a lot of time at center at the next level, whereas he used to project as more of a stretch four.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Archie Goodwin (6’5” SG, Kentucky)
Yes, they have Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, but contrary to popular belief, the Cavaliers still need some depth in the backcourt. Goodwin has all the physical tools and has a lot of potential. He could end up being one of the best sixth men in the league for them a few years down the road.
20. Chicago Bulls – Mason Plumlee (6’11” PF/C, Duke)
The Bulls will probably either look to add a SG here or add to their frontcourt. Many scouts think Plumlee could sneak into the lottery, so he represents a very good value here at 20. Arguably the biggest question with Plumlee is what position he’ll play in the NBA; some say PF while others say C. Either way, Plumlee’s game took a big jump last season, and he could be a solid player in the league for years to come.
21. Utah Jazz – Sergey Karasev (6’7” SF, Russia)
The Jazz have a ton of young talent, but they could use some depth at the SF position. Karasev is very mature for his age (19) and is a tremendous passer. He’s very unselfish and projects to be a very good glue guy at the next level. Utah could be a really good fit for him.
22. Brooklyn Nets – Tony Mitchell (6’8” SF/PF, North Texas)
Gerald Wallace’s career is all but over, so the Nets really need to add some depth at SF. Mitchell is one of the most athletic players in the draft and also can spend some time at PF in the NBA as a combo-forward. He runs the floor extremely well, and an elite PG like Deron Williams distributing him the ball could really help him take his game to the next level.
23. Indiana Pacers – Tim Hardaway, Jr. (6’6” SG, Michigan)
The Pacers really need help at PF; it’s by far the biggest need on their roster with David West entering the final year of his deal. However, there’s no PF really worth taking still on the board here, so they could look to add depth on the wing, and there’s a ton of wing options here such as Hardaway, Jr., Jamaal Franklin and Allen Crabbe. Hardaway, Jr. has great size and athleticism and is a very hard worker, so he fits the bill in what the Pacers look for in young prospects.
24. New York Knicks – Jeff Withey (7’0” C, Kansas)
The Knicks could use some depth on the wing or inside here; so again, they too have a ton of options with this pick. They could go with one of the remaining wings I mentioned in the pick above or take a big man like Dieng or Withey. Withey really exploded onto the scene as a senior, and learning from Tyson Chandler early in his career could really benefit him.
25. Los Angeles Clippers – Gorgui Dieng (6’11” C, Louisville)
DeAndre Jordan was absolutely nonexistent for the Clippers in their first round exit against Memphis. The Clippers need to add some players to the frontcourt, and Dieng at 25 would be a really good pick for them. His length and athleticism could be a great complement to Blake Griffin inside.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jamaal Franklin (6’5” SG/SF, San Diego State)
As mentioned earlier, the Timberwolves are still looking for a truly reliable SG. However, I think that due to size, McCollum projects as more of a PG at the next level than a SG. They could continue to add more depth to their backcourt with their second pick of the first round. Franklin has one of the best mid-range jumpers in the draft and can score off the dribble and catch. He’s also a very good defender and is improving as a passer.
27. Denver Nuggets – Allen Crabbe (6’6” SG, Cal)
The Nuggets’ roster is loaded with young talent. They will probably just go with the BPA here since they have no true needs. Depth on the wing is never a bad thing, and Crabbe was one of the best scorers in college basketball last year, averaging 18.4 points per game. He would be another really solid prospect to add to Denver’s core as he can score from anywhere on the floor.
28. San Antonio Spurs – Mouhammadou Jaiteh (6’11” C, France)
Adding a project big right here makes a ton of sense for San Antonio. Jaiteh is as raw as they come, but like most Euro bigs, he possesses great size and length (7’4″ wingspan). He’s shown nice touch around the rim and is a very good rebounder. He has some potential, and he would benefit greatly by learning from Tim Duncan for a season or two before trying to become a legitimate factor. The Spurs have the luxury to take risks like this.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Shane Larkin (5’11″ PG, Miami)
I was really hoping Larkin would stay in school a little while longer, but it’s easy to understand why he’s leaving. His stock will probably never be much higher than it is now, and Miami is losing pretty much every other player that helped them achieve their greatest season in school history. Larkin is a dynamic scorer and crafty passer; he could be a great and reliable backup to Westbrook right off the bat.
30. Phoenix Suns – Erick Green (6’3” PG/SG, Virginia Tech)
The Suns could use some backcourt depth here, and Green was the best scorer in college basketball last year, averaging 25 points per game. His immense scoring talents alone make him a great pick at 30. He’s also a good distributor in transition, but his defense projects to be average at best in the NBA.
By Brian Emory
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