1st Round
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Otto Porter (6’9” SF, Georgetown)
Porter has been on the Cav’s radar all year and was almost a given to be selected there if they had stayed at number 3. With Noel not signing with an agent and doctors still not being given the access they needed, more and more questions are arising around Noel. Reports indicate that the Cavs are still a number of weeks away from making their final decision, but I think they will stick with the sure thing and end up drafting Porter as he has the least amount of question marks out of any of the top prospects.
Pro Comparison: Tayshaun Prince
2. Orlando Magic – Trey Burke (6’1” PG, Michigan)
This pick could change depending on the rumored trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for PG Eric Bledsoe. In that case, they’d likely go with either Ben McLemore or Victor Oladipo. They still might in this situation, but we think the Magic still value Burke pretty highly, especially with incumbent starter Jameer Nelson getting up there in age.
Pro Comparison: much better DJ Augustin
3. Washington Wizards – Anthony Bennett (6’7” PF, UNLV)
Porter’s agent confirmed that he won’t workout for anyone outside the top 3; this suggests the Wizards dream scenario is getting Porter, but I don’t think he will last that long. Wall recently was quoted to say that the Wizards “need a 4 man that can pick and pop”. If Porter is gone, then Bennett fits the bill in Washington. Bennett’s offensive versatility would give Washington scoring in the paint, but it would also help them stretch the floor for Beal and Wall.
Pro Comparison: Paul Millsap
4. Charlotte Bobcats – Nerlens Noel (7’0” C, Kentucky)
The Bobcats luck(?) into the guy that many considered to be the best prospect in the draft. There are some rumblings that he may drop a couple spots due to the concerns about his knee injury. If so, don’t expect him to go any further than the 4th pick. He shares a lot of similarities to project big man Bismack Biyombo, but don’t expect that to prevent them from taking a chance on the talented Kentucky frosh.
Pro Comparison: Larry Sanders
5. Phoenix Suns – Ben McLemore (6’5” SG, Kansas)
The Sun’s are desperate for Oladipo or McLemore. The fact that we have both dropping to the 5th pick is a surprise, but anything can happen on draft night. I could quite easily see the Suns ending up with Oladipo here, but if they have a choice, then I seem them being too enticed by McLemore’s upside and potential to be an All-Star.
Pro Comparison: Brandon Rush
6. New Orleans Pelicans – Victor Oladipo (6’4” SG, Indiana)
The newly named Pelicans already have Eric Gordon on a huge contract, but he continues to pick up injuries and doesn’t seem to be happy in New Orleans. Oladipo serves as terrific insurance if/when Gordon gets hurt and also makes him expendable in the future to save money and prevent possible chemistry issues.
Pro Comparison: Tony Allen
7. Sacramento Kings – CJ McCollum (6’3” PG/SG, Lehigh)
Reports suggest that McCollum has been lighting it up in workouts recently and showing that his high shooting percentages he had earlier in the year (51.6 three-point percentage) were not flukes. I don’t think we can put too much faith on the King’s current roster as I believe that much of the roster may be turned over in the next year or so under new ownership. McCollum brings elite ball handling and scoring to the team and would fill the void that Tyreke Evans’s seemingly inevitable departure may leave.
Pro Comparison: Poor man’s Stephen Curry
8. Detroit Pistons – Michael Carter-Williams (6’6” PG, Syracuse)
The Brandon Knight-at-PG experiment doesn’t seem to be working out very well in Detroit. Bringing in a guy like Carter-Williams gives them a huge backcourt and provides a pass-first mentality that would work well for big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond while also allowing Knight to operate as a floor spacer.
Pro Comparison: Shaun Livingston
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6’6” SG, Georgia)
The Wolves have needed a shooting guard for the last few years; both the Chase Budinger and Brandon Roy experiments failed due to injury, and I believe they will once again try to fill this void. KCP is very high on the Wolves’ board and put together a really strong season for a weak Georgia team. Despite Shabazz still being on the board here, I think the Wolves will want to stay clear of someone who may “demand the ball” as they simply need more of a complimentary player next to Rubio and Love.
Pro Comparison: Jamal Crawford
10. Portland Trailblazers – Alex Len (7’1” C, Maryland)
Len has been rising up draft boards recently despite a stress fracture in his ankle. If those rumors hold true, the Blazers get a steal with him at this spot. He’s a better athlete and defender than given credit for and could really grow into his role alongside a double-team magnet like LaMarcus Aldridge.
Pro Comparison: Roy Hibbert
11. Philadelphia 76ers – Cody Zeller (7’0” PF, Indiana)
Cody Zeller and Philly seems like a match made in heaven; the 76ers are desperate for size, and Zeller would be able to come in and contribute right away. Despite Zeller being 7 ft, he is most definitely a PF who will be able to stretch the floor and score in transition. Zeller has been a top prospect for so long that he has almost been over-analyzed by NBA scouts which has turned him, in my opinion, into one of the most underrated players in the draft.
Pro Comparison: Al Horford
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Steven Adams (7’0” C, Pittsburgh)
Kendrick Perkins is really starting to become a liability in the Thunder lineup. Adams could come in immediately and perform much of the same production with more room to grow. Adams is still very raw, but OKC is a fantastic place for him to grow into a complimentary role.
Pro Comparison: Tiago Splitter
13. Dallas Mavericks – Kelly Olynyk (7’0” PF/C, Gonzaga)
Dallas is going to go big in free agency, and according to reports, they are quite open to trading this pick. However if they do keep it, I see them taking a versatile big who is arguably the most offensively skilled big man in the draft. Olynyk would benefit from learning from Dirk who is another skilled, yet unathletic big.
Player Comparison: Luis Scola
14. Utah Jazz – Dennis Schroeder (6’2” PG, Germany)
It’s no secret that the Jazz want to add help at PG. They have a fantastic young duo down low and a couple of talented, young wing options, but a guy like Schroeder would really help them move forward as a complete unit. He has a very intriguing set of physical tools and skills that could develop into one of the best players from this draft class.
Pro Comparison: Rajon Rondo
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Shabazz Muhammad (6’6” SG/SF, UCLA)
Who would have thought that Shabazz Muhammad would drop out of the lottery this time last year? It is by no means a sure thing with the Wolves at 9 and the Mavericks at 13 both showing strong interest, but it is certainly possible. Muhammad would bring a scoring punch that the Buck’s sorely need.
Player comparison: Rudy Gay
16. Boston Celtics – Gorgui Dieng (6’11” C, Louisville)
Boston is getting older and older and doesn’t seem to be doing much to begin the rebuilding process. Kevin Garnett is nearing the end of his career, so Boston would do well to pick up a potentially talented two-way big like Dieng. He started his college career primarily as a defensive player but has since developed a nice mid-range jumper and passing ability.
Pro Comparison: Joakim Noah
17. Atlanta Hawks – Sergey Karasev (6’7” SF, Russia)
With Sergey Karasev returning back to Russia after apparently receiving up to two first-round promises, the guessing game now starts as to who these teams are. Both Atlanta and the Cavs are reported to be high on Karasev due to his ability to stretch the floor and his very high Basketball IQ. Looking back on the draft in a number of years, I would be surprised to see Karasev as one of the steals of the first round.
Pro Comparison: Chandler Parsons
18. Atlanta Hawks – Rudy Gobert (7’2” C, France)
The huge Frenchman has the size that makes General Managers salivate. He is still a very raw prospect who needs to add some weight to his frame, but he will immediately be a strong defensive and rebounding player, and his presence will allow the Hawks to slide Al Horford to his more natural PF position.
Pro Comparison: Shawn Bradley
19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Shane Larkin (5’11” PG, Miami)
Larkin perhaps came out a year too early, but according to scouts, he may prove his critics wrong as he has been impressing in workouts. The Bucks are reportedly very high on Larkin, but with Muhammad slipping to 15, they would have to pass on him. The Cavs already have their point guard of the future in Irving, but Larkin would be a great second guard off the bench and would be able to lessen the impact if Irving’s injury proneness continues.
Pro Comparison: Kyle Lowry
20. Chicago Bulls – Giannis Adetokunbo (6’9” SF, Greece)
Adetokunbo apparently has a first-round promise. Now, we obviously have no idea which team has given him that promise, but we believe the Bulls would be a very intriguing fit for his talents. Luol Deng has picked up some injuries recently and could be on the move in the near future. Adetokunbo would be a good insurance option and future starter if he proves capable.
Pro Comparison: Nicolas Batum
21. Utah Jazz – Mason Plumlee (7’0” C, Duke)
Plumlee couldn’t have done too much more in his last season at Duke. He improved his rebounding, scoring and FT percentage and became a much more polished all-around player. Again like Zeller, Plumlee has been so over-analyzed by scouts that many can’t see past him being a role player at the next level. With the impending free agency and expiring contracts of Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, the Jazz could need role players to play behind Kanter and Favors; Plumlee suits that role perfectly.
Pro Comparison: Taj Gibson
22. Brooklyn Nets – Jamaal Franklin (6’5” SG, San Diego St.)
Gerald Wallace isn’t getting any younger, and his production is seriously starting to drop off. The Nets could really use a defensive presence on the wing to eventually replace him. Franklin would be a very nice three-and-D option for them and would allow Joe Johnson to transition to SF as he begins to slow down.
Pro Comparison: Tony Allen
23. Indiana Pacers – Reggie Bullock (6’7” SF, North Carolina)
The Pacer’s off-season priority is to re-sign David West and rightfully so, however next on the list should be to improve their depth. The bench of DJ Augustin, Gerald Green, Sam Young, and Ian Mahinmi are simply not good enough to get it done against top quality opposition in the postseason. Bullock brings tough defense and solid three-point shooting (42.9%) which would greatly benefit a bench that ranked 29th in the NBA.
Pro Comparison: Danny Green
24. New York Knicks – Tim Hardaway, Jr. (6’6” SG, Michigan)
The Knicks only have one guy on their roster under the age of 27. They could really benefit from bringing some young blood into the team, because 36-year-old Pablo Prigioni, 30-year-old Steve Novak, and 29-year-old Chris Copeland are not going to be contributing for many more years. Hardaway, Jr. could step in immediately as a very intelligent floor spacer who has shown tremendous growth in his game since leaving high school.
Pro Comparison: very poor man’s Joe Johnson
25. Los Angeles Clippers – Ricky Ledo (6’6” SG, Providence)
Ricky Ledo is a risk for anyone who takes him in the first round, but in a weak draft like this year’s, teams in the mid- to late-twenties will be willing to gamble. Ledo has one of the biggest upsides in the draft with good size (6’6″), athleticism and shooting for his position (SG). With Caron Butler’s career on the way down and Matt Barnes’ impending free agency, Jamal Crawford is going to need some help at the SG position. Ledo wouldn’t have to be relied on right away and could slowly ease his way into a good environment.
Pro Comparison: Gordon Hayward
26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Tony Snell (6’7” SF, New Mexico)
Floor spacing is becoming such a vital aspect of the modern NBA that guys like Snell, Hardaway, and Bullock are highly valuable role players. Snell does not possess a killer instinct, but he won’t need it with a PG like Ricky Rubio passing the ball.
Pro Comparison: Wesley Person
27. Denver Nuggets – Lucas Nogueria (7’0” C, Brazil)
The Nuggets are stacked with talent, and I don’t really see anyone at 27 who could make an immediate impact on their rotation. For this reason, I see them taking an international player who they could choose to bring over and stash in the D-League or someone they could keep overseas for a year or two. Nogueria brings a rare mix of size and athleticism to the table, but question marks about his mentality and drive to improve have arisen after failing to make any big strides in recent years.
Pro Comparison: Ryan Hollins
28. San Antonio Spurs – Tony Mitchell (6’9” PF, North Texas)
Tony Mitchell is a tough prospect to figure out. He had a very promising freshman year for North Texas, but he (and his team) completely fell apart this past year under a new coach. As a result, his stock plummeted out of the lottery. San Antonio would be a great place for Mitchell to mature and grow into the talent that is already there.
Pro Comparison: Tyrus Thomas
29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Mike Muscala (6’11” C, Bucknell)
The Thunder have already taken one big man in Steven Adams, but he is more of a project who I would imagine will start coming around in 2-4 years. Muscala, on the other hand, has a much more refined game, and he has the size and skill set that will allow him to provide some low post scoring for them.
Pro Comparison: Chris Kaman
30. Phoenix Suns – Jeff Withey (7’0” C, Kansas)
Withey has been the best shot-blocker in the college game for the past two seasons. So while the Suns already have Marcin Gortat, you can’t really turn down a potentially elite shot-blocking presence at this point in the draft. He won’t be much of a scorer, but he could play the Omer Asik role to good success.
Pro Comparison: Omer Asik
2nd Round
31. Cleveland Cavaliers – Allen Crabbe (6’6″ SG, California)
32. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nate Wolters (6’4″ SG, South Dakota State)
33. Cleveland Cavaliers – Alex Abrines (6’6″ SG, Spain)
34. Houston Rockets – Erick Green (6’4″ PG/SG, Virginia Tech)
35. Philadelphia 76ers – Isaiah Canaan (6’0″ PG, Murray St.)
36. Sacramento Kings – Jackie Carmichael (6’9″ PF, Illinois St.)
37. Detroit Pistons – Glen Rice, Jr. (6’5″ SG/SF, NBA D-League)
38. Washington Wizards – Pierre Jackson (5’10” PG, Baylor)
39. Portland Trail Blazers – Archie Goodwin (6’4″ SG, Kentucky)
40. Portland Trail Blazers – Deshaun Thomas (6’7″ SF, Ohio St.)
41. Memphis Grizzlies – Myck Kabongo (6’3″ PG, Texas)
42. Philadelphia 76ers – CJ Leslie (6’9″ SF/PF, NC State)
43. Milwaukee Bucks – Lorenzo Brown (6’5″ PG, NC State)
44. Dallas Mavericks – Mouhammadou Jatieh (6’11” C, France)
45. Portland Trail Blazers – Marko Todorovic (6’11” C, Spain)
46. Utah Jazz – Livio Jean-Charles (6’9″ SF/PF, France)
47. Atlanta Hawks – BJ Young (6’3″ SG, Arkansas)
48. Los Angeles Lakers – Nermanja Nedovic (6’4″ PG/SG, Lithuania)
49. Chicago Bulls – Peyton Siva (6’1″ PG, Louisville)
50. Atlanta Hawks – James Ennis (6’7″ SF, Long Beach St.)
51. Orlando Magic – Phil Pressey (5’11” PG, Missouri)
52. Minnesota Timberwolves – Trevor Mbakwe (6’8″ PF/C, Minnesota)
53. Indiana Pacers – Erik Murphy (6’10” PF, Florida)
54. Washington Wizards – Colton Iverson (7’0″ C, Colorado St.)
55. Memphis Grizzlies – Ray McCallum (6’2″ PG, Detroit)
56. Detroit Pistons – DeWayne Dedmon (6’11” C, USC)
57. Phoenix Suns – Solomon Hill (6’7″ SF, Arizona)
58. San Antonio Spurs – Vander Blue (6’5″ SG, Marquette)
59. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bojan Dubljevic (6’10” PF/C, Spain)
60. Memphis Grizzlies – Grant Jerrett (6’10” PF, Arizona)
By James Plowright & Steven Weddington
Follow @jamesplowright
For more NBA Mock Drafts see these sites:
WalterFootball.com
DCProSportsReport.com
EatDrinkandSleepFootball.com
NBAMocks.Blogspot.co.uk
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