Parker, not Wiggins, leads The Lottery Mafia’s first 2014 mock draft.
Note: Team needs have NOT been taken into account.
Round 1
1 | Milwaukee Bucks | Jabari Parker, SF, Duke (6’8″/235 lbs)
This pick is still very much a toss-up. Many were expecting Andrew Wiggins to be the clear-cut top choice in the 2014 NBA Draft, but right now he isn’t even in the picture for me. Parker is just so dominant offensively (22.1 PPG, .550 FG%, .475 3P%) and absolutely looks like a top-tier star in the NBA. His game is so smooth, and it seems to come so easily to him.
2 | Utah Jazz | Joel Embiid, C, Kansas (7’0”/250 lbs)
No player has flown up draft boards like Embiid. He entered Kansas with large expectations after being a highly sought-after recruit, but he was expected to be brought along slowly because he apparently didn’t start playing basketball until 2011. However, his game is already much more advanced than anyone ever could have imagined, and he’s even drawn some comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon. He has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft, and if he remains in this form, he’ll take the number one spot in my next mock draft.
3 | Orlando Magic | Andrew Wiggins, SG/SF, Kansas (6’8”/200 lbs)
It’s unfair to say Andrew Wiggins has been a disappointment. He’s fallen to third predominately because of the incredible play of some of these other young players, and besides, we knew his game wasn’t as advanced as Parker’s was coming out of high school. He still displays his insane athleticism and explosiveness on a regular basis and is looking like an elite defender. He’s still comfortably in the top three for me.
4 | Philadelphia 76ers | Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky (6’9”/250 lbs)
Julius Randle simply can’t be stopped around the rim right now. It’s hard to keep him from scoring without fouling (he’s a good free throw shooter), and he’s an absolute vacuum cleaner on the glass. Randle is currently averaging 18.2 PPG and 11.3 RPG; he looks to be a career 20-10 guy in the NBA. In no way can I see Randle becoming a bust; he’s going to be a very good player that can anchor an offense for years to come.
5 | Sacramento Kings | Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State (6’4”/220 lbs)
Oklahoma State is very quietly 11-1, and Marcus Smart is probably the main reason why. He has the ability to carry a team and is a very unselfish player. Smart has an uncanny ability to score, pass and grab rebounds. If he continues to play as he is right now, he should be the first PG off the board in June.
6 | Denver Nuggets | Dante Exum, PG/SG, Australia (6’6”/190 lbs)
As it is right now, Dante Exum is probably the most hyped international prospect for the 2014 NBA Draft, and I don’t see that changing. Exum is very explosive and has a dominant first step. He needs to improve as a shooter, but he has star potential, and there’s no way he’s falling out of the top-10.
7 | Atlanta Hawks | Zach LaVine, PG/SG, UCLA (6’5”/180 lbs)
Somewhat similar to Joel Embiid, Zach LaVine has shot up draft boards like a rocket over the past few weeks. There’s no player in college basketball that is as athletic as LaVine; he has all the physical tools. The combo guard can shoot and is a great ball-handler. LaVine needs to get mentally tougher, but overall it’s easy to see why this guy is getting compared to Russell Westbrook. Most scouts would agree he’s one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft, and I’ll have a full scouting report on LaVine very soon.
8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse (6’8”/210 lbs)
Coming out of Syracuse, Jerami Grant is another player that’s still raw but has plenty of potential. What immediately jumps off the page about Grant is his physical traits. Thanks to a ridiculous 7’2” wingspan, Grant could become a monster defensively. Grant is also very athletic and is often times able to overpower smaller wing defenders to get to the hoop.
9 | Chicago Bulls | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky (7’0″/235 lbs)
I wrote a prospect breakdown on Willie Cauley-Stein right before the season started, and my opinion on him still remains the same. Despite being severely limited offensively, Cauley-Stein has the potential to be an absolute terror on the defensive end. Cauley-Stein is averaging 4.1 BPG, good for fifth in the country, and he’s also grabbing 8.2 RPG. I still think he has a decent chance to be a top-10 pick.
10 | Memphis Grizzlies | Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana (6’10”/240 lbs)
Noah Vonleh, like so many of these other prospects, is still raw but is loaded with potential. As a combo forward prospect, Vonleh has intrigued scouts with his ability to face the basket and play in the post. Vonleh is also a very unselfish player and apparently is a great teammate.
11 | Philadelphia 76ers | Rodney Hood, SF, Duke (6’8”/215 lbs)
All Duke fans had high expectations for Rodney Hood at the start of the season, yet so far he’s still exceeded all of them and has a great chance to be a lottery pick. Hood can essentially score however he wants; he can shoot or he can get to the rim. Featuring tremendous explosiveness, Hood is also a good defender and is only going to improve.
12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | James Young, SG/SF, Kentucky (6’6”/215 lbs)
Despite subpar stats early in his college career, James Young very well could become one of the more dangerous wing players in the league in a few years. Young possesses all the physical traits with good size, a strong frame and very long arms. Assuming Young gets more consistent, he could become one of the deadliest shooters in the league within a few years. His shot features a quick release and smooth stroke.
13 | Los Angeles Lakers | Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State (6’4”/210 lbs)
There’s reason to be somewhat concerned about Gary Harris right now. Yes, his scoring numbers have increased significantly, but both his field goal and three-point percentages have taken nosedives this year. However, he’s still a great prospect and as a lottery pick, there probably isn’t reason for too much concern. I’m sure he’ll snap out of this slump and answer the call when the Spartans really need him.
14 | Orlando Magic | Dario Saric, SF/PF, Croatia (6’10”/225 lbs)
Here’s a name that probably sounds familiar. We mocked Dario Saric to go in the lottery for a large part of last season until he somewhat surprisingly took his name out of the draft at the last second. Just taking a quick glance at his stats, it seems like Saric is having another good year in Europe and should be ready for the NBA by next season. There’s a lot of potential there.
15 | Boston Celtics | Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan (6’6”/215 lbs)
Over the past couple seasons, Glenn Robinson III, otherwise known as “GR3”, has been one of my favorite players to watch. It seems to all come so easy to him; he has such a smooth game yet can get the crowd to erupt at any second. He’s a decent three-point shooter at 32.6%, but he still generates most of his offense by attacking the rim. Honestly, I think he’s too unselfish sometimes.
16 | Toronto Raptors | Montrezl Harrell, PF/C, Loisville (6’8″/235 lbs)
The job Montrezl Harrell has done of replacing Gorgui Dieng this season is rather phenomenal. It appears as though he’s completely taken his game to the next level, and he’s become a legitimate NBA prospect now. Despite only standing at 6’8”, Harrell has a ridiculous wingspan that should allow him to play C some in the NBA too.
17 | Charlotte Bobcats | Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton (6’7”/225 lbs)
Doug McDermott is at it again, having another ridiculous year for Creighton as he’s averaging over 24 PPG which is second in the nation. This dude can flat out score the ball; he’s lethal from anywhere on the floor. Yes, he’ll more than likely struggle on defense in the NBA, but his ability to score alone gives him a great chance to be a top-20 pick.
18 | Phoenix Suns | Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona (6’8”/220 lbs)
If there’s one player who has just continually been falling down my board, it’s Aaron Gordon. It’s not like he’s having a bad year; he’s produced well and he’s a huge factor on one of the best teams in the nation. There are just some things to be concerned about: he can’t shoot, and he’s somewhat of a tweener. At the end of the day though, he’s still freakishly athletic, and I’d be shocked if he fell out of the top-20. There’s a great chance that he’ll go higher than this.
19 | Chicago Bulls | Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse (6’2”/180 lbs)
Tyler Ennis is another freshman who’s taken no time to get settled in. I’ve loved watching Ennis play thus far; he’s very unselfish and is showing great leadership traits. Ennis is a natural as a floor general and is very creative on the court. He also can score the ball himself as he’s averaging right at 13 PPG. I definitely think he can be a true starting PG in the NBA.
20 | Boston Celtics | Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia & Herzegovina (6’10”/280 lbs)
This is a name you might not have ever heard of, but right now there is no other prospect I’m more intrigued by. Due to still being so young and somewhat out-of-shape, Nurkic isn’t seeing many minutes right now, but when he’s on the court, he’s making the most of his minutes. In the Adriatic league, he’s averaging 33 PPG, 14 RPG, 4 SPG and 2 BPG per 40 minutes. Despite being a long way away from being NBA-ready, the potential is through the roof for this guy.
21 | Utah Jazz | Jordan Clarkson, PG, Missouri (6’5”/190 lbs)
Now in his third season at Missouri, Jordan Clarkson is one of the more experienced first round prospects for this draft. Clarkson has terrific size for a PG which could make him a great defender in the NBA, and he’s a lethal scorer, so far averaging 20 PPG. Additionally he’s averaging 4.3 APG and 3.6 RPG so there’s a lot to like here.
22 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State (6’10”/240 lbs)
Adreian Payne is really having a breakout year for Michigan State. After averaging only 10.5 PPG as a junior, Payne has jumped to 18 PPG in his senior campaign while also hauling in 7.9 RPG. Payne has the looks of a really solid role player in the NBA; he can play around the rim or possibly even operate as a stretch four.
23 | Houston Rockets | Vasilije Micic, PG, Serbia (6’4”/200 lbs)
After Dante Exum, Vasilije Micic is undoubtedly the best international guard prospect in the 2014 NBA Draft. In the Adriatic League, he’s shown that he’s able to do it all; he’s an outstanding floor general and he’s also a dangerous scorer. It’ll be really interesting to see if Micic goes ahead of guys like Tyler Ennis, Jordan Clarkson or Semaj Christon. While he should be a first round pick, the PG class begins to get really deep once you get to about the middle of the first round.
24 | Phoenix Suns | Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier (6’3”/190 lbs)
Continuing the run on PG’s, Semaj Christon is a big, long player who compares favorably to a guy like John Wall. The big concern around Christon is the fear that he’ll never become an above-average three-point shooter. Still, he’s a good defender who features a quick first step which allows him to get to the rim where he’s a great finisher.
25 | Los Angeles Clippers | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin (6’7”/220 lbs)
Now in his second season at Wisconsin, Sam Dekker has established himself as one of the best players in the Big 10. Dekker is a very smart player who features good length and mobility. Averaging 37.2% from behind the arc, Dekker can score from about anywhere on the floor, and he’s not too shabby as a rebounder either.
26 | Miami Heat | Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana Lafayette (6’3”/180 lbs)
Elfrid Payton has emerged as one of the best mid-major prospects in the nation. Like so many of these other PG prospects, Payton has great size and he’s shown a ton of ability as a scorer, rebounder and passer. If he can lead his team into the tournament, you better watch out. He’s the type of player that could lead a team to an upset win or two.
27 | San Antonio Spurs | Perry Ellis, PF, Kansas (6’8”/225 lbs)
After being nothing more than a role player last year, Perry Ellis has made huge strides in his sophomore season, and he’s become a big factor for the Jayhawks. Due to averaging 13.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG, he now has a decent chance to be a late first round pick.
28 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Olivier Hanlan, PG, Boston College (6’3”/185 lbs)
Olivier Hanlan is yet another young and exciting PG prospect. Early in his sophomore season, he’s been one of the best offensive players in the ACC as he’s flashed signs of brilliance both as a scorer and a passer (19.8 PPG, 3.3 APG). He still needs to work on his defense, but overall he’s a very talented and exciting prospect.
29 | Charlotte Bobcats | Jahii Carson, PG, Arizona State (5’10”/180 lbs)
Jahii Carson is following up on a great freshman season with an even better sophomore one. His size is obviously a concern, especially when it comes to defense, but he’s still a first round talent. Due to his tremendous ability to score (19.3 PPG, .514 3P%) and pass (5.4 APG), I believe Carson has the ability to be a starting PG in the league. Just look at Isaiah Thomas.
30 | Phoenix Suns | Roscoe Smith, PF, UNLV (6’8”/215 lbs)
It seems as if transferring from UConn was a great decision for Roscoe Smith. After struggling to even see the floor for two years under Jim Calhoun, Smith is having a monster year at UNLV. With a stat line of 13.1 PPG and 13.2 RPG, Smith is one of the few players in the country that’s averaging a double-double.
Round 2 Coming Soon…
Please fine other consensus mock drafts:
http://walterfootball.com/nbadraftdata.php
http://nbamocks.blogspot.co.uk/p/2014-mock-drafts.html
http://www.dcprosportsreport.com/NBAMocks.htm
http://eatdrinkandsleepfootball.com/draft/mock-draft-database/nba.html
By Brian Emory
Follow @BrianEmory
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