Brian Emory: Lottery Bigboard

The Lottery Mafia’s Draft Expert Brian Emory’s personal NBA Draft Bigboard

1)  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) 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)  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) 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)  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) 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) 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) 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)  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)  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)  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)  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) 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)  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.