1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel (7’0’’ C, Kentucky)
The Cavaliers are set at the PG, SG, and PF positions after their latest drafts. They can also afford to let Noel heal more than most teams picking this high in the draft. Pairing him with Tristan Thompson will help both of them as well due to their polar playing styles.
2. Orlando Magic: Trey Burke (6’0” PG, Michigan)
This pick seems like it will be coming down between Ben McLemore and Trey Burke. Orlando’s biggest need is easily PG, but McLemore is probably the better prospect. Since they already have a solid player at SG in Aaron Afflalo I’ll slot them Trey Burke. Burke is a great leader who fits perfectly in Orlando who already has an established young core.
3. Washington Wizards – Otto Porter (6’8’’ SF, Georgetown)
The Wizards need help pretty much everywhere but the PG and SG positions and Porter is one of, if not THE best, wings in this draft. His scoring deficiencies will be masked by two great scorers in the backcourt already and he would help them score also.
4. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore (6’5” SG, Kansas)
This would be an ideal scenario for the Bobcats. They really need a spot-up shooter who can hit from beyond the arch and that is McLemore’s strength. Kemba Walker is already a ball dominant PG, so McLemore would fit in perfectly beside him and give Charlotte that threat from deep they sorely need.
5. Phoenix Suns – Victor Oladipo (6’4’’ SG, Indiana)
The Suns need help everywhere. Is there a single player worth mentioning on this roster? Oladipo is the kind of player that can do just about everything on the court, and thus would be a strong upgrade.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Alex Len (7’1” C, Maryland)
The two players tied to the Pelicans early on in the process are Alex Len and Trey Burke. Grevis Vasquez has come a long way, but Burke would definitely be an upgrade. However Burke will likely off the board at this point, leaving Len as the best option. They have Robin Lopez at C, but he’s not an all-world player so they could look to upgrade the center position. Some say Len’s injury concerns could drop him, but after Noel he’s still the consensus best big man prospect so I’d be shocked if he fell out of the top-10.
7. Sacremento Kings – Anthony Bennett (6’8’’ PF, UNLV)
Sacramento already has a lot of offensive-minded players, but Bennett has the ability to add some offensive EFFICIENCY to this team. Not to mention if he falls this far it will be hard for even a team with as many similar players as the Kings to pass on him. Bennett is one of the few players with the talent to be a star.
8. Detroit Pistons: C.J. McCollum (6’3” PG/SG, Lehigh)
The Pistons sorely need backcourt scoring. Their front court is loaded with potential, but their backcourt could still use a few upgrades. McCollum is the most lethal scorer in this draft and shot a ridiculous 52% from three point range in 12 games as a senior. If he wants to maximize his potential in the NBA he needs to be able to at least become serviceable when playing the PG spot; his size won’t allow him to be a full-time SG.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Timberwolves were one of the worst shooting teams in the league last year and have the chance to draft the draft’s purest shooter. Caldwell-Pope did not have the best combine but fits well on this Minnesota team.
10. Portland Trail Blazers: Tim Hardaway Jr. (6’6” SG, Michigan)
This is a reach, as Hardaway Jr. is expected to go late first round. Being selected tenth would be a huge surprise, but Portland’s biggest need is an off-ball SG, and some suggest they could trade up for Victor Oladipo. It also wouldn’t shock me if they took another big man such as Steven Adams or Gorgui Dieng, but they already have a project in Meyers Leonard. Hardway Jr. is definitely the best off-ball SG available here. He’ll never be a star, but Portland doesn’t necessarily need one. Hardaway Jr. will be a very solid player who can score 10-15 ppg at the next level. The shooting guard position is very weak right now, and since Portland already has a great young point guard finding another option at the off-guard position makes sense.
11. Philadelphia 76ers – Steven Adams (7’0’’ C, Pittsburgh)
Adams could be the backup/starter at the Center position depending on the outcome of the Andrew Bynum fiasco. In addition, he had one of the best combines of any player, displaying his athleticism and size.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Mason Plumlee (6’11” PF/C, Duke)
Kendrick Perkins had a terrible postseason. With this pick OKC will more than likely either take a PG such as Dennis Schroeder or Michael Carter-Williams or a big man. Plumlee may not be the best big man prospect available here, but he fits what OKC needs. He’s a hard-nosed player who does the dirty work and is very solid in the glass.
13. Dallas Mavericks – Michael Carter-Williams (6’6’’ PG, Syracuse)
The PG out of Syracuse had a great combine, showing his elite athleticism and length. He is a defensive-minded point who can also facilitate better than most players his size. His only drawback is his lack of outside shot, which could be helped by the Mavericks shooters.
14. Utah Jazz: Dennis Schroeder (6’2” PG, Germany)
Utah’s biggest weakness is definitely PG; they have a really solid young roster. Schroeder has potential to be their PG of the future. He possesses incredible speed and blew by his opponents at will in Germany. He’s a solid passer with good court vision but needs to cut down his turnovers. He’s still really young and raw, but has the potential to be a solid starting PG in the NBA.
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Shabazz Muhammad (6’6’’ SF, UCLA)
The Bucks could use a shooter and Muhammad might actually be a steal at this point. Do you remember when he was a sure-fire Top 5 pick? Well his offensive potency will upgrade a Milwaukee team that needs help at the SF.
16. Boston Celtics: Gorgui Dieng (6’11” C, Louisville)
It was rumored Paul Pierce would be bought out in the next few days, however that proved to be false. Either way, Pierce and Garnett both will probably be traded and won’t be back in green next year. The Celtics are preparing for rebuilding, so starting that process with a young big man would be a good start. Dieng is a great defender and improving on the offensive end.
17. Atlanta Hawks – Cody Zeller (7’0’’ C/PF, Indiana)
This is an absolute steal for a team that likes to run the floor like Atlanta does. Zeller showed out at the combine but is still seen as an overrated player, which could cause him to fall despite measuring out so well.
18. Atlanta Hawks: Dario Saric (6’10” SF/PF, Croatia)
Saric is really raw but has a ton of potential. He’s a really unique talent who can play the wing, and makes sense as the Hawks prepare for the likely departure of Josh Smith.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Kelly Olynyk (7’0’’ PF, Gonzaga)
Assuming the Cavaliers already grabbed the defensive-minded Noel earlier in the draft, adding the post-capable Olynyk with their later pick. Olynyk could be better than expected and is definitely worth the risk at this point.
20. Chicago Bulls: Allen Crabbe (6’6” SG, Cal)
The Bulls primary focus this offseason is finding an SG, so drafting Crabbe makes sense. He’s a great spot-up shooter and could become a very solid third or fourth option in Chicago.
21. Utah Jazz – Jamaal Franklin (6’5’’ SG, San Diego St.)
Franklin has been rising pretty steadily despite an ankle injury that kept him from competing at the combine. His athletic ability would infuse a lacking backcourt in Utah, and he may be able to play some SF also.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Tony Snell (6’7” SG/SF, New Mexico)
Gerald Wallace is all but done as an NBA player and Joe Johnson is 31. Brooklyn should definitely look to add a young player on the wing with this selection. Snell would be a very solid choice here; he’s an explosive player with a smooth stroke. His size could allow him to cause all kinds of match-up problems as an SG and be effective playing SF.
23. Indiana Pacers – Jeff Withey (7’0’’ C, Kansas)
Withey has the same kind of defensive ability that Roy Hibbert does and should Indiana pick based on potential Withey could be a solid big man if he develops an offensive game. Playing behind Hibbert, Hansbrough, and Mahinmi would grant him the time to develop as well.
24. New York Knicks: Giannis Adetokunbo (6’9” SG/SF, Greece)
At one time Adetokunbo was flying up draft boards and some suggested he could sneak into the top-ten. The hype has seemed to ease a bit, but at 24 he would be the BPA and the Knicks would be thrilled if he fell into their laps. Adetokunbo is really raw and needs to add strength, so if he went to New York he could spend a year or two filling out his frame before even being asked to become a legitimate threat. Despite his fall on the draft board the potential remains.
25. Los Angeles Clippers – Shane Larkin (6’0’’ PG, Miami)
This would be a steal for the Clippers considering they will likely lose one of either Chris Paul or Eric Bledsoe in free agency. Larkin reminds me a lot of Paul in his style of play and would not be needed to handle the load immediately on this Clippers squad.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tony Mitchell (6’8” SF/PF, North Texas)
By this point, a lot of teams will strictly be going BPA and that’s what Mitchell is for Minnesota here at 26. Mitchell is an athletic combo-forward with an intriguing skill-set. We still don’t know if he’ll primarily be an SF or PF at the next level but he’s a very interesting talent. He could definitely become one of the biggest steals in this draft.
27. Denver Nuggets – Glen Rice Jr (6’6’’ SG, Georgia Tech)
The Nuggets are a run and gun squad that would love to have an athletic wing player like Rice. He did not perform well at the Combine but with strong workouts he could help himself back into the late first round.
28. San Antonio Spurs: Lucas Nogueira (7’0” C, Brazil)
Like almost all Eurpoean big men, Nogueira possess a lot of potential but is really raw. However a team like San Antonio can afford to roll the dice on a big man here late in the first round. Nogueira is definitely a project, so San Antonio could be the right team for him to go to.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Reggie Bullock (6’7’’ SF, North Carolina)
OKC needs some scoring ability off the bench and Bullock may be one of the best shooters in the draft, as well as an above-average defender. OKC would benefit from a guy that would give them these capabilities this late in the draft.
30. Phoenix Suns: Sergey Karasev (6’7” SG/SF, Russia)
Yes, Phoenix already added Oladipo earlier in the draft but 30th overall you should definitely go BPA. Karasev is too good to fall out of the first round; he has shown a lot of potential as a scorer and can play multiple positions. He still needs to add strength to his frame before he can become a legitimate threat in the NBA.
By Brian Emory & James McNeill
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