They All Have One

Profiling the best players from the teams picking in this year’s lottery.

Much can be said about the 14 lucky losers who end up playing for Ping Pong balls. They tank. They’re not close to competing. They’ve made some horrendous roster moves.

Well, sure, maybe “they” have. But the NBA teams sitting eagerly in the top-14 picks can’t be all bad, right?

I mean of course they’re bad. That’s the definition of being a lottery team. Isn’t there a glimmer of hope for them though? Surely each of those teams has a ray of sunshine beckoning through a window of sub-.500 seasons, begging to be dropped onto a grander stage.

Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks may not have big-time players — the Bucks haven’t had a star since Jesus Shuttlesworth was a cheese head. However, there is talent hidden away on those rosters. You just have to pull back the mediocrity, push aside the humiliation, and chip away at the losses. I’m sure you can find some hope.

Let’s take a look at the best players from the team’s picking in this year’s lottery,

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving

There’s less debate about the Cavaliers’ MVP than there is about which Rocky movie was the best — essentially I’m comparing the brilliance in Irving’s game to the divinity of Rocky Balboa’s triumph over Ivan Drago. Totally equivalent. Seriously, Irving is not only the best player on the team, but he’s arguably a top-1o player in the league. In three years, he’s just shy of 4,000 points and just beyond 1,000 assists. In those three years, he’s missed a total of 65 games. He averages 5.8 assists and about 21 points a game for his career. Did I mention he’s only 22? Barring injury, Irving will be at this for the next 12 years.

2. Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo

There isn’t a whole lot to go off of with the “Greek Freak.” He’s still very young, so the resume barely has a dent in it. As a rookie this year, he averaged about 7 points and 4 rebounds a game, and those numbers don’t deserve a second glance. What does call for attention is his potential. He’s 19 years old and is 6-foot-9. Brandon Knight can play, but Antetokounmpo is the cornerstone for the Bucks. He has the ability to be an all-star if he keeps progressing.

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Michael Carter-Williams

MC-Dubs, as he’s become known as, surprised everyone but himself this past season. The 2014 Rookie of the Year dropped about 16 points a game and averaged more than 6 assists along with it. He didn’t have the added benefit of Nerlens Noel, and Evan Turner was shipped out to Indiana. Carter-Williams carried the Sixers all year. He’s a 6-foot-6 point guard who can score and create for his teammates. Philly must have found a magic lamp — courtesy Jim Boheim.

4. Orlando Magic – Nikola Vucevic

This one was a little more difficult because Rob Hennigan has done such a fantastic job building the Magic’s roster. Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo are both good players, but the dominance Vucevic has displayed is impeccable. It’s become so hard to find a big man who can give consistent, high-quality effort on both ends of the floor. Vucevic does it every night. He’s a double-double machine. He may not block a lot of shots, but he’s not a defensive liability. Should we spend more time on the fact that he has vacuums for hands? The boy has a radar detector for rebounds.

5. Utah Jazz – Gordon Hayward

Utah’s MVP could change if they don’t lock up Hayward. He could easily turn into an undervalued star in this league. He does it all. Hayward can drop double figures every night and tack on five boards and five assists. Trey Burke is a fantastic, young prospect, but Hayward is the man the Jazz need to build around.

6. Boston Celtics – Rajon Rondo

I feel as if I should stop after this sentence. I’ll put the cherry on top, I guess. Rondo is easily a top-15 player in the league, and some would argue top-10 — when healthy. He isn’t the liability he once was from the perimeter. Rondo can knock down open jumpers now, ladies and gentlemen. But I predicted that a long time ago. The only question is whether or not he’ll be a Celtic next year?

7. Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant

Again, no words need to be said. I don’t care if the “Black Mamba” is nearing the big four-oh. He’s one of the top-5 players in the history of the NBA. Bryant may not be the same spring-loaded, smiling kid Jerry West plucked out of Lower Merion High School, but he’s so much more now.

8. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins reminds me of a young Shaquille O’Neal. I’m not saying he’s as good as Shaq, or even that he could be, but the similarities are there. Cousins plays with a tenacity and aggression that strikes fear in his opponents’ souls. He can knock down mid-range jump shots, and his defensive ability varies with his attitude. It seems as if he’s outgrowing the maturity issues, which once plagued his game. Cousins will be a star for the next 10 years. He’s still a baby too… a cool 23 years old.

9. Charlotte Hornets – Al Jefferson

It’s difficult to go against my boy, Kemba Walker, but Jefferson is too nasty. Big Al was hobbled and on one leg in the playoffs. He put the Bobcats on his back. Don’t expect that to change now that they’re the Hornets. Jefferson is one of the most offensively gifted big men in the league — if not the most gifted. He drastically improved his shooting ability. The man averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds a game. Jefferson stepped up his game this year, and he won over Charlotte in the process.

10. Denver Nuggets – Ty Lawson

I can’t believe how much Denver regressed this season. Lawson missing 20 games had a big impact on the Nuggets’ losing woes, but he still managed to put up good numbers. He dropped about 17 points and 9 assists a night. Lawson is a top-1o point guard — in my opinion. With Danilo Gallinari, Javale McGee and Wilson Chandler being as injury prone as they are, Lawson is the Nuggets’ best asset.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Love

For the Love of humanity, if Minnesota doesn’t trade this man before he walks away and they get nothing in return… I’ll go insane. Regardless of all that hoopla, Love has the tendency to go on historical streaks of the double-double nature. He has time and talent on his side. That combination could make him a top-1o player of all-time when it’s all said and done. The guy does it all.

12. Phoenix Suns – Eric Bledsoe

There’s a reason why the Suns acquired the guy. He’s an explosive point guard who can create his own shot and facilitate the rock. Bledsoe pushes the envelope in transition and gets to the line. He has crazy hops, and he causes fits on defense. He’s easily an above-average point guard and can make an All-Star Game or two before he retires. Again, he’s another player who needs to be locked up financially.

13. Atlanta Hawks – Al Horford

He’s in that Al Jefferson mold. Horford miss pretty much the entire season this year, but that doesn’t deteriorate his talent. He’s a double-double waiting to happen. He can play face up or with his back to the basket. Big Al 2.0 won’t wave his finger on defense a whole lot, but he’ll give the effort. He’s an All-Start caliber big man — probably destined for a change of scenery in the near future. But as for now, he’s all the Hawks really have.