2015-16 NBA Season Preview: Team Predictions

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Toronto Raptors (1)

2. Boston Celtics (9)

3. New York Knicks (10)

4. Brooklyn Nets (14)

5. Philadelphia 76ers (15)

Why: Picking the Celtics to miss the playoffs was one of the hardest decisions this year, but I think they are definitively worse than the top 7 in the East and the Pistons are my pick, no matter how much of a long-shot, to have a surprise turnaround season. I actually think the Celtics are more likely to make the playoffs, but predictions are much more fun when you don't go with the most likely outcomes. The Raptors as the top overall team is a bet that improved defense and a weak division will lead to a lot of regular season wins.

Central Division

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (2)

2. Chicago Bulls (5)

3. Milwaukee Bucks (7)

4. Detroit Pistons (8)

5. Indiana Pacers (13)

Why: At this point, despite being (when healthy) the best team in the conference, the Cavs injuries are reaching absurd levels and it is getting harder to believe in any of their top 3 players to stay healthy, not to mention the rest of their roster and the Tristan Thompson affair. The Bulls will have some growing pains and be better than the fifth best team after the All-Star break. I love Indiana's coaching and think Paul George is a top 15 player in the NBA, but their frontcourt is such a mess otherwise and their defense could be a mess.

Southeast Division

1. Miami Heat (3)

2. Washington Wizards (4)

3. Atlanta Hawks (6)

4. Charlotte Hornets (11)

5. Orlando Magic (12)

Why: The Heat I think will pace themselves this season and try to be fully healthy come playoff time, but their starting lineup is so talented and for the first time in a while, they may have some legitimate depth. Atlanta is going to fall off, but not as much as some think, finishing sixth is more a vote of confidence in the improvements the teams above them made. If not for the Michael Kidd-Gilchrist injury Charlotte would have been my 8-seed, as is I think they will struggle to defend consistently.

Western Conference

Pacific

1. Golden State Warriors (2)

2. Los Angeles Clippers (5)

3. Phoenix Suns (8)

4. Sacramento Kings (12)

5. Los Angeles Lakers (13)

Why: The Clippers will still win a ton of games and could easily have the best record in the West, but I really doubt we'll see another 82-game season from Chris Paul. The Warriors are still the best team in the NBA, but injuries are more likely to bite them this season and perhaps a bit of a championship hangover, just enough to knock them from the top overall seed. 

Southwest

1. Houston Rockets (3)

2. San Antonio Spurs (4)

3. Memphis Grizzlies (6)

4. New Orleans Pelicans (9)

5. Dallas Mavericks (10)

Why: Both the Pelicans and Mavericks have the potential to make the playoffs, but injuries are already a huge problem and don't seem likely to go away. The Spurs are still probably going to play more for the postseason and not worry too much about seeding as long as they get home court advantage.

Northwest

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)

2. Utah Jazz (7)

3. Denver Nuggets (11)

4. Portland Trailblazers (14)

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (15)

Why: The Thunder are locked and loaded for a massive season with a healthy Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka and more depth across the board. Mediocre or worse teams I think are just going to be blown off the floor by this team. The Blazers might make this prediction look bad, but I don't like how their team fits together and could really be a mess on both ends.

Playoffs

Eastern Conference First Round

Raptors over Pistons

Cavaliers over Hawks

Heat over Bucks

Wizards over Bulls

Why: Chalk.

 

Western Conference First Round

Thunder over Suns

Warriors over Jazz

Rockets over Grizzlies

Spurs over Clippers

Why: Chalk again, but this year home court again makes the difference in Spurs/Clippers but with the Spurs advancing this time.

Eastern Conference Second Round

Wizards over Raptors

Heat over Cavaliers

Why: Let me be clear, I think the Cavaliers are still the favorite to reach the Finals out of the East, but predictions are more fun when you take chances and there is a distinctly non-zero chance the Heat are definitively more healthy than the Cavaliers come playoff time. Paul Pierce is gone, but the Wizards are still a bad match-up for Toronto and seem to have their number. 

Western Conference Second Round

Thunder over Spurs

Warriors over Rockets

Why: The Thunder when healthy have gotten the better of San Antonio, same with the Warriors and Rockets. Both series would be very close though.

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat over Wizards

Why: The Heat could make this look terrible if injuries really crop up but I believe in their coaching and talent.

Western Conference Finals

Thunder over Warriors

Why: This series, if it happens, would easily be my most anticipated event of the season. The Warriors are probably a better team, but I think home court and Durant would make the difference if things play out this way.

The Finals

Thunder over Heat

Why: A rematch of the 2012 Finals that lacks some bite sans LeBron, however it would still be a really fun series that ultimately has the Thunder finally winning the championship.

Again, these predictions are the most likely outcomes but they are a mix of probability, gut instinct, and some wildness just for fun.

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2015 Draft Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Kyrie Irving

SG: Joe Harris

SF: ???

PF: ???

C: Anderson Verejao/Brendan Haywood

2015 Free Agents

PG Matthew Dellavedova (RFA)

PF Tristan Thompson (RFA)

SG Iman Shumpert (RFA)

G/F/C LeBron James (player option)

PF Kevin Love (player option)

SG Mike Miller (player option)

SG J.R. Smith (player option)

C Timofey Mozgov (team option)

F James Jones

C Kendrick Perkins

F Shawn Marion

2015 Draft Picks

1-24

2-23(53) via Portland

Team Needs

LeBron is opting in, so Cleveland's roster needs will be about building around him. What Cleveland's other free agents do, namely Kevin Love, are more up in the air, however Cleveland aren't going to be able to replace him at this point in the draft so it doesn't really matter in regards to their draft plan. While conventional wisdom says you need to surround LeBron with shooters, rebounders, and defenders but as the Finals have shown, Cleveland needs shot creators and smart offensive basketball players that can create some offense outside of LeBron. Kyrie Irving helps with that, but in four straight seasons he has got hurt, and even when healthy Cleveland needs more or else all the pressure of perimeter offense will be on two players instead of one. 

Potential Fits

There are several perimeter player available in the late first round range that can create offense from th perimeter. Duke point guard Tyus Jones is a high IQ player that can run an offense all on his own and shoot the ball as well. Delon Wright of Utah is similarly smart, and though not as pure of a point guard or as good of a shooter, he offers rebounding and excellent defense in addition to creating off the dribble. UNLV's Rashad Vaughn is a classic scoring two-guard in the J.R. Smith mold, but a little more likely to attack the basket and a little less combustible. Role playing 3-and-D players will likely also catch Cleveland's eye, Justin Anderson of UVA and Stanford's Anthony Brown would fit, but again while those players are valuable they also contribute to overworking LeBron and Irving, which over time will shorten their window.

Mock Draft

24. Tyus Jones, PG, Duke

53. Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas

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Cleveland Cavaliers Draft Review

1. Andrew Wiggins, SF Kansas Fr. (6-9, 200)
If the Cavaliers were too scared off by Embiid, then Wiggins is absolutely the right pick. I understand the appeal of Jabari Parker, but a player who not only doesn't have the physical ability to be an above-average defender, but also doesn't give much effort or attention on that end shouldn't be the top overall pick. That goes doubly so when the team drafting there is built around a core of other lackadaisical defensive players. Wiggins may not be the offensive player Parker is yet, but he is a plus in that area as well as on defense, where Parker is a minus. Wiggins should play 30+ minutes a game, every game next season for the Cavaliers and help them be a better team in the short term, but also develop into a superstar long term.

32. Joe Harris, SG Virginia Sr. (6-6, 215)

After taking Wiggins number 1, the Cavs dipped into the college Senior pool for two low-risk picks that have a good chance of panning out as role players. Joe Harris has the better chance to stick because he can make three-point shots and play very hard on the defensive end. Harris is limited athletically and has short arms, making it unlikely that he will be anything more than average defensively. Still, giving effort on defense is more than you can say for the rest of the Cavs guards. Another plus for Harris is he doesn't need to have the ball in his hands to contribute offensively, which also differentiates him from Cleveland's guards.

45. Dwight Powell, PF Stanford Sr. (6-11, 234)

Powell came over to the Cavs in a trade involving Alonzo Gee, and though he is just a second round pick, he has a chance to make the Cavs roster because he is athletic and can shoot. His three-point shot dropped off this last season, but his stroke is good and he should be able to be at the very least an average midrange shooter. Due to his athleticism and length, Powell should be able to hold his own defensively as well. While he is no lock to make the roster, as a fifth big man with upside, you can certainly do worse

Projected Lineup
PG: Kyrie Irving/Jarrett Jack
SG: Dion Waiters/Joe Harris/Sergey Karasev
SF: Andrew Wiggins/
PF: Tristan Thompson/Anthony Bennett/Dwight Powell
C: Anderson Varejao/Tyler Zeller

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2014 NBA Mock Draft: 5/20

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jabari Parker, SF Duke Fr. (6-8, 235)

The Cavs win the lottery, again. Fortunately this is a difficult draft to mess up. Jabari Parker isn't he best prospect in this draft, but he's the most likely to help get the Cavs to the playoffs next season.

2. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, SF Kansas Fr. (6-8, 200)

The Bucks don't win the lottery but they still get the best player. Wiggins should become the star that the Bucks need and can't get in other ways.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: Dante Exum, G Australia (6-6, 196)

The Sixers would love Parker or Wiggins, but if both are drafted ahead of their spot, they'll pick between Exum and Embiid. With Nerlens Noel on the roster and Embiid's back injury, it breaks the tie between two excellent players.

4. Orlando Magic: Joel Embiid, C Kansas Fr. (7-0, 250)

If healthy, Embiid is a force on both ends of the court and massive upside. He easily could be the next in line or game-changing big men in Orlando.

5. Utah Jazz: Julius Randle, PF Kentucky Fr. (6-9, 250)

The Jazz will likely be choosing between Smart and the power forwards, but Randle is the best fit for them, a team with a pick and roll point guard and an offense that can struggle at times.

6. Boston Celtics: Noah Vonleh, PF Indiana Fr. (6-9½, 247)

The Celtics could take Smart as their heir apparent to Rajon Rondo, but Vonleh has much bigger upside and can be the rim-protecting big man they desperately need. 

7. Los Angeles Lakers: Marcus Smart, G Oklahoma State So. (6-3¼, 227)

The Lakers could really go any way here even a wild card like local product LaVine, however Smart is the kind of player that is a great starting point in a rebuild and can match Kobe's intensity and drive.

8. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Gordon, PF Arizona Fr. (6-8¾, 220)

The Kings dropped a spot, but should still get a great player because there is a drop off after the top 8. Aaron Gordon is a perfect fit on Sacramento and next to DeMarcus Cousins. To do the dirty work and not have to bear much of a scoring role. 

9. Charlotte Hornets (from Detroit): Doug McDermott, SF Creighton Sr. (6-7¾, 218)

The Hornets can go a number of ways here, but McDermott is perfect for their offense. He can space the floor for Al Jefferson and provide another scorer on the wing.

10. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans): Nik Stauskas, SG Michigan So. (6-6½, 207)

With Exum, Noel, Thad Young, and Michael Carter-Williams as building blocks, the Sixers will be in need of shooting. Stauskas is the best shooter in the draft and can also create plays off the dribble.

11. Denver Nuggets (from New York): Gary Harris, SG Michigan State So. (6-4½, 205)

The Nuggets could use both shooting and perimeter defense, which is what Harris provides. He may not have star upside but should be a rotation player for a long time.

12. Orlando Magic (from Denver): Tyler Ennis, PG Syracuse Fr. (6-2½, 182)
The Magic would like to move on from Jameer Nelson and I don't think they see Victor Oladipo as a point guard long term. Therefore Ennis, a steady and solid point guard makes sense. It is a good fit for him too, next to the athletic defender Oladipo.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Zach LaVine, SG UCLA (6-5¾, 181)
Some team is going to going to take a chance on the raw, athletic LaVine. The Timberwolves makes sense because they have a lot of talent and won't be killed if he busts, but could be taken to the next level if he hits. Obviously if/when Kevin Love is traded can change a lot.

14. Phoenix Suns: Dario Saric, PF Croatia (6-11, 223)
With 3 first round picks, the Suns can afford to invest in a prospect who may stay in Europe for a little while. Saric is the best of the options and too talented to not get drafted in the lottery despite his contract in Europe.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Jusuf Nurkic, C Bosnia (6-11, 280)
The Hawks have showed that they are willing to take risks as well as draft international players. Jusuf Nurkic is incredibly talented but also carries some risks as well. 

16. Chicago Bulls (from Charlotte): Elfrid Payton, PG Louisana-Lafayette Jr. (6-3¾, 185)
The Bulls desperately need to find someone who can create his own shot, which is exactly what Payton excels at. He is also a fierce perimeter defender that will fit right in in Chicago.

17. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn): James Young, G/F Kentucky Fr. (6-6¾, 213)
The Celtics are another team that likes to take risks during the draft, which could lead them to the very talented, very inconsistent James Young, who looks like a star at times, and a career D-Leaguer at others.

18. Phoenix Suns (from Washington): P.J. Hairston, SG NBDL (6-5¼, 229)
Hairston, who was kicked off of the North Carolina basketball team, obviously has some red flags but can really shoot the ball from outside, plays hard on defense, and has upside in other areas. He is likely to contribute early next year.

19. Chicago Bulls: Adreian Payne, PF Michigan State Sr. (6-9¾, 239)
While a wing shooter like Rodney Hood makes a lot of sense, frontcourt depth has been an issue for Chicago for a while and Payne, who also can shoot, would fit right in as an athletic big who can play right away.

20. Toronto Raptors: Jerami Grant, F Syracuse (6-7¾, 214)
Grant is the best prospect available here and gives the Raptors some size on the wing to defend against the bigger small forwards that DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross might struggle with.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas): Rodney Hood, G/F Duke (6-8½, 208)
The Thunder have seemingly been looking for a shooter for years, so if one like Hood falls into their lap, they'd have to be ecstatic. 

22. Memphis Grizzlies: Cleanthony Early, SF Wichita State (6-7¼, 209)
Mike Miller stayed healthy all season, but he is 34 and has many, many injuries in his past. Cleanthony Early isn't as good of a shooter as Miller, but he is incredibly athletic and a good defender.

23. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): T.J. Warren, SF North Carolina State (6-8¼, 220)
The Jazz have a pretty set starting lineup, provided they bring back Gordon Heyward, so they'll look to boost a bench that struggled last season. Warren has some questions about his position and shooting but he can really score.

24. Charlotte Hornets (from Portland): Clint Capela, F/C Switzerland (6-11, 222)
Capela could go much higher if he does well in workouts, but if he did fall to Charlotte they'd have to take a serious look, though the Bismack Biyombo experience might cause them to shy away.

25. Houston Rockets: Kyle Anderson, F UCLA So. (6-8½, 230)
Anderson could also go much higher. Given Houston's penchant for taking risk and fitting odd pieces together, the talented Anderson could be too much to pass up, despite the questions about his defense.

26. Miami Heat: Shabazz Napier, PG Connecticut Sr. (6-1, 175)
LeBron James has already expressed his admiration of Napier's game, and while that wouldn't be enough for the Heat to draft him, it does make a lot of sense with Mario Chalmers a free agent this summer.

27. Phoenix Suns (from Indiana): K.J. McDaniels, SF Clemson Jr. (6-6, 196)
Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Green, and McDaniels on the court at the same time would be the most athletic trio in the league. McDaniels is still growing as a scorer, but his athleticism and defense can be very disruptive. 

28. Los Angeles Clippers: Glenn Robinson III, G/F Michigan So. (6-6¾, 211)
The Clippers took a similar player last season, Reggie Bullock, but still seem to be looking for consistency from their bench wings. Robinson III has high upside but is very raw offensively.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: C.J. Wilcox, SG Washington Sr. (6-5, 201)
Another shooter for the Thunder, though they could go with a international stash player as well. Wilcox is an excellent shooter and defender, he is just old at 23

30. San Antonio Spurs: Kristaps Porzingis, F/C Latvia (7-0, 220)
An international player mocked to the Spurs may seem lazy, but Porzingis could easily could go in the late lottery. He has serious talent and fills a need. Tim Duncan most likely can't keep playing forever after all.

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Rookie Look-In: Anthony Bennett

This is the first in a series of looks at the Rookie years (so far) of the 2013 NBA Draft class, what the've done well and where they need to improve in going forward. First up is top overall pick Anthony Bennett of the Cleveland Cavaliers...

Bennett's Stats*

12.8 mpg, 4.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.2 bpg, 0.4 spg, 0.9 tpg, 1.8 fpg, .340 FG, .631 FT .216 3P

Things could not have gone worse for Bennett this season, after offseason shoulder surgery, he was out of shape and not prepared whatsoever for the NBA. However, because of organizational pride, he was put out on the court and the results were awful, starting the season 5-for-32 and not scoring in double figures until January 28th, 44 games into the season. Bennett is second to last in PER among qualified rookies with a robust 6.44 (15 is league average), and the only guy he's ahead of is an undrafted free agent. His offense has been terrible on the whole this season (.408 TS%, worst among power forwards by .028%!) and he has fouled at a high rate (6.8 fouls per 48 minutes) while turning the ball over too much (14.9 turnover ratio, 69th out of 73 power forwards). His jumpshot hasn't been falling, shooting .216% from 3 on just over one a game and just .284% on non-3 jumpshots outside the pain. Jumpshot a make up 72% of Bennett's offense, but he is converting with a .281 effective FG%. Unfortunately, he hasn't been good in the paint either, just .465%, well below league average! and part of the issue is 21% of his shots close to the basket have been blocked. By comparison, the player Bennett is most similar to in physical profile and skillset, Paul Millsap, had a .438 eFG% on jumpers and had 12% of his shots in close blocked. 

This extremely poor performance raises the question: why was he still seeing the floor? Why was he not in the D-League to get back in playing shape and into the flow of games, or at least to get his confidence back? The answer, unfortunately, was probably that the Cavaliers didn't want to be the first team to send a number 1 pick to the D-League and suffer that "embarrassment." This example of putting organizational pride above what is good for both the team and the player is another in a long line of failings by Cleveland. 

Bennett has started to play a little better of late, averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds on .442% from the floor in February. Not great, but a big improvement over the terrible performance to start the season. How can he continue to improve? Getting into optimum shape and completely recovering from surgery is the first step. Bennett is still an explosive player, but his quickness has been effected by the added weight, which detracts not only from his ability to win off the dribble, but also to play defense. The next step will be to improve his jumpshot, in college Bennett was a good shooter who improved as the season wore on, but my guess is the off-season shoulder surgery stalled that improvement and set it back as a weapon in his offensive arsenal. An full, un-injury hinderd off-season of working on getting back to where he was in college should do wonders for Bennett's offense because it will also legitimize his pump-fake. Getting his shot blocked inside 21% of the time is probably a result of inexperience, at 6-8 he may get his shot blocked more then taller players, but learning how to finish over and through length can improve with experience. Overall, his game needs polish, including his ball-handling, passing, and defense, all of which should come with time and hard work.

Bennett took a lot of heat for his poor play, some calling him the biggest draft bust ever, but judging the career of a player who has a lot of talent and was good in college based on less than a full season, especially one with mitigating factors, is ignorant, foolish, and likely to be wrong.

*as of March 4th

Note: Huge thanks to John Hollinger's stats and 82games.com, one of the best basketball websites on the internet.

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Draft Review: Cleveland Cavaliers

First Round

Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV (1)

This pick was a surprise to some, but Bennett was clearly in the mix the whole time for the top pick, though not the favorite perhaps because of the presence of Tristan Thompson. However, once it came out that the Cavs didn't consider any player in this draft as a starter on their team, that opened the door wide open. Bennett will spread the floor for the guards, rebound, and score from all over the floor. Thompson can play center, so he and Bennett can share the floor.

Sergey Karasev, SG Russia (19)

A value at this point in the draft, Karasev is exactly what the Cavs needed: a smart, versatile shooter who can shoot, pass, and handle the ball. It's likely that he comes to the NBA next season and should see minutes right away backing up the 2 and 3. Between Karasev, C.J. Miles, Bennett, and Tyler Zeller Cleveland is putting together a solid bench of role players, which they can only add to by using their cap space.

Second Round

Carrick Felix, SG Arizona State (33)

Felix has solid role player potential, he is good athlete with length and strong defensive potential. He needs to become a more consistent shooter, but if that does improve, Felix could be a classic 3-and-D wing. However, he may struggle to find playing time right away and isn't as good of a prospect or fit as Glen Rice Jr, Jamaal Franklin, or Isaiah Canaan, all who went after Felix. 

Projected Rotation

PG: Kyrie Irving/Waiters

SG: Dion Waiters/Sergey Karasev

SF: Alonzo Gee/C.J. Miles

PF: Tristan Thompson/Anthony Bennett

C: Anderson Varejao/Tyler Zeller

What Will The Cavaliers Do at #1?

It's been a while since we've been unsure what a team will do with the top overall pick, but with a little over a week left until to the draft, it's unknown who Cleveland will take, or even if they'll be the ones drafting. Here's a look at some of the options the Cavaliers have before them.

Trade the Pick

The Cavs want to make the playoffs this year, so they'll be trying to swing a deal using this pick. Despite the fact that Cleveland has two guards who don't play any defense, no small forward and a second best player that gets injured every season, they believe that a little bit veteran help can get them over the hump, and are willing to mortgage future success for some instant gratification. Any deal Cleveland makes will be sure not to interfere with their ability to sign LeBron James. Potential trade targets include Luol Deng, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Granger, or even Zach Randolph. The Cavs have a ton of other draft pick, both this year and in subsequent drafts so they've got a lot of ammunition to make a move and still be able to find some role players later in the draft.

Use the Pick On...

Nerlens Noel, C Kentucky Fr. (7-0, 206)

The appeal of Noel to the Cavs is obvious, he's the kind of athletic, defensive presence that would fit perfectly on this team, especially because Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters get beaten off the dribble a lot, they'll need a shot blocker behind them. Noel won't be ready to play until at least January due to a knee injury, so he won't help the Cavs make the playoffs, but long term his upside is a Joakim Noah-type player, with the worst case scenario being more of Marcus Camby type defensive specialist.

Alex Len, C Maryland So. (7-1, 255)

The newest rumor is that Cleveland is hot on Alex Len because he, though still injured, will be ready to contribute at the start of the season and offers more offensively than Noel, while not being a minus defensively. If not for his foot injury, I would be on board with Len at first overall, but 7-1 guys with foot injuries have a sorted history in the NBA. If he can recover fully, Len projects as a two-way center, much like former Cav center (and current member of their front office) Zydrunas Ilgausas.

Ben McLemore, SG Kansas Fr. (6-5, 189)

Though the Cavs drafted Dion Waiters with the fourth overall pick last season, I still think they could go after McLemore or Victor Oladipo for a couple of reasons. First is defense, Waiters is not a good defensive player at this point, and both McLemore and Oladipo would be a big upgrade at this point. Also, fit: Waiters isn't a great shooter and is best with the ball in his hands. McLemore's shooting and transition ability would be a great fit with Irving while Waiters could be a Sixth Man ala J.R. Smith.

Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana Jr. (6-4, 213)

While Oladipo isn't as good a fit offensively next to Irving (unless his shooting continues to improve),he is the best perimeter defender in this draft and an extremely hardworking player who will do all the little things to help a team win. Oladipo is the kind of player every good team has and one that other players want to play with.

Otto Porter, SF Georgetown So. (6-9, 198)

Speaking of players who do all the little things, Porter also falls firmly into that camp as well as filling a huge need at small forward, where Alonzo Gee started all 82 games and posted a robust 10.56 PER (15 is league average). Porter would obviously be a huge upgrade and would bring shooting, passing, defense, and toughness to the team. His upside is a little limited for a top pick, but the safety in a draft like this is appealing.

Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV Fr. (6-8, 240)

If the Cavs had the same hole at power forward that they do at small forward, then Anthony Bennett might be the favorite for the top pick. However, Tristan Thompson is coming off his best season and only 22. However, Bennett is long, explosivelly athletic, physically developed, and skilled, the whole package except for height at 6-8 and a shoulder injury that has kept him out of workouts. He would be a worthy number 1 pick, but not a need filler.