1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG Duke Fr. (6-2, 180)
If the Cavaliers get the top pick, they'll have to choose between Irving, Derrick Williams, and Harrison Barnes. Each player has positives and negatives but Irving will be the likely choice because he's the clear cut best player at his position in the draft while some of the wing players available when they use the pick they've acquired from the Clippers could turn out to be the best player in the draft.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Harrison Barnes, SF North Carolina Fr. (6-7, 210)
Why Harrison Barnes over Derrick Williams? Both Michael Beasley and Kevin Love will be free agents after next season and it's unlikely the Timberwolves will be able to resign both, with Love being the overwhelming favorite to be the one they choose. Williams' best fit is at power forward, the same position Love plays while Barnes will be able to fill Beasley's spot at the 3.
3. Washington Wizards: Derrick Williams, PF Arizona So. (6-8, 240)
If the Wizards want to build around John Wall, they'll want players who do two things really well: shoot and finish in transition and the paint. Williams' 3 point shooting percentage of 57% and highlight dunk reel attest to the fact the he does both things in elite fashion.
4. Toronto Raptors: Enes Kanter, PF/C Kentucky Fr. (6-10, 255)
Is Enes Kanter a perfect fit with Andrea Bargnani? Better than you think. Kanter's ability to play inside-out and rebound will compliment Bargnani very well. Also, Kanter plays hard on defense, using his strength, length and smarts to defend solidly. He'll most likely never be an elite defender, but even if he's just an above average defender who plays with effort, he'll be a rarity on Toronto.
5. Sacramento Kings: Perry Jones, PF Baylor Fr. (6-11, 225)
With Carl Landry traded and Samuel Dalembert a free agent, the Kings will be looking for frontcourt help. Jones doesn't always like to play in the paint, which is fine for the Kings because DeMarcus Cousins will be down there and his jack-of-all-trades ability to shoot, finish, rebound, defend, pass, and handle will make him an ideal third wheel to Cousins and Tyreke Evans.
6. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey): Terrence Jones, SF Kentucky Fr. (6-8, 225)
C.J. Miles and Andrei Kirilenko are both free agents so Utah will be looking to find a new small forward, and one with high upside would be preferable as the Jazz rebuild. Jones has a huge upside and though his stock has taken a hit as his scoring dropped off, if you watched Kentucky, they became very guard oriented and Jones just didn't get the touches to score. He still rebounded at a very good clip.
7. Detroit Pistons: Jonas Valanciunas, PF Lithuania (6-11, 240)
The Pistons' have a keeper in Greg Monroe, but the rest of their frontcourt is a complete mess. Jonas Valanciunas is the kind of low post bruiser with shot blocking abilities that will pair perfectly with Monroe, who doesn't block a lot of shots and prefers operating in the high post.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Clippers): Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State So. (6-7, 225)
The Cavaliers goal in this draft will be taking the two best players available in the lottery. Kawhi Leonard is the best available and fits a big need on the wing. He's also a similar player to Gerald Wallace, who the Cavs came very close to trading for. Leonard is younger, cheaper, and less injury prone than Wallace so the Cavs will definitely be interested.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker, PG UCONN Jr. (6-1, 170)
Word is Charlotte would love to upgrade D.J. Augustine at the point and Kemba Walker fits the profile of prolific and successful college players that Michael Jordan loves to draft.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG Colorado So. (6-6, 195)
The Bucks lose Chris Douglas-Roberts and Michael Redd to free agency and desperately need to add scoring. Burks lacks a consistent shooter but is a terrific slasher who can really score. His lack of shooting isn't a big deal on the Bucks because they have several other good shooters.
11. Golden State Warriors: Jan Vesely, PF Czech Republic (6-11, 240)
The Warriors are a tough team to mock because they have lots of skilled players that all have the same weakness: defense. But the question is do they target defensive players and try to balance that or more offensive oriented and be satisfied with being an exciting team that doesn't win enough to be a contender but still draws a crowd? In the case of Jan Vesely, he's a little of both. He can shoot and finish, but isn't a skilled scorer while also providing tremendous defensive energy with the length and athleticism to make effective use of that motor.
12. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky Fr. (6-3, 180)
Jazz fans will be clamoring for Jimmer Fredette here, but it would be a serious mistake to take him this high and especially over Brandon Knight. Knight will have time to hone his point guard skills behind Devin Harris while providing scoring and defense of the bench until he's ready be the full time starter in a year or two
13. Phoenix Suns: Jordan Hamilton, SF Texas So. (6-7, 215)
With Grant Hill and Mickael Pietrus free agents, the Suns will have a hole at small forward. Hamilton is the kind of shooter/scorer that fits the Suns system and will benefit greatly from playing with Steve Nash.
14. Houston Rockets: Bismack Biyombo, PF/C Congo (6-9, 245)
The Rockets have a plethora of low post scoring with Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson, but they lack a defensive anchor. Chuck Hayes is a free agent, which leaves only Hasheem Thabeet to patrol the paint, and we all know how that will turn out. Despite being only 6-9, Biyombo has explosive athleticism, an insane 7-7 wingspan and a 9-3 standing reach that is more than adequate for a starting NBA center.
15. Indiana Pacers: Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead State Sr. (6-8, 225)
It's hard to believe that Josh McRoberts played more than 20 minutes a game on a playoff team, but it's true. He'll be a free agent this summer and I can't imagine why the Pacers would bring him back, especially if they can replace his minutes with the best rebounder in college basketball. Faried's energy and defense will be a nice fit as a third big off the bench.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Mirotic, SF Serbia (6-10, 225)
The 76ers have a lot of depth on their team, so it makes sense that they'd target a talented Euro that they can store in Europe for a while. However, with the loss of Jason Kapono and the Sixers overall lack of three point shooting, they could use Mirotic's ability to shoot and do the little things for a team will have appeal to them as a backup small forward.
17. New York Knicks: Patric Young, C Florida Fr. (6-10, 245)
The Knicks defense is simply dreadful, and it's not because they're loaded with players without the athletic ability to defend, they've got some of the best athletes in the game on their roster, it's a lack of effort or even desire to play defense. Patric Young has the ability as well as the mentality to be an elite defender, he takes joy in blocking shots, ripping down rebounds, and guarding in the post while having an NBA body, long arms, and explosive athleticism.
18. Washington Wizards (from Atlanta): Donatas Motiejunas, PF Lithuania (7-0, 220)
When you're a team like the Wizards and you're picking in the middle of the first round, you've got to take a shot on a player with big time upside. Few prospects have the upside of Motiejunas, he's one of the most versatile offensive players you'll see as he's a good athlete who can shoot from range, handle, pass, and score in the post at seven feet. The downside with him is he's very skinny at only 220 and will get pounded in the NBA as well as the inherent risk all Euro players have.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis): Jimmer Fredette, PG BYU Sr. (6-2, 205)
This pick is more about the desire to provoke interest in the Timberwolves than it is about need. However, even if Ricky Rubio comes to Minnesota next year, they'll still have a need for shooting off the bench, which Fredette can provide.
20. Charlotte Bobcats (from Portland): Marcus Morris, PF Kansas Jr. (6-9, 235)
The Bobcats are set to lose Boris Diaw and Dante Cunningham to free agency, which will leave them with only Tyrus Thomas and D.J. White, neither of whom you'd feel comfortable with as a starter. Marcus Morris isn't a huge upside player, but he'll be a solid start who'll bring it every night, scoring in a variety of ways and also rebounding and defending.
21. New Orleans Hornets: Markieff Morris, PF Kansas Jr. (6-10, 245)
Markieff Morris isn't quite as skilled (yet, he's getting there) as his brother but he's bigger and more athletic, giving him more upside, whereas you worry that Marcus may have maxed out his potential, Markieff still has a lot of room to grow, but also has the abilities to play in the league now.
22. Denver Nuggets: Mason Plumblee, PF Duke So. (6-10, 230)
The Nuggets are likely going to lose Kenyon Martin this summer, leaving them with Al Harrington as an option at power forward. Mason Plumblee isn't a skilled offensive player, but neither is Martin. Both guys bring defense and energy rebounding so it won't be a huge downgrade for the Nuggets.
23. Phoenix Suns (from Orlando): Trey Thompkins, PF Georgia Jr. (6-10, 245)
The Suns have a questionable power forward rotation of a guy who wants to spend all his time at the three point line and one who's only move is a dunk off pick and roll. Trey Thompkins is just a solid athlete but he's big and strong, can bang in the post as well as shoot the three.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeff Taylor, SF Vanderbilt Jr. (6-7, 225)
The Thunder's one weakness is backup small forward. Obviously it's not a big need because obviously you want Kevin Durant playing as much as possible, but it's a need none the less. Jeff Taylor fits what the Thunder look for and is also an ideal backup 3. He's incredibly long and athletic, is always in attack mode, and is an emerging shooter as well as a lock down defender.
25. Dallas Mavericks: Chris Singleton, SF Florida State Jr. (6-9, 225)
The Mavericks have "soft" label that I don't necessarily think is fair. It can't be denied, however, that they've failed to rise to the occasion when the stakes are raised. Singleton isn't a skilled offensive player, but he's a long athletic defender who plays with a fire in his game.
26. Chicago Bulls (from Miami): Nolan Smith, SG Duke Sr. (6-4, 185)
The pickings are slim at shooting guard for the Bulls, but I like Nolan Smith's fit here. He can score some, shoot from 3, defend, and even play some point guard to spell Derrick Rose if need be. Jeremy Lamb (if he declares) and Klay Thompson are also options here.
27. Boston Celtics: Lucas Nogueria, C Brazil (7-0, 225)
A year from now, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will be reaching the end of their deals and the Big 3 era will be over. Unless they can find a center to help next season in this draft (unlikely) they'll be drafting for the future. Nogueria has a bright future due to a 7-6 wingspan, explosive athleticism, and great mobility. He's raw on offense, but he's got the tools to at least be a Joakim Noah-type player.
28. L.A. Lakers: Reggie Williams, PG Boston College Jr. (6-3, 210)
I doubt by the end of the process that Reggie Williams will go this late, however right now he's still a sleeper. With an NBA body, athleticism, point guard skills and shooting ability, Williams would be a nice fit for the triangle and could be the full time starter at point guard for this team, as Steve Blake is a backup and Derek Fisher is nearing the end of his career.
29. Chicago Bulls: Tyler Honeycutt, SF UCLA So. (6-9, 190)
Luol Deng does so much for his team, but you don't necessarily want a guy with his injury history playing almost 40 minutes a game. Tyler Honeycutt is a perfect backup for him because he does a lot of the same things. He's a really smart player who can pass, rebound, and defend. He's not an great offensive player, but he's an improving shooter and has the handle to be a slasher.
30. San Antonio Spurs: JaJuan Johnson, PF Purdue Sr. (6-10, 225)
This seems like a Spurs pick to me. Looking past the minor flaws and taking a play who can simply play. Johnson isn't the most bulked guy, but he's long and athletic and can really shoot the ball.
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