First Round
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Clippers): Kyrie Irving, PG Duke Fr. (6-3½, 191)
No change here. Despite the mess left by the LeBacle, the future is bright is Cleveland after they won the lottery and also ended up with another top 4 pick. Kyrie Irving seems to be the favorite to be the number 1 pick, though Derrick Williams will get a long look as well (don't believe the Kanter at 1 rumors). The Cavaliers have Baron Davis and Ramon Sessions both of whom were actually very good this year with 17 and 19 PERs respectively, but neither are foundation players. Irving doesn't do anything elitely, but he does everything well and most of all, he can run a team as a pure point guard.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, F Arizona So. (6-8¾, 248)
If Kyrie Irving goes number 1, and all signs point to it, the Timberwolves will be hoping to find a trade partner to take on this pick. Indeed, they've already begun shopping it for veterans. If they do end up drafting here, Derrick Williams is most likely going to be the pick despite the fact that he doesn't fit into the starting lineup as Minnesota has Kevin Love to play the 4 and Michael Beasley to play small forward, plus they also have Wes Johnson, a natural 3 playing out of position at shooting guard. Still though, Williams is too good a player to pass on. Take the talent and figure out a trade for Beasley or Johnson later.
3. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey Nets): Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky Fr. (6-3¼, 177)
There's a chance that the Jazz go big here, but with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Derrick Favors all locked in for several years, the Jazz may go in another direction. The Jazz need a point guard of the future (Devin Harris is too inconsistent and injury prone to build around) so they'll be targeting either Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker here. The Jazz have shown in the past that they prefer bigger point guards with shooting ability, so Knight makes more sense than Walker. Plus Knight, if given the chance to develop behind Harris for a year or two, has a much higher upside.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, F/C Turkey (6-11¼, 259)
The latest buzz is that the Cavs might take Jonas Valanciunas, but the same sources are reporting that they might take Enes Kanter at 1, so why wouldn't they also take him at 4? Cleveland seems to want Kanter, even though they have a solid center and power forward in Anderson Verajao and J.J. Hickson respectively, though neither is a go-to offensive player, so that makes sense. They'll hope Enes Kanter can develop into an inside/outside offensive threat that can compliment Hickson's bouncy energy and Varajao's defensive ability very well.
5. Toronto Raptors: Jan Vesely, F Czech Republic (6-11, 240)
Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo was in Belgrade to watch Jan Vesely play in the Serbian league finals. Vesely played well (18 points, 5 rebounds), his team won the league, and Colangelo was reportedly impressed. Colangelo also attended Bismack Biyombo's workout the next day and it appears that they pick might be coming down to these two players. I know Kemba Walker has gotten some hype at this pick, but if Colangelo wants to actually improve his team, he needs to upgrade his teams defense. Biyombo would be better in that respect, but Vesely will also be a boost and is a better overall prospect.
6. Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas, F/C Lithuania (7-0, 244)
The Wizards are determined to follow the Oklahoma City Thunder mold of building a team, so now that they got their star in John Wall they'll attempt to surround him with talent. The way the Thunder did this was by mixing "safe" picks (Jeff Green, James Harden) with high risk, high reward prospects (Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook) and I expect the Wizards to do the same. They did it last year in fact, taking a safe player in Trevor Booker and a risky one in Kevin Seraphin in the first round. Watch and see who the Wizards take with their first pick, if it's a guy like Jonas Valanciunas, I'd expect them to take a solid college player with their 18th pick. Or if they go with a guy like Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson, then look for a high upside prospect like Donatas Motiejunas later on.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker, PG UCONN Jr. (6-1, 184)
The Kings have finally figured out two things: Tyreke Evans isn't a point guard and leadership and character are important. They've draft talented players with questionable intangibles in the past like Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, and Hassan Whiteside and have paid the price on occasion. Kemba Walker is the type of vocal, hardworking leader that will do wonders for this team. He's also a good fit on the court too because of the experience he got at Connecticut playing with the ball in his hands but also off the ball, which is important because we know that Evans will like to have the ball in his hands.
8. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, F/C Congo (6-9½, 245)
Now that the Pistons have their ownership problems (mostly) figured out, Joe Dumars is ready to swing for the fences. To me that means they're going with either Bismack Biyombo or Jonas Valanciunas. Biyombo is the defensive presence they've been looking for while Valanciunas has higher upside (but with greater risk) as an overall player. Having seen how Dumars has down things in the past and how well Biyombo would fit with Greg Monroe, who is already a good offensive player but struggles on defense some, I think Biyombo will be the pick.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State So. (6-7, 227)
The buzz is that the Bobcats are looking to go with a "safe" pick, but it'll be hard for them to pass on a prospect like Kawhi Leonard, who is somewhat safe in that he'll be able to defend and rebound from day 1, but also has some risk (and upside) in that Leonard's offensive game hasn't completely developed. If it does, you've got an All-Star, if it doesn't you've still got a young Gerald Wallace-type.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG Colorado So. (6-6, 193)
The Milwaukee Bucks had an incredible rash of injuries, with almost every core player missing time with injuries. When completely healthy, the Bucks have one of the best defensive teams in the NBA and a plethora of three point shooters but they lack a player who can create offense for themselves and others off the dribble. Brandon Jennings can create for others but struggles to finish at the rim, while Corey Maggette can score easily but only passes if all other options are extinguished. Alec Burks is a dynamic slasher who can finish at the rim and also draws a ton of fouls (a facet of the NBA game), yet he also spent some time running the offense at Colorado. I have Burks as the fourth best prospect in my rankings so obviously, this pick would be a great value filling a big need in my mind.
11. Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson, G/F Washington State Jr. (6-7½, 206)
Monta Ellis is being openly shopped by the Warriors, but even if he stays in Oakland, the Warriors will be looking for a bigger 2 guard/wing to play behind Ellis and Dorell Wright. The Warriors reportedly love Thompson and it's easy to see why, he's big, can shoot, has a high basketball IQ, all things that fit well for the Warriors. Frontcourt help is also possible here, with anyone from Tristan Thompson to Marcus Morris in play.
12. Utah Jazz: Chris Singleton, SF Florida State Jr. (6-9, 230)
The Jazz could lose both C.J. Miles and Andrei Kirolenko to free agency and will be looking to replace the defense and shooting they bring to the table. Chris Singleton is the best defender in the draft, as versatile as Kirolenko, and can hit NBA 3 pointers at least as effectively as Miles. Singleton could go as high as 6 to the Wizards so this is a good value for Utah and fills a big need.
13. Phoenix Suns: Tristan Thompson, PF Texas Fr. (6-8¾, 227)
Shooting guard is the Suns biggest need, but with Alec Burks and Klay Thompson off the board, there isn't really one worth taking. The Suns would like to improve their interior defense and rebounding but also need some upside for a rebuilding process. Thompson's defense and rebounding (especially offensive) are NBA ready but he's also got some nice upside on offense. Thompson moves very well off the ball and will look really good finishing pick and rolls with Steve Nash.
14. Houston Rockets: Jordan Hamilton, G/F Texas So. (6-8½, 228)
The Rockets would love to get a center, but unless they want to reach for Nikola Vucevic (a possibility) they'll have to address a different need. Backup point guard and small forward are the other two areas they'd like to upgrade. Jordan Hamilton can arguably play the 2, 3, and 4 positions and has the shooting ability that the Rockets like, he's also the best value at this point as most scouts have him as a lottery pick.
15. Indiana Pacers: Jimmer Fredette, PG BYU Sr. (6-2½, 196)
This is apparently the floor for Fredette, though I think he's a luxury pick for the Pacers. Yes, they need to find a player who can take and make a big shot for them, but unless they plan on playing Fredette big minutes at shooting guard (a bad idea) they'll be drafting a backup point guard when they have major needs in their frontcourt (another bad idea) and even if they plan on playing Fredette at the end of games at shooting guard, they'll have two small guards with him and Darren Collison playing at the same time (yet another bad idea) but still, it's hard to imagine that Fredette will be a bust, he'll be sure to contribute some scoring and leadership, so it's hard to argue with a team jumping on that with the 15th pick of a weak draft.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Marcus Morris, PF Kansas Jr. (6-8¾, 230)
This is likely the floor for Marcus Morris, who almost every scout likes but few really love. That's kind of the thing with Morris, he's a polished scorer, but not on a go-to NBA level and he can rebound, but isn't elite. He's solid at everything, but doesn't stand out in any way. Still, he's not going to bust and is a nice fit in Philadelphia, who are looking to add depth to their frontcourt.
17. New York Knicks: Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead State Sr. (6-7½, 225)
If the Knicks want to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, they need to upgrade their defense and rebounding. Despite being only about 6-8, Kenneth Faried was the best rebounder in college basketball by far due to a 9 foot standing reach (which is better than Al Horford, Joakim Noah, David Lee, and Blake Griffin among others) and a nonstop motor. Faried also blocked almost 2 and a half shots a game and has the mobility/quickness to be a great pick-and-roll defender.
18. Washington Wizards (from Atlanta): Marshon Brooks, SG Providence Sr. (6-5¼, 195)
If the Wizards don't resign Nick Young, it will leave them with basically John Wall and Jordan Crawford in their backcourt. Crawford is better suited to being a third guard and Brooks would be a cheaper replacement for Young, a player Brooks is compared to frequently. Brooks is a nice fit with the Wizards because he's use to playing in an uptempo offense and is a very good spot up shooter, two skills Washington wants in the players it's putting around Wall.
19. Charlotte Bobcats (from New Orleans): Markieff Morris, PF Kansas Jr. (6-9¼, 241)
The Bobcats frontcourt is a mess at this point, they've basically got Tyrus Thomas and D.J. White and that's it. Markieff Morris isn't as polished as his brother (there's a chance that Marcus is taken by Charlotte at 9) but he's bigger, longer, more athletic, a better defender and at least statistically, actually a better shooter.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis): Donatas Motiejunas, F Lithuania (7-0, 220)
It's hard to imagine that Donatas Motiejunas falls this far, but there just aren't a lot of teams looking for his skillset, though I could see the Suns, Wizards, Pacers, 76ers, or Jazz taking him. The Timberwolves have the best foreign scouts in the NBA and are looking to get more skilled in their frontcourt. Motiejunas certainly is skilled, probably the most skilled big in this draft, and is a tremendous, high upside value at this point in the draft.
21. Portland Trailblazers: Nikola Vucevic, C USC Jr. (6-11¾, 260)
The Trailblazers seem to be snakebit when it comes to the health of their bigs, so don't be surprised if they try to add depth in the draft. Nikola Vucevic is getting a ton of buzz and could go in the lottery. It's easy to see why, he's got center size and length (7-4½ wingspan), can score inside and out and rebound. If he was a better athlete or had a longer track record, he'd be a lock for the lottery.
22. Denver Nuggets: JaJuan Johnson, PF Purdue Sr. (6-10, 220)
The Nuggets most likely won't be bringing back Kenyon Martin, so they'll be looking for some frontcourt depth. JaJuan Johnson is long and athletic, can cover a lot of ground of defense but also has a nice face up game. I've compared him in the past to Taj Gibson because he can block shots and hit long 2s, both of which are very valuable in today's NBA and were things that Martin did for Denver.
23. Houston Rockets (from Orlando): Jeremy Tyler, F/C USA (6-10½, 262)
The Rockets need to find a center as Yao Ming is gone and they don't have anything else. Jeremy Tyler is a swing-for-the-fences pick but he's got NBA center size and should be able to play defense from an early stage with some upside to develop into a solid offensive player as well.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tobias Harris, F Tennessee Fr. (6-7¾, 223)
The Thunder are at their best when playing unselfishly on offense and hustling on defense, they also have a need for a back up to Kevin Durant, Tobias Harris isn't going to wow you with his scoring ability, but he does all the little things well, has a high basketball IQ and can rebound and play both forward positions. A little like former Thunder forward Jeff Green.
25. Boston Celtics: Nikola Mirotic, SF Serbia (6-10, 226)
Unless Jeremy Tyler or Nikola Vucevic are here, there isn't really a player who'll help the Celtics as presently constituted. However, with Doc Rivers sticking around for a few more years, they'll be looking to remain competitive post-Big Three. Nikola Mirotic won't be coming to the NBA anytime soon, but he's very skilled and would be a lottery pick if he didn't have a contract in Europe.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Darius Morris, PG Michigan So. (6-5¼, 190)
Believe it or not, Jason Kidd won't be playing forever and no matter how much the Mavericks love J.J. Barea and Roddy Beaubois, neither guy is a starting point guard in the NBA. Darius Morris is a similar player to Kidd in that he's got great size and court vision but lacks elite athleticism. Morris also needs to follow in the path of Kidd and improve his jumpshot.
27. New Jersey Nets (from L.A. Lakers): Josh Selby, PG Kansas Fr. (6-3, 195)
The Nets will be swinging for the fences here and hoping they can find a solid player to pair with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Josh Selby could go as high as 17 but falls due to the myriad of questions surrounding him. He's best with the ball in his hands but can play alongside Williams while providing some scoring off the bench.
28. Chicago Bulls (from Miami): Justin Harper, F Richmond Sr. (6-8¾, 228)
It was clear in the playoffs that the Bulls need to find a way to get more scoring and space the floor with a stretch 4 and a shooting guard who can actually shoot and create his own shot. Justin Harper is a great value here as a 6-9, Rashard Lewis-type forward who shot 45% from 3 in college last season. Harper has his warts, he prefers to play on the perimeter and isn't a great rebounder but as a role player to stretch the floor, he has a lot of value.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Davis Bertans, SF Latvia (6-10, 210)
In the past couple drafts, the Spurs have taken some shots on high upside unknowns and kept them overseas to develop. Davis Bertans is a tremendous shooter, has a high basketball IQ, and a high overall skill level. He's also only 18 years, so there's a lot of upside here as well.
30. Chicago Bulls: Reggie Jackson, G Boston College Jr. (6-3, 205)
The Bulls clearly need to find a well rounded shooting guard who can create his own shot, shoot, and defend. Reggie Jackson, who had lottery buzz not too long ago, is a combo guard who can play alongside Rose due to his shooting ability, but can also create off the dribble and will be able to check 2s due to freak athleticism and a 7-0 wingspan.
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