1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Unsurprisingly, New Orleans takes the easily the best prospect in the draft. The real intrigue begins at number 2....
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
The best pick for Charlotte was either this or Thomas Robinson, because they're more than just good basketball players, they're emotional leaders on and off the court. Kidd-Gilchrist effects the game in so many ways and, while may not be the the franchise changer Charlotte needs, there's only one of those in this draft, but he's not going to be a bust and would be a great second option on most teams in the league.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, Florida
The Wizards lucked out that no one traded up for Bradley Beal because they desperately needed a 3 point shooting two guard. Beal is the kind of potential primary scoring option and floor stretcher that the Wizards need, but perhaps more importantly he's the kind of smart, high character player that Washington has, shall we say, lacked in the last couple years.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dion Waiters, Syracuse
The Cavaliers really needed a shooting guard and a secondary scoring option, and Dion Waiters can certainly do that, but this pick is questionable because there were better options and fits on the board. Waiters' is at his best getting to the rim and creating off the dribble, but that's also what Kyrie Irving is best at, and you definitely don't want to take the ball out of his hands. Harrison Barnes would have been a better fit.
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, Kansas
The Kings win the draft. Thomas Robinson is a perfect fit on this team and a great value. Robinson is ready to come in and contribute from day 1 and should also become a leader on a team that needs one. Robinson is also a great fit because of his toughness and rebounding in the paint as well as the fact that he doesn't need to shoot the ball to influence the game, as the Kings have a lot of scoring options.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn): Damian Lillard, Weber State
This pick became pretty clear in the last few days, and in a vacuum it makes sense. Portland needs a point guard and Lillard is the best and safest point in the draft. I personally would have taken Harrison Barnes because he's just a better overall prospect, but Portland didn't seem very interested and had to be sold that either Barnes or Nicolas Batum at shooting guard.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
The Warriors really wanted a wing player and they got the second best one in the draft. Barnes is an okay fit for this team, but Golden State is really loaded down with shooters and there will be a lot of pressure on Barnes to create off the dribble and that's not really his game.
8. Toronto Raptors: Terrence Ross, Washington
This will be regarded as a reach, but Ross is exactly what the Raptors needed and one of the most underrated players in this draft. Ross can play both the 2 and 3 and is the kind of shooter/slasher this team has lacked on the wing for quite a while. If DeMarr DeRozan can take the step his talent would dictate and Jonas Valanciunas is the real deal, Toronto could be a much improved team.
9. Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, Connecticut
Like Sacramento, Detroit gets a perfect fit and one of the top 5 talents in this draft without having to trade up. Andre Drummond is the kind of athletic, defensive player that the Pistons want to pair with Greg Monroe and should give Detroit a solid offense/defense frontcourt with big upside. Drummond has been picked apart, but he's young and extremely talented.
10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): Austin Rivers, Duke
I don't know what to think about this pick, I don't think Rivers is a reach here but if New Orleans tries to get him to play point guard, it might not end well. And if they're not, Jeremy Lamb is a better overall player in my opinion. Still, Rivers can really score and is young, he's got some maturing to do, but with Davis and Eric Gordon as teammates he'll have some good examples.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard, Illinois
Portland has done a good job filling the two biggest holes on their roster, first point guard with Lillard and now center with Meyers Leonard. Leonard is similar to former Blazer Joel Przybilla but with more upside offensively. Leonard is a nice fit next to LaMarcus Aldridge and probably has a floor of Pryzbilla, not bad for a number 11 pick.
12. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee): Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
The Rockets haven't made a big trade yet and if they don't, I love this pick. Jeremy Lamb is one of my favorite prospects in the draft and a great fit on Houston. The Rockets have Kevin Martin on the wing, but Martin is injury prone and not a good defender while Lamb is a very good defender, with the potential to be elite.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
With all the top shooting guard prospects off the board, the Suns target another big need at point guard. Kendall Marshall will be able to run the up-tempo offense (almost) as well as Steve Nash, but won't replace the scoring, so Phoenix will need to find some offense around Marshall.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (from Houston): John Henson, North Carolina
The Bucks love versatile defensive weapons and Henson certainly is that. I think the Bucks hoped to get a wing player here, but when there wasn't one here they went to a backup plan and took shotblocker extraordinaire Henson. When you've got two smaller perimeter guard, you need some rim protectors and Milwaukee has that in Henson.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Moe Harkless, St. John's
Athletically, Moe Harkless can match up with some of the elite wing players in the NBA, and that may be what the 76ers are hoping to get from him. Unfortunately, Harkless doesn't always play hard defensively, however with less minutes and pressure on offense, Harkless may be able to up his effort. Plus offensively, Harkless excels at getting shots at the rim, something Philadelphia struggles with.
16. Houston Rockets (from New York): Royce White, Iowa State
Royce White is sort of a bigger Chandler Parsons, so I'm not quite sure what Houston is doing here. White is really talented and should be one of the better players coming out of this draft, but I'm not really sure of the fit.
17. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Dallas): Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
Tyler Zeller was falling and the Cavaliers took advantage, trading essentially the rest of their draft for one of the last really safe players in the draft. Zeller is skilled and can run the floor and is a similar player to Spencer Hawes, which is a great value at 17.
18. Houston Rockets (from Minnesota): Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Again, not really sure what Houston is doing here as far as fit. I really like Jones and think he's really talented, but he's similar to Royce White, Chandler Parsons, and Patrick Patterson. Unless Houston is loading up for a trade, there's loading up with a lot of similar players.
19. Orlando Magic: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
The Magic love big men who can shoot, they traded for Ryan Anderson and drafted Justin Harper last season, but though Andrew Nicholson can shoot he's also a potentially very good defender, two things Anderson and Harper aren't.
20. Denver Nuggets: Even Fournier, France
This makes a lot of sense for the Nuggets, who can use Fournier to replace Rudy Fernandez, who is a free agent or keep Fournier overseas for a while, as they have a pretty loaded roster.
21. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
You could see this coming a mile away. Boston is unafraid of taking risks and had a lot of success with a similar bodied, but inferior player in Glen Davis. Sullinger is one of the steals of this draft and should have a productive career long after some of the players above him have flamed out.
22. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers): Fab Melo, Syracuse
This is probably the best case scenario for Fab Melo to land in because if any team is going to get the most out of him it's Boston. Melo also fills a huge need as a true center on Boston and won't be required to do much on offense.
23. Atlanta Hawks: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt
The Hawks do need some shooting, and when you're picking this low just finding a player who can contribute with one skill. Jenkins is an elite shooter and should at least stick in the league for a while because of it.
24. Dallas Mavericks (from Cleveland): Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
I like this pick for the Mavericks. Cunningham will be a nice injection of athleticism and defense on the perimeter for Dallas and Cunningham has some high upside as a potential primary ball handler with elite athleticism and slashing ability.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten Jr, Washington
We've known for a while that Memphis is desperate for a backup point guard and Tony Wroten is one of the most talented players in the draft and has huge upside. Wroten will be able to work on his game and come in as a backup who pushes the tempo with Memphis' second unit playing 10-15 minutes with a game. A really good situation.
26. Indiana Pacers: Miles Plumblee, Duke
I don't get the fascination with Miles Plumblee. Yes he's big and athletic, but in four years at Duke he did next to nothing and has a low skill level. I'm not against taking a flyer on him, but giving him a guaranteed contract? I think that's a mistake.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami Heat): Arnett Moultire, Mississippi State
A lot of mocks had the Sixers taking Moultrie at 15, so getting him at 15 is a steal. Moultrie is the kind of athletic frontcourt player the Sixers really need and he should contribute as a shooter/rebounder for Philadelphia.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Perry Jones III, Baylor
Wow. Oklahoma City, one of the two most talented teams in the league, gets one of the most talented players in draft at 28? Perry Jones is super athletic and skilled, he just doesn't have a killer instinct. On the Thunder, Jones won't need to be an alpha dog and you have to think Durant, Westbrook, and Perkins can light a fire under him.
29. Chicago Bulls: Marquis Teague, Kentucky
The Bulls really luck out here, filling arguably their biggest need with one of the most talented prospects in this draft. Marquis Teague might have been a top 10 pick if he went back to school. The risk is that he'll be thrown right into the fire next season as Derrick Rose is out for a couple months of the season with a knee injury.
30. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio): Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
This is a pick that the Warriors really needed to make. There are better prospects on the board, but with Andris Biedrins and Andrew Bogut's injury problems and only Jeremy Tyler to man the middle, backup center was a huge need. Festus Ezeli is big and athletic and can rebound and defend.
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