2013 NBA Mock Draft: 4/30

1. Orlando Magic: Nerlens Noel, C Kentucky Fr. (6-10, 228)
If the Magic get the top pick, they'll probably be choosing between Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, and Trey Burke. Noel is clearly the best prospect and will immediately improve any team's defense because of his physical gifts, timing, and quick hands. Picture a more athletic Joakim Noah. I do think that Noel can play alongside Nikola Vucevic, and their games will compliment each other well.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG Kansas Fr. (6-5, 185)
Gerald Henderson is one of the few bright spots on Charlotte, but he is not a good shooter and can be very inconsistent. Ben McLemore can also struggle with that, but he is an outstanding shooter and transition player. McLemore is one of the few players in this draft that has a high upside but a lowish floor. Charlotte was a woeful offensive team last season and need all the help they can get on that end.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Otto Porter, SF Georgetown So. (6-8, 205)
I don't know if I think Otto Porter is worth this high of a pick, but the Cavaliers love him and the fit is undeniably great. Porter is good at everything, though not particularly elite in anything either. He'll make a great second or third fiddle with Kyrie Irving and should do a lot of the little things that teams want in order to win games.

4. Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana Jr. (6-5, 214)
The Suns have a mess at the wing positions, with no real starting caliber players there except for Jared Dudley. Victor Oladipo is a long, very athletic player with a non-stop motor who is an amazing defender. He is still improving offensively, but seems to get better on that end every game. There isn't much safer of a pick in the draft.

5. New Orleans Pelicans: Alex Len, C Maryland So. (7-1, 255)
Trey Burke is obviously a possibility here, but Greivis Vasquez has really turned into a good NBA point guard and Alex Len is too good to pass up at this point. Len needs some time, but he is physically gifted and really skilled. This is a pick for a year or two down the line, when A Len-Anthony Davis frontline could be the best in the league.

6. Sacramento Kings: Trey Burke, PG Michigan So. (6-0, 190)
With new ownership replacing the terrible Maloofs, the Sacramento Kings will be looking to rehab their image and change the culture in Sacramento. Trey Burke would be a great step in that direction because he is a unselfish player, a hard worker, and an emotional leader. I really like Isaiah Thomas, but Burke is too good of a player to pass up on here.

7. Detroit Pistons: Shabazz Muhammad, SF UCLA Fr. (6-6, 225)
It's trendy to pile on the Shabazz Muhammad hate-train, but when it's all said and done, he'll still be a top 10 pick because he can do something that NBA teams need: score the basketball. I also think that there's a little bit of Harrison Barnes syndrome with him, evaluators are over-compensating for their love of Muhammad in high school by swinging it back the other way.

8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV Fr. (6-8, 240)
Anthony Bennett is one of the top three players in this draft, but because of fit he falls all the way to the Wizards at 8. The Wizards get so much of their offense from their guards, and neither Emeka Okafor nor Nene are particularly good shooters. Bennett is undersized, but long, explosive and strong. He can also score from the block to the 3-point line.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. McCollum, SG Lehigh Sr. (6-3, 200)
The Timberwolves have been trying to find perimeter scoring for years and the search continues this offseason as Chase Budinger has struggled since coming back from injury and Brandon Roy will likely retire again. C.J. McCollum isn't big, but he is super quick, and very good finisher and can really shoot it as well. McCollum averaged 21.7 points a game over four years at Lehigh.

10. Portland Trailblazers: Cody Zeller, C Indiana So. (7-0, 240)
The Blazers drafted Meyers Leonard last year, but they still need more depth in the frontcourt. They physically challenged, but skilled Cody Zeller will be a nice compliment to the unskilled, but very athletic Leonard. Zeller is doesn't have a ton of upside, but he should be better than his brother Tyler, who averaged almost 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Cavaliers last season.

11. Philiadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, PF Gonzaga Jr. (7-0, 238)
The Sixers were pathetic in their frontcourt last season, with only Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes providing them with anything. Kelly Olynyk certainly has his flaws, but 7-footers with his skill level don't come along too often and the Sixers desperately need help in their frontcourt/

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Toronto): Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG Georgia So. (6-5, 205)
This a pick that the Thunder received from the Rockets in the James Harden trade. Regardless of what they decide to do with Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, guys that can both shoot and defend as well as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can will always help a team. Caldwell-Pope is also the kind of high effort, high character player that OKC loves to draft.

13. Dallas Mavericks: Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse So. (6-6, 185)
I don't like having Michael Carter-Williams falling this far, he is very talented but there aren't a ton of teams looking for a point guard in the top 10. This is a great fit for him though because he won't have to do too much and will be able to fall into more of a distributor role, something he is comfortable with. MCW has a lot of Jason Kidd in his game, and like Kidd he needs to make himself into a better jump-shooter.

14. Utah Jazz: Shane Larkin, PG Miami So. (5-11, 176)
The Jazz have been searching for a point guard ever since Deron Williams was traded and last season they reached an all time low at the position. This teams has a lot of talent, but they've been held down by that position for too long. Shane Larkin is one of the 5-7 best players in this draft, he is a point guard with everything but size. He is a super quick, pure point with a deep, accurate jumper.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Jamaal Franklin, SG San Diego State Jr. (6-5, 205)
I doubt the Bucks bring back Monta Ellis and will likely try to resign J.J. Redick. If they do, then they will still need another 2 guard and Jamaal Franklin would be a great fit. Franklin is one of my favorite players in this draft because of his relentless motor and amazing physical gifts. He isn't a good shooter, but can do everything else on a basketball court.

16. Boston Celtics: Mason Plumlee, F/C Duke Sr. (6-10, 235)
The Celtics were a dreadful defensive rebounding team last season and they really need to improve in the offseason. I'm not as bullish as some on Plumlee, but he can undeniably crash the defensive boards and should really help the Celtics on that end.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Allen Crabbe, SG California Jr. (6-6, 210)
There's a good chance that the Hawks will look like a dramatically different team next season (thank goodness) and shooting guard will become an area of need. Kyle Korver and Dahntay Jones will be free agency, leaving John Jenkins as the only true two guard on the team. Allen Crabbe can be very frustrating sometimes, but when he's into the game his is a great scorer.

18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston): Rudy Gobert, PF France (7-1, 235)
With the second of their back-to-back picks the Hawks can afford to take a chance and there isn't a risk in this draft with a bigger reward than Rudy Gobert. As long as they come (7-9 wingspan), Gobert has the tools to be a dominant player, however he is also very raw and will take a little time to develop, whether that be in the NBA or overseas is yet to be seen.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Lakers): Sergey Karasev, SG Russia (6-7, 197)
The Cavaliers have so many first round picks coming up, I don't know if they'll use this one in such a weak draft, so a Euro stash makes sense. However, a smart, skilled wing like Sergey Karazev step in from day one and help the Cavs with his shooting and playmaking ability.

20. Chicago Bulls: Gorgui Dieng, C Louisville Jr. (6-11, 245)
After losing Omer Asik to the Rockets, the Bulls were in desperate need of a backup to Joakim Noah who can also start in a pinch when Noah inevitably gets injured. Gorgui Dieng is sort of a poor man's Noah who can block shots, rebound, hit a mid-range jumper, and pass from the high post. Unless one of the better scoring guards fall to Chicago, this pick will make the most sense.

21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State): Dennis Schroeder, PG Germany (6-2, 168)
I wouldn't be surprised to see the Jazz, who have pretty much everything else, double-dip at point guard, it's that big of a need. All of their veteran point and combo guards are free agents and none were very effective. Obviously, turning over your team to two rookie point guards is risky, but in the long run could pay off, especially with Schroeder, who has a lot of Rajon Rondo in his game.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh Fr. (7-0, 250)
Brook Lopez is one of the best centers in the league, but he doesn't have anyone to back him up whatsoever. Andray Blatche is a free agent, really a power forward, and Andray Blatche. Steven Adams is as raw as they come on the offensive end, but he is physically gifted and a really good rebounder and shot blocker. Also at only 19 he has a good chance to get better on offense.

23. Indiana Pacers: Archie Goodwin, SG Kentucky Fr. (6-5, 195)
Since 2010, the usually risk averse Pacers have taken some gambles on athletically talented players with some rawness and they very well could go that way again this season. Archie Goodwin is as explosive and quick as anyone in this draft, however his jumper needs a lot of work and he can get out of control. Sort of this draft's Tony Wroten (who went 25 last draft).

24. New York Knicks: B.J. Young, Arkansas So. (6-3, 180)
One of the most explosive offensive players in the draft, B.J. Young could have been a lottery pick last season, but decided to come back for another year and struggled some. However, some of that is a misconception, Young was actually improved in every area except his jumpshot, which abandoned him. Young is much more scorer than distributor, but he should be able to provide a scoring punch off the bench for New York, who's backup guards are a combined 76 years old.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Dario Saric, SF Croatia (6-10, 223)
The Clippers aren't the type of team that is likely to take a college player and have them be any more than a bench warmer for the next couple season, so why not take a more talented Euro who can come over in a season or two and be ready to contribute? Dario Saric is smart and skilled, though perhaps a little bit overrated at this point.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis): Alex Abrines, SG Spain (6-6, 205)
Like Utah, I wouldn't be surprised to see Minnesota double dip at a position of dire need. While C.J. McCollum is more of a combo guard, the athletic Alex Abrines is a pure 2 guard who can handle and shoot. It's a plus too that he is from Spain, as is Ricky Rubio, which should help to ease the transition for the young guard.

27. Denver Nuggets: Giannis Adetokunbo, SF Greece (6-9, 215)
The Nuggets are such a deep team that they are likely to draft a Euro player that they can stash overseas and develop for a couple of seasons. Giannis Adetokunbo is quite a ways away from being able to play in the NBA, but he has really high upside as a long, athletic point forward type.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Livio Jean-Charles, PF France (6-9, 217)
The Spurs are one of the best organizations in the NBA because they know what they are looking for and are able to consistently find pieces that fit their team. Livio Jean-Charles is a perfect fit for the Spurs because he is long, athletic, and has a great motor. He finishes well and is an improving jump shooter, a perfect fit as a back up big man for this team.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tony Mitchell, PF North Texas So. (6-8, 235)
After adding another scorer with their lottery pick from the Raptors, the Thunder can afford to take a flyer on an strong, athletic forward coming off a down season. Mitchell needs a lot of work, but his physical tools rank up there with the best in the draft.

30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami): Jeff Withey, C Kansas Sr. (7-0, 235)
Regardless of whether or not the disgruntled Marcin Gortat is still in town next season, the Suns will still be in need of a center as Jermaine O'Neal will most likely retire or not be brought back. I don't love Jeff Withey, but he has an undeniable NBA skill: he can block shots (286 blocked shots the last two seasons).