Right Down Euclid Mock Draft: 2013 Final Edition
By Zak Kolesar
February 12, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) and teammates huddle up against the Florida Gators during the first half at the Stephen C. O
With the 2013 NBA Draft quickly approaching on June 27, the Right Down Euclid writer coup of Zak Kolesar, Trevor Magnotti, Dan Pilar and Chris Manning will be conducting the first-ever Right Down Euclid NBA Mock Draft. This series, in which the RDE writers will be selecting 15 picks for 15 NBA teams and giving their reason to why they chose that certain player in paragraph format, will span the three Fridays leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft. Starting on June 7, the picks 1-20 will be debuted. Following that, on June 14 picks 21-40 will be posted and on June 21 picks 41-60 will be posted. On June 26, a collaborated post will be put up with all 60 picks and additional analysis. Thanks for following our (what we hope to be) annual RDE Mock Draft, let us know your reactions to our picks in the comment section below and enjoy the Right Down Euclid Mock Draft: 2013 Final Edition.
Letter from the Editor:
Welcome, one and all, to the conclusion of the first annual Right Down Euclid Mock Draft. Being able to coordinate this event with the help of my wonderful writers – Trevor Magnotti, Chris Manning and Dan Pilar – was a wonderful and learned experience. Even though we only got to do a 1.0 version of a full 60-pick mock draft, I felt like it set a great precedent for what we will be doing with our much bigger team (currently at seven writers now!!!) next season. As soon as the regular season comes to a close next season, I plan on getting on board right away with a mock that predates the NBA Draft Lottery, just so things will be easier to get organized and our readership will be able to track how our opinions change with combine results, injury concerns, front office changes and the rest of that fun jazz. My goal is to shoot for one mock draft between the end of the regular season and the Lottery, and I plan on whipping out three more versions between then and the regular draft. Learning how to deal with the hectic process that is the draft in a city like Cleveland that usually has its most important sports days in the offseason…for now. With three No. 1 draft picks in their last 11 tries, it is hopefully finally time to put the dog days of summer in the rearview mirror and time to start thinking about earning our stripes in May and June. The plan is to (somewhat) be able to do with this draft class. I think we have the potential of being able to use the players (if we keep al of our picks) this season in trying to form a complete team that meshes well together. The money, which I think will be spent pretty evenly between this offseason and the next, will help compliment our young core by bringing in veteran talent that is affordable. But enough with our plans after this year’s mock. Without further adieu, here is RDE’s full, complete, bonus, whatever you want to call it 2013 Mock Draft. Enjoy.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant was documented by Kentucky head coach John Calipari as being the most frequent visitor to Kentucky basketball games among NBA personnel who were immersed in studying potential prospects for the 2013 NBA Draft. Grant had good reason to do so, as Noel may be the most dominant shot blocker to come out of the draft in recent memory. His 12-block game against Ole Miss? Legendary. This game was proof that he doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands in order to have a full impact on the game. He took one shot (missed it) and scored two points in that same game, but it ended with an upset victory over the Rebels. His offensive game was extremely inconsistent and we didn’t get a full glimpse of him because of the season-ending ACL injury (in which he recorded 106 blocks in 24 games and was on pace for a while to break Anthony Davis’ single-season blocks record for Kentucky), but this scenario is similar in a way to how we went about drafting Kyrie Irving. Kyrie played in less games at Duke than Noel did at Kentucky, but was inconsistent from the defensive front rather than the offensive front. We’re not drafting Noel to be an offensive juggernaut, so I don’t see this being a possible problem at all. His inside game will flourish in the NBA because of his athleticism, and I think he is the perfect type of center for the modern day Association. He will clog up the middle for the Wine and Gold just as new head coach Mike Brown would want, and the defensive needs for this team far outweigh the help Cleveland needs at small forward. – ZK
2. Orlando Magic – Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
A lot of ways the Magic could go here, as they are a team with a lot of needs to fill. They could take Otto Porter, but already have a pretty promising young small forward in Moe Harkless. Ben McLemore might make sense here, but they still have Arron Afflalo on roster for two years and potentially a third if he exercises his player option. Even though Afflalo looked really bad last season, I think he’ll rebound with a more mature supporting cast into what we saw from him in Denver. That’s why I have the Magic going with a bit of a surprise in Burke. The Magic have a gaping hole at the point, where Jameer Nelson hasn’t looked right in three years, and the Magic’s only other player you could consider a point guard would be E’Twaun Moore, more of a fit at the two. Burke has a high ceiling as an NBA point guard, thanks to a devastating pick-and-roll game, creative passing ability, and impressive length for someone at just 6’0″. He would be able to come in immediately and form a nice platoon with Nelson, then eventually take over full-time and create a nice core to build around alongside Harkless, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic. Magic GM Rob Hennigan has made several unconventional moves to create a fairly interesting unit in Orlando, and I think reaching a bit to grab the best point guard in this draft, which also fills a huge need, will do the Magic well. – TM
3. Washington Wizards – Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
Porter falls right into the lap of the Wizards. He’s a familiar face to Washington, going to college down the street at Georgetown. Porter will have no problem fitting in with the backcourt duo of John Wall-Bradley Beal. They have Trevor Ariza locked up through next year and they will try and move him, but they are unlikely to find a team to take in his $8 million contract. This Wizards have been following a similar model the Cavs have by rebuilding their team through the draft after losing their All Star, Gilbert Arenas – that seems like a lifetime ago. Porter will give them a chance to compete in the Eastern Conference and will matchup with some of the best players in the conference like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. If Porter falls to Washington at three, this would be the definition of a “run to the podium” pick. – DP
4. Charlotte Bobcats – Anthony Bennett, SF/PF, UNLV
This is where I think things get very interesting in the draft. The Bobcats, stuck in the difficult four spot, have two options as far as I’m concerned. They could select Indiana’s Victor Oladipo as the safe pick. That selection would allow them to have a pretty solid young perimeter nucleus of Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Oladipo. But here’s why I think Bennett is the pick – even with the shoulder injuries. His upside is probably second only to Nerlens Noel and he could give them real versatility with their lineups. He could play the three and move Kidd-Gilchrist to the two, giving the Bobcats a bigger lineup that could still stretch the floor They could play him at power forward and go small, giving them a lineup that could let Walker thrive in an up tempo offense. Even if it isn’t the safest pick, I think this is the only pick for the always dreadful Bobcats. – CM
5. Phoenix Suns – Ben McLemore, G, Kansas
If this is truly how the chips fall on draft day, this is as good as it gets for Suns fans. If McLemore falls to the fifth pick, then they will get a player who many have said is a more athletic version of future Hall of Famer Ray Allen. He’s a deadeye shooter with an overall solid offensive game. Couple that he still has room to improve all around and this is a slam dunk pick for Phoenix. If he’s gone however, look for them to target Indiana guard Victor Oladipo. He would provide a real defensive presence on the wing – something this franchise has long been lacking. But, again, if McLemore is there, they have to take him. It should take no effort to send in that draft card come June 27th. – CM
6. New Orleans Pelicans – Alex Len, C, Maryland
Last year the Pelicans, formerly known as the Hornets, selected two players in the top ten: Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. We all know about Davis, but Rivers has struggled in his rookie season. They need help on the wing, but with Bennett off the board, there is a big drop between small forwards now. They could pick up Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams, but Greivis Vazquez has been a star for them at point guard. I believe they go big, and select Maryland center Alex Len. He’s a true seven footer who can effect a lot of games in the post. During his sophomore season is has been a little inconsistent, but was still one of the best centers in college basketball. With Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis, and there ability to stretch the floor, it can give the Pelicans a deadly frontline. – DP
7. Sacramento Kings – Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
If the draft does indeed work out this way, Sacramento has to be very, very happy. Oladipo fits exactly what they need: A superior athlete at guard who is a devastating perimeter defender and is incredibly selfless. While the Kings ideally would have the option to take a center or small forward, they luck out with the best player left on the board. With Oladipo, the Kings can theoretically switch Tyreke Evans back to the point, keep Marcus Thornton coming off the bench (Something that actually worked pretty well for stretches last year), and use Isaiah Thomas off the bench as well. If the Kings are smart, they go with a lineup of Evans/Oladipo/Free Agent SF X/Patterson/Cousins, spread the floor, push the pace, and try to use the athleticism of Evans and Oladipo together while simultaneously attempting to mask the defensive deficits this team certainly has. That’s an ideal situation for Sacramento. However, this is the Kings we’re talking about, so watch as they draft Shabazz Muhammad about 6 picks too early here. – TM
8. Detroit Pistons – Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
The Pistons are in a similar situation as the Cavaliers regarding what money they have at their disposal and overall direction of both teams. Detroit has around $30 million to spend this offseason, and I think that the organization will use their prime financial situation to bring back Jose Calderon, as it seems like the Pistons faithful is unsure of whether or not Detroit plans on keeping Brandon Knight for the team’s future. Wing is a position that is incredibly lacking on the Pistons’ roster, as Kyle Korver cannot serve as the starting three for this team moving forward. C.J. McCollum could go here, but I think his limitations as a passer are deterring Detroit from choosing him. Trey Burke would go here, but he’s too good a fit in Orlando for the Magic to pass on. With Marcus Smart withdrawing from the draft, it pretty much put the Pistons in a position to focus on drafting a SF. Even with the lies about his age and accusations about his nifty backpack, I still believe that Shabazz is one of the top three most talented players in this draft class. This doesn’t necessarily mean he will achieve the most success out of his classmates, but it means that he should. He’s one of the best shooters coming out of the draft and just needs a great mentor (because Ben Howland is terrible in that department) to keep him level headed. That, however, is still to be determined. I feel like Detroit’s defense is in a pretty good position to build around, but a player like Muhammad, who tends to want to know where the ball is at all times and often loses sight of his man because of it, will not help the Pistons in that department. He will be the wing scorer that this team needs, but he has a ways to go in his defensive development. – ZK
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – Cody Zeller, PF/C, Indiana
When I look at the younger Zeller I see an accelerated form of his brother. They both do similar things very well: running the court, moving from the offensive glass to the defensive end, diverse shooting range and lanky frame. We saw the weaknesses that Tyler had with these intangibles, but Cody would be walking into a slightly better situation with a healthy Kevin Love. Love has the option to leave the Timberwolves in the summer of 2014, and with Nikola Pekovic being a free agent this summer, Minnesota won’t be able to afford both of their frontcourt starters. What Cody needs to do is bulk up as much as he can in the waiting period between now and summer league, unless he will be just like his brother on the offensive end and will get bullied all season long. The problem with the Zellers is that I think neither of them are set out to be starting NBA centers, rather rotational bench players that provide mismatches for other team’s benches. Drafting Cody at No. 9 would almost solidify that he would be expected to be the starter in the near future. He can succeed on this team; he just needs a healthy Kevin Love. – ZK
10. Portland Trail Blazers – C.J. McCollum, PG/SG, Lehigh
Portland’s really excited that Minnesota passed on McCollum. While many mock drafts have Portland grabbing a post player to replace J.J. Hickson, Portland has a little bit of cap room to grab an inexpensive post player in free agency. They also have Meyers Leonard, who probably isn’t ready to be a full-time starter, but should be vastly improved from his rookie season. Here, Portland lucks into one of the best players left on the board, who can play both guard positions, and should be able to make up for their past failures at drafting guards in the 1st round. The Blazers are likely losing Eric Maynor, Nolan Smith, and Elliott Williams, which leaves a gaping hole in the backcourt behind Damian Lillard. McCollum will be able to fill that void immediately, and could eventually replace Wes Matthews alongside Lillard in the starting lineup. At the very least, McCollum makes sure that Portland has some roster flexibility, and ensures that Lillard won’t be leading the league in minutes again. McCollum is a smart choice for Portland to snag here. – TM
11. Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Crabbe, SG, California
This pick will be based on what Andrew Bynum does in free agency. If he leaves, obviously I think they go big and draft the best power forward or center available. But if Bynum does stay, I believe they go after a swing man. Unfortunately McCollum went off the board a pick before Philly. Jamal Franklin from San Diego is a name everyone may look at for the Sixers to select, but I’m going to reach a little bit and select California guard Allen Crabbe. He has nice size at 6’6 and has a nice shooting touch, much better than Franklin. He will be a nice complimentary backcourt player to Jrue Holiday. Crabbe might be a reach here but with Zeller and McCollum off the board, the Sixers may have to dig a little deeper in the draft to find the right guy for them. – DP
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
Dieng is a perfect fit for the Thunder. He should be able to come in immediately and help improve what is probably the weakest part of the Thunder’s roster. Guys like Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison have helped make them a top tier team, but if that Grizzlies series taught me anything, it’s that the Thunder need to improve their front line if they want to win a title. Dieng is young, rebounds and won’t be asked to score much on a team that has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. I’d fully expect Dieng to come in and be a quality big off the bench right away. One note: If both Cody Zeller and Dieng are available at pick #12, then I’d pick Zeller. His offensive game would be too much to pass up for a team lacking down low. – CM
13. Dallas Mavericks – Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
Since Jason Kidd left, the Mavericks have been looking for a point guard to lead their team. They certainly don’t have a starting caliber floor leader on the roster right now and Carter-Williams could start right away. I’m not sold that he’ll ever be a Top 10 point guard, but I do believe that he will be a solid guard. And at 6’6, he is going to have a height advantage over essentially ever guard he goes up against. One note: I really believe Dallas is going to do whatever it can to move this pick. Considering Dirk Nowitzki is heading into the latter stages of his career, I expect this pick to be used to help acquire a veteran that will improve them in the short term. And FYI, I openly offered this pick to the entire RDE staff and no one bit. I’ll be interested to see if Dallas ends up in a similar position come draft night. – CM
14. Utah Jazz – Shane Larkin, PG, Miami (FL)
Two of Utah’s key players will be free agents this summer, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, and you would have to figure they go after one of them and sign them to a deal. They still have Enes Kanter – who hasn’t really panned out since he was drafted in 2011 – and Derrick Favors. They don’t have a pure point guard on the roster and that’s the direction I believe they go. If you look at the Pacific Division they are in each team has a point guard that runs the offense. Russell Westbrook, Ricky Rubio, Damian Lillard and Ty Lawson. Right now, Utah can’t compete with these point guards. Next point guard to go off the board I believe will be Shane Larkin. His size is a definite concern, but his you can’t deny his skills. He was one of the best ball handlers in college basketball last season, has a great shot and was a fantastic leader for his Hurricane basketball team. Utah hasn’t had a point guard since they dealt Deron Williams. Since then, their offense hasn’t had an identity. By drafting Larkin, Utah will finally gets a crafty point guard who can create off the dribble. – DP
15. Milwaukee Bucks – Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany
Milwaukee’s in a weird situation, because we have no idea what they’re going to do with Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Ellis has an $11 million player option that he should be taking, and Jennings is operating with a $4 million offer sheet, which he has said he will sign and then he’s ditching Milwaukee. Even if both of them stay on their current contracts, Milwaukee will likely be moving one of them. The Bucks could use a small forward, but have a fair amount of cap space, which I think they will opt to use on a free agent. What Milwaukee really needs is a backup point guard that isn’t Ish Smith. That’s why I have the Bucks taking Schroeder, a point guard much in the mold of Jennings, except a much better defender. Schroeder will be able to create some interesting looks for Milwaukee as he is also an adept shooter off the ball, and will be able to strengthen what is already a strong Bucks defense. Also, he’s a bit raw, so the year spent as Jennings’ understudy will serve him well before he takes over full-time in 14-15. I think this is the safest option for Milwaukee to take, and if Utah doesn’t grab him (Which I think they will if MCW is gone), Milwaukee will be very well advised to grab the undersized German. – TM
16. Boston Celtics – Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga
I really liked Trevor’s profile of Olynyk, and I agree that he would make a good fit with the Celtics and would fit the team’s needs. He showed this past season that he could lead a No. 1 ranked team after sitting out the season before to help polish his game. His ability as a shooter would help compliment last year’s first rounder Jared Sullinger, as he converted on 62.9 percent of his field goal attempts during his redshirt junior season. When Kevin Garnett is ready to call it quits, the frontcourt tandem of Sullinger and Olynyk (if drafted) would be a great transitional duo to fill in the already depleted big men corps. His redefined explosive offense allowed him to climb from averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds to 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. If Olynyk can work on his aggressiveness on defense, then he will have no problem being the role big that the C’s will need as they move forward from the glory days of the original Big Three. Improving on his upper body strength helped him to move from more of a power forward to a center between his season off from playing for Gonzaga. Sullinger would be more of the driving force on the boards, but Olynyk’s offense is what makes him such an intriguing prospect. His outside and inside game will both prove helpful to a team like the Celtics at the NBA level, as Olynyk ranked second in the nation in two-point percentage (66.1 percent). – ZK
17. Atlanta Hawks – Sergey Karasev, SF, Russia
Although he didn’t get a ton of playing time for Team Russia in the 2012 Olympics, Karasev is one of the most intriguing international players in this year’s draft class. Because of the lack of talent at the small forward position in the 2013 class, Karasev is near the top of most team’s list of threes that they think will have an impact in the Association. And the thing is he is only 19-years old, which means that he has a lot of time to learn and develop himself within the NBA community in America. Knowing Karasev’s background as a catch-and-shoot shooter and looking at his shooting statistics from his past season with Triumph Moscow for 11 games (49.0 percent from three) and how often he shot from long range (4.6 three-pointers per game) proves that his quick, lefty release will bode well for Karasev as a wing player in the NBA. He is a unique international prospect because there has been no talk of a holdout upon being drafted in June and he has many polished tools for a player coming from overseas and who isn’t even 20 yet. It would be nice to see the Cavs grab him at 19, as he shows promise in other areas, such as his passing, that may scare NBA GMs from picking a SF at this position in the draft. – ZK
18. Atlanta Hawks – Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
Atlanta’s big weakness was wing play this season, as John Jenkins was their only real two-guard, and they played Devin Harris extended minutes out of position. With the small forward hole left by a likely-departing Kyle Korver filled, I think Atlanta jumps on Franklin, who compliments Jenkins beautifully, and will create a nice two-guard platoon for them. Franklin is a tremendous defensive prospect, a two-guard who can potentially guard four positions because of his absurd 6’11” wingspan at a height of 6’5″. He’s a tremendous competitor as well, and a surprisingly excellent rebounder for a guard. Franklin is really like a longer Tony Allen, and if the Hawks grab him, I think he’s going to be a great fit, giving the Hawks three guys who can combine to do everything you need from the off-guard position. Jenkins will give them shooting and creating ability, Franklin adds defense and rebounding, and DeShawn Stevenson brings irrational confidence and threes. That’s a great position for Atlanta to be in going forward. – TM
19. Cleveland Cavaliers – Tony Mitchell, SF/PF, North Texas
The Cavs’ biggest need this offseason is small forward. With them taking Noel with the first overall pick, they still need to address the small forward position. With Mike Brown bringing a new philosophy to this team, defense will be in the mind of Chris Grant when he makes his pick. For me, I think Tony Mitchell scream Mike Brown. He has ideal size for a small forward, 6-9, 235 lbs. Mitchell saw his stats decrease in his final season at North Texas, but he was still very productive. He played power forward in college, but with his athleticism, he is expected to switch to the small forward position. If you’ve watched the NBA playoffs this season, you would see that the small forward position is taking over the league. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George are all guys the Cavs are going to have to go up against if they want to win in the playoffs. Mitchell can match up with these players immediately, and with some coaching form Mike Brown, he can become a top-tier defender. Mitchell will need to work on his offense, but if he develops a good perimeter shot, he can be exactly what this team needs. – DP
20. Chicago Bulls – Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
With a lot of the young talented bigs off the board, this is a tough pick for the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately for them, they absolutely need to take a big man to bolster their front line. At this point in the draft, the best available is Mason Plumlee from Duke. He’s a seven footer with limited athletic potential, but he’s still worthy of a first round selection. He’ll provide a depth to a front line that is likely to lose Carlos Boozer in one way or another this offseason. Their biggest strength (without Derrick Rose) is their deep front court and that should continue to be their strength as they look to build for the future. Plumlee, unless something crazy happens, is at best a backup center. As he was in college, he’s could be a role player on a contending team. – CM
21. Utah Jazz – Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
With Utah’s second pick in the first round, they should look to take a little risk. Saric is 6’10” with shoes and has a 6’10” wingspan to match. He didn’t score a lot overseas, but there’s a reason Draft Express has him rated as the No. 1 prospect in this year’s international pool. The real key here will be who they select with the 14th overall pick. If it’s a point guard as the Right Down Euclid mock draft projects, they can afford to take a player like Saric. But if not, they absolutely will have to look for a point guard here. They have three point guards heading into free agency, and it’s their biggest positional need. But with Larkin in the fold, Saric has to be the pick here. – CM
22. Brooklyn Nets – Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
Brook Lopez has emerged as one of the best centers in the league, which is surprising after all the trade rumors that involved him and Dwight Howard last summer. The Nets are still looking for a coach, which makes it more difficult to mock their draft. But with Andre Blatche and Reggie Evans free agents heading into the summer, this team will need to draft a big man to fill the void. Adams had a short career at Pitt – and I thought he should have stayed in college – but he has potential to be a versatile center. He averaged only seven points and six rebounds at Pitt, but his mobility alone is what makes him an appealing pick. At the combine he showed the most consistent elbow jumper of all centers out there. This would be a smart pick by Brooklyn, but again, nothing is certain without a coach in place. – DP
23. Indiana Pacers – Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, North Carolina
After the Sam Young debacle against Miami, where Gerald Green collapsed so badly in the playoffs that Sam Young was the top bench option on the wing, Indiana needs to solve this with a strong defensive wing. Bullock fits in well here, as he is a solid defensive player and someone who can also hit threes consistently, an area where Indiana really struggled last season. Indiana basically needs to re-vamp their entire bench, and Bullock is a good player to start with, as he would provide a better defensive presence than Sam Young and Gerald Green and could play shooting guard or small forward depending on what Indiana wants to do with Danny Granger next season. If they bring him off the bench or push Lance Stephenson back to the bench and Paul George to shooting guard, Bullock could play either spot and give Indiana an answer to their wing D problems. – TM
24. New York Knicks — Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State
You may be reading this and thinking, “This is a ginormous stretch at No. 24.” Although most mocks have Canaan going in the second round behind a weak crop of point guards, I think that he helps the New York offense by immediately being able to step in for Jason Kidd, who was a big reason why the Knicks made an early exit in this year’s playoffs. The Knicks also need new offensive options to go to when Carmelo Anthony is cold and so he doesn’t have to take 40 shots to get to 30 points. Canaan knows how it is to take on a huge offensive load, as he accounted for nearly 30 percent of his team’s scoring this past season at Murray State. You may be thinking that the Ohio Valley Conference star didn’t go up against nowhere near the caliber of opponent’s that he will be facing at the next level, but we have seen players prove this thought process wrong in the recent past. Look at this year’s Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, who came out of Weber State and was doubted by many in the summer of 2012. The Knicks won’t be getting a proficient distributor in Canaan, but they will be getting an offensive juggernaut who has the tangibles to be great at the next level (nice wing span, great outside shooter). He will fit in well with guys like Steve Novak and J.R. Smith (who has a player option this offseason) and will make up for where Kidd lacked in offensive firepower. He shot over 40 percent from three (48.2 percent as a freshman) in his first three seasons at Murray State, and he is just going to grow as an outside shooter even more in the New York offense. – ZK
25. Los Angeles Clippers — Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan
Judging by the way Hardaway shot in catch and shoot (39.6 percent), pull-up jumper (30.6 percent) and runners and around the rim (46.7 percent) situations this past season, Hardaway is an average to below average shooter who struggled immensely around the rim in his third season with the Wolverines. However, his ability to stretch the floor would fit in perfectly if Chris Paul is the starting point guard in Los Angeles next season. He would compliment a passer like Paul extremely well if he can revert back to what his shooting form was for his first two seasons with Michigan. Not only will his offensive game be able to compliment a player like Paul (again, only if he returns to Los Angeles), but his defensive presence will take added pressure off the other Clipper guards due to his 6-6, 200-pound body frame that allows him to square up well in one-on-one situations. With Vinny Del Negro out as head coach, hopefully we will no longer see those bone-headed lineups that we were used to seeing (especially late in games) from the former coach. Whether a coaching change will mean a player like Hardaway will see some starting time this season is something I don’t know, but as a role player Hardaway would thrive in Los Angeles. – ZK
26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
Minnesota is salivating on draft night if this is the way that things play out. They’ll walk away with a solid post player in KCP, a guard who many have going a lot earlier than 26th. Minnesota has been lacking a quality two-guard for years, and if they land Caldwell-Pope, that’s a perfect fit. KCP is an outstanding perimeter scorer and has a lot of defensive potential, which is exactly what Minnesota is lacking. He needs to improve his decision-making and could end up being incredibly Jordan Crawford-like, but he brings to the table everything that Minnesota needs next to Ricky Rubio; athleticism, three-point shooting, defense and spacing. Honestly, if Minnesota walks away with Zeller and Caldwell-Pope, they will have won draft night. That’s an incredible haul for them. – TM
27. Denver Nuggets — Glen Rice, SF, Rio Grande Valley
This is another team that is currently without a coach. They parted ways with George Karl even though he had a year remaining on his contract. Andre Iguodala is a free agent, and they will look to replace him as best they can. He has good size for a wing player and may be the most NBA ready as far as small forwards or shooting guards are concerned. Rice had problems at Georgia Tech. When he left the program he joined the NBA D-League, and those problems didn’t follow him. He is very versatile offensively and can get after it on defense. Even if Iguodala does resign with the Nuggets, Rice will be a great addition to the bench. – DP
28. San Antonio Spurs — Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil
Nogueira is a long lanky Brazilian prospect that DraftExpress says, at best, could be Marcus Camby. In the late first round that’s really solid value. This pick also makes sense because of the uncertain future of Tiago Splitter. He’s a restricted free agent this summer and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if a team in need a gritty big man slightly overpays for his services and gives him a contract similar to Omer Asik’s. And if he lives, Nogueira could eventually fill that void. Plus, in the near future when the original “Big Three” is no more, Noguiera should be a solid piece in their rebuilding process. – CM
29. Oklahoma City Thunder — Giannas Adetokunbo, SF, Greece
Assuming the Thunder nab a young big with their first pick, this is a selection in which they can really take a player to either a) slowly develop or b) stash away in Europe. Adetokunbo is the one international player in this year’s draft that is likely to stay overseas for another season or two. With the Thunder’s propensity to not play young players right away, this is the right selection assuming he’s still available. At 18, he still can develop in Greece and can continue to grow into his body. He has grown three inches in the last 12 months and could still grow a few more. Once he figures out what position he plays and grows into his body, Adetokunbo could be a key contributor for the Thunder down the road. – CM
30. Phoenix Suns — Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
Withey is a shot blocking machine and will add depth to the Suns’ bench. Phoenix is a team that lacks an identity, and they did the right thing bringing in a new GM and head coach. Withey isn’t anything special on offense, but his mobility is as best as it comes for a seven-footer. Defensively, he makes opponents think twice about driving into the lane, which changes a team’s game plan entirely. He may not be able to score 10-15 points per night, but as far as the last selection of the first round, Phoenix will add a great player for their bench. – DP
31. Cleveland Cavaliers – DeShaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State
I already made this case, but I really like the idea of Thomas in Cleveland. The Cavs could use more bench scoring, and Thomas can definitely do that. Given time in the D-League to develop, I could easily see Thomas coming off the bench in the future, whether that be this season or next. Thomas is definitely worth a flyer with the first pick of the second round. – TM
32. Oklahoma City Thunder – Erick Green, PG/SG, Virginia Tech
With getting a big in Gorgui Dieng with the No. 12 pick, Oklahoma City is in a position to beef up their bench that took a hit with the departure of James Harden via trade last offseason. The Thunder ranked 22nd (29.8 bench points per game) in the 2012-13 campaign, but ranked slightly better at 17th (31.3 bench points per game) in bench PPG. Seeing Russell Westbrook go down, thus losing a main prong of their offensive attack, was bad for the Thunder bench, which just simply couldn’t replicate Westbrook’s production. Green, the leading scorer in PPG last collegiate season, should be available here and would be a great asset to have come off the bench. Green, unlike most of the players ranking near the top of the scoring list last season, belonged to a major conference and often played offense being swarmed by defenders early on in a possession. This forced Green to make quick decisions in his shot selection, but he still shot 47.5 percent from the field. This would be a smart and safe pick for the Thunder to make if Green would still be available at this position come June 27. – ZK
33. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
With the Cavaliers uncertain of who their backup to Kyrie Irving will be, and with their needs in the middle, frontcourt and at the small forward position already filled with their first three picks, I think Wolters would be a great fit to fill the void behind the oft-injured Irving. Some may steer away from a player like Wolters because of his background with a midmajor like South Dakota State, but Wolters is like the midmajor talent as of late that has made the leap to the NBA after being prolific scorers in their collegiate career (look at this season’s Rookie of the Year and you’ll know what I mean). First, in his four-season career, he proved that he was capable of producing against top-level talent despite his flop against Michigan in the tournament this season. 30/3/3 against Alabama (12-13), 28/7/5 against No. 16 New Mexico (12-13), 19/4/4 against three-seeded Baylor (11-12) and 16/11/4 against No. 16 Minnesota (10-11) is just a small sample of his work against big conference teams. This sample shows that Wolters’ production as a top offensive producer in 2012-13 (averaged 22.3 points), a proficient passer (5.8 APG) and ability to attack the boards (5.3 RPG) makes him a useful tool to pick up with their last draft pick and will fill a need without having to go the free agency route so they can focus in on more top-tier players in that area. – ZK
34. Houston Rockets – Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
This is Houston’s only pick of the night, as their first one belongs to Atlanta. Houston’s in an interesting situation because they have a lot of team options and cap flexibility and may even look to move this pick either on draft night or this summer. Since it isn’t set in stone that Houston is returning anyone besides Thomas Robinson and Terrence Jones to their bench, I’d expect Houston to take the best player available. I think Goodwin fits that. He’s got a lot of potential and should be able to develop into a nice two-way player for the Rockets. He has some red flags, like his odd departure from Kentucky, and his shooting ability is questionable, but he’s a great athlete and can finish in transition really nicely. Goodwin is this draft’s Lance Stephenson; a guy who needs the right situation to develop mentally into a good NBA player. I think Houston can be that for him, behind a great player in James Harden. – TM
35. Philadelphia 76ers — Mike Muscala, C, Bucknell
Muscala isn’t a well-known name because he played in the Patriot League, but he was one of the best centers this year in college basketball. He may be the best scoring center in the draft, and this can be a great pick up for the 76ers. If they are able to resign Bynum, then Muscala will play the role as backup center. He is a threat on offense, especially in the post, and will provide scoring in the paint off the bench. He may spend some time in D-League, but Muscala can be a viable backup center. – DP
36. Sacramento Kings — C.J. Leslie, SF/PF. N.C. State
Leslie is one my sleeper picks in this draft. He’s fairly raw, but he’s very athletic and can play situations. For the Kings, this is an interesting pick. He’s not likely to help them right away (and could conceivably spend his first year in the D-League), but in a season or two he could be a bench guy that gives them flexibility with their lineups if he improves his ball handling and outside shooting. And in round two, this is the kind of selection you need to make. – CM
37. Detroit Pistons — Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
Carmichael fills the biggest positional need on the Pistons roster. There is not a starting caliber player on their roster at this position, and I’m not even confident that any currently signed players are even quality role players. Enter Carmichael, who was an outstanding rebounder in college at Illinois State. A year or two playing behind Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva will help him develop, and he could develop into a nice Taj Gibson-esque piece for the Pistons. – CM
38. Washington Wizards — Rudy Gobert, C, France
I’m just as surprised as anyone that this guy was still on the board. Obviously I have never seen him play, but you can’t deny his physical attributes. He’s over seven feet tall and has a wing span of 7-8. Yes, 7-8. If I were a GM, I would absolutely spend a mid second-round pick on him just to see how he pans out. He won’t play immediately – he’ll likely stays overseas – but he has potential to be one of the best defensive centers in the league. Like Noel, he doesn’t have much of an offensive game other than put-back dunks. But with the large frame he has, you can stick him in the middle of the lane and force teams to score outside of the paint. — DP
39. Portland Trail Blazers – Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico
Continuing to improve the Portland bench, Snell makes sense here as a potential stud 3-and-D guy. He’s a great perimeter scorer who has immense potential as a defender thanks to his impressive physical stature. Snell could supplant Luke Babbitt and Victor Claver on the Blazers bench and can also play some shooting guard. He somewhat lacks assertiveness, but that can be improved as he grows as a player. Portland’s going to be showing up a lot here as we run through the second round, and I think Snell is a nice start to their coming stockpile of prospects. — TM
40. Portland Trail Blazers — Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State
Just like Trevor said, the Portland Trial Blazers bench is looking pretty nice right now with the way they have drafted in this mock thus far. With a player like J.J. Hickson, who consumes a power forward’s body but started as a center for Portland this past season, likely to leave in free agency, one of the best rebounders in the nation is a great pick here since he happens to still be on the board. Iverson averaged 9.8 rebounds on a team that ranked fifth in the NCAA in RPG. I think this pick would round out the Blazers bench quite nicely, and I think Iverson could develop into a dominant force with some work in the D-League. — ZK
41. Memphis Grizzlies — Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
The Grizzlies drafted Tony Wroten out of Washington last year, but I think that with a guy like Jackson still available at this pick, you just can’t pass. His toughness and his ability to grind and score at Baylor makes him a sexy backup option behind the dazzling Mike Conley. Granted Wroten didn’t get much playing time, but I just don’t think he has a future on this team’s bench and Jackson could take Jerryd Bayless’ spot as second to Conley if he develops well enough. His toughness, like I mentioned earlier, makes up for his small frame. His ability to crash the boards and split defenders for narrow passes (averaged 7.1 assists last season) will prove useful at the next level, but he will need to vastly improve his off-the-ball defense if he wants to stick around in this league. His defense is his weakest point, but he can make it as a bench player if he can keep the leadership attitude that he inherited with the departure of Perry Jones III, Quincy Acy and Quincy Miller this past season. – ZK
42. Philadelphia 76ers – Erik Murphy, PF, Florida
So far, the 76ers have grabbed Allan Crabbe and Mike Muscala to add to what was a very depressing bench last season. The Sixers were horribly thin in the post last year, rolling with Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen as their only worthy bigs for much of the season, so a power forward makes sense here. Not the most athletic forward by any means, Murphy is still a potent inside-outside threat at the power forward position, a dynamic three-point shooter who hit 45 percent from behind the arc last season. He’s also a talented defender in the post, and while he’s not a great rebounder, he has a lot of Ryan Anderson in him and should be able to make it at the next level. Much like his former teammate Chandler Parsons, I think Murphy is a steal in the second round — a guy who should be able to eventually give the 76ers some really interesting looks on offense. – TM
43. Memphis Grizzlies — Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
Hill had a successful career at Arizona before entering that draft. The Grizz traded away their All-Star small forward, Rudy Gay, to the Toronto Raptors. They have Tayshaun Prince on rent and will look to add depth to the position. Hill will no way replace Gay but can be a visible option of the bench for Memphis after spending some time in the D-League. – DP
44. Dallas Mavericks – Marko Todorovic, C, Montenegro
With a lot of the quality American centers already off the board, the Mavericks do to things here. First, they get a seven-foot center that, age 21, has an NBA body but a raw game. Secondly, they again save money for free agency by selecting a player they don’t have to pay this year. That’s a win-win situation. And like I said when I selected their 13th overall pick, I firmly believe they will deal as many as their draft picks as they can in order to avoid paying for young talent as they pursue a title before Dirk Nowitzki retires. – CM
45. Portland Trail Blazers – Alex Abrines, SG, Spain
With no major needs, Portland can stash away a payer here. Abrines is another European talent with ideal size to play shooting guard in the NBA and also one who probably won’t play in the NBA right away. In a few years, he could come over and be a contributor that is going to be in need of sidekicks for budding star Damien Lillard. Abrines, who will need to improve his shooting stroke, could be that guy. – CM
46. Utah Jazz – Brandon Davies, PF/C, BYU
Davies was a scoring machine during his time at Brigham Young University. Davies is best known for being suspended in 2011 after he went to his coach and confessed he violated the school’s honor code. His violation of team rules resulted in a lot of losses for BYU after they were ranked in the top 5 when he was suspended. Davies has a 7’2 wingspan and is not afraid to get physical in the paint. His ability to hit jumbo shots is what makes him an intriguing prospect for some teams. Any good coach will be able to find a spot for a 6’11 guy who can fill it from deep. – DP
47. Atlanta Hawks – Lorenzo Brown, PG, NC State
With Jeff Teague being an RFA and Devin Harris a UFA, the Hawks would be wise to take a 2nd-round flier on Brown, a tall, rangy point guard who’s effective at attacking the basket. Brown’s not the best shooter, but he has good defensive potential and blossomed as a playmaking point guard last year, even on an underachieving NC State team. Brown would likely be an improvement on Shelvin Mack, and no matter who the Hawks’ starting point guard is next year, Brown would be a suitable backup. The Hawks organization also has already turned Mike Scott, last year’s 2nd-rounder, into a serviceable bench player, and I think out of necessity, Brown will get the same opportunities. – TM
48. Los Angeles Lakers – Carrick Felix, SG/SF, Arizona State
The Lakers are going to be a complete mess next season, especially if Kobe is still out of the lineup. Felix was a tenacious defender at ASU, and he would help the Lakers at a position that has an uncertain starter at. I’m not saying that Felix is going to shoot up the depth chart, but he is an excellent player with stellar defense for a player still around later in the second round. He improved a ton from his junior to senior campaign, earning All-Defensive Team honors and improving on his scoring (28.1 percent increase) and rebounding (50.6 percent increase) during that time. He also averaged 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in his final year. – ZK
49. Chicago Bulls – Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
I’m not sure why the Bulls went with a big with their first-round pick, as I thought there were many twos (Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock) that Chicago could have gone with. Ledo, however, is a player that has been slotted to go in the first round, so Chicago is getting a good deal out of this guy. He has many defensive concerns, but with an excellent coach (and boy does Chicago have one) Ledo’s upside, which was portrayed on the court and at the combine, can turn into pure bench gold. Chicago needs help at this position, and having Ledo fall this far down is a blessing in disguise. – ZK
50. Atlanta Hawks – Livio Jean-Charles, SF/PF, French Guiana
Picking for the Hawks for the 3rd time, I have to resort to grabbing an international to stash. They have at least two players in Karasev and Franklin who can contribute immediately, and Brown fits a need at backup point guard. Therefore, I think Atlanta looks to grab the Frenchman, who’s the highest rated international player left. As a highly athletic guy who fits the style of play for a stretch 4 in the NBA, he could be highly useful eventually. However, he’s not ready to come over just yet, and the Hawks will love the opportunity to have a guy overseas that they can bring over at their will. – TM
51. Orlando Magic – James Ennis, SF, Long Beach State
Ennis isn’t a familiar name to any one, because he went to mid-major school and his production didn’t stand out, but he did put together some highlight plays. Ennis stands at 6’7 and has a wingspan on seven foot. He didn’t go against the greatest competition in college, but he did average over 16 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field. He can be a project player for a franchise, and could serves as a rotational player down the line. – DP
52. Minnesota Timberwolves – Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
Having already selected two bigs, the David Kahn-less Timberwolves look to add depth in the second round. Ricky Rubio is firmly entrenched as the franchise’s starting point guard, but it can never hurt to add depth at the NBA’s most talented position. Kabongo is 6’3 and has a wingspan of almost 6’7. He’ll, at best, be a solid backup point guard but that’s something every team needs. And if Rubio ever gets hurt, Kabongo could develop enough to aptly fill in. – CM
53. Indiana Pacers – Peyton Siva, PG, Louisville
Siva is the right type of player for the Pacers to select at the end of the second round. With George Hill, Lance Stephenson and possibly D.J. Augustin under contract next season as capable ball handlers, the Pacers can let Siva develop in the D-League for a season or two to try and determine if he can be a backup point guard to Hill long term. Or, if they feel confident enough in his skills, they can let Augustin walk this offseason and ask him to contribute right away. Either way, Siva is a good value pick for the Pacers. – CM
54. Washington Wizards – Matt Dellevadova, PG, St. Mary’s
Dellevadova is an Australian point guard who will go down as one of the best in St. Marys’ history. He put up great numbers in his four-year career, including his senior season when he averaged over 15.8 points and 6.4 assists per game. He has above average size for a point at 6’4. He can be a viable backup for a team in a few years, similar to another Australian point guard from St. Mary’s, Patty Mills. – DP
55. Memphis Grizzlies – James Southerland, SF, Syracuse
Southerland makes a lot of sense for Memphis. He is a project defensively, but as a 6’8 combo forward, he has a shot to crack the Memphis roster where they are the thinnest. Southerland adds a couple nice wrinkles to the Grizzlies offense, as a scorer who can space the floor nicely and hit outside shots, something Darrell Arthur and Tayshaun Prince really struggled to do last season. He’s also not bad at off-ball cuts, something that will help him when he plays with the flashy-passing abilities of Marc Gasol. Southerland could absolutely get run with the Grizzlies next season, even being picked this late. – TM
56. Detroit Pistons – Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
Being one of the best pure passers in the 2013 draft class, Pressey would be a great late edition to this Pistons team that has a clustered, yet confused, group of point guards. He’s not going to dazzle you on the offensive end, but he’ll be able to keep things in tact when called upon off the bench. His passing will be what earns him a spot in Detroit’s rotation, but any team would benefit from having an accurate floor general such as Pressey on their squad. – ZK
57. Phoenix Suns – Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
McCallum is another point guard talent that could be scooped up late in the second round and could make a dynamic impact on a team that has minutes to spare. McCallum averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals as a member of the Horizon League last season, and I have confidence that he can bring production to all phases of the game at the next level. His numbers don’t read like a regular point guard’s numbers would, but that would make him an interesting threat off the bench for Phoenix. – ZK
58. San Antonio Spurs – Arsalan Kazemi, PF, Oregon
An Iranian-born player who’s played at Rice and last season at Oregon, Kazemi is an undersized rebounding power forward who is a project on offense, mostly relying on off-ball cuts and transition baskets and has absolutely no jumper. Defensively he’s pretty solid, even with his physical limitations, but at the next level, Kazemi will be a power rebounder. He’s a nice choice for this Spurs team, and should be able to gel in Popovich’s system. – TM
59. Minnesota Timberwolves — Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
Mbakwe was a highly talked about player last year when he returned for his senior season, but he failed to meet those expectations and his stats went down this season only averaging 10 PPG and 8 RPG. Both respectable stats, but scouts looked for him to improve on his 14 PPG and 9 RPG the year before. Mbakwe is a physical player who is a rebounding machine. Watching him play reminds me of Kenneth Faried. He won’t provide much of a threat offensively but he will be the first one to go up for a rebound. He will have to play in D-League a while to get use to the NBA game, but given some time, he can be a role player off the bench. – DP
60. Memphis Grizzlies — Bojan Dublievic, PF/C, Montenegro
With the Grizzlies largely set at most positions and no solid small forwards still on the board, the Grizzles go international with the last pick in the draft. The Montenegrin center Dublievic stands 6’10 and has a 7’1 wingspan to go with it. And at 21, he can spend time overseas and develop so that when Zach Randolph starts to decline, they can possibly bring over this young prospect as a look towards the future. – CM
Reflections from the Drafters:
Zak Kolesar – Site Editor
As you can tell by my recent posts, I’ve changed my mind since lottery night. The pessimist I am, I was never thinking that we’d land the No. 1 pick, so therefore I was never thinking that we’d ever be looking at the possibility of landing Nerlens. I didn’t even think that we’d land a pick that would net us Otto Porter – an early favorite for Wine and Gold fans because of our positional needs. But now with our Destiny solely in our hands, I want to fill that need because I see no surefire way of landing a starting SF with a later draft pick, through a trade (without giving up a piece that I want to hold on to) or via the 2013 free agency. I came to this point after studying each successive big and SF that went in our mock draft by reading my writer’s responses, Trevor’s draft profiles and research on my own. Going off of that, I am in no way a draft guru of any sort, but this offseason challenged me to learn the most about as many prospects as I could and to keep an open mind while doing so. It was a great experience being a part of my first mock draft and I hope to be a part of many more in the future. Keeping an open mind allowed me to flip on my No. 1 (I picked Nerlens in the RDE Mock), and I hope to keep that mindset going into the future instead of arguing until I’m blue in the face without listening to what others have to say.
Chris Manning – Senior Writer
I’m sure we’ve largely gotten this wrong, but that’s okay. More than any other year, this draft has been guesswork for paid media and bloggers alike. The only people that truly know (and control) how this will all shake out are Dan Gilbert, Chris Grant and the entire Cavaliers organization. What they do will have a domino effect on everyone behind them and I’m sure there are going to be some shocking moments come draft night. Whether that shocker is Alex Len is going number one I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out. It feels like a long time ago that we saw the Cleveland contingent erupt in celebration when they won the lottery, and I think it’s gotten to the point where, like us, the Cavaliers are tired of waiting and just want this entire process to finally end. My final thoughts are that the pick will be Noel, but I’m not too confident that the rest of the top ten (or the rest of the draft) will shake out as we thought. There are too many variables at play here for me to get a real read at how this will actually shake out. Never has a draft that has been so picked apart for not having enough top talent felt so significant.
Dan Pilar – Staff Writer
It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if we got every pick wrong. That’s just how unknown this draft is. And it starts right at the top with the Cavs. They never let any information about transactions, which has reporters making things up, making fans’ mind go crazy. No trades were predicted in this mock draft, which they are nearly impossible to predict, but expect a lot of moves on draft night. I’m not happy with the Cavs’ taking Noel, but I think they did well with their later picks. Put your seat belts on…this is going to be a memorable night.
Trevor Magnotti – Staff Writer
Overall, I think I had a good mock draft. My one pick I would probably change would be having Trey Burke go number two to the Magic. I think that’s a good fit, but it appears that they would rather have Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore now. Other than that, I landed a couple guys who fell into great situations (McCollum to Portland, Caldwell-Pope to Minnesota at 26), and I think I nailed a few of the 2nd-round picks, including Erik Murphy to Philadelphia and Archie Goodwin for Houston. I will be very interested to see how things shake out tomorrow, and see which of us got the most picks right.
Outro from the Editor:
I would like to take one last time to thank you all for joining us on our expedition that was our 2013 Mock Draft. I challenged my writers to give paragraph explanations as to why they would select a certain player, and they met those expectations with flying colors, while still being able to provide lengthy and informative draft features. Make sure to follow RDE these days following the draft for more wonderful content from our ever-growing staff. We have some exciting video features that will be posted following the draft from the event that will be held at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night, so be on the lookout for content like that. It’s weird to think that I’m already thinking about ways to improve how I handled the mock draft next year, and as always I’m looking forward to the bright future of this website. Thanks again to Trevor, Dan and Chris throughout this arduous process and I hoped that you enjoyed our now annual presentation.
Thanks for following along with the last part of the RDE Mock Draft! Also, comment below to let us know how we did.