2013 NBA Mock Draft

  

It has been a long, long time since I've wrote a post here. However, the NBA Draft is one of my favorite events of the year, and mock drafts are always fun to make. With a long post ahead, thanks for checking it out.

Now on to the actual draft. This year has been quoted by many as a "weak" or "low-quality" draft. I don't see it that way. Not that I think the Top 5 will be perennial All Stars, but this draft has some guys who should have sustainable NBA careers and can contribute to a winning organization. We just won't see a true star like we'll see next year (such as Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker.) That's what makes this draft so interesting: even as of this afternoon, no picks are really certain, unlike previous drafts. I'm expecting a lot of trades (or attempts at trades) tonight, which will make it even more exciting. Teams such as the Jazz, Thunder, Timberwolves and Hawks want to get into the Top 5, so that's something to look out for. Regardless, below is my mock draft for this year. 

*Note: all picks are what I think WILL happen, not what I think SHOULD happen.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Kentucky
The Cavs have been in many trade talks to shop this pick, including two with the efforts to land Kevin Love or LaMarcus Aldridge. Both have failed, and while a trade is not totally out of the question, this pick seems to be narrowed down to Noel or Alex Len should they stay here. I'm scared for the first five minutes on the clock, though, because this is by no means an easy guess, and it will determine the outcome of the entire draft. It's really up for grabs, but if they don't find a trade that satisfies their front office, Noel adds a defensive presence that the Cavs, one of the league's worst defensive teams, needs. If he's not ready to come back at the beginning of the year, he can learn from bigs Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson. With those two in the frontcourt, they don't need to get a big man who has to lead right now, which is a great situation for Noel. This team is already on the rise, but with additions to Noel and defensive-minded Mike Brown as coach, this team could make huge strides on defense and become balanced enough to be a perennial playoff threat.

2. Orlando Magic - Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
A few weeks ago, it seemed set that Noel was going #1 and many thought the Magic would go for Trey Burke here. Recently, however, there have been reports that they're very interested in Eric Bledsoe, and although these talks have been on and off, it doesn't seem like point guard is their primary focus. If Noel goes #1, I see them drafting Oladipo here. Noel would fit nicely at the 4 if the Cavs go with Len first, but one of the best leaders and examples a rebuilding team can have is a balanced guy with an incredible work ethic, and Oladipo brings both of those to the table.

3. Washington Wizards - Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
This is one of the most uncertain drafts in recent memory, but Porter to D.C. seems like the most likely and agreed upon. However, I don't think it's as set as many think. To me, Anthony Bennett would be a great fit because he would provide another versatile scorer who can play both forward positions. But they have some bigs and do need another wing player. Porter, along with Oladipo, is one of the safest picks in this draft, and for a year with no true superstars, that might be too appealing for the Wizards to pass up at #3.

4. Charlotte Bobcats - Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV
Let's face it: the Bobcats need help everywhere (except for maybe point guard,) so they could go in any direction. Their biggest general need is scoring, as they were in the bottom five in the league in points per game for the fifth straight year. Bennett's a terrific scorer who would compliment MKG, and he can play both forward positions. The Bobcats just added Steve Clifford (played a role in the developments of Yao Ming and Dwight Howard) and Patrick Ewing to the coaching staff, so Bennett would have two guys who could mentor him and develop his post game as well.

5. Phoenix Suns - Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
As many know, McLemore had horrible workouts for a variety of the teams in the Top 5 (Cleveland, Orlando, Phoenix,) but most GMs realize that a solid season should outweigh that. They may go Len if he's available, but I still think they wouldn't pass on McLemore, a dynamic scorer with huge upside. He could compliment Goran Dragic nicely and turn into a 20-point scorer, something the Suns could really use.

6. New Orleans Pelicans - Alex Len, C, Maryland
While many think they won't let Trey Burke get past here, it's not an immediate need with Greivis Vasquez having a solid third year in the league. Drafting Len would give Monty Williams the ability to play Anthony Davis at the 4, which gives him more room to move around. I'm not sure the Pelicans would pass on Len, a possible #1 pick, if he was still on the board. Len's a good, balanced player who's more of a finesse center, and he'd be a good fit with Davis and Ryan Anderson.

7. Sacramento Kings - C.J McCollum, G, Lehigh
I basically had two versions of this mock draft, and this pick is what made the difference going forward. It could vastly impact the whole draft. The Kings will go backcourt here (if they keep it,) it’s just a matter of who. I think it’s between Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. McCollum. If MCW is picked #7, then McCollum will fall, and if McCollum is picked here then Trey Burke will fall. It's a domino effect. Utah reportedly wants to trade up and they have interest in McCollum, so that’s a possibility, but the Kings want a scoring point guard and one who can play both guard positions. If they stay here, McCollum fits that mold.

8. Detroit Pistons - Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
The Pistons need a point guard, and they'd love if Carter-Williams was available so he could be a perfect fit with Brandon Knight, a scoring guard. He has the height of a 2 but the vision of a 1, which will help Knight improve as well. Even if Jose Calderon comes back, he's getting old, so MCW could step in, rely on Knight, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe to score and polish his jump shot with time. The Pistons are headed in the right direction, and adding MCW will speed up that process as well. Trey Burke will get a hard look, but ultimately, Carter-Williams' superb passing ability could be the difference.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves - Shabazz Muhammad, SG/SF, UCLA
Most of my picks so far have not been too risky, but this is where I'm taking a gamble. You know when you go to a restaurant and you see an innovative dish on the menu that looks extremely appetizing but could be a horribly weird combination? That's how I'm looking at the former top high school recruit. Yes, Muhammad could turn out poorly, but I think if an elite scorer like him played with guys like Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, he may become a little less selfish. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the choice everyone has, which would make sense to give them a shooter with Ricky Rubio, so could very well be the selection. But mock drafts are boring without some bold predictions. The Wolves are one of the many teams trying to trade into the Top 5, and if they do, they could take McLemore or Oladipo (Flip Saunders loves Oladipo) If they can't, I just have this strange feeling they take the risk. Who knows, maybe Muhammad ends up being one of the best dishes on the menu.

10. Portland Trail Blazers - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
This could also be an interesting pick. They could draft Cody Zeller, a skilled scorer who could learn under LaMarcus Aldridge if he's there. Even if Aldridge isn't (he reportedly wants out of Portland), Zeller would fill the hole. However, if the former SEC Player of the Year doesn’t go to Minnesota at 9, Portland may jump at the opportunity of having one of the best young scoring backcourts in the league. Caldwell-Pope is a deadly shooter who will take some pressure off Lillard as a scorer.

11. Philadelphia 76ers - Cody Zeller, C, Indiana
Zeller is there guy. They want him so badly and are extremely lucky he’s still here, as Zeller's pre-draft workouts have sent him up the draft boards in the past two days. With all of the Andrew Bynum questions, they draft the skilled scorer who understands the game of basketball. His sophomore season for Tom Crean was not as flashy as some were expecting it to be, but high basketball IQ can go a long way in the NBA. No way Zeller gets past here if he's still available.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Raptors) - Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
Stunned that Trey Burke is still here, OKC gives him a good look but realizes for them to win now, they have to address a more pressing need: center. Uncertain about Kendrick Perkins’ future with the team, an available Adams would put smiles on the faces in the Thunder draft room. Yes, Adams underperformed for the most part at Pitt and is a piece of work, but this is the position they've looked at all along, and drafting one with an NBA body and a huge upside would fit into their gameplan. If I completely mess up with Muhammad to the Wolves, they could take a chance on him here too.

13. Dallas Mavericks - Sergey Karasev, SG/SF, Russia
I put the Russian here with the assumption that the Mark Cuban's squad trades out of this pick in order to save cap room for Dwight Howard. The Mavs could draft him with a need on the wing and the expected loss of O.J. Mayo, but they'd prefer to have cap room. If he gets here, I could see a team like the Hawks or Cavs trying to move up to grab him. Atlanta have a lot of questions going into next year (before free agency) but they have two picks in the first at 17 and 18, so look out for them or another team to trade here with Dallas.

14. Utah Jazz - Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
This is my other big lottery gamble, and it's clearly a long shot that Burke is still here. The Jazz are actively trying to trade up with two position targets in this draft: point guard and center. Because of the unlikeliness that one of the point guards in the top two tiers is available by #21, their other pick, I think they'll go backcourt here and a big seven spots later. If they go big here, they'll draft a point guard at 21. The Jazz would be absolutely enamored if Burke is available at the end of the lottery, and there would be no way the Jazz don’t take him if he is. They'd rather have a point guard of their choice than a big man of their choice because it's a more pressing need. Burke proved he is a great decision-maker even though he was just a sophomore, and he has a great offensive balance for a point guard. If he’s gone, they take Dennis Schroeder or Shane Larkin.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - Shane Larkin, PG, Miami
With their top three guards from last year possibly gone, I'd be absolutely shocked if Milwaukee doesn't draft a point guard here. The options are Larkin and Dennis Schroeder (unless McCollum or Burke are miraculously still available), and I just think they'll take Larkin for his offensive abilities.

16. Boston Celtics - Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany
To Boston’s disappointment, Larkin is picked right before them. Still, with many questions about Rajon Rondo and his future with the Celtics, they take the quick, nifty German here, if they still have this pick.

17. Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets) - Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, Greece
The Hawks will try moving up, but if all else fails, they draft a well-sized 3 with great passing ability. If Karasev is available, they could take him too.

18. Atlanta Hawks - Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
With this pick up in the air, expect them to take a big after drafting a wing at 17. Another foreigner, Lucas Nogueira, could be the pick as well, but the athletic Plumlee could fit well behind and alongside Al Horford, even if this is a little bit of a reach.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers) - Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
The Cavaliers have four of the top 33 picks, so I'm expecting them to shift around in some way. If they're still here, they'll most likely look for a wing after addressing center at #1. Franklin is extremely athletic and can add to an already-exciting Cleveland backcourt.

20. Chicago Bulls - Allen Crabbe, SG, California
Chicago could look big, but they need another wing as well. If Franklin's gone, they could look at Crabbe and Reggie Bullock, but I think they'd go with Crabbe, the better all-around scorer.

21. Utah Jazz (via Warriors) - Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil
And the Jazz front office give high-fives throughout as a guy they almost drafted 14th is available for their second pick. He could easily be off the board, and if so, they may go for Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk.

22. Brooklyn Nets - Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
Although they're in the hunt for stars such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Josh Smith, Mitchell can play both forward positions very well. Olynyk also a possibility.

23. Indiana Pacers - Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State
The Pacers have a few options here, including trading the pick, but if they stay, they could grab Canaan, a scoring guard who's stock is rapidly rising as we get closer to 7:00.

24. New York Knicks - Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
With too much age in the New York frontcourt, the Knicks need a big who can step in and help defensively. Dieng can be that guy with the winning experience and a scary presence in the paint.

25. Los Angeles Clippers - Reggie Bullock, SG, North Carolina
The Clippers may need an experienced guard who can give them quality minutes and shoot the ball. Basically, Reggie Bullock. Tim Hardaway Jr. could also be the pick here.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Grizzlies) - Rudy Gobert, C, France
If the Wolves stay here, they'll probably go big. Gobert would be a great supplement to Kevin Love at center, and his 7'9" wingspan will cause havoc on defense.

27. Denver Nuggets - Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
Ledo could be the steal of the draft. Although he didn't play this past season, he's a gifted scorer with huge potential and would fit perfectly in Denver's exciting, fast-pace offense.

28. San Antonio Spurs - Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga
This could be a terrific situation for Olynyk and a huge steal for San Antonio. He'd learn the ins and outs of the traditional power forward position from Tim Duncan and should be able to contribute right away.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Tony Snell, SG/SF, New Mexico
Looking for a wing, Snell gives the Thunder another scorer to help Westbrook and Durant put points on the board. If they address this position with their first pick, look for Jeff Withey to come off the board here.

30. Phoenix Suns (via Heat) - Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan
Even if they get McLemore, they could use another shooter. Also hearing they like Pierre Jackson and Erick Green, two guys who could provide an offensive spark off the bench.