2014 NBA Mock Draft

Let’s get right to it, shall we? It’s Draft Time! This is one of my favorite parts of the year, always adding an exciting and attention-grabbing event to the NBA offseason. There’s a lot of trade speculation in the Top 10 this year, particularly in the Top 5. With that and possibly one of the best draft classes we’ve seen since 2003, here are my predictions for what should be a fantastic and entertaining 2014 NBA Draft. Note: this is not what I think should happen, but what I think will.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas
Joel Embiid would have been a great fit at a position of need for Cleveland. They are still working very hard to try to bring back LeBron James, and because Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker play that position, the speculation is that they're trying to trade back a few spots to grab Embiid. But if they can't, everyone knows it's between Wiggins and Parker. They simply can't take another leap of faith with the #1 pick after what they saw from Anthony Bennett's rookie year. I am torn not only on which one the Cavaliers will pick, but which one I would pick as well. However, Dan Gilbert always looks to the future and how they can be as great as possible, so with that in mind and the projected upside Wiggins brings, I think they take him.

2. Milwaukee Bucks - Jabari Parker, F, Duke
This pick does not need much analysis. There's no way Parker gets past here. Absolutely no way. And if Parker goes #1, this will be Wiggins. Wiggins and Parker will be the first two off the board, but let's get something straight: Parker wants to play for the Bucks, and the Bucks want Parker. He is arguably the safest pick in this draft and they need a star to build the organization around. There have been trade talks linked to this pick as well, but unless the offer is too incredible for them to pass on, I fully expect Milwaukee to take whichever of the top two prospects is left here, which I think will be Parker.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - Dante Exum, PG, Australia 
They really, really wanted Wiggins or Parker. For a team that seemingly had 15 wing players only a few years ago, they now could use a shooting guard or small forward. It seems like they will take Exum, even if they can’t trade Michael Carter-Williams, for the value at pick #3. If they were a few spots back I think they’d try going with a guy like Aaron Gordon (maybe they shock us all and take him here). But with Embiid injured, it looks like Exum climbs into the Top 3.

4. Orlando Magic – Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana 
Joel Embiid’s injuries have been a big blow for many teams in the Top 5 or so, but it seemed almost set in stone that an Embiid-Parker-Wiggins combination would be the Top 3, leaving Orlando a point guard the desperately coveted. Jameer Nelson has been solid for them ever since they traded for him in the 2004 Draft, but his best days are clearly behind him. Drafting Exum would give the Magic the flexibility of having Victor Oladipo play the 2, but there’s a very good chance Exum’s gone now. At this point, they could go in many directions and they could even look to make a deadly offense with Julius Randle, but I think they take Vonleh to add a defensive presence in the frontcourt alongside Nikola Vucevic.

5. Utah Jazz – Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky 
There are two positions Utah will be looking to fill with their first round picks: shooting guard and power forward. I don’t think they would try to reach for a guy like Gary Harris or Nik Stauskas here, so if the draft plays out with the first four players off the board, it may come down to Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon. I’m kind of torn between which direction they’d go in if they can’t trade up, but I’ll pick Randle because of the dominance he showed at times while playing at Kentucky.

6. Boston Celtics – Joel Embiid, C, Kansas 
So here’s how I think Embiid gets here: Cavs won’t risk the #1 pick (if they keep it), Bucks will take whoever is left of Wiggins and Parker, 76ers can’t take another risk after picking Nerlens Noel last year, Magic don’t want to take the risk at a position they already have, and Utah thinks Favors can play the 5. Danny Ainge has been willing to gamble with picks in the past, and their hopes were to land a top pick before the lottery. That didn’t happen, but even with the health concerns, I think they take Embiid if he’s here.

7. Los Angeles Lakers – Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State 
The Lakers want to win now while they still have Kobe Bryant. It’s that simple. That’s why there has been rumors that they’re trying to trade this to get a veteran. Regardless of what they do, this pick/trade will be made to get someone who can help right away. We’ve all heard how Smart was a near-lock to be a Top 5 pick last year, but he has said himself that returning to Oklahoma State was the right decision because it’s helped him grow and prepare more for the NBA. That’s why I have them taking him here. If Randle is available they could choose him with an uncertain future for Pau Gasol, but I think they go with Smart.

8. Sacramento Kings – Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona 
There’s been a lot of talk that the Kings trade here, with some rumors for Josh Smith or other somewhat-young veterans, and shopping the pick seems like their best bet. At this point in the draft, if Gordon is available, teams would be all over the phone lines trying to get him. I don’t know if he gets to this point, but if he does, the Kings could trade the pick. If they don’t, they already have multiple power forwards. If the Lakers go with someone else (maybe Gordon), Smart seems like the pick. But if he’s gone, with Isaiah Thomas’s contract a question, I think they could jump on a guy like Elfrid Payton. Regardless, I have Gordon here assuming Sacramento trades it. If they don’t and take someone else, Gordon will be gone soon enough.

9. Charlotte Hornets – Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State 
All signs point to Michael Jordan’s re-vamped Hornets taking a wing who can score, limiting it to Doug McDermott, Gary Harris and Nik Stauskas. The last time this franchise drafted a scoring stud from a smaller conference, it didn’t quite work out with Adam Morrison, so I actually don’t think they go Doug McDermott. I know a lot of guys have him here, but with Kemba Walker being more of a scoring point guard, Harris adds another element to the backcourt besides scoring with his solid play on defense.

10. Philadelphia 76ers – Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan 
Originally the Sixers were interested in Dario Saric, but now he'll probably be playing two years in Turkey so he may start to slide and I don't think they take him. Regardless of whether or not the Sixers can trade up or trade Michael Carter-Williams early on, this pick could very well be a scorer.  If they take Exum early (or don’t and keep MCW), they may look at one of the three shooters I listed under the Hornets. I’ll say they take Stauskas because of his growth throughout this past season.

11. Denver Nuggets – Doug McDermott, SF/PF, Creighton 
Denver is another team who’s been receiving trade buzz about this pick. Their biggest hole is at shooting guard, and two guys who were in their range are no longer on the board. If that happens, I say they trade the pick. If they don’t, they could go Dario Saric, but assuming they trade it, I don’t think a team would move up to get a guy who won’t be here for two years, so I’ll put McDermott here with the thought that a team looking for some scoring comes up to get him. This is one of the picks I’m a little uncertain of because I think McDermott could go #9 and then Denver would take whoever is left out of Harris and Stauskas.

12. Orlando Magic – Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana-Lafayette  
Let’s say Exum is off the board at #4 and the Magic don’t take Smart. That makes this pick very likely to be a point guard. There’s a couple of options, but I think it comes down to Payton or another guy shooting up the draft boards, Shabazz Napier. Napier going this high could be a big shock, but I do think the thought of having the athleticism of Payton and Oladipo will be salivating for the Orlando front office and they go with him.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves – James Young, SF, Kentucky 
Everyone knows about the trade talks for Kevin Love, and if by some chance there is a trade for him today, this pick will probably be included. But if not, they may look at a wing. If Gary Harris fell here, I think his two-way play would be too much for Flip Saunders and company to pass up, and they’ll look at his experienced teammate who’s improved his stock this year in Adreian Payne. But Young, while inconsistent as a freshman, showed potential to grow and would fit two needs for the Timberwolves, a shooter and a small forward.

14. Phoenix Suns – Dario Saric, F, Croatia  
Surprise! A team that’s been in trade rumors. They have similar needs to the Timberwolves in a forward or a wing. A few guys they could take may already be gone, so they could look at Adreian Payne. In this situation, however, I think they’ll look more for a guy who has the potential and they'll take a little bit of a gamble instead of taking someone who could play right away, so that’s why I have Saric here. They'll have the hope that when he comes back from Turkey, the team has developed and he’s ready to make and impact.

15. Atlanta Hawks - Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia 
The Hawks like international players and will jump whenever they see potential in one (did so last year with Dennis Schroder). The Hawks have a couple of positions they could look at, including a point guard, but Nurkic is a solid player in the paint, something the Hawks could use down the line.

16. Chicago Bulls – Adreian Payne, PF/C, Michigan State
Another possible trade spot. Bulls could use someone experienced to fill the hole Carlos Boozer will leave, assuming he's not in Chicago next year, so if Payne is still here they could take him. If there is a trade, I could see Napier going here.

17. Boston Celtics – Zach LaVine, G, UCLA 
As I said, Ainge likes to take gambles. At this point in the first round, it’s common for teams to look for players that could be steals down the line. If LaVine develops, he could make a huge impact.

18. Phoenix Suns – PJ Hairston, SG, North Carolina/Texas Legends 
If Saric isn’t available at #14, I think they try another international frontcourt player in Clint Capela. Knicks have been trying to trade in to get Hairston, so if they can they could take him here. Either way, suns need a wing and Hairston would add a punch to the offense.

19. Chicago Bulls – Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut 
If another team trades in, like the Bulls 1st pick, they could take Napier. If not, I’m not sure he gets into the 20s and he may very well go before this. But the Bulls need someone to back up Derrick Rose for the future. Napier shares some similarities with Rose and could really grow sitting behind him.

20. Toronto Raptors – Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse 
Ennis was talked about in the lottery at some point, but he wasn’t terrific in workouts and others at his position impressed and jumped him in some ranks. If he gets to this point, the Raptors would definitely take him, hoping to get a steal with the Canadian point guard.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder –T.J. Warren, SF, North Carolina State 
Jeremy Lamb hasn’t developed like they were hoping he would, and many shooting guards could be gone. If they stay here, they’re looking for another scorer, and that’s exactly what Warren is.

22. Memphis Grizzlies – Rodney Hood, SF, Duke 
This team’s clear-cut need has been small forward ever since Rudy Gay left, so look for them to address that here. Hood was also once projected to be in the lottery, and the Grizzlies would be thrilled if he fell to them here.

23. Utah Jazz – Jordan Adams, SG, UCLA 
If they pick Gordon at #5, this could be different, but Adams would add to their backcourt and, if he gains athleticism, could really make an impact going forward.

24. Charlotte Hornets – Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA 
Here’s the point-forward coming off the board. Kemba Walker is not as much of a facilitator, and after drafting a 2-guard with their first pick, the Hornets could utilize Anderson’s play-making ability at both forward positions.

25. Houston Rockets – Clint Capela, PF/C, Switzerland 
The Rockets could use a forward, and with the recent trade of Omer Asik, Capela can play both the 4 and the 5.

26. Miami Heat – Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan 
It’s now documented that Miami’s looking to move up and get Napier, but if they stay here they need frontcourt depth, regardless of whether or not Bosh returns. McGary has had injury problems, but could be a great steal at this point in the draft if he’s still available.

27. Phoenix Suns – Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse 
If the Suns haven’t traded a pick to this point, this one is on the move because they’ve already had two. Regardless, the late first round is a time many teams take risks, and there’s a chance we see a team do that around this point in the draft.

28. Los Angeles Clippers – K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson  
Clippers have some wings on their team, but they don’t really have any young ones. McDaniels fits the mold and would add more athleticism.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee 
Stokes showed a ton of improvement this past year and may be a target if he’s still available. They could also look at Cleanthony Early if they don’t get a small forward at #21.

30. San Antonio Spurs – Jordan Clarkson, G, Missouri 
The Spurs could use backups at most positions because of their age. They may go with a value pick, which could be Clarkson, an athletic player able to play both guard positions.