Grinder
06-26-2014, 12:28 AM
My player evaluations and big board throughout the season can be found here (http://insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316267). No explanations for players out of the lottery because I'm sure I'll be moving them around tomorrow. I didn't do player comparisons this time around because I think people focus too much on those and it ends up diluting the discussion.
1. Cavaliers - Andrew Wiggins
⁃ With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters manning the guard positions, Wiggins is the natural fit here. He’s not yet comfortable actively taking over a game and isn’t especially skilled with the ball in his hands. Playing with ball dominant guards who can space the floor and allow him to play within the flow of the game and make a concerted effort defensively may be the best developmental curve for the explosive Canadian. Wiggins and Irving on the break could be electric and be a potential pairing of superstars down the road.
2. Bucks - Jabari Parker
⁃ If you want a guy who’s ready to step in and put up big scoring numbers, Parker is your guy. He was one of the most offensively refined freshmen in the college game since Durant, Carmelo, and Beasley. Now two of those are not like the other, but Parker’s character has never been in question and he looks like he’s ready to play both the 3 and 4 in the NBA. While his defense remains a huge concern, the combination of inside-outside game and underrated explosiveness and court vision makes him a no-brainer for the Bucks who so desperately need a sure thing.
3. 76ers - Joel Embiid
⁃ I know back and foot injuries for big men scare the hell out of NBA teams and a combination of the two probably renders them catatonic. While those concerns are legitimate and we’ve seen the likes of Greg Oden and Sam Bowie have careers decimated by this type of thing, I still don’t see how the Sixers can pass on Embiid. For me, Embiid was the obvious number one pick before these issues came out. Big men with Embiid’s skillset and mobility are so rare that you have to take a chance on him even if it’s a 50-50 shot with the injuries. The Sixers showed the willingness to wait on Nerlens Noel and it’s clear that the rebuilding project is long term so taking a risk on Embiid could end up making the Sixers look like geniuses in a few years.
4. Magic - Dante Exum
⁃ The Magic have solid young pieces at the 2,3,4 and 5 so taking the best point guard with a tremendously high ceiling shouldn’t require much thought.
5. Jazz - Aaron Gordon
⁃ This is a tough pick to project. The Jazz took Enes Kanter with the 3rd overall pick just a few years ago and he’s still just 22 years old. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations, he’s still been good enough that it would be foolish to give up on him so soon. Derrick Favors is steadily improving and is also just 22 years old. I keep seeing the Jazz linked with big men but I don’t think it makes sense this high in the draft if they plan on keeping both Favors and Kanter. Still, at this point in the draft, I don’t see a 2 guard worth taking at this position so I’m going to assume that the Jazz will shop one of their young big men and go with Gordon. The big man from Arizona complements both Favors and Kanter with his effective off the ball game and passing skills. He’d be able to feed Favors for easy looks and provide a scary rim protection. Gordon would also be able to work well off the double teams that Kanter attracts and provide the shot blocking that Kanter doesn’t.
6. Celtics - Julius Randle
⁃ While the Celtics already have Sullinger and Olynyk, I can’t see Randle falling past this point. While his ability to finish over length remains a concern, the combination of strength, explosiveness, motor, and productivity at that size is too much to pass on. I think Randle is arguably the most NBA ready player in this draft along with Jabari Parker. While his upside isn’t quite as high, I always say that he reminds me of a more athletic Zach Randolph. That sounds like a damn good player to me.
7. Lakers - Marcus Smart
⁃ The Lakers need help wherever they can get it but with Steve Nash close to retirement and Nick Young not necessarily being back, Smart makes sense here. He’s got the mentality to succeed in the bright lights of LA and can learn a lot from both Nash and Bryant. He can effectively play both the one and two and has the right tools and competitiveness to play with star players eventually become one himself.
8. Kings - Noah Vonleh
⁃ Vonleh provides an athletic, rim protecting, face up 4 who complements Cousins very well and enjoys considerable upside.
9. Hornets - Doug McDermott
⁃The Hornets need scoring on the wings and especially from the perimeter. There’s obviously questions about how well Dougy Buckets’ game will translate against NBA defenders but he can knock down spot up jumpers if nothing else. Playing with MKG and Henderson will help mask his defensive shortcomings and his array of fakes and odd timed shots may be effective enough for him to put up big scoring numbers even at this level.
10. 76ers - Nik Stauskas
⁃ With Michael-Carter Williams and Nerlens Noel (and possibly Embiid) as building blocks for the future, the Sixers will need perimeter scoring in a big way. Stauskas is one of the best pure shooters in the draft and but isn't as one dimensional as some might think. He can function as a combo guard for short stretches of the game and has shown the ability to finish above the rim and get into the lane a quick first step.
11. Nuggets - Elfrid Payton
⁃ The Nuggets have no clear need at the moment so I think they go with the best player available. Elfrid Payton excels at two things - passing and defense - which are exactly what the Kings need in a lineup full of offensive minded players. Payton makes smart decisions with the ball and thrives in transition. Despite being a junior, he’s the same age as most freshman and enjoys high upside. If he can iron out the jumper, he’ll have a chance to be an all star.
12. Magic - Jusuf Nurkic
⁃ The Magic are loaded with young talent and are in a position to give them time to develop so why not take the chance on a talented 7 footer with an inside-outside game? Nikola Vucevic has shown that he can be a productive player and may be a valuable trade chip down the line with Nurkic eventually growing into the position.
13. Timberwolves - Gary Harris
⁃ The Wolves need shooter and Harris may not be the best pure shooter in the draft but he’s a 2 way player with more to offer than just shooting. He’s NBA ready while still having enough upside to make him an intriguing, yet safe pick at this spot. He should pair will with Rubio and could develop into a more dynamic player off the dribble in a few years.
14. Suns - Zach Lavine
⁃ I think Nik Stauskas could be a great fit for the Suns but Zach LaVine has too much upside to pass up on. In the wide open style the Suns play, LaVine fits like a glove. He’s still extremely raw but he can already shoot and can jump out of the gym. He needs to put on weight and be more disciplined but he’s got all the tools to be an all star caliber player.
15. Hawks - Kyle Anderson
16. Bulls - Shabazz Napier
17. Celtics - James Young
18. Suns - Dario Saric
19. Bulls - Adreian Payne
20. Raptors - Tyler Ennis
21. Thunder - Rodney Hood
22. Grizzlies - PJ Hairston
23. Jazz - Cleanthony Early
24. Hornets - Glenn Robinson III
25. Rockets - Patric Young
26. Heat - Jordan Clarkson
27. Suns - TJ Warren
28. Clippers - Jordan Adams
29. Thunder - Bogdan Bogdanovic
30. Spurs - Mitch McGary
Second Round:
31. Bucks - Clint Capela
32. 76ers - Jarnell Stokes
33. Cavaliers - Walter Tavares
34. Knicks - Cory Jefferson
35. Jazz - KJ McDaniels
36. Bucks - Nick Johnson
37. Raptors - Spencer Dinwiddie
38. Pistons - Jerami Grant
39. 76ers - Thanasis Antetokuonmpo
40. Timberwolves - CJ Wilcox
41. Nuggets - Joe Harris
42. 76ers - Markel Brown
43. Hawks - Damien Inglis
44. Timberwolves - Vasilije Micic
45. Hornets - DeAndre Daniels
46. Wizards - Jahii Carson
47. 76ers - Alessandro Gentile
48. Bucks - Nikola Jokic
49. Bulls - Semaj Christon
50. Suns - Khem Birch
51. Knicks - Johnny O'Bryant
52. 76ers - Russ Smith
53. Timberwolves - Jordan Bachynski
54. 76ers - Deonte Burton
55. Heat - CJ Fair
56. Nuggets - James McAdoo
57. Pacers - Dwight Powell
58. Spurs - Aaron Craft
59. Raptors - Sim Bhullar
60. Spurs - Melvin Ejim
1. Cavaliers - Andrew Wiggins
⁃ With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters manning the guard positions, Wiggins is the natural fit here. He’s not yet comfortable actively taking over a game and isn’t especially skilled with the ball in his hands. Playing with ball dominant guards who can space the floor and allow him to play within the flow of the game and make a concerted effort defensively may be the best developmental curve for the explosive Canadian. Wiggins and Irving on the break could be electric and be a potential pairing of superstars down the road.
2. Bucks - Jabari Parker
⁃ If you want a guy who’s ready to step in and put up big scoring numbers, Parker is your guy. He was one of the most offensively refined freshmen in the college game since Durant, Carmelo, and Beasley. Now two of those are not like the other, but Parker’s character has never been in question and he looks like he’s ready to play both the 3 and 4 in the NBA. While his defense remains a huge concern, the combination of inside-outside game and underrated explosiveness and court vision makes him a no-brainer for the Bucks who so desperately need a sure thing.
3. 76ers - Joel Embiid
⁃ I know back and foot injuries for big men scare the hell out of NBA teams and a combination of the two probably renders them catatonic. While those concerns are legitimate and we’ve seen the likes of Greg Oden and Sam Bowie have careers decimated by this type of thing, I still don’t see how the Sixers can pass on Embiid. For me, Embiid was the obvious number one pick before these issues came out. Big men with Embiid’s skillset and mobility are so rare that you have to take a chance on him even if it’s a 50-50 shot with the injuries. The Sixers showed the willingness to wait on Nerlens Noel and it’s clear that the rebuilding project is long term so taking a risk on Embiid could end up making the Sixers look like geniuses in a few years.
4. Magic - Dante Exum
⁃ The Magic have solid young pieces at the 2,3,4 and 5 so taking the best point guard with a tremendously high ceiling shouldn’t require much thought.
5. Jazz - Aaron Gordon
⁃ This is a tough pick to project. The Jazz took Enes Kanter with the 3rd overall pick just a few years ago and he’s still just 22 years old. While he hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations, he’s still been good enough that it would be foolish to give up on him so soon. Derrick Favors is steadily improving and is also just 22 years old. I keep seeing the Jazz linked with big men but I don’t think it makes sense this high in the draft if they plan on keeping both Favors and Kanter. Still, at this point in the draft, I don’t see a 2 guard worth taking at this position so I’m going to assume that the Jazz will shop one of their young big men and go with Gordon. The big man from Arizona complements both Favors and Kanter with his effective off the ball game and passing skills. He’d be able to feed Favors for easy looks and provide a scary rim protection. Gordon would also be able to work well off the double teams that Kanter attracts and provide the shot blocking that Kanter doesn’t.
6. Celtics - Julius Randle
⁃ While the Celtics already have Sullinger and Olynyk, I can’t see Randle falling past this point. While his ability to finish over length remains a concern, the combination of strength, explosiveness, motor, and productivity at that size is too much to pass on. I think Randle is arguably the most NBA ready player in this draft along with Jabari Parker. While his upside isn’t quite as high, I always say that he reminds me of a more athletic Zach Randolph. That sounds like a damn good player to me.
7. Lakers - Marcus Smart
⁃ The Lakers need help wherever they can get it but with Steve Nash close to retirement and Nick Young not necessarily being back, Smart makes sense here. He’s got the mentality to succeed in the bright lights of LA and can learn a lot from both Nash and Bryant. He can effectively play both the one and two and has the right tools and competitiveness to play with star players eventually become one himself.
8. Kings - Noah Vonleh
⁃ Vonleh provides an athletic, rim protecting, face up 4 who complements Cousins very well and enjoys considerable upside.
9. Hornets - Doug McDermott
⁃The Hornets need scoring on the wings and especially from the perimeter. There’s obviously questions about how well Dougy Buckets’ game will translate against NBA defenders but he can knock down spot up jumpers if nothing else. Playing with MKG and Henderson will help mask his defensive shortcomings and his array of fakes and odd timed shots may be effective enough for him to put up big scoring numbers even at this level.
10. 76ers - Nik Stauskas
⁃ With Michael-Carter Williams and Nerlens Noel (and possibly Embiid) as building blocks for the future, the Sixers will need perimeter scoring in a big way. Stauskas is one of the best pure shooters in the draft and but isn't as one dimensional as some might think. He can function as a combo guard for short stretches of the game and has shown the ability to finish above the rim and get into the lane a quick first step.
11. Nuggets - Elfrid Payton
⁃ The Nuggets have no clear need at the moment so I think they go with the best player available. Elfrid Payton excels at two things - passing and defense - which are exactly what the Kings need in a lineup full of offensive minded players. Payton makes smart decisions with the ball and thrives in transition. Despite being a junior, he’s the same age as most freshman and enjoys high upside. If he can iron out the jumper, he’ll have a chance to be an all star.
12. Magic - Jusuf Nurkic
⁃ The Magic are loaded with young talent and are in a position to give them time to develop so why not take the chance on a talented 7 footer with an inside-outside game? Nikola Vucevic has shown that he can be a productive player and may be a valuable trade chip down the line with Nurkic eventually growing into the position.
13. Timberwolves - Gary Harris
⁃ The Wolves need shooter and Harris may not be the best pure shooter in the draft but he’s a 2 way player with more to offer than just shooting. He’s NBA ready while still having enough upside to make him an intriguing, yet safe pick at this spot. He should pair will with Rubio and could develop into a more dynamic player off the dribble in a few years.
14. Suns - Zach Lavine
⁃ I think Nik Stauskas could be a great fit for the Suns but Zach LaVine has too much upside to pass up on. In the wide open style the Suns play, LaVine fits like a glove. He’s still extremely raw but he can already shoot and can jump out of the gym. He needs to put on weight and be more disciplined but he’s got all the tools to be an all star caliber player.
15. Hawks - Kyle Anderson
16. Bulls - Shabazz Napier
17. Celtics - James Young
18. Suns - Dario Saric
19. Bulls - Adreian Payne
20. Raptors - Tyler Ennis
21. Thunder - Rodney Hood
22. Grizzlies - PJ Hairston
23. Jazz - Cleanthony Early
24. Hornets - Glenn Robinson III
25. Rockets - Patric Young
26. Heat - Jordan Clarkson
27. Suns - TJ Warren
28. Clippers - Jordan Adams
29. Thunder - Bogdan Bogdanovic
30. Spurs - Mitch McGary
Second Round:
31. Bucks - Clint Capela
32. 76ers - Jarnell Stokes
33. Cavaliers - Walter Tavares
34. Knicks - Cory Jefferson
35. Jazz - KJ McDaniels
36. Bucks - Nick Johnson
37. Raptors - Spencer Dinwiddie
38. Pistons - Jerami Grant
39. 76ers - Thanasis Antetokuonmpo
40. Timberwolves - CJ Wilcox
41. Nuggets - Joe Harris
42. 76ers - Markel Brown
43. Hawks - Damien Inglis
44. Timberwolves - Vasilije Micic
45. Hornets - DeAndre Daniels
46. Wizards - Jahii Carson
47. 76ers - Alessandro Gentile
48. Bucks - Nikola Jokic
49. Bulls - Semaj Christon
50. Suns - Khem Birch
51. Knicks - Johnny O'Bryant
52. 76ers - Russ Smith
53. Timberwolves - Jordan Bachynski
54. 76ers - Deonte Burton
55. Heat - CJ Fair
56. Nuggets - James McAdoo
57. Pacers - Dwight Powell
58. Spurs - Aaron Craft
59. Raptors - Sim Bhullar
60. Spurs - Melvin Ejim