Every year I try to make an idiot of myself and do an NBA mock draft. I do this because I love watching college basketball and I love pretending my love of college basketball in some way translates into being good at guessing which NBA teams will be choosing which players in the NBA draft. Usually trades screw my draft all up, but that's the cost of doing a mock draft I guess. Last year I got five picks correct and got Arnett Moultrie to the 76ers, but just in the wrong spot in the first round. I'm not entirely sure if this is impressive or not. Probably not. Anyway, so here is my mock draft and feel free to mock me in the comments for how wrong it may end up being. I'm not sure I will even get one pick correct. You would think I could get #1 overall correct at least.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Nerlens Noel, C
Noel had an ACL injury, but he is a NBA-caliber center when he is
healthy and having him and Ty Zeller as the Cavs center rotation isn't a bad situation to be in for the Cavs. I don't think Noel has very much of an offensive game and maybe
that will come in time. I'm usually one to talk up a draft a little bit, but I'm not sure I can do that for this year's draft. There are a lot of good players, but I'm not sure how many stars there are. Noel can be a great defensive center, but he also has very little offensive game and is coming off a major knee injury. That makes me nervous. Still, he gives the Cavs options on defense knowing he is back there to block shots. The Cavs have some offensive playmakers and they need a guy who can hold down the middle defensively. Noel fits that bill perfectly and will greatly benefit from playing with Kyrie Irving (of course, who wouldn't?). Long-term I don't see Noel as an All-Star, but I see him as a taller Ben Wallace (how's that for a bad comparison?).
2. Orlando Magic- Ben McLemore, SG
I'm not going to be a sellout and compare McLemore to Ray Allen. Either way, unless the Magic go for Otto Porter then Ben McLemore makes a ton of sense here. Yes, they could probably use a center like Noel, but McLemore has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone-type player. He may never achieve being a franchise cornerstone, but the potential is there. He had some poor workouts, but he is exciting and can score and the Magic need an exciting player. Plus, the Magic can then move Affalo and help build the team around McLemore. If it all turns out badly, they still have room for Andrew Wiggins next year. I can see the Magic taking Victor Oladipo here, but I think McLemore should be the pick in this spot due to his scoring ability.
3. Washington Wizards- Otto Porter, SF
I love me some Anthony Bennett in theory. In practice, he has supposedly become overweight and has had injuries which is hurting his stock. So I want to mock him here, but Otto Porter can do everything on the court and he's the kind of player who will meld well with John Wall and Brad Beal. He doesn't require the basketball all the time and he's a smart player. I think of (lazy comparison alert) as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist v2.0. That's why I thought it hilarious that the Bobcats would trade MKG to draft Porter. That's such a Bobcats thing to do. They would trade a player only to draft a similar player. Porter will never be an All-Star in my opinion, but I think of him as smart player that every championship team needs. Not that the Wizards are close to a championship of course.
4. Charlotte Bobcats- Alex Len, C
Maryland had point guard problems last year and Mark Turgeon forgot
about Len many times last year in the Terps offense, but I still am not excited about Len as a
lottery prospect. His defenders say he played well against Mason
Plumlee and Nerlens Noel last year, which is true, but with some
caveats. Len put up 23 points and 12 rebound against Noel in his (Noel's) very first
college game. And before Len put up 19 points and 9 rebounds on Mason Plumlee, yet he also put up 8 points
and 10 rebounds in the first Maryland-Duke game and 10 points and 8 rebounds against Plumlee in the
ACC Tournament. So it's not like Len lit up Plumlee even 2 of the 3 times they went against each other. Plumlee put up 19 points and 7 rebounds twice on Len, but did have a
terrible game (4 points and 3 rebounds) that most people seem to remember best. So the idea that Len played
well against Plumlee is true, but Plumlee also played well against Len
twice. I can see some Big Z in Len and he does have a high ceiling. I hate drafting guys in the lottery based entirely on potential and what kind of player he COULD be. In fact, I would probably take Cody Zeller over Alex Len. I'm
not that down on Len, it's just that while knowing Maryland has point guard and coaching issues (in my humble opinion) I feel like the idea of Alex Len is better than the production he provides on the court.
5. Phoenix Suns- Victor Oladipo, SG
Oladipo seems like a Phoenix Suns-type pick. Or maybe he seems like the stereotypical Phoenix Suns pick. There's something about about Oladipo that doesn't please me. He is an excellent defender, but the comparisons to Dwyane Wade makes me laugh. I can see how the comparison arises with Oladipo's size and how he attacks the rim like Wade, but these minor similarities are the only similarities I can see. I don't hate Oladipo by any measure, but the Wade the comparison doesn't do it for me. Still, he can attack the basket and play great defense. He's worth a #5 overall pick.
6. New Orleans Pelicans- Trey Burke, PG
Anything needs to be done to keep Austin Rivers from playing point guard for the Pelicans. Drafting the best point guard (okay, I think second-best because I like C.J. McCollum slightly better) is a great step towards making sure Rivers never plays point guard ever again. Of course the way Rivers played last year it may be beneficial if he didn't see the court ever again. Anyway, the Pelicans are in pretty good shape at the forward spots and they don't necessarily need a shooting guard. So why not draft a scoring point guard and a guy who could run the pick-and-roll very well with Ryan Anderson? It's a great fit...so it won't happen.
7. Sacramento Kings- Anthony Bennett, SF/PF
I like Bennett a lot and I think in the right situation he could be the best player in this draft. The problem is that he is sort of a tweener. He can play power forward, but he's too small and he is getting a bit heavy for power forward. Still, he is a good shooter. I love what Anthony Bennett can do and when paired with DeMarcus Cousins I really like the frontline for the Kings. Bennett reminds me of no one. He can play in the post, though it may be more difficult in the NBA, but he can also spot-up from the outside. He has a skill-set that is very difficult to find. It's not hard to see I really, really like him. He can handle the ball pretty well also for a man his size. Having said all of that, something is off. I can't place my finger on it, but I'm not sure how his skills are going to translate to the NBA. Still, it wouldn't shock me if Bennett became an All-Star. He's another guy who I reluctantly would draft, while not being completely sure what I'm getting.
8. Detroit Pistons- Shabazz Muhammad, SF
The Pistons are dying for an athletic wing forward who can score. I love Kyle Singler, but he isn't a starter. Imagine a frontline of Andre Drummond (who I didn't like last year, full disclosure...see, I'm wrong every once in a while), Muhammad and Greg Monroe. Not bad. I very well could be the only one picking Muhammad in this spot (not really, but I am not finding many mock drafts who place him here). Muhammad can score like crazy. He won't pass and he's gotten a reputation as not being a team player, plus he is 20 years old and not 19 years old as he claimed, but he can score. He goes left when the defense knows he is going left and he still scores. When he develops the ability to go right, I don't see how he won't score 15-18 points per game easy. Of course, he doesn't pass and he really isn't a great defender, but let's talk more about his scoring ability.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG
This is kind of a sellout pick. I keep reading articles saying Caldwell-Pope will go to the Timberwolves and they definitely have a need at shooting guard, so it all works out. He can really shoot the ball and the T-Wolves need a shooter. I almost had a point guard who could shoot mocked here, but decided against that and went with a shooting guard.
10. Portland Trailblazers- Cody Zeller, C
It shouldn't take long for Zeller to start getting playing time over Meyers Leonard. Who knows, maybe when Zeller pans out everyone will forget the Trailblazers drafted Leonard last year. There's very little way I could have liked Leonard less. I do like Cody Zeller. I've heard he isn't physical enough and that the Syracuse zone gave him problems, neither argument really persuades me he can't be a productive big man in the NBA. I find him to be physical enough and it's not like NBA teams run a lot of zone defense. Will he be a 10-time All-Star? Probably not, but he's very talented and can rebound and score. He'll look great alongside LaMarcus Aldridge. This would be a great pick for the Trailblazers.
11. Philadelphia 76ers- Kelly Olynyk, C
I honestly don't know who the 76ers will pick. I almost think they would draft a shooting guard, but they clearly have a need in the middle with Bynum's status up in the air and Lavoy Allen being undersized for the center position. I had them taking Caldwell-Pope originally in this spot, but I don't think he will last that long. I don't really love Olynyk too much. He's a late bloomer and he definitely has offensive skills, but I feel like he is a liability on defense and isn't athletic enough to be a starter in the NBA. Basically, the 76ers have re-drafted Spencer Hawes, but I don't see that as a bad thing. I'm pretty "blah" on some of these players. I'm not blown away, but I'm also not morbidly depressed at where these guys will be drafted.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder- Rudy Gobert, C
When James Harden got traded last year the question became whether Durant and Westbrook could carry the team themselves, which they did. Then Westbrook got injured and the Thunder realized that Kevin Durant was on the court with Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Martin and various other guys who couldn't necessarily score. The point I'm getting to is I would shit my pants (literally, not figuratively) if Shabazz fell here. I can only imagine the drama that would occur when he didn't pass to Durant/Westbrook more than once a game. I don't think it will end up that way and the Thunder need another big man and there's nothing wrong with a French guy, right? Gobert is raw, but would work well in pick-and-roll situations, as well as have his current lack of strength inside compensated by having Ibaka at power forward. Gobert needs time and the Thunder have two first round picks so maybe they can give him a year or two.
13. Dallas Mavericks- C.J. McCollum, PG
The Mavericks aren't keeping this pick. If they did, this is how they would pick. In fact, if I would the Mavericks I would keep this pick to get McCollum...though I know they want to clear cap space and have enough room to make big free agents signings. We wouldn't want a potentially great draft pick to get in the way of the long-range plan. McCollum is a combo guard and he can shoot the ball very well when playing off-guard. He played for Lehigh, which is a school that may forever burn in Hell, but I can put my disgust aside to understand McCollum has talent. The Mavericks probably need a pure point guard, but I see them going with McCollum over Carter-Williams in this spot...assuming they make the pick in this spot, which I doubt they will.
14. Utah Jazz- Dennis Schroeder, PG
I'm very, very tempted to put Carter-Williams or Larkin in this spot, but for some reason I see the Jazz going with Schroeder over these two players. I'm not egotistical enough to make it seem like I know all of these international players, but I keep reading that Schroeder is a Rondo-type point guard. I feel like the Jazz are going to want a point guard who is a distributor and less of a scorer. I have no inside information, obviously, but the Jazz are looking to build a young core and a young pass-first point guard. Supposedly Schroeder has a promise that he will be gone before the Top 20 picks are done. I don't think it is Boston who has made this promise, but the Jazz have made the promise.
15. Milwaukee Bucks- Sergey Karasev, SF
It would be easy to see the Bucks going with a point guard in this spot, but Karsev seems to the perimeter shooter the Bucks will lack once Redick and Ellis don't come back. By all accounts and super-grainy video I have seen, Karasev is an absolute sharpshooter from three-point range and he's only 19. So while I can see the Bucks going with Larkin in this spot, I think they will lean towards a small forward.
16. Boston Celtics- Gorgui Dieng, C
I'm happy with this pick as long as the Celtics don't re-draft Fab Melo. What a terrible pick that was. They can't draft a head coach can they? I'm reading all this stuff about how the Celtics need a backup point guard, but I see their lack of height in the middle as their biggest issue, especially if they trade Kevin Garnett like they seem hell-bent on doing. Dieng has about the same offensive game as Nerlens Noel, but he does provide shot-blocking ability and would benefit from Rondo's ability to penetrate on defense. The bottom line is if a team needs shot-blocking ability then Dieng can provide that. He will never be great and will forever provide a line of 8 ppg, 9 rpb, and 2.9 bpg, but that's not a terrible thing to get out of the center position. He's like Fab Melo, except he doesn't suck incredibly bad.
17. Atlanta Hawks- Michael Carter-Williams, PG
Yes, the Hawks currently have Jeff Teague holding down the point guard position (assuming they re-sign him), but Carter-Williams is a very tall point guard and don't we all love really tall point guards? He is turnover prone at times, but he also really developed between his freshman and sophomore year. So there is room for growth and Carter-Williams has shown he can improve. He may not be the star player the Hawks seem to desperately want, but he creates matchup problems against other point guards and can really rebound well for the position. Sure, he can't shoot, but that's why the Hawks have a shooting guard. If he falls this much then the Hawks have to take him.
18. Atlanta Hawks- Giannis Anteokoumpo, SF
I feel like most NBA teams that have multiple first round picks stash one of the players overseas or take a project player with the other pick. Here's the Hawks project pick. He is from Greece and quite frankly that's the only thing I know for sure about him. Plus, he will give Hawks beat writers a fit trying to spell his name if he ever does make it to the NBA.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers- Jamaal Franklin, SG
The Cavs did draft Dion Waiters last year, but Jamaal Franklin is sort of a Kawhi Leonard-lite player. He's not quite as lengthy as Leonard but he does wear long sleeves under his jersey, which looks sort of dumb. I know the Cavs are supposed to be targeting a shooter in this spot, but Franklin can back up shooting guard and small forward, both positions of some need for the Cavs. After taking care of their inside need with the first pick the Cavs provide depth and athleticism to the roster. Not a terrible move, provided you can get by the long sleeve shirts that Franklin tends to wear.
20. Chicago Bulls- Steven Adams, C
I personally hate Steven Adams as a prospect. The Bulls need scoring from the wing, but the playoffs showed they could also use one more big in the rotation and why not add a guy who has potential to be really good? He has looked clueless to me at times when he was on the court this past season. Maybe some of that relates to him being a freshmen and maybe some of that relates to the fact I think he is an untalented center who only looks like a good player. If Adams ever did succeed it would be with a guy like Joakim Noah in front of him where he could learn how to use his aggressiveness and energy to bring a positive effect on the team. It sounds like bullshit talk about Adams' aggressiveness and energy, and it may be, but I don't think Adams is talented enough to make it in the NBA. He seems to try really hard though.
21. Utah Jazz- Mason Plumlee, PF/C
Plumlee is what he is and why wouldn't the Jazz take a white center? It seems like it is a tradition for them. Actually, I see Plumlee as more of a power forward and with Millsaps and Al Jefferson possibly on the way out the Jazz need more depth at the power forward position. Plumlee has very few offensive moves, but he is athletic and he can be an aggressive rebounder. He'll definitely be more productive than his brother Miles (how the hell did he get taken in the first round again?), but I think there is a definite ceiling to Mason Plumlee's production. He's going to be a role player and at #21 there isn't anything wrong with that.
22. Brooklyn Nets- Reggie Bullock, SG
The Nets could use some more scoring and if they are really serious about moving Gerald Wallace then Bullock will provide some nice size and shooting at the shooting guard or small forward position. Bullock isn't going to break down his defender, but he fits in well with the slash-and-kick NBA. He has nice size and he can shoot. He's limited, but he will provide outside shooting.
23. Indiana Pacers- Tony Mitchell, SF/PF
It was fairly evident in the playoffs that the Pacers could probably use another power forward if David West/Tyler Hansbrough don't come back. Tony Mitchell has a shit-ton of talent and he can play both forward positions. I can see him completely busting, but the Pacers have done a good job in the past taking players who could use some work (Hibbert, Stephenson, George) and turning them into quality players. So I have faith the Pacers can make it work if they draft him. Mitchell can block shots very well and he would provide the versatility required where the Pacers could have a tremendously long frontline by playing him at the small forward position. Mitchell did take a step back this year upon returning to North Texas for his sophomore year and seemed to pass less, shoot threes more often, and his field goal percentage went from 56.7% to 44.0%. He's got some bad habits that could quickly derail his NBA career.
24. New York Knicks- Shane Larkin, PG
This is a great scenario for the Knicks. Larkin isn't the tallest point guard, but he is fearless and doesn't mind taking big shots. Not that he would have to take big shots on a team with Carmelo Anthony, but still...he will take them. With Jason Kidd's retirement they need a point guard to replace him and I can see Larkin succeeding in New York. At worst, I think Larkin is a backup point guard who can provide points coming off the bench. At best, I can see him as a starter for a high-seeded playoff team.
25. Los Angeles Clippers- Tim Hardaway Jr, SF
The Clippers could certainly use a small forward and Doc Rivers will like the versatility that Tim Hardaway Jr. provides. I think he should have stayed in school for one more year in terms of his talent-level, but I can't blame him for striking while the iron is hot. With Mitch McGary taking over the Michigan team next year (pure sarcasm is what that is, pure sarcasm) Hardaway's stock could go nothing but down.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves- Lucas Nogueira, C
He's another foreign player I haven't seen play other than in YouTube videos. The T-Wolves certainly could use some more height, especially if Kevin Love leaves town after this next season. He's not a very good offensive player (at least from the scouting reports I've read) and the T-Wolves have shown they are willing to be patient with international players. He'll need to gain some weight, but he's worth a flyer this late in the first round.
27. Denver Nuggets- Alex Abrines, SG
The Nuggets need a wing player and Abrines seems to have a lot of potential. This is more of a guess at the pick than anything else. Allen Crabbe could possibly contribute more quickly and Ricky Ledo is another option, but I think the Nuggets will look to draft Abrines and bring him over to the United States in the next year or two.
28. San Antonio Spurs- Archie Goodwin, SG
Goodwin never should have gone to the NBA, but that's life when you commit the University of Kentucky. You have one year to show you can play and then you get recruited over. That's not a criticism, but just a reality. Goodwin didn't show he could play in the NBA and he was already recruited over by the Harrison twins presence on the Wildcats roster next year. I could see a situation where if he came back to Kentucky and gotten consistent playing time he would have been a Top 15 pick, but that wasn't happening. The Spurs can afford to be patient with Goodwin, much like they are being patient with Cory Joseph, and it could very well pay off for them in 1-2 years when Ginobili decides to retire.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder- DeShaun Thomas, SF
Okay, I have to admit I'm just making this pick because I think it makes sense and not because I think this is who the Thunder will be drafting in this spot. I believe the Thunder need a scorer off the bench because, well, they do, and Thomas can score. Yes, he is an undersized power forward, but he has shown at Ohio State he can contribute when he isn't the main scorer and when he has to be the main scorer. He'll never be great, but he can provide offense off the bench, which is something the Thunder need.
30. Phoenix Suns- Livio Jean-Charles, SF
I think this is a nice pick the Suns could make at the end of the first round. Jean-Charles is only 19 years old, but the Suns aren't planning on winning an NBA title this upcoming season so they can wait a season or two on him. He blew up at the Nike Hoops Summit and every scouting report I have read states he is a hard-worker and team player. The Suns are sort-of-but-not-really-but sort-of rebuilding and that's the type of thing a team who wants to be on the rise needs.
I thought about mocking the second round, but decided against it. Here are some second-round picks I think will make an impact in the NBA next year.
Ray McCallum, PG- I love McCallum. He is a coach's son (which means nothing probably) and passed up the chance to play at bigger schools to play for his dad at Detroit. I think he will be a starter in the NBA.
Jeff Withey, C- He is very good at blocking shots. He'll be a very good backup for whoever drafts him.
Tony Snell, SG/SF- I have a weird Tony Snell fetish. I feel like he is going to be firing up 3's for a playoff team this year. I would probably rate him in my Top 15 favorite players in this draft.
Isaiah Canaan, PG- He could very well be a first round pick, but his height and the fact he isn't a "traditional" point guard I think will make him fall to the second round.
Anyway, I can't wait until tonight when all my picks will be wrong.
Showing posts with label terrible picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terrible picks. Show all posts
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thursday, June 28, 2012
9 comments 2012 NBA Mock Draft
Usually around NBA Draft time I take a shot at creating a mock draft. There's nothing I enjoy more than being wrong in a public fashion. I didn't do a mock draft last year, so figured I would take a shot at it this year. I did a 2010 NBA mock draft and got about seven of the picks correct. Not a great showing and I will try to do better this year. I'm the Jon Gruden of the NBA Draft. I didn't hate last year's draft and I love this year's draft. I think there are three guys who could be perennial All-Stars coming out of this year's NBA Draft. It's a really deep draft and there is talent from Pick #1 to Pick #32. Of course there is also Perry Jones III and Andre Drummond, both players whose sole purpose to exist is to get the General Manager that drafts them frustrated/fired and disappoint their team's fan base.
So here is my shot at who I think each NBA team will take in this year's draft, along with my opinion of the potential selection. This is a tough draft to mock up. I'm not even sure who Charlotte will take at #2. I also didn't include prospective trades in here if the trades weren't done by the time I posted this. I try not to predict trades.
1. New Orleans- Anthony Davis, C
This pick is fairly obvious. I don't know what kind of package would have to be offered to the Hornets in order to get this pick, but I'm guessing it would have to blow the Hornets away. It's an easy pick to make. Davis isn't as perfect as he is being made out to be, but he's a great defensive player with a ton of room to grow offensively. Though I do have an unnatural love for Brad Beal, and think he will end up being the best player in this draft, I see Anthony Davis as the best pick for the Hornets. They need a big man and if they get a scorer with the #10 pick and re-sign Eric Gordon they will have a very nice core of players.
2. Charlotte- Thomas Robinson, PF
I don't hate Thomas Robinson, but I don't like this pick. The Bobcats can find a better player at the #2 spot. Robinson won't ever be a star. He's strong, but I think he's bothered when guarded by players with length. Look at his games in the NCAA Tourney against UNC, NC State, and Kentucky. For me, he's a more powerful Jared Sullinger, and I'm not sure how I would like Sullinger as an early-lottery pick. Biyombo and Robinson seem like duplicates to me in the fact they are both natural power forwards and can't really play center for long periods of time. They are completely different players, but neither of them are a true center. I hope for the Bobcats' sake this isn't the pick in the #2 spot. Beal should be the pick. Robinson will be a 10 year starter, but nothing special. Beal is special.
3. Washington- Brad Beal, SG
I'm probably too high on Brad Beal. I think he is going to be a star in the NBA. This is a great choice to pair with John Wall and the Wizards need scoring. I'm not going to fawn all over him, but the biggest holes in his game are his inconsistent shooting and the fact he tended to defer to his teammates while at Florida. In his defense, he was the third guard in a backcourt with Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, so he wasn't deferring to shitty teammates. His shooting can be worked on and he will be an All-Star. Great pick. If only the Bobcats weren't drafting Robinson.
4. Cleveland- Harrison Barnes, SF
I have a bumpy relationship with this choice by the Cavs. I see Barnes as pretty overrated in some ways and think he is a replica of Sean Elliott, which doesn't immediately scream Top 5 pick (though Elliott was also a lottery pick). On the other hand, Barnes and Kyrie Irving are BFF's and probably have bracelets to prove it. Barnes is also not going to bust and will be a really good NBA player. He was playing injured for a good portion of last year, which affected his explosiveness (as a UNC fan will breathlessly point out when you criticize Barnes' lack of explosiveness), and he needs a quality point guard to achieve his full potential. I think Cleveland is a great fit for him. The Cavs can't really go wrong with Kidd-Gilchrist or Barnes in this spot. They are different players and I think Kidd-Gilchrist has the higher ceiling, but Barnes is the better scorer. I do want Kyrie to play with Brad Beal, but my dreams don't seem to come true. Barnes may end up being the third best player on a playoff team, but he's a great building block for them.
5. Sacramento- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF
I want Sacramento to stay away, as far away as humanely possible, from Andre Drummond. It looks like they will get their wish. If they want a big guy whose motor (or head) is questionable and whose game needs refinement, they can sort of look at DeMarcus Cousins. He's on the roster already. Sacramento has so expertly filled their team with a bunch of scorers and guys who want to score, so they need a guy who will play defense and do all of the little things really well without an ego. That's Kidd-Gilchrist. Draft him.
6. Portland- Damian Lillard, PG
Maybe this is wishful thinking and just poor planning on my part. There are two guys in this draft who I think are coach-killers. Andre Drummond and Perry Jones III. Both guys are going to get coaches fired and also will cause teams to fall in love with their potential. I only slightly dislike Drummond, but hate Jones III. The Blazers need a point guard and they need a center. I think they take the point guard they like the most here and will try to use the #11 pick on a center that has a few less question marks, but a lower ceiling as well. Lillard seems to me like a player who could have a Jamal Crawford-type career, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
7. Golden State- Andre Drummond, C
As a rule, I tend to dislike the Warriors draft picks. I hated the Klay Thompson pick last year and I didn't like Anthony Randolph or Epke Udoh that much either when they were drafted. So I know I will hate this pick. The Warriors need a big man, even if they have Andrew Bogut on the roster, you can't have too much size. Mark Jackson wants to turn the Warriors into a defensive team and I think they try to start this progression by drafting Andre Drummond. He could be special or he could also be the reason Mark Jackson is back in the booth with Jeff Van Gundy in two years. Of course just as I was posting this, Jerry West basically said the Warriors aren't taking Drummond. What does he know? I'm sticking with the pick because that's what I do.
8. Toronto- Austin Rivers, SG/PG
I'm not convinced Rivers can be a point guard. Of course I am also not convinced Rivers isn't really a shooting guard. I think he can play shooting guard and defend the position well also. I don't see the issues experts have with Rivers at the shooting guard spot. He's as tall as Dwyane Wade, but 10 years younger and 20 pounds lighter. I think he can play shooting guard is my point. Rivers has a massive ego and is cocky, so this is a bit of a risk for the Raptors. Teammates generally don't seem to love Rivers and from what I've heard he has the ability to grate at times, but he has the ability to get to the basket, draw fouls and he works hard at becoming a better player. He could become a five-time All-Star or he could just end up being a cocky asshole whose actual ability never matches his own perceived ability.
9. Detroit- John Henson, PF
This is such a good pick, I can see where it won't happen. If Drummond is available, I think the Pistons take him. If the Pistons draft Meyers Leonard they deserve what they get. Henson isn't much offensively yet, but he's incredibly long and will fit in well with Monroe and Knight. This has to happen. The Pistons need a shot blocker and I think Henson is second to Davis in this draft in terms of shot blocking and shot altering ability. Henson may never be a great offensive player, but he will fit in well with the Pistons forward rotation.
10. New Orleans- Dion Waiters, SG
Yes, the Hornets already have Eric Gordon but I don't think the skill set of these two players overlaps that much. The Hornets need a scorer and Waiters can score. I see him working really well with Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon. He gets to the rim creating passing lanes for Davis to get easy baskets and for Gordon to get open jump shots. I haven't seen Waiters mocked to the Hornets anywhere else, so maybe I'm far off, but I think it makes sense.
11. Portland- Tyler Zeller, C
This is another pick I think other mock drafts will disagree with (or they did disagree with. I started this mock Monday morning and by Thursday morning other mocks had Zeller in this spot), but Zeller isn't as bad physically as advertised. A team knows what it will get with a guy like Zeller. He can run the floor, he's a smart player, he's long and has some moves on the offensive end. Pairing him up with LaMarcus Aldridge and Lillard makes sense to me. I think he is a more polished and NBA-ready player over Leonard, so that's why the Blazers take him...if he lasts this long. Of course, if the Blazers want potential they may go in a different direction.
12. Houston- Meyers Leonard, C
I don't anticipate the Rockets keeping any of their picks, so these are the guys I would draft if I'm the Rockets and I keep all three first round picks. I'm not on the Meyers Leonard bandwagon. Fortunately the Rockets are probably not keeping this pick. If they do keep this pick, Leonard is a great choice for them. They need a center and Leonard does have a ton of potential and he did improve a lot between his freshmen and sophomore years.
13. Phoenix- Kendall Marshall, PG
So this has to happen, right? Maybe I'm playing too much fantasy NBA Draft by having the Suns base on a shooting guard like Lamb or Ross. Marshall is perfect for this offense. Even if Nash re-signs with the Suns they will need another point guard sooner rather than later. There isn't a better point guard in this draft to run a high-octane offense like the Suns have. Marshall thrives in that atmosphere. Jeremy Lamb could also be a consideration if the Suns prefer scoring or Moe Harkless if the Suns want to choose a player no mock draft has them taking here (but I would take Harkless in the Top 10). None of those guys are bad choices, but Marshall is the perfect choice. Now if he can work on his lateral movement on defense, I'll feel even better about this pick.
14. Milwaukee- Terrence Ross, SG
The Bucks got this pick from the Rockets and while they do need a center, they could also use another scorer. Ross is that good scorer. I'm not a huge fan of Ross being an above average player, but he is a great shooter and will fit in well for the Rockets.
15. Philadelphia- Arnett Moultrie, PF/C
Talking to 76ers fans, some say the team needs height and others say the team needs scoring. I don't see the scoring need as much as I see a need for some height. I'm guessing the 76ers go with Arnett Moultrie over a guy like Sullinger because Moultrie can play center. Moultrie is an athletic guy and I prefer him over Meyers Leonard, though I honestly haven't seen Moultrie play enough to really be confident in that assessment.
16. Houston- Jared Sullinger, PF
I didn't like Sullinger being taken in the first 10 picks because of the injury issues I have with him, but if the Rockets want a guy who can rebound and score in the low post, he is the natural option at this point. He's not the most athletic guy and I'm not sure he hasn't gotten closer to his ceiling, but he's got great size and a huge ass. I say that because he uses his huge ass and body to get in rebounding and scoring position. At worst, you have a DeJuan Blair-type player who can rebound and score in limited minutes. You never want to think worst case with a first round pick, but I don't think it will be a worst-case scenario like that.
17. Dallas- Jeremy Lamb, SG
This is a no-brainer at this point. I can't believe I have Lamb falling this far since he seems highly valued. I know we hear the comparisons to Reggie Miller, but I don't know if I see those comparisons as much as others do. To me, he isn't as good of a shooter as Miller was out of college (of course Lamb is also 20 years old) and he isn't very strong. He's best coming off screens which I think makes his game somewhat limited. Lamb isn't a #1 scorer on a team, as we saw last year at UConn when he was miscast as the best player on the team. Still, this is a great spot for him and the Mavericks could use a scorer like him. I'm not sure he will ever do much else but come off screens and be a poor man's Rip Hamilton, but we'll see.
18. Houston- Perry Jones III, SF
I don't like Perry Jones III. He simply seems to leave a lot out on the floor in terms of production or energy. This isn't a case where too much is being expected of him. It's a case where Jones III never seems to provide a consistent effort on the court. I watched quite a few Baylor games this year and would forget he was on the floor. He's that guy who is extremely talented, but will never put it all together for some reason. He'll get a coach fired and all of his potential will be fool's gold. I hope I'm wrong and he has all the physical tools to be an All-Star. I don't blame the Rockets for drafting him here, but I would take Moe Harkless. He's going to be star.
19. Orlando- Terrence Jones, SF
I used to question Jones' drive and willingness to put forth effort, but it seems staying in school for his sophomore year really seemed to give him slightly more consistency. He's like a chubbier, less athletic Josh Smith for me. He loves to hang around the three-point line and I can see a situation where he is the left-handed version of Antoine Walker. Having said that, Antoine Walker wasn't a bad player for a while and the Magic need the rebounding and versatility that Jones can provide. He's a small forward in a power forward's body and can do quite a few things well.
20. Denver- Royce White, SF
Denver needs a backup point guard. Royce White can bring the ball up. Does that count? I'm concerned this seems like too obvious of a pick, but the Nuggets have a good group of players and the best part about Royce White is that he will fit in with what the Nuggets and they won't have to worry about pigeon-holing him in a certain position. So he won't upset what the Nuggets are trying to build by duplicating the skill set of a player on the Nuggets current roster. Basically, he is versatile enough to back up Ty Lawson if necessary, but also play some power forward as well. Just don't ask him to fly. Every man has his limits and that is White's limit.
21. Boston- Moe Harkless, SF
I'm not cheating, I promise. I didn't put one of my favorite players in this draft on my favorite NBA team because I just like to see it in writing. I think the draft falls this way and it is a need for the Celtics. Yes, they have Paul Pierce already, but the Celtics lack a guy who have some sort of explosive ability on offense and Harkless could provide this. He's an excellent rebounder for his position and will look great running with Rondo. I just hope I'm right and he falls here. Harkless would be on the "Redshirt first year in the NBA" track that Avery Bradley was on.
22. Boston- Fab Melo, C
I don't really like Fab Melo in this spot. I would rather the Celtics take a backup point guard or trade the pick, but if they keep this pick they are going to need big men. Garnett doesn't like playing center and even if he comes back the Celtics have to do better than the shit-platter of Stiemsma and Ryan Hollins. The only thing Melo can do really well is protect the rim and that's probably good enough for the Celtics to draft him here. He'll play 10 years in the NBA for five teams and then convince some team to sign him to a four year deal for $30 million along the way. He's one of those guys.
23. Atlanta- Tony Wroten, PG
I heard rumors back in early April the Hawks wanted Wroten to come out of the draft so they could take him. Of course now they have a new GM so this may be way off, but Wroten is a special talent in my opinion. He can't guard a fence post (which probably could end up being a major factor in the NBA), but he is a big-body combo guard who can get to the rim. I've seen mocks where he didn't go in the first round, which is ridiculous. He has a lot to work on, but I think he is worth the pick here.
24. Cleveland- Doron Lamb, SG
The Cavs may not play defense much this year, but they will be fun as hell to watch. Perhaps a draft of Barnes and Doron Lamb is too much offense, but it will certainly be a good way to build around Kyrie Irving. By passing on one of the average to mediocre big men here the Cavs are essentially saying they know they will get killed some on the inside, but Lamb would be dangerous spotting up when Irving/Barnes drive to the basket. Lamb may just end up being an Eddie House-type player, but there are worse things to be. I don't see why the Cavs would reach for a player who is taller just to take care of a need they have, but there's a lot of things I don't understand about the draft.
25. Memphis- Quincy Miller, SF
Yes, the Grizzlies need depth at point guard, but Quincy Miller is the type of pick that could really pay off two years down the road. Sure, Miller comes from the Baylor school of "a lot of hype and not a lot of production" that seems to be a Scott Drew special, but the Grizzlies have shown in the past they are willing to take a chance on an underachieving player (Josh Selby) and he will have time to learn behind Rudy Gay. Miller has injury issues and he didn't produce much, but the Grizzlies are in a position where they won't find any guys with higher ceilings at this point in the draft.
26. Indiana- Andrew Nicholson, PF
Nicholson is a great pick here. Granted, he isn't going to be an All-Star, but he can stretch the opposing power forward out and can also play in the middle. Nicholson will have a chance to play behind David West and learn from a guy who plays the game similar to how he plays. The Pacers still need some depth at the forward/guard position, but with the uncertainty around Hibbert and West being a free agent after this next season, I think this pick makes sense.
27. Miami- John Jenkins, SG
As well as playing with Bosh at the center spot worked for the Heat in the playoffs, it isn't a recipe for long-term success. The Heat need an actual center on the roster. Since Festus Ezili isn't going to be any good in the NBA (and I assume the Heat know this), I figure the Heat will try to shore up their perimeter shooting since they got a taste of how unstoppable they are when the three-point shooters are on. He's versatile and is a fantastic shooter. Sounds like a good fit for the Heat.
28. Oklahoma City- Draymond Green, PF
Maybe the fact I hate Festus Ezili as a prospect affects my mock too much. He's tall and doesn't fall over himself while walking, which means he will go in the first round. Draymond Green seems too good of a pick in this spot. He's athletic and he doesn't pay the eye test. He has those intangibles that coaches seem to love and he does everything well. He's smaller for a power forward, but he still rebounds well and would give the Thunder a different look at the "4" position. Playing he and Perkins together probably doesn't seem very smart since neither of them are real shot-blockers, but Draymond Green is a smart player who would fit in well with the Thunder. Not to go crazy with the cliches, but he's the kind of "glue guy" off the bench the Thunder were missing. I can see Marcus Teague being the guy here also under the idea of taking the best player available.
29. Chicago- Marcus Teague, PG
Two-fold reason for drafting Teague. The uncertainty around Derrick Rose's knee and the fact the Teague is the best player available in this spot. The Bulls have other needs, but Teague should never fall this far. I actually tried to fit him in earlier, but didn't feel strongly enough to move another player out of the position to put Teague in. This fits well for the Bulls. At worst they have a guy who has potential to be a great backup point guard. At best, he could be a quality starter in the NBA for a playoff team.
30. Golden State- Jeffrey Taylor, SF
The Warriors seem to be looking at a shooting guard with the #7 selection, so they would be happy to get Jeffrey Taylor who is a good shooter and can play the wing position in the NBA, at least athletically. Plus, he plays defense, which is always helpful.
Feel free to tell me how stupid my draft is and hopefully trades won't screw it all up too much.
So here is my shot at who I think each NBA team will take in this year's draft, along with my opinion of the potential selection. This is a tough draft to mock up. I'm not even sure who Charlotte will take at #2. I also didn't include prospective trades in here if the trades weren't done by the time I posted this. I try not to predict trades.
1. New Orleans- Anthony Davis, C
This pick is fairly obvious. I don't know what kind of package would have to be offered to the Hornets in order to get this pick, but I'm guessing it would have to blow the Hornets away. It's an easy pick to make. Davis isn't as perfect as he is being made out to be, but he's a great defensive player with a ton of room to grow offensively. Though I do have an unnatural love for Brad Beal, and think he will end up being the best player in this draft, I see Anthony Davis as the best pick for the Hornets. They need a big man and if they get a scorer with the #10 pick and re-sign Eric Gordon they will have a very nice core of players.
2. Charlotte- Thomas Robinson, PF
I don't hate Thomas Robinson, but I don't like this pick. The Bobcats can find a better player at the #2 spot. Robinson won't ever be a star. He's strong, but I think he's bothered when guarded by players with length. Look at his games in the NCAA Tourney against UNC, NC State, and Kentucky. For me, he's a more powerful Jared Sullinger, and I'm not sure how I would like Sullinger as an early-lottery pick. Biyombo and Robinson seem like duplicates to me in the fact they are both natural power forwards and can't really play center for long periods of time. They are completely different players, but neither of them are a true center. I hope for the Bobcats' sake this isn't the pick in the #2 spot. Beal should be the pick. Robinson will be a 10 year starter, but nothing special. Beal is special.
3. Washington- Brad Beal, SG
I'm probably too high on Brad Beal. I think he is going to be a star in the NBA. This is a great choice to pair with John Wall and the Wizards need scoring. I'm not going to fawn all over him, but the biggest holes in his game are his inconsistent shooting and the fact he tended to defer to his teammates while at Florida. In his defense, he was the third guard in a backcourt with Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, so he wasn't deferring to shitty teammates. His shooting can be worked on and he will be an All-Star. Great pick. If only the Bobcats weren't drafting Robinson.
4. Cleveland- Harrison Barnes, SF
I have a bumpy relationship with this choice by the Cavs. I see Barnes as pretty overrated in some ways and think he is a replica of Sean Elliott, which doesn't immediately scream Top 5 pick (though Elliott was also a lottery pick). On the other hand, Barnes and Kyrie Irving are BFF's and probably have bracelets to prove it. Barnes is also not going to bust and will be a really good NBA player. He was playing injured for a good portion of last year, which affected his explosiveness (as a UNC fan will breathlessly point out when you criticize Barnes' lack of explosiveness), and he needs a quality point guard to achieve his full potential. I think Cleveland is a great fit for him. The Cavs can't really go wrong with Kidd-Gilchrist or Barnes in this spot. They are different players and I think Kidd-Gilchrist has the higher ceiling, but Barnes is the better scorer. I do want Kyrie to play with Brad Beal, but my dreams don't seem to come true. Barnes may end up being the third best player on a playoff team, but he's a great building block for them.
5. Sacramento- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF
I want Sacramento to stay away, as far away as humanely possible, from Andre Drummond. It looks like they will get their wish. If they want a big guy whose motor (or head) is questionable and whose game needs refinement, they can sort of look at DeMarcus Cousins. He's on the roster already. Sacramento has so expertly filled their team with a bunch of scorers and guys who want to score, so they need a guy who will play defense and do all of the little things really well without an ego. That's Kidd-Gilchrist. Draft him.
6. Portland- Damian Lillard, PG
Maybe this is wishful thinking and just poor planning on my part. There are two guys in this draft who I think are coach-killers. Andre Drummond and Perry Jones III. Both guys are going to get coaches fired and also will cause teams to fall in love with their potential. I only slightly dislike Drummond, but hate Jones III. The Blazers need a point guard and they need a center. I think they take the point guard they like the most here and will try to use the #11 pick on a center that has a few less question marks, but a lower ceiling as well. Lillard seems to me like a player who could have a Jamal Crawford-type career, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
7. Golden State- Andre Drummond, C
As a rule, I tend to dislike the Warriors draft picks. I hated the Klay Thompson pick last year and I didn't like Anthony Randolph or Epke Udoh that much either when they were drafted. So I know I will hate this pick. The Warriors need a big man, even if they have Andrew Bogut on the roster, you can't have too much size. Mark Jackson wants to turn the Warriors into a defensive team and I think they try to start this progression by drafting Andre Drummond. He could be special or he could also be the reason Mark Jackson is back in the booth with Jeff Van Gundy in two years. Of course just as I was posting this, Jerry West basically said the Warriors aren't taking Drummond. What does he know? I'm sticking with the pick because that's what I do.
8. Toronto- Austin Rivers, SG/PG
I'm not convinced Rivers can be a point guard. Of course I am also not convinced Rivers isn't really a shooting guard. I think he can play shooting guard and defend the position well also. I don't see the issues experts have with Rivers at the shooting guard spot. He's as tall as Dwyane Wade, but 10 years younger and 20 pounds lighter. I think he can play shooting guard is my point. Rivers has a massive ego and is cocky, so this is a bit of a risk for the Raptors. Teammates generally don't seem to love Rivers and from what I've heard he has the ability to grate at times, but he has the ability to get to the basket, draw fouls and he works hard at becoming a better player. He could become a five-time All-Star or he could just end up being a cocky asshole whose actual ability never matches his own perceived ability.
9. Detroit- John Henson, PF
This is such a good pick, I can see where it won't happen. If Drummond is available, I think the Pistons take him. If the Pistons draft Meyers Leonard they deserve what they get. Henson isn't much offensively yet, but he's incredibly long and will fit in well with Monroe and Knight. This has to happen. The Pistons need a shot blocker and I think Henson is second to Davis in this draft in terms of shot blocking and shot altering ability. Henson may never be a great offensive player, but he will fit in well with the Pistons forward rotation.
10. New Orleans- Dion Waiters, SG
Yes, the Hornets already have Eric Gordon but I don't think the skill set of these two players overlaps that much. The Hornets need a scorer and Waiters can score. I see him working really well with Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon. He gets to the rim creating passing lanes for Davis to get easy baskets and for Gordon to get open jump shots. I haven't seen Waiters mocked to the Hornets anywhere else, so maybe I'm far off, but I think it makes sense.
11. Portland- Tyler Zeller, C
This is another pick I think other mock drafts will disagree with (or they did disagree with. I started this mock Monday morning and by Thursday morning other mocks had Zeller in this spot), but Zeller isn't as bad physically as advertised. A team knows what it will get with a guy like Zeller. He can run the floor, he's a smart player, he's long and has some moves on the offensive end. Pairing him up with LaMarcus Aldridge and Lillard makes sense to me. I think he is a more polished and NBA-ready player over Leonard, so that's why the Blazers take him...if he lasts this long. Of course, if the Blazers want potential they may go in a different direction.
12. Houston- Meyers Leonard, C
I don't anticipate the Rockets keeping any of their picks, so these are the guys I would draft if I'm the Rockets and I keep all three first round picks. I'm not on the Meyers Leonard bandwagon. Fortunately the Rockets are probably not keeping this pick. If they do keep this pick, Leonard is a great choice for them. They need a center and Leonard does have a ton of potential and he did improve a lot between his freshmen and sophomore years.
13. Phoenix- Kendall Marshall, PG
So this has to happen, right? Maybe I'm playing too much fantasy NBA Draft by having the Suns base on a shooting guard like Lamb or Ross. Marshall is perfect for this offense. Even if Nash re-signs with the Suns they will need another point guard sooner rather than later. There isn't a better point guard in this draft to run a high-octane offense like the Suns have. Marshall thrives in that atmosphere. Jeremy Lamb could also be a consideration if the Suns prefer scoring or Moe Harkless if the Suns want to choose a player no mock draft has them taking here (but I would take Harkless in the Top 10). None of those guys are bad choices, but Marshall is the perfect choice. Now if he can work on his lateral movement on defense, I'll feel even better about this pick.
14. Milwaukee- Terrence Ross, SG
The Bucks got this pick from the Rockets and while they do need a center, they could also use another scorer. Ross is that good scorer. I'm not a huge fan of Ross being an above average player, but he is a great shooter and will fit in well for the Rockets.
15. Philadelphia- Arnett Moultrie, PF/C
Talking to 76ers fans, some say the team needs height and others say the team needs scoring. I don't see the scoring need as much as I see a need for some height. I'm guessing the 76ers go with Arnett Moultrie over a guy like Sullinger because Moultrie can play center. Moultrie is an athletic guy and I prefer him over Meyers Leonard, though I honestly haven't seen Moultrie play enough to really be confident in that assessment.
16. Houston- Jared Sullinger, PF
I didn't like Sullinger being taken in the first 10 picks because of the injury issues I have with him, but if the Rockets want a guy who can rebound and score in the low post, he is the natural option at this point. He's not the most athletic guy and I'm not sure he hasn't gotten closer to his ceiling, but he's got great size and a huge ass. I say that because he uses his huge ass and body to get in rebounding and scoring position. At worst, you have a DeJuan Blair-type player who can rebound and score in limited minutes. You never want to think worst case with a first round pick, but I don't think it will be a worst-case scenario like that.
17. Dallas- Jeremy Lamb, SG
This is a no-brainer at this point. I can't believe I have Lamb falling this far since he seems highly valued. I know we hear the comparisons to Reggie Miller, but I don't know if I see those comparisons as much as others do. To me, he isn't as good of a shooter as Miller was out of college (of course Lamb is also 20 years old) and he isn't very strong. He's best coming off screens which I think makes his game somewhat limited. Lamb isn't a #1 scorer on a team, as we saw last year at UConn when he was miscast as the best player on the team. Still, this is a great spot for him and the Mavericks could use a scorer like him. I'm not sure he will ever do much else but come off screens and be a poor man's Rip Hamilton, but we'll see.
18. Houston- Perry Jones III, SF
I don't like Perry Jones III. He simply seems to leave a lot out on the floor in terms of production or energy. This isn't a case where too much is being expected of him. It's a case where Jones III never seems to provide a consistent effort on the court. I watched quite a few Baylor games this year and would forget he was on the floor. He's that guy who is extremely talented, but will never put it all together for some reason. He'll get a coach fired and all of his potential will be fool's gold. I hope I'm wrong and he has all the physical tools to be an All-Star. I don't blame the Rockets for drafting him here, but I would take Moe Harkless. He's going to be star.
19. Orlando- Terrence Jones, SF
I used to question Jones' drive and willingness to put forth effort, but it seems staying in school for his sophomore year really seemed to give him slightly more consistency. He's like a chubbier, less athletic Josh Smith for me. He loves to hang around the three-point line and I can see a situation where he is the left-handed version of Antoine Walker. Having said that, Antoine Walker wasn't a bad player for a while and the Magic need the rebounding and versatility that Jones can provide. He's a small forward in a power forward's body and can do quite a few things well.
20. Denver- Royce White, SF
Denver needs a backup point guard. Royce White can bring the ball up. Does that count? I'm concerned this seems like too obvious of a pick, but the Nuggets have a good group of players and the best part about Royce White is that he will fit in with what the Nuggets and they won't have to worry about pigeon-holing him in a certain position. So he won't upset what the Nuggets are trying to build by duplicating the skill set of a player on the Nuggets current roster. Basically, he is versatile enough to back up Ty Lawson if necessary, but also play some power forward as well. Just don't ask him to fly. Every man has his limits and that is White's limit.
21. Boston- Moe Harkless, SF
I'm not cheating, I promise. I didn't put one of my favorite players in this draft on my favorite NBA team because I just like to see it in writing. I think the draft falls this way and it is a need for the Celtics. Yes, they have Paul Pierce already, but the Celtics lack a guy who have some sort of explosive ability on offense and Harkless could provide this. He's an excellent rebounder for his position and will look great running with Rondo. I just hope I'm right and he falls here. Harkless would be on the "Redshirt first year in the NBA" track that Avery Bradley was on.
22. Boston- Fab Melo, C
I don't really like Fab Melo in this spot. I would rather the Celtics take a backup point guard or trade the pick, but if they keep this pick they are going to need big men. Garnett doesn't like playing center and even if he comes back the Celtics have to do better than the shit-platter of Stiemsma and Ryan Hollins. The only thing Melo can do really well is protect the rim and that's probably good enough for the Celtics to draft him here. He'll play 10 years in the NBA for five teams and then convince some team to sign him to a four year deal for $30 million along the way. He's one of those guys.
23. Atlanta- Tony Wroten, PG
I heard rumors back in early April the Hawks wanted Wroten to come out of the draft so they could take him. Of course now they have a new GM so this may be way off, but Wroten is a special talent in my opinion. He can't guard a fence post (which probably could end up being a major factor in the NBA), but he is a big-body combo guard who can get to the rim. I've seen mocks where he didn't go in the first round, which is ridiculous. He has a lot to work on, but I think he is worth the pick here.
24. Cleveland- Doron Lamb, SG
The Cavs may not play defense much this year, but they will be fun as hell to watch. Perhaps a draft of Barnes and Doron Lamb is too much offense, but it will certainly be a good way to build around Kyrie Irving. By passing on one of the average to mediocre big men here the Cavs are essentially saying they know they will get killed some on the inside, but Lamb would be dangerous spotting up when Irving/Barnes drive to the basket. Lamb may just end up being an Eddie House-type player, but there are worse things to be. I don't see why the Cavs would reach for a player who is taller just to take care of a need they have, but there's a lot of things I don't understand about the draft.
25. Memphis- Quincy Miller, SF
Yes, the Grizzlies need depth at point guard, but Quincy Miller is the type of pick that could really pay off two years down the road. Sure, Miller comes from the Baylor school of "a lot of hype and not a lot of production" that seems to be a Scott Drew special, but the Grizzlies have shown in the past they are willing to take a chance on an underachieving player (Josh Selby) and he will have time to learn behind Rudy Gay. Miller has injury issues and he didn't produce much, but the Grizzlies are in a position where they won't find any guys with higher ceilings at this point in the draft.
26. Indiana- Andrew Nicholson, PF
Nicholson is a great pick here. Granted, he isn't going to be an All-Star, but he can stretch the opposing power forward out and can also play in the middle. Nicholson will have a chance to play behind David West and learn from a guy who plays the game similar to how he plays. The Pacers still need some depth at the forward/guard position, but with the uncertainty around Hibbert and West being a free agent after this next season, I think this pick makes sense.
27. Miami- John Jenkins, SG
As well as playing with Bosh at the center spot worked for the Heat in the playoffs, it isn't a recipe for long-term success. The Heat need an actual center on the roster. Since Festus Ezili isn't going to be any good in the NBA (and I assume the Heat know this), I figure the Heat will try to shore up their perimeter shooting since they got a taste of how unstoppable they are when the three-point shooters are on. He's versatile and is a fantastic shooter. Sounds like a good fit for the Heat.
28. Oklahoma City- Draymond Green, PF
Maybe the fact I hate Festus Ezili as a prospect affects my mock too much. He's tall and doesn't fall over himself while walking, which means he will go in the first round. Draymond Green seems too good of a pick in this spot. He's athletic and he doesn't pay the eye test. He has those intangibles that coaches seem to love and he does everything well. He's smaller for a power forward, but he still rebounds well and would give the Thunder a different look at the "4" position. Playing he and Perkins together probably doesn't seem very smart since neither of them are real shot-blockers, but Draymond Green is a smart player who would fit in well with the Thunder. Not to go crazy with the cliches, but he's the kind of "glue guy" off the bench the Thunder were missing. I can see Marcus Teague being the guy here also under the idea of taking the best player available.
29. Chicago- Marcus Teague, PG
Two-fold reason for drafting Teague. The uncertainty around Derrick Rose's knee and the fact the Teague is the best player available in this spot. The Bulls have other needs, but Teague should never fall this far. I actually tried to fit him in earlier, but didn't feel strongly enough to move another player out of the position to put Teague in. This fits well for the Bulls. At worst they have a guy who has potential to be a great backup point guard. At best, he could be a quality starter in the NBA for a playoff team.
30. Golden State- Jeffrey Taylor, SF
The Warriors seem to be looking at a shooting guard with the #7 selection, so they would be happy to get Jeffrey Taylor who is a good shooter and can play the wing position in the NBA, at least athletically. Plus, he plays defense, which is always helpful.
Feel free to tell me how stupid my draft is and hopefully trades won't screw it all up too much.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
3 comments Microfracture Surgery? More like Schmicrofracture Schmergery
I don't normally do Peter King, and I hope I'm not stepping on Ben's toes here, but as I read his picks, my jaw dropped further and further with each game he picked. Not the picks themselves, I mean picks are whatever, but just some of the shit he says, is amazing. eg...
Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's former high school baseball teammate, Clayton Kershaw, wins his 20th game and becomes a leading candidate for the National League Cy Young. In Minnesota, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer get shut down for the year with injuries. A coincidence? I think not.
I can only assume this is meant to be some cutesy joke? I mean...obviously it's a coincidence. But it's not funny, it's not even remotely relevant. This is the best thing he could say about this upcoming game? What about Minnesota not having to even consider the running game and playing two and three deep all game to challenge Stafford? What about Jared Allen challenging the offensive front of the Lions who haven't allowed a sack all year?
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
Guess who's the eighth-rated quarterback in football after two weeks, with a 105.7 rating, completing 66 percent of his throws, with zero interceptions in eight quarters? Two clues: He's playing in this game. And he's got red hair. If you can't answer it, you need to click away from this page. Immediately.
He's also played Denver (29th in YPA pass defense in 2010) and Cleveland (26th). Also, regarding impugning the reader's football interest and knowledge, people in glass houses Peter, people in glass houses. Even besides that though, what a bit of snobbery. I mean Peter, I hate to break it to you friend, but you're not who NFL diehards read. They read Mike Lombardi, or Football Outsiders etc. So, you're appealing to a pretty mass market audience (this is SI after all) and some people, yeah, aren't gonna know who Andy Dalton is. Shame on you for trying to make them feel stupid for not knowing who a relatively irrelevant quarterback is. Again, glass houses.
Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)
I remember a long time ago -- like, back in August -- when I picked the Dolphins to finish fourth in the AFC East, and I got 4,519 tweets from Dolfans telling me how preposterous that was. The general tenor of the messages was that even if Chad Henne struggled mightily, the D would hold them in games. Well, through two weeks, Miami is dead last in defense, and has allowed 30.5 points per game. Not good.
Miami is in real trouble, as I wrote this week, but New England and Houston are two of the very finest offensive teams in the NFL. They ranked 4th and 5th in the NFL in YPA, 10th and 3rd in YPC, 8th and 3rd in total offense and 1st and 9th in points. Again, Miami has not been great, but I think the immortal Colt McCoy might find the sledding a little tougher, how about bringing this to the attention of your readers rather than admonishing them? Or does that not give you the self congratulatory thrill of being simplistic and lazy?
New England Patriots (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Fabulous game. Fun game. The Bills, as the world knows, have lost 15 straight to the Patriots. The last time they beat New England, 31-0 on opening day 2003 ... now that was a memorable day. Lawyer Milloy, dumped by the Pats in a cap move, ended up with Buffalo for the game. Tom Jackson said on ESPN the Patriots hate their coach. And the players were so united in their contempt for Bill Belichick that, after this game, they won 19 of their next 20 games -- and the Super Bowl. This time, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who used to watch Tom Brady shred foes from his dorm room at Harvard, will go toe to toe with Brady. This will be anyone's game in the fourth quarter.
I'll hold you to that.
New York Giants (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)
Cruel and unusual punishment: Steve Smith scores the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the M*A*S*H-unit Giants can only wonder, "Why didn't we sign this guy back in July?"
Gee, Peter, I don't know. To be fair, Tracy McGrady, Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, Terrell Brandon, Jamal Mashburn, Chris Webber were completely unaffected by the procedure, so, yeah - Giants were a bunch of dummies.
Denver Broncos (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1)
Stat Most Illustrative of Why Tennesseeans Are Glad Titans Signed Hasselbeck Dept.: Tennessee has the third-fewest rushing yards in football (117), with the highest-paid running back in football (Chris Johnson). You never know.
Of course you "never know". What a pointless thing to say. Obviously you don't know. If I knew I'd be sipping cocktails in the Carribean with my vast gambling fortune. But surely you might say this is not sustainable? Matt Hasselbeck's QB rating in his last 35 regular season games, over the previous 3 seasons is 71.2. He threw 34 TD's and 44 INT's. And he is now a year older. "You never know", what does this even mean?
New York Jets (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (1-1)
Why? Just a gut feeling. Oakland's really ticked off about losing the game in Buffalo; the players sound wounded. The Jets are playing a center who's never played, with Nick Mangold down with a high ankle sprain. Oakland should be seething against the league for putting them at Denver on Monday night, late, to start the season, then, after getting home at 4 a.m. Tuesday, flying back out three days later to a city four-and-a-half hours away. Just a hunch, but I bet a few of the players were in a lather over that. Tough spot for the Jets, who are better on a neutral field. Which this will not be on Sunday.
When is the last time the Jets played on a neutral field? London and the Superbowl are the only neutral fields any NFL team plays on right? Are you just saying that they are better at home then on the road? Thanks for that Sherlock. NFL teams play better at home than on the road - must remember that. And you criticise people for not knowing Andy Dalton.
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (0-2)
You know why the Ravens need this game quite a bit? Because they have to prove to their fans and themselves that the resounding Steeler victory in Week 1 didn't take so much out of them for the rest of the year. Oh, and it would help if their corners could cover the way did in Week 1 too.
Look the Ravens may be old, but I assure you, winning one game will not ruin them for the next sixteen - trust me on that one Pete.
Man, that was fun. Now I know the rush of superiority Ben must feel writing on this guy.
Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's former high school baseball teammate, Clayton Kershaw, wins his 20th game and becomes a leading candidate for the National League Cy Young. In Minnesota, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer get shut down for the year with injuries. A coincidence? I think not.
I can only assume this is meant to be some cutesy joke? I mean...obviously it's a coincidence. But it's not funny, it's not even remotely relevant. This is the best thing he could say about this upcoming game? What about Minnesota not having to even consider the running game and playing two and three deep all game to challenge Stafford? What about Jared Allen challenging the offensive front of the Lions who haven't allowed a sack all year?
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
Guess who's the eighth-rated quarterback in football after two weeks, with a 105.7 rating, completing 66 percent of his throws, with zero interceptions in eight quarters? Two clues: He's playing in this game. And he's got red hair. If you can't answer it, you need to click away from this page. Immediately.
He's also played Denver (29th in YPA pass defense in 2010) and Cleveland (26th). Also, regarding impugning the reader's football interest and knowledge, people in glass houses Peter, people in glass houses. Even besides that though, what a bit of snobbery. I mean Peter, I hate to break it to you friend, but you're not who NFL diehards read. They read Mike Lombardi, or Football Outsiders etc. So, you're appealing to a pretty mass market audience (this is SI after all) and some people, yeah, aren't gonna know who Andy Dalton is. Shame on you for trying to make them feel stupid for not knowing who a relatively irrelevant quarterback is. Again, glass houses.
Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)
I remember a long time ago -- like, back in August -- when I picked the Dolphins to finish fourth in the AFC East, and I got 4,519 tweets from Dolfans telling me how preposterous that was. The general tenor of the messages was that even if Chad Henne struggled mightily, the D would hold them in games. Well, through two weeks, Miami is dead last in defense, and has allowed 30.5 points per game. Not good.
Miami is in real trouble, as I wrote this week, but New England and Houston are two of the very finest offensive teams in the NFL. They ranked 4th and 5th in the NFL in YPA, 10th and 3rd in YPC, 8th and 3rd in total offense and 1st and 9th in points. Again, Miami has not been great, but I think the immortal Colt McCoy might find the sledding a little tougher, how about bringing this to the attention of your readers rather than admonishing them? Or does that not give you the self congratulatory thrill of being simplistic and lazy?
New England Patriots (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Fabulous game. Fun game. The Bills, as the world knows, have lost 15 straight to the Patriots. The last time they beat New England, 31-0 on opening day 2003 ... now that was a memorable day. Lawyer Milloy, dumped by the Pats in a cap move, ended up with Buffalo for the game. Tom Jackson said on ESPN the Patriots hate their coach. And the players were so united in their contempt for Bill Belichick that, after this game, they won 19 of their next 20 games -- and the Super Bowl. This time, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who used to watch Tom Brady shred foes from his dorm room at Harvard, will go toe to toe with Brady. This will be anyone's game in the fourth quarter.
I'll hold you to that.
New York Giants (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)
Cruel and unusual punishment: Steve Smith scores the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the M*A*S*H-unit Giants can only wonder, "Why didn't we sign this guy back in July?"
Gee, Peter, I don't know. To be fair, Tracy McGrady, Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, Terrell Brandon, Jamal Mashburn, Chris Webber were completely unaffected by the procedure, so, yeah - Giants were a bunch of dummies.
Denver Broncos (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1)
Stat Most Illustrative of Why Tennesseeans Are Glad Titans Signed Hasselbeck Dept.: Tennessee has the third-fewest rushing yards in football (117), with the highest-paid running back in football (Chris Johnson). You never know.
Of course you "never know". What a pointless thing to say. Obviously you don't know. If I knew I'd be sipping cocktails in the Carribean with my vast gambling fortune. But surely you might say this is not sustainable? Matt Hasselbeck's QB rating in his last 35 regular season games, over the previous 3 seasons is 71.2. He threw 34 TD's and 44 INT's. And he is now a year older. "You never know", what does this even mean?
New York Jets (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (1-1)
Why? Just a gut feeling. Oakland's really ticked off about losing the game in Buffalo; the players sound wounded. The Jets are playing a center who's never played, with Nick Mangold down with a high ankle sprain. Oakland should be seething against the league for putting them at Denver on Monday night, late, to start the season, then, after getting home at 4 a.m. Tuesday, flying back out three days later to a city four-and-a-half hours away. Just a hunch, but I bet a few of the players were in a lather over that. Tough spot for the Jets, who are better on a neutral field. Which this will not be on Sunday.
When is the last time the Jets played on a neutral field? London and the Superbowl are the only neutral fields any NFL team plays on right? Are you just saying that they are better at home then on the road? Thanks for that Sherlock. NFL teams play better at home than on the road - must remember that. And you criticise people for not knowing Andy Dalton.
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (0-2)
You know why the Ravens need this game quite a bit? Because they have to prove to their fans and themselves that the resounding Steeler victory in Week 1 didn't take so much out of them for the rest of the year. Oh, and it would help if their corners could cover the way did in Week 1 too.
Look the Ravens may be old, but I assure you, winning one game will not ruin them for the next sixteen - trust me on that one Pete.
Man, that was fun. Now I know the rush of superiority Ben must feel writing on this guy.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, December 4, 2010
2 comments NFL Picks Week 13
A couple of things to mention:
1. As you may have noticed, you can now subscribe to Bottom of the Barrel via email. The link is on the side, so do that if you're too lazy to check the website every day.
2. For those of you who do not know, I make picks against the spread every week for JOCKpost. If you'd like to see my terrible predictions and mindless commentary, here they are. Otherwise just scroll down and read Bengoodfella's latest post on Jeter.
1. As you may have noticed, you can now subscribe to Bottom of the Barrel via email. The link is on the side, so do that if you're too lazy to check the website every day.
2. For those of you who do not know, I make picks against the spread every week for JOCKpost. If you'd like to see my terrible predictions and mindless commentary, here they are. Otherwise just scroll down and read Bengoodfella's latest post on Jeter.
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