MOCK DRAFT 1.0-Lottery Picks
1. CLV-Kyrie Irving-PG Duke-Fr.
Easy choice for the Cavs here. Kyrie isn't LeBron but he will instantly be the best player on the Cavs and the new face of the franchise. Point guard is clearly the most important position on the court in basketball today so grabbing a floor general like Irving here is a very solid pick. He's been compared to Chris Paul but that might be a little lofty. I see a better passing version of Brandon Jennings with Irving.
2. MIN-Derrick Williams-SF-Arizona-So.
The TWolves will try to do everything in their power to trade this pick. They could also keep the pick and trade their other young small forwards Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson (last year's first rounder). Williams can play both forward spots and is head and shoulders above the rest of the prospects here. If the TWolves are unable to make a trade then they will highly consider taking Enes Kanter here. If that happens the phones will start ringing off the hook for the Jazz to make a trade.
3. Utah-Brandon Knight-PG-Kentucky-Fr.
Jazz GM Kevin O'Conner loves big guards who can shoot as evidenced when he chose Deron Williams over Chris Paul and Ray Felton in 2005. The Jazz traded Deron away and now need a young point guard to lead the club. With solid bigs Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap the Jazz are still pick and roll team and Knight is the perfect guard to run their system. He's not going to blow by you off the dribble like DRose, Rondo or John Wall but he's a great shooter and smart player who is very mature for his age.
4. CLV-Enes Kanter-C-Turkey-INT.
Assuming the Jazz take a point man, the Cavs can just sit back here and take either Kanter or Williams. The Cavs need help everywhere and are a long way from contending so there will not be a ton of pressure on Kanter to produce right away.
5. TOR-Kemba Walker-PG-UConn-Jr.
The Raptors need a center but have no shot at getting Kanter unless they trade up. So now they need to ask themselves a major question. Is Andrea Bargnani a franchise player? If he is then they could draft a foreign big man like Jonas Valanciunas or Bismack Biyombo and move Bargnani to his natural position of power forward. However I'm not sold on building your team around Bargnani. I think they need to bring in a big name leader and playmaker like Kemba. He maybe small, but he's tough and he's a winner. He will give the Raptors the star power they lack ever since Chris Bosh left.
6. WAS-Jan Vesely-CF-Czech Republic-INT.
He can play either forward spot and will be a great compliment to John Wall and Andray Blatche. He's more athletic than most Euro prospects and can run the floor with Mr Wall as well.
7. SAC-Donatas Motiejunas-F/C-Lithuania-INT.
There has been a lot of talk about the Kings drafting a point guard here and moving Tyreke Evans to the 3. However I think that Motiejunas would be a perfect to compliment to DeMarcus Cousins in the frontcourt. He's a legit 7 footer with 3 point range. He's not Dirk but he can hit open jumpers and he will have a lot of open shots with Tyreke creating and DeMarcus demanding double teams down low.
8. DET-Kawhi Leonard-SF-San Diego St-Jr.
He plays the game with toughness and versatility that Pistons fans love. He's still raw and developing. I see him as a Gerald Wallace type with Scottie Pippen to his game as well. He and Greg Monroe will give the Pistons a good young forward duo to build around.
9. CHR-Tristan Thompson-PF-Texas-Fr.
They need length and athleticism. The two things that Thompson has. He's still a good 3-4 years from being a stud but the upside here is tremendous.
10. MIL-Alec Burks-SG-Colorado-So.
I think they should trade up and get Williams but if they don't, Burks makes a lot of sense here. He can play some point but will be much better off the ball and will be a great compliment to Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings. All of their best wings (Johnny Salmons, Cory Maggette and Michael Redd) are 30 plus so adding some youth on the wings is important.
11. GS-Marcus Morris-PF-Kansas-Jr.
A low risk role player who fills a need at power forward. The Warriors are set at the other 4 positions with all 4 starters averaging 16 plus points per game. Last year they drafted a defensive power forward in Ekpe Udoh. Morris is the opposite, as he's a solid non flashy offensive forward who can knock down mid range shots all day.
12. Utah-Klay Thompson-SG-WSU-Jr.
With two lottery picks, the Jazz need to find their backcourt of the future. Thompson has prototypical size and skill set to play the 2 in the NBA. A starting lineup of Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Gordon Hayward, Brandon Knight and Thompson will have the Jazz in contention sooner rather than later in the Northwest along with Oklahoma City and Portland.
13. PHO-Jimmer Fredette-PG-BYU-Sr.
Mr. Fredette meet your mentor Mr. Nash. Jimmer can shoot like Steve Nash already but he will need to learn how to run a team and create for others better if he's going to make it in this league. Who better to learn from than a future Hall of Famer?
14. HOU-Jonas Valanciunas-C-Lithuania-INT.
He had a decent run while it lasted but Yao Ming is done. It's time to find a new center from a foreign land. Jonas is a project but the Rockets have a solid team already so they can keep him in Europe for a year or two.
Easy choice for the Cavs here. Kyrie isn't LeBron but he will instantly be the best player on the Cavs and the new face of the franchise. Point guard is clearly the most important position on the court in basketball today so grabbing a floor general like Irving here is a very solid pick. He's been compared to Chris Paul but that might be a little lofty. I see a better passing version of Brandon Jennings with Irving.
2. MIN-Derrick Williams-SF-Arizona-So.
The TWolves will try to do everything in their power to trade this pick. They could also keep the pick and trade their other young small forwards Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson (last year's first rounder). Williams can play both forward spots and is head and shoulders above the rest of the prospects here. If the TWolves are unable to make a trade then they will highly consider taking Enes Kanter here. If that happens the phones will start ringing off the hook for the Jazz to make a trade.
3. Utah-Brandon Knight-PG-Kentucky-Fr.
Jazz GM Kevin O'Conner loves big guards who can shoot as evidenced when he chose Deron Williams over Chris Paul and Ray Felton in 2005. The Jazz traded Deron away and now need a young point guard to lead the club. With solid bigs Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap the Jazz are still pick and roll team and Knight is the perfect guard to run their system. He's not going to blow by you off the dribble like DRose, Rondo or John Wall but he's a great shooter and smart player who is very mature for his age.
4. CLV-Enes Kanter-C-Turkey-INT.
Assuming the Jazz take a point man, the Cavs can just sit back here and take either Kanter or Williams. The Cavs need help everywhere and are a long way from contending so there will not be a ton of pressure on Kanter to produce right away.
5. TOR-Kemba Walker-PG-UConn-Jr.
The Raptors need a center but have no shot at getting Kanter unless they trade up. So now they need to ask themselves a major question. Is Andrea Bargnani a franchise player? If he is then they could draft a foreign big man like Jonas Valanciunas or Bismack Biyombo and move Bargnani to his natural position of power forward. However I'm not sold on building your team around Bargnani. I think they need to bring in a big name leader and playmaker like Kemba. He maybe small, but he's tough and he's a winner. He will give the Raptors the star power they lack ever since Chris Bosh left.
6. WAS-Jan Vesely-CF-Czech Republic-INT.
He can play either forward spot and will be a great compliment to John Wall and Andray Blatche. He's more athletic than most Euro prospects and can run the floor with Mr Wall as well.
7. SAC-Donatas Motiejunas-F/C-Lithuania-INT.
There has been a lot of talk about the Kings drafting a point guard here and moving Tyreke Evans to the 3. However I think that Motiejunas would be a perfect to compliment to DeMarcus Cousins in the frontcourt. He's a legit 7 footer with 3 point range. He's not Dirk but he can hit open jumpers and he will have a lot of open shots with Tyreke creating and DeMarcus demanding double teams down low.
8. DET-Kawhi Leonard-SF-San Diego St-Jr.
He plays the game with toughness and versatility that Pistons fans love. He's still raw and developing. I see him as a Gerald Wallace type with Scottie Pippen to his game as well. He and Greg Monroe will give the Pistons a good young forward duo to build around.
9. CHR-Tristan Thompson-PF-Texas-Fr.
They need length and athleticism. The two things that Thompson has. He's still a good 3-4 years from being a stud but the upside here is tremendous.
10. MIL-Alec Burks-SG-Colorado-So.
I think they should trade up and get Williams but if they don't, Burks makes a lot of sense here. He can play some point but will be much better off the ball and will be a great compliment to Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings. All of their best wings (Johnny Salmons, Cory Maggette and Michael Redd) are 30 plus so adding some youth on the wings is important.
11. GS-Marcus Morris-PF-Kansas-Jr.
A low risk role player who fills a need at power forward. The Warriors are set at the other 4 positions with all 4 starters averaging 16 plus points per game. Last year they drafted a defensive power forward in Ekpe Udoh. Morris is the opposite, as he's a solid non flashy offensive forward who can knock down mid range shots all day.
12. Utah-Klay Thompson-SG-WSU-Jr.
With two lottery picks, the Jazz need to find their backcourt of the future. Thompson has prototypical size and skill set to play the 2 in the NBA. A starting lineup of Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Gordon Hayward, Brandon Knight and Thompson will have the Jazz in contention sooner rather than later in the Northwest along with Oklahoma City and Portland.
13. PHO-Jimmer Fredette-PG-BYU-Sr.
Mr. Fredette meet your mentor Mr. Nash. Jimmer can shoot like Steve Nash already but he will need to learn how to run a team and create for others better if he's going to make it in this league. Who better to learn from than a future Hall of Famer?
14. HOU-Jonas Valanciunas-C-Lithuania-INT.
He had a decent run while it lasted but Yao Ming is done. It's time to find a new center from a foreign land. Jonas is a project but the Rockets have a solid team already so they can keep him in Europe for a year or two.
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