NBA DRAFT 2014: MOCK DRAFT

Thank you to Walter Football for adding my mock to their great NBA Mock Draft Database.
 http://walterfootball.com/nbadraftdata.php

FIRST  ROUND

1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
JABARI PARKER-SF-DUKE  6-8/235 
NBA COMPARISON: PAUL PIERCE/GRANT HILL 
NEEDS: Everything but PG
The Cavs have been victims of the CANADIAN OVERHYPE train one to many times.
Fool me Once: Tristan Thompson (#4 pick in 2011) has been a very average player
Fool me Twice: Anthony Bennett (#1 pick last year) was a total bust as a rookie, but the jury is still out on him.
I don't think they are getting fooled again with Andrew Wiggins. Parker should be the pick here.

The Cavs recently hired new coach David Blatt. He comes from an international background and will find ways to utilize Jabari Parker as both a stretch four and as a SF. He should have an instant impact as a scorer and should form a great duo with Kyrie Irving.

2. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
ANDREW WIGGINS-SF-KANSAS  6-8/200
NBA COMPARISON: PAUL GEORGE/GERALD GREEN
NEEDS: True PG, Scoring Wing and Big
Wiggins is a good player right now with star potential. He has been unfairly overhyped as the next LeBron, but in reality, a GM will be happy if he becomes another Paul George. However he may end up being just another freak athlete like Gerald Green. The Bucks haven't had a star since Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen in the late 90's. They need whoever they draft (Wiggins or Parker) to eventually become that type of star.

3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
MARCUS SMART-CG/PG-OK ST.  6-3/227 
NBA COMPARISON: JAMES HARDEN/bigger KYLE LOWRY 
NEEDS: Scoring Everywhere 
The 76ers already have a nice young PG in Michael Carter Williams. They need someone that can complement him in the backcourt. MCW's length (6-6) and passing ability mixed with Smart's strength and slashing skills will give Philly a great backcourt duo for many years to come.

4. ORLANDO MAGIC
DANTE EXUM-PG-AUSTRALIA  6-6/196
NBA COMPARISON: JAMAL CRAWFORD/PENNY HARDAWAY
NEEDS: PG and PF 
Exum is a stud combo guard that has the play making skill of a point. Exum would be a nice back court partner with last year's 1st round pick, Victor Oladipo. The Magic are also said to be interested in Noah Vonleh, so a trade down with Boston or the Lakers is possible. The Lakers are rumored to be very high on Exum. The Lakers could offer Kendall Marshall in order to entice the Magic.

5. UTAH JAZZ
AARON GORDON-CF/PF-ZONA  6-9/220
NBA COMPARISON: SHAWN MARION/KAWHI LEONARD 
NEEDS: PF and SG 
Gordon will be a great role player that will be best used as a 3rd option on a winning team. This guy does all the little things well. A very similar prospect to Kawhi as a draft prospect. I really don't feel there's any difference in skill and upside between Gordon and Wiggins. Both are great athletes, that lack elite wing skills.

6. BOSTON CELTICS\
JOEL EMBIID-C-KANSAS  7-0/250
NBA COMPARISON: JOAKIM NOAH/ANTHONY DAVIS/GREG ODEN (injury risk) 
NEEDS: Go to Scorer, bigger guards
The Celtics have the time and patience to draft Embiid and let him develop. If he can stay healthy, Embiid may end up being the best player in this draft. His skill set as a big will help relieve tension off of Kelly Olynk and Jared Sullinger

7. LOS ANGELES LAKERS-
JULIUS RANDLE-PF-UK  6-9/250
NBA COMPARISON: ZACH RANDOLPH/TERRANCE JONES 
NEEDS: EVERYTHING 
Randle is a solid PF that will fit best playing alongside a Center like Pau Gasol. The best part about Randle is that he can provide the Lakers with help right away.

8. SACRAMENTO KINGS
NOAH VONLEH-PF-INDIANA  6-10/242 
NBA COMPARISON: AL HARRINGTON/MARKIEFF MORRIS
NEEDS: SF, PF, good Shooter, better passing Guards
Vonleh is a stud PF with star potential, will need at least 3-4 to develop. Vonleh is very similar to Harrington. Both have more of the skill set of a wing but have the size to play PF. The Kings need a stretch four with big man Demarcus Cousins demanding so many double teams.

9. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
NIK STAUSKAS-SF/SG-MICHIGAN  6-7/207
NBA COMPARISON: DAN MAJERLE/KLAY THOMPSON
NEEDS: Scoring Wing, SG, PF 
The Hornets are a Klay Thompson/Bradley Beal from being the 3rd best team in the East. Stauskas is a sharp shooting wing that could be a good #3/4 option on a playoff team.

10. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
DOUG McDERMOTT-SF-CREIGHTON  6-7/218 
NBA COMPARISON: KYLE KORVER/MIKE MILLER
The 76ers have MCW, will likely draft Exum or Smart. They also have Nerlens Noel. Those are solid building blocks but none of those players can shoot. Enter McDermott, the best shooter in this year's draft.

11. DENVER NUGGETS
GARY HARRIS-SG-MICHIGAN ST.  6-5/198 
NBA COMPARISON: AARON AFFALO/KLAY THOMPSON
NEEDS: SG, C, defensive wings
Harris is the type of wing scorer that can complement PG Ty Lawson. He's a great shooter but lacks ideal NBA speed and size.

12. ORLANDO MAGIC
ELFRID PAYTON-PG-LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE  6-4/186
NBA COMPARISON: DAMIAN LILLARD/GEORGE HILL 
Payton is good point guard with great length that could end up being the steal of this year's draft. The Jameer Nelson era is over in Orlando.

13. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
SHABAZZ NAPIER-PG-UCONN  6-0/175
NBA COMPARISON: JAMEER NELSON/PATTY MILLS 
NEEDS: Depth everywhere, Rim protector 
If the Heat want Napier they will need to move into the lottery to get him before Atlanta or Chicago drafts him  I see this pick being traded. Minnesota could also keep the pick and take Napier. He will be a nice starting PG and is a flat out winner. With Kevin Love likely being traded, Minnesota will need a big name to build their team around.

14. PHOENIX SUNS
JAMES YOUNG-G/F-UK  6-7/213 
NBA COMPARISON: MANU GINOBILI/MICHEAL REDD
NEEDS: SF, PF 
Young is a good slasher/shooter that could develop into a solid #2 scorer. The Suns need guys that can shoot to compliment PG Goran Dragic.


15. ATLANTA HAWKS 
KYLE ANDERSON-SF-UCLA  6-8/230
NBA COMPARISON: JALEN ROSE/LANDRY FIELDS

NEEDS: SF, C, rebounding 
The Hawks have a bunch small scoring guards in Jeff Teague, Louis Williams and Shelvin Mack. They could use a play making point forward like Anderson add depth to their perimeter.

16. CHICAGO BULLS
TYLER ENNIS-PG-SYRACUSE  6-3/182
NBA COMPARISON: TONY PARKER/KIRK HINRICH
NEEDS: Wing that can Shoot, backup PG
Ennis is too good to pass up here. He can provide insurance in case Derrick Rose gets injured again.

17. BOSTON CELTICS
ZACH LAVINE-SG-UCLA  6-6/191
NBA COMPARISON: IMAN SHUMPERT/HAROLD MINER
Lavine is a freak athlete that may end up getting more notoriety in the Dunk Contest than as a NBA starter. He is raw offensively and will need many years to develop, luckily the Celtics have a young roster that will give Lavine time to develop.

18. PHOENIX SUNS
JUSIF NURKIC-C-BOSNIA  6-11/280
NBA COMPARISON: ZAZA PACHULIA/ROY HIBBERT
The Suns can afford to take a chance on a solid rim protecting big man.

19. CHICAGO BULLS
DARIO SARIC-CF/PF-CROATIA  6-10/230 
NBA COMPARISON: BORIS DIAW/CHANDLER PARSONS
The Bulls will be cutting costs in hopes of landing Carmelo Anthony in free agency so they can keep Saric overseas for the next few years. Saric is a solid combo forward that is a very skilled passer and decent shooter.

20. TORONTO RAPTORS
ADREIAN PAYNE-PF-MICHIGAN ST.  6-10/238 
NBA COMPARISON: ROBERT HORRY/CHANNING FRYE
NEEDS: Scoring Big, Guard depth 
Payne is a stretch four that should solid role player and will be an immediate contributor

21. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
RODNEY HOOD-DUKE  6-8/208
NBA COMPARISON: MARVIN WILLIAMS/MARTELL WEBSTER
NEEDS: 3rd/4th scoring option 
Hood can provide the Thunder with shooting off the bench. He has good athletic ability but must become more aggressive in order to become a regular contributor.

22. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
GLENN ROBINSON III-SF/SG-MICHIGAN  6-7/211

NBA COMPARISON: MICHAEL FINLEY/TREVOR ARIZA
NEEDS: Scoring Wing or Stretch Four 
Robinson is a good wing that still has some star potential, he was never the go to guy in college and it looks like he enjoys being just a solid role player.  

23. UTAH JAZZ
CLEANTHONY EARLY-SF-WICHITA ST.  6-7/209 

NBA COMPARISON: JIMMY BUTLER/DRAYMOND GREEN
Early should be a nice defensive specialist/role playing SF

24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
MITCH McGARY-C-MICHIGAN  6-10/263 

NBA COMPARISON: BILL LAIMBEER/NIKOLA PEKOVIC
McGary is a physical big man that will just rebound, defend and hustle. He'd be a top 10 pick if not for character and injury concerns

25. HOUSTON ROCKETS
CJ WILCOX-SG-WASHINGTON  6-5/201
NBA COMPARISON: DANNY GREEN
NEEDS: Wing Depth 
Like Green, Wilcox can provide a contender with a good defense and 3 point shooting.

26. MIAMI HEAT
JORDAN CLARKSON-CG/PG-MISSOURI 6-4/186
NBA COMPARISON: SHAUN LIVINGSTON 
ROLE: C, PG upgrade, Wing Defender 
The Heat may trade up to get Napier, if they stay, they will likely look to upgrade their back court. Clarkson brings nice length and play making skills.

27. PHOENIX SUNS
TJ WARREN-SF-NC ST.  6-8/220
NBA COMPARISON: JOSH HOWARD
Warren should be able to provide the Suns with a good scorer off the bench.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
PJ HAIRSTON-G/F-UNC  6-4/220 
NBA COMPARISON: ALAN ANDERSON/WES MATTHEWS
NEEDS: Only Depth and backup PG if Patty Mills leaves 
Hairston is a solid wing that can backup both the 2 and 3. He has some character concerns, but coach Popovich knows how to get the best out of any player.

29. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-
CLINT CAPELA-PF-SWITZERLAND  6-11/222
NBA COMPARISON: AMIR JOHNSON
Capela could develop into a nice backup big man with a lot of athletic ability and upside, may be a Euro stash candidate 

30. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
BOGDAN BOGDANOVIC-SG-SERBIA  6-6/205
NBA COMPARISON: LANDRY FILEDS
You know the Spurs will draft a foreign player with one of their two first round picks. 

SECOND ROUND

31. MILWAUKEE BUCKS-ARTEM KLIMKENKO-C-RUSSIA
32. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-JERAMI GRANT-SF-SYRACUSE
33. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS-VASILJE MICIC-PG-SERBIA
34. NEW YORK KNICKS-SEMAJ CHRISTION-PG-XAVIER
NEEDS: EVERYTHING
35. UTAH JAZZ-PATRIC YOUNG-C-FLORIDA
36. MILWAUKEE BUCKS-SEAN KILPATRICK-SG-CINCINNATI
37. TORONTO RAPTORS-JORDAN ADAMS-PG-UCLA
38. DETRIOT PISTONS-DAMIEN INGLIS-PG-FRANCE
NEEDS: better passing PG, SF upgrade 
39. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-SPENCER DINWIDDIE-SG-COLORADO
40. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-JOHNNY O'BRYANT-C-LSU
41. DENVER NUGGETS-KJ McDANIELS-SF/G-CLEMSON 
42. HOUSTON ROCKETS-DWIGHT POWELL-PF-STANFORD
43. ATLANTA HAWKS-NIKOLA JOKIC-C-SERBIA
44. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-WALTER TAVARES-C-CAPE VERDE
45. CHARLOTTE HORNETS-CJ FAIR-CF-SYRACUSE
46. WASHINGTON WIZARDS-NICK JOHNSON-PG-ZONA 
NEEDS: backup Combo guard, F/C
47. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-JARNELL STOKES-PF-TENNESSEE
48. MILWAUKEE BUCKS-CAMERON BAIRSTOW-PF-NEW MEXICO
49. CHICAGO BULLS-DeANDRE DANIELS-SF-UCONN 
50. PHOENIX SUNS-RUSS SMITH-CG-LOUISVILLE
51. NEW YORK KNICKS-JOE HARRIS-SF-VIRGINIA
52. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-MARKEL BROWN-PG-OK ST.
53. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-DeANDRE KANE-SG-IOWA ST.
54. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-KHEM BIRCH-C-UNLV
55. MIAMI HEAT-CASEY PRATHER-SF-FLORIDA
56. DENVER NUGGETS-SCOTTIE WILBEKIN-PG-FLORIDA 
58. SAN ANTONIO SPURS-DEONTE BURTON-PG-NEVADA
59. TORONTO RAPTORS-CORY JEFFERSON-PF-BAYLOR
60. SAN ANTONIO SPURS-CRISTIANO FELICIO-PF-BRAZIL