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| Fear the Brow |
Let's move onto a more comforting topic, namely the deepest NBA Draft since the fabled class of 1996 (2003 was a lot more top heavy). After Anthony Davis, this draft could go about a million ways, and a butt-load of boring teams could get a lot more interesting. With this type of talent on hand, teams that have been stagnant for the past few years (Blazers, Warriors, Rockets) could take a serious step forward if they hit, while those who miss the battleship face a more daunting task to escape mediocrity in an elitist league. Another trend to keep an eye on will be teams making deals to either move up, stockpile picks, or land an established player. Should be a wild, unpredictable, and fun night. I am undoubtedly going to whiff on most of these picks, so I'll post them as I think they should go, not necessarily how they will. So, yes indeed, here is an assuredly useless, totally incorrect, but undeniably fun mock top 10:
1st Pick: Hornets Take Anthony Davis, Kentucky PF (6'11"-222lbs-Age 19)
2nd Pick: Bobcats take Thomas Robinson, Kansas PF (6'9"-244lbs-Age 21)
Random tangent- I was recently in Charlotte, and these are the glory days being advertised in the city's sports bars:
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| Grow up, Charlotte. |
Damn, that's depressing. After posting a league worst losing percentage at 7-59, MJ's Moribound 'Cats lost out on the Lottery crapshoot and the exact player the franchise needed in Davis. However, I do like the Mike Dunlap hire (opting for player development chops over a big name), and the 2nd pick in this draft should kick-start them in the right direction. The latest buzz is that they may trade this pick to the Cavs (who, along with the Wizards, covet Beal) for the 4th and the 24th pick. In that case my guess is they would take Harrison Barnes (if he's there) and use the 24th pick on a guy like John Jenkins from Vandy, as the Bobcats desperately need shooters. If they keep the pick, most signs point to them taking Kansas product Thomas Robinson. They are also considering Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, and UNC guy Barnes, but T-Rob is the safe pick here. At a freakishly athletic 6'9", 245 lbs, he will contribute right away on the glass and give them a much-needed low post option (Kansas Head Coach Bill Self compared him to Jazz F Paul Millsap.). They need to lock up a starting position long-term, and Robinson is an answer at the 4.
3rd Pick: Wizards take Bradley Beal, Florida SG (6'5"-202lbs-Age 18)
According to Chad Ford, 70% of GM's now have Beal as the second best player in the draft. After getting Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza from the Hornets last week, and Nene from the Nuggets last season, The Wizards now have the PG, SF, PF, and C spots in the starting lineup locked up. The dynamic, smooth-shooting Beal could be the perfect answer at the 2 and an ideal running partner for John Wall. Scouts see his comparison as somewhere between Eric Gordon and Ray Allen. If the Cavs swoop in to grab Beal, then expect the Wizards to take Kidd-Gilchrist. MKG wouldn't be such a bad consolation prize. All of a sudden the Wizards would have totally overhauled the league's worst locker room culture by bringing in solid, professional vets to pair with talented, hardworking youngsters.
4th Pick: Cavs Take Harrison Barnes, North Carolina SF (6'8"-228lbs-Age 20)
Barnes has been rocketing up draft boards after his performance at the draft combine in Chicago. A built 6'8", Barnes has the size of prototypical starting NBA 3. He already has a wet three-ball and nice mid-range game, and tested as one of the most athletic and explosive players in the draft. His knock is that he can't take people off the dribble. However, with a sizeable chip on his shoulder and a reputation as a hard-worker who loves to prove people wrong, you have to think he'll work through that. Barnes definitely has the ability to be a perennial 20ppg guy. I could see him developing into a Glen Rice type player with his trey and post game. If you're a Cavs fan, you'd love to see this guy camped out in international waters graciously accepting Kyrie Irving dishes next year.
5th pick: Kings take Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky SF (6'8"-233-Age 18)
The Kings are another team rumored to be shopping their high pick, but if they stay put and Kidd-Gilchrist falls to them, they should thank their lucky stars. The Kings are a young, hotheaded, selfish team, who don't play any defense and MKG is an unselfish, gritty, level-headed guy who is a great defender and doesn't need the ball to be effective. Yes, he has a hitch in his jumper, but he is hardworking enough to correct it and brings so much to the table that most teams shouldn't care.
The Blazers are between Drummond and Weber State PG Damian Lillard with this pick. They desperately need a PG and a C, so they could easily go either way. Drummond is the biggest question mark in this draft- at 7 feet and 280 lbs with freak athleticism and coordination, he could easily become a dominant big man in the league. But questions about his motor, skill-set, and attitude have been persistent after one up and down year for The Huskies. However, the chance to develop a dominant, traditional big man to pair with inside-outside all-star PF Lamarcus Aldridge might be to great to pass up, and the Blazers could take a safer bet on the 11th pick, say Tyler Zeller. Don't sleep on them making a trade with one or both of their picks either. Possibilities!
7th Pick: Warriors take Terrence Ross, Washington SF (6'7"-197lbs-Age 21)
The Warriors have been coveting a dominant big man since freaking Nate Thurmond left town, and if Drummond falls to them, they will probably jump at it. However, the Warriors already have great young players in the starting lineup next year at the PG, SG, PF, and C positions (Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut). That leaves the 3 spot. Some rumors have the Warriors trading the pick for Luol Deng. However, Warriors honcho Jerry West is reportedly enamored with Ross, and I see why. He is a big, fluid, physical shooter who plays great defense. Not sure why Terrence Ross is so consistently valued under Dion Waiters, Austin Rivers, and Jeremy Lamb- dude is gonna be a legit NBA starter. Some have Ross going as low as the teens, but I'll go out on a limb and say West takes his dark horse, if only because it gives me an excuse to post the above video.
8th Pick: Raptors take Damian Lillard, Weber State PG (6'3"-189 lbs-Age 21)
The Raptors have been heavily rumored to be locked in on Syracuse SG Dion Waiters, but they would jump at Lillard if he fell to them. Along with Barnes, Lillard has been the darling of workouts and the combine, with athleticism and size comparable to Derrick Rose. Jose Calderon only has one year left on ridiculous contract, and you don't pass up on a potential stud combo guard with great court vision, insane work ethic, and just a dirty game if he ends up falling to you.
9th Pick: Pistons take John Henson, UNC PF (6'10"-216lbs-Age 21)
The Pistons desperately need length on the front line and Henson has that in spades. I'm not crazy about him (and I'm a UNC fan) but he has a nice touch and will block shots. He could be a nice complement to promising young big Greg Monroe. Meyers Leonard and Tyler Zeller are possible alternatives with this pick.
10th Pick: Hornets take Dion Waiter, Syracuse SG (6'4"-220lbs-Age 20)
Apparently the Hornets are enamored with Austin Rivers (Head Coach Monty Williams is good friends with Doc Rivers, for what that's worth), but I don't think he's the right pick here. Rivers has star potential, but to me he seems a little too trigger-happy and cocksure to fit in with a what is shaping up to be a hard working, unassuming team featuring The Brow, Eric Gordon (assuming they re-sign him), and Jarret Jack. The Hornets could benefit from emulating the Grizzlies "grindhouse" philosophy with their personnel and coach going forward. Waiters is a big, tough guard would mesh well with that culture and give them an answer at the other wing spot alongside Gordon.
I'm not going to go beyond the top ten in detail- the one and only Chad Fizzy has you covered for that. I will give you a couple of bonus sections, however. For the People!!!
Sleepers:
1) Moe Harkless, St. Johns F (Crazy upside, think a more defensively minded Marshon Brooks)
2) Quincy Miller, Baylor F (Ditto on the upside- 6'10" and super long and athletic)
3) Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette SG (undersized but uber-athletic and skilled, could be a rotation player for a good team in the late 2nd round)
Celtics:
And you know I couldn't let this mock draft go by without handicapping the picks for the greatest franchise in basketball history- the mighty BOSTON CELTICS, who are on the precipice of the most unpredictable offseason in recent memory. The Celtics obviously could go in many different directions with the 21st and 22nd picks (including trading up), but I'm going to play it safe and predict they draft for size, athleticism, and versatility along a front line that at the moment, is pretty damn thin.
21st Pick: Boston Celtics take Royce White, Iowa State SF (6'8"-260-Age 21)
The well-documented anxiety disorder is troubling, but with his combination of size and skill, at the 21st slot he could have too much upside to pass up.
22nd Pick: Boston Celtics take Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure PF (6'10"-234lbs-Age 21)
If Royce White is the flier (pun inteded, Hiyo!), then Nicholson is the slightly safer pick. He's huge and can really shoot it with range off the catch. Those skills usually translate well from college to the NBA. Could be a nice piece for the Celtics going forward.
So with these useless predictions in mind and 15 minutes of your life thoroughly wasted, go out and enjoy the most loaded, unpredictable Draft in years on Thursday night. Fin, Son!
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