Good day readers,
I realize that I have used this blog as primarily a tool for education, but I also have used it to explore my interest in personal writing. With that i bring anyone that is remotely interested in basketball my first ever NBA mock draft.
Basically I attempted to guess what I think will happen in tonights NBA draft. In some spots it was difficult to guess so I put what I thought a team SHOULD do. The draft has long been a passion of mine and it was fun to try to predict. Enjoy.
1. CAVS – Jabari Parker, SF, Duke.
a. Cavs want to win sooner than they should. I think it should be Wiggins, I want it to be Wiggins, it will be Parker.
2. Bucks – Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas
a. No brainer here, take the highest touted prospect in draft.
3. 76ers – Dante Exum, G, Australia
a. Mostly because I think he gives them so many options, he is really good, and if they trade the pick someone is coming to get him.
4. Magic – Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana
a. They can afford to be patient and him and Vucevic make a killer combo.
5. Jazz – Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
a. I have questions about if he will be able to bully people at the next level, but he is crazy talented.
6. Celtics – Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
a. Because, the Celtics.
7. Lakers – Marcus Smart, G, Ok St
a. Only guy other than Randle who can probably withstand Kobe’s wrath.
8. Kings – Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
a. By all accounts they are trading this pick, so I have no idea who will be taken here, but if they stay at this pick then they should take Gordon so they have ALL of the length.
9. Hornets – Gary Harris, G, Mich St.
a. Stauskas or Mcdermott are also options, but he bobcats were a top 10 defense this year and harris brings an edge defensively plus the shooting. Hide Kemba on the non threat and have harris and MKG bottle up the perimeter.
10. 76ers – James Young, G/F, Kentucky
a. Because I think he gives them more versatility with the young core and I have them with Exum. Could also be Stauskas or Gordon if he falls.
11. Nuggets – Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan
a. Apparently they are not keeping the pick. If they do than I say they take whoever from the last three (plus Stauskas) that is still here. In this case, Stauskas.
12. Magic – Elfrid Payton, PG, ULL
a. This dude has apparently been shooting up draft boards. He could not hit water if he fell out of a boat, but he is terrific in transition and can run a pick and roll. Him and Oladipo on defense is fun.
13. T’Wolves – Adreian Payne, PF, Mich St.
a. KLove replacement and a plug and play big with outside shooting touch. His lung condition concerns me because he probably cant ever play huge minutes, but he is quite talented.
14. Suns – Doug Mcdermott, F, Creighton
a. Crap…. Well I really don’t think he falls this far, but I felt like i had good reasons for all the other picks. He could legit be in harris or stauskas or youngs spot.
15. Hawks – T.j. Warren, SF, NC State
a. I am not the hugest fan of his game, but the hawks good use another wing creator and he can create for himself. He wont space the floor like their other wings yet, but if he can add that he will be good.
16. Bulls – Rodney Hood, G/F, Duke
a. There is talk of them moving up with both the 16 and 19, but if they stay here they need a shooter and hood is a good one. His defensive woes could be fixed or hidden by Thibs and if he competes he should see mins.
17. Celtics – Zach Lavine, G, UCLA
a. This seems like a fit to me, although he probably doesnt fall this far. Celtics take two huge home run swings with lavine and embiid and hope to hit on one. No one walks away with more talent, or questions from the draft if it shakes out like this.
18. Suns – Clint Capela, F/C, Switzerland
a. This is almost assuredly sold for cash or stashed overseas so Saric is also an option here. Capela gives them a long shot blocking project to bring over in a couple years and help anchor a defense to go with their attacking offense.
19. Bulls – Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse
a. Again the bulls probably don’t keep both picks, but if they were to walk away with hood and either ennis or napier than that is a good haul for them. Ennis can function as rose’s backup or insurance, run the (nonexistent) offense and hit spot up shots. Hey they had hinrich and augustin last year… go Canada.
20. Raps – Dario Saric, F, Croatia
a. Vomit inducing to some degree, but here are the facts: Lowry might be gone so if ennis is here then he is the pick. Masai seems like a BPA guy and saric has top 10 talent, but just signed an extension to stay overseas. He could come over in two years and be what Hedo was SUPPOSED to be. I think they should take more shooting or a big, Anderson could also be in play. God I hope this works.
21. Thunder – P. J. Hairston, G/F, UNC/D-League
a. 6’5 shooter with some bounce if he stays out of trouble he will fill a role for the thunder. He can defend, run, and gun with two of the best. This excites me.
22. Grizz – Jordan Adams, G/F, UCLA
a. Not a huge fan of his game, but the grizz love strong guards that can put the ball in the hoop. Needs to add a consistent jumper, but he can be a good option off the bench.
23. Jazz - Cleanthony Early, F, Wichita St.
a. Big long three who can shoot and play some 4. Like the fit with their bigs and gives them another good athlete with good touch from the perimeter. Can fit with burks and Hayward if he stays.
24. Hornets – Kyle Anderson, G/F, UCLA
a. He is probably too talented to fall this far, and could be in play for raptors, bulls, and suns, but if they decide to stash guys/draft point guards, then this slide is possible. His weaknesses are well documented, but he is essentially the opposite of the problems they have had with Rivers. He sees the floor well and creates for others with his shiftiness and length. He could fit here as a point forward off the bench to start.
25. Rockets – C. J. Wilcox, G, Washington
a. Supposedly a smooth shooter who hits at a good clip. The rockets know a little about shooting 3’s.
26. Heat – Shabazz Napier, G, UCONN
a. Outside of a few other picks this is probably the one I feel most comfortable with. LeBron tweeted during march that he was best point guard in the draft, he fits a need, and is talented. This seems too easy to actually work
27. Suns – Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia
a. There is pretty much no chance they keep this pick it seems as they would sell it for cash, an asset, or package it to move up with the 14. If for some reason they stay they could take another talented stash prospect in Nurkic, who is massive and has good feet and touch.
28. Clippers – Jarnell Stokes, F, Tenn
a. Wide body, tough minded, and talented enough to be the top big off their bench.
29. Thunder – K.J. McDaniels, G/F, Clemson
a. Goodness if the thunder somehow got mcdaniels and hairston their wing problems would be solved… poor Jeremy lamb.
30. Spurs – Mitch McGary, F/C, Michgan
a. A Spurs pick pretty much. They take a talented guy with a cloud hanging over him from the marijuana thing and his back injury. He had lottery talent last year and could be an excellent back up big man for this team. Remember they gave meaningful minutes to aaron baynes in the playoffs.
I realize that I have used this blog as primarily a tool for education, but I also have used it to explore my interest in personal writing. With that i bring anyone that is remotely interested in basketball my first ever NBA mock draft.
Basically I attempted to guess what I think will happen in tonights NBA draft. In some spots it was difficult to guess so I put what I thought a team SHOULD do. The draft has long been a passion of mine and it was fun to try to predict. Enjoy.
1. CAVS – Jabari Parker, SF, Duke.
a. Cavs want to win sooner than they should. I think it should be Wiggins, I want it to be Wiggins, it will be Parker.
2. Bucks – Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas
a. No brainer here, take the highest touted prospect in draft.
3. 76ers – Dante Exum, G, Australia
a. Mostly because I think he gives them so many options, he is really good, and if they trade the pick someone is coming to get him.
4. Magic – Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana
a. They can afford to be patient and him and Vucevic make a killer combo.
5. Jazz – Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
a. I have questions about if he will be able to bully people at the next level, but he is crazy talented.
6. Celtics – Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
a. Because, the Celtics.
7. Lakers – Marcus Smart, G, Ok St
a. Only guy other than Randle who can probably withstand Kobe’s wrath.
8. Kings – Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
a. By all accounts they are trading this pick, so I have no idea who will be taken here, but if they stay at this pick then they should take Gordon so they have ALL of the length.
9. Hornets – Gary Harris, G, Mich St.
a. Stauskas or Mcdermott are also options, but he bobcats were a top 10 defense this year and harris brings an edge defensively plus the shooting. Hide Kemba on the non threat and have harris and MKG bottle up the perimeter.
10. 76ers – James Young, G/F, Kentucky
a. Because I think he gives them more versatility with the young core and I have them with Exum. Could also be Stauskas or Gordon if he falls.
11. Nuggets – Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan
a. Apparently they are not keeping the pick. If they do than I say they take whoever from the last three (plus Stauskas) that is still here. In this case, Stauskas.
12. Magic – Elfrid Payton, PG, ULL
a. This dude has apparently been shooting up draft boards. He could not hit water if he fell out of a boat, but he is terrific in transition and can run a pick and roll. Him and Oladipo on defense is fun.
13. T’Wolves – Adreian Payne, PF, Mich St.
a. KLove replacement and a plug and play big with outside shooting touch. His lung condition concerns me because he probably cant ever play huge minutes, but he is quite talented.
14. Suns – Doug Mcdermott, F, Creighton
a. Crap…. Well I really don’t think he falls this far, but I felt like i had good reasons for all the other picks. He could legit be in harris or stauskas or youngs spot.
15. Hawks – T.j. Warren, SF, NC State
a. I am not the hugest fan of his game, but the hawks good use another wing creator and he can create for himself. He wont space the floor like their other wings yet, but if he can add that he will be good.
16. Bulls – Rodney Hood, G/F, Duke
a. There is talk of them moving up with both the 16 and 19, but if they stay here they need a shooter and hood is a good one. His defensive woes could be fixed or hidden by Thibs and if he competes he should see mins.
17. Celtics – Zach Lavine, G, UCLA
a. This seems like a fit to me, although he probably doesnt fall this far. Celtics take two huge home run swings with lavine and embiid and hope to hit on one. No one walks away with more talent, or questions from the draft if it shakes out like this.
18. Suns – Clint Capela, F/C, Switzerland
a. This is almost assuredly sold for cash or stashed overseas so Saric is also an option here. Capela gives them a long shot blocking project to bring over in a couple years and help anchor a defense to go with their attacking offense.
19. Bulls – Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse
a. Again the bulls probably don’t keep both picks, but if they were to walk away with hood and either ennis or napier than that is a good haul for them. Ennis can function as rose’s backup or insurance, run the (nonexistent) offense and hit spot up shots. Hey they had hinrich and augustin last year… go Canada.
20. Raps – Dario Saric, F, Croatia
a. Vomit inducing to some degree, but here are the facts: Lowry might be gone so if ennis is here then he is the pick. Masai seems like a BPA guy and saric has top 10 talent, but just signed an extension to stay overseas. He could come over in two years and be what Hedo was SUPPOSED to be. I think they should take more shooting or a big, Anderson could also be in play. God I hope this works.
21. Thunder – P. J. Hairston, G/F, UNC/D-League
a. 6’5 shooter with some bounce if he stays out of trouble he will fill a role for the thunder. He can defend, run, and gun with two of the best. This excites me.
22. Grizz – Jordan Adams, G/F, UCLA
a. Not a huge fan of his game, but the grizz love strong guards that can put the ball in the hoop. Needs to add a consistent jumper, but he can be a good option off the bench.
23. Jazz - Cleanthony Early, F, Wichita St.
a. Big long three who can shoot and play some 4. Like the fit with their bigs and gives them another good athlete with good touch from the perimeter. Can fit with burks and Hayward if he stays.
24. Hornets – Kyle Anderson, G/F, UCLA
a. He is probably too talented to fall this far, and could be in play for raptors, bulls, and suns, but if they decide to stash guys/draft point guards, then this slide is possible. His weaknesses are well documented, but he is essentially the opposite of the problems they have had with Rivers. He sees the floor well and creates for others with his shiftiness and length. He could fit here as a point forward off the bench to start.
25. Rockets – C. J. Wilcox, G, Washington
a. Supposedly a smooth shooter who hits at a good clip. The rockets know a little about shooting 3’s.
26. Heat – Shabazz Napier, G, UCONN
a. Outside of a few other picks this is probably the one I feel most comfortable with. LeBron tweeted during march that he was best point guard in the draft, he fits a need, and is talented. This seems too easy to actually work
27. Suns – Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia
a. There is pretty much no chance they keep this pick it seems as they would sell it for cash, an asset, or package it to move up with the 14. If for some reason they stay they could take another talented stash prospect in Nurkic, who is massive and has good feet and touch.
28. Clippers – Jarnell Stokes, F, Tenn
a. Wide body, tough minded, and talented enough to be the top big off their bench.
29. Thunder – K.J. McDaniels, G/F, Clemson
a. Goodness if the thunder somehow got mcdaniels and hairston their wing problems would be solved… poor Jeremy lamb.
30. Spurs – Mitch McGary, F/C, Michgan
a. A Spurs pick pretty much. They take a talented guy with a cloud hanging over him from the marijuana thing and his back injury. He had lottery talent last year and could be an excellent back up big man for this team. Remember they gave meaningful minutes to aaron baynes in the playoffs.