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Team
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Player
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1
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Cleveland Cavaliers
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Andrew Wiggins
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It’s time for Cleveland to not overthink things. Wiggins has looked like a #1 for a solid year, and has the rare athletic talent and size to be a dominant wing player. I think his detractors are forgetting how young he is. Like all prospects, development will be key for him.
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2
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Milwaukee Bucks
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Jabari Parker
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This seems like an increasingly good fit for both sides. Parker can start his career in the anonymity of Milwaukee and work on his craft.
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3
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Noah Vonleh
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The Sixers are as disappointed as any team about Embiid’s injury, because it means Wiggins is less likely to fall to 3. I think they should pair Vonleh with Nerlens Noel and create a dynamic inside tandem with great complementary skills.
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4
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Orlando Magic
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Dante Exum
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They’ll be tempted by Embiid, but ultimately the risk is too high with Exum sitting on the board.
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5
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Utah Jazz
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Marcus Smart
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The back court of Smart and Burke would be non-traditional for sure, but a smart coach could make it work (see Hornacek, J.)
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6
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Boston Celtics
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Joel Embiid
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Danny Ainge knows a rare asset when he sees one, and will likely grab Embiid if available, if for no other reason than to strengthen their bid for Kevin Love.
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7
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LA Lakers
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Julius Randle
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Believe it or not, the Lakers are rebuilding. Randle is a forgotten man in this draft, but could easily average a double-double as a rookie and remind everyone why he was considered a top 5 prospect for most of the year.
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8
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Sacramento Kings
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Aaron Gordon
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He’s the best player available and fills a need. Clean score for the Kings, who should be getting better soon… right?
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9
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Charlotte Hornets
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Gary Harris
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Coach Steve Clifford is smart enough to know that he can’t get away with playing subpar defenders on the wing with Big Al manning the center position. Yes, they need shooters, but those shooters have to be able to stay on the floor defensively. That’s why I like Harris here.
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10
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Nik Stauskas
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The best shooter in the draft is a great fit here.
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11
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Denver Nuggets
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Doug McDermott
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Nobody knows what type of team Brian Shaw wants to build, but the legacy (and atmosphere) of the team always shifts towards fast-paced offence. Doug has a million tricks up his sleeve and should pair nicely with Ty Lawson.
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12
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Orlando Magic
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James Young
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With Aaron Afflalo being shopped, wing depth is a key need. Young is a nice upside pick here.
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13
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Minnesota T’Wolves
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Rodney Hood
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The best shooter on the board, Hood can space the floor for Flip Saunder’s offense.
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14
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Phoenix Suns
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Dario Saric
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Saric will spend the next 2-3 years in Turkey, which is OK with the Suns.
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15
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Atlanta Hawks
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Elfrid Payton
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There are rumors of Payton going much higher than this, but this is probably his floor. The Hawks have never been sold on Jeff Teague as the long-term solution at point guard, so it’s a good fit.
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16
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Chicago Bulls
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Clint Capela
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As I mentioned in a previous post, the Bulls are more focused on Melo than this draft. Using this pick on an international “stasher” can help save cap space now. Capela has out of this world length and projected stats, the makings of a future defensive anchor.
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17
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Boston Celtics
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Zach LaVine
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Briefly considered a top-10 prospect, LaVine has athleticism in spades but has no idea how to play basketball. Trust me, I’m a UCLA fan. I like the idea of Celtics “royal jelly” working its magic on this kid.
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18
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Phoenix Suns
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Tyler Ennis
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Rumors are going around that the Suns are looking for a point guard. Who knows if that’s true or why, but Ennis is a good value here anyways.
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19
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Chicago Bulls
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Adreian Payne
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Falling on draft boards due to his age (he’s 6 months older than Kawhi Leonard), Payne could fill a role as a backup big immediately because of his length, rebounding, and shooting ability.
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20
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Toronto Raptors
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Jarnell Stokes
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This bruising forward has been charging up draft boards due to his similar stats and measurables to Julius Randle. The Raptors are a good team, so they can develop this talented but raw young big man.
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21
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OKC Thunder
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PJ Hairston
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Hairston shot around leave average from 3pt range in the D-League, but was an 87% free throw shooter. This shooting potential, along with his NBA-ready frame, could make him a solid role-player for a shallow Thunder squad.
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22
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Memphis Grizzlies
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Kyle Anderson
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Something tells me the Grizz can figure out a way to incorporate Slo-Mo. He’d probably be better than Tayshaun Prince on opening night 2014-15.
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23
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Utah Jazz
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Jusuf Nurkic
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Seven footers who can score with their back to the basket used to get drafted in the top 5. This young man from Bosnia could be a terrific scoring big off the bench in a few years.
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24
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Charlotte Hornets
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Shabazz Napier
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Napier is a very similar prospect to the dynamic Kemba Walker. What a luxury it would be for Clifford to have a Kemba clone on the bench!
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25
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Houston Rockets
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KJ McDaniels
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The perimeter defense on the Rockets is flat horrible. Who guards Durant? Nobody. McDaniels doesn’t have a strong offensive game, but is a fantastic athlete and defender.
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26
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Miami Heat
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Jordan Clarkson
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Chalmers likely won’t get an invitation back, so Norris Cole needs a backup. Clarkson may be underrated in this draft due to a challenging junior season and being 22 years old.
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27
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Phoenix Suns
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Cleanthony Early
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Early is a great fit with what their building in the desert.
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28
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LA Clippers
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Mitch McGary
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The Clippers desperately need another big, and McGary has more skills than the competition at this point.
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29
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OKC Thunder
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TJ Warren
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I actually like Warren at #21 for them, so if he falls here he might be hard to pass up.
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30
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San Antonio Spurs
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Jordan Adams
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The metrics say Adams is one of the best prospects in this whole draft, and the Spurs certainly know how to get the best out of players passed on by other teams due to perceived limitations.
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Monday, June 23, 2014
2014 NBA Mock Draft v2
The 2014 NBA Draft is only a few days away, so here's my final mock draft.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
2014 NBA Draft Mock v1
The Cavs? Again? REALLY?!
This is going to be a "should do" mock, as in, this is what I think each team should do with their pick(s).
As always, thanks in advance to @ChadFordInsider and www.draftexpress.com for their in depth coverage.
#
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Team
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Player
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1
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Cleveland Cavaliers
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Joel Embiid
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Embiid has the best chance in this draft class to be elite at both ends of the floor. I think the Cavs will actually opt for the "more ready" Wiggins or Parker, but that could be a(nother) costly mistake.
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2
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Milwaukee Bucks
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Jabari Parker
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With a new ownership and a bad roster filled with long contracts, the Bucks need a spark to get fans interested, not necessarily championship cornerstones. Parker may not be good enough defensively to ever anchor a contender, but his dazzling offensive arsenal will draw national attention.
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3
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Andrew Wiggins
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With a point guard as reigning rookie of the year and last year’s top ranked prospect joining the team to defend the rim, this young team is desperate for wing talent. They would happily snap up Wiggins here and hope he can become a better version of Iguodala.
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4
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Orlando Magic
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Dante Exum
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Most NBA nerds are excited about the Oladipo era, and combined with Exum the Magic would have one of the league’s most explosive backcourts. Who cares which one plays point guard?
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5
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Utah Jazz
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Noah Vonleh
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Vonleh has ideal size, athleticism, and age for a top 5 prospect. He’s a good rebounder and emerging shooter, leading to favorable comparisons to Chris Bosh. He can play behind Enes Canter and Derrick Favors while he grows up.
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6
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Boston Celtics
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Julius Randle
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The players available here are actually quite similar to players they already have. Randle and Jared Sullinger overlap significantly as undersized offense-first power forwards, but Randle is just better all around.
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7
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LA Lakers
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Marcus Smart
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The Lakers have very few players. Period. They’ll need someone to actually dribble the ball, so a point guard makes sense. Getting Smart here would be a coup because he has the personality type (and talent) to keep with Kobe, if he ever returns to form.
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8
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Sacramento Kings
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Aaron Gordon
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The Kings desperately need a power forward to play with star DeMarcus Cousins. It’s unclear whether or not Gordon can shoot, but his defense-first mentality and unselfish athleticism are ideal to fill that void.
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9
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Charlotte Hornets
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Zach LaVine
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As a playoff team with a top-10 pick, the Hornets have fewer needs than typical lottery teams. They have the luxury of swinging for the fences on the talented but unproven UCLA guard. He won’t have to start as a rookie, and if he ends up being a point guard or a wing it doesn't matter to them. Of the players likely available here, he has the most upside.
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10
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Dario Saric
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The Sixers are playing the long game, so they don’t mind if Saric stays in Europe another year or so. He’s a top-5 talent with a #10 pick.
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11
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Denver Nuggets
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Gary Harris
|
His athleticism and shooting are a great fit with this team, and he should be an immediate upgrade over last year’s starter Randy Foye.
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12
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Orlando Magic
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Nik Stauskas
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The Magic will continue to shop Jameer Nelson and Arron Afflalo for younger players and draft picks, and Stauskas could fill into the potentially thin guard rotation with excellent shooting.
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13
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Minnesota T’Wolves
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James Young
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This team really banked on Chase Buddinger to provide 3pt shooting and wing defense, be he regressed badly after some unfortunate injuries. Young has great potential with excellent physical tools and big performances in the NCAA tournament at only 18 years old.
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14
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Phoenix Suns
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Doug McDermott
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PJ Tucker is a free agent, so there may be playing time open for a small forward. McDermott can rain threes while Dragic and Bledsoe cut opposing defenses to pieces.
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15
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Atlanta Hawks
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Rodney Hood
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The Hawks really need a wing here, and will have a few to choose from. Hood has the best size and shooting ability of the guys still on the board.
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16
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Chicago Bulls
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Adreiane Payne
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Payne is a good defender, shooter, and rebounder. His 7’4” wingspan suggests he can both big positions. The major question is his age, 23, which limits his upside. Chicago, in win-now mode, shouldn't be bothered by his maturity.
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17
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Boston Celtics
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Tyler Ennis
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He’s got borderline lottery talent and is clearly the best player available. The C's can worry about fit later, this pick is about gathering assets.
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18
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Phoenix Suns
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Cleanthony Early
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A fast, high-character freak athlete who can shoot 3's? The more the merrier in the desert.
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19
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Chicago Bulls
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Elfrid Payton
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If the Bulls gamble and don’t pick a point guard to back up DRose at #16, they would be thrilled to see Payton fall to them here. He has size and a smooth game and should fit in nicely with the Bull’s annually strong bench.
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20
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Toronto Raptors
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Jerami Grant
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The Raptors were very good last year, and have youth enough to get even better through internal development. They can take a swing with Grant; if he ever develops an outside shot, he could be a steal. If not, he’s another athlete off the bench to play some defense.
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21
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OKC Thunder
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T.J. Warren
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In case you don’t remember, the Thunder bench had some major problems scoring in the 2014 Western finals. Warren is a crafty and talented scorer who could bolster that meager second unit.
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22
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Memphis Grizzlies
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P.J. Hairston
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The strong player culture in Memphis might be perfect to bring out his many talents. He’d get plenty of open looks with ZBo and Gasol up front.
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23
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Utah Jazz
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Clint Capela
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With so many young players on the roster already, Utah may be looking for an opportunity to draft and stash. The lanky Swiss has fallen out of favor with scouts due to how raw he is, but he has the best physical tools of all the international prospects.
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24
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Charlotte Hornets
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Mitch McGary
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Again, the Hornets can afford take a chance with their pick. McGary has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in the 2013 NCAA tournament, but has seen his stock slide due to a tough sophomore campaign marred by injuries.
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25
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Houston Rockets
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K.J. McDaniels
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The Rockets are sorely lacking in wing defenders. McDaniels is a terrific athlete and projects as a good defender. If he can develop a more consistent outside shot he could earn a starting spot for this team.
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26
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Miami Heat
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Shabazz Napier
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Mario Chalmers is entering free agency this offseason. If he leaves, Norris Cole will likely take over his starting spot, leaving a vacancy at backup guard. Napier has the confidence to roll with the big boys, as evidenced by his amazing title run at UConn, and should be a good fit with the 4-in-a-row Eastern champs.
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27
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Phoenix Suns
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Nick Johnson
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With their 3rd first round pick, the Suns grab the local product with incredible hops and a strong perimeter game. He lacks ideal size, but this team is unconventional enough to make it work.
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28
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LA Clippers
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Kyle Anderson
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Another local Pac-12 pick, the Clippers could use some wing depth due to the tragic loss of Jared Dudley’s one half-step of quickness.
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29
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OKC Thunder
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Jusuf Nurkic
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This behemoth center is a good draft-and-stash candidate. He could potentially replace Kendrick Perkins as the resident lumberer.
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30
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San Antonio Spurs
|
Bogdan Bogdanovic
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This Serb is described as a versatile guard with excellent shooting range and court vision. Sounds to me like a future member of the “Foreign Legion.”
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