Official 2013 NBA Draft Thread

9. Washington Wizards - Anthony Bennett

Analysis: The Wizards would have to be thrilled if they can land Bennett this late in the draft. Some teams will look at him as high as No. 2. Not only is Bennett the best player left on the board, but he also fits a need for Washington at the 4. Emeka Okaforhas been solid there, but he's not the long-term answer. And at this point it doesn't look as though young players like Jan Vesely or Kevin Seraphin are, either. Bennett's NBA body combined with his ability to score anywhere on the floor should give the Wizards another big boost next season.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves - Gary Harris

Analysis: The Wizards would have to be thrilled if they can land Bennett this late in the draft. Some teams will look at him as high as No. 2. Not only is Bennett the best player left on the board, but he also fits a need for Washington at the 4. Emeka Okaforhas been solid there, but he's not the long-term answer. And at this point it doesn't look as though young players like Jan Vesely or Kevin Seraphin are, either. Bennett's NBA body combined with his ability to score anywhere on the floor should give the Wizards another big boost next season.
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Fixed! :lol:

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No surprise: Michael Carter-Williams, in.
 
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I would take Cladwell Pope over Crabbe, at least with KCP you don't have to worry about assertiveness, Crabbe is too prone to coasting and disappearing.
 
Mock draft saying Sixers to draft Zeller?! Smh that dude is softer than Spencer Hawes. I dont want him. We need to just draft the best player available not just go for a big
 
Osh Kosh Bosh said:
I would take Cladwell Pope over Crabbe, at least with KCP you don't have to worry about assertiveness, Crabbe is too prone to coasting and disappearing.
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I'd definitely take him over Crabbe. I wonder if Pope shoots up higher during workouts, though. 
 
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David Thorpe:
Fits for five top draft prospects

The college basketball season is over, but for NBA talent evaluators, the analysis is still a long way from complete. Over the next three months, NBA front-office personnel will commence the exhaustive process of vetting draft prospects, including conducting background checks, making countless phone calls to coaches around the country and, of course, watching a ton of film.

During my time in the front office with the Phoenix Suns, I always made it a point to watch film from beyond the current season, all the way back to high school and AAU if possible. I liked doing this because it gave me a clearer idea of the progression the player made from level to level, and it allowed me to track any continuous flaws that had not been corrected. One of the reasons I had such a strong opinion on Austin Rivers, for example, was because I watched him play in high school and AAU prior to his time at Duke.

Another advantage is watching the player handle adapting to different situations and expectations. How does he handle being asked to do more or less than he's used to? How does he handle playing for a new coach in a new system? How does he handle playing with more or less talent around him? These are all important questions that decisions-makers must be able to answer as they envision how potential draftees would fit on their teams next season and beyond.

Here's a look at five draft prospects who fit five teams' needs perfectly in terms of both position and style of play.

Trey Burke | Point Guard | Michigan
NBA fit: Orlando Magic

As we near completion of Year 1 of Orlando's rebuild, the Magic have done a good job of collecting young talent of varying levels of potential. Nikola Vucevic was an absolute steal as an elite rebounder in the Dwight Howard-Andrew Bynum deal; Maurice Harkless has come on strong over the past 10 games, showing a tantalizing mix of athleticism and versatility; and Tobias Harris has taken full advantage of the playing time afforded to him since being acquired from Milwaukee. The Magic have established a culture of character, hard work and effort (necessary in a rebuild), but lack a motor for their offense, which struggles to shoot efficiently (49 percent team eFG%) and doesn't get easy scoring opportunities (23rd in corner 3-point attempts and 29th in FTA rate).

Burke would provide a significant boost on the offensive end as both a playmaker and decision-maker. One of the things that impressed me over his college career was his ability to remain poised and not lose control. Burke's dribble-penetration skills, coupled with his strength and ability to finish at the rim, will force defenses to react, allowing him to set up teammates who are more adept at finishing plays.

Victor Oladipo | Combo Guard | Indiana
NBA fit: Oklahoma City Thunder

Despite being one of the top teams in the league, the Thunder will be one of the clubs intently watching the draft lottery, as they acquired Toronto's top-three protected pick in the James Harden trade. For a team flirting with the luxury tax threshold, this pick allows the Thunder to augment their roster on a financial subsidy via the rookie-scale contract. Further, the departure of Harden left a gaping hole in Oklahoma City's bench production in terms of scoring and playmaking. While Kevin Martin has filled in admirably (14.0 PPG, 42 3P%), the Thunder still lack a consistent playmaking threat off the bench.

Oladipo is an athletic, scoring guard who can get into the paint and finish with power. He doesn't have great court vision, but he is able to get into the paint and make plays from what develops. His sheer speed and explosiveness with the ball make him tough to corral, but he definitely would add a missing element to Oklahoma City's bench. Even better, he's a terrific on-ball defender, which would give the Thunder another defensive option on the wing along with Thabo Sefolosha. As with all of the Thunder's draft picks, the pressure to come in and produce immediately won't exist as long as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are healthy, so Oladipo would have time to develop along with Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones III, giving Oklahoma City a trio of young, high-caliber talents off its bench. Perhaps in a year, Oladipo and Jones would be able to run a second-unit version of the vaunted Westbrook-Durant pick-and-roll.

Michael Carter-Williams | Point Guard | Syracuse
NBA fit: Dallas Mavericks

For Dallas, the plan in 2012-13 was to make short-term investments in players who would help keep the team competitive while maintaining cap flexibility for next summer. The cap flexibility remains, but injuries, underwhelming performances by new acquisitions and stagnant development by incumbents all conspired against the Mavs' playoff hopes. (Despite a late-season surge, Dallas will miss the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.) But if there is a silver lining, it's the availability of a lottery pick that will allow the Mavs to get younger while remaining competitive with (hopefully) a healthy Dirk Nowitzki next year.

Carter-Williams has all of the tools for stardom: great size and length, high IQ, competitive spirit and good basketball pedigree (both his father and mother played, and his stepfather is one of the most successful high school coaches in New England). He is an underrated athlete, testing with a 40-inch vertical as a freshman. If the Mavs can retain O.J. Mayo (who is expected to opt out of his deal and test free agency), they could forge a big, versatile backcourt with two players who could switch off defensively and take turns offensively. Carter-Williams needs to improve his perimeter jumper and get stronger, but those are two things a lot easier to develop than work ethic and feel for the game.

C.J. McCollum | Combo Guard | Lehigh
NBA fit: Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have had their fair share of bad luck with injuries this season, with Ricky Rubio coming off last season's torn ACL, Chase Budinger missing most of the season to a torn meniscus and Kevin Love succumbing to injury after injury (not to mention whatever it is that possessed them to sign Brandon Roy). But even with their full complement of players, Minnesota has been only an average offensive team at best (101.5 points per 100 possessions last season prior to Rubio injury), and has struggled mightily from the perimeter.

McCollum has been one of the best-kept secrets in college basketball the past two seasons; of course, one reason he was such a big secret in 2012-13 was because he missed most of it because of a foot injury. That shouldn't scare away the Wolves, as McCollum's ability to score from the perimeter (career 20-plus PPG scorer; 38 3P%) while still getting to the free throw line (career FTA rate more than 42 percent) is exactly what they need. He's undersized as a shooting guard, but playing him alongside Rubio would give Minnesota a versatile guard tandem with enough size to handle most opposing backcourts. An interesting development will be whether Rick Adelman returns next season and, if he doesn't, what offense replaces his system, as Adelman's "corner" sets would mesh perfectly with McCollum's skill set.

Jeff Withey | Center | Kansas
NBA fit: Chicago Bulls

Similar to the Wolves, the Bulls have endured games lost to injury: Besides the torn ACL that has kept Derrick Rose out for the season, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich have all missed time in 2012-13. While the Bulls lack scoring punch from the perimeter, one of the overlooked issues has been the lack of depth in the team's frontcourt created by the departure of Omer Asik. As a result, Tom Thibodeau has had to resort to playing extended minutes for his frontcourt (Noah averages 37.5 minutes per game, Deng 39.1), and playing Gibson out of position at the 5 while Deng plays the 4. The cumulative effect of heavy playing time and undersized matchups has worn down the Bulls frontcourt and presumably contributed to the injury situation.

Withey is almost tailor made for Chicago as an Asik replacement: He's a true 7-footer with an active, athletic body (Withey is a former volleyball player like fellow San Diego native Budinger). Plus, he's an excellent rebounder and was one of the best shot-blockers in the nation. Offensively, he's going to do most of his damage off of putbacks as well as dunks and layups off drive-and-dish plays. However, he also does a nice job of moving without the ball, utilizing weakside duck-ins and cuts to the rim.

Defensively, he would give Thibodeau a big body who is agile enough to play the "2.9" game (zoning into the paint on the weak side and exiting before the defensive three-second violation is called), while also possessing the length, explosiveness and timing to protect the rim. By playing Withey the 15 minutes per game Asik used to get, Chicago would not only buy more rest for its other bigs, but also potentially add an elite shot-blocker to its mix.
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Bennett on the Wizards :pimp:

Him along with Wall and Beal would be fun to watch.

Oladipo to the Thunder would be very interesting.
Him, Russ and KD would be hell on D and in transition, mad turnovers though. I'm sure Presti will make a good move.


Where does Kabongo go? Late 1st early 2nd? His stock was really hurt by that suspension I was hoping he would have a breakout season.
 
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romedadude said:
More Lavoy Allen!!! :lol:
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Man I hate him. Not only does he suck in 2k but hes even worse in real life :x
All hes good at is post defense, snatching rebounds outta other peoples hands and the occassional jumper. Everything else he sucks at, not to mention he has NO MOTOR :smh:
From what I saw from Zeller in college he'll be better than this bum but not Spence...
 
FinallyFamous said:
Porter as the SF!

3rd year PG
2nd year SG
1st year SF
3rd year PF
2nd year C

Oh leh do it :pimp:
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It is pretty obvious that Cleveland needs a SF, but is Otto Porter good? What about GRIII? I didn't see much college hoops this yr except March Madness so I don't have much insight on their talent.
 
awwsome said:
Oladipo to the Thunder would be very interesting.
Him, Russ and KD would be hell on D and in transition, mad turnovers though. I'm sure Presti will make a good move.
.
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We have thabo under contract for 1 more year.. So oladipo could be a perfect replacement and we would have lamb off the bench
 
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[h2]One NBA assistant GM’s list of top 30 draft prospects[/h2]
By Sam Amico

Here are the op 30 NBA draft prospects, according to one NBA assistant GM, who forwarded his “extremely early” list of top 30 prospects. He’s ranked them in terms of ability, not need. “This could drastically change between now and the (June 29) draft,” he said.

Note that not everyone on this list has officially declared for the draft:

1. Nerlens Noel, 6-11, fr., Kentucky

2. Ben McLemore, 6-4, SG, fr., Kansas

3. Marcus Smart, 6-4, PG, fr., Oklahoma State

4. Victor Oladipo, 6-5, SG/SF, jr., Indiana

5. Anthony Bennett, 6-7, F, fr., UNLV

6. Otto Porter, 6-8, SF, so., Georgetown

7. Cody Zeller, 7-0, C, so., Indiana

8. Alex Len, 7-1, C, so., Maryland

9. Rudy Gobert, 7-1, PF/C, 20 yrs old, France

10. Mile Plumlee, 6-11, C, sr., Duke

11. Kelly Olynyk, 7-0, C, jr., Gonzaga

12. Isaiah Austin, 7-1, C, fr., Baylor

13. Trey Burke, 6-0, PG, so., Michigan

14. C.J. McCullom, 6-3, G, sr., Lehigh

15. Glenn Robinson , 6-6, SF, fr., Michigan

16. Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6, SF, fr., UCLA

17. Mitch McGary, 6-10, C, fr., Michigan

18. Tony Mitchell, 6-8, PF, so., North Texas

19. Gorgui Dieng, 6-11, C, jr., Louisville

20. Steve Adams, 6-11, C, fr., Pittsburgh

21. Michael Carter-Williams, 6-5, PG, so., Syracuse

22. James McAdoo, 6-9, F, so., North Carolina

23. Erick Green, 6-3, G, sr., Virginia Tech

24. James Withey, 6-11, C, sr., Kansas

25. Colton Iverson, 6-11, C, sr., Colorado State

26. Deshaun Thomas, 6-7, F, jr., Ohio State

27. Doug McDermott, 6-8, F, jr. Creighton

28. LeBryan Nash, 6-7, SF, so., Oklahoma State

29. Andre Robinson, 6-7, F, jr., Colorado

30. Archie Goodwin, 6-5, SG, fr., Kentucky
 
Chris Mannix:
NBA Big Board 6.0

It's that time of year again, the time when underclassmen start overestimating their value and enter the NBA draft. In the last week Pittsburgh freshman Steven Adams, N.C. State junior C.J. Leslie, Memphis sophomore Adonis Thomas and Missouri junior Phil Pressey all declared for the draft, with none indicating they were leaving the door open to return to college. There are certainly extenuating circumstances -- Adams, for example, said he was headed to the NBA out of a need to provide for his large family -- but not one of the aforementioned players is a lock for the first round, the only area in which players are guaranteed money.

Then there is Russ Smith, the Louisville junior who was reportedly headed to the draft but now, according to Cardinals coach Rick Pitino, is "50-50."

If Smith is getting positive feedback from NBA teams, it isn't coming from any of the executives I have talked to. He's listed at 6-foot, though he is probably closer to 5-10, and a 165 pounds, though that's likely closer to 155. He's not a playmaker (2.9 assists per game) and shot just 32.8 percent from three-point range last season. A sample of the projections offered for Smith this week:

"He's a second-round guy, a third-string push guard," said a Western Conference personnel executive.

"Honestly, I don't know if he gets drafted in the second round," said an Eastern Conference assistant GM.

And from an Eastern Conference personnel scout: "He would go undrafted. Guaranteed."

If Smith isn't getting a first-round promise -- and it would be shocking if a team would -- then why go? Perhaps Smith can earn a spot on the end of a team's bench; the new CBA has created more opportunities for cheap talent. But it's just as likely he will be playing overseas next season. By staying another season at Louisville, Smith could focus on making his game more NBA compatible. He could focus on playmaking and establishing himself as more of a point guard. Louisville will welcome in coveted JuCo point guard Chris Jones next season, but Smith could still impress scouts by showing he is more than a one-dimensional scorer.

1 Nerlens Noel
Kentucky, Freshman
6-10, 228
PF/C
I'm not sure whether it speaks to the weakness at the top of the draft or the potential of Noel, but multiple GM's of teams with lottery picks say that if they land at No. 1, Noel is the pick. "He is not Anthony Davis," said an Eastern Conference exec. "Davis is better. But he [Noel] is a high-energy center who will rebound and block shots. He's the guy."

2 Ben McLemore
Kansas, Freshman
6-5, 195
SG
McLemore erased the memory of two weak opening round games against Western Kentucky (11 points) and North Carolina (2) by posting 20 points (on 8-of-15 shooting) in a Sweet 16 loss to Michigan. With prototypical 2-guard size and a picturesque stroke, McLemore should be a starter right away and in the top half of NBA 2-guards within a couple of years.

3 Marcus Smart
Oklahoma State, Freshman
6-4, 225
PG/SG
Teams were disappointed not to get a longer look at Smart in the tournament; the Cowboys were ousted by Oregon in the first round. Smart's final line (14 points, nine rebounds, five steals, four assists) was solid, and several NBA teams love Smart's athleticism, awareness and bulldog defense. He will need to improve his three-point shot (29 percent) but with the NBA landscape dominated by big, physical playmakers like Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, Smart has potential.

4 Anthony Bennett
UNLV, Freshman
6-8, 240
PF
What position will Bennett play? That seems to be the biggest question GM's have about the 20-year-old forward. At 6-foot-8, Bennett would be an undersized power forward, but his wingspan (7-1) and burly physique could make up for that. Still, at least two executives believe that Bennett has small-forward skills that will become evident at the next level. Once removed from the Rebels' system -- which put him in the post often -- Bennett has the talent, they say, to play off the dribble and score from the outside.

5 Trey Burke
Michigan, Sophomore
6-0, 190
PG
It wasn't a perfect NCAA tournament for Burke, who was so-so in Michigan's opening round win over San Diego State and terrible in the Wolverines Final Four win over Syracuse. Still, Burke's consistent play over the course of the season has a lot of GM's believing he is an eventual starting point guard at the next level. A 24-point effort (in 26 minutes) against Louisville's swarming defense didn't hurt, either.

6 Otto Porter
Georgetown, Sophomore
6-8, 205
SF
Porter's stat line (13 points, 11 rebounds) against Florida Gulf Coast doesn't look bad, but his poor shooting (5-of-17) contributed to the upset loss to the Eagles. Fortunately, a strong finish to the regular season makes Porter -- a rangy wing player in the mold of Tayshaun Prince -- a virtual lock for the top-10.

7 Victor Oladipo
Indiana, Junior
6-5, 214
SG
Oladipo continued his rapid rise with a strong tournament. The 6-foot-5 guard plays NBA-ready defense and is an excellent finisher. Some teams remain concerned about his shot, particularly after he struggled mightily from beyond the college arc in his first two seasons. But multiple team executives say they hear good things about Oladipo's work ethic, and a number of shooting guards -- Michael Redd, for example -- have come to the NBA and developed a consistent jump shot.

8 Shabazz Muhammad
UCLA, Freshman
6-6, 225
SF
The Bruins opening-round loss to Minnesota capped a disappointing season for Muhammad, who proved he could score (17.9 points per game) but not much else. Muhammad is going to need a lot of work: Much of his scoring comes when he goes left, his jump shot is inconsistent and he does not impact the game in any other areas. A team will jump on him early because of his scoring potential, but he will need a strong coaching staff to mold the rest of his game.

9 Cody Zeller
Indiana, Sophomore
7-0, 240
PF/C
"There are a lot of issues with Zeller," said a Western Conference GM. "But you know what? He's a 7-footer who can score. I can work with a talent like that." Zeller probably needs a strong big-man coach, someone to break him of his habit of playing smaller than he is. He is not the surefire star many thought he would be in November and -- as it said in this space last month -- some teams are scared of drafting him too high. But in the right situation, Zeller's offensive repertoire could make him a steal.

10 Alex Len
Maryland, Sophomore
7-1, 225
C
Len submitted back-to-back strong performances in Maryland's last two games of the NIT, scoring 15 points (on 6-9 shooting) and collecting 13 rebounds in a win over Alabama, and posting 16 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Iowa. Len isn't especially efficient offensively -- as analyzed here -- but he's a solid rebounder and defender who draws contact in the post, qualities teams really like.

11 Michael Carter-Williams
Syracuse, Sophomore
6-6, 185
PG
Carter-Williams bombed in 'Cuse's Final Four loss to Michigan (two points on 1-6 shooting) but overall, his sophomore season was impressive. Teams persistently compare the lanky, fluid point guard with a young Shaun Livingston, while many expect him to be a quality defender outside of the Orange's 2-3 zone. It's a deep draft for point guards, but Carter-Williams should come off the board quickly.

12 Rudy Gobert
France, 20 years old
7-1, 235
C
Gobert is something of an enigma: On one hand, he can look like an awkward explosion of long arms and legs. On the other, he is a 7-foot-1 big with a 7-9 wingspan who can run the floor, block shots and has shown flashes of potential, like a 14-point, 14-rebound effort against fellow prospect Mam Jaiteh in February, a game heavily scouted by NBA execs. He may need to be rooted to the bench for a year or two, but that potential is too tempting to pass up.

13 Isaiah Austin
Baylor, Freshman
7-1, 220
PF/C
Austin capped a productive NIT with a 15-point, nine-rebound, five-block effort in a win over Iowa in the finals. There's a lot to like about Austin's game: He can play inside and out and can score off the dribble. But Austin is rail thin, has stretches -- sometimes entire games -- where he disappears and at times appears to get frustrated easily. More and more, NBA teams are placing a premium on big men with high motors (like Noel), which could result in Austin slipping.

14 C.J. McCollum
Lehigh, Senior
6-3, 190
PG/SG
McCollum was having another productive season when he broke his foot in January, robbing many NBA scouts of a closer look at him. There's a lot of Damian Lillard to McCollum's game; both are elite scoring guards who can shoot the three and excel in the pick-and-roll and both left college with questions about their ability to be a playmaker. After never averaging more than four assists per game at Weber State, Lillard is averaging 6.5 in Portland. Some scouts think McCollum (who averaged 2.9 assists this season) could have a similar impact.

15 Gorgui Dieng
Louisville, Junior
6-11, 245
PF/C
Dieng had a strong tournament run for Louisville, posting double-digit scoring numbers in three of the Cardinals six games, including a 14-point, 11-rebound effort against Duke. Though one team executive calls Dieng "an underrated passer," he is very limited offensively. But he's big and physical with a reported 7-foot-6 wingspan that has teams attention. "His age [23] hurts him, but he can protect the rim and rebound," said an Eastern Conference personnel scout. "He's probably a backup center, but a good one."

16 Gary Harris
Michigan State, Freshman
6-4, 205
SG
Harris just oozes potential. The Spartans freshman shot 45.6 percent from the field last season and 41.1 percent from three-point range, drawing comparisons to Hornets guard Eric Gordon. Like Gordon, Harris is small in stature for a shooting guard (6-foot-4) and lacks Gordon's bulk, while nagging shoulder injuries have led several team executives to express concern about how Harris will hold up in the more physical NBA. Still, if Harris comes out, his ability to score will be tough to pass up.

17 Kelly Olynyk
Gonzaga, Junior
7-0, 238
PF/C
Olynyk has the most advanced offensive game of any center in the draft. He can score with either hand with a variety of efficient post moves he can go to at any time and has an ability to step out and make a jump shot. But what position will he defend? Olynyk is a below-average rebounder who appears to lack the lower body strength necessary to play in the paint at the next level.

18 Mason Plumlee
Duke, Senior
6-10, 235
PF
Plumlee finished off a productive senior season with a strong tournament run, showcasing good hands, athleticism and ability to finish around the rim. At 23, Plumlee is on the older side and in four years at Duke did not develop much of a post game. His ceiling is lower than most prospects.

19 Jeff Withey
Kansas, Senior
7-0, 235
C
Withey opened some eyes with a strong tournament run, including a 16-point, 16-rebound output against North Carolina. Withey is an NBA defender: He's strong with superior footwork, timing and defensive technique. There isn't much depth in Withey's offensive repertoire right now, though he has shown a nice touch around the rim. One personnel scout compared Withey to former Indiana forward Jeff Foster, a grinder who had a productive 13-year career despite never averaging more than seven points per game.

20 Glenn Robinson III
Michigan, Freshman
6-6, 210
SF/SG
Robinson didn't dazzle in his freshman season, averaging just 11 points. But he played big in the tournament, scoring in double figures in five of Michigan's six games, including a 21-point outburst in the opening-round win over South Dakota State. Robinson isn't as polished a scorer as his father, former top overall pick Glenn Robinson, but he's athletic, shoots a high percentage (57.2 percent last season) and has a sturdy, 6-foot-6 frame that figures to fill out considerably as he gets older. Robinson is something of a project, but the potential could be worth the risk.
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Link
 
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