UPDATED: Mock Draft at Hoops Habit (both rounds)
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:52 am
Hey guys,
Going to have a regular mock draft going up on hoopshabit.com as well as other regular draft coverage.
Have just put up the Sweet 16 edition and will keep updating regularly with versions like best case scenarios, worst case, statistical analysis and more
It's lengthy with a summary of each pick so you can find the full mock here: http://hoopshabit.com/nba-draft-2013-mo ... 6-edition/
But here is the top 10:
1. Charlotte Bobcats – Ben McLemore, SG
6’4”, 195 lbs, Kansas, Freshman
Extremely fortunate to retain his position atop this edition of the mock draft after an abysmal performance against North Carolina, Ben McLemore will get a chance to redeem himself when the Kansas Jayhawks take on Michigan in the Sweet 16. After a competitive first-round matchup against Western Kentucky, the Jayhawks were able to defeat the No. 8 seed, North Carolina, despite getting no production from their star shooting guard.
McLemore was 0-for-9 from the field and scored just two points for Kansas against North Carolina in one of the highest profile matchups in this year’s tournament. He was out of rhythm with his shot going 0-for-6 from downtown and failing to make an impact on a game that scouts would have been watching closely. His 11-point, six-rebound performance against Western Kentucky was significantly better, but he will need to turn things around quickly if he wants to remain in the discussion for the No. 1 pick.
With two of the next three selections getting eliminated in the second round of the tournament while the third recovers from major surgery, McLemore will at least get the chance for redemption in a huge Sweet 16 match up against a backcourt full of NBA prospects. While his stock is down after his showing so far, no one has done anything to overtake him at this stage.
2. Orlando Magic – Marcus Smart, PG
6’4”, 200 lbs, Oklahoma State, Freshman
Marcus Smart and the Oklahoma State Cowboys had an NCAA tournament to forget after being upset in the second round by No. 12 seed Oregon and Smart sustaining a wrist injury during the 68-55 loss.
Despite having an off shooting night going just 5-for-13 from the field, Smart was contributing all over the court for Oklahoma State. He finished with nine rebounds, four assists and five steals, all of which were team highs.
The Magic are still in the ideal draft position to find their lead guard of the future to join an outstanding young core. Despite the disappointing tournament appearance there would likely be few concerns in picking up the Oklahoma State freshman.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel, PF/C
6’11”, 216 lbs, Kentucky, Freshman
Nerlens Noel could do little but watch as his Kentucky teammates were eliminated in the first round of the NIT. The team has struggled significantly since losing their star center to a torn ACL and as he started his rehabilitation from surgery, the Wildcats again showed how much they relied on his presence.
Noel will get enough time to full recover before the start of the 2013-14 NBA season when he will make his rookie debut. The main question mark for NBA teams now will be how he recovers his athleticism after such a significant injury. The Cavaliers are in an ideal situation with Kyrie Irving leading a group of talented young players through their rebuilding phase, adding an interior defender like Noel to that group would only help speed up the process and he has the potential to be one of the best defenders in the league down the track.
4. Phoenix Suns – Shabazz Muhammad, SF
6’6”, 223 lbs, UCLA, Freshman
Another early lottery pick to only make a brief appearance in the 2013 NCAA tournament, Shabbaz Muhammad and the UCLA Bruins were defeated convincingly by the Minnesota Golden Gophers 83-63 in the second round.
Despite scoring 20 points for the Bruins, Muhammad was shooting poorly and did little else to help his team overcome what was a large deficit for the majority of the game. Muhammad shot just 6-for-18 including a miserable 0-for-6 from 3. He missed all seven of his shot attempts in the first half and scored mostly in a late run once the game was well out of reach.
Even with a disappointing NCAA appearance and now some talk of Muhammad actually being a year older than initially believed, the Suns are looking for star player qualities and Muhammad still possesses that potential.
5. Detroit Pistons – Otto Porter, SF
6’8”, 200 lbs, Georgetown, Sophomore
In a loss that had fans all over the country tearing up their brackets, Otto Porter and the Georgetown Hoyas provided the biggest surprise in the tournament thus far going down in the second round to the No. 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.
Porter, who struggled with his offense shot just 5-for-17 in the shocking loss, but did provide some signs of why he will still be a highly coveted pick in the early stages of the 2013 draft. Porter had a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with his 13 points, he made two 3-pointers and also contributed three assists. He was, as always, working hard on both ends of the court, but neither he nor his teammates could generate any efficient offense, finishing the game with a miserable 37.5 percent shooting performance.
Aside from the early exit, Porter briefly showed the intangibles that impress scouts and would not have done significant damage to his draft stock. He is an ideal fit alongside the Pistons young core and Detroit would not let one disappointing performance undo the great things Porter has shown all season.
6. New Orleans Hornets – Trey Burke, PG
6’0”, 190 lbs, Michigan, Sophomore
Trey Burke and his Michigan Wolverines have been one of the most impressive teams through the early stages of the NCAA tournament and come into the Sweet 16 having won their first two games by an average of 20 points. They easily accounted for South Dakota State 71-56 before making a statement with a 78-53 blowout victory against the No. 5 seed VCU.
Burke had a miserable night individually against South Dakota State, scoring in single digits for the first time this season on just 2-for-12 shooting. Despite the poor shooting performance and Burke taking a hard fall that caused him to leave the court briefly with elbow soreness, the point guard displayed his ability to control the game and finished with seven assists.
Burke was back to his old self in the third round, totalling 18 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds as the Wolverines easily advanced through to the Sweet 16. He displayed a bit of everything, setting up teammates, hitting jumpers from the outside and getting to the rim, finishing with both hands. Burke is leading his young Michigan team deep into the tournament and as expected will likely shoot up draft boards leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft. The Hornets would be well served teaming up a guard with Burke’s abilities with franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis.
7. Sacramento Kings – Cody Zeller, PF/C
7’0”, 240 lbs, Indiana, Sophomore
Cody Zeller and the Indiana Hoosiers will make a return to the Sweet 16 after victories over the James Madison Dukes and the Temple Owls. The Hoosiers easily accounted for the Dukes with an 83-62 victory before a huge test against Temple where they needed some late heroics to win 58-52.
Zeller has been a solid contributor, averaging 28 minutes per game through the first two games, he was quiet yet efficient going 4-for-5 from the field against James Madison in an 11-point, six-rebound performance. He had 15 points against Temple, including an impressive 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, to go along with six rebounds and two assists.
With a number of upsets early on, Zeller and the Hoosiers have done enough to progress through to the Sweet 16 and he has done no harm to his draft stock despite having two relatively quiet performances. By adding Zeller, the Kings would form a young, imposing front court tandem with DeMarcus Cousins to build around going forward. With chemistry and attitude issues a concern in Sacramento, bringing in someone with Zeller’s leaderships qualities and low maintenance personality would be a great way to try and continue to turn the franchise around.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves – Victor Oladipo, SG
6’5”, 210 lbs, Indiana, Junior
Along with Zeller, Indiana’s star swingman Victor Oladipo has been instrumental in their early tournament success with two solid performances. He provided some big shots late against Temple which included a high-pressure 3-pointer to seal the win.
Oladipo was the best player on the floor against Temple, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds and going an impressive 7-for-12 from the field. Add that to a solid 11-point, six-rebound and three-assist game against James Madison, Oladipo has been one of the best performers through the first stages of the tournament.
With the Timberwolves’ need for a strong wing player to grow with their already impressive young core, as well as a desperate need for defensive minded players on the roster, they would be quick to snap up the versatile, defensive minded Oladipo if he was still on the board when their selection was on the board. Oladipo could add the athleticism and defensive intensity on the wings that Minnesota has been searching for.
9. Washington Wizards – Anthony Bennett, SF/PF
6’7”, 239 lbs, UNLV, Freshman
The UNLV Rebels were another surprising early-round exit in the NCAA tournament as they were defeated by the No. 12 seed California. UNLV was unable to deal with an impressive California defensive performance which held the Rebels to just 32.2 percent shooting.
Anthony Bennett was one of the few bright spots for UNLV and continues to impress with his recent performances despite the early departure from the tournament. Bennett had a team-high 15 points, 11 rebounds and two steals while getting to the free-throw line on 10 occasions, making seven. Bennett was exposed somewhat defensively against California’s frontcourt, especially reserve forward Robert Thurman, who went 6-for-6 in the post against Bennett, scoring 12 points in just 19 minutes.
Bennett continues to display his relentless ability to chase down rebounds, a strong, athletic finishing ability and good mobility for a big man. The Wizards have been playing significantly better as of late and find themselves much further down the draft board than they were even just a week ago, however adding a player with Bennett’s potential and abilities to play alongside their impressive young back court would be a huge victory for Washington.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto) – Alex Len, C
7’1”, 255 lbs, Maryland, Sophomore
Maryland center Alex Len did not get the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament and instead was relegated to play in the NIT where the Terrapins have advanced through the first two rounds. He has been quiet in both outings, averaging 6.5 points, three rebounds and two blocks in just 17 minutes per game.
He will be looking for a big performance in his next NIT game and Maryland remains one of the favorites for the NIT title. A continued deep run and some more impressive statistical performances would help Len avoid a drop in the rankings after what is looking like a quiet finish to the season for him.
The Raptors have been on the slide as of late and that could not be better news for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In search of a young big man to add to their front court and potentially give them some financial flexibility with the contract of Kendrick Perkins, the Thunder would be quick to snap up Len if he was still on the board. His rebounding, shot blocking and ability to finish inside would be a welcome addition to a team that will continue to compete for an NBA title for the foreseeable future.
Going to have a regular mock draft going up on hoopshabit.com as well as other regular draft coverage.
Have just put up the Sweet 16 edition and will keep updating regularly with versions like best case scenarios, worst case, statistical analysis and more
It's lengthy with a summary of each pick so you can find the full mock here: http://hoopshabit.com/nba-draft-2013-mo ... 6-edition/
But here is the top 10:
1. Charlotte Bobcats – Ben McLemore, SG
6’4”, 195 lbs, Kansas, Freshman
Extremely fortunate to retain his position atop this edition of the mock draft after an abysmal performance against North Carolina, Ben McLemore will get a chance to redeem himself when the Kansas Jayhawks take on Michigan in the Sweet 16. After a competitive first-round matchup against Western Kentucky, the Jayhawks were able to defeat the No. 8 seed, North Carolina, despite getting no production from their star shooting guard.
McLemore was 0-for-9 from the field and scored just two points for Kansas against North Carolina in one of the highest profile matchups in this year’s tournament. He was out of rhythm with his shot going 0-for-6 from downtown and failing to make an impact on a game that scouts would have been watching closely. His 11-point, six-rebound performance against Western Kentucky was significantly better, but he will need to turn things around quickly if he wants to remain in the discussion for the No. 1 pick.
With two of the next three selections getting eliminated in the second round of the tournament while the third recovers from major surgery, McLemore will at least get the chance for redemption in a huge Sweet 16 match up against a backcourt full of NBA prospects. While his stock is down after his showing so far, no one has done anything to overtake him at this stage.
2. Orlando Magic – Marcus Smart, PG
6’4”, 200 lbs, Oklahoma State, Freshman
Marcus Smart and the Oklahoma State Cowboys had an NCAA tournament to forget after being upset in the second round by No. 12 seed Oregon and Smart sustaining a wrist injury during the 68-55 loss.
Despite having an off shooting night going just 5-for-13 from the field, Smart was contributing all over the court for Oklahoma State. He finished with nine rebounds, four assists and five steals, all of which were team highs.
The Magic are still in the ideal draft position to find their lead guard of the future to join an outstanding young core. Despite the disappointing tournament appearance there would likely be few concerns in picking up the Oklahoma State freshman.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel, PF/C
6’11”, 216 lbs, Kentucky, Freshman
Nerlens Noel could do little but watch as his Kentucky teammates were eliminated in the first round of the NIT. The team has struggled significantly since losing their star center to a torn ACL and as he started his rehabilitation from surgery, the Wildcats again showed how much they relied on his presence.
Noel will get enough time to full recover before the start of the 2013-14 NBA season when he will make his rookie debut. The main question mark for NBA teams now will be how he recovers his athleticism after such a significant injury. The Cavaliers are in an ideal situation with Kyrie Irving leading a group of talented young players through their rebuilding phase, adding an interior defender like Noel to that group would only help speed up the process and he has the potential to be one of the best defenders in the league down the track.
4. Phoenix Suns – Shabazz Muhammad, SF
6’6”, 223 lbs, UCLA, Freshman
Another early lottery pick to only make a brief appearance in the 2013 NCAA tournament, Shabbaz Muhammad and the UCLA Bruins were defeated convincingly by the Minnesota Golden Gophers 83-63 in the second round.
Despite scoring 20 points for the Bruins, Muhammad was shooting poorly and did little else to help his team overcome what was a large deficit for the majority of the game. Muhammad shot just 6-for-18 including a miserable 0-for-6 from 3. He missed all seven of his shot attempts in the first half and scored mostly in a late run once the game was well out of reach.
Even with a disappointing NCAA appearance and now some talk of Muhammad actually being a year older than initially believed, the Suns are looking for star player qualities and Muhammad still possesses that potential.
5. Detroit Pistons – Otto Porter, SF
6’8”, 200 lbs, Georgetown, Sophomore
In a loss that had fans all over the country tearing up their brackets, Otto Porter and the Georgetown Hoyas provided the biggest surprise in the tournament thus far going down in the second round to the No. 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.
Porter, who struggled with his offense shot just 5-for-17 in the shocking loss, but did provide some signs of why he will still be a highly coveted pick in the early stages of the 2013 draft. Porter had a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with his 13 points, he made two 3-pointers and also contributed three assists. He was, as always, working hard on both ends of the court, but neither he nor his teammates could generate any efficient offense, finishing the game with a miserable 37.5 percent shooting performance.
Aside from the early exit, Porter briefly showed the intangibles that impress scouts and would not have done significant damage to his draft stock. He is an ideal fit alongside the Pistons young core and Detroit would not let one disappointing performance undo the great things Porter has shown all season.
6. New Orleans Hornets – Trey Burke, PG
6’0”, 190 lbs, Michigan, Sophomore
Trey Burke and his Michigan Wolverines have been one of the most impressive teams through the early stages of the NCAA tournament and come into the Sweet 16 having won their first two games by an average of 20 points. They easily accounted for South Dakota State 71-56 before making a statement with a 78-53 blowout victory against the No. 5 seed VCU.
Burke had a miserable night individually against South Dakota State, scoring in single digits for the first time this season on just 2-for-12 shooting. Despite the poor shooting performance and Burke taking a hard fall that caused him to leave the court briefly with elbow soreness, the point guard displayed his ability to control the game and finished with seven assists.
Burke was back to his old self in the third round, totalling 18 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds as the Wolverines easily advanced through to the Sweet 16. He displayed a bit of everything, setting up teammates, hitting jumpers from the outside and getting to the rim, finishing with both hands. Burke is leading his young Michigan team deep into the tournament and as expected will likely shoot up draft boards leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft. The Hornets would be well served teaming up a guard with Burke’s abilities with franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis.
7. Sacramento Kings – Cody Zeller, PF/C
7’0”, 240 lbs, Indiana, Sophomore
Cody Zeller and the Indiana Hoosiers will make a return to the Sweet 16 after victories over the James Madison Dukes and the Temple Owls. The Hoosiers easily accounted for the Dukes with an 83-62 victory before a huge test against Temple where they needed some late heroics to win 58-52.
Zeller has been a solid contributor, averaging 28 minutes per game through the first two games, he was quiet yet efficient going 4-for-5 from the field against James Madison in an 11-point, six-rebound performance. He had 15 points against Temple, including an impressive 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, to go along with six rebounds and two assists.
With a number of upsets early on, Zeller and the Hoosiers have done enough to progress through to the Sweet 16 and he has done no harm to his draft stock despite having two relatively quiet performances. By adding Zeller, the Kings would form a young, imposing front court tandem with DeMarcus Cousins to build around going forward. With chemistry and attitude issues a concern in Sacramento, bringing in someone with Zeller’s leaderships qualities and low maintenance personality would be a great way to try and continue to turn the franchise around.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves – Victor Oladipo, SG
6’5”, 210 lbs, Indiana, Junior
Along with Zeller, Indiana’s star swingman Victor Oladipo has been instrumental in their early tournament success with two solid performances. He provided some big shots late against Temple which included a high-pressure 3-pointer to seal the win.
Oladipo was the best player on the floor against Temple, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds and going an impressive 7-for-12 from the field. Add that to a solid 11-point, six-rebound and three-assist game against James Madison, Oladipo has been one of the best performers through the first stages of the tournament.
With the Timberwolves’ need for a strong wing player to grow with their already impressive young core, as well as a desperate need for defensive minded players on the roster, they would be quick to snap up the versatile, defensive minded Oladipo if he was still on the board when their selection was on the board. Oladipo could add the athleticism and defensive intensity on the wings that Minnesota has been searching for.
9. Washington Wizards – Anthony Bennett, SF/PF
6’7”, 239 lbs, UNLV, Freshman
The UNLV Rebels were another surprising early-round exit in the NCAA tournament as they were defeated by the No. 12 seed California. UNLV was unable to deal with an impressive California defensive performance which held the Rebels to just 32.2 percent shooting.
Anthony Bennett was one of the few bright spots for UNLV and continues to impress with his recent performances despite the early departure from the tournament. Bennett had a team-high 15 points, 11 rebounds and two steals while getting to the free-throw line on 10 occasions, making seven. Bennett was exposed somewhat defensively against California’s frontcourt, especially reserve forward Robert Thurman, who went 6-for-6 in the post against Bennett, scoring 12 points in just 19 minutes.
Bennett continues to display his relentless ability to chase down rebounds, a strong, athletic finishing ability and good mobility for a big man. The Wizards have been playing significantly better as of late and find themselves much further down the draft board than they were even just a week ago, however adding a player with Bennett’s potential and abilities to play alongside their impressive young back court would be a huge victory for Washington.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto) – Alex Len, C
7’1”, 255 lbs, Maryland, Sophomore
Maryland center Alex Len did not get the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament and instead was relegated to play in the NIT where the Terrapins have advanced through the first two rounds. He has been quiet in both outings, averaging 6.5 points, three rebounds and two blocks in just 17 minutes per game.
He will be looking for a big performance in his next NIT game and Maryland remains one of the favorites for the NIT title. A continued deep run and some more impressive statistical performances would help Len avoid a drop in the rankings after what is looking like a quiet finish to the season for him.
The Raptors have been on the slide as of late and that could not be better news for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In search of a young big man to add to their front court and potentially give them some financial flexibility with the contract of Kendrick Perkins, the Thunder would be quick to snap up Len if he was still on the board. His rebounding, shot blocking and ability to finish inside would be a welcome addition to a team that will continue to compete for an NBA title for the foreseeable future.