TJ's 2013 NBA Mock Draft and Discussion

[teamjosh04]

1. Charlotte Bobcats - SO Cody Zeller, C, Indiana
2. Phoenix Suns - FR Shabazz Mohammad, SG, UCLA
3. Toronto Raptors - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
5. Washington Wizards - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
6. Detroit Pistons - FR Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky
7. New Orleans Hornets - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
8. Sacramento Kings - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
9. Milwaukee Bucks - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
10. Golden State Warriors - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet
11. Portland Trailblazers - FR Isaiah Austin, F/C, Baylor
12. Utah Jazz - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
13. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Mike Moser, F, UNLV
14. Orlando Magic - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
15. Atlanta Hawks - 1994 Dario Saric, F, KK Zagreb
16. Philadelphia 76ers - FR Ben McLemore, G, Kansas
17. Brooklyn Nets - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
18. Houston Rockets - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
19. Denver Nuggets - JR CJ Leslie, F, North Carolina State
20. New York Knicks - JR Patric Young, C, Florida
21. Dallas Mavericks - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, Rincon
22. Memphis Grizzlies - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
23. Los Angeles Clippers - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State
24. Indiana Pacers - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
25. Boston Celtics - FR Kyle Anderson, G/F, UCLA
26. Chicago Bulls - SO Wayne Blackshear, SF, Louisville
27. San Antonio Spurs - FR Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV
28. Los Angeles Lakers - SR Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - SO Brendan Dawson, F, Michigan State
30. Miami Heat - SO PJ Hairston, SG, North Carolina


31. Charlotte Bobcats - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
32. Phoenix Suns - SO Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
33. Toronto Raptors - JR DeShaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State
34. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Jarnell Stokes, F, Tennessee
35. Washington Wizards - SO LeBryan Nash, SF, Oklahoma State
36. Detroit Pistons - FR Marcus Smart, SG, Oklahoma State
37. New Orleans Hornets - SR Isaiah Cannon, G, Murray State
38. Sacramento Kings - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
39. Milwaukee Bucks - JR Alec Brown, C, Wisconsin Green-Bay
40. Golden State Warriors - SR Giorgi Dieng, C, Louisville
41. Portland Trailblazers - SO Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse
42. Utah Jazz - JR CJ Fair, F, Syracuse
43. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Joshua Smith, C, UCLA
44. Orlando Magic - JR CJ Wilcox, SG, Washington
45. Atlanta Hawks - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
46. Philadelphia 76ers - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
47. Brooklyn Nets - JR Ray McCallom, PG, Detroit
48. Houston Rockets - JR Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
49. Denver Nuggets - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
50. New York Knicks - SR Mouphtaou Yarou, F/C, Villanova
51. Dallas Mavericks - JR Victor Oladipo, SF, Indiana
52. Memphis Grizzlies - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
53. Los Angeles Clippers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
54. Indiana Pacers - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
55. Boston Celtics - JR Doug McDermont, F, Creighton
56. Chicago Bulls - SR Richard Howell, PF, North Carolina State
57. San Antonio Spurs - JR Tim Hardaway, SG, Michigan
58. Los Angeles Lakers - JR CJ Aiken, F, St. Joseph's
59. Oklahoma City Thunder - SR Peyton Siva, PG, Louisville
60. Miami Heat - SR Alex Oriakhi, C, Connecticut

Still a work in progress as I have lots of game tape left to review before the season starts. Check out more scouting reports and rankings at nbaprospects.blogspot.com

[TDJacksonville]

1) i see u havent taken trades into the Order yet though you should because it makes much more sense to.

2) you really think the Magic will finish 14th without dwight. if they stay picking at 14 i could live with Kabongo if he shows improvement this year but if not give me the guy from lehigh whos gonan remind people of Lillard.

[teamjosh04]

No I havent. And I havent even taken team needs into account. Way too early to do that. Just a waste of time at this point. The draft order was made before the Dwight trade just FTR. I definitely think they will finish worse than late lottery.

I like the Magic's frontline and while they shouldnt be drafting for need, they could focus more on perimeter guys. Nicholson is going to be a good starter, O'Quinn and Ayon are both good rotation guys, and Vucevic has potential. Plus I still believe Harper is a stretch 4 no matter how much they want to make him a SF and Harrington and Big Baby will warrant minutes too.

Shabazz should be their top target.

Im not the biggest Lillard fan and dont think anyone should be anointing him star status yet, let alone trying to find another guy at a small school to surprise. McCollom isn't as much of a point guard nor is he the driver that Lillard is. Hes a better team player in my mind and helps out in other areas, but is stuck in between positions and settles for a lot of jumpshots. He can get off a 3 or mid-range jumper whenever he wants, this season he needs to get to the hoop more and create more shots for his teammates. Hes a smart player who should be able to play some point, but Id classify him as a 2/1 while Lillard is a 1/2.

[TDJacksonville]

No I havent. And I havent even taken team needs into account. Way too early to do that. Just a waste of time at this point. The draft order was made before the Dwight trade just FTR. I definitely think they will finish worse than late lottery.

I like the Magic's frontline and while they shouldnt be drafting for need, they could focus more on perimeter guys. Nicholson is going to be a good starter, O'Quinn and Ayon are both good rotation guys, and Vucevic has potential. Plus I still believe Harper is a stretch 4 no matter how much they want to make him a SF and Harrington and Big Baby will warrant minutes too.

Shabazz should be their top target.

Im not the biggest Lillard fan and dont think anyone should be anointing him star status yet, let alone trying to find another guy at a small school to surprise. McCollom isn't as much of a point guard nor is he the driver that Lillard is. Hes a better team player in my mind and helps out in other areas, but is stuck in between positions and settles for a lot of jumpshots. He can get off a 3 or mid-range jumper whenever he wants, this season he needs to get to the hoop more and create more shots for his teammates. Hes a smart player who should be able to play some point, but Id classify him as a 2/1 while Lillard is a 1/2.

theres not many High Talented Perimeter guys besides Bazz but looking at the Magics roster the Future core on there who arent likely to be traded are: Nicholson, Vucevic, Harkless, Affalo. Affalo is the Only guy i included who could be traded for the right price. Best choice using Need would be a PG but obviously there isnt one worth such a high pick right now. if they are picking somewhere in the top 5 id like them to grab either Adams or Bazz(i dont have a preference). theres are the 2 players who i feel would help the Magic in the future. Adams is very raw so obviously its more towards the future while Bazz fills a More current need. my theory is u take the Player who can be the Better of the 2 and when its tied u always take the big.

[BossHoggin]

If you are going to predict draft order then update the picks. You have no problem guessing the future but you can't take into account the past?

[teamjosh04]

Not really guessing the future - Im more of ranking the players. Its way too much to sort this out by needs so early. Screws up the natural ranking process. I dont want to predict the future - I want to have a good discussion about prospects and their current perceived draft stock.

The thing is, a lot of guys are interested in mocks to see who their teams are looking at. Then there is another group of guys who care more about evaluating prospects. Thats what I care about. I'll worry about certain fits and draft picks once we turn the calender year.

For now, lets have a healthy discussion of prospects.

Anyone have an opinion on Robert Covington? Hes a real sleeper in this draft. Ive liked him since I got a chance to see him last year but hes flown under the radar completely. Finally getting attention after performing well at Adidas Nations. I think he just may be the best senior draft prospect in the country - ahead of McCollom and Plumlee. Hes very Danny Granger-esque and I compared them in an article last night.

http://nbaprospects.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... danny.html

[teamjosh04]

1. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Shabazz Mohammad, SG, UCLA
2. Phoenix Suns - SO Cody Zeller, C, Indiana
3. Orlando Magic - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
4. Sacramento Kings - FR Nerlens Noels, F/C, Kentucky
5. Detroit Pistons - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
6. New Orleans Hornets - FR Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky
7. Houston Rockets - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
8. Washington Wizards - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
9. Cleveland Cavaliers - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet
10. Houston Rockets (from Toronto) - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
11. Portland Trailblazers - JR Mike Moser, F, UNLV
12. Milwaukee Bucks - FR Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
13. Utah Jazz (from Golden State) - JR Andre Roberson, PF, Colorado
14. Minnesota Timberwolves - FR Ben McLemore, G, Kansas
15. Atlanta Hawks - 1994 Dario Saric, F, KK Zagreg
16. New York Knicks - FR Kyle Anderson, PG, UCLA
17. Utah Jazz - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
18. Miami Heat (from Philadelphia) - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
19. Brooklyn Nets - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
20. Chicago Bulls - SR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
21. Houston Rockets (from Dallas) - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State
22. Phoenix Suns (from Memphis) - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
23. Denver Nuggets - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
24. Indiana Pacers - JR Patric Young, F/C, Florida
25. Boston Celtics - SR Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke
26. Los Angeles Clippers - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
27. San Antonio Spurs -SO Brendan Dawson, F, Michigan State
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers) - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami) - SR Robert Covington, SF, Tennessee State

Trimmed some of that fat off by getting rid of guys I didn't think would declare and updated order and trades.

[TDJacksonville]

good pick for the magic. if we cant get Bazz we gotta go get steven adams if he declares.

[Blue Ninja]

Kyle Anderson will be a beast in college (probably one of the best college players), but as an NBA prospect he is not good. He's not fast or quick enough to be a guard or small forward in the NBA imo. He's nicknamed "slow-mo" because he plays slow and thats in high school. Stiill think hes got the handle, passing skills, and shot to be effective in college but the next jump to the NBA will be tough imo.

That being said, give the Knicks Dieng. Dude is a beast shotblocker and rebounder. Can learn a lot behind Camby and Tyson Chandler.

[teamjosh04]

1. Nerlens Noel
2. Shabazz Muhammad
3. Cody Zeller
4. Rudy Gobert
5. Marcus Smart
6. Ben McLemore
7. Otto Porter
8. Steven Adams
9. James Michael McAdoo
10. Alex Poythress
11. Tony Mitchell
12. Rasheed Sulaimon
13. Archie Goodwin
14. Myck Kabongo
15. Adonis Thomas
16. Alex Len
17. Trey Burke
18. Isaiah Austin
19. Andre Roberson
20. Ray McCallum
21. Mike Moser
22. Reggie Bullock
23. Willie Cauley-Stein
24. Mason Plumlee
25. Anthony Bennett
26. LeBryan Nash
27. Glenn Robinson III
28. Dario Saric
29. BJ Young
30. CJ McCollom
31. Phil Pressey
32. Jeff Withey
33. CJ Leslie
34. Giorgi Dieng
35. Elijah Johnson
36. Ricardo Ledo
37. Victor Oladipo
38. Jarnell Stokes
39. Robert Covington
40. Lorenzo Brown

probably put Dieng too low here, havent seen much of him yet. need some motivation to hit the DVR and watch some UofL blowouts

[ManualRam]

dude you should plug your site more. at least post a link in your sig or location. it's really good. one of the better ones i've seen posted on this site by a user.

sulaimon is an interesting pick. he has a potential to be a 2 way player, but as a starter? maybe he can be an avery bradley type with better range, but i think it'll take him a couple of years to get there.

i think if glenn robinson III declares this yr he'll go much higher. athletic, skilled, plays both ends with a mature game? sounds like my kind of prospect. i think the only things that would hold him back from being lotto is having only decent size and not having a good enough handle to play the 2.

[teamjosh04]

thanks. glad to hear that you like it, means a lot coming from you

i think sulaimon could be a starter at SG in the NBA, but I also could see him becoming a bit like Jrue Holiday if he moves to point guard. i may be jumping the gun with him, but i think his floor is really high and his ceiling is pretty good as well. great defender, good passer, nice range, and really understands the game. good first step too and solid frame. really, not much i see to dislike

and yea, probably. i havent seen enough of GRIII yet to vault him up that high, but from the game and a half or so ive seen, he looked like a first rounder. excited to get another look tonight

[teamjosh04]

updated mock draft - http://nbaprospects.blogspot.com/p/2013 ... draft.html

positional rankings are also updated but havent got through overall rankings

Isaiah Austin, Steven Adams, and Adonis Thomas are among the players I moved outta the 2013 mock

[princeofpalace]

^
1) Nice site and very thoughtful analysis! I will definitely keep visiting it.

2) I just cannot see Bennet going top 10. Hes playing well in college ball against similarly sized guys but he's 6'7 in shoes, he's not going to be able to get that done as a PF in the NBA, and I dont think he can play SF.

[[RCG]]

I don't think Wolves will go big with Love, Kirilenko, Williams, Cunningham, Pekovic, Stiemsma.

McCollum, McLemore, BJ Young, Nash, Porter, Bullock etc.

There is a chance Ridnour/Barea are moved for expirings, Roy is gone and the T'Wolves need a SG.

[teamjosh04]

I don't think Wolves will go big with Love, Kirilenko, Williams, Cunningham, Pekovic, Stiemsma.

McCollum, McLemore, BJ Young, Nash, Porter, Bullock etc.

There is a chance Ridnour/Barea are moved for expirings, Roy is gone and the T'Wolves need a SG.

I have them taking Bullock at #25. The #18 pick is owned by Phoenix.

[teamjosh04]

^
1) Nice site and very thoughtful analysis! I will definitely keep visiting it.

2) I just cannot see Bennet going top 10. Hes playing well in college ball against similarly sized guys but he's 6'7 in shoes, he's not going to be able to get that done as a PF in the NBA, and I dont think he can play SF.

Thanks

and Id generally agree with you, but its tough this year. If I saw Bennett in the top 3 before I did my mock, I would think it looks weird too. and it does. he's definitely a power forward at the next level and isn't a very good defender. doesn't do a good job playing help defense and doesn't use his size as well as he could. he's a good scorer and a starter at the next level, but undersized 4s generally shouldnt go top 5. but neither do centers like Cody Zeller with a sub 7ft wingspan and average athleticism. its a bad year at the top

im sure others will breakout and bennett with his limited upside will be one of the first guys to be moved down. part of it was based on the Raptors with the pick - they have their center of the future and a good PG. I didnt think Shabazz fit in well next to DeRozan - not skilled enough. so there werent many other options

[ManualRam]

updated mock draft - http://nbaprospects.blogspot.com/p/2013 ... draft.html

positional rankings are also updated but havent got through overall rankings

Isaiah Austin, Steven Adams, and Adonis Thomas are among the players I moved outta the 2013 mock

just curious, why do you say that Shabazz struggled early on?

[Dr Positivity]

^
1) Nice site and very thoughtful analysis! I will definitely keep visiting it.

2) I just cannot see Bennet going top 10. Hes playing well in college ball against similarly sized guys but he's 6'7 in shoes, he's not going to be able to get that done as a PF in the NBA, and I dont think he can play SF.

Thanks

and Id generally agree with you, but its tough this year. If I saw Bennett in the top 3 before I did my mock, I would think it looks weird too. and it does. he's definitely a power forward at the next level and isn't a very good defender. doesn't do a good job playing help defense and doesn't use his size as well as he could. he's a good scorer and a starter at the next level, but undersized 4s generally shouldnt go top 5. but neither do centers like Cody Zeller with a sub 7ft wingspan and average athleticism. its a bad year at the top

im sure others will breakout and bennett with his limited upside will be one of the first guys to be moved down. part of it was based on the Raptors with the pick - they have their center of the future and a good PG. I didnt think Shabazz fit in well next to DeRozan - not skilled enough. so there werent many other options

I'm sure you meant to imply this as well but if Bennett is projected anywhere near top 5 there will be a financial incentive to take him by Toronto, with the team headed for 5 straight playoff losses and potentially tanking for 2-3 more having Bennett to sell could play into that decision. Especially if the team doesn't really have a GM by the draft and ownership is essentially picking the player

[teamjosh04]

updated mock draft - http://nbaprospects.blogspot.com/p/2013 ... draft.html

positional rankings are also updated but havent got through overall rankings

Isaiah Austin, Steven Adams, and Adonis Thomas are among the players I moved outta the 2013 mock

just curious, why do you say that Shabazz struggled early on?

His defense has been pretty awful up until the last two games. And his skillset leaves a lot to be desired. He has definitely had to work for the points he has gotten. Im always weary of perimeter players who rely on strength as much as he does. He can't go right, he is slow changing directions, doesnt make his teammates better, and has an average skillset. Some of this should have been expected based on seeing him in high school, but Ive still been disappointed.

Im not ready to drop him far, but if he were to play this way all season Id be tempted to drop him from the lottery. Not sure how much sitting out has hurt him so Ill wait. The past few games have been better for sure.