NBA 100

LESSONS
FROM
THE
Scouts
weigh in Prospects COMBINE
The Top

2014

A
F
T
R
D
GUIDE

YOUR
THE
OUR
second TEAMS MUST-SEE
round DECISION MOCK
sleepers MAKER DRAFT
THE

(URGENT)

30

NEEDS OF ALL
TEAMS

Marcus Smart

Jabari Parker

Joel Embiid

Andrew Wiggins

Dante Exum

EXCLUSIVE

ALL THE
PLAYERS
THE TOP & YOURE
CHOICES ABOUT
FOR THE TO MEET
IN-DEPTH
Profiles on

DRAFT

By the Insiders with an assist froM

a TRIO of respected NBA SCOUTS

@bballinsiders
NBA Draft Edition
Issu e 2 // J u n e 2014

[Link]

2014 DRAFT GUIDE

From all reports,

Joel Embiid
is both dream
(like Hakeem)

and nightmare
(for those who get
in his way... just ask
Marcus Smart).

THE 2014

CONTENT
DRAFT BOARD

6
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

30 Years of NBA Drafts

Andrew Wiggins
Joel Embiid
Jabari Parker
Dante Exum
Marcus Smart
Julius Randle
Noah Vonleh
Aaron Gordon
Doug McDermott
Dario Saric
James Young

23
24
25
26
30
40
44
52
57
58
59
60

Gary Harris
Nik Stauskas
Tyler Ennis
NBA Combine Numbers
Additional First Rounders
NBA Comparisons
Second Round Prospects
Draft Sleepers to Watch
Cleveland Cavaliers
Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers
Orlando Magic

Publication Image Credits. Andrew Wiggins. Dunk: Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports. Dribble: John Rieger / USA Today Sports. Standing: Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports // Jabari Parker. Lay-up: Mark
Dolejs / USA Today Sports. Shot: Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports // Joel Embiid. Dunk John Rieger / USA Today Sports. Skyhook: John Rieger / USA Today Sports. Post-up: Scott Sewell / USA Today
Sports // Julius Randle. Dunk: Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports. Jump-hook: Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports // Marcus Smart. Dribble: Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports. Jumphot: Reese Strickland /
USA Today Sports // Dante Exum. Bench: courtesy of adidas. Dribbling: courtesy of adidas // Noah Vonleh. Rebound: Jesse Johnson / USA Today Sports. Jumphook: Jesse Johnson / USA Today Sports // Aaron Gordon. Dunk: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports // Doug McDermott. Jumpshot: Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports. Portrait: Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports. Scoop: Brad Penner / USA Today Sports
// Dario Saric. Portrait: courtesy of his wikipedia page // James Young. Dunk: Robert Deutsch // Gary Harris. Drive: Mike Carter / USA Today Sports // Nik Stauskas. Lay-up: Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports //
Tyler Ennis. Dribble: Greg M. Cooper / USA Today Sports. Set-up: Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports // K.J McDaniels. Jumper: Melina Vastola / USA Today Sports // Rodney Hood. Aerial shot: Bob Donnan /
USA Today Sports. Dunk: Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports // PJ Hairston. Dunk: Melina Vastola / USA Today Sports // Shabazz Napier. Lay-up: Pam Hunger / USA Today Sports // Kyle Anderson. Shot:
Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports // Russ Smith. Dribble: Jamie Rhodes / USA Today Sports // Isaiah Austin. Dunk: Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports // Spencer Dinwiddie. Drive: Ron Chenoy / USA
Today Sports // DeAndre Kane. Drive: Brad Penner / USA Today Sports // Cleanthony Early. Dark Uniform: Reese Strickland / USA Today Sports. Dribble: Peter G. Aiken / USA Today Sports // Alec Brown.

This Draft Board is proudly sponsored by

[Link]
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61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72

Utah Jazz
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Sacramento Kings
Charlotte Hornets
Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
Toronto Raptors
Oklahoma City Thunder

73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
88
92

Teams featured
according to
their first pick.

Memphis Grizzlies
Houston Rockets
Miami Heat
Los Angeles Clippers
San Antonio Spurs
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers
Teams Not Drafting in 14
Mid Majors in the Draft
The Golden Age of PGs

Post-up: Mary Langenfeld / USA Today Sports // Elfrid Payton. Dribble: Beth Hall / USA Today Sports. Lay-up - Mike Carter / USA Today Sports // BOS. Kelvin Kuo Reese / USA Today Sports // BKN.
Noah K. Murray / USA Today Sports // NYK. Tom Szczerbowski / USA Today Sports // PHI. Tom Szczerbowski / USA Today Sports // TOR. Tom Szczerbowski / USA Today Sports CHI. Rob Grabowski
/ USA Today Sports // CLE. Howard Smith / USA Today Sports // DET. Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports // IND. Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports // MIL. Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports // ATL.
Winslow Townson / USA Today Sport // CHA. Anthony Gruppuso / USA Today Sport // MIA. Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sport // ORL. David Manning / USA Today Sport // WAS. Tommy Gilligan /
USA Today Sport // DEN. Faried: Chris Humphreys / USA Today Sport. Lawson: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today Sport // MIN - Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sport // OKC - Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today
Sport // POR - Craig Mitchelldyer / USA Today Sport // UTA. Hayward: Russell Isabella / USA Today Sport. Burke: Justin Ford / USA Today Sport // GSW. Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sport // LAC. Derick
E. Hingle / USA Today Sport // LAL. Mark D. Smith / USA Today Sport // PHX - Steve Dykes / USA Today Sport // SAC - Ed Szczepanski / USA Today Sport // DAL. Soobum Im / USA Today Sport //
HOU. Troy Taormina / USA Today Sport // MEM. Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sport // NOP. Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sport // SAS. Soobum Im / USA Today Sport // Millsap: Winslow Townson /
USA Today Sports // Parsons: Andrew Richardson / USA Today Sport // Monta Ellis: Jerome Miron / USA Today Sport // Goran Dragic: Jerome Miron / USA Today Sport // Paul George: Brian Spurlock / USA
Today Sport. Additional

images by Basketball Inisders.

PUBLISHERS
letter

WELCOME
TO the SECOND INSTALLMENT
OF BASKETBALL INSIDERS:
THE MAGAZINE.

Our first issue surrounding the Trade

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we were thrilled you liked it.

In this issue we turn our attention to the celebrated

2014 NBA Draft, and while there are some players
weve talked about for more than a year finally ready to
join the NBA, there are a number of stories surrounding
this draft that we found interesting and compelling.
Our team put a lot of time and effort into creating
an all-encompassing draft guide and we hope you enjoy
consuming it as much as we enjoyed scurrying around to
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The offseason is where we really separate ourselves
in this space, so we hope you enjoy the 2014 NBA Draft
issue of Basketball Insiders The Magazine. Make sure to
tell a friend.

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Editor and Publisher

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Yannis Koutroupis

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Senior NBA Writer

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I N T ER N S

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30
YEARS
OF
NBA
DRAFTS
06

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Most Valuable Players

From 1983 to 2013, there were...

929

A n thony Dav is (2 012)

Bl a ke G rif f in (2009)
Der r i ck Rose (2008)
Dwight Howa rd (2004)
LeBron Ja mes (2 003)
Tim Dunca n (19 97)
A l l en Iverson (19 96)
Sha qui l l e ONea l ( 1992)
Davi d Robinson (1987)
H a keem Olajuwon (1984)

PICK

NBA
Draft
picks.

...those players clocked...

4.9K

J a me s H ard e n (2009)
Al H o rfo rd (2007)
De ro n W i l l i ams (2005)
C a r me lo A n t ho ny (2003)
Pa u G as o l (2001)
C ha u n c e y B i l l u ps (1997)
G ra n t H i l l (1994)
An fe r n e e H ard away (1993)
C hri s Jac k s o n (1990)
Mi cha e l Jo rd an (1984)

+20
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

All-NBA selections

...which set the stage for...

...and resulted in...

144 34

worth
of court
time.

AllStars

D eM arc u s C o u s i n s ( 2010)
Ke v in L ove ( 2008)
D w y ane Wa d e ( 2003)
M ike Mi lle r ( 2000)
Vinc e C a r ter ( 1998)
R ay A lle n ( 1996)
Ke v in G a rn et t ( 1995)
M itch R i c h m o n d ( 1988)
S c o ttie P i p p en ( 1987)
C h ar l es B a rk le y ( 1984)

All-Stars

G reg Mo n ro e ( 2010)
Step h en C u rr y ( 2009)
Lu o l D en g ( 2004)
Nene H i la ri o ( 2002)
R ich ard H a m i lto n ( 1999)
D am o n Sto u d a m i re ( 1995)
B o b b y H u rle y ( 1993)
Ke v in J o h n s o n ( 1987)
C h r is Mu lli n ( 1985)
A lv in Ro b er t s o n ( 1984)

All-NBA
First Team
members

D eM ar D eRozan ( 2 0 0 9 )
J o ak im No a h ( 2 0 0 7 )
A ndre Ig u o dal a ( 2 0 0 4 )
A m ar e Sto ud em i re ( 2 0 0 2 )
S h aw n Ma ri o n ( 19 9 9 )
D ir k Now i t z ki ( 19 9 8 )
Trac y Mc G ra d y ( 19 9 7 )
C h ar l es O a kl e y ( 19 8 5 )
O tis T h o rp e ( 19 8 4 )
D al e E lli s ( 19 8 3 )

In the past 30 years, there have been 14 different MVPs, half of which were No. 1s. Out of
the remaining seven, one shouldve gone No. 1 (Durant, 07) while the others include a No. 3
(Jordan, 84), a pair of fifth picks (Barkley, 84; Garnett, 95), a ninth choice (Nowitzki, 98),
the lucky No. 13s (Malone, 85; Bryant, 96) and one lottery outlier (Nash; No. 15. in 96).
Based on trophy allocation, its rare to find an MVP in Draft picks two thru 30.

Fun Draft fact >> It really is all about the top pick.

PICK

(2 007) Ke vin D u ran t

La Ma rcus A l d r i d ge
(2 001 ) Ty son Chan d l e r
(19 94) Ja son Ki d d
(19 92) Al on zo M o u rn i n g
(19 91 ) Ken ny An d e rs o n
(19 90) Ga r y Pay to n
(19 88) Ri k S mi ts
(19 86) Le n B i as
(19 84) Sa m B ow i e

( 2006)

R u sse ll We stb ro o k
(2007) Mi ke C o n l e y
(2005) C hri s Pau l
(2003) C hri s B o s h
(1996) Ste p ho n M ar b u r y
(1995) R a she e d Wal l ac e
(1991) Di ke mb e M u to mb o
(1989) G le n R i c e
(1985) X av i e r M cD an i el
(1984) Sa m Pe r k i n s
(2008)

Since the 1983 Draft, there have been...

126

[Link]

players who
have earned
a ring

6
D am ian L i lla rd
B rand o n Roy
( 2003) C h r is K a m a n
( 2001) S h ane B a t t i er
( 1999) Wal ly S z c z e rb i a k
( 1996) A nto ine Wa lke r
( 1995) B r y ant Ree ve s
( 1992) To m G u gli o t t a
( 1987) Hers e y H aw k i n s
( 1986) Kenny S m i t h
( 2012)

( 2006)

...the most rings have gone to...

5 th

picked
players
(19)

10

Rudy Gay
T.J. Ford
( 2000) Jamal Crawford
( 1999) Andre Miller
( 1998) Larr y Hughes
( 1994) Brian Grant
( 1993) Vin Baker
( 1988) Rex Chapman
( 1986) Ron Harper
( 1985) Detlef Schrempf

Paul George
Brook Lopez
( 2005) Andrew Bynum
( 2002 ) Caron Butler
( 2001 ) Joe Johnson
( 199 9 ) Jason Terry
( 19 9 8 ) Paul Pierce
1995 ) Kurt Thomas
( 199 4 ) Eddie Jones
( 1987 ) Horace Grant

...second? Players selected

...the fewest?

( 2008)

( 2010 )

( 2003)

( 200 8 )

11 th 22
who
have
16

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

they
have
zero

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

07

Most Valuable Players

Michael Carter-Williams (13)

Klay Thompson (2 011)
J. J. Redic k (2006)
Bon zi Wells (19 98)
A l l a n Houston (19 93)
Rober t Horr y (19 92)
Ter rel l Bra ndon (1991)
Ty ron e Hill (19 90)
Reggi e M iller (19 87)
Ke vi n W illis (19 84)

Ma rki e ff M o rr i s (2011)
Ty le r H an s b ro u g h (2009)
R i cha rd Je f fe rs o n (2001)
C o re y M ag ge tte (1999)
Ko b e B r yan t (1996)
C o rli ss W i l l i ams o n (1995)
J a le n Ro s e (1994)
Da le D av i s (1991)
L oy Vau g ht (1990)
K a rl M al o n e (1985)

11

PICK

15

All-NBA selections

Aver y B ra d le y ( 2 010 )
J eff Tea g u e ( 2 0 0 9 )
J . J . H i c k s o n (2008)
Zach R a n d o l p h ( 2 0 0 2 )
J am aal Ma gl o i re ( 2 0 01 )
Pat G a rri t y ( 19 9 8 )
To ny D u m a s ( 19 9 4 )
D ee B row n ( 19 9 0 )
Ro d St ri c k la nd ( 19 8 8 )
J o h n Pa x s o n ( 19 8 3 )

17

19

Fun Draft fact >> The Steve Nash Club membership: 1.

The envy of all other non-lottery picks, point guard Steve Nash is two things:
The only player to have won the regular season MVP (he did it twice) while also
being his draft choices lone representative for the three major honors (All-Star, AllNBA, MVP). Note to fans and GMs: If youre hanging your hopes on pick No. 15,
better luck next time... In other words, the middle of Round 1 is rarely friendly to
those looking for a major force (but the pick does historically offer loads of talent).

12

PICK

(2012) Jeremy L amb

Gera l d Hen d e rs o n
(2007) Tha ddeu s Yo u n g
(2003) Ni ck C o l l i s o n
( 2 001 ) Vladimir Radmanovic
(19 97) Austi n C ro s he re
(19 93) George Ly n c h
(19 92) Ha rol d M i n e r
(19 89) Mooki e B l ay l o c k
(19 87) Muggsy B o g u e s
(2 009)

PICK
Avg .
y e ar s
P ro .

08

Giannis Antetokounmpo (13) I m an S h u mp er t ( 2011)

K aw h i L eo n a rd ( 2011)
J r u e H o li d ay ( 2009)
Lar r y S a n d ers ( 2010)
Roy H i b b er t ( 2008)
Ro dne y St u c ke y ( 2007)
D anny G ra n ger ( 2005)
A l J e f fe rs o n ( 2004)
J o s h S m i t h ( 2004)
M att H a rp ri n g ( 1998)
D es m o nd Ma s o n ( 2000)
Ste ve Na s h ( 1996)
J er m aine O Ne a l ( 1996)
B rent B a rr y ( 1995)
A aro n Mc K i e ( 1994)
D el l C u rr y ( 1986)
D o u g C h ri st i e ( 1992)
Terenc e St a n s b u r y ( 1984) S h aw n Ke mp ( 1989)

13

+20
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

All-Stars

14
Pa t ri ck Patte rs o n
Al T ho rn to n
(2004) Kri s H u mp hr i es
(2001) Troy M u r phy
(1996) Pe j a Sto jakov i c
(1992) Ma li k S e aly
(1986) Ti m H ard away
(1985) Da n M aje r l e
(1984) Mi cha e l C age
(1983) C ly d e D re x l e r

(2010)

(2007)

16
N iko l a Vu c e v i c
M ar rees e S p ei g h t s
( 2007) N ick Yo u n g
( 2000) Hedo Tu rko glu
( 1999) Ro n A r te st
( 1997) B re v in K n i g h t
( 1996) To ny D e lk
( 1991) C h r is G a t li n g
( 1989) D ana B a rro s
( 1984) J o h n Sto c k to n
( 2011)

( 2008)

18
Eric Bledsoe
Ty Lawson
( 2008) JaVale McGee
( 2005) Gerald Green
( 2004) J.R. Smith
( 2003) David West
( 1995) Theo Ratliff
( 1989) B.J. Armstrong
( 1987) Mark Jackson
( 1985) Joe Dumars
( 2010)

( 2009)

20
Tony Snell
Eric Maynor
( 2006) Renaldo Balkman
( 2004) Jameer Nelson
( 2001) Brendan Haywood
( 2000) Speedy Claxton
( 1996) Zydrunas Ilgauskas
( 1992 ) Hubert Davis
( 1988) Kevin Edwards
( 1984) Tony Campbell
( 2 013 )

( 200 9 )

AVERAGE LENGTH OF A DRAFT PICKS PRO CAREER BASED ON THEIR SELECTION (1983 - 2013)...
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

10.1 9.1

@ b balli nsi d e rs

9.1 10.1 9.8

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

7.1

8.5

8.2

9.1

9.1

8.2

7.0

8.0

6.5

15

6.5

[Link]

Most Valuable Players

All-Stars

All-NBA selections

Fun Draft fact >> The 29th pick in 2002 was forfeited.
Its the only time a team has elected not to select a player in the past 30 years.
So now you know what happens when that Draft night clock expires.

Da r ren Collison (2 009)

Ry a n Anderson (2 008)
R aj on Rondo (2006)
Nate Robinson (2 005)
Bor i s Diaw (2003)
M or r is Peterson (2000)
Ri cky Davis (19 98)
M icha el Finle y (19 95)
Bl ue Edwa rds (19 89)
M a r k Br ya nt (19 88)

PICK

Wi lso n C han d l e r (2006)

To ny Wro ten ( 2012)
Trav i s O u tl aw (2003)
Ro dr ig u e B ea u b o i s ( 2009)
Tay sha u n P r i n ce (2002)
N ic o l as B a t u m ( 2008)
De Shawn Ste ve n s o n (2000) S h anno n B row n ( 2006)
De ve a n G e o rge (1999)
To ny A llen ( 2004)
B o b b y Jac k s o n (1997)
C ar l o s D e lf i n o ( 2003)
Trav i s B e st (1995)
G eral d Wa lla c e ( 2001)
We sle y Pe rs o n (1994)
A l H a rri n g to n ( 1998)
G re g A n d e rs o n (1987)
C o r ie B lo u n t ( 1993)
A.C . G re e n (1985)
M ar k P ri c e ( 1986)

21

23

J o rd an C raw fo rd ( 2010)
D eM ar re C a rro ll ( 2009)
A r ro n A f f la lo ( 2005)
Linas K le i z a ( 2005)
Kendr ick Perk i n s ( 2003)
J am aal Ti n s le y ( 2001)
J ac qu e Va u g h n ( 1997)
E l den C a mp b ell ( 1990)
D ennis Ro d m a n ( 1986)
Ro n A n d e rs o n ( 1984)

25

+20
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

C o r y J o s ep h ( 2 011 )
D aniel O r to n ( 2 010 )
To ne y D o u glas ( 2 0 0 9 )
J o s h H owa rd ( 2 0 0 3 )
M ar k Ma d s en ( 2 0 0 0 )
Nazr Mo h a mm ed ( 19 9 8 )
P. J B row n ( 19 9 2 )
To ni Ku ko c ( 19 9 0 )
Vinny D el Neg ro ( 19 8 8 )
J o h nny Ne w m an ( 19 8 6 )

27

29

Fun Draft fact >> The chance of greatness

Of the 929 players taken in the first round, only 3.7% of them (34) have been
named to the All-NBA First Team. Each year, a team of talent evaluators look to
secure their franchise one of the 3.7% players. If the odds are stacked against a
player to simply make the NBA, their chances of making an impact (once theyre
a pro) are just as daunting. Thats the challenge, to become a 3.7 percenter.

22

PICK

M a son P l u ml e e
Ken n eth Far i e d
(2 007) Cour tn e y L e e
(2006) Ja red D u d l e y
(2004) Ja r re t t Jac k
(19 93) Chr i s M i l l s
(19 92) Ol i ver M i l l e r
(19 87) Reggi e L e w i s
(19 86) Scot t S k i l e s
(19 83) R a n dy W i ttman
(2013 )

(2 011 )

24
Re g g i e Jac k s o n
Se rge I b ak a
(2007) R u d y Fe rn an d ez
(2006) Ky le L ow r y
(2004) De lo n te West
(1999) An d re i K i r i l e n ko
(1993) Sa m C as s e ll
(1992) L a t re ll S p re we ll
(1986) Arv y d a s S ab o n i s
(1985) Te r r y Po r ter
(2011)

(2008)

26
Taj G i b s o n
G eo rge H i ll
( 2007) A aro n B ro o k s
( 2005) J as o n Ma x i ell
( 2004) Ke v in Ma r t i n
( 2002) J o h n S a lm o n s
( 2001) S am u el D a le m b e r t
( 1994) C h ar l ie Wa rd
( 1989) Vl ade D i va c
( 1984) Ver n F le m i n g
( 2009)

( 2008)

28
Norris Cole
Greivis Vasquez
( 2009) Wayne Ellington
( 2007) Tiago Splitter
( 2003) Leandro Barbosa
( 2001) Tony Parker
( 1995) Greg Ostertag
( 1993) Lucious Harris
( 1989) Sherman Douglas
( 1988) Andrew Lang
( 2011)

( 2010)

30
Jimmy Butler
David Lee
( 2004) Anderson Varejao
( 2001) Gilbert Arenas
( 200 0 ) Marko Jaric
( 1996) Othella Harrington
( 1994) Howard Eisley
( 19 9 2 ) Sean Rooks
( 1986) Nate McMillan
( 19 8 3 ) Mark West
( 2011 )

(2005)

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

6.7

6.4

7.0

6.5

5.8

6.9

4.9

6.5

6.5

5.1

4.9

5.3

4.8

5.3

4.6

[Link]

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

09

MEET
THE
2014
PROSPECTS
INSIDER:

Y annis K ouTROUPIS
WITH SPECIAL GUEST

R yan B Lake
(Senior Director of nba scouting operations)

10

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PROJECTION:

Top Three

Hello,

My Name is...

Andrew Wiggins

Col.: Kansas

PPG: 1 7.1

Pos.: SG / SF

RPG: 5.8

D.O.B: 2 / 23 / 1995 APG: 1 .5

NB A
Com parison:

An elite-level
athlete even
by NBA standards
who is capable of
taking over games
on both ends of
the floor. Has
tremendous length
and the ability
to score in every
way, whether it
be with the three
ball, in the post
or from the midrange. Has all of
the tools to be a
franchise player
and one of the
best players at his
position in the
league. Explosive
offensively with
the potential
to go off at any
moment. An
active rebounder.
Has great
defensive instincts,
particularly with
reading passing
lanes. Even when
hes not at his
best, hes better
than most.

player card

Ht: 6 8

BPG: 1 .0

Wt: 1 97 lbs.

P.E.R: 20.1

Paul
George
Rudy
Gay

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Super skilled. Long, ultra athletic wing. Can play three
positions. Can score from anywhere, all spots on the floor. Can be an elite
defender. Needs to get a little bit stronger so he can make himself more
versatile. At the worst he can be Harrison Barnes and sky is the limit for
this guy. He can be well beyond Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Hesa special talent, I think he
is learning to work and will improve exponentially. His teammates enjoy
playing with him. If youfeel like you want a different type of center than
Embiidhes the number one pick. He is more of a basketball player than
people give him credit for, has real two-way potential and showed a
willingness to defend you didnt see with Parker.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Best athlete in the draft. Really
excels in transition and the open floor. Has to work on becoming a
consistent jump shooter. I think also a strength of his is one day he has the
chance to be a lock down defender.

[Link]

--

Consistency leaves
you yearning for
more, feeling like
he didnt utilize
his natural gifts
to their fullest
potential. Isnt
as assertive or
competitive as you
would like your
franchise player
to be. Unselfish
almost to a fault,
doesnt look
to lead like he
should. Will settle
offensively despite
possessing the
ability to basically
get any shot
he wants. Ball
handling needs to
improve, especially
if hes going to be
a primary scoring
option. Had a
reputation for
coming up big
when it mattered
most, but had as
many points (four)
as turnovers
in his NCAA
Tournament
debut a loss.

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11

Projection:

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Top

THREE

My Name is...

Joel Embiid

12

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Col.: Kansas

PPG: 1 1 .2

Pos.: Center

RPG: 8.1

D.O.B: 3 / 16 / 1994

NB A
Com parison:

On par with
Anthony Davis and
DeMarcus Cousins
as one of the best
big men prospects
to come across in
recent years. Has
improved rapidly in
a short amount of
time, having only
started playing
basketball three
years ago. Extremely
smooth, patient and
skilled offensively
with a great touch.
Explosive around
the basket and a
strong finisher. Very
long. A legitimate
threat offensively
when facing up
and away from the
basket. Rebounds
and protects the rim
well. Can beat a lot
of big men up the
floor with his speed.
Also has good
lateral movement,
helping him be more
than a serviceable
defender in pickand-roll situations.
Basketball IQ
far exceeds his
experience level.

player card

Ht: 7 0

BPG: 2.6

Wt: 2 40 lbs.

P.E.R: 28.7

Hakeem
Olajuwon
Greg
Oden

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: His back injury is a big red flag right now. However,
when you have someone who hasnt played basketball for that long, whose
done what hes done this year, that moves so well laterally, an excellent
shot blocker and we add those instincts. Hes improved his mid range
game, he can even shoot the three, hes got a handle and hes a hard
worker. When you get a seven footer with skill, sky is the limit. Defensively
his inexperience is a little more apparent but the more he plays the
quicker hell adjust as his progression this year suggests.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: If his back is good hes No. 1.
I know the big man is falling out of vogue but his jumper is developing
where he will be able to go to 15. Hes agile, will fit into any defensive
scheme and his frame suggets the weight / strength will come too.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Everybody wants to make the
comparison to Hakeem Olajuwon. This guy is much bigger and weighs a
lot more than Hakeem did as a freshman in college. Hakeem, all he did in
college when he first got there, he was very skinny, a long 69, all he did
was block shots. This guy has length and size, he can run, catch, has a
nice face up shot, can make free throws. Hes the best big man by far and
its not close in the draft.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

APG: 1 .4

--

Needs to get
stronger in
order to hold his
position better
in the low post.
Prone to get into
foul trouble. Back
and knee injuries
ended his season
prematurely.
Because his team
was eliminated
early in the
tournament the
extent of those
injuries are
unknown,
although there
have been reports
that hes back
to 100 percent
health. For teams
that are making
a multi-million
dollar investment,
you have to
be concerned
about the worst,
though. Medical
examinations are
going to be vital
for him. They
could make it to
where the risk is
on par with the
reward, perhaps
even greater.

[Link]

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Projection:

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THREE

My Name is...

Jabari Parker

As natural of
a scorer as we
have seen come
through the draft
in years, perhaps
since Kevin
Durant. Has a
versatile skill set
and is comfortable
no matter where
hes at on the
floor offensively.
Difficult to
match up against.
Capable of being a
top scoring option
who an offense
can revolve
around. Has a
high basketball
IQ and plays
efficiently. A
good rebounder.
Knows how to get
to the free throw
line. Underrated
athlete who is
more explosive
than he gets credit
for. Known for
his high character
and leadership
qualities. A
willing passer.

14

@ b balli nsi d e rs

player card
Col.: Duke

PPG: 1 9 .1

Pos.: SF / PF

RPG: 8.7

D.O.B: 3 / 15 / 1995

APG: 1 .2

Ht: 6 8

BPG: -

Wt: 2 41 lbs..

P.E.R: 28.8

NB A
Com parison:

Paul
Pierce
Carmelo
Anthony

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: I think he can be one of the most ready right now. The
big thing I like about him are his instincts and IQ. You look at someone
with the physical tools, hes already shown them. He can shoot from
beyond the three point line and he does it well but he had to play more
inside and he only shot 20 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Great
character, great motor. Hes not an elite athlete. What makes him elite is
his instincts, knowing where to be away from and with the ball.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Hes an offensively blessed player
and can throw his weight around, which makes him the most ready. I
think his natural feel on the offensive side leads some to overestimate his
IQ. I feel like he will fall into the Chicago lineage of Antoine Walker and
Mark Aguirre... but would you draft Antoine Walker #1 in this draft?
WesTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Most skilled player. I think
the No. 1 pick. Hes just a basketball player. There isnt really anything
that he doesnt do well now. Does he need to get stronger? Yes. Does he
need to develop his core? Yes. Does he need to become a better defender?
Yes. Hell figure all that out though, as someone with a high basketball IQ.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

--

A tweener, albeit
not the kind that
has to transition
to a certain
position in order
to stick in the
league. Has to
make serious
strides no matter
which position
he settles in at.
Conditioning is a
concern, especially
after opting not
to attend the
draft combine.
Struggled against
the kind of length
and athleticism
that he is going to
see on a nightly
basis at the NBA
level. Because
hes already
so skilled and
polished, there
is some concern
over his upside
and whether hes
going to make any
more significant
improvements.

[Link]

PROJECTION:

Hello,

My Name is...

Top TEN

Dante Exum

player card
Col.: A.I.S

PPG: 1 8.2

Pos.: PG / SG

RPG: 3.6

D.O.B: 7 / 13 / 1995

APG: 3.8

Ht: 6 6

BPG: 1 .6

Wt: 1 96 lbs.

P.E.R: Stats: 2013 FIBA U19

Relatively unexposed
international
prospect who has
excelled on the few
occasions weve
seen him on a major
stage (FIBA U19,
adidas Nations, Nike
Hoop Summit). Has
above average size
for a point guard,
so much so that he
could actually play
the shooting guard
position if thats
where hes best
suited. Wingspan
is second only to
Rajon Rondos at the
point guard position.
Has very good court
vision and defensive
potential. Among the
quickest and fastest
players in the draft.
Capable of breaking
down a defense off
the dribble and
scoring in the
interior despite not
possessing elite
explosiveness. Crafty.
Comfortable in the
post against smaller
defenders. Has high
character and a true
student of the game.
One of the younger
players in the class.

NB A
Com parison:

Michael
Carter-Williams
Shaun
Livingston

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Lot of physical talent. Has not been seen a lot. Hes
really good at the pick-and-roll, working the angles, coming across and
turning the corner. He can be that halfcourt player as well. Hes an
inconsistent shooter, but everything physically you look at him sand say
you have to give this guy a chance. However, he hasnt played much, he
hasnt played much against men. He hasnt played since October so he
hasnt had that game experience not only against Division I bigger players
but against men. I think youre going to have someone at this age who its
going to take a little bit more time for someone like him to develop and to
keep his confidence. Thats going to be huge especially as youre telling
veterans where to go and what to do if youre playing the point.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: The limited looks are a bitscary
but he has an innatefeel forthe game and seems to enjoy making his
teammates better. Likesome scouts, I prefer him initiallyas a wing/
secondary ball handler but Id let him push it intransitionat every
[Link] not to say he couldnt becomea PGwith time and that
shouldnt affect where he gets drafted, hes a player and an asset you will
need to have your coaching staff figure out.

--

Slight in frame
and acknowledges
that he needs to
get stronger. May
take him some
time to adjust
to the increased
level of strength
and physicality
that hes going to
see in the NBA.
Jump shot is
unreliable at this
point and lacks
fundamental,
consistent
technique. Has
to develop some
consistency with
his form and
release point and
extend his range.
Shows his age
with his decision
making at times,
turning it over in
excess. Has just
an average vertical
leap. Limited body
of work could
deter teams near
the top of the
draft board.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Combo guard. Hes a good

athlete. His shot has got to get better. Hell be the No. 1 point guard
taken. Hes got to become more of a true point guard, hes more of a
scorer, but hes got great size, great athleticism. His shot has to get better
and he has to grow into the position.

[Link]

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Projection:

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Top

My Name is...

TEN

Marcus Smart

16

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Col.: Oklahoma St. PPG: 1 8.0

Pos.: PG / SG
D.O.B: 3 / 6 / 1994

One of the most

physical guards the
draft has ever seen.
Probably would have
been the second
overall pick had
he left after his
freshman year. A
hard worker who
has clearly spent
a lot of time in
the weight room.
Knows how to use
his strength. Has
the reputation for
leading both vocally
and by example.
A confident
competitor who
refuses to quit or
leave anything in his
gas tank. Played a
lot of point guard in
college, but can also
play off of the ball.
Athletic and capable
of finishing above
the rim. A dedicated
defender with good
hands and defensive
instincts. Rebounds
well for his position.
Can break defenses
down off the dribble
and create for
others.

player card

APG: 4.8

Ht: 6 3

SPG: 2.9

Wt: 2 2 7 lbs.

P.E.R: 26.9

NB A
Com parison:

Kyle
Lowry
Chauncey
Billups

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Smart is the competitor you want on your team who will
be in the trenches that will hopefully find his outside shot. Regardless of
whether or not his ball handling is there yet, he will be able to play two
or more positions offensively and defensively, and will be utilized in that
particular fashion.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Im a firm believer in taking
everything a player gives you... In Smarts case he was telling me hes
great when things are good but he is still learning to work through
disappointment and adversity. I think the surprise was we thought he was
just further along than he actually is in regards to mental toughness and
maturity. Hes still strong, athletic and competitive. Hes a combo to me as
well, but his experience playing high level PG puts him a step above Exum
if you need to give someone the keys now and areone of those teamsthat
yearns for abig PG.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Tough. Leader. I think hes got
to become a better shooter. I dont want to bury the guy too much, but I
think hes a backup. I dont see him being a lead guard for a playoff team.
Again, I like his confidence, his leadership, hes become a better three
point threat, he can post you up, defensively hes good on the ball but
I dont know where hes going to excel because hes not a super athletic
guard. Theres more reality of what he is this year.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

RPG: 5.9

--

Lost his temper

a couple times
as a sophomore,
kicking a chair in
frustration over
officiating and
shoving a fan after
being heckled. Both
incidents went
against his long
history of having
high character.
Puts in a lot of
time working on
his jump shot, but
his connection rate
of .299 from three
doesnt reflect it.
Improved assistto-turnover ratio
from 1.25:1 as a
freshman to 1.80:1
as a sophomore, but
decision making
still leaves a plenty
to be desired,
especially in terms
of the jump shots
he settles for.
Needs to continue
to tighten up ball
handling skills.
Perceived upside
isnt the same after
spending an extra
year in college and
only developing
modestly.

[Link]

Projection:

Hello,

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TEN

My Name is...

Julius Randle

Col.: Kentucky

PPG: 1 5.0

Pos.: PF

RPG: 1 0.4

D.O.B: 11 / 29 / 1994 APG: 1 .4

NB A
Com parison:

A physical
specimen who is
already physically
ready for the level
of strength that
the average NBA
big man possesses.
Very agile and
quick for his
size. Explosive
both laterally and
vertically. An
active rebounder
on both ends;
one of the best in
the class in that
regard. A capable
scorer on the low
block who excels
at getting to his
strong hand and
getting quality
looks. Has a good
touch and an
emerging face up
game, although
hes better when
hes in attack
mode and trying
to score inside of
14 feet rather than
outside of it. Gets
to the free throw
line often and
converts at a high
rate. A competitor
who plays with a
high motor.

player card

Ht: 6 9

BPG: 0.8

Wt: 2 5 0 lbs.

P.E.R: 25.0

Zach
Randolph
Elton
Brand

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: He can score with his back to the basket or face up. He
can be an elite rebounder. He has a NBA strong body. Hes not the NBA
defender that you want, but overall hes very coachable. When you have
a team that has so many good players and play within the system, youre
playing to win and you want that especially from a guy who can be a Zach
Randolph type player.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Hes focused, competes and
delivers consistently. He has the strength and I think his mid-range
jumper will come with time, though Id actually bet on Aaron Gordon
in a jump shooting contest. Youd like more length but hes definitely
capable of contributing if you narrow his focus to the interior, rebounding,
defenseand round out his mid-post game.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Hes interesting. Hes a little
undersized for a four, but hes a guy that coming in can come off your
bench and a guy who can score baskets. Hes got to develop a 15-17 foot
jump shot, which I think he will. Hes very left handed, but I think he can
rebound at the NBA level. Offensively, I think hes going to come in and
score baskets.

[Link]

--

Doesnt impact
the game like
hes capable of
defensively other
than with his
rebounding. Has
the potential to be
more of a factor
on that end of the
floor, even if he
never becomes a
high-level shot
blocker. Has to
actively look to
make plays in other
ways, by being
active with his help
defense and playing
the passing lanes.
Jump shot currently
lacks range and
consistency. Left
hand dominant,
making him
somewhat
predictable at times
offensively. Has
to expand lowpost repertoire.
Struggles to finish
against length and
in crowds. Decision
making can also be
an issue as he had a
high turnover rate
(2.5 per game) as a
freshman.

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17

Projection:

Hello,

Top

TEN

My Name is...

Noah Vonleh

18

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Col.: Indiana

PPG: 1 1 .3

Pos.: PF / C

RPG: 9 .0

D.O.B: 2 / 24 / 1995 APG: 0.6

From a physical
standpoint, he
jumps off the page
in every way. His
wingspan is nearly
seven and a half feet
long. His hands are
among the biggest
ever measured in
combine history. He
has ideal size for
his position and is
already quite strong
for his age. Gets up
and down the floor
well. Doesnt use his
incredible natural
gifts as an excuse
to coast or not play
hard like other gifted
players tend to do.
A real difference
maker on the glass
and an active shot
blocker. An emerging
low-post threat who
is getting better at
understanding when
and how to attack.
Will be able to come
in right away and
help spread the floor
with his jump shot.
One of the younger
players in the draft
class who has shown
rapid improvement
over the last year.

player card

Ht: 6 9

BPG: 1 .4

Wt: 2 47 lbs.

P.E.R: 22.8

NB A
Com parison:

Chris
Bosh
David
West

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Noah can be an x-factor on his team. Chris Bosh type
of player that has also developed and was really the saving grace on that
team that was really a sparse of interest when you saw them. A guy who
can shoot from the outside and work in and out, sort of like Chris Bosh.
If you look at the time Bosh came in, he was the same type of guy you
didnt expect to leave, boom and go early. But once you saw him, you
said, That, guy has a lot of skill. or more positions offensively and
defensively, and will be utilized in that fashion.
EASTERN CONFERENCE scou t: Considering how young, skilled
and athletiche iscoupled with his work ethic he should bea productive
two way starterin a few years,but his style of play and temperament make
him somewhat of a developmental guy. Some adversity (lack of playing
time) should add some maturity and toughen him up.
WESTERN CONFERENCE scou t: Probably going to be the biggest
riser in the draft, especially after the combine. The thing that everybody
is going to want to see, which I think people who went to adidas nations
saw, and probably going to be what you see in these individual workouts
is hes a true four man that can step out. He spent most of his game all
year around the basket and hes got good feet, hands, is strong, can run.
I just think hes probably one of the guys who has a huge upside once he
gets to the NBA.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

--

Closer to a project
than pro-ready,
despite his recent
strides. Has to
develop a better
feel for the game
and recognize
whats being given
to him offensively
quicker. Needs
to put in a lot of
time becoming
more comfortable
in the low post
and improving his
footwork. Hands
can be unreliable.
Isnt an explosive
leaper, which
limits him when
trying to finish
against length and
in traffic. Has to
continue to get
stronger, especially
with his core
and lower body
strength.

[Link]

Projection:

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My Name is...

TEN

Aaron Gordon

An amazing
athlete who makes
plays that a lot of
players, even in
the NBA, arent
capable of making.
A hard worker
with aspirations
of being great.
Finishes strong
around the rim.
Takes a lot of
pride in his play
on the defensive
end, where
hes capable of
guarding multiple
positions. Was
fairly steady
throughout the
course of the
season and his feel
for the game really
improved late in
the year. A very
good and willing
passer. A solid
rebounder. One
of the younger
players in the class
with ample room
to improve.

player card
Col.: Arizona

PPG: 1 2.4

Pos.: SF / PF

RPG: 8.0

D.O.B: 9 / 16 / 1995

APG: 2.0

Ht: 6 9

BPG: 1 .0

Wt: 2 2 3 lbs.

P.E.R: 20.8

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: A great athletic forward with at terrifc motor. He can
be an excellent defender. A surprising good ball handler. Doesnt have a
good jump shot. If you look at the percentages that he has, he knows how
to play. Had those instincts. A lot of people say he may be a tweener, but
a tweener is someone who cant play a swing and he can. If you look at his
combination of elite athletic abilities, length and motor its hard not to
fall in love with him.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Nothing causes GMs to lose jobs
more than a 3/4 tweener, especially one that is still finding his game. He
defends wings, gets out in transition and his feel around the rim is solid.
His jumper isnt broke either and he can knock down (wide) open jumpers.
High level glue guy.

--

Viewed as a
tweener although
he projects to be
much more suited
for the power
forward position
than small
forward. Jump
shot is far from
being a reliable
weapon, may need
to be completely
overhauled.
Missed more than
half his free throw
attempts. Admits
to being hard
on himself aat
times and having
difficultly moving
onto the next
play. Has to get
stronger.
NB A
Com parison:

Shawn
Marion
Kenneth
Faried

WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Tremendous athlete. Probably

the second best athlete in the draft. Hes a power forward, not a small
forward. Hes got to become a better shooter facing the basket. He can be
a three-point shooter but thats not his game. His free throw shooting must
improve. He can rebound, hes athletic. I think hes going to be able to
guard multiple positions, but I think hes a four.
[Link]

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Projection:

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My Name is...

TEN

t
Doug McDermot

One of the most

prolific scorers to
ever play college
basketball. A
threat as soon
as he crosses
halfcourt. Has
a quick release
and endless
range. The kind
of guy you just
have to live with
giving something
to because
you cant take
everything away,
hes too skilled
and versatile.
Extremely
efficient with an
amazingly high
basketball IQ that
stems from being
a coachs son.
More athletic than
given credit for.
Decent rebounder.

player card
Col.: Creighton

PPG: 26.7

Pos.: SF / PF

RPG: 7 .0

D.O.B: 1 / 3 / 1992

APG: 1 .6

Ht: 6 8

BPG: 0.1

Wt: 2 1 8 lbs.

P.E.R: 33.2

NB A
Com parison:

Ryan
Anderson
Kyle
Korver

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: The best shooter here. A coachs son who has great
instincts on both ends. Question mark on him was about his defense
and rebounding, although he did those things well. Keep an eye on his
defense because if youre the best offensive player you dont want him in
foul trouble. I think his instincts are great but hell be the type of player
who makes others better.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: The knocks on his athleticism and
size are overblown but I guess it depends on your expectations. Hes more
than a specialist. As a floor spreading fourth option he could really cause
some damage and hes athletic enough to defend most bench 3s and 4s.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Instant offense. Constant
shooting threat. Another guy who is going to be a great backup. He can
play a couple of different positions depending on the matchup. I know he
didnt measure out as a true four, but I think he can do some work there.
Hes just a guy who can come in and score baskets. I think hes better
than Kyle Korver because hes more versatile. I think hes going to have a
tremendous NBA career.

20

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--

Has to settle into

a position at the
next level and
figure out which
one he can defend
most adequately.
Theres serious
concern about
him being a
defensive liability
at either forward
spot. Has had
some struggles
against the kind
of length and
athleticism hes
going to regularly
see in the NBA.
Never took his
team past the
opening weekend
of the NCAA
Tournament
and played the
majority of his
career against
mid-major
competition.

[Link]

Projection:

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TEN

My Name is...

Dario Saric

NB A
Com parison:

Is coming off of
an MVP season
in the Adriatic
League, which has
his stock rising
rapidly. Has well
above average size
and great length,
even if he ends up
playing primarily at
the power forward
in the NBA. Can
do it all offensively.
Handles the ball
well and has good
court vision. Has
the skills to score
from inside or
outside. An active
rebounder. Has
the potential to
be a real matchup
nightmare with his
versatile skillset.
Experienced,
has been playing
professionally for
a couple of years
and is already
accustomed to
playing against
a high level of
competition.

player card
Col.: Croatia

PPG: 1 6.7

Pos.: SF / PF

RPG: 9 .7

D.O.B: 4 / 8 / 1994

APG: 3.2

Ht: 6 10

BPG: 1 .3

Wt: 2 3 3 lbs.

P.E.R: Stats: Adriatic League

Hedo
Turkoglu
Nicolas
Batum

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: A player similar to [Ricky] Rubio that if he stays in
the draft, arrives with an invoice. I dont expect him to be here. If he
does stay, that someone with one of the seven teams with multiple picks
will definitely pick him as their second pick because you dont want to
overlook someone like that. If a team has a full roster spot and wants to
hide him and let him develop, yes. Hes your multifaceted swing player
with an improving outside shot and great confidence. Itll be great if we
see him now but we wont be able to cause of the other factors.

--

Reportedly signed
a new three-year
contract and it is
unknown whether
he has interest
in coming over
to the NBA and
potentially being
a role player, or
remaining overseas
where he is
becoming one of
the biggest stars in
the game. Will turn
it over in excess at
times. Has to get
stronger. There are
concerns about his
ability to defend
against the quicker,
more athletic
opponents hell be
facing at the next
level. Jump shot
lacks consistency.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: I like his competitiveness,pro

experience and playmaking ability. I thinkthe Warriors have a blueprint
the team drafting Saric can follow with how they have used Draymond
Green. The triangle would be a good system for him. His competitiveness,
IQ and pride makes his defense vs. wings bearable, especially in a second
unit.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Skilled. Can do a lot of different
things. Good size. Good passer. I think hes a winner. Tough. Defensively,
I think theres going to be some issues there that hes going to have to
work through, but I think hes a basketball player who knows how to play.
Hell find his way on a NBA team. I think hes going to be tough. I do
believe hes skilled. He can make shots, rebound and pass.

[Link]

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Projection:

Hello,

Top

My Name is...

TEN

James Young

NB A
Com parison:

One of the purest

scorers this draft
class has to offer.
An impressive
athlete capable
of finishing
above the rim. A
legitimate three
point shooting
threat who can
also put it on the
floor a little bit.
Has good height
and length for his
position, especially
if he ends up
spending more
time at shooting
guard than small
forward. Young
for his class; will
just be turning
19 years old
before the start
of training camp.
Has the tools to
be a difference
maker on the
defensive end.

player card
Col.: Kentucky

PPG: 1 4.3

Pos.: SG / SF

RPG: 4.3

D.O.B: 8 / 16 / 1995

APG: 1 .7

Ht: 6 7

BPG: 0.2

Wt: 2 1 3 lbs.

P.E.R: 1 6.8

DeMar
DeRozan
Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: I like him. You look at his stats and ask why isnt he a
better shooter? You look at him and how he was surrounded, I love the way
he chose and made the decisions when he was told to be the go-to guy; he
would do it or step up when needed. He knew how to get the ball in other
players hands. Thats what I liked about him. Hes a better shooter than
what his stats show.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Seems to be undervalued to
me. I think hes around sixth in draft. Athletic and showed consistent
aggressiveness along with Randle when the other Wildcats were taking
[Link] gut saysfuture strong starter with two way potential. Some
BB IQ questions out there. He needsto add variety and a right handto his
finishes and mid-range game. It will take work but the tools are there.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Top five shooter. Good athlete.
Definitely has a three point game. He can put it on the floor, but has to
get better at that. Has to get stronger. Biggest thing is he has to put more
of an effort at the defensive end and really lock in. He floats during games
and kind of gets lost. He has to be more locked into what theyre doing
defensively and become more of a presence and a factor while hes out on
the floor every minute. Hes a tremendous offensive talent.

22

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--

Purely a scorer
at this point,
admitting that
he needs to
become a better
defender. Can
seem indifferent
on that side of
the floor at times,
doesnt come close
to utilizing his
length, speed and
athleticism like
he should. Has to
improve his ball
handling in order
to be a primary
option offensively
and be able to
create for himself
against NBAcaliber defenders.
Not comfortable
enough using his
off hand yet. Will
settle and take bad
shots. Jump shot
lacks consistency.
Can he help a
team when his
shot isnt falling?

[Link]

Projection:

Hello,

Top

TEN

My Name is...

Gary Harris

Col.: Michigan St. PPG: 1 6.7

Pos.: SG
D.O.B: 9 / 14 / 1994

Solid shooting
guard with
the ability to
contribute right
away in a variety
of areas. Can hit
the NBA three
and is a threat
slashing to the
hoop. Has NBAcaliber athleticism.
An underrated
passer who is
willing to hit the
open man. Has
a good handle.
A major factor
on the defensive
end both on
the ball and off
of it due to his
lateral movement,
physicality and
basketball IQ.
Could end up
spending time
playing at both
guard positions
long-term as
he continues to
improve. Plays
with a high motor
and doesnt take
plays off. Decent
rebounder.

player card
RPG: 4.0
APG: 2.7

Ht: 6 4

SPG: 1 .8

Wt: 2 0 5 lbs.

P.E.R: 22.9

NB A
Com parison:

Dion
Waiters
O.J.
Mayo

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Although he measured in at 62, he can play as a combo
guard, which I think is very valuable in this league. As a good shooter,
slashing type who can work in the pick-and-roll. I like how he competes on
the defensive end.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: His size and durability are
concerns, but it seemed like his athleticism was coming back as the
year progressed. Hes best suited on a fast paced team and getting out
in transition to negate his size disadvantages. Bradley Beals strength
training program or adding moves to avoid contact would help him at the
rim because he has the speed bursts to get there if you are worried about
his jumper. Hes a good chaser vs. wings defensively, butstruggles on
ball screens because of his lack of lateral quickness. His slow ball screen
recoveryalso negates his flexibility to guard multiple positions.

--

Has always been

viewed as slightly
undersized, but
came in even
shorter than
expected at
the combine.
Wingspan
and vertical
explosiveness dont
jump off the page
either. Jump shot
lacks consistency
and he can be a
volume shooter
who settles for
bad looks at times.
Has to continue
to improve his
ball handling
skills, especially
if hes going to
be used at point
guard in the case
that his lack of
size becomes an
issue at the twoguard spot. Has
struggled with his
finishing around
the rim in traffic.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Can shoot the ball. Hes a good

on-ball defender. I think his size is going to be a crutch. Hes a small two.
Hes not a point guard. Hes one of the better shooters in the draft and he
can guard on the ball.

[Link]

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23

Projection:

Hello,

Top

My Name is...

TEN

Nik Stauskas

24

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Col.: Michigan

PPG: 1 7.5

Pos.: SG

RPG: 2.9

D.O.B: 10 / 7 / 1993

Capitalized in a
big way on the
opportunity created
for him by the
departure of Trey
Burke this past
season. Showcased
his ability to be an
elite level shooting
guard but also
play some backup
point guard, run
an offense and
create for others.
One of the best
shooters in this
class with extended
range well beyond
the three-point
line. Has a quick
release on his jump
shot, an important
quality for shooters
transitioning to the
next level. Sneakily
athletic. Gets to
the free throw
line regularly and
converts at a high
rate. Extremely
efficient with a
high basketball IQ.
Good ball handler.
Ideal height for
position, especially
a potential combo
guard.

player card

APG: 3.3

Ht: 6 6

SPG: 0.6

Wt: 2 0 7 lbs.

P.E.R: 22.9

NB A
Com parison:

Kevin
Martin
Klay
Thompson

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Worked extremely hard this summer, and surprised me
and my scouts on how he was able to run the point and work away from
the ball, especially working the pick-and-roll, which is utilized here. As a
great shooter with great size, hes going to be coveted in this draft.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Ball player with a passion for
the [Link] [Link] struggled for a little bit with quicker athletic
guards that get in his space but I dont see him facing that match up too
often in the NBA. His game seems to be able to adapt since he will work
on ways to get his shot off plus he has the ability to use ball screens and
hand offs effectively. He makes the right play and will benefit by being
surrounded with guys that can complete plays again. Hes definitely a step
behind defensively and tries to anticipate too much to compensate. Id still
take him over Harris.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Very gifted. I think hes very
versatile. I think hes one of the top five shooters in the draft. The thing I
like about him is you can give him the ball in the pick-and-roll and he can
play with it. Hes a prototype two-guard at his size and I think he can play
the pick-and-roll. Hes got a high basketball IQ.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

--

Has a long way

to go in order to
be an adequate
defender at
the NBA level.
Struggles to stay
in front of and
contain his man.
Lateral movement
average at best
for his position.
Not much of a
factor playing the
passing lanes or
rebounding the
basketball. Needs
to get stronger in
order to withstand
contact on the
offensive end and
not get bullied
on the defensive
end. Shooting is
his only skill that
looks to translate
well immediately.
Will have to
further improve
his ball handling
skills in order
to be used as
more than just a
specialist.

[Link]

Projection:

Hello,

Top

15

My Name is...

Tyler Ennis

Col.: Syracuse

PPG: 1 2.9

Pos.: PG

RPG: 3.4

D.O.B: 8 / 24 / 1994

NB A
Com parison:

The kind of point

guard that every
coach loves having
run their offense.
Simply knows
how to control
tempo and get
the ball where it
needs to be. A true
playmaker in every
sense who makes
guys around him
better by getting
them quality looks
that they can easily
convert. Operates
at a high efficiency,
boasting a well
above average
assist-to-turnover
ratio of 3.22:1.
Capable of creating
offense for himself
as well, although
not an aggressive
scorer. Can hit the
three. Excels at
orchestrating the
pick-and-roll, an
important factor in
todays NBA where
it is so prevalent.
Displayed solid
defensive potential
while playing in
Syracuses 2-3 zone.
Calm, cool and
collected in clutch
situations.

player card

APG: 5.5

Ht: 6 2

SPG: 2.1

Wt: 1 8 2 lbs.

P.E.R: 21 .7

Mike
Conley
Eric
Maynor

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Steady, heady point guard that you want running your
team whether its as a starter or a backup. He plays and sees the angles so
well. Can play halfcourt or up tempo style, great in transition.

--

Doesnt have
blinding
quickness or
great athleticism,
but did come
in higher than
expected with
his max vertical
leap. Doesnt
necessarily use it
all the time when
trying to score in
the interior, where
he struggles to
finish. Jump shot
lacks consistency.
Shot just 41
percent from the
field. Average
lateral quickness
creates concerns
about ability to
defend and get
by bigger, more
athletic defenders.
Has to get
stronger.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: I like him later in thefirstround,

love him in theearly second butI think you are playing with fire drafting
him in the top 15. Gets it where it needs to go, when it needs to go but
Im curious how he handles real ball pressure because he doesnt have the
handle and quickness to elude athletes in my opinion. I always saw him as
a ball control 3rd PG.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Safe, solid point guard. Has
to become a better shooter, but he knows how to control the pace of the
game. Hes a true point guard, a pass-first guy. I think hes got a chance to
be a starter on a playoff team eventually down the road. Certainly a quality
backup in the NBA right away.

[Link]

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25

HOW
TEAMS
USE
COMBINE
NUMBERS
INSIDER:

J oel B righam

26

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[Link]

21186
23686
7 286453
23626
4 686233
23906
3 8346513
23686
4 8346523
20086
6 886523
23686

236
866
546
767
552
658
542
907
896

23686

23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565

23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565

03 004 005 2006 2007

2
2

20

2.44
6.72
7.83
8.55
3.25
4.34

23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565
23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565
23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565
23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565
23686 67675
55665 67677
82233 56565

DRAFT GUIDE

HOW TEAMS USE COMBINE NUMBERS

Kevin Durant
According
to official

NBA
Combine
statistics,

basically couldnt bench

press a broomstick.

had a horrible vertical leap.

Its all trivial because none of it replaces what these

guys actually do on a basketball court, said Jonathan
Givony, president of DraftExpress, the preeminent draft
information website. You dont want to really change
your opinion on what you think about a guy based on
one measurement or one test. I dont think any teams
are really moving guys up or down the board based on
one measurement or another.
Larry Harris, a scout and consultant for the
Golden State Warriors and one-time general manager
of the Milwaukee Bucks, agreed with this statement to
an extent, but emphatically stated that teams do, in fact,
look at these numbers when deciding who to draft.
They do matter, Harris said. All those
measurements are as important as the psychological tests
you do, the interviews you do. Its all part of the process.
Its part of the analytics. We use it, and we factor it into
our decision-making We do put it into the process of
drafting a player.
Another Eastern Conference executive concurred,
stating that while teams dont draft players exclusively
based off of their athletic performance testing, that
is one part of a rather large portfolio front offices use
when deciding whether to select a player.
All of this is just part of a players DNA, and you
take each piece of the information to try and just build
this book on a player to understand him as well as you
can, so when you make a decision on him, you feel like
youve made as well thought-out a decision as possible,
the East executive said.
If decisions were made based on combine results
alone, Paul may never have been a lottery pick. In 2005,
Paul was declared the 15th-best athlete among all the
players tested, and was judged to be slower than both
Sean May and Wayne Simien, bulky power forwards
who are no longer in the league. Paul would eventually
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but can
lift an MVP
trophy.

Andre Iguodala
but is
a frequent
flyer

28

but starts
for Team
USA

Chris Paul

and
moved with the speed and
quickness of a glacier.

Kobe Bryants
hands measured too small
unlike
his killer
instinct

go on to win Rookie of the Year after being drafted

fourth by the New Orleans Hornets, despite the fact
that his combine showing was not a strong one.
Even 10 years ago, front offices knew how to see
through these numbers.
I remember discussing Chris Paul, said the
Eastern Conference executive. If Im the decisionmaker, Im asking whether its a problem when he plays.
Am I looking at a guy thats not going to be able to run
up and down the court or defend or play the pick-androll? Is this test score were seeing indicative of what we
see when hes out playing?
Obviously it wasnt, as Paul will very likely go
down in history as one of the greatest point guards of
his era.
Brett Brungardt, founder of BAM (Basic Athletic
Measurement), the athletic skills evaluator based out of
Seattle that runs all of the tests for the NBA Combine,
admitted that his tests do an excellent job measuring
things like strength and conditioning, but talent
- which means so many different things to so many
different people - cant always be quantified.
There can be talent identification components,
but there are so many things and so many variables that
go into those components, Brungardt said. [Combine
testing] is a big piece of the pie, but its not the whole
pie.
There is not, for example, a number to represent
how good a leader a player may be. Danny Ainge once
said that theres no statistic that shows how important
Kevin Garnett is to a locker room. Great players are
made up of more than just vertical leaps and wingspans,
but that doesnt mean physical measurables are moot in
todays NBA, as any front office executive is likely to
confess.
These statistics are, to many, an important piece of
[Link]

If this were the NFL,

where physical measurables like 40-yard dash times

and the bench press can actually catapult a player
up a couple of rounds or banish him from the drafts
seven rounds completely, perhaps Durant or Paul would
have seen their stocks tumble in the weeks before their
respective drafts. However, Durants puny arms and
Pauls apparent lack of quickness did nothing to deter
teams from selecting them among the top four picks.

the puzzle, but ultimately, as Givony suggests, they are

often are poor indicators of NBA success.
Height is overrated, Givony said. Id rather have
a guy who maybe measures 64 without shoes but has a
73 wingspan. That makes up for it and then some. Guys
with short arms, I dont care how tall they are, I value
length and reach over height.
The 2014 NBA Draft features some players that
show the types of discrepancies that make these sorts of
statistics feel somewhat unimportant.
K.J. McDaniels is a great example this year,
Givony explained. Hes an excellent freak athlete who
blocked three shots per game this year. Are you going to
tell me hes not a leaper now, despite everything that Ive
seen, just because he got a bad jump [at the combine]?
I trust my eyes more than the numbers. I mean,
Doug McDermott tested as a better athlete than K.J.
McDaniels, so does that mean hes a better athlete than
K.J. McDaniels? I dont think so.
Harris agrees that these performance statistics
are nowhere near as important as what the executives
already know about a player heading into the combine.
The numbers confirm whether the eye test is
right or wrong, Harris said. If I see that Chris Paul
was average in the three-quarter court sprint, that he
was just in the middle of the pack, I could confirm or
deny what that means to me, because the eye test trumps
everything. Okay, he doesnt measure up to the rest of
the guys, but that doesnt mean he cant play the point
guard position.
They arent the end-all.
Its hard to wade through all of this data and
decide which measurements are valuable and which have
no real bearing on what kind of NBA player a kid will
be, but teams still like having these numbers in front of
them, even if only to discover whether the measurements
[Link]

In other words,
its important
to keep all of
that pre-draft
combine testing
in perspective.

Height is overrated.
Id rather have a guy
who maybe measures 64
without shoes but has a
73 wingspan...
I value length and
reach over height.
Jonathan Givony, DraftExpress.
for players line up with their expectations.
If nothing else, the athletic measurements taken at
the combine create tangible evidence as to what kind of
an athlete a player really is. That information, combined
with information from interviews, scouting trips, film
and references, help teams decide who theyll select with
their valuable draft picks.
In short, it doesnt matter if Paul is slow when hes
as crafty and intelligent as he is. It doesnt matter how
little Durant can bench press if hes taller than most
forwards and scores the ball like an elite two-guard.
It doesnt matter that Bryant has small hands if hes
insanely athletic and historically competitive.
There are a lot of ways that NBA players can be
considered good, and the combine tests help team
presidents and general managers determine whether the
really athletic players are good in other ways, as well.

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29

ADDITIONAL
FIRST
ROUND
candidateS
INSIDER:

Y annis K ouTROUPIS

30

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[Link]

Projection:

Hello,

Top

15

My Name is...

K.J. McDaniels

NB A
Com parison:

Has improved
consistently over
the last three years
and really exploded
this past season. A
defensive menace
with the ability
to guard multiple
positions. Probably
the best defender in
the class. Extremely
active defending
the rim and playing
the passing lanes.
Can keep his man
in front of him. An
improving shooting
threat who went
from a 57 percent
free throw shooter
as a freshman to an
84 percent shooter
as a junior. A
finisher around the
rim who is tough
to contain when
slashing to the
basket.

player card
Col.: Clemson

PPG: 1 7.1

Pos.: SG / SF

RPG: 7 .1

D.O.B: 2 / 9 / 1993

APG: 1 .6

Ht: 6 6

BPG: 2.8

Wt: 1 96 lbs.

P.E.R: 28.7

Jimmy
Butler
Kawhi
Leonard

scou t s tak e
R yan Bl ake: Wants to play. Thats important. He wants to play
defense. Shooting, overall, offensively, he has improved. Hes going to be
your Wes Matthews, Jimmy Butler type of player. Whether he develops
into that type of player we dont know, but he has that upside to do so and
with that type of athleticism, I think hes going to be a better offensive
player but I think itll take some time.

--

A work in
progress
offensively who
needs to improve
in just about every
facet on that end
of the floor. Can
hit the three but
is inconsistent
in doing so.
Doesnt always
make the right
decision, taking
difficult shots or
turning it over in
excess. Needs to
become a better
ball handler as
well. May never
be more than a
secondary scoring
option.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Being in the draft this year was

a mistake. He isnt ready. Has potential on the defensive end but relies
on rearview contests too much; needs to commit to staying or getting in
front on next level. Raw offensively and will need to play for a fast-paced
team with a great passer at PG. The halfcourt is his enemy. Will make some
spectacular plays if they are sleeping on the weak side offensively or if
hes coming to contest your shot from the weak side defensively.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOU T: Tremendous athlete. No position
right now. Kind of a three and a half. He doesnt have one great skill. Hes
just a great athlete who can rebound a little bit, defend a little bit, shoot
a little bit, guard a little bit. Hes got a little bit of everything, but he
doesnt have one true skill. Hes certainly a guy who has upside to him.

[Link]

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31

Hello,

My Name is...

Kyle Anderson

Projection:

RounD

player INFO
Col.: UCLA
Pos.: SF
Ht: 6 9
Wt: 2 3 5

A point forward who

stuffs the stat sheet.
Handles the ball well.
Active rebounder.
Deceptively athletic.
A much improved
shooter. Incredible
court vision.

--

Plays at his own,

slower, pace hence the
nickname slo-mo.
Just an average
athlete. Will turn
it over, sometimes
in excess. Defense.

Hello,

My Name is...

Jusuf Nurkic

player INFO
Col.: Bosnia

Col.: Mich. St.

Pos.: PF / C

Pos.: PF

Ht: 6 11

Ht: 6 10

Wt: 28 0

Wt: 2 2 5

A mammoth of a young man who is physically

ready for the NBA. Surprisingly mobile. Can
score around the rim and does a good job
protecting it defensively.
Foul prone. Inexperienced. Not a great athlete.
Signed a new contract overseas recently and may
not be available to come over immediately.

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player INFO

+
--

Hello,

My Name is...

Adreian Payne

Long and athletic. Solid defensively. Moves well

for his size. A capable shooter all the way out to
the three point line.

Slight in frame. Rebounding. Questions about

how much more room he has to improve.

[Link]

Hello,

My Name is...

Rodney Hood
player INFO
Col.: Duke
Pos.: SG
Ht: 6 8
Wt: 18 0

One of the most

efficient players in
the country
offensively. Can
really shoot,
especially beyond the
arc. Has good height
and length for his
position.

Hello,

My Name is...

Zach LaVine

player INFO
Col.: UCLA

Col.: N.C State

Pos.: PG / SG

Pos.: SF

Ht: 6 5

Ht: 6 8

Wt: 180

Wt: 2 2 3

A standout athlete who some think can play the

point guard position in the NBA. Jump shot has
extended range. Fast.

Often settles offensively, leading to a lot of bad

shots. Slight in frame. Needs to improve as a free
throw shooter, both in attempts and percentage.

[Link]

player INFO

+
--

--

Defense. Needs to
add some strength.
Ball handling and
ability to create his
own shot. Could be
more of a force on the
glass.

Hello,

My Name is...

T.J. Warren

Explosive scorer with ideal size and strength for

a NBA small forward. Good in the post. Young
with a lot of upside. Lethal inside the arc.

Perimeter skills still developing, especially his

three-point shot. Possesses average athleticism.

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33

Hello,

My Name is...

Elfrid Payton

Projection:

RounD

player INFO
Col.: Louisiana
Lafayette

Pos.: PG
Ht: 6 3
Wt: 1 70

Well-rounded with the

ability to impact the game
in a variety of different
ways. Good size for his
position. Great potential on
the defensive end. Athletic.
Gets to the free throw line
with regularity.

Hello,

My Name is...

--

Body of work is
against sup-par
competition.
Turned it over
nearly four
times a game.
Has to improve
the range and
consistency on
his jump shot.
Also needs to
add strength.

player INFO

player INFO

Col.: Michigan

Pos.:
n
so
n
bi
o
R
n
Glen
Ht:

Col.: UConn

SF

Pos.: SF

6 6

Ht: 6 7

Wt: 220

Son of former NBA All-Star Glenn Robinson.

An athletic wing with a high talent level. Long
and explosive. Has great range on his shot.

Hasnt improved as hoped in second year at

Michigan. Tends to be passive at times. Not
comfortable handling the ball extensively. Doesnt
defend bigger players well.

34

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

Hello,

My Name is...

DeAndre Daniels

Wt: 191

+
--

Versatile forward. Can score in multiple ways.

Capable spot up shooter. Came on strong
during UConns run to the national title. Good
rebounder and shot blocker.
Didnt improve as hoped from sophomore to
junior year. Had really passive stretches. Needs to
get stronger and refine perimeter skills.

[Link]

Hello,

My Name is...
Projection:

Shabazz Napier

RounD

player INFO
Col.: UConn
Pos.: PG
Ht: 6 0

Wt: 170

A proven winner with

two NCAA national
championships under his
belt. Steadily improved
throughout his four years
in college. Has become a
reliable shooter. Tremendous
ball handler. Good in the
pick-and-roll. Hits the glass
well for a one.

Hello,

My Name is...

s
Kristaps Porzingi

player INFO
Col.: Latvia

Col.: Syracuse

Pos.: SF / PF

Pos.: SF

Ht: 6 11

Ht: 6 8

Wt: 220

Wt: 2 0 3

Versatile big man who can score in a variety of

ways. Moves well for his size, very agile. Has
good length and athleticism. Can really impact
the game defensively. Younger than many college
freshmen.
Needs to get stronger, especially if he ends up
playing primarily power forward. Long-term
position unknown at this point. Jump shot is
unreliable. Has a couple years left on his contract
overseas.

[Link]

player INFO

+
--

--

Lacks great size

and athleticism.
Can play like
more of a
scoring guard
than point guard
at times. Slight
in frame.

Hello,

My Name is...

Jerami Grant

An impressive athlete with a wingspan over seven

feet. Good rebounder. Took a huge step forward
from freshman to sophomore year. Lethal when
attacking.
A tweener that may have to bulk up and play
the four spot if he doesnt extend his jump shots
range and improve his ball handling skills. Will
have to add strength even if he ends up a three.
Raw offensively.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

35

Hello,

My Name is...

P.J. Hairston

Projection:

RounD

player INFO
Col.: D-League
Pos.: SG
Ht: 6 5
Wt: 2 2 0

A physical and strong

shooting guard. Has
three-point range on
his jump shot. Can
score by attacking the
rim as well.

--

Ball handling. Doesnt

create for his teammates much. Needs
to be more consistent.
There are off the court
concerns stemming
from his dismissal
from North Carolina.

Hello,

My Name is...

Clint Capela

player INFO
Col.: Switzerland

Col.: Michigan

Pos.: PF

Pos.: C

Ht: 6 11

Ht: 6 10

Wt: 222

Wt: 2 5 0

A defensive force thanks to his size and ridiculous

wingspan, which is nearly seven and a half feet
long. Has good speed and quickness for his
position. Strong finisher.
Doesnt have a great feel for the game yet,
especially on the offensive end of the floor. Needs
to develop his midrange jump shot and a go-to
move or two in the post. Needs to add some more
size to his frame, which can clearly support it.

36

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

player INFO

+
--

Hello,

My Name is...

Mitch McGary

Strong and physical. Agile for his size.

Has good hands. Active rebounder.

Consistency. Old for his class. Still somewhat

raw in the low post. Body of work in sophomore
season limited due to season-ending back surgery.

[Link]

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1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Joel Embiid

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IN...

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Dario Saric

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James Young

Gar y Harris

James Young

James Young

Doug McDermott

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Doug McDermott Doug McDermott

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Aaron Gordon

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Marcus Smart

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Julius Randle
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Rodney Hood

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Nik Stauskas

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Kyle Anderson

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Gary Harris

Rodney Hood

Tyler Ennis

T.J. Warren

Rodney Hood

James Young

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P.J. Hairston

Adreian Payne

Cleanthony Early

Zach LaVine

T.J. Warren

Tyler Ennis

Kyle Anderson

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Nik Stauskas

Elfrid Payton

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Elfrid Payton

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Artem Klimenko

Clint Capela

Jarnell Stokes

Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Isaiah Austin

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Nik Stauskas
Gary Harris

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draft order
reflects the
following
transactions:
Atlantas right to swap
f irst-round picks with
the Brooklyn Nets via Joe
Johnson trade (7 / 11 / 12).
Boston received the less
favorable of the Hawks /
Nets f irst-round pick via
the Kevin Garnett trade
(7 / 10 / 13).
Charlotte received
Portland s f irst-round pick
(Gerald Wallace trade,
2 / 24 / 11) and Detroits
f irst-round pick (Ben
Gordon trade, 6 / 26 / 12).
Chicago received the
Hornets f irst-round pick
via the Tyrus Thomas
trade (2 / 18 / 10).
Denver received New
Yorks f irst-round pick
via the Carmelo Anthony
trade.
Orlando received the less
favorable of the Nuggets
/ Knicks f irst round picks
via the Dwight Howard
trade (8 / 10 / 12).
Phoenix received Indianas
f irst round pick via the
Luis Scola trade (7 / 8 / 13)
and Washingtons f irstround pick via the Marcin
Gortat trade (8 / 25 / 13).
Utah received Golden
States f irst-round pick via
the Andre Iguodala trade
(7 / 10 / 13).
Philadelphia receiving
New Orleans f irst-round
pick via the Jrue Holiday
trade (7 / 10 / 13).

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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39

WHO
IS
YOUR
NBA
COMPARISOn
40

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[Link]

NBA executives, media members

and couch critics alike are all guilty of
posing this question to prospects in an
attempt to learn more about a player and what
role they envision themselves playing at the pro
level. Some prospects compare themselves to stars,
while others liken themselves to energy players.
Some rattle off the players who they have
studied and modeled their game after. Heres
how the class of 2014 responded when
we went in search of their take:

Id say Tony Parker

C.J. Wilcox

[since Im] able to the score the ball, he would score

a little more than I would, but being able to score, being
able to control the team and being able to find open
guys when the time is right. Growing up, I would
always watch Jason Kidd and thats somebody I
kind of model my game after. Being able to
score the ball, but also make plays for
others and just be a leader
on the floor.

Ive been
compared to Richard
Rip Hamilton and
Ray Allen,
just a lot of shooters who come off of
screens, have a quick release and
are able to knock down shots.

DeAndre Kane

I just go out there

and try to be myself.

Tyler Ennis

Im DeAndre Kane and thats who Ive been trying to be

my whole life. There are players who I look at and watch and
study tape on to take different pieces from each persons game to
add to my game, but when I step on the court I just try to be myself.
[With that] said, Ive been watching Chauncey Billups since hes a
bigger point guard who can get into the teeth of the defense and make
plays for others. Ive been watching Andre Miller, the way hes able
to post up smaller guards. Ive been watching Chris Paul, the way he
leads. I watch different kinds of point guards and try to put some
of those things into my game, but I just want to be myself.
[Link]

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

41

Its an honor [to

be compared to
Zach Randolph].

Zach is a great, great player so to be

compared to somebody like that,
somebody with so much skill and
somebody who has had such a
great career in the NBA, its
definitely an honor.

The people I model

my game after are a
[ SHABAZZ NAPIER ]
little bit of Russell
Westbrook
with his
I cant look at one
player and say thats
I take a lot of notes athleticism, Stephen
Curry with his
who I play like, but
on a lot of guys. I
I can see different
I like
see what Chris Paul dribbling ability and
shot off the dribble,
traits that players
Carmelo
does and how he
and one of my good
have that I see. I
[Anthony]s
distributes the ball
friends Jamal
look at Russell
game. I also
and how he gets
Crawford, who is
Westbook as that
like Wilson
everyone involved.
65
and lanky, but
explosive point
Chandler.
Tony Parker and
can get his shot off
guard that can get
And back in
how he takes
against
anyone and
to the rim, and
the day Mike
control of the game.
is quick. If I have
also Manu Ginobili
Miller, when
Steve Nash in his
those
three players
when he gets into
he first got in prime when he had
in my game, I feel
the paint and the
the league,
two MVPs back to
like
Ill have a really
way he can finish.
he was an
back, his footwork.
good career in the
Its just looking at
athletic guy
There are a lot of
NBA.
If I just work
different players and
who was
things that I try to
hard, thats a good
what they can do,
really able to
implement in my
mix to me!
and how that can
shoot it from
game. I dont want
help my game.
outside.
to just look at one

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[ Laquinton ross ]

42

[ James young ]

McGrady
when
he was
in the
league,
thats
who I
compare
my game
too and
thats
why I
wear
No. 1.

[ Dante Exum ]

sayI would
Tracy

Julius Randle

person and grab a

hold of that.

[ ZACH LAVINE ]

[Link]

WHO IS YOUR NBA COMPARISON?

A lot of
people compare
me to Jalen Rose,

but thats probably because there arent a lot of

left-handed players out there. I try to take from
a lot of guys game, like a Kevin Durant
or James Harden or Manu Ginobili,
guys like that. But well see, Im
trying to be my own player.

Rodney Hood

There are not a whole

lot of comparisons
for me, Im kind of
different. I like to watch
a lot of [Kyle] Korver.
Wally Szczerbiak has
been a good one; he
was a little stronger so
I need to get a little
bigger. I like to watch
those guys. It might
sound crazy but I watch
a lot of Paul Pierce, I
like his footwork. He is
not the quickest guy in
the world, but he really
knows how to use his
body and knows how to
use angles to score.

There are a few players who I would say I, realistically,

compare myself to because of some of the things that they
bring to the table: players like Jimmy Butler, DeMarre
Carroll and Shane Battier, guys that bring leadership.
Battier played the four in college and played the three [in
the NBA]. Hes been able to be effective and a contributor
on every team great defender and knock-down shooter.
Carroll with Atlanta, he helps them a lot. Hes a little bit
smaller of a guy, but hes able to be effective on the
perimeter. Butler brings that edge, that characteristic, those
intangibles to Chicago. These guys do things that help
these teams win. I think I bring a lot of these intangibles
and versatility, and ultimately I think those are spots that I
could get myself into when Im playing in the NBA. I think
those are valuable pieces great team guys, great leaders
and great vocal guys that help you win. At this level,
everyone wants to win and everyone wants those guys who
will buy into their situation. Thats what Im here for and
thats what Im trying to do. I know a lot of coaches are
looking for that.

[ ALEX KIRK ]

There are a couple of people who Ive modeled my game after. This year,
I obviously didnt get to watch him, but I love watching Brook Lopez. I think
hes honestly comparable. Yeah, he may be a little bit taller and a little bit
heavier, but I think I set good screens, I get open, I play good defense and
I think we both shoot the ball from midrange very well.

[ MELVIN Ejim ]

If I were to draw
any comparisons or
relate to someone
specifically I would
probably say the
closest comparison
would be someone
like Klay Thompson
from Golden State,
a guy that has good
size for his position,
can knock down
shots at a high clip
and hes a great
defender. Thats
someone who I try
to model my game
after.

I dont think Ive modeled my game after anybody, but Ive heard a
lot of [people compare me to] Alec Burks, who plays for Utah. Yeah,
Ive heard that one a lot.

[ Doug mcdermott ]

[ JORDAN MCRAE ]

[ Joe HARRIS ]

[Link]

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

43

Second
round
prospects
INSIDER:

Y annis K ouTROUPIS

44

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[Link]

NAMES TO WATCH IN THE

SECOND ROUND
Cleanthony Early

+
--

Wichita State. PF. 68. 215

Versatile forward who may be groomed into a small

forward depending on where he lands. Very athletic. Can
hit the three. Comfortable defending multiple positions.
Unknown which position hes best suited to play in the
pros. Lacks the skills of a small forward and strength of
a Power Forward. Jump shot lacks consistency.

Jarnell Stokes

+
--

Tennessee. PF. 68. 250

Bruising low-post presence. Plays like a traditional PF.

Strong and knows how to throw his weight around. Elite
rebounder. Great NCAA tournament showing. Efficient.
Undersized. PFs who can stretch the floor with their jump
shot have become more and more prevalent, but that isnt
Stokes game. Ability to defend away from the interior.

Walter Tavares

+
--

Cape Verde. C. 72. 265

One of the biggest players in the draft. Has a reported

wingspan of 79. Moves well for someone of his stature.
Really played well with extended minutes this season.
A project who lacks a solid feel for the game. Doesnt
always get the most out of his size and strength. Not a
great athlete.

Jordan Adams

+
--

UCL A. SG. 65. 220

Below average athlete by his positions standards. Prone

to inconsistency. Concerns about ability to create his
own shot at the next level. Conditioning issues.

C.J. Wilcox

Coming off of a torn ACL, will not be healthy in time to

play in Summer League. Had just average athleticism and
explosiveness before the injury. Needs to get stronger.

Vasiliji Micic

+
--

Serbia. PG. 64. 185

A natural playmaker with the gift of great court vision.

Handles the ball well, sees things before they develop.
Can hit the three. Above average height for a one.
Has one year left on his contract overseas. Buyout language
unclear at this point. Concerns about lack of great speed
and athleticism to defend outside or finish inside.

Nikola Jokic

+
--

Serbia. PF. 611. 253

Young big man who is physically mature beyond his years.

Has a good feel for the game. Good vision. Can stretch the
floor a bit with his jump shot.
Not a great athlete. Somewhat raw on the defensive end.
A project overall.

+
--

Ne v ada. PG. 61. 185

Athletic lead guard with above average wingspan.

Improved noticeably each year. Solid rebounder. Very
capable defender. Breaks defenders down off the dribble.
Not as big of a threat as a spot up shooter, especially
beyond the arc. Will take ill-advised shots. Not a true
point guard. Only had one winning season in college.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Washington. PG. 65. 195

Shooter with deep range. Cannot be left open. On paper,

solid pro-level SG given height and length. Has
solid athleticism.
Somewhat of a specialist. Has to get stronger. Will have
to prove that he can provide something other than
shooting at the pro level in order to have a long career.

[Link]

+
--

Colorado. PG / SG. 66. 190

Combo guard with serious physical advantages when

running the point. Can score in a variety of ways. A very
capable and willing passer.

Deonte Burton

Explosive scorer. Can score with his jumper, which has a

quick release, or by scoring off the dribble. Adept at
getting to the free throw line. Plays the passing lane well.

+
--

Spencer Dinwiddie

+
--

Serbia. SG. 66. 200

Has a near seven-foot wingspan. Can score in a variety

of ways. Has NBA three-point range. Solid court vision.
European contract buyout available.
Average athlete. Will force things offensively and turn
it over in excess as a result. Can be a defensive liability.
Unknown if he wants to play in NBA or remain overseas.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

45

NAMES TO WATCH IN THE

SECOND ROUND
Patric Young

Dwight Powell

+
--

Florida. PF. 69. 240

Built like he played football. Active, especially on the

defensive end where he is a willing helper. Athletic with
a high finishing rate.
Limited offensively. Average free-throw shooter. Not a
force on the glass. Underwhelming production rate for
three years. Best suited to play center, but undersized.

Nick Johnson

+
--

Extremely athletic. Passionate defender. A very capable

scorer who can hit the NBA three. Competes on every
possession.
Lacks ideal size for his position. May have to transition
to playing the point, although not a true playmaker.
Ability to create his own shot.

Jabari Brown

Can score from all over the floor. Athletic. Gets to the
free throw line regularly. Strong.
Slightly below average size for his position. Turnover prone.

James McAdoo
Nor th Carolina. PF. 69. 223

Has a unique jump shot that is not fundamentally sound.

Struggles at the free throw line, where he gets too often.
Assertiveness comes and goes. Plateaued as a junior.

Joe Harris
Virginia. SF. 66. 211

Team was successful, but individually he had somewhat

of a senior slump. Not a great athlete. Concerns about his
ceiling if he cant find his shot at the pro level.

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Plays like a shooting guard but has the build of a point

guard. Turnover prone. A volume shooter. Will have to
get stronger.

+
--

Iow a. SG. 66. 200

Good size for position. Range out to the NBA three point
line. Solid defensively. Improved every year in college.
Young for a senior at 21 years of age. Versatile player.
Not an elite athlete. Questions about which, if any of his
skills, will really translate to the next level because he
doesnt do anything particularly great.

+
--

Oklahoma State. PG. 63. 190

Long and athletic. Good rebounder for his position.

Defensive potential.
Small for a shooting guard without the ability to play
point guard right away at least. Needs to add strength
and playmaking skills.

LaQuinton Ross

A sniper who has made over 70 threes in each of the last

two years at over a 40 percent clip. Quick release. Moves
well without the basketball. Willing passer. Efficient.

46

One of the fastest players in college basketball. Knows

how to score the basketball and get to the line. Plays the
passing lanes well. Did more playmaking as a senior.

Markel Brown

An athletic big man who comes from a great basketball

pedigree. Has good size, length and mobility for his
position. Plays the passing lanes well.

+
--

+
--

Louisville. PG. 61. 165

Devyn Marbl

Missouri. SG. 64. 200

+
--

Prone to settling for the jump shot.

Inconsistent overall. Defense.

Russ Smith

Arizona State. SG. 63. 200

+
--

+
--

Stanford. PF. 69. 227

A perimeter-oriented power forward. Has a reliable jump

shot inside of the arc. Did more creating as a senior. Good
height and length.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

+
--

Ohio State. SF. 68. 225

Versatile. Good ball handler. Can hit the three. Solid

rebounder. Significantly improved from sophomore to
junior year.
Doesnt always impact the game like he should.
Defense. Doesnt create much for others.

[Link]

[Link]

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

@ b ba l l i n s i d e r s

47

48

@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[Link]

NAMES TO WATCH IN THE

SECOND ROUND
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

+
--

D-League. SF. 66. 205

Older brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Extremely

athletic. Has made serious improvements. Dedicated
defender. Hard worker.
Still very raw overall on both ends. Not as young or
promising as Giannis. Needs significant polish in every
area of his game.

DeAndre Kane

+
--

Big, strong and very physical point guard. Has good

court vision. Can score in a variety of ways. Good
rebounder.
Concerns about his ability to defend NBA point guards.
Turnover prone. Shooting, particularly from deep and at the
line. Will be 25 years of age on Draft night.

Jahii Carson
A quick and athletic guard who plays bigger than 510.
A capable playmaker. Difficult to stay in front of. Has
improved his three point shooting significantly.
Undersized, something a lot of teams will not be able
to look past. Turns it over in excess. A volume shooter
at times.

Johnny OBryant
LSU. PF. 69. 250

Not a great athlete. Doesnt always dominate like hes

capable of. Didnt improve as hoped from sophomore to
junior year.

Artem Klimenko

One of the best shot blockers college basketball has seen

recently. Solid rebounder. Has consistently improved.
Good touch around the basket. Very long.
Limited offensively. One of the older players in the draft
at 24. Concerns about how hell adjust to the speed of
the NBA game.

+
--

Wisconsin-Green Bay. C. 71. 222

A five man who can stretch the floor with his jump shot out
to the NBA three point line. A quality rim protector.
Development after sophomore year was underwhelming.
Needs to get stronger. Doesnt rebound well for his
position.

+
--

UNLV. PF. 69. 210

Aggressive rebounder. Very athletic. Good speed for his

size. Protects the rim well.
Lacks polish offensively. Needs to get stronger and
become a more consistent jump shooter.

Jordan McRae

Russia. C. 71. 228

Huge big man who plays hard. Protects the rim well.
Good rebounder. Mobile for size and position.
A raw project who doesnt look to be ready to contribute
in any meaningful way. Needs to get stronger. Unproven
against quality competition.

[Link]

+
--

Arizona State. C. 72. 248

Khem Birch

Strong and physical. Knows how to score in the low post.

Good rebounder. Can hit the mid-range jump shot.

+
--

Still somewhat raw offensively. Needs to get stronger.

Didnt improve as hoped as a senior.

Alec Brown

Arizona State. PG. 510. 180

+
--

+
--

Baylor. PF. 69. 210

Long and athletic with great defensive potential. Moves

well laterally for his position. Good rebounder. Finisher
around the rim.

Jordan Bachinyski

Iow a State. PG. 64. 200

+
--

Cory Jefferson

+
--

Tennessee. SG. 65. 178

Athletic. At his best off of the dribble. Has consistently

improved over the last four years. Willing passer. Can hit
the NBA three pointer.
Has to add a serious amount of muscle. Shot selection.
Inefficient.

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49

TOP

100
2014

Draft Talents

50

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[Link]

DRAFT ROLL CALL

Andrew Wiggins

DeAndre Daniels

DeAndre Kane

Moussa Diagne

Joel Embiid

Glenn Robinson III

Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Josh Huestis

Jabari Parker

Jerami Grant

Jahii Carson

Akil Mitchell

Dante Exum

Mitch McGary

James McAdoo

Keith Appling

Julius Randle

Clint Capela

Semaj Christon

Viktor Gaddefors

Marcus Smart

Cleanthony Early

Johnny OBryant

Aaric Murray

Noah Vonleh

Jarnell Stokes

Artem Klimenko

Travis Bader

Aaron Gordon

Walter Tavares

Cory Jefferson

Markel Starks

Dario Saric

Jordan Adams

Jordan Bachynski

Jakarr Sampson

Doug McDermott

C.J. Wilcox

Alec Brown

Chane Behanan

James Young

Isaiah Austin

Khem Birch

Aaron Craft

Gary Harris

Vasilije Micic

Rasmus Larsen

Alex Kirk

Nik Stauskas

Spencer Dinwiddie

Lamar Patterson

Juvonte Reddic

Tyler Ennis

Deonte Burton

Jordan McRae

Andre Dawkins

K.J. McDaniels

Bogdan Bogdanovic

Joe Harris

Joonas Caven

Jusuf Nurkic

Patric Young

Fuquan Edwin

Cameron Bairstow

Adreian Payne

Nikola Jokic

Damien Inglis

Casey Prather

Zach LaVine

Jabari Brown

C.J. Fair

Kendall Williams

Kyle Anderson

Jordan Clarkson

Shayne Whittington

Sim Bhullar

T.J. Warren

Russ Smith

Bryce Cotton

Xavier Thames

Rodney Hood

Dwight Powell

Melvin Ejim

Eric Moreland

Kristaps Porzingis

Devyn Marble

Sean Kilpatrick

Niels Giffey

P.J. Hairston

Nick Johnson

Geron Johnson

Mike Moser

Elfrid Payton

Markel Brown

Nedim Buza

Scottie Wilbekin

Shabazz Napier

LaQuinton Ross

Ioannis Papapetrou

Chaz Williams

[Link]

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51

SECOND
ROUND
SLEEPERS
TO
WATCh
INSIDER:

Y annis K ouTROUPIS

52

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[Link]

No matter how much money and time NBA

teams invest in scouting and preparing for
the draft, some quality players are going to
slip through the cracks and be undervalued
on draft night. In the end, there are only 30
selections in the first round and in a deep
draft class like this there are far more than 30
prospects worthy of going in the first round.
Theres a lot of esteem and financial
security that comes with being a first-round
pick. That is everyones goal,
but weve seen plenty of instances, like Paul
Millsap (47th pick in 2006) and Chandler
Parsons (38th pick in 2011), that prove what
matters more than where you go on draft
night is what you do afterward. Two firstround picks from the 2012 NBA Draft found
themselves out of the league this season,
further proof that going in the first round
doesnt guarantee a successful career any
more than going in the second round means
you cant become an All-Star and make far
more than the rookie pay scale allows.
Of course, we wont know until draft night
who slips to the second round, but here is a
look at four sleepers projected to go in the
second round who could go on to make the
teams that passed on them in the first round
regret it mightily down the line.

[Link]

Each
second-round
pick will be looking
to duplicate the
success of these
four standouts.

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53

Isaiah
Austin
Baylor (So.) // Power Forward + Center
Austin had the opportunity to leave for the
NBA after his freshman season and if he did he
probably would have been a first-round pick. A
disappointing sophomore season has dropped his
stock to the second round, but the main benefit
from staying another year is that Austin feels
much more prepared to make the jump.
Ive become a way better teammate on and
off the court, Austin said. Ive learned to play
within my game. I would say Im a stretch four.
Im an athlete. I call myself a basketball player; I
dont like to give myself a label because I can put
the ball on the ground, I can shoot the ball, I can
post up, I can do a little bit of everything. Im
fearless out there on the court. Im not going to
back down from anybody.
As a seven-footer with legitimate perimeter
skills and good shot blocking ability, Austin does
have the unique skill set required for a secondround pick to stick.
Austin revealed this year that he is
completely blind in his right eye as a result of a
childhood accident. Hes really taken to being a
role model for other children with disabilities,
making it hard not to root for him.
Anybody with any type of disability I
encourage them to go out and fight for their
dreams and work for what they want, Austin
said. The only person thats going to stop you
from getting there is yourself. You always have
to have that confidence in yourself that you
know you can do it, have strong faith in God
because theres going to be ups and downs. Im
still fighting the depth perception thing. A lot
of times I like to come in early and get used to
it. I just encourage everybody to keep fighting.
Nothing is impossible.

54

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[Link]

SECOND ROUND SLEEPERS

Thanasis
Antetokounmpo
D-League // Small Forward
Thanasis is not as skilled or as long as his
younger brother Giannis Antetokounmpo, who
was an All-NBA Rookie second team selection
for the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, but
the 21-year-old showed some intriguing flashes
this season with the Delaware 87ers in the NBA
Development League. Hes one of the best
athletes in this draft class and has a desire to
improve like few others.
I have to work on everything,
Antetokounmpo said. You see great players
like Kobe Bryant, if he was here and you asked
him that, he would say, I have to work on my
shot, everything. Hes one of the greatest five
players of all-time. I have to work on everything.
Wherever I go Im the worst player, if he works
twice I have to work four times. If he works four
times I have to work eight. Hes already better
than me, hes already here in the states. I just got
here. I have to work better than him.
Already having improved significantly in
a short amount of time, Antetokounmpo could
eventually develop into a quality defender and
spot-up shooting threat that fits in nicely off of
the bench of a contending team. As his honesty
above indicates, hes very aware of who he is and
is willing to do whatever it takes to carve his
niche in this game.

C.J.
Wilcox
Washington (Sr.) // Shooting Guard
Over the last four years, Wilcox developed
into one of the top scoring threats in college
basketball, averaging 18.3 points a game as a
senior. Hes known for hitting the three and for
good reason, he made over 300 in his career but
thats not all Wilcox can do.

[Link]

I can do more than shoot the ball, Wilcox

said. Theres more to my game than that. Im a
hard worker. Shooting the ball is obviously my
strength, and my quickness and athleticism even
though its overlooked can be a good attribute for
me.
In the second round, teams are looking
for guys with at least one skill that looks like it
will translate immediately. Wilcox has that with
his jump shot, and if he indeed has a better allaround game than we saw at Washington, were
definitely talking about a first-round caliber
talent.

Spencer
Dinwiddie
Colorado (Jr.) // Combo Guard
Before going down with a torn ACL just after the
start of the New Year, Dinwiddie was averaging
14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the
15th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes. They were in
the midst of what was building up to be their best
season in program history, but they were not the
same when Dinwiddie went down. After a 14-2
start with him leading the way, they finished the
season 23-12 and were throttled in their opening
game of the NCAA Tournament by Pittsburgh.
While Colorado wasnt the same without
him, the recovering Dinwiddie is out to assure
teams he will be the same once hes cleared.
Im going to be back well before the
season, Dinwiddie said. My agent isnt letting
me hammer out a specific date, but Ive tweeted
out what the timeline is looking like and how
optimistic they are. Beyond that, its really on
whether or not the team believes in me or not. If
they think the player that I was is a really good
caliber player and they want that type of player,
thats what theyre going to get.
With the advances in medical treatment
and Dinwiddies strong skill set as a potential 66
point guard, hes a gamble well worth taking in
the second round.

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55

DRAFT GUIDE

YOUR
TEAMS
BIGGEST
NEEDS
AND ALL THE
PEOPLE PUL
LING
THE STRING
S
ON DRAFT
DAY
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THE
2014
dRAFT
ORDER

Not drafting this year:

BROOKLYN. GOLDEN STATE.

NEW orleans. NEW YORK.
PORTLAND.

Round 1.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
2. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
3. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
4. ORLANDO MAGIC
5. UTAH JAZZ
6. BOSTON CELTICS
7. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
8. SACRAMENTO KINGS
9. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
10. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
11. DENVER NUGGETS
12. ORLANDO MAGIC
13. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
14. PHOENIX SUNS
15. ATLANTA HAWKS
16. CHICAGO BULLS
17. BOSTON CELTICS
18. PHOENIX SUNS
19. CHICAGO BULLS
20. TORONTO RAPTORS
21. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
22. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
23. UTAH JAZZ
24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
25. HOUSTON ROCKETS
26. MIAMI HEAT
27. PHOENIX SUNS
28. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
29. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
30. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
1.

Round 2.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS
32. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
33. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
34. DALLAS MAVERICKS
35. UTAH JAZZ
36. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
37. TORONTO RAPTORS
38. DETROIT PISTONS
39. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
40. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
41. DENVER NUGGETS
42. HOUSTON ROCKETS
43. ATLANTA HAWKS
44. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
45. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
46. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
47. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
48. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
49. CHICAGO BULLS
50. PHOENIX SUNS
51. DALLAS MAVERICKS
52. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
53. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
54. PHILADELPHIA 76erS
55. MIAMI HEAT
56. DENVER NUGGETS
57. INDIANA PACERS
58. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
59. TORONTO RAPTORS
60. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
31.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: John Zitzler

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

CENTRAL
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

CLEVELAND

2014

33 - 49

1
33

2015

2016

Three first-round picks

(their own but Chicago
has the right to swap
their own pick for this
one if they desire, a
top-ten protected pick
from Miami and a topfive protected pick from
Memphis that is also
protected for picks 1530). Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

1
MOST LIKELY

Andrew
Wiggins

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Cavaliers entered 2013-14 with
playoff aspirations, but even in the
weak Eastern Conference fell short
and finished just 33-49. The team
brought back former head coach
Mike Brown last offseason, signing
him to a five-year, $20 million deal.
However, less than one year later, the
Cavaliers have already fired Brown
and replaced general manager Chris
Grant with David Griffin. The team
was never able to hit their stride even
after acquiring Luol Deng and Spencer
Hawes midseason. Rumors of turmoil
in the locker room and frustration
among players certainly didnt help
either. One teammate anonymously
even went as far as saying that Kyrie
Irving acts like he doesnt care, most
certainly not the attitude desired
from a star player. The Cavaliers
were undoubtedly one of the most
disappointing teams of the season.

[Link]

Joel
Embiid

SELECTION

Jabari
Parker

DA R K HO R S E

CAVALIERS
2014 OFfensive rank: 22

2014 DEfensive rank: 16

Biggest Needs: The Cavaliers roster may look

much different next season, as Deng, Hawes
and C.J. Miles will be free agents this summer
and Anderson Varejao, Alonzo Gee, Matthew
Dellavedova and Scotty Hopson all have nonguaranteed deals for next year. If Hawes and
Varejao arent brought back, the Cavs will
need to target a big man or two to help the
team defensively and on the glass. With Deng
possibly out of the picture as well, the Cavs
may have a big hole to fill at the three spot.
Last years first overall pick Anthony Bennett
seems to be a bit of a tweener, but looks best
suited playing inside rather than out on the
perimeter. If Deng ends up signing elsewhere,
finding a wing player will be a priority for
Cleveland.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

The Cavs decided to part with former
general manager Chris Grant in
February after the poor start and lack
of chemistry among the players.
David Griffin has now officially
taken his place, since the organization
removed his interim tag in May.
Griffin worked alongside Grant during
his tenure as GM from 2010 through
February of this season when Grant
was fired. The Cavs draft record
during that time has been questioned.
Grant and Griffin made Dion Waiters
the fourth overall pick of 2012, and
Waiters at times seems to be more of
a problem than a building block. Most
recently in 2013, the duo selected
Bennett first overall ahead of Victor
Oladipo among others. Now, Griffin
will be the one tasked with turning
things around for a once promising
young team.

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57

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: John Zitzler

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

CENTRAL
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

MILWAUKEE

2014

15 - 67

36. From L.A Lakers via Minnesota

48. From Toronto via Phoenix

2
31
36
48

2015

2016

First-round pick, two

second-round picks
(their own and one
from the L.A. Clippers,
which is protected from
picks 51-60).

First-round pick, twosecond-round picks

(their own and the more
favorable pick between
New Orleans and
Sacramento, protected
from picks 56-60).

2
MOST LIKELY

Jabari
Parker

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The 2013-14 Bucks had a long season,
finishing with a league-worst record
of 15-67. Last offseason, the Bucks
acquired a number of veteran players
in O.J. Mayo, Zaza Pachulia, Carlos
Delfino, Luke Ridnour, Caron Butler
and Gary Neal in an attempt to make
the team a playoff contender. Mayo
underperformed and was inconsistent
all season long, Delfino was sidelined
for the year with a foot injury, Butler
was bought out midseason and Neal
and Ridnour were traded to Charlotte.
Larry Sanders, after signing a $44
million extension that will kick in next
season, sat out most of the year due
to injury. Things did not go nearly as
well as the franchise hoped, but in the
long run it may be for best. The Bucks
are now under the new ownership of
Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens. The
team now has the opportunity to land
a difference maker in the draft who,
along with Giannis Antetokounmpo,
the Bucks can build around going
forward.

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Andrew
Wiggins

SELECTION

Dante
Exum

DA R K HO R S E

BUCKS
2014 OFfensive rank: 28

2014 DEfensive rank: 25

Biggest Needs: The Bucks had a tough year

both offensively and defensively. During the
2013-14 campaign, the team finished 25th
in the league in offensive efficiency and 29th
in defensive efficiency. The Bucks have room
to improve in almost every aspect and should
have a best-player-available philosophy
heading into the draft. On the offensive end,
the Bucks need to add consistent scorers
on the wing and down low. The Bucks have
a number of bigs, but none are consistent
threats to score the basketball. A true lowpost scorer would help take some of the
pressure off of the perimeter players. Brandon
Knight was able to put up some nice offensive
numbers, but he isnt a true point guard so
the team could also use a distributor to keep
the offense organized while creating shots for
others.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

The new owners have a decision to
make on whether to keep current
general manager John Hammond
and assistant general manager David
Morway. As of now, it will be
Hammond and Morway as the lead
decision makers come draft day.
Hammond hit a home run last year
by landing Antetokounmpo with the
15th pick and was also able land
Nate Wolters in the second round.
Hammond has had pretty good
success picking in the early-to-mid
first, drafting Brandon Jennings
(ninth), Sanders (15th), John Henson
(14th) and most recently Giannis
Antetokounmpo. However, his biggest
blunder also came in the early firstround, choosing Joe Alexander with
the eighth pick in 2008. Hammond
and Morway will have a very
important decision to make this year
when the Bucks go on the clock with
the second pick.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Kyle Cape-Lindelin

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

ATLANTIC

2014

3
10
32
39
47
52
54

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

PHILADELPHIA
19 - 63

03. From New Orleans

39 - 54. From Houston, Brooklyn,

Cleveland and Memphis, respectively.

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick to
Orlando protected for
selections 1-14 in 2016
(only if Philadelphia
conveyed a first-round
pick to Miami in 2014),
1-11 in 2017 or 1-8 in
2018; if Philadelphia
has not conveyed a
first-round pick to
Orlando by 2018,
then Philadelphia will
instead convey its 2018
second-round pick and
2019 second-round pick
to Orlando.

3
MOST LIKELY

SELECTION

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The 76ers did not plan to win many
games this past season. In fact, they
created a model on how to effectively
tank. With rookie big man Nerlens
Noel out for the year to fully recover
from his torn ACL, the 76ers gave the
keys to their other first round pick,
point-guard Michael Carter-Williams.
Carter-Williams had great individual
success, which earned him Rookie of
the Year honors after he averaged 16.7
points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and
1.9 steals. However, he and forward
Thaddeus Young, who averaged 17.9
points, six rebounds and 2.1 steals,
were the only bright spots on this
Sixers team. The 76ers ended up
trading away talent like center Spencer
Hawes and forward Evan Turner to
ensure that they finish with as many
lottery ping-pong balls as possible. The
76ers finished with a planned, horrific
record of 19-63, including an NBA
tying-record of 26 straight loses in the
second-half of the season.

[Link]

Likely choice for

Jabari
Parker

Andrew
Wiggins

Dante
Exum

DA R K HO R S E

76ers
2014 OFfensive rank: 19

2014 DEfensive rank: 30

Biggest Needs: Like all of the lottery-bound

teams, the 76ers have multiple holes to fill
and improvements to be made. The 76ers
need to add as much talent as they can
through the draft and see how it all fits down
the road. Shooting guard and small forward
are clearly the biggest holes they can fill
with either of their two first-round picks.
Assuming Noel develops into the fearsome
defensive shot-blocker and paint presence
they hope, the 76ers still lack a real interior
scorer and big man to pair with him. Lastly,
the 76ers have no talent on the bench as it
stands and this is where using some of their
five second-round picks can help add cheap
talent to the second unit. The good news is
the core of Carter-Williams, Young and Noel
are all versatile and the team could go in a
number of directions with their multiple picks
in this years draft.

10

Nik
Stauskas

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

President and general manager
Sam Hinkie will be running this
years draft, as he did last year. He
makes the final call on all picks or
trades for Philadelphia. Hinkie is still
in the beginning of his rebuilding
plan for the 76ers, but with the draft
assets at his disposal and his analytical
background, he is unafraid of making
trades if it fills needs. Hinkie knows
this wont be a quick fix and there will
probably be another lottery-bound
season next year. The key for him will
be to add as much young talent as
possible and see what sticks. Drafting
Carter-Williams was clearly the right
choice in last years draft, as the Rookie
of the Year looks like a future star with
an incredibly high ceiling. However,
the jury is still out on drafting Noel,
as he may still be a long-term project.
It remains to be seen if his excellent
athleticism will be affected by his
season-ending injury.

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59

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jessica Camerato

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

SOUTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

ORLANDO

2014

23 - 59

4
12

2015

2016

First-round pick,
second-round pick.
Owed second-rounder
(top-40 protected) from
Los Angeles Lakers .

First-round pick,
second-round pick.
Owed first-rounder
(lottery-protected
through 2016, top-11
protected in 2017, topeight protected in 2018,
other wise converts to
second-rounders in
2018 and 2019) from
Philadelphia 76ers.

4
MOST LIKELY

Marcus
Smart

ALT ER NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Orlando Magic (23-59) found
themselves in a rebuilding phase for
the second season in a row. As other
teams compete for the here-and-now,
the Magic are piecing together a roster
for the future. Victor Oladipo, the
second overall pick in last years draft,
averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and
4.1 assists in his rookie year. Nikola
Vucevic, 23, averaged a double-double
(14.2 points, 11.0 rebounds) for the
second straight season. Yet on a young
team it was veteran Arron Afflalo who
quietly had his best campaign in seven
years with 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds
and 3.4 assists per game. The Magic
are not rushing into things as they
rebuild their roster, which they will
look to add to in this summers draft.

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Likely choice for

Dante
Exum

Noah
Vonleh

SELECTION

DA R K HO R S E

MAGIC
2014 OFfensive rank: 25

2014 DEfensive rank: 17

Biggest Needs: The Magics biggest need might

just be time. The Magic are building around
young talent, and that does not happen
overnight. As Oladipo and Vucevic continue
to develop, they can assess what kind of
players they need to put around them. There
is no quick fix for the Magic a blockbuster
free agent like Carmelo Anthony isnt going
to sign there to turn things around. With only
one free agent this summer (ETwaun Moore,
restricted), the Magic dont have many holes
to fill on their roster. The team does need to
find their point guard of the future, assuming
Oladipo will eventually move to his natural
shooting guard position. Changing the
direction of this team is a process, one that
doesnt have a quick-fix solution.

12

Jusuf
Nurkic

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

The Magic exercised the option on
general manger Rob Hennigan,
extending him through the 2015-16
season. Hennigan was hired in 2012
shortly before the draft. That year, the
Magic selected Andrew Nicholson (19)
and Kyle OQuinn (49). Nicholson has
averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in
16 minutes primarily off the bench in his
first two years. This season, OQuinns
role increased to the tune of 6.2 points
and 5.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per
game with 19 starts. Last summer, the
Magic made a splash selecting Oladipo
second overall. The guard has some of the
highest potential out of the 2013 class. In
the same draft, the Magic also selected
Romero Osby (51), who spent time in
the NBA Development League this season and will rejoin Orlando for summer
league this year.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Eric Rincus

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

NORTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

UTAH

2014

25 - 57

5
23
35

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

5
MOST LIKELY

Julius
Randle

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Utah Jazz finished the 2013-14
season in last place in the Western
Conference with a 25-57 record.
Gordon Hayward led the team with
16.2 points a night, along with 5.2
assists and 5.1 rebounds. Alec Burks
emerged as a steady contributor, at 14
points and 3.3 assists a night. Derrick
Favors was solid inside, shooting 52.2
percent from the field while averaging
13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
The team found some success playing
small ball with Marvin Williams at
power forward, but consistency was
a serious issue for the Jazz. Utah
averaged just 95 points nightly while
giving up 102.2, the third-worst point
differential (7.2) in the league. Head
coach Tyrone Corbin, at the end of his
contract, was let go and the position
has yet to be filled.

[Link]

Likely choice for

Marcus
Smart

Dario
Saric

SELECTION

DA R K HO R S E

JAZZ
2014 OFfensive rank: 29

2014 DEfensive rank: 18

Biggest Needs: In addition to a head coach,

the Jazz need make a decision on Hayward,
who will be a restricted free agent heading
into July. Both Enes Kanter and Burks are
eligible for extensions. Richard Jefferson
and Williams are key free agents. Depth is a
priority. In addition to retaining Hayward,
the Jazz need at least another forward. If the
Jazz dont bring back Hayward, they need a
high-scoring, starting shooting guard who
can also be a playmaker.

23

P.J.
Hairston

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Kevin OConnor, Utahs executive
vice president of basketball operations,
is still directly involved in mapping
out the teams future. General manager
Dennis Lindsey was brought on in
2012, taking over the day-to-day
responsibilities from OConnor.
Together theyll navigate the draft
and free agency, hoping to lift the
Jazz up from the bottom of the West.
OConnor was part of bringing Deron
Williams to the Jazz in 2005 and
exiting him to the New Jersey Nets
(now Brooklyn) in 2011. Utah also
picked Hayward (ninth) and Burks
(12th) in 2010 and Kanter (third) in
2011. Lindseys influence may stand
out in the coaching search as well as
Utahs 2014 draft.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Tommy Beer

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

ATLANTIC
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

BOSTON

2014

25 - 57

6
17

2015

2016

First-round pick, L.A.

Clippers owe their 2015
first-round pick to
Boston.

First-round pick,
Brooklyn owes its 2016
first-round pick to
Boston. Miami owes its
2016 second round pick
to Boston. Boston owes
2016 second-round pick
to Memphis.

6
MOST LIKELY

Noah
Vonleh

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
After trading away their best player
(Paul Pierce) and their heart and
soul (Kevin Garnett), it was clear the
Celtics were determined to rebuild.
Thus, losing 57 games was neither a
surprise nor a grave disappointment.
The organization, from top to bottom,
was well aware that their 2013-14
campaign would be the first step in
a long, but focused, reconstruction.
Moreover, finishing near the bottom of
the standings tied with the Utah Jazz at
25-57 last season awarded the Celtics
with the fifth-best odds at the top pick
(10.3 percent) and a 33.4 percent chance
at a top-three selection. However, Boston
ended up with the sixth pick in the
lottery. The good news is that they also
own Brooklyns first-round pick, which is
No. 17 overall.

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

Julius
Randle

Likely choice for

SELECTION

Aaron
Gordon

DA R K HO R S E

CELTICS
2014 OFfensive rank: 26

2014 DEfensive rank: 13

Biggest Needs: Due to the current state of the

roster, the Celtics dont necessarily have to
target a specific position, and can truly draft
the best available player. Rajon Rondo is one
of the best all-around guards but his future in
Boston remains cloudy, as he is set to become
an unrestricted free agent in mid 2015. If the
Cs lock him in with an extension prior to the
draft, they obviously dont need a point guard.
The Celtics drafted center Kelly Olynyk
with their first-round pick last year, and were
happy with the production he provided. They
were also impressed by the play of rookie big
man Vitor Faverani, before injuries ended his
season early. Bruising forward Jared Sullinger
(their 2012 first-rounder) stayed healthy in
2013-14, and put up career-highs across the
board. Nonetheless, the Cs have holes along
the front line and at shooting guard, so they
will likely select the highest rated player on
their board when they are on the clock.

17

Gary
Harris

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Danny Ainge, the Celtics president
of basketball operations, has been
calling the shots in Boston for a
decade now. His tenure has been
controversial at times, but also
undeniably successful - reaching its
climax in 2008, when Boston defeated
the Los Angeles Lakers and captured
the NBA championship. Ainge hasnt
been overly successful in terms of the
draft picks hes been responsible for
during his tenure. However, to be fair,
the Celtics have often drafted late in
the first round due to their regular
season success during the Big Three
era. His best draft day maneuver was
trading a 2007 first-rounder for the
21st overall pick in the 2006 draft to
select Rajon Rondo. The upcoming
picks in the 2014 draft represent the
most important moves Ainge has made
since the trades for Kevin Garnett and
Ray Allen.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jabari Davis

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

PACIFIC
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

LOS ANGELES

2014

27 - 55

2015

2016

No picks, currently.
Sent their picks to
Phoenix (first round,
1-5 protected) and
Orlando (second round,
31-40 protected).

7
MOST LIKELY

Noah
Vonleh

Julius
Randle

SELECTION

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
No need to mince words regarding
the 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers,
as they were the worst team in the
franchises illustrious history. No, that
isnt a case of hyperbole being used
simply to make a point. At 27-55,
this group of injured and aging stars
combined with a bevy of journeyman
free agents primarily on one-year deals
endured the toughest season this team
has ever seen. Whether chock full
of smoke-and-mirrors, the excitement about their 10-9 start was all
but erased the moment Kobe Bryants
highly anticipated return from a torn
Achilles was derailed just six games
into his comeback by yet another
season-ending injury (broken lateral
tibial plateau). While players like Jodie
Meeks and Nick Young among others
may have enjoyed productive individual
seasons, the seemingly endless stream
of catastrophic injuries and setbacks
(Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar, Xavier
Henry, etc.) made it all but impossible
to generate any positive momentum as
a team.
[Link]

Aaron
Gordon

DA R K HO R S E

LAKERS
2014 OFfensive rank: 11

2014 DEfensive rank: 29

Biggest Needs: You name it and this team needs

it. It may seem awkward, but theyll have to
prepare for life after Bryant even with him
on the roster for the next few seasons. The
Lakers made a conscious decision to head into
this offseason with as much roster flexibility
and cap space as possible. They want to
maintain that flexibility over the next couple
of summers. Bryant, Nash and Robert Sacre
are the only players currently with guaranteed
contracts for next season. Even if they decide
to retain several of this years players (which is
anticipated), expect this front office to have a
very active July and August.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

As a team that has been generally
accustomed to making selections at
the end of each round, this is fairly
uncharted territory for general
manager Mitch Kupchak and vice
president of basketball operations Jim
Buss. Prior to selecting center Andrew
Bynum with the 10th overall pick
in 2005, the Lakers hadnt enjoyed a
lottery pick since the franchise took
swingman Eddie Jones (10th overall)
way back in 1994 (and havent since,
until this draft). Needless to say, this
is a unique situation for the current
front office. Although this duo was
primarily focused upon pairing Bryant
with a multi-faceted big man in the
past, his uncertain future and the
current lack of a suitable replacement
as a dynamic wing player leaves the
door wide open for the front office
to go in either direction in this years
draft. The last time the Lakers drafted
in the first round was 2009.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jabari Davis

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

PACIFIC
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

SACRAMENTO

2014

28 - 54

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick
traded to Boston unless
pick falls between
31-55.

Second-round pick from

New York, unless a 3137 selection.

8
MOST LIKELY

Aaron
Gordon

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
Things appear to be on the upswing
for the 2013-14 Kings, despite a
duplicate 28-54 record. They embraced
change throughout the organization,
as the Kings welcomed new majority
owner Vivek Ranadive, general
manager Pete DAlessandro and
first-year head coach Mike Malone
into the fold while reworking the
roster. Point guard Greivis Vasquez
(acquired last summer) barely knew life
in Californias capitol, as DAlessandro
wasted no time in shipping him to
the Toronto Raptors in a package that
brought scoring swingman Rudy Gay
to the Kings just 18 games into the
season. Gay was far more efficient in
the 55 games he played with the Kings,
and seemed to be a better fit with this
core than in previous stops. DeMarcus
Cousins responded to his critics with
a career season (22.7 PPG and 11.7
RPG), and Isaiah Thomas absolutely
flourished in Vasquezs absence with a
career-year of his own (20.3 PPG and
6.3 APG).

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Doug
McDermott
SELECTION

Aaron
Gordon

DA R K HO R S E

KINGS
2014 OFfensive rank: 17

2014 DEfensive rank: 24

Biggest Needs: Aside from finding a way to

re-sign potential free agent Gay, who has a
player option, the team will have to decide
between either paying Thomas whatever his
fair market value will be or filling the spot
with a veteran while continuing to build
the position via the draft. Beyond those
positions, the Kings should at least consider
some insurance at power forward even though
the team expects Carl Landry will return
to health after an injury-riddled 2013-14.
Like many young teams, the Kings would
also benefit from a productive veteran or two
off the bench. Rim-protecting big men and
defensive-minded wing players should be on
the agenda.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Pete DAlessandro may have been
a rookie GM, but hes been highly
regarded as an analytics specialist for
years. As a member of Masai Ujiris
front office in Denver from 2010-2012,
DAlessandro helped construct the
team that ultimately resulted in
a franchise-record 57 wins during
his final year with the organization
(2012-13). With a franchise center
already in place, it will be interesting
to see whether the front office places
priority on re-signing a prolific scorer
like Gay over deciding to break his
potential salary into multiple positions
of need. Regardless of which direction
those negotiations turn, look for
DAlessandro to begin filling out the
roster with additional interchangeable
players capable of playing several
positions both effectively and
efficiently over the next few years.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Joel Brigham

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

SOUTHEAST

2014

9
24
45

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

CHARLOTTE
43 - 39

Portland owes Charlotte a f irstround pick protected for selections

1-12 in 2015 or unprotected in 2016.

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick to
San Antonio protected
for selections 31-55.

9
MOST LIKELY

Nik
Stauskas

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
Only twice in the history of the
franchise have the Charlotte Hornets
made the postseason, and 2013-14
was one of them. Unfortunately, their
most recent foray in the playoffs pitted
them against the two-time defending
champion Miami HEAT, so their
extended spring didnt extend too
far. With an ill-timed injury to Al
Jefferson, there really wasnt much
they could have done to remain
competitive in what was already a
pretty hopeless series. However poorly
things may have ended, this past
season represented a significant shift
for Charlotte, who from henceforth
shall be known as the Hornets.
Jefferson played a huge role in the
teams relative success, but Kemba
Walker making a big leap foward went
a long way too. Their strong regular
season finish resulted in them finally
paying back Chicago for the Tyrus
Thomas trade with a mid-first-round
selection, thankfully avoiding the
surrender of a lottery pick for a player
long since released.
[Link]

Aaron
Gordon

SELECTION

Likely choice for

James
Young

DA R K HO R S E

HORNETS
2014 OFfensive rank: 23

2014 DEfensive rank: 4

Biggest Needs: Despite the fact that Charlotte

will not have its own first-round pick in
the 2014 NBA Draft, they will pick ninth,
24th and 45th overall, giving them a couple
of selections with which to further bolster
their roster. While the guard rotation has
been strong for Charlotte thanks to Walker
and Gerald Henderson, they really could use
an athletic wing scorer to help diversify the
backcourt offense. Jefferson is a staple in the
frontcourt, but Cody Zeller, Josh McRoberts
and Bismack Biyombo need some support,
particularly as it pertains to toughness and
rebounding. The Hornets are as deep as
theyve been in years, but they need a little
more star power injected into the lineup and
they may be able to find one at No. 9. With
their pair of first round picks, they have plenty
of options to consider.

24

Jordan
Adams

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Michael Jordan is the owner and
chairman of the Charlotte Hornets,
and ultimately all the draft picks
and personnel decisions have to pass
through him before they get the
green light. President of basketball
operations Rod Higgins plays a big
role in the organizations comings and
goings as well, as hes the guy that
actually gets the majority of the front
offices transactions moving. Jordan
essentially approves them if he likes
them. General manager Rich Cho isnt
as big a decision maker as Higgins or
Jordan, but hes certainly a very active
GM whose opinions are valued in the
process of making draft picks, free
agency signings and trades. Ultimately,
though, its Jordan and Higgins calling
the shots. In recent years, Charlotte
has drafted Zeller, Michael KiddGilchrist, Biyombo and Walker among
others.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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65

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Cody Taylor

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

NORTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

DENVER

2014

36 - 46

56. From Portland.

11
41
56

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round picks
from L.A. Clippers and
Memphis.

First-round pick
(Denver has the right
to swap its pick with
New York).
Second-round pick.

11
MOST LIKELY

Gary
Harris

ALT ER NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Denver Nuggets finished up
the 2013-14 season by missing the
playoffs for the first time since 2003.
The Nuggets finished 36-46 in Brian
Shaws first year as head coach and
were completely decimated by injuries.
Ty Lawson, Wilson Chandler, Nate
Robinson, JaVale McGee and Danilo
Gallinari all missed at least 20 games
for the Nuggets, which contributed
largely to the teams first losing season
in over a decade. While the teams
total points, rebounds and assists were
down from last season, the Nuggets
still had positives come in the form of
better three-point shooting, free throw
percentage and defensive rebounding.
The latter three are areas in which a
playoff team can really benefit, as some
teams have been exposed in those areas
during the playoffs.

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James
Young

SELECTION

K.J.
McDaniels

DA R K HO R S E

NUGGETS
2014 OFfensive rank: 9

2014 DEfensive rank: 28

Biggest Needs: The Nuggets biggest need comes

on the defensive side of the ball, specifically
a wing player to guard the superstars of the
league like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and
Carmelo Anthony among others. That hole
on the roster was once occupied by Andre
Iguodala, but the team has failed to fill that
void since his departure to Golden State last
summer.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager Tim Connelly will
be in charge on draft night, his second
time in the drivers seat. Last season,
Connelly traded the Nuggets No. 27
pick to the Jazz for a second-rounder,
which was used to draft Erick Green.
With 15 players already on the roster,
Green signed with Siena in the Italian
League. With the team expected to
have little to no cap room, the
pressure is on Connelly to make smart
choices. Working in his favor: the 2014
class is loaded with talent, meaning
Connelly could hit a home run in late
June. Their top need should still be
an athletic wing player that has a
presence on the defensive side of the
ball. With JaVale McGee still unproven and the team loaded with guards
(Evan Fournier, Randy Foye, Ty Lawson, Nate Robinson), Connelly should
also be focused on adding depth at the
center position.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jesse Blancarte

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

NORTHWEST

2014

13
40
44
53

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

MINNESOTA
40 - 42

44, 54. From New Orleans and

Golden State, respectively.
Owe f irst-rounder to Phoenix
(top-12 protected through 2016
otherwise the pick converts to
2016 and 2017 second-rounders).

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Owed second-rounder
from Denver.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

13
MOST LIKELY

Adreian
Payne

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Timberwolves finished last season
10th in the Western Conference with
a 40-42 record. It was an odd season
for Minnesota as they posted a +2.7
margin of victory, indicating that they
should have been competing for a
playoff spot. However, they were never
really a threat to be a top-eight team
in the West. This is in part explained
by their 6-13 record in games decided
by four points or less. The Wolves were
at one point 0-11 in these close games
until finally beating the Golden State
Warriors on the road in late January.
Also, the team struggled to defend
against shots at the rim as Kevin Love
and Nikola Pekovic were mediocre
defensively. However, the Wolves did
average 8.8 steals per game, which was
third-best in the league. The bench,
in particular, struggled throughout the
season, especially when Love was not
on the floor (scoring 11 less points per
100 possessions without him).

[Link]

Dario
Saric

SELECTION

Kyle
Anderson

DA R K HO R S E

TIMBERWOLVES
2014 OFfensive rank: 3

2014 DEfensive rank: 26

Biggest Needs: The Timberwolves are, for

the most part, set with Ricky Rubio, Kevin
Martin, Love and Pekovic as starters but
their bench is a different story. The Wolves
reserves were the fifth-worst scoring bench
last season, shooting collectively low
percentages from the field and providing
uneven production overall. Chase Budinger,
J.J. Barea, Alexey Shved, Ronny Turiaf,
Shabazz Muhammad and Luc Richard
Mbah a Moute will all be back next season,
however, each player was at best inconsistent
throughout the season. Expect the Wolves
to add young weapons to their long distance
attack with Pekovic locked into a long-term
contract and Gorgui Dieng proving to be very
productive. Power forward is an area of need
with Love a pending unrestricted free agent
after next season, Turiaf a backup at best and
Dante Cunninghams future uncertain. They
also need to hire a new head coach.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Last year, the Wolves hired former
head coach F lip Saunders as team
president and Milt Newton as
general manager. Saunders and
Newton worked together previously
with the Washington Wizards and
now work together to make player
personnel decisions for the Wolves.
In the 2013 draft, Minnesota selected
Trey Burke (9th) and traded him to
Utah for Shabazz Muhammad (14th)
and Gorgui Dieng (21st). The team
also drafted Lorenzo Brown (52nd)
and Bojan Dubljevic (59th). Brown
was eventually waived and Dubljevic
remains overseas for now. The Wolves
also traded Malcolm Lee and the 26th
pick to the Golden State Warriors for
a 2014 second-round pick and $1.6
million. Dieng came on strong toward
the end of the season, providing
scoring, rebounding and shot blocking.
Muhammad also showed his scoring
touch when he was given minutes,
but still is a question mark moving
forward.
Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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67

DRAFT GUIDE

RD 1

RD 2

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jesse Blancarte

PACIFIC
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

PHOENIX

ON THE
CLOCK

2014

14
18
27
50

First-round pick from Minnesota

protected (1-12 in 2015 or 1-12 in
2016). First-round picks from
Washington (protected for selections
1-12) and Indiana (protected 1-14).

48 - 34

2015

2016

First-round pick, firstround pick from L.A.

Lakers (protected for
selections 1-5 in 2015).

Likely choice for

18
14

other 1st Rounder

MOST LIKELY

T.J.
Warren

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Suns continued to rebuild their
team last year by hiring rookie head
coach Jeff Hornacek and trading veteran players for young assets. Entering
the season, most fans and experts
assumed the Suns would tank in order
to get a top pick for this years draft.
Instead, the Suns went 48-34 and
barely missed the playoffs. Point guard
Goran Dragic had a breakout season
and won the Most Improved Player
award. Eric Bledsoe, acquired from the
Los Angeles Clippers for Jared Dudley
and a second-round pick, proved to be
a rising star. P.J. Tucker, Markieff
Morris, Marcus Morris and Gerald
Green had career-years as well.
Additionally, Miles Plumlee, acquired
from the Indiana Pacers along with
Green, proved to be a solid rotation
player in the frontcourt. Hornacek
managed to get the most out of his
players and has created reason for excitement in Phoenix moving forward.

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Likely choice for

K.J.
McDaniels
SELECTION

Rodney
Hood

DA R K HO R S E

SUNS
2014 OFfensive rank: 7

Adreian
Payne

2014 DEfensive rank: 21

Biggest Needs: Between Dragic, Bledsoe, Green,

the Morris twins, Plumlee and Alex Len,
the Suns have talent and potential at every
position. However, the Suns best two players
are unquestionably Dragic and Bledsoe.
Dragic is signed through next season, with
a player option for 2015-16 and Bledsoe is a
restricted free agent this summer (although it
sounds like hell be retained even if he receives
a max offer from another team). Thus, it
is the front court that could use upgrades.
Armed with the 14th, 18th, 27th and 44th
picks in this years draft, the Suns have a lot
of options. The Suns could try and package
together a deal to move up in the draft and
select a top-10 player like Aaron Gordon to
put alongside Len or the Suns could simply
use their picks and stockpile more talent for
potential trades later on.

27

Kristaps
Porzingis

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Ryan McDonough was hired as
general manager of the Phoenix Suns
last offseason. McDonough has over
10 years of experience in the NBA,
including three seasons as the
assistant general manager to Danny
Ainge with the Boston Celtics. In the
2013 draft, McDonough selected Alex
Len (fifth), Nemanja Nedovic (30th)
and Alex Oriakhi (57th). Len was
limited throughout his rookie season
with ankle and knee injuries, but the
team is confident that he is a longterm solution at center. Before that, in
2012, the Suns drafted Kendall
Marshall (13th), though he was traded
to Washington shortly after. In 2011,
the Suns chose Markieff Morris (13th),
who has been solid, especially since the
acquisition of his twin brother
Marcus. The Suns have made solid
draft choices in the past few drafts,
but their best roster moves have
come through trades. This will be
McDonoughs second draft in Phoenix,
but hes known for abilities as a talent
evaluator.
[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jessica Camerato

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

SOUTHEAST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

ATLANTA

2014

38 - 44

15
43

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Has right to swap its
first-round pick for
Brooklyns.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Owns a Brooklyn
second rounder as well.

15
MOST LIKELY

Kyle
Anderson

T.J.
Warren

SELECTION

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Hawks were one of the NBAs
biggest surprises this past season. In
spite of losing their centerpiece Al
Horford, the team managed to lock in
the eighth seed in the Eastern
Conference with a 38-44 regular
season record under first-year head
coach Mike Budenholzer. And they
were only just getting started. The
Hawks nearly upset the top-seeded
Indiana Pacers in a seven-game first
round series. Paul Millsap and Jeff
Teague averaged nearly 20 points
apiece and proved they could step up
under pressure. They may not have
moved on to the conference semifinals,
but the Hawks played beyond their
ranking and established themselves as
serious competition by taking Indiana
to seven games.

[Link]

Rodney
Hood

DA R K HO R S E

HAWKS
2014 OFfensive rank: 15

2014 DEfensive rank: 15

Biggest Needs: The Hawks biggest need is

already on their roster. Horford underwent
season-ending surgery for a torn right
pectoral muscle in late December. Prior to
the injury, he was averaging 18.6 points,
8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 33 minutes
per game. Once he returns next season, the
Hawks will have their dominating big man
back in the mix to create a daunting trio with
Millsap and Teague. The team doesnt have
to scramble to fill holes in free agency either.
With their core group returning, they can
look to pick up where they left off this season.
With that said, the team could use some
young talent on the wing.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Former NBA player Danny Ferr y
was hired as the Hawks president
of basketball operations and general
manager in 2012. Since that time, the
Hawks have had a handful of mid-tolate first rounders and second-round
picks. Days after his hiring, the Hawks
selected John Jenkins (23rd) and Mike
Scott (43rd) in the 2012 draft. The
following season, they picked Dennis
Schroeder (17th), Shane Larkin (18th),
Raul Neto (47th) and James Ennis
(50th). They traded Larkin to the
Mavericks for Jared Cunningham,
Lucas Nogueira and Mike Muscala.
This postseason, Scott had a breakout
Game 5 against the Pacers in which
he shot 5-for-6 from long range (while
also averaging 9.6 points in the series).
Rookie Schroeder was highly touted
coming to the NBA from Germany
and his progress will be intriguing to
watch.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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69

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Joel Brigham

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

CENTRAL
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

CHICAGO

2014

48 - 34

16
19
49

2015

2016

First-round pick (with

option to trade picks
with Cleveland).
Two second-round picks
(their own and one from
Cleveland through
Portland).

First-round pick.
Two-second round picks
(their own and one from
Cleveland through
Portland).

16
MOST LIKELY

Tyler
Ennis

ALT ER NAT E

2013-14 Recap
To say that the Bulls overachieved this
past season would be like saying water
is kind of wet. When Derrick Rose
went down early in the year with
yet another major knee injury and
Luol Deng was subsequently traded
to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a costcutting move, many expected Chicago
to be crossing their fingers for pingpong balls but that ultimately was not
the case. Free agent point guard D.J.
Augustin surprisingly turned in the
best season of his career, while Joakim
Noah led a defense that refused to
roll over and die. Tom Thibodeau and
his We-Have-More-Than-EnoughTo-Win philosophy of undermanned
basketball not only kept Chicago
afloat through what should have been
crippling roster changes, but he helped
them nail down homecourt advantage
in the first round of the playoffs -- but
once there, they suffered an opening
series loss to the Washington Wizards.
Despite the early exit, the Bulls can
hold their heads high.

70

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

Likely choice for

Rodney
Hood

Gary
Harris

SELECTION

DA R K HO R S E

BULLS
2014 OFfensive rank: 30

2014 DEfensive rank: 1

Biggest Needs: More than anything else, Chicago

needs someone that can help them score the
ball. They were last in the league in points
per game with only 93.7 per contest, and
that wouldve been markedly worse had
they not tripped and fallen into Augustins
production. They were also last in team field
goal percentage and 26th in three-pointers
made, showing how badly they need a wing
scorer that can help get Chicago closer to 100
points per night. Getting Rose back should,
in theory, help, but possibly losing Carlos
Boozer to amnesty will not. In both the draft
and free agency, expect offense to be a point of
emphasis for the Bulls front office.

19

Tyler
Ennis

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager Gar Forman and
president of basketball operations
John Paxson work in tandem when
deciding on roster moves, and the pair
is notoriously conservative both in
terms of the kind of players they bring
aboard and in the amount of money
that they take on. With the exception
of Marquis Teague, they have had
tremendous success picking in the
mid-to-late portion of the first round
the last several drafts, snagging talents
like Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and
Tony Snell all outside of the lottery.
Bulls fans should trust them to do
reasonably well with their two picks
this year (16th and 19th), as their track
record in the draft has proven to be
very strong.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Joel Brigham

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

ATLANTIC
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

TORONTO

2014

48 - 34

20
37
59

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick. New

York will convey the less
favorable of its 2016
first-round pick and
Denvers 2016 firstround pick to Toronto
(via Denvers right to
swap for New York).
Torontos 2016 secondround pick to Memphis.

20
MOST LIKELY

Zach
LaVine

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
On paper, the Raptors didnt really
come into this past season looking like
a team that would win the Atlantic
Division and finish as the third-best
team in the Eastern Conference. But
despite the lowered expectations, they
came out smelling like roses thanks
to career-years from point guard Kyle
Lowry and shooting guard DeMar
DeRozan. Jonas Valanciunas took
a big step toward stardom as well,
averaging 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds
per game in only his second full NBA
campaign. Before the season, head
coach Dwane Casey was on the hot
seat, but he put together a quietly
masterful season for an overachieving
team that was impossible not to love
and received a new three-year deal
for his efforts. Lowry will be an
unrestricted free agent this offseason,
but as long as he re-ups, its easy to see
this success continuing next season.

[Link]

Elfrid
Payton

SELECTION

Shabazz
Napier

DA R K HO R S E

RAPTORS
2014 OFfensive rank: 13

2014 DEfensive rank: 7

Biggest Needs: While Valanciunas is clearly a

franchise cornerstone at this point, the rest
of the frontcourt is not quite as impressive,
so adding a little depth at power forward
and center in the draft and free agency is
something the Raptors will inevitably do.
The guard rotation is sturdier with Lowry,
DeRozan and Terrence Ross holding things
down, but uncertainty about Lowrys return
may convince Toronto to look at point guards
in the latter third of this Junes first round.
Depth at shooting guard and small forward
wouldnt hurt either, as things thin out a bit
outside of the starting lineup. The Raptors
are pretty well-balanced, but more star power
at any position is never a bad thing, though
that might be hard (but not impossible) to
find with the 20th overall pick this June.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Undeniably one of the leagues savviest
executives, Raptors team president
and general manager Masai Ujiri
has seemingly done no wrong since
taking over for Bryan Colangelo just
a year ago. He somehow finagled a
first-round pick and two second-round
picks (among other things) in a trade
with the New York Knicks for Andrea
Bargnani, and later unloaded the
massive contract of Rudy Gay to the
Sacramento Kings when many thought
he was borderline untradeable. Ujiri
is someone with a firm finger on the
pulse of both his team and the rest
of the league, and that has typically
led to very smart basketball decisions.
Torontos draft picks (the 20th and
37th overall selections) are in good
hands with him.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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71

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Lang Greene

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

NORTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

OKLAHOMA CITY

2014

59 - 23

21. From Dallas.

21
29

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

21
MOST LIKELY

Zach
LaVine

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
Led by league MVP Kevin Durant
and All-Star point guard Russell
Westbrook, making the playoffs have
become a certainty for the Oklahoma
City Thunder in recent years. The
Thunder undoubtedly rank as one of
the leagues elite franchises, but after
reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 you
could also argue the club has been a bit
stagnant, failing to take the next step.
As more seasons go by without the
duo of Durant and Westbrook hoisting
a Larry OBrien trophy, the whispers
doubting their long-term viability
together will become even louder.
There is plenty of talent stockpiled in
Oklahoma City, however, their younger
assets must take more than baby steps
in their personal development in the
near future. Any talks of a dynasty
forming in Oklahoma City wont be
possible without help from the
unheralded reserve players.

72

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

T.J.
Warren

SELECTION

Likely choice for

Jordan
Adams

DA R K HO R S E

THUNDER
2014 OFfensive rank: 5

2014 DEfensive rank: 12

Biggest Needs: Oklahoma City is strongly

positioned toward the end of the first round of
the 2014 NBA Draft with the 21st pick (from
Dallas) and 29th pick. The Thunder could
potentially package these picks as part of a
larger deal or elect to draft a player and stash
them overseas for a few seasons. The Thunder
are absolutely loaded with perimeter guys
who can stretch the floor with their shooting,
which in turn opens the penetration lanes for
Durant and Westbrook. But Oklahoma City
lacks a true offensive presence in the lowpost who can generate easy buckets without
assistance. The game is changing and true
back-to-the-basket guys are a premium luxury
to have, but one the Thunder sorely needs in
their rotation. Oklahoma City is deep and
their rotational minutes are pretty locked, but
finding a late-round gem would do wonders
for the team especially if it satisfies the lowpost scoring need.

29

Jarnell
Stokes

other 1st Rounder

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Executive vice president and general
manager Sam Presti calls the shots
for Oklahoma City and his strong
track record of drafting top tier talent is the reason why the Thunder
are currently in the upper echelon of
the league standings. From 20072009, Presti was able to land Durant,
Westbrook, forward Serge Ibaka and
All-Star guard James Harden (now
with Houston) in the draft, which is
arguably one of the best draft runs in
league history. Most of Prestis draft
magic came at the top half of the first
round while the Thunder were rebuilding. It will be interesting to see if the
veteran executive can pull off the same
type of success in the latter stages of
the first round.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Kyle Cape-Lindelin

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

SOUTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

MEMPHIS

2014

50 - 32

22

2015

2016

Owes first-round pick to

Cleveland (protected for
selections 1-5 and 15-30
in 2015 and 2016, 1-5 in
2017 and 2018, or
unprotected in 2019).
Owes second-round pick
to Denver or Memphis
but can send cash instead.

First-round pick.
Receives second-round
picks from Toronto and
Boston.

22
MOST LIKELY

P.J.
Hairston

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Grizzlies managed to grind their
way through the stacked Southwest
Division to earn a respectable 50-32
record and their fourth consecutive
playoff appearance. Despite losing
center Marc Gasol for 23 games due
to injury, point guard Mike Conley
continued his excellent play averaging 17.2 points, six assists and 1. 51
steals to help keep the Grizzlies above
water. Conley was helped by the always
reliable Zach Randolph, who averaged
17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds. The
Grizzlies overcame the transition to
new head coach Dave Joerger, injuries
and offensive shortcomings to take the
No. 2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder to
seven games by getting healthy and hot
at the right time.

[Link]

Zach
LaVine

SELECTION

Jerami
Grant

DA R K HO R S E

GRIZZLIES
2014 OFfensive rank: 27

2014 DEfensive rank: 3

Biggest Needs: The Grizzlies major shortcoming is on the offensive end where they
routinely have to depend on Randolph and
Gasols interior scoring, thus they need more
three-point shooters to keep the defense from
crowding the middle. With the Grizzlies
selection coming in the middle of the first
round (22nd), theyll need to identify either
a shooting guard or small forward who can
meet one or both these needs (off the bench)
as Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince continue
to age. While Conley continues to improve,
the Grizzlies also need to secure a solid offthe-bench combo guard who can provide
energy and scoring when Conley rests. Nick
Calathes, Quincy Pondexter and Jamaal
Franklin should all be able to offer help but
addressing the teams offensive deficiencies
and adding depth should be the front offices
main goal in this upcoming draft.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

It remains to be seen who will be
making the final decision for the
Grizzlies on draft day. The team
parted ways with CEO Jason Levien
and assistant general manager Stu
Lash, who had been calling the shots
since last year. The team has named
Chris Wallace the teams interim GM,
but he hasnt been involved in the
decision-making in quite awhile and
has even admitted that he hasnt been
to the Grizzlies facility in over a year.
It seems that owner Robert Pera will
be involved moving forward, and he
was even present when the front office
interviewed prospects at the combine
in Chicago. Last year, Memphis had
just one pick, selecting Franklin in the
second round. Franklin never secured a
role on the veteran team, but theres a
lot to like about his game and attitude.
The Grizzlies front office is
experiencing a lot of changes right
now, but once they decide who will
be running the show, theyll have the
chance to add a contributor at No. 22.
Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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73

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Bill Ingram

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

SOUTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

HOUSTON

2014

54 - 28

25
42

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Second-round picks
from L.A. Clippers,
Minnesota and New
York.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

25
MOST LIKELY

Cleanthony
Early
ALT ER NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Rockets made major strides in
2013-14, starting with the free agent
signing of Dwight Howard. With
Howard adding a dynamic defensive
presence, the Rockets piled up 54 wins
and finished with the fourth-best
record in the Western Conference.
James Harden had a Most Valuable
Player type of season on the offensive
end, averaging 25.4 PPG to go with
a career-high 6.1 APG. Hardens
defensive deficiencies have been
well-documented, but the presence
of Howard helped and the strong
defensive play of backcourt mate
Patrick Beverley did as well. Chandler
Parsons took another big step forward,
as did Terrence Jones, while role
players like Beverley, Omer Asik and
Jeremy Lin all proved to be valuable
when injuries struck. Houstons season
came to a disappointing end after
being upset by Portland in the first
round. The Rockets are a deep,
talented team and just one tweak
away from joining the contenders.

74

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

Jerami
Grant

SELECTION

DeAndre
Daniels

DA R K HO R S E

rockets
2014 OFfensive rank: 2

2014 DEfensive rank: 23

Biggest Needs: The first order of business for

the Rockets this summer is taking care of
Parsons contract. They can either make him
a restricted free agent by declining his team
option, or pick up his option which would
allow him to become an unrestricted free
agent after next season. They have to make
all other moves with his next long-term deal
in mind. If they over-commit to players this
summer, they may jeopardize their ability
to keep Parsons, who is clearly their thirdbest player and essential to their title hopes.
The Rockets will also have to address their
second unit issues over the summer. It was
smart to keep Asik both as injury insurance
for Howard and as a defensive presence when
Houston faces All-Star power forwards like
LaMarcus Aldridge. Of course, he is also
the teams only real trade asset and could
help them solidify other positions (back-up
small forward or another active body for the
frontline).

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Touted as a front office wizard when
he took the reins of the team, Rockets
general manager Daryl Morey has
taken his lumps while trying to use
the money ball approach to building a
basketball team. Over the last two
seasons, however, Morey changed
approaches, accepting that you have
to have two superstars to win in the
NBA, and in landing James Harden
and Dwight Howard he has put the
team in a great position to contend.
Together with his considerable ability
to find talent in unusual places, that
has been the key to Houstons revival.
The roster may need a tweak here
and a tweak there, but it takes great
coaching to win a playoff series in the
brutal Western Conference. That may
turn out to be Houstons biggest need,
although the Rockets will reportedly
bring back Kevin McHale next season.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jessica Camerato

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

SOUTHEAST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

miami

2014

54 - 28

26
55

2015

2016

Owes first-round pick

to Cleveland (1-10
protected in 2015 or
1-10 in 2016 or
unprotected in 2017).
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.

26
MOST LIKELY

Shabazz
Napier

Clint
Capela

SELECTION

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The HEAT are out to defend their title and capture their third consecutive
NBA championship. At 54-28, they
finished second in the Eastern Conference and 12 wins less than the previous season, yet showed little sign of
slowing down in the playoffs. LeBron
James is still the most dominant player in the NBA with 27.1 points, 6.9
rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals in
37.7 minutes per game. Even though
Dwyane Wades availability was cut
back this season, their deep roster continues to blow by their opponents. As
long as this group stays healthy, they
remain the team to beat in the NBA.

[Link]

Cleanthony
Early

DA R K HO R S E

Heat
2014 OFfensive rank: 12

2014 DEfensive rank: 5

Biggest Needs: The fountain of youth. The

HEAT are powered by veterans with high
mileage on their odometers. James is the
youngest leader at 29, followed by Bosh (30)
and Wade (32). Playoff hero Ray Allen turns
39 this offseason. There is also the question of
who will be back next season. James, Bosh and
Wade have early termination options, Chris
Andersen and Udonis Haslem hold player
options, while Allen, Shane Battier, Michael
Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Toney Douglas,
James Jones, Rashard Lewis and Greg Oden
are unrestricted free agents. Its hard to
imagine many wanting to leave Miami as long
as the team continues to win. There arent
many minutes to go around for incoming
draft selections.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Managing general partner Micky
Arison and president Pat Riley are
at the forefront in Miami. Best known
for their star-studded offseason free
agency moves, they have also acquired
young players through the draft who
have went on to thrive in the
organization. In 2008, the HEAT
landed Chalmers (34th pick) from
the Minnesota Timberwolves for
cash and a pair of future second
round picks. Three years later, they
acquired Norris Cole after the Chicago
Bulls selected him with the 28th pick
(via the Timberwolves). The HEAT
have not had to rely on the draft to
stock their roster, but every so often
a pick comes along that makes an
impact. This year, Miami will have the
26th overall pick in the first round.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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75

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Eric Pincus

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

NORTHWEST
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

Los ANGELES

2014

57 - 25

28

2015

2016

No picks. First-rounder
traded to Boston.
Second-rounders traded
to Houston (31-50 and
56-60 protected), Denver
(31-55 protected), and
Milwaukee (51-60
protected), respectively.

28
MOST LIKELY

Mitch
McGary

ALT ER NAT E

2013-14 Recap
The Los Angeles Clippers finished
the 2013-14 season in third place in
the Western Conference with a 57-25
record. Offensively, the Clippers led
the NBA with 107.9 points a game.
Coach Doc Rivers helped the team
grow defensively, led by center
DeAndre Jordans career-year. The
team survived a shoulder injury to
Chris Paul, giving Blake Griffin the
opportunity to carry the team on his
back successfully. What was arguably
the best season in Clippers history
became something else when recorded
racist comments from owner Donald
Sterling led to a lifetime ban from
NBA commissioner Adam [Link]
Clippers survived the controversy
while fending off the Golden State
Warriors but couldnt defeat Oklahoma
City in the next round, losing 4-2.
Since, former Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer submitted a $2 billion bid for
ownership rights. However, this
process could drag out when,
presumably, Sterling contests the sale.

76

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

Clint
Capela

SELECTION

Cleanthony
Early

DA R K HO R S E

CLIPPERS
2014 OFfensive rank: 1

2014 DEfensive rank: 14

Biggest Needs: The Clippers are rock solid with

J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes,
Griffin, Paul and Jordan. Reserves Darren
Collison, Glen Davis and Danny Granger
can (and likely will) opt out of their contracts.
The Clippers need a steady, reliable reserve
inside behind Griffin and Jordan. Collison
has proven to be invaluable this season, but
will he find a bigger contract somewhere
else? Jared Dudley struggled to live up to his
contract after the Clippers acquired him from
the Phoenix Suns over the summer. Rookie
Reggie Bullock showed flashes, but the team
could use another small forward.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

This may be a more complex question
with the Clippers than any other
franchise. Collectively, the Clippers
have made a number of smart
basketball decisions, after lucking
into Griffin in the 2009 NBA Draft
and landing Paul after his trade to
the Los Angeles Lakers was scuttled
by former commissioner David Stern.
Executive vice president Andy Roeser
negotiated contracts and managed the
Clippers cap for decades, but he has
taken a leave of absence. Head coach
Doc Rivers is also the teams senior
vice president of basketball operations
while Gary Sacks is the vice president
of basketball operations. The NBA has
also appointed a CEO in Rick Parsons
to supervise the team, as the prospect
of stripping the team from Sterling
develops. Who will make the pick in
June? Thats not entirely clear.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Lang Greene

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 1

RD 2

SOUTHWEST

2014

30
58
60

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

SAN ANTONIO
62 - 20

58. From L.A. Clippers

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Second-round pick from
Charlotte

30
MOST LIKELY

DeAndre
Daniels

ALT E R NAT E

2013-14 Recap
Stop us if youve heard this before.
Another 60-plus win regular season
in the books. Another year at the
top of the league standings. The San
Antonio Spurs have been a model of
consistency and prime examples of the
importance of having an established
program (reinforced by its core group)
in place. Many openly wondered how
the Spurs would respond in 2014 after
being just 30 seconds away from a title
before losing their Finals series versus
the Miami HEAT the previous season.
Without missing a beat, San Antonio
successfully silenced any skeptics with
their league-best record this season
but the question remains: Will 2015
be the year the Spurs take a step back?
Future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan has
seemingly been granted an extension
by Father Time, guard Tony Parker is
still holding his own versus younger
and quicker guards and former AllStar Manu Ginobili has lost a step but
remains effective. Dont be surprised to
read a similar Spurs recap in 2015.
[Link]

Cleanthony
Early
SELECTION

Walter
Tavares

DA R K HO R S E

SPURS
2014 OFfensive rank: 6

2014 DEfensive rank: 6

Biggest Needs: The Spurs have an aging core

group in Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, so
San Antonio will be looking to find ways to
protect their stars from extended wear and
tear. One way to protect fading stars from the
effects of Father Time is to add a strong mix
of talented young assets into the fold, who are
capable of eating up minutes in the nightly
rotation. The Spurs own the 30th pick,
which closes out round one. San Antonio
also possesses two picks in the second round
at No. 58 (from the Clippers) and No. 60
respectively. While the 2014 draft class is
loaded with talent, the Spurs front office will
have to dig in order to find a gem ready to
produce right away. Expect the Spurs to target
more athleticism on the perimeter or a heady
backup point guard to ease Parkers workload
next season.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager R.C. Buford
heads the decision making unit in San
Antonio. The Spurs have won three
titles under his leadership and havent
missed the playoffs. Buford is known
for drafting productive role playing
gems in the latter stages of the first
round, which is an essential skill set for
teams perennially in the playoff mix.
Buford is also known as a draft-day
dealer, with a number of draft trades
on his track record. The Spurs also
have a reputation for finding and
selecting international talent. Buford
seems content on keeping his core
group together, at the very least, until
their respective contracts expire. So the
Spurs 2014 draft strategy will likely be
about trying to identify a talent ready
to produce right away or exploring
trade options to bring in a guy ready to
contribute now.

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

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77

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Bill Ingram

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 2

34. From Boston.

34
51

The Mavericks have had a hard time

of it in free agency over the last two
summers. They allowed the bulk of
their 2011 NBA championship team
to walk away in favor of targeting big
names like Deron Williams, Dwight
Howard and Chris Paul. Instead, they
have had to settle for secondary targets
in Jose Calderon, Monta Ellis and
Samuel Dalembert, and have struggled
to regain championship form. Though
on the down side of his career, Dirk
Nowitzki was as brilliant as ever down
the stretch as he helped the Mavs grab
the eighth seed, after missing the
playoffs last season. The other major
factor for Dallas unlikely return to the
playoffs was the brilliant coaching
of Rick Carlisle and his staff who got
the most out of Dalembert and Devin
Harris, as well as role players Brandan
Wright and DeJuan Blair (while
squeezing everything out of Shawn
Marion and Vince Carter). Yet
Carlisles biggest accomplishment may
have been the extraction of Ellis.
@ b balli nsi d e rs

Join the 2014 Draft conversation

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

DALLAS

2014

2013-14 Recap

78

SOUTHWEST
49 - 33

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Second-round pick from
Memphis.

MAVERICKS
2014 OFfensive rank: 8

2014 DEfensive rank: 20

Biggest Needs: The Mavericks have even more

unanswered questions this summer than they
have had over the last two, which is saying
something. Nowitzki will become a free agent,
and while its a foregone conclusion that he
will sign what is likely to be his final NBA
contract in Dallas, its not easy to see how the
team can help him contend. Marion is also
set to expire this summer, and while there
is no chance he would get anywhere close
to the $9.3 million he got this season, he is
an intriguing option at a more reasonable
number. Rounding out the open positions,
Dalembert (non-guaranteed), Carter and
Harris are all on ending deals, and the
departure of Carter, in particular, would prove
problematic for Dallas. This summers free
agency class is short on game-changing talent,
and thats what the Mavs need if theyre going
to give Nowitzki another title shot before he
retires.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Donnie Nelson continues to carry the
title of president of basketball
operations but the truth is that team
owner Mark Cuban has the final say
when it comes to the make-up of the
team. Nelson and Carlisle have input,
but the Mavericks are who Cuban
decides they are going to be. There
are advantages and disadvantages to
having a high-profile owner calling
the shots. Cubans passion has been
a draw for some free agents over the
years, but it has also soured some from
time to time. Despite his obvious love
of the game, Cuban has been unable to
draw key free agents in order to keep
the Mavericks relevant. Additionally,
it would be hard to let Nowitzki walk
away, and, indeed, his loyalty would
make it hard for him to leave. Still,
it has to be noted that the Mavericks
have little chance of getting back to
the Finals before Nowitzki retires, so
it might be that the best way to honor
his contributions to the team is to help
him compete for a championship
elsewhere. But dont hold your breath.
[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: John Zitzler

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 2

CENTRAL
[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

DETROIT

2014

29 - 53

38

2013-14 Recap
The Pistons made big moves this
past offseason in an attempt to shake
things up and become a contender in
the Eastern Conference. The team
acquired Brandon Jennings via a
sign-and-trade from the Milwaukee
Bucks, sending out Khris Middleton
and Brandon Knight, and also signed
Josh Smith in free agency to a fouryear, $54 million deal. Despite those
acquisitions, the Pistons struggled
all year long, finishing outside of the
playoff picture with a record of 29-53.
The Pistons struggled to jell as a unit
with their new additions and were
never really able to find an identity.
First-year head coach Maurice Cheeks
lasted only 50 games before being fired
after the teams disappointing start.
The team finished the season with
John Loyer as interim head coach.

[Link]

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

PISTONS
2014 OFfensive rank: 14

2014 DEfensive rank: 27

Biggest Needs: The Pistons were one of the

worst shooting teams in the league, finishing
only ahead of the Philadelphia Sixers in team
true shooting percentage. The team needs to
find more efficient scorers from outside to
help space the floor, which would allow more
room for their bigs to operate and open up
the lane for penetration. The Pistons could
also use some depth in their backcourt; the
only guards guaranteed to be back next year
are Jennings, Will Bynum and Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope. Greg Monroe will be a
restricted free agent this offseason the Pistons
must decide if he is a good fit alongside Andre
Drummond and Smith.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Former president of basketball
operations Joe Dumars stepped down
from his role on April 14th. While he
will continue to work with the Pistons
as an advisor to the ownership team,
Detroit will hand the keys over to
Stan Van Gundy -- the teams
new head coach and president of
basketball operations. George David
will continue in his role as assistant
general manager and Ken Catanella
will return to his post as director of
basketball operation.s David, who
has been with the organization for
15 seasons, has played an integral
role in draft preparation over the
last decade, including hits (Tayshaun
Prince, Rodney Stuckey, Monroe and
Drummond) and misses (Austin Daye
in 2009 and Darko Milicic in 2003).

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79

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Joel Brigham

ON THE
CLOCK
RD 2

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

WASHINGTON

2014

44 - 38

First-round pick owed to Phoenix

(protected for selections 1-12 in
2014, 1-10 in 2015, 1-10 in 2016,
1-10 in 2017, 1-10 in 2018, 1-10
in 2019 or unprotected in 2020).

46

2013-14 Recap
This was the year in which the
Wizards backcourt, consisting of John
Wall and Bradley Beal, absolutely
needed to break out if Washington
was going to make the postseason for
the first time since 2008. Luckily for
them, both had career-years, as Wall
and Beal combined for over 36 points
per game in the regular season, while
players like Nene, Marcin Gortat and
Trevor Ariza also submitted some of
the best all-around seasons of their
careers. Their first-round pairing in
the 2014 playoffs put the sixth-seeded
Wizards against the third-seeded
Chicago Bulls, but it was a matchup
that proved fortuitous for them, as the
undermanned and overworked Bulls
were not able to keep their Cinderella
story rolling through the postseason.
As a result, Washington got its first
playoff series win in a decade.

80

SOUTHEAST

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Join the 2014 Draft conversation

2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.
Owed second-rounder
from New Orleans.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

WIZARDS
2014 OFfensive rank: 16

2014 DEfensive rank: 9

Biggest Needs: How Washington approaches

free agency and the draft will depend mightily
on how they handle their own free agents,
which most notably include Ariza and Gortat.
Keeping both means the starting lineup will
still be in good shape next year, but losing
one or both creates pretty massive holes in
the frontcourt. Andre Miller also has a nonguaranteed contract next year, so backup
point guard could prove a pretty major need
for them, as well. Generally speaking, the
team needs more depth, so with their lone
draft pick this year (46th overall), they should
have no problem at all taking a best available
approach to the selection process.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Washingtons team president is
Ernie Grunfeld, a man who has seen
more than his fair share of successes
in NBA front offices. Hes been
with the Wizards for 10 years, and
during that time hes been brilliant
(signing Gilbert Arenas away from
Golden State in 2003, for example)
and considerably less brilliant
(signing Gilbert Arenas to a sixyear, $111 million extension in 2008,
for example). As far as the draft is
concerned, hes been hit-or-miss in
recent years, obviously landing major
scores in Wall and Beal, but failing to
connect with other high lottery picks
like Otto Porter (2013) and Jan Vesely
(2010). He doesnt have a first-round
pick this year since it was shipped
off to Phoenix in the Gortat deal,
so Wizards fans wont have to worry
about which version of Grunfeld will
be making the next Washington lottery
selection. A mid-second rounder
demands considerably less pressure for
success.
[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Joel Brigham

CENTRAL

RD 2

2014

57

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

INDIANA

ON THE
CLOCK

56 - 26

Owed f irst-round pick (lottery

protected) to Phoenix.

2013-14 Recap
The NBA has never really witnessed
a collapse like the one the Pacers
underwent this season after one of the
hottest starts in franchise history.
At the All-Star break, Indiana looked
like an odds-on favorite to represent
the Eastern Conference in the NBA
Finals, but they finished the season
about as poorly as they could have
done, losing 11 of their last 19 games
and showing poorly against the eighthseeded Atlanta Hawks in the first
round of the playoffs. After a monster
start to the season, with stars blooming
into superstars and every possible
gear clicking in perfect harmony,
the expectations for this season were
ridiculously high, but the Pacers
sucked themselves into some sort of
black hole about two-thirds of the
way into the season and struggled to
recover from that point on.

[Link]

2015

2016

First-round pick, two

second-round picks
(their own and one from
Golden State).

First-round pick.
Second-round pick.

PACERS
2014 OFfensive rank: 24

2014 DEfensive rank: 2

Biggest Needs: The Pacers do not possess a

first-round pick in this years draft and have
only one second-round pick situated at
the tail-end of the night (57th overall), so
whatever needs they may have arent likely
getting solved in June, barring some sort of
trade. That said, the Pacers are in dire need
of a more traditional point guard that can run
a more cohesive offense, though the reality
is that George Hill has a few years left on his
contract and will get a ton of minutes at point
regardless of who they might draft or sign
to help back him up. Scoring is an issue, too
(they were 22nd in the league last year), so
finding some more offensively gifted players
wouldnt hurt either. The biggest need for
Indiana, though, is some time off to figure
things out. The reality is that most of this
young core will be back next year, and theyll
just have to pick up the pieces and try to
recapture what worked so well for them at the
start of this season.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

President of basketball operations
Larry Bird is the be-all, end-all of
decision-making for the Pacers, and
he was the man most responsible for
putting together the current group of
players despite having only late-lottery
and mid-first-round picks to work
with. Paul George and Roy Hibbert
were both taken after the ninth pick
of the lottery, Lance Stephenson was
a deep second-rounder and George
Hill was acquired for Kawhi Leonard,
a player that was taken with the 15th
overall selection. Bird has drafted
brilliantly when hes had the picks
to work with, but he will not have
any first-round selections in this
years draft. General manager Kevin
Pritchard, who has been with the team
since 2011, is also a respected executive
that works in what essentially amounts
to an advisory role alongside Bird.

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81

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Tommy Beer

NOT ON
THE CLOCK

In the build up to the 2013-14 regular

season, the Nets were viewed by many
as legit contenders for the Miami
HEATs crown. However, the Nets
looked like anything but championship
contenders over the first two months
of this season. On New Years Eve,
the Nets were demolished by the
Spurs in San Antonio, dropping
Brooklyns record to 10-21. Jason Kidd
had already (unceremoniously) fired
Lawrence Frank, and their best big
man, center Brook Lopez, was out the
remainder of the season with a broken
foot. It appeared there would be no
way to avoid a nightmare season. Yet,
the Nets flipped the flip the switch in
the New Year. They posted the best
record in the Eastern Conference
from January 1 through the end of
the season. They eventually entered
the postseason as the sixth seed and
knocked off the gritty Toronto Raptors
in the first round. Brooklyn was
eliminated by the Miami HEAT in
five games in the second round.
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BROOKLYN
44 - 38

NO 2014 PICKS

2013-14 Recap

82

ATLANTIC
2015

2016

Atlanta has the right to

swap its first-round pick
for Brooklyn.
Owes a second-round
pick to Atlanta.

Owes first-round
pick to Boston. Owns
second-round pick.

NETS
2014 OFfensive rank: 21

2014 DEfensive rank: 11

Biggest Needs: When factoring in luxury tax

payments, the Nets have the highest payroll
in the history of the NBA. As a result, they
have plenty of depth at nearly every position.
However, Brooklyn willingly mortgaged their
future last summer when they traded away
three future first-round draft picks (2014,
2016 and 2018) to the Boston Celtics in
exchange for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Thus, because they are so heavily reliant on
older veterans, they badly need an infusion
of youth. In addition, because of nagging
injuries to Deron Williams and devastating
injuries to Lopez, the Nets need to make sure
their have a reliable backup point guard and
center on their roster next season.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager Billy King has
been tasked with following the
directives of owner Mikhail Prokhorov,
which is to win a championship by
2018. He obviously rolled the dice
by making the controversial trade
for Garnett and Pierce. While it
certainly gained the Nets immediate
respectability, Brooklyn has to
capitalize quickly, as their window
to win will not be open very long.
Brooklyn doesnt have a pick in the
2014 draft, as their first-round pick
belongs to the Celtics and their
second-round pick belongs to the
76ers.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

NOT ON
THE CLOCK

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Jesse Blancarte

PACIFIC
51 - 31

NO 2014 PICKS

2013-14 Recap
In his third season as head coach,
Mark Jackson turned the Warriors
into a top-three defensive unit, which
helped secure their second-straight
postseason appearance (sixth seed).
The defense was anchored by Andrew
Bogut and featured gritty play by Klay
Thompson, Draymond Green and
Andre Iguodala, who was acquired last
offseason. However, once the 51-31
Warriors lost in seven games to the
Los Angeles Clippers, Jackson was
fired (despite the Bogut-less Dubs
forcing a decider at Staples Center).
With a number of on-court and
off-court issues continually landing
him off-side with Warriors ownership,
including the demotion of assistant
coach Brian Scalabrine to the
D-League and the firing of assistant
coach Darren Erman, Jackson returned
to the broadcast [Link] has since
been replaced by Steve Kerr.

[Link]

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

GOLDEN STATE
2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick
traded to Indiana.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick
traded to Utah.

WARRIORS
2014 OFfensive rank: 10

2014 DEfensive rank: 10

Biggest Needs: The Warriors currently do not

have a draft pick for this upcoming draft.
However, if the team manages to acquire a
pick, they should look to add more depth at
center. Bogut has been plagued by injuries
throughout his career and will turn 30 later
this year. Festus Ezeli has upside, but missed
the season with a knee injury and is still an
unknown commodity. David Lee can fill in
as a small-ball center, but has always been
limited defensively. Jermaine ONeal is 35 and
may decide to retire or sign elsewhere. Also,
the Warriors will have to determine whether
to re-sign Steve Blake as their backup point
guard. The Warriors can extend a qualifying
offer to Jordan Crawford next season,
making him a restricted free agent. While
Crawfords production is inconsistent, he can
handle the ball and fill in at shooting guard
for Thompson. The team will also look for
another consistent three-point shooting wing.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

Bob Myers has proven to be an
effective talent evaluator in his short
time with the Warriors. Myers was the
assistant general manager for the team
when they drafted Thompson (11th)
in the 2011 draft. Roughly a year
later, Myers was promoted to general
manager and headed the 2012 draft for
the Warriors. Myers chose Harrison
Barnes (seventh), Ezeli (30th), Green
(35th) and Ognjen Kuzmic (52nd).
Thompson has emerged as one of the
best two-way shooting guards in the
league, hitting the second-most three
pointers in the NBA this season and
often covered opposing teams best
wing scorers. Barnes had a breakout
postseason in his rookie year, but was
underwhelming this season, though he
still has significant trade value across
the league. Green showed he is a
valuable defender, underrated passer
and is now considered a steal as a
second round pick.

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83

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Tommy Beer

NOT ON
THE CLOCK

After capturing the Atlantic Division

crown and finishing with the secondbest record in the Eastern Conference
in 2012-13, expectations were sky high
heading into the 2013-14 campaign.
However, the Knicks were terribly
disappointing from November through
April, compiling an atrocious 37-45
record, while failing to qualify for
the postseason despite playing in
an embarrassingly poor conference.
Carmelo Anthony played well all
season long, but very few of his
teammates contributed consistently.
There was an assortment of injuries
the team had to overcome, but that
is certainly no excuse for their lack
of results. The argument could be
made that no team in the NBA
underperformed on quite the same
level as the Knicks.

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NEW YORK
37 - 45

NO 2014 PICKS

2013-14 Recap

84

ATLANTIC
2015

2016

First-round pick.
Second-round pick goes
to Houston.

Denver has the right

to swap its 2016 firstround pick for New
Yorks 2016 firstround pick. New York
will convey the less
favorable of these
two picks to Toronto.
Second-round pick
to Sacramento (via
Portland) protected for
selections 31-37.

KNICKS
2014 OFfensive rank: 20

2014 DEfensive rank: 8

Biggest Needs: As evidenced by their poor

record, the Knicks roster has plenty of holes.
However, the primary cause of a majority
of their losses was their inability to defend.
New York finished 24th in the NBA in
defensive rating, allowing 109.1 points per
100 possessions. They were also ranked 27th
in the league in total rebounds. In order to
make strides next season, the Knicks will need
to immediately address the defensive end of
the floor. Offensively, New York needs to
diversify their attack. They were too reliant
on the three-ball in 2013-14, settling for long
jumpers far too often. The Knicks finished
in the top-five in the NBA in three-point
attempts, and in the bottom three in total
free-throw attempts. They also tallied fewer
assists than all but two other teams.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

The good news is that there is plenty
of optimism in New York despite the
poor showing last season, as there is
a new commander-in-chief making
all basketball decisions for the Knicks
organization. Back in March, owner
Jim Dolan announced that former
Knick, and 11-time champion,
Phil Jackson would be brought in
to right the ship. Jackson would be
wise to lean on the scouts already in
place at MSG. Despite trading away
numerous first- and second-round
picks over the last decade, the Knicks
have actually done a very good job on
the picks they have made. Last year,
they snagged Tim Hardaway Jr. with
the 24th overall pick, and Hardaway
ended up emerging as one of the more
productive rookies in the NBA last
season.

[Link]

DRAFT GUIDE

NOT ON
THE CLOCK

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Cody Taylor

SOUTHWEST
34 - 48

NO 2014 PICKS

2013-14 Recap
The New Orleans Pelicans came into
the 2013-14 season after having just
made major moves in acquiring point
guard Jrue Holiday and wing player
Tyreke Evans, which they hoped would
put them in position to make a run in
the Western Conference. Those moves
did not pan out the way the team
wanted and their season was filled with
inconsistency, largely due to all of the
injuries the team suffered. Anthony
Davis, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon,
Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Jason
Smith all suffered injuries throughout
the season, with Anderson, Holiday
and Smith missing significant time.
All of those injuries led to a 34-48
record - well out of the playoff picture.
The team flashed signs of what they
could ultimately become over the
season if they remain healthy, and
the progression Davis showed in his
second season has many thinking hell
be a superstar in no time.

[Link]

[ FUTURE ASSETS ]

NEW ORLEANS
2015

2016

First-round pick.

First-round pick.
Second-round pick
(from Sacramento).

PELICANS
2014 OFfensive rank: 18

2014 DEfensive rank: 19

Biggest Needs: A team with Davis, Anderson,

Gordon, Evans and Holiday can surely win
the Pelicans more than 34 games. Given the
core of players they have, they may not be that
far off from competing in the West. Despite
that, they can still improve on the perimeter
and in the paint. At 7.2 points per game in 80
games last season, Al-Farouq Aminu hasnt
shown the ability to score like a team needs
from their wing player. Even worse for Aminu
and the Pelicans is his 27 percent shooting
from beyond the arc. The team could be
working with a little bit of cap space, so they
could look to solve their perimeter problems
through free agency. They could also look to
fill a need in the paint for a true big man. The
Pelicans appear to be in trouble when Davis
comes out of the game for a breather, and
given Andersons position as a stretch-four, a
true big man might help the Pelicans.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager Dell Demps made
a statement last summer when he
opted to acquire Evans and Holiday,
and that statement was the Pelicans
want to compete now. Demps said
at the Pelicans end of season press
conference that the team is going to
be active in trying to improve its roster
and make it back to the playoffs. Those
improvements will likely have to come
in the form of trades or free agency as
the team currently doesnt have a pick
in the draft. The Pelicans included
their 2014 first-round draft pick in
the trade to the Philadelphia 76ers
for Holiday. A number of teams have
multiple first-round picks in this years
draft, and they may be willing to part
with one of them for the right price.
The Pelicans may be able to acquire
a pick, but would likely only be
interested if they fall in love with a
prospect.

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85

DRAFT GUIDE

TEAM PROFILES
Insider: Kyle Cape-Lindelin

NOT ON
THE CLOCK

Portland surprised the basketball world

early in the regular season, as they
consistently challenged San Antonio
for the top spot in the West with an
incredibly impressive 20-4 record.
The early season success earned
forward LaMarcus Aldridge his thirdstraight All-Star appearance and
second-year point-guard Damian
Lillard caught everyones eye by being
selected to his first. While Aldridge
confirmed his spot as one of the most
dominant forwards, it was Lillards
ability to step up his game (following
an impressive Rookie of the Year
campaign) to become one of the best
guards in a conference stacked with
backcourt talent. While the Blazers
early success cooled after the All-Star
break, they still earned the fourth seed
in the playoffs with a 54-28 record
and gutted out a gritty upset of the
Houston Rockets in six games to
advance to the second round for the
first time since 2000. San Antonio
then ended their season in five games.
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PORTLAND
54 - 28

NO 2014 PICKS

2013-14 Recap

86

NORTHWEST
2015

2016

First-round pick.

First-round pick.

TRAIL BLAZERS
2014 OFfensive rank: 4

2014 DEfensive rank: 22

Biggest Needs: The Blazers are the envy of

many teams in the NBA, as they have their
core players and stars established and simply
need to keep the core together and keep
adding depth to move from just a playoff
team to a championship contender. One of
biggest needs for the Blazers is clearly finding
another quality center. Center Robin Lopez
has been the perfect fit next to Aldridge this
year, but they still need insurance for him
due to fouls and injury. Another need for
the Blazers is a scoring small forward off the
bench. Too often are the Blazers dependent
on Aldridge and Lillard for offense and the
team sometimes goes cold when the bench
comes in. Finding a forward to backup
Nicolas Batum who can slash to the basket
and hit the three-point shot to stretch the
defense would be a major asset for the Blazers
bench.

WHOS CALLING THE SHOTS?

General manager Neil Olshey will
be in charge of making all of the draft
day decisions for the 2014 NBA Draft,
although the team will have to trade
their way in if they want to make a
selection as they currently have no
picks in this years draft. Olshey has
made a name for himself by taking the
largely unknown Lillard from Weber
State with the sixth pick in the 2012
draft. Lillard has quickly established
himself as one of the best point guards
in just his second season and clearly
was the home run that Olshey needed
in his first draft with the Blazers.
With that said, Olshey has had a few
misses as well. Center Meyers Leonard
has the athleticism and size to be a
successful big man but is still very raw.
Rookie guard C.J. McCollum had his
season derailed by a foot injury and
lost minutes to veteran Mo Williams.
However, McCollum did display the
ability to score and create his own shot,
which should earn him a bigger role
next season.
[Link]

TRIPLE
THREAT
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PLAYERS HAVE THEIR SCOUTING REPORTS.

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YOU HAVE THE INSIDERS.

MID
MAJORS
IN THE
2014
DRAFT
INSIDER:

J essica C amerato

88

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[Link]

The top prospects in the nation

are highly touted prior to the
start of the NCAA season, let
alone the NBA Draft. Players
like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari
Parker are talked about while
they are still in high school,
long before they arrive on a
college campus, with NBA fans
eagerly waiting for the day
they declare to go pro.
There are studs like this every June,
but draft history has shown it isnt
always the powerhouse player who
has the biggest impact in the NBA.
Each year, organizations scour the
draft entrants looking to land the
next Stephen Curry, Paul George or
Damian Lillard, mid-major
athletes with real pro potential.
There are a number of players in
this years draft who are looking to
follow in those footsteps.

[Link]

Doug McDermott

Creighton

For ward // 6-8 // 225 lbs // College exp.: 4 years

Doug McDermott led the nation in scoring (26.9 points per game)
last season, won the 2014 Naismith Trophy for Mens College Player
of the Year and was named an Associated Press All-American for the
third consecutive year. There is no question he can be an offensive threat.
Now, he is eager to showcase his complete skillset in the NBA.
People look at, I scored a lot of points in college but I think that
overshadowed some of the other things, McDermott said. Im looked
at as not a great defender, but I feel like I can really prove some people
wrong once I get in front of them at workouts. My ability to compete on
a nightly basis, I think theyll really see that when I get in front of them.
McDermott has also been focusing on his strength (specifically his
core), which he believes will help make him a better defender.
Once he is in the NBA, he doesnt expect to fit into a pre-existing
mold. McDermott has studied many players over the years and will take
pieces from their game into his own when he enters the league.
There are not a whole lot of comparisons for me, Im kind of
different, he said. I like to watch a lot of [Kyle] Korver. Wally
Szczerbiak has been a good one; he was a little stronger so I need to get
a little bigger. I like to watch those guys. It might sound crazy, but I
watch a lot of Paul Pierce, I like his footwork. He is not the quickest guy
in the world but he really knows how to use his body and knows how to
use angles to score.
McDermott isnt going to be the flashiest guy on the court, but he
has proven he can be dangerous with a style of his own.

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University of Louisiana Lafayette

90

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Elfrid Payton

Alec Brown

Guard // 6-3 // 190 lbs // College exp.: 3 years

Center // 7-1 // 222 lbs // College exp.: 4 years

Two-and-a-half years into his college career, Payton

realized something special could happen. Midway through
his junior season, he started to think he could become a
first-round pick.
Payton led the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns
with 19.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals
per game last season. He ranks highly among point guards
in the 2014 NBA Draft and is a projected mid-to-late first
round selection.
He may not have played for the biggest college in
the country, but he comes to the pros with invaluable
international experience. Last year, he was a member of the
2013 USA Mens U19 World Championship Team with
players including Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart and Jahlil
Okafor. He also competed in China and Spain.
That was some of the top competition in the world
and I think I was able to play well and playing with my
teammates, said Payton. I thought those were some of the
best guys there.
Payton caught the attention of several teams at the
Draft Combine, meeting with at least seven. NBA players
have taken notice too. Mid-major alum Lillard has
mentioned Payton by name in the media. Even though he
didnt come from the biggest basketball program, Payton is
looking to make a big mark in the NBA.
[Playing for a smaller school helped me] being able
to accepting that role and taking big shots and things like
that, Payton said. Its been fun. [Im] just taking it all in
and enjoying it.

A seven-footer with a long-range shot - that alone is worth

consideration right there.
After four seasons at the University of WisconsinGreen Bay, Brown is ready for the next step. He finished his
senior season averaging 15.3 points (47.6 percent from the
field and 42 percent from three-point range), 5.7 rebounds
and 3.1 blocks per game. Brown continued to turn heads at
the combine with his ability to knock down outside shots.
Specialists like himself are valued in the second round
and he happens to have a skillset that could pose serious
matchup problems, a selling point to many teams.
I feel like I could translate to the next level very
well, Brown said. The stretch-big position is getting really
big in the NBA right now and thats what I am. I can step
out and shoot the three, I can run the court well, Ive been
told I move well for a big guy, I can block shots and get
rebounds. If I can just go out and do that for a team,
hopefully theyll want me.
He knows there is more to a making it in the NBA
than just physical ability. While training in California,
Brown also focused on the mental aspect of the game.
We have a mental strength coach in Santa Barbara,
Brown said. Thats part of it too. Youve got to stay
positive. If youre missing shots out there, you cant show it
to these teams that are watching. Youve got to stay positive
and a lot of that is dealing with mental strength. Nutrition
also, keep my weight up, make sure I eat healthy. There is a
lot that goes into it behind the scenes.
But the finished product is worth it.

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MID-MAJORS IN THE 2014 DRAFT

Cleanthony Early

Wichita State

For ward // 6-8 // 219 lbs // College exp.: 4 years (2 at JuCo)

Early was only in his second year at Wichita State when he played an
instrumental role in their 34-0 regular season record. When it came time
to step up in March Madness, he scored 31 points and grabbed seven
rebounds against the University of Kentucky in the Shockers two-point
tournament loss.
It definitely helped, Early said of the game. It was exposure.
Those guys are all projected or were projected to go in a certain round
and projected to be a certain status. Performing like that against those
guys showed potentially what I could do, what Im capable of. I think
that opened a few peoples eyes.
The 23-year-old actually enters the NBA Draft with four years of
experience, including two from junior college. He has proven he can
defend multiple positions, and that roster flexibility is appealing to
organizations. He cites his lateral quickness, vertical, help-side defense
and shot contesting as just a few of his defensive attributes.
Early envisions himself playing the small forward or shooting
guard position. He thinks he could also play the four spot if he gained
weight.
I can stretch the floor with my shot, I can put the ball on the floor,
do multiple things, different aspects to my game, Early said. I am very
versatile; I am going to be able to do what I need to do in the NBA.
Early didnt burst onto the big stage; he pushed his way into the
spotlight. Hes prepared to keep working in the NBA.
Im willing to put my ego aside for certain things and look at the
bigger picture and continue to study the game of life and study the game
of basketball, he said. I just pick up things and it works for me and I
love the results I see from it. I wont switch up. I will just continue to put
myself in a position to learn from these people that I know can get this
job done and who have got this job done at the pro level.
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on DRAF T NIGHT, A trio of playmakers ARE SET TO JOIN

THE
GOLDEN
AGE OF
POINT
GUARDS
INSIDER:

M O K E H A m I LT O N

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Establishing ones point in a

positional Golden Age will be
no easy task but the likes of

Dante Exum,
Marcus Smart,
& Tyler Ennis

are no doubt up for the challenge.

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THE GOLDEN AGE OF POINT GUARDS

Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook lead the

way with Stephen Curry, Rajon Rondo and
Derrick Rose not far behind. Damian Lillard
has taken the league by storm and the world
continues to watch Kyrie Irving and gauge
where his ceiling lies.
This, it is said, is the golden age of the NBA
point guard, and with the draft class of 2014,
the rich only stand to get richer.
In a world where the likes of Tony Parker, Jrue Holiday,
Ty Lawson, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry, Kemba Walker
and John Wall are not universally considered to be in
the top tier of point guards, the likes of Dante Exum,
Marcus Smart, Tyler Ennis, Elfrid Payton and even the
seemingly overlooked Shabazz Napier will join the fray.
The point guards of the class of 2014 will have
their work cut out for them in terms of entering a league
that has recently been dominated by productive point
men. But it is a challenge that the youngsters not only
seem to be cognizant of, but one that they also cherish.
Exum, the Australian-born combo-guard, is
considered by many to be the top point guard prospect
from this years class.
I see myself as a point guard, Exum said. Ive
always played the point guard position, so thats where I
feel comfortable. Thats what Im entering myself as into
the draft and thats where I see myself playing.
Quite a few of the teams in the lottery are
seemingly set at the point guard position, but a number
of teams that met with Exum at the combine told him
that they would like to play him in a two point guard
system, much like the Phoenix Suns ran last season.
That opens up a lot of possibilities for Exum on draft
night.
While it will prove difficult for him to make his
mark at arguably the leagues most competitive position,
Exum has been watching his elders closely and has
attempted to take bits and pieces of the games of others
and replicate them, forming his own unique repertoire.

[Link]

I cant look at one player and say thats who I play

like, Exum said. But I see different traits from players
that I have. I look at Russell Westbrook as that explosive
point guard that can get to the rim, and also Manu
Ginobili when he gets into the paint and the way he can
finish. Its just looking at different players and what they
can do and how that can help my game.
As for American-born point guards, Oklahoma
States Marcus Smart is considered to be near the top
of the class and is widely expected to be selected in the
mid-lottery, at the latest. There have been consistent
questions about how his game will translate to the NBA
and whether he has the skill set to be the primary
playmaker at the NBA level.
It is something he has taken in stride.
Im sure that a lot of general managers and
coaches are just like a lot of fans: Hes not a true point
guard, and this and that, Smart said. Im trying to
show them that Ive embraced that role and just because
I havent played it Im more of a true point guard than I
ever have been in my lifetime.
At this point, Smart hopes to join Westbrook and
even Gilbert Arenas as young guards who were
successfully able to play at the point guard position,
despite entering the league with questions about
whether they possessed the necessary attributes.
Not short on confidence, Smart has embraced the
pre-draft process of proving himself as he looks toward
making his mark in the pros as a point guard.
Ive put in the work, he said. I think the reason

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DRAFT GUIDE

THE GOLDEN AGE OF POINT GUARDS

I see myself as a point guard.

Ive always played the point guard
position, so thats where I feel comfortable.
Thats what Im entering myself as into the
draft and thats where I see myself playing.

- Dante Exum.
I am where I am in the draft or where people think I
should be is because I put in a lot of hard work and it is
showing on the court.
After being interviewed by the Houston Rockets,
Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns
and Denver Nuggets, where Smart ends up is a bit of
a mystery, but he feels that he merits consideration in
the top five, just like Exum.
I feel like Im one of the best point guards in the
class, no doubt, Smart said. I cant really say who is
first, second, third or fourth. There are a lot of great
point guards, so whoever is first or second, they worked
at it and thats the spot they worked at and they came
out and thats what it is.
Already looking ahead, though, Smart is not
fixated on where he is drafted, he is thinking about a
long-lasting career in the NBA. He is thinking about
one that will be in full-force even after his potentially
four-year rookie deal expires.
Everybody is out here trying to compete and
their goal is to get into the NBA and work on their
second and third contract, not their first, Smart said.
Still, it all starts here, but with Smarts smarts,
confidence, energy and attitude, he has managed to
remain grounded while knowing that the sky is the limit.
One other prospect that knows that well is
Canadian-born Tyler Ennis of Syracuse. After attending
Saint Benedicts Preparatory School in Newark, NJ,
Ennis did not disappoint in his only year playing for the
legendary Jim Boeheim, earning Second Team All-ACC
honors as well as making both the All-ACC Freshmen
and Defensive teams.
Unlike some of his other draft mates, Ennis has
participated in international FIBA tournaments, as well.
In the 2012 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship,

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Ennis teamed up with Andrew Wiggins to help Canada

earn a bronze medal and, the next summer, led the 2013
FIBA Under-19 World Championships tournament in
scoring.
The vast array of experiences may have prepared
Ennis for life in the NBA, and even after his
Orangemen suffered a second round loss to Dayton in
the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Ennis still believes he is
worthy of a top pick in June. When asked if he is the
best point guard in this class, he didnt hesitate.
Definitely, Ennis said. I think I have the
ability to make others better. I think Im able to put that
together into a true point guard that could also score
when my team needs it. I think there are a lot of guys
that can really score the ball and a lot of guys may be
able to score better than you but none can put together
the whole package as a point guard better than I can in
this draft.
Ennis compared himself to top floor generals Tony
Parker and Jason Kidd.
Id say Tony Parker [since Im] able to the score
the ball, he would score a little more than I would, but
being able to score, being able to control the team and
being able to find open guys when the time is right,
Ennis said. Growing up, I would always watch Jason
Kidd and thats somebody I kind of model my game
after. Being able to score the ball, but also make plays
for others and just be a leader on the floor.
With June 26 approaching, the aforementioned
trio of prospects are likely to begin what they hope are
long and storied careers in the NBA. They hope to join
the likes of Rose, Westbrook, Lillard and Irving as point
guards who made an immediate impact on the league.

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