2014-2015 NBA Ramblings

[Kingdom]

We will be drafting alternately, starting with me picking #1, hammer #2, repeat.

We will be assuming this is the finalized order (even though there's usually a half a million trades involving 2nd round picks and there's a thousand rumors involving first round picks)

(I copied and pasted sbnation's draft order, cause I'm lazy, so thanks sbnation.)



Round 1:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: C Joel Embiid, Kansas
2. Milwaukee Bucks, SF Jabari Parker, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers, SG Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
4. Orlando Magic, PG Dante Exum, Australia
5. Utah Jazz, PF Noah Vonleh, Indiana
6. Boston Celtics, PG Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
7. Los Angeles Lakers, PF Aaron Gordon, Arizona
8. Sacramento Kings, SG Rodney Hood, Duke
9. Charlotte Hornets (via Detroit Pistons), PF Julius Randle, Kentucky
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via New Orleans Pelicans), SG James Young, Kentucky
11. Denver Nuggets, SG Gary Harris, Michigan State
12. Orlando Magic (via New York Knicks), SF Doug McDermott, Creighton
13. Minnesota Timberwolves, SG Nik Stauskas, Michigan
14. Phoenix Suns, PG/PF Kyle Anderson, UCLA
15. Atlanta Hawks, PF Adreian Payne, Michigan State
16. Chicago Bulls (via Charlotte Bobcats), PG Zach LaVine, UCLA
17. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets), PF Dario Saric, Foreign
18. Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards), SF Ty Warren, NC State
19. Chicago Bulls, SG PJ Hairston, D-League
20. Toronto Raptors, PG Elfrid Payton, Lousiana-Lafayette
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets, via Los Angeles Lakers, via Dallas Mavericks) SF KJ McDaniels, Clemson
22. Memphis Grizzlies, SG CJ Wilcox, Washington
23. Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors), SF Cleanthony Early, Wichita State
24. Charlotte Hornets (via Portland Trail Blazers), PG Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
25. Houston Rockets, PF Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee
26. Miami Heat, SF Glenn Robinson III, Michigan
27. Phoenix Suns (via Indiana Pacers), PG Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
28. Los Angeles Clippers, SG Bogdan Bogdanovich, Serbia
29. Oklahoma City Thunder, PF Clint Capela, overseas
30. San Antonio Spurs, PG Shabazz Napier, Connecticut


Round 2:

31. Milwaukee Bucks, C Mitch McGary, Michigan
32. Philadelphia 76ers, SF Jerami Grant, Syracuse
33. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Orlando Magic), SG Jordan Adams, UCLA
34. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics), PG Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado
35. Utah Jazz, PG Jahii Carson, Arizona State
36. Milwaukee Bucks (via Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns via Minnesota Timberwolves), SF, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, NBDL
37. Toronto Raptors (via Sacramento Kings), C Patric Young, Florida
38. Detroit Pistons, PF DeAndre Daniels, Connecticut
39. Philadelphia 76ers (via Cleveland Cavaliers), SG Nick Johnson, Arizona
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (via New Orleans Pelicans), PF Khem Birch, UNLV
41. Denver Nuggets, Jusuf Nurkic, Bosnia
42. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks), C Isaiah Austin, Baylor
43. Atlanta Hawks, SG Joe Harris, Virginia
44. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Miami Heat via Timberwolves), SG Markel Brown, Oklahoma State
45. Charlotte Hornets, SG Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa
46. Washington Wizards, PF Johnny O'Bryant, LSU
47. Philadelphia 76ers (via Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics via Dallas Mavericks), PF Dwight Powell, Stanford
48. Milwaukee Bucks (via Toronto Raptors via Phoenix Suns), PG Semaj Christon, Xavier
49. Chicago Bulls, PF James Michael McAdoo, UNC
50. Phoenix Suns
51. Dallas Mavericks
52. Philadelphia 76ers (via Memphis Grizzlies via Cleveland Cavaliers)
53. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Golden State Warriors)
54. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston Rockets via Milwaukee Bucks)
55. Miami Heat
56. Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)
57. Indiana Pacers
58. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Clippers via New Orleans Pelicans)
59. Toronto Raptors (via Oklahoma City Thunder via New York Knicks)
60. San Antonio Spurs

[Kingdom]

1. Cleveland selects C Joel Embiid, from Kansas

As much as Dan Gilbert wants to compete NOW and while it seems possible they could trade down and still have a chance to draft Embiid, let's assume they keep the pick. This won't be Greg Oden part 2. Embiid seems to have all-world skill everywhere, including footwork and unlimited range. Maybe he's a bigger Anthony Davis. Maybe he's Hakeem Olajuwon's second coming. Or he could bust, because..Cleveland. Regardless, he's raw, he's at best a rotation guy his rookie year barring major injury (which Varajao is very injury prone)

[Hammer]

2 things...

1. the knicks suck.

2. you wanna do this based on who we personally would pick, who we think is the best fit, or who we expect the team to take? or a nice mixture of the 3?

[Kingdom]

I say either a mixture of the 3 or who we'd personally pick. Cause I don't know jack about foreign imports aside from crazy hype around Exum and Saric.

[Hammer]

2. The Milwaukee Bucks select Jabari Parker, SF Duke

I don't think theres a team better suited to accentuate Parker's strengths, and hide his weaknesses, better than the Bucks. He'll be depended upon to be their number 1 scorer from day one, and to be the leader. He has a natural knack for scoring, and his work ethic is unquestioned. On the other hand, I'm not sure which position he covers, and regardless of which one it is, I'm not sure he'll ever do it at a level above mediocre. But with Giannis, Henson and [maybe... hopefully...] Sanders, there's a whole lot of protection to hide him on spot up shooters, or the weaker ball handler on the wing.

[Kingdom]

3. Philadelphia selects SG Andrew Wiggins, from Kansas

I think this is their wet dream in reality. It would also be scary to have MCW and Wiggins defending in the same backcourt, with their great length and athleticism. Philly needs to hit with their two lottery picks after drafting their PG and C of the future last season and this would continue their rebuild goal. Don't expect great scoring from Wiggins early on, as he needs to be less passive and more assertive, and that might be difficult at first being on a very young team. But he should immediately be one of the best wing defenders in the game.

[Hammer]

4. The Orlando Magic select Dante Exum, PG Australia

The upside and hype surrounding him... tough to pass. Point Guard is an obvious need. So obvious in fact, that they used Oladipo at the spot last season in an attempt to not tank in too obvious of fashions, and he sported a near 1:1 AST-TO ratio. I honestly don't believe Smart would be a bad choice here, but I think Orlando realizes they are at least another season away, so letting this team and group grow together another season isn't necessarily a bad thing. Plus, moving Oladipo back to the 2, gives them immediate trade value in Arron Afflalo.

[Kingdom]

5. Utah selects PF Noah Vonleh, from Indiana

He was woefully underused in college, and still managed almost a double double. When the college season ended, he was in a virtual 3-way tie with Aaron Gordon and Julius Randle for top PF prospect. At this point, he has seemingly put up great distance and separation after grading out with intangibles and measurements that now having him being compared to a Chris Bosh-type. Derrick Favors hasn't really developed and Enes Kanter seemed to always fall out of favor with the coaching staff. Neither have the all-around skill set that Vonleh possesses.

[Hammer]

6. The Boston Celtics select Marcus Smart, PG Oklahoma State

This pick has BPA written all over it. And every day there's a new rumor with this team. They want Love and keep Rondo, they want to deal Rondo, they want to move up, they want to move back. Marcus Smart or Aaron Gordon would seem to be the two top guys on the board at this point, with Randle dealing with these new foot problems, and Smart is a nice start if they truly do want to move on from Rondo... which seems like it's bound to happen whether they want it or not. Smart and Bradley should make for a fierce defensive back court, and Smart has a bulldog mentality in getting to the rack and creating on the offensive end. His offensive game is much more polished than Gordon, which may or may not be a positive for a team that isn't in a rush to compete... unless they trade for Kevin Love, which would all but assuredly include this pick.

[Kingdom]

Damn you. I was totally going that way with LA. Argh.

[Kingdom]

7. Los Angeles Lakers select PF Aaron Gordon, from Arizona State

Hammer ruined LA's plans. Nothing has gone right for them lately. Last time they drafted in the lottery, they hit on straight from high school prospect Andrew Bynum. That worked out well for them. Currently, their roster is a mish mash of cast offs, questions, and Kobe. No one defends. Hard to say what their roster will even be. But, if they draft Gordon, you immediately get an explosive athlete. And more importantly, you get a VERY versatile defender. His energy and ability to defend may be infectious and given how far the Lakers have fallen, they need all the positive vibes they can get.

[Hammer]

8. The Sacramento Kings select Rodney Hood, SF Duke

They are kind of in a tough spot here. Gordon would seem to be an ideal guy here, he's gone a pick too early. Randle slides to them, but his skills and weaknesses make him come off as a smaller version of Demarcus. I think Elfrid Payton is a nice fit here, a long athletic PG that just wants to go out there and distribute [and Kyle Anderson to a degree as well]... but he's a stretch here. The only spots they're set at are SG and C, so I think this is wide open. I was between Hood and Saric, but I've seen more of Hood, and thusly have a better idea of how he projects out. He's a fit, he can be a spot up shooter and athletic in the transition game, and won't be a total negative on defense.

[Kingdom]

9. Charlotte Bobkitties select...wait. The Charlotte Hornets select PF Julius Randle, from Kentucky

Going completely against what every mock has them picking. While Doug McDermott would give them shooting they need, is he a starter in the NBA? They have a later pick to burn on shooting. This is not only BPA but the very idea of Jefferson-Randle teaming up is scary. It'll remind people of Jefferson-Millsap. In fact, Millsap was a double double machine with range coming out of college. Randle never really had to show off his range, be has a nice touch to step out and knock down rangy shots. Even though McRoberts ball handling ability really helped Charlotte, he is a pending FA and is limited in areas, as he is more of a soft 4.

[Hammer]

10. The Philadelphia 76ers select James Young, SG Kentucky

I think his ceiling is through the roof. There's nothing he can't do on the offensive end. He does everything well on the offensive end [though some might say, he does nothing great]. On a team that should be bred to run teams out of the building, he's a perfect fit. He has the intangibles to become a lock down defender, he can get up and down the floor, he can score with the ball in his hands, or off the ball. I might be higher on him than most.

[Bizkit]

as a Magic fan I agree with the Dante Exum pick, and I wouldn't be upset with Marcus Smart either. For the 12th pick, with James Young gone, I'd suggest one of the shooters (Stauskas/McDermott) or the Point Forward (Saric)