By: Carrington Caul
Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyrie Irving- PG, Duke)Irving is a true point guard that can distribute and get to the hoop or hit the outside shot. He will be a leader for the Cavs and brings excitement to the fan base, Cleveland is in a rebuilding phase and what better way to rebuild than to get you a franchise future all-star at the 1 guard spot. Irving missed a lot of games at due to an injury (turf toe) but when he was there he was averaging over 17ppg and around 5-6apg. Expect him to work hard and show why he should be the top pick.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Derrick Williams- SF, Arizona)Last season Williams looked like a man playing amongst boys, the way he played during the season should have earned him the number one spot but hey that’s how life works. Williams is a threat from the perimeter and he can drive in the lane (see Duke Game) his only knock on him is that he lacks the muscle to be a consistent threat on the inside. Williams averaged over 19ppg and around 8rpg and will only look to get better. The Timberwolves already have Michael Beasley so they might skip Williams, or draft him and trade him with whoever drafts Enes Kanter; either way the Timberwolves have a future all-star.
Utah Jazz (Brandon Knight- PG, Kentucky)The Jazz will look to replace Deron Williams and Knight will probably be that guy. The NBA is becoming a point-guard driven league and Knight can become one of the better ones but he will need to work on becoming more consistent and distributing better. Knight is a big time clutch shooter who can change the momentum of a game in flashing speed. Look for him to work hard and put in the time to become a great player.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Enes Kanter- PF, Kentucky)Kanter missed the 2010 season due to being ineligible for playing with Team USA back in April of last year where he set a record with 34 points and 13 rebounds. There are a few questions surrounding Kanter but right now he is the best 4/5 spot player and he can only help the Cavs get better.
Toronto Raptors (Jonas Valanciunas- C, Lithuania)The Raptors will be looking to find the replacement for Chris Bosh and they think they can find him in Valanciunas. Valanciunas isn’t NBA ready right now but his upside can easily get him placed in the top 5; especially to a team that can use him. He’s a big boom-or-bust project and the Raptors are hoping it isn’t the later.
Washington Wizards (Jan Vesely- PF, Serbia)Wizards office is very high on Vesely mainly because he’s 6-11 and can play either Forward position which would give him a great advantage over the majority SF. Vesely is a athletic guy who can be a solid player, he lacks size and speed and is an liability on perimeter defense mainly because he speed or lack thereof. He also needs work on his post play, only averaging 3.4 rebounds a game when your 6-11 isn’t a good thing
Sacramento Kings (Kemba Walker- PG, UConn)
The Kings have no point guard and the Tyreke Evans experiment failed, Walker will come in and fight for the starting PG spot or at least a key role off the bench. Walker can drive to the hoop and has a great knack for finding the open man, and he is great shooting the ball averaging over 24ppg this season. With DeMarcus Cousins on the team Walker will have a key player who will help the rebuilding process in Sacramento.
Detroit Pistons (Kawhi Leonard- SF, San Diego State)
Leonard could probably go in the top 5 if it wasn’t for his inconsistent play on the outside, he’s best when he’s driving in the lane and crashing the boards. Scouts are becoming more impressed with him since he’s been working on his perimeter shooting and trying to become more consistent on the outside. He’s a guy that can develop into a double-double player in the league but he has to work hard and become more consistent.
Charlotte Bobcats (Tristan Thompson- PF, Texas) Thompson is a very athletic kid with long legs who makes him an excellent shot blocker; he isn’t very consistent on the offensive side and will probably take a year or two to really shot his offensive talent. The Bobcats need depth and size in the post and with Thompson he can bring that, he will probably get small time maybe 3-8 minutes a game but once he finds his grove he will fit perfectly.
Milwaukee Bucs (Alec Burks- SG, Colorado)Burks is the best 2-guard in this draft who can be a big scorer, he also rebounds well and can bring a nice addition to the Bucs. Burks usually struggles when going up against players better than him and he doesn’t do a good job getting to the rim. He can take over in the open court and can fill in at the 1-guard spot, once he becomes more consistent on his outside shot he will be a complete 2-guard.
Golden State Warriors (Marcus Morris- PF, Kansas)The Warriors are looking to add some offensive firepower to the team and that’s exactly what Morris brings, he can play great on the inside and make plays that can change the tone of the game, and he can also get on the outside in the SF slot and make plays from the perimeter. Morris isn’t as explosive has his brother Markieff but he can be great.
Utah Jazz (Klay Thompson- SG, Washington State)Thompson can be what Korver was when he was there; he’s NBA ready and can shoot the ball well. The Jazz are already looking to have a solid back court after grabbing Knight with their earlier pick. They are looking to build on it and add depth and skill set that can help then get back to what they used to be.
Phoenix Suns (Bismack Biyombo- PF, Spain)Phoenix are looking to find some inside presence after losing Amare to the Knicks during free agency, they lacked offensive play in the post and defensive stops around the rim and they are hoping Biyombo can present that. He has some questions surrounding his age, he’s currently listed at 18 but scouts and others are saying he could be around 22-26 so that can cause him so slip on draft night.
Houston Rockets (Markieff Morris- PF, Kansas)The Rockets have depth at the 2 & 4 spot and that’s the position where the BPA is around the 14th pick. They can try and trade this pick and move around, or they can take Morris and add depth to their PF spot; you can never have too many big men. Markieff and his brother Marcus are known for bringing intensity, athleticism and big plays on the court and the Rockets can use a little bit of all that.
Indiana Pacers (Jimmy Fredette- PG, BYU)Fredette brings exactly what the Pacers need, depth and the potential to be a star; not an all-star but a star. Fredette isn’t known for his speed but he is a deadly outside shooter and uses his strength to create shots when most PG’s use their speed. Scouts wonder if he can adjust to the NBA speed but he intrigues a lot of teams and if you leave him open outside you can count that as three every time.
Philadelphia 76’ers (Donatas Motiejunas- PF, Italy)The 76’ers need help on the inside play thinking back to the 1st round series against Miami where they allowed anything and anybody to get inside. They are probably hoping that Markieff Morris will slip to them at 16 but that’s pretty doubtful. Motiejunas will bring the offensive firepower that the 76’ers desperately need especially in the post. Motiejunas needs to work on his strength and his defense because right now he would be a liability to them.
New York Knicks (Darius Morris- PG, Michigan)Morris is exactly what the Knicks need and exactly what this whole draft lacks, a “true” PG, he isn’t fast but he can shoot, he can drive and he makes everybody on the court better whenever he’s out there with them. He hast the right strength and size and is an excellent floor general and passer, he can be the eventual takeover for Chauncey Billups once he calls it quits.
Washington Wizards (Chris Singleton- SF, Florida State)The Wizards will look to add more players in the front court who can play the 4-5spot. Singleton is a defensive hound who bothers you more than a fly at a Bar-B-Que, he also can shoot the ball very well whether he’s playing outside or driving in the lane. He’s not going to be a big name player but he will give you 100% night in and out and can become very important on the movement that the Wizards are trying to make.
Charlotte Bobcats (Tyler Honeycutt- SF, UCLA)The Bobcats are looking to find some depth and skill set at the 3 spot after trading Gerald Wallace away to Portland. Honeycutt can bring a strong outside and mid-range shot that the Bobcats are looking for on offense and he crashes boards. Honeycutt will work well in the offensive scheme that Coach Silas is looking to infiltrate he just has to earn his minutes.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Davis Bertans- SF, Latvia)The Timberwolves want the European’s deadliest shooter; he can shoot well on the inside, outside, off the dribble, and in traffic. He’s a few years away though but the Timberwolves are hoping he can evolve into the player he flashes to be.
Portland Trailblazers (Jordan Hamilton- SG, Texas)Portland has depth at almost every position and can look to grab Hamilton to add depth to the team. Hamilton is a good shooter but lacks speed. Most scouts see him as either a slow 2 or a small 3
Denver Nuggets (Tobias Harris- PF, Tennessee)Denver has a good squad already and is looking to add depth on the inside and that’s what Harris brings. He has great vision and can make a lot of reads; he shoots well off the dribble and can post up with the best of them.
Houston Rockets (Josh Selby- PG, Kansas) The Rockets are looking weak at the 1-guard spot after moving Aaron Brooks during the season and can look to Selby to bring his talent in and help them; he’s a combo guard and plays with a lot of heart. Selby has never lived up to his hype but he is a solid player that can add depth and learn for awhile and can serve as a quality backup.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Kenneth Faried- PF, Morehead State)Faried lacks the offensive skill set that can make him great, but he is the best rebounder in this whole NBA draft averaging over 14 rebounds a game. Faried brings defense, athleticism and intensity to the Thunder also bring depth and size.
Boston Celtics (Jordan Williams- PF, Maryland)Celtics have no inside presence after trading Perkins except for Kevin Garnett and he’s not getting any younger. Williams plays with a high motor and intensity that only fits with the Celtics, he will have time to study under one of the greatest PF’s to ever play the game and adds depth and size to the interior defense and offense.
Dallas Mavericks (Trey Thompkins- PF, Georgia)This is a good team so they don’t have any real needs so they have the luxury of taking the BPA and at this point it would be Thompkins who adds depth. Thompkins can play off the dribble; he has a good post to mid-range jumper and has the ability to take his time learned.
New Jersey Nets (Justin Harper- PF, Richmond)Harper brings depth to the Nets and can evolve into a solid player, he needs to work on defense and get stronger. He can shoot well when facing the basket, but needs to work on his post-up offense.
Chicago Bulls (Marshon Brooks- SG, Providence)Brooks is compared to Josh Howard a lot and he can play like him to. Brooks is a knock down shooter while averaging 24ppg he can only get better when you have the MVP playing beside you at the 1-guard.
San Antonio Spurs (JaJuan Johnson- SF, Purdue)The Spurs had the 2nd best record in the League and it’s not a coincidence; they have a great team and are only looking to add the BPA and they can find a solid shooter and rebounder in Johnson.
Chicago Bulls (Shelvin Mack- PG, Butler)Mack adds depth to an already solid position; Mack led Butler to back-to-back title games. He isn’t a true point guard but he’s one of the best clutch shooters in the country and can knock them down from anywhere on the court and the Bulls are just trying to add talent.
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