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Years ago
Chad Ford - 2014 NBA Mock Draft 4.0
Lastest Mock Draft from Chad Ford (Only Did the top 15)
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1 - Andrew Wiggins - Milwaukee Bucks (15 - 67) COLLEGE: Kansas
HT: 6-8 WT: 200 POS: SG
Odds of winning lottery: 25 percent
Analysis: Now that the Bucks are for sale, everything about their future is a little up in the air. It's unclear whether the new owners will keep John Hammond and David Morway on. They have two years left on their contract and were actually fighting their owner Herb Kohl the past few years. They wanted to rebuild, but Kohl didn't. Injuries forced the issue this year; it would be ironic if they lost their jobs after delivering the Bucks their first real chance at landing a superstar. Either way, I don't think there's a clear-cut favorite right now. They were leaning toward Joel Embiid before his back injury and could still end up going that way if Embiid comes out with a clean bill of health at the combine. Jabari Parker is the choice if they want someone who can help them win now. But I think the spot is still Wiggins' to lose. He's not the most NBA-ready, and he doesn't have the size or appeal of Embiid. But he has the highest upside of any of the Bucks and could be a monster on the floor next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
2 - Jabari Parker - Philadelphia 76ers (19 - 63) COLLEGE: Duke
HT: 6-8 WT: 241 POS: SF
Odds of winning lottery: 19.9 percent
Analysis: Ownership deemed this season a success after finishing with the second-worst record in the league. That should be all you need to know about whether they were really tanking. If they end up with the No. 2 overall pick, forgive them for being a little bummed if Wiggins is off the board. However, Parker would be a nice consolation prize. He'd give the Sixers a guy who could score 20 points a night right out of the gate. And the Sixers have the length and athleticism to protect Parker on defense with Michael Carter-Williams in the backcourt and Nerlens Noel in the middle. Embiid is a dark horse here, though. He's not a perfect fit up front with Noel -- they are different players, and both are pretty raw -- but it would be an intriguing teaming nonetheless.
3 - Dante Exum - Orlando Magic (23 - 59) COLLEGE: Australia
HT: 6-6 WT: 188 POS: PG
Odds of winning lottery: 15.6 percent
Analysis: The Magic will surely be tempted with Embiid on the board, but they really need a point guard, and there are many scouts who believe Exum might be the best prospect in the draft. We will never know for sure because Exum hasn't and won't be able to play against the other top talents in the draft. But his size, quickness, basketball IQ and ability to play both the one and the two should make him an excellent fit in the backcourt next to Victor Oladipo.
4- Joel Embiid - Utah Jazz (25 - 57) COLLEGE: Kansas
HT: 7-0 WT: 250 POS: C
Odds of winning lottery: 10.4 percent
Analysis: Jazz fans want Parker in the worst way, but their team likely will have to win one of the top two spots in the lottery to get their hands on him. With the players left on the board, the Jazz face a quandry. They can go with the guy with the most upside (Embiid), or they can go with a player who can help them right away (Julius Randle). Assuming Embiid is healthy, I think he's the pick here. Pairing him on the floor every night with Derrick Favors would give the Jazz an unbelievable defensive front line. Landing him also might free up the team to explore Enes Kanter trades over the summer. While the Jazz love Kanter, if they have to pay big dollars to Gordon Hayward this summer in free agency, they might not be able to afford to pay him what he wants next summer.
5 - Aaron Gordon - Boston Celtics (25 - 57) COLLEGE: Arizona
HT: 6-8 WT: 210 POS: PF
Odds of winning lottery: 10.3 percent
Analysis: The Celtics could go a lot of different ways here, but most of those ways duplicate something they already have. The team would love to get their hands on Embiid, as he would help them with one of their biggest needs. But Gordon is intriguing here. He's a hybrid forward, but his athleticism and motor allow him to thrive at both the three and the four defensively. He adds toughness and does all the little things coaches love. I think he'd be a great fit on this Celtics squad.
6 - Julius Randle - Los Angeles Lakers (27 - 55) COLLEGE: Kentucky
HT: 6-9 WT: 225 POS: PF
Odds of winning lottery: 6.3 percent
Analysis: The Lakers have been eyeing Dante Exum and would be thrilled if he fell here. If he doesn't, they will have a tough decision to make here between Randle and Noah Vonleh. Vonleh might be a better fit in Mike D'Antonio's system. His Chris Bosh-like ability to spread the floor fits well with D'Antoni's preference for bigs who can shoot. But he's raw and probably not ready right now, whereas Randle is ready to come in and be a beast from day one. With the Lakers' entire front line heading into free agency this summer (including Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman and Jordan Hill), the Lakers are going to have a lot of needs up front.
7 - Marcus Smart - Sacramento Kings (28 - 54) COLLEGE: Oklahoma State
HT: 6-4 WT: 225 POS: PG
Odds of winning lottery: 4.3 percent
Analysis: The Kings would ideally love a shot-blocker here, but after Embiid, the pickings are pretty slim this year. They also could use a big point guard. Isaiah Thomas was terrific for the Kings this year, but Smart's size, toughness and leadership at the position are all major upgrades. This team desperately needs team players who care first and foremost about winning. I can't think of a better fit for Smart than the Kings. Mike Malone will love him immediately.
8 - Noah Vonleh - Detroit Pistons (29 - 53) COLLEGE: Indiana
HT: 6-10 WT: 240 POS: PF
Odds of winning lottery: 2.8 percent
Analysis: This Pistons are another team up in the air as far as management goes. It's unclear exactly what they are going to do now that Joe Dumars has left. Yes, the Pistons are strong up front, but I think Vonleh makes sense for three reasons. One, Greg Monroe is a restricted free agent, and given the Pistons' salary structure going forward, they might not want to pay him. Two, the Pistons really need a big man who can stretch the floor. Josh Smith thinks he's that guy, but his 26 percent shooting from 3-point range this season tells a different story. Lastly, Vonleh is, in my opinion, clearly the best player left on the board. You take him and figure things out later.
9 - Doug McDermott - Cleveland Cavaliers (33 - 49) COLLEGE: Creighton
HT: 6-8 WT: 210 POS: SF
Odds of winning lottery: 1.7 percent
Analysis: If you thought owner Dan Gilbert was impatient last year, wait until this year. It's "Playoff or Bust, Part II," for the Cavs, and you can make sure after last year's draft debacle that the Cavs are going to try to bring in a high-quality player who can contribute right now. McDermott might not be the sexiest prospect in the draft, but he's a four-year senior who can really shoot the basketball. He'll be a great fit in Cleveland, especially if Luol Deng decides to bolt this summer.
10 - Gary Harris - Philadelphia 76ers (19 - 63) COLLEGE: Michigan State
HT: 6-4 WT: 210 POS: SG
(pick via New Orleans Pelicans)
Odds of winning lottery: 1.1 percent
Analysis: If the Sixers can land their forward of the future in Parker, they can turn to adding another piece in the backcourt to play alongside Carter-Williams. The biggest knock on Harris is that he's undersized for his position, but playing next to Carter-Williams, that shouldn't be an issue. Harris is a terrific defender who can guard both backcourt spots. Assuming he reverts back to his freshman-year form, Harris also provides shooting and character on a young team. Put him and Parker on the floor with MCW and Noel and you have a very bright future in Philly.
11 - Tyler Ennis - Denver Nuggets (36 - 46) COLLEGE: Syracuse
HT: 6-2 WT: 180 POS: PG
(pick via New York Knicks)
Odds of winning lottery: 0.8 percent
Analysis: With Andre Miller gone, the Nuggets could use a full-time backup for Ty Lawson. Ennis would be a terrific fit. He gives the Nuggets a completely different pace, plays, for the most part, mistake-free basketball and has terrific poise for a player his age.
PLAYER CARD
12 - Dario Saric - Orlando Magic (23 - 59) COLLEGE: Croatia
HT: 6-10 WT: 223 POS: PF
(pick via Denver Nuggets)
Odds of winning lottery: 0.7 percent
Analysis: It looks unlikely that Saric will actually be able to come and play next year in the NBA. His father has been vocal that he doesn't believe Saric is ready, and they have, according to sources, a deal in principle with a team in Europe next year. But Saric's agent says that he's declaring for the draft, and if he decides to stay in, someone will grab him somewhere in the teens much like the Bulls did with Nikola Mirotic in 2011. He's one of the two or three most skilled forwards in the draft and represents great value here if a team is willing to be patient and wait a couple seasons before he comes. The Magic already have a top-3 pick and could afford to wait. The question is whether Saric will be happier going in the late-lottery or whether he'd like to pull out of the draft and try to be a top-10 pick in 2015.
13- Nik Stauskas - Minnesota Timberwolves (40 - 42) COLLEGE: Michigan HT: 6-6 WT: 190 POS: SG
Odds of winning lottery: 0.6 percent
Analysis: The Wolves' biggest need right now continues to be shooting. Stauskas is one of the true elite shooters in the draft. He has unlimited range, a super-quick release, and as a bonus, he can play point guard in a pinch.
14 - Zach LaVine - Phoenix Suns (48 - 34) COLLEGE: UCLA
HT: 6-5 WT: 180 POS: PG
Odds of winning lottery: 0.5 percent
Analysis: LaVine is a swing-for-the-fences pick. He has the chance to be a home run down the road. He's blessed with both elite athleticism and an awesome jump shot. His body and decision-making skills aren't ready for the NBA yet, but he has tremendous upside for a player drafted this late.
15 - James Young - Atlanta Hawks (38 - 44) COLLEGE: Kentucky
HT: 6-7 WT: 200 POS: SF
Analysis: The Hawks have been looking for another wing man, and Young has tremendous upside here. If he had shot the ball more consistently as a freshman, he would have been gone six to eight spots higher. Still, scouts are convinced there's nothing wrong with his stroke, and given a little more time, he could be very effective at stretching defenses.
