Rav
Years ago
Chad Ford - 2014 NBA Mock Draft 6.0
Chad Ford latest mock draft based on the results of the lottery today.
As a magic fan, I would love to see Exum in Orlando!!!!
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1) Andrew Wiggins Cleveland Cavaliers (33 - 49) COLLEGE: Kansas HT: 6-8 WT: 200 POS: SG
The Cavs win the lottery for the third time in four years. That is pretty incredible. They hit a home run with Kyrie Irving and screwed it up with Anthony Bennett. There are no guarantees that Luol Deng is going to sign with them this summer and Parker brings high character and a versatile scoring threat. Joel Embiid is another guy to watch here. Anderson Varejao is 32 years old. They need a long-term replacement. But will Dan Gilbert have the patience to wait? I thought they'd to go safe and bring in Jabari Parker. However, sources in Cleveland say that Wiggins is the likely choice. The team feels he has the most long-term potential, helps them defensively right out of the gate, can replace Dion Waiters in the starting lineup while adding character to the team.
2) Joel Embiid Milwaukee Bucks (15 - 67) COLLEGE: Kansas HT: 7-0 WT: 250 POS: C
The Bucks really liked Embiid before his back injury. But there are questions about whether they will actually be able to get him in for a physical before the draft. If they can, he is likely the No. 1 pick with Wiggins off the board. If they cannot, Parker or Dante Exum could move into this spot. Parker is the safe pick, but there are concerns that he plays the same position as Giannis Antetokounmpo. Exum could be their point guard of the future, as they would like to move Brandon Knight to the 2.
3) Jabari Parker Philadelphia 76ers (19 - 63) COLLEGE: Duke HT: 6-8 WT: 241 POS: SF
Not an ideal set-up for the Sixers who were after Wiggins. But Parker gives the a terrific scoring option to pair with their young athletes in Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel. Parker could average 20 PPG as a rookie in Philly. Look for Dante Exum to be a real possibility here, too. They could end up shopping Carter-Williams or just pairing the two together in the backcourt.
4) Dante Exum Orlando Magic (23 - 59)COLLEGE: Australia HT: 6-6 WT: 196 POS: PG
The Magic want a point guard and I think Exum would be a good long-term fit next to Victor Oladipo. Neither is a pure point guard and neither is a great shooter, but they offer length and the ability to get to the basket. Both still have a lot of room to improve. Marcus Smart is also a possibility here, though it might be a bit high.
5) Noah Vonleh Utah Jazz (25 - 57) COLLEGE: Indiana HT: 6-10 WT: 247 POS: PF
Jazz fans have to be devastated. They have zero shot of landing Jabari Parker here. And their other targets are all gone as well. They do not really need another power forward, but at this point, that is the value left on the board. Vonleh has the ability to stretch the floor should be intriguing to the Jazz.
6) Aaron Gordon Boston Celtics (25 - 57) COLLEGE: Arizona HT: 6-9 WT: 220 POS: PF
The Celtics will likely shop this pick, though at No. 6 I am not sure exactly what they can get for it. They have been high on Gordon for a while, and I think this would be a very good fit for them. Offensively he is a bit raw, but I think his intangibles as a defender and energy guy will make up for a lot of that. He changes the game with his athleticism in ways that are hard to quantify.
7) Julius Randle Los Angeles Lakers (27 - 55) COLLEGE: Kentucky HT: 6-9 WT: 234 POS: PF
Look for the Lakers to start shopping this pick. If they had stayed in the top 3, they might have hung onto it, but at No. 7 the interest will be in trying to turn this pick and other assets into a veteran such as Kevin Love. If they keep the pick, they'll want a player who can come in and contribute from the start. Randle, along with Parker, might be the most NBA-ready freshman in the draft. With the Lakers' entire front line heading into free agency this summer (including Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman and Jordan Hill), L.A. is going to have a lot of needs up front.
8) Marcus Smart Sacramento Kings (28 - 54) COLLEGE: Oklahoma State HT: 6-3 WT: 227 POS: PG
The Kings are obsessed with analytics, and by just about every metric out there, Smart is one of the top three players in this draft. Smart fits a need on multiple levels for the Kings. Isaiah Thomas was good for the Kings this year, but ultimately they think he's a backup. Smart's size and basketball IQ are major upgrades at the position. But it's Smart's toughness, leadership, competitiveness and a desire to win at any cost that could transform the culture in Sacramento.
9) Doug McDermott Charlotte Hornets (43 - 39) COLLEGE: Creighton HT: 6-8 WT: 218 POS: SF
A very tough outcome for the Pistons who have to send this pick to the Hornets as part of the deal that shipped out Ben Gordon. Could McBuckets really go this high? Consider the situation. The Hornets desperately need shooting and scoring out of their small forward position. This might be a little high for McDermott, but his athletic numbers at the combine gave teams a little more leeway to take him this high and he is a good fit in Charlotte. The team is already loaded with athletes, they just need shooters with great basketball IQs. I think McDermott or Stauskas, either one, could end up here.
10) Nik Stauskas Philadelphia 76ers (19 - 63) COLLEGE: Michigan HT: 6-7 WT: 207 POS: SG
The Sixers addressed their frontcourt needs with their first pick, but they still need shooting. Stauskas is not only, arguably, the best shooter in the draft, but he has the ability to play both the one and the two, giving the Sixers a great 2 guard plus depth behind Carter-Williams.
11) Gary Harris Denver Nuggets (36 - 46) COLLEGE: Michigan State HT: 6-5 WT: 205 POS: SG
Randy Foye is coming off a career year, and they have Evan Fournier as a backup, but Harris is a potential upgrade over both players. Not only can he score from anywhere on the floor and play both the 1 and the 2, but he's one of the few lockdown defenders in the draft.
12) Dario Saric Orlando Magic (23 - 59) COLLEGE: Croatia HT: 6-10 WT: 223 POS: PF
This is Orlando's second lottery pick, so they can afford to gamble a little bit here. Saric's situation remains cloudy. Will he be coming to the NBA next season or is he staying in Europe for a few more years? If he can assure teams he is coming to the NBA next season, he could go this high or higher. He is an amazing talent and with so many athletes on the roster already, getting someone as skilled as Saric to help facilitate things would be a terrific fit in Orlando.
13) Adreian Payne Minnesota Timberwolves (40 - 42) COLLEGE: Michigan State HT: 6-10 WT: 239 POS: PF
The Wolves are going to have to trade Kevin Love. He won't re-sign in Minnesota next season, which means they have to get something for him now or risk losing him for nothing next summer. So while perimeter shooting remains a must, they also will need help replacing Love in the frontcourt. The good news is that Payne offers something of both. Not only is he ready to step in and play in the paint from day one, but he's also a terrific shooter with NBA 3-point range who can really stretch the floor.
14) Zach LaVine Phoenix Suns (48 - 34) COLLEGE: UCLA HT: 6-6 WT: 181 POS: PG
The Suns already have two combo guards in their starting line with Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe, but I don't think they'll hesitate to pull the trigger on LaVine if he's on the board. He has as much upside as anyone in the draft. He gives them another lethal shooter and should find minutes given that the Suns' backcourt lacks any real depth at either the 1 or the 2.
15) James Young Atlanta Hawks (38 - 44) COLLEGE: Kentucky HT: 6-8 WT: 213 POS: SF
The Hawks have been looking for another wing, and Young has tremendous upside here. If he had shot the ball more consistently as a freshman, he would have been selected 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 a very effective defense stretcher.
