NBA Mock Draft 2013

Bold 2013 NBA Mock Draft – First Round Picks

My favorite time of the year has always been the Summer’s NBA Draft. Something about the way a bunch of ping pong balls can determine the fate of a franchise and fanbase for better or for worse intrigues me. Unfortunately for draft observers like myself who enjoy the star-studded classes of the past, this draft suffers from a lack of All-Star caliber players and household names.

What this draft does possess is depth and elite athleticism, as several of this year’s top prospects posted record-breaking numbers at the annual NBA Draft combine. No one can predict what the future holds for this incoming class of first-year players, but one thing is certain: the unpredictability starts at the top.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Nerlens Noel, 6-11, C/PF, Kentucky

In one of the most uncertain drafts in years, it is fitting that the drafts top prospect comes with just as many question marks. Noel is coming off a less than stellar freshman campaign at Kentucky that was cut short due to a season ending ACL tear. Before the injury, Noel was clearly the best freshman in the country with his ability to alter shots, run the floor and dominate the paint with ease.

With the memories of former injury-prone number one overall pick Greg Oden still fresh in GM’s heads, it wouldn’t shock me if the Cavs surprised many observers and draft the much safer wing player in McLemore instead.

2. Orlando Magic

Ben McLemore, 6-6, SG/SF, Kansas

McLemore’s inspirational story growing up as an impoverished youth before blossoming as a freshman sensation at Kansas is nothing short of amazing. However some critics view this as a potential weakness as McLemore often deferred to his older teammates despite being the most talented player on the floor at all times. McLemore has prototypical size for a shooting guard and has the elite athleticism and skills to play small forward if needed. If he can develop a killer-instinct and put a team on his back, he has All-Star potential.

3. Washington Wizards

Otto Porter, 6-9, SF, Georgetown

Porter makes too much sense here, as he fits the Wizards need for a do everything small forward with size. The fact that Porter has been a locally popular figure playing for nearby Georgetown, it would be very surprising if the Wizards opted to go another direction. The only knock on Porter may be his limited upside, but there is no doubt he will make an impact on the next level.

4.Charlotte Bobcats

Alex Len, 7-1, C, Maryland

The Bobcats, er, should we say Hornets? missed out on their center of the future in Anthony Davis last year, but will gladly settle for another skinny, yet promising big man in Alex Len. Len is a highly-skilled 7-footer who can block shots, run the floor and even shoot threes if need be. If he can prove that he isn’t soft in the paint, Len could have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft.

The Bobcats have been rumored to be making a big play to acquire troubled Kings’ center DeMarcus Cousins. Whether or not a trade ends up coming to fruition, the Bobcats seem intent on landing a talented center to build their team around.

5. Phoenix Suns

Victor Oladipo, 6-5, SG, Indiana

Oladipo is the typical late bloomer who exploded on the scene for the Hoosiers in his junior season, and has since risen into the Top 5 of the Draft, not unlike Cleveland’s surprise selection of Dion Waiters a year ago . He showed flashes of the type of explosive guard he can be all season, and compares favorably in size to Dwyane Wade with a little bit of Russell Westbrook in terms of his ability to attack the rim. If Oladipo is available here, the Suns will not be shy to pull the trigger.

6. New Orleans Pelicans

Trey Burke, 6-0, PG, Michigan

Burke had a nice Tournament run as he and the Wolverines fell one game shy of a national title to Louisville. Burke played well all season long and proved to many scouts that he was one of the top point guards in the country, including several player of the year honors. The only knock on Burke has been his size, as he stands only 6 ft. tall and just shy of 200 lbs.

The Austin Rivers experiment has been less than promising and New Orleans could use a guard with star potential. Even though the Pelicans have several guards, I see them going with the most talented player here and adding depth to their squad. Michael Carter-Williams may land in this spot as he is currently enjoying a late surge up teams’ draft boards.

7. Sacramento Kings

Anthony Bennett, 6-8, SF/PF, UNLV

Simply put, Bennett is a manchild at 6-8 250 lbs., making him one of the most NBA ready prospects in the Draft. His versatility and scoring ability is what really makes him intriguing as he has the build of a power forward but the skills of a wing player. The Kings need immediate help in a lot of areas and are likely to take a long look at Michael Carter-Williams if he is available at their selection. With a new ownership group, head coach and stadium on the horizon, Sacramento cannot afford to miss on this pick.

8. Detroit Pistons

Michael Carter-Williams, 6-6, PG, Syracuse

Let’s face it, Brandon Knight had a forgetful season last year (Kyrie Irving didn’t help his cause), and there are still questions about whether he is the long term answer at point guard. Many experts including myself, agree that Knight is more effective playing off the ball. Michael Carter-Williams out of Syracuse is a unique point guard with tremendous size who is much better suited at running a team then the aforementioned Knight. He is a pass first playmaker who can see over defenses and pick them apart. Think of a more athletic Shaun Livingston with a better jump shot.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

C.J. McCollum, 6-3, PG/SG, LeHigh

The McCollum/Rubio tandem may be too good to ignore, as the LeHigh guard could start putting up points opposite Rubio from day one. McCollum shocked many draft experts when he decided to come back for another year despite dispatching an Austin Rivers led Duke team in the NCAA tournament. It was there that McCollum displayed veteran poise and basketball IQ beyond his years despite coming from a small, under the radar school like LeHigh. It would not surprise me at all if McCollum was the NBA Rookie of the Year a la Damian Lillard from Weber State.

10. Portland Trail Blazers

Cody Zeller, 7-0, PF/C, Indiana

Zeller has a chance to be taken much earlier in the draft, as early as No.7 overall to Sacramento, but I will play devil’s advocate here. Something tells me that Zeller will slip a few spots in the draft, despite the fact that he posted outstanding measurements at the NBA Draft combine. It was there which Zeller recorded a jaw-dropping 35.5 inch standing vertical jump, which was the highest ever recorded for a player over 6-9 at the combine (Take that Blake Griffin!). The only knock on Zeller seems to be his short arms which could put him at a slight disadvantage at the NBA level.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

Kelly Olynyk, 7-0, C, Gonzaga

Olynyk is a highly-skilled center who can beat you in a number of ways. If drafted, he would be an immediate breath of fresh air that could take some pressure of the front office’s complete fleecing in the Andrew Bynum trade. Olynyk is extremely fluid for a 7-footer and can pass very well from the center position. The 76ers could opt to trade out of this pick, as a they might be better served bringing in a veteran who could contribute to this playoff team on the rise.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

Steven Adams, 7-0, C, Pittsburgh

The Thunder appear to be ready to ship Kendrick Perkins out of town and could package this pick in order to sweeten the deal for a potential trade partner. If they decide not to include this pick, Pittsburgh’s Steven Adams makes sense here as a raw center prospect with great size and defensive ability. Expectations should be tempered however, as Adams was inconsistent at times during his lone season at Pitt. Thunder GM Sam Presti hopes that Adams does not turn into a repeat of former first round pick Byron Mullens, who has yet to deliver on his potential.

13. Dallas Mavericks

Dennis Schroeder, 6-3, PG, Germany

Schroeder is a Rajon Rondo clone with inferior passing ability but a much better jump shot. It is no surprise that many around the league have heard that Schroeder has a promise from the Celtics who are drafting at No. 16. The Mavericks may be willing to gamble (no pun intended), to get their point guard of the future. Something tells me that the German sensation will have a much easier time adjusting to NBA life with fellow compatriot Dirk Nowitzki there to keep him on the right track.

14. Utah Jazz

Kentavious Caldwell Pope, 6-6, SG, Georgia

KCP was a do-everything star for Georgia who has been rising up draft boards as of late. He is probably the one player with the biggest range in this draft, as he could go as high as the Pistons at No.8 or slide to his hometown Hawks with back to back to picks late in the first round. Former top shooting guard prospect Alec Burks has not shown the ability to provide consistent scoring in his two seasons with the Jazz. Drafting KCP could certainly be the writing on the wall for the young guard out of Colorado.

– End of Lottery –

15. Milwaukee Bucks

Shane Larkin, 6-0, PG, Miami

Brandon Jennings already has one foot out the door, and Monta Ellis could be right behind him. Larkin is a cat-quick, albeit undersized point guard who has enough star-power (He’s the son of baseball hall of famer Barry Larkin) to keep Bucks fans in the seats. If Jennings goes, it makes sense for the Bucks to draft a talented young point guard they can groom into a seasoned floor general.

16. Boston Celtics

Mason Plumlee, 6-11, C, Duke

Doesn’t Plumlee just look like a Celtic? Mason had a solid 4-year career at Duke and is easily the most talented of the Plumlee brothers. His older brother Miles was a first round pick of the Indiana Pacers last year but played sparingly in his rookie season, while younger brother Marshall has yet to have much of an impact for the usually loaded Duke front court. With Kevin Garnett likely out the door in Boston, it would make sense for the Celtics to find immediate production at this pick or use it in a trade to acquire veteran help.

17. Atlanta Hawks

Sergey Karasev, 6-7, SF, Russia

The 19 year old from Russia has opted to stay in the NBA Draft, despite flirting with returning to Russia before a series of successful NBA workouts convinced him to stay in. There has been much speculation about a first round guarantee, with the Hawks being the prime candidate for his selection. His extremely high basketball IQ and dead-eye long range shooting will give him a chance to make an impact right away, but will need to bulk up to withstand the rigors of a long NBA season.

18. Atlanta Hawks

Gorgui Deng, 7-0, C, Louisville

Deng is extremely raw offensively but his worth is primarily on the defensive side of the ball, as evidenced in Louisville’s national championship season. Deng altered enough shots with his 7-4 wingspan to become a late first round pick. NBA comparison: Samuel Dalembert.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers

Shabazz Muhammad, 6-7, SG/SF, UCLA

Once slotted as a can’t miss Lottery pick, Muhammad’s red flags have caused him to slip out of that lofty projection and right into Cleveland’s hands. Scouts have knocked the fact that he tends to only be aggressive going to his left side, and he recently got caught lying about his age (He has recently admitted to being 20 years old, although the UCLA media guide has listed him as 19 all season). He also reportedly measured to be much shorter than his listed 6-7 height at the combine.

Despite the red flags, Shabazz has above-average athleticism and a game that fits very well in the NBA style of play. If the Cavs are able to nab Noel and Muhammad, their core nucleus of talent will be set for years to come.

20. Chicago Bulls

Allen Crabbe, 6-6, SG, California

The Bulls have been looking for their shooting guard of the future and may have found it in Cal’s Allen Crabbe. Crabbe can score in bunches and has prototypical size and length to be a disruptive force on the defensive end with the right coaching from Tom Thibodeau. Being mentored by one of the league’s savviest veterans like Rip Hamilton will only speed up the process.

21. Utah Jazz

Rudy Gobert, 7-2, C, France

Gobert is a project who may take a few season to develop. The one thing Gobert has going for him is his freakish 7-9 wingspan which allows him to alter shots and creates mismatches all over the floor. The Jazz have already spent time and resources developing top pick Enes Kanter and promising big man Derrick Favors who they acquired in the Deron Williams trade. That being said, his raw potential may be too much to pass up this late in the first round.

22. Brooklyn Nets

Tony Mitchell, 6-9, SF/PF, North Texas

Many draft experts would agree that Mitchell should have entered the draft after his solid Freshman season. Instead, Mitchell elected to come back for another year causing scouts to find holes in his game. Although he may not be as well-known as other first-round prospects, Mitchell will be selected thanks to his freakish athleticism, 7-3 wingspan and 38 in. max vertical jump.

23. Indiana Pacers

Glen Rice Jr., 6-6, SG/SF, Michigan

Although he was a Georgia Tech castoff due to a poor attitude among other unspecified reasons, Rice lit up the D-League playoffs and solidified his spot late in the first round. Rice has all the tools to make it on the next level, including NBA genes and smooth three-point shot.

24. New York Knicks

Jeff Withey, 7-0, C, Kansas

The Knicks and Withey make perfect sense here. Drafting Withey gives the Knicks much-needed size and depth behind Tyson Chandler. Withey spent four years at Kansas and will be able to make an impact right away. Expect Knicks fans to boo, as there will probably be a lot of more exciting picks available at this stage of the draft with higher upside than the 23 year-old Withey.

25. L.A. Clippers

Jamaal Franklin, 6-5, SG/SF, San Diego St.

Franklin was unable to compete at the combine due to a sprained ankle, however that should not deter teams late in the first round from taking a flyer on the talented junior out of SDSU. Franklin is a High IQ player and can score in several ways. His biggest attribute is his rebounding from the shooting guard position, where his 9.5 rpg put him second in the nation among guards. His upside is limited however, as he will turn 22 in July.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves

Reggie Bullock,6-6, SG, North Carolina

Bullock has had several impressive workouts as of late. With his impressive shooting stroke and UNC pedigree, Bullock is rising up the draft boards heading into the big day. Although he had a less-than-stellar career at UNC, playing for Roy Williams will certainly help his cause. Minnesota has been lacking dead-eye three point shooters for years and will likely take a long hard look at Bullock should he be available with this selection.

27. Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr., 6-5, SG, Michigan

Unlike his namesake, Jr. is a pure scorer who is well-suited for the shooting guard position in the NBA. His lack of explosive athleticism may be his only glaring weakness, but he should have a long and productive career in the NBA providing a scoring punch off the bench.

28. San Antonio Spurs

Lucas Nogueira, 7-0, PF/C, Brazil

Nogueira could end up going much earlier, but I will leave him at this slot as he is the quintessential Spurs draft pick in the Tiago Splitter mold. The Spurs could opt to stash him overseas for a season or two and let him develop, bringing him back in the fold as soon as Duncan decides to call it a career. His NBA comparison would be Nene.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder

Erick Green, 6-3, PG/SG, Virginia Tech

Green was the nation’s leading scorer as a senior with 25.0 ppg for Virginia Tech. At 6-3, 185 lbs., Green is a little undersize to be a shooting guard, and will likely have to learn the point guard ropes studying Russell Westbrook for a couple seasons. With Westbrook’s injury still fresh, it would make sense for the Thunder to pluck a high-scoring backup with this late round selection.

30. Phoenix Suns

Tony Snell, 6-7, SG/SF, New Mexico

Snell is a silky smooth shooting guard with an excellent long range stroke and good positional size at 6-7, 200 lbs. The Suns style of play is perfectly suited for a player like Snell, who could turn into the poor man’s version of Sun’s shooting great ‘Thunder’ Dan Majerle.