Note: Lottery has not happened yet so order is projected on record
Pick 1) Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis 6’10” 220 PF/C Kentucky Freshman
14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.7 Blocks
No brainer pick at number one. Great defensive presence and should help this team pick up some more wins next year.
Pick 2) Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6’7” 210 SF Kentucky Freshman
11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists
I would not be shocked if they went Thomas Robinson, another good pick. However, Gilchrist will love playing with John Wall. They could be a great tandem for many years to come.
Pick 3) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal 6’4” 207 SG Florida Freshman
14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Would be a solid fit for this team, but if they go big man I see them picking Drummond. Cavaliers are a talented young team and only a few players away from being a late seed playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
Pick 4) New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson 6’8” 240 PF Kansas Junior
17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Robinson has great athleticism and strength and would be a good compliment to Eric Gordon. Thomas Robinson’s great season and great tournament run really helped him move up draft boards.
Pick 5) Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond 6’10” 270 PF UConn Freshman
10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2/7 blocks
Drummond didn’t really live up to the hype in his freshman year but he has a lot of potential. I think a Drummond and Cousins combo would be dominant. Keep in mind Cousins asked for a trade so Drummond could also serve as his replacement.
Pick 6) Portland Trail Blazers (from New Jersey): Jared Sullinger 6’9” 265 PF Ohio State Sophomore
17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds
Sullinger would have been a clear top 5 pick last year, could drop further this year but I love his post game and think he would be a great player for the Trail Blazers.
Pick 7) Golden State Warriors (could go to the Utah Jazz): Harrison Barnes 6’8” 215 SF UNC Sophomore
17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1 assist
Barnes is too good to pass up here. I love his offensive game but want to see him be more clutch in the big game. He is another guy with a whole lot of potential.
Pick 8 ) Toronto Raptors: Kendall Marshall 6’4” 197 PG UNC Freshman
7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists
Marshall is a great point guard and leader. UNC was not the same team without him. He would be a great replacement if solid PG Jose Calderon leaves. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Marshall’s teammate John Henson here too.
Pick 9) Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones III 6’11” 235 SF Baylor Sophomore
14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
I liked him better last year but I still think he has a lot of potential. Jones is another guy who can disappear in the big game. Detroit has some nice young pieces so Jones would help.
Pick 10) New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota): Damian Lillard 6’2” 190 PG Weber State Junior
24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Lillard is great athletic point guard who can shoot. Kind of reminds me of a Russell Westbrook. A trio of Eric Gordon, Thomas Robinson, and Damian Lillard could quickly get a lot of attention in the league.
Pick 11) Portland Trail Blazers: Jeremy Lamb 6’5” 185 SG UConn Sophomore
17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Lamb is great at creating his own shot and will immediately come in as one of their leading scorers. He will also help the fans in Portland to forget about Brandon Roy.
Pick 12) Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson 6’10” 220 PF UNC Junior
13.8 points, 10.1 rebound, 2.9 blocks
Henson is a great defender but needs to put on some muscle. Could be a great player in this league in a few years and will play well off of Brandon Jennings.
Pick 13) Phoenix Suns: Terrence Jones 6’9” 244 SF Kentucky Sophomore
12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
If he was more consistent he would be a higher pick but Jones still has a lot of potential. He is also very unselfish and good at playing with others.
Pick 14) Houston Rockets: Arnett Moultrie 6’10” 230 PF Mississippi St. Junior
15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
I kept going back and forth between Moultrie and Tyler Zeller here. I like Moultrie a lot and will come in and really help their front court.
Pick 15) Philadelphia 76ers: Meyers Leonard 7’ 245 C Illinois Sophomore
13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks
The Sixer’s can use another big man but he will take a few years to get in his zone. If they go guard I see them going with Terrence Ross.
Brought to you by FanSpeak.com
It’s often a conceptual argument. Is experience and productivity more important than raw talent and potential? It’s a vague question. You can ask almost anybody that, not just sports fans, but never is it more relevant than the NBA Draft.
Out of principle, who would select a player who hasn’t proven anything over an established presence? It’s like supporting laziness, leaving school early and not trying until you get the big money, but in a league where the stars that dominate are in their 20’s, it’s hard to not see that choosing a younger player with unlimited skill is the wrong option. Especially if you believe in your coaching staff. You get an extra couple years to develop under the team’s guidanc, but the problem with the system is that we classify and group these players with such carelessness that their stuck inside a box before they even know where they are.
