NBA Mock Draft 2014

The following is an exchange between the contributors of this blog.  Each person made alternating picks for the first round of the NBA draft.  Here are the results...

JOEL: Pick 1, Clevland Cavaliers

Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas.

I think the noise around Wiggins teammate Joel Embiid is a smokescreen. Wiggins has the highest potential in this draft, even if he didn't quite live up too the hype at Kansas. Length, athleticism and skill (not to mention health) make this pick easy for the Cavs.

Athletes that long and skilled just don't come around very often

ANDY: Pick 2, Milwaukee Bucks

i'm gonna take jabari parker here. he's the most nba ready guy in the draft and lets face it, most of the bucks roster isn't nba ready. i could really go anywhere with this pick as far as needs on the roster but i'm taking jabari and i'm feeling good if i'm the bucks.

How many guys on the planet can make this kind of play? Lebron, Westbrook, Drurant, and the list runs pretty short after that.

MATT: Pick 3, Philadelphia 76ers

So at 3, the 76ers trade the rights of the pick to Boston for Jeff Green, the 6th pick, and Brooklyn's future first. Boston pulls the trigger on Embiid in hopes he stays healthy (as they already have a big man with a bad back on the roster in Sullinger) and they free up enough space to bring in Melo and maybe another big name to play with Rondo and Bradley. Maybe Love.

JOEL: Pick 4: Orlando Magic.

Dante Exum, PG, Somewhere in Austrailia?

This may not be a familiar name to college basketball fans in the US, but this kid is the real deal. 6'6 super athletic point guard with excellent court vision. Paired with last year's top pick Victor Oladipo, Orlando now has the most athletic backcourt in the league. Shooting is a concern, but the matchup problems make it worth while.

Pictured: Exum. Probably. No one has ever actually seen him to confirm or deny the rumors

ANDY: Pick 5: Utah Jazz

Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

I like Utah's young guys like Hayward and Burke. Randle is another NBA ready guy that should contribute right way. He'll have no trouble scoring, I'm just a little concerned with his defense.

Small adendum: I was intrigued by Noah Vonleh here, but I felt like Randle is more of a known commodity.

Pictured: A Grown Man.

MATT: Pick 6, Philadelphia 76ers (from Boston)

Philly happily takes Noah Vonleh here. After filling a need at 3 with Green, they need post scoring. Noel will never have the offensive game Noah V has now and can develop into. With another pick coming at 10, this is a good pick for the 76ers.

JOEL: Pick 7: LA Lakers

Marcus Smart, PG/SG Oklahoma St.

Lets face it, the Lakers have needs at every position. Paying $60 million for 6 games of Kobe Bryant THAT THE DIDN'T NEED TO PAY HIM doesn't help too much either. Steve Nash is done, and if you don't believe that ESPN put out a documentary that was like "watch how done Steve Nash is." This saddended me. Anyway all that to say this. Marcus Smart is a beast and a great building block for a team. Probably would have gone No. 1 overall last year, still just as talented except for the guys in front of him are a little better.

We've got lots of dunk highlights coming up for you, so here's Smart D ing up some Wiggins. Smart may be in the NBA's top five defenders and the shooting guard position as soon as he steps on the court.

ANDY: Pick 8: Sacramento Kings

Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona

A little bit of a project. He's got great athleticism. He'll be a beast of a rebounder and shot blocker. If he can improve his shooting touch, he could be a real force. In the meantime, the Kings get his aforementioned skill set and a guy that can really rock the rim when he does score.

Gordon's the kind of guy who can go up for an alley oop, adjust his position and have a sandwich before dunking

MATT: Pick 9, Charlotte Hornets

Tough call, as the tier 2 of guys is all gone. After missing on Morrison, I think McBuckets is out of the question, so the pick is Stauskas. A wing with a sweet stroke who can hit jumpers. Something the cats/hornets have never had.

No defenders sure, but that's still 46 in a row, if you're counting at home

JOEL: Pick 10 76ers

Doug McDermott, SF/PF, Creighton

So if you're keeping track at home, Philly's lineup looks like: PG: MCW PF Jeff Green, C: Nerlens Noel. This a defensively stout unit that is going to have trouble scoring. Add in Doug McDermott, who is without question the most polished scorer in this draft. Certainly some of Dougie Fresh's game will be lost at the NBA level (namely, the ability to get to the rim) but that jump shot and mid range game is worth 15 ppg easy forI ja career. With that many athletes already on the roster Mcdermott can play the 3 or come off the bench at the 4.

I just kind of like the idea that even one of the whitest players ever has a hip hop style Mix tape. He's clearly got some NBA level moves.

ANDY: Pick 11: Denver Nuggets

Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State

Denver is a great scoring team. I really think they need someone down low who can block some shots and am a little dissapointed with Kenneth Faried in that regard. I think Harris provides them with good perimiter defense and a decent ability to score as well. I doubt Denver wants Randy Foye to be the long term solution at SG so I like Harris at this pick.

MATT: Pick 12, Orlando Magic

Dario Saric, PF, Europe

Orlando, with an attempt to trade back, has to stick in and take Dario Saric. Now with Exum, Olidipo, and Afflalo on the roster, they need size in a bad way. Saric has a good game, good size, and can score. He goes higher than this if he were in the US now, but 12 is a good pick for someone who may wait and come over in another year.

JOEL: Pick 13, T Wolves

Zach LaVine, SG, UCLA

At this point in the draft you run out of guys you are for sure are going to help you. Might as well roll the dice on one of the higest upside players in the draft. LaVine will compare to Russell Westbrook for his position, athletcism, and alma mater. He's got all the tools, but did a lot of disappearing in his only season at UCLA. Will he be Westbrook? Gerald Green? Who knows, but he's one of the last guys in this draft you can ask that type of question about.

I usually don't care for workout videos of a guy alone in the gym, but that's exactly what's going to get LaVine drafted. Crazy hops.

ANDY: Pick 14: Phoenix Suns

TJ Warren, SF, NC State

Warren was an elite scorer his last year in college. I don't think he will be quite as prolific in the pros, but I do think he should be able to become a dependable threat on the offensive end. He needs to improve his shooting range and defense, but I think he fits in well at the 3 for Phoenix. I also think James Young could be a good fit here if they wanted to go with a smaller 3 that can shoot from deep. Either way, they will get a scorer.

MATT: Pick 15, Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks go with James Young at 15. He can score, gives them good size at 6'9" at the 3, and is a HUGE upgrade from Carroll. Cannot ask for much more than a guy who could compete for the starting roll at this point.

JOEL: Pick 16: Chicago Bulls (via Hornets , thanks Tyrus Thomas )

Rodney Hood, SF, Duke

The bulls struggled to fill the SF spot this year after giving Loual (SP?) Deng away in free agency. Ironically enough the replace the spot with another rangy duke product at the same position. Rodney hood can shoot and slash, if he gets in the gym (and forgets the woeful flopping lessons coach K no doubt taught him) he might actually be able to defend.

Maybe not Hood, but he comes from a long line of storied floppers

ANDY: Pick 17: Boston Celtics

Cleanthony Early PF/SF, Wichita State

Early really made a name for himself during the Shocker's magical year. Could be a reach here, but I think he can play as a small 4 or a big 3 and be a reliable scorer that can stretch the defense out a little. Rebounds fairly well, but may be a little slow on the defensive end. Plus, if the Celtics don't make a move on Melo this gets them a scorer at the 3, and even if they do get him, they can slide him down low.

Did you guys catch this during the tournament? Nasty.

MATT: Pick 18, Phoenix Suns

Suns go with Adiren Payne. A big man who can knock down jumpers is big in that offense. Myles Plumlee can bang inside, Payne can knock down jumpers. Both look like they are 40 but are very skilled

JOEL: Pick 19: Chicago Bulls

Elfrid Payton, PG Lousiana Lafayette

PG from a mid major school, but he's got a lot of tools that may translate to the NBA level. Namely, he's got a wicked, iverson-esque crossover. Could be Derrick Rose insurance if the oft injured star can't come back from his multiple injuries.

In the words of Chris Berman. WOop! WOOP!

ANDY: Pick 20: Toronto Raptors

Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse

Kyle Lowry will be a free agent and it's possible that if Toronto can't bring him back they will need a replacement. Ennis was downright special during Syracuse's early season dominance. I don't think he will immediately be able to replace the scoring that Lowry provides, but I expect Ennis to be a solid NBA point guard. I think Toronto would be happy to get a player this good at 20.

MATT: Pick 21, Oklahoma City

Okc at 21 goes KJ McDaniels. You get a super athletic guy who can play in a system that fits him great. Learn from the best in Durant's and Westbrook. Solid pick for okc

This is also pretty much what it looks like when blog contributors Matt, Joel and Andy play pickup ball

JOEL: Pick 22, Memphis Grizzles

Jusuf Nurkic C, Somewhere in Eastern Europe

In Soviet Russia, Basketball dunks YOU. Memphis already has nice depth up front with Marc Gasol (and maybe brother Pau joining in free agency? Like the Spanish Wayans brothers of basketball) but at this point you have to go BPA. Nurkic is enormous, and that's all we know. but 7'0, 280 is not a small human being. STRONG LIKE BEAR

He should probably be drafted for this picture alone. Got to love Europeans. Does anybody else picture this guy talking like Borat?

ANDY: Pick 23: Utah Jazz

PJ Hairston, SG, North Carolina

PJ Hairston demonstrated a great scoring ability in college and during the time he spent in the D-League. Will probably need to become a better ball handler and develop an ability to score in the lane, but should parlay his shooting ability into a lucrative career.

This picture no doubt fills Matt with sadness.

MATT: Pick 24: Charlotte Hornets

CJ Wilcox, SG, Washington

With Hairston just out of reach here, the Hornets are still in need of some shooting help. WIlcox had a good workout for the team and has deep range on his jumper. At 6'5", he gives them an athletic, high IQ player at the 2 spot who, most important for this system, will play well above average D. Give him 2 more inches and he goes in the top 15

JOEL: Pick 25, Houston Rockets

Kyle Anderson Pick 25

Really a goofy kind of player. A 6'8 point guard with zero athleticsim. somebody will be intrigued though. Could be interesting?

Note: this video is not in slow motion. I'm not sure there's any difference between running and walking for Kyle Anderson. Still, manages to drop 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in this game.

ANDY: Pick 26: Miami Heat

Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut

Mario Chalmers will be a free agent after the Heat are done getting stomped by the Spurs. At any rate, I think the Heat could upgrade at the position. Napier is a good shooter and for lack of a better term, he's just a gamer

Gamer Indeed.

MATT: Pick 27: Phoenix Suns

Glen Robinson III, SF, Michigan

After 2 picks already in this draft, they can be a little aggressive here and take a risk. Robinson played a lot of the 4 spot in college but does not have the size to do that in the NBA. Shooting is a little off at times, but he is smart, super athletic, and can score inside and out when he is feeling it. Could be a starter at some point in his career

JOEL: Pick 28: Clippers

JAMES MICHAEL F ING MCADOO

this is a joke

Everybody knows Mcadoo is destined for great things, maybe as a volleyball player?

Pick 28: Clippers

Thanasis Antetokounmpo- His brother got drafted last year to be an athletic guy no one has ever heard of, and he's much in the same mold. Besides, look at how many letters he has in his name and he's Greek. Got to be worth something

Pictured: also included in this draft pick, John Stamos promos all year.

ANDY: Pick 29: Oklahoma City

Jerami Grant, PF, Syracuse

Excellent athlete who can run the floor. Needs to be a better shooter and more consistent on the glass. Not ready to be a regular contributor right now but is a guy with potential.

MATT: Pick 30, San Antonio Spurs

Vasilije Micic, Serbia

He is a young, 6'4" PG who is one of the more creative passers in the draft. He is also super competitive and loves to win. The Spurs will do what they always do here, draft and stash. Keep this kid overseas like they have with so many players in the past and bring him in behind Parker for a couple seasons.

What? Of course we knew were Serbia was before Googling.