2014 NBA Draft Preview: The Cavaliers Parade of Hope Begins

The Spurs are world champions. They defeated the Miami Heat quickly in five games, causing every sports network in America to panic about the Heat's big three instead of honoring the magnificent season the Spurs just had with one of the deepest benches of the last decade. (BORIS DIAW FOR THE WIN!) San Antonio was playing the way they usually do with tons of passing and limited amount of highlight plays but one significant change that assisted the Spurs in mercy-killing Miami so soon was the addition of a potent three point shootout between Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and MVP Kawhi Leonard. It was a bit more fun to watch then the typical Spurs team but, without a fully-healthy, fully-exciting Tony Parker, it fell a tad bit short for me in terms of keeping the viewer's attention. It was not a great finals but San Antonio got their revenge.

Now that all of the series have been played, it's time for the awful teams to start getting loud again as the NBA Draft and most importantly, the NBA off-season are right around the corner before anybody recovers from the Finals hangover. First up: The 2014 NBA Draft June 26th on ESPN. It's time for the mock drafts to actually get some attention and I will throw my name into the ring of mock drafts. Please keep in mind that this is for entertainment purposes only. Don't go to Vegas with these picks or bet with other people on the results on the NBA Draft. I'm not ready to hold any responsibility for your foolishness to entrust me with making the correct draft picks here. Plus, all of these picks will probably be traded in the middle of the draft like they are every year. It's an unpredictable event that I'm going to try to predict. Wish me luck...

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - PG Dante Exum (Australia)

Yes Bill, I'm making my boldest call on my blog yet. Cleveland will shock everybody for the second consecutive draft by shitting on the common belief of everyone in the U.S. that Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid are the obvious first three picks. I like Dante Exum, but don't know how he fits in Cleveland. The pick makes very little sense, making it the ultimate Dan Gilbert move. Exum would join the likes of former top-five picks Anthony Bennett, Dion Waiters, and Tristan Thompson (oh yeah, and Kyrie Irving) on a roster headed nowhere. This will be the final straw for Kyrie Irving, convincing him to run away and run quickly.

2. Milwaukee Bucks - SF Jabari Parker (Duke)

"I seriously have to play alongside bar-fighting Larry Sanders?"

Milwaukee General Manager John Hammond is and always has been a "win-now" guy. He has never knowingly tanked (although he was outnumbered in deciding last year's fate). Between the big three of this draft, Parker is the most NBA ready and would fit in perfectly with the Bucks since they need everything. There's also a report out that Parker "tanked" his pre-draft workout with Cleveland because he WANTS to be a Milwaukee Buck. In other news, Jabari Parker is a robot programmed by John Hammond.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - SG Andrew Wiggins (Kansas)

The player with the highest ceiling is Pennsylvania-bound.

The 76ers could just choose to tank AGAIN and take an injured Joel Embiid and re-create the great new duo in twin towers Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. Andrew Wiggins is just too damn good to pass up. He has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft and would help Philly get close to the playoffs in the terrible Eastern Conference right away. Wiggins would immediately start, filling a need left empty by Evan Turner at Shooting Guard and would create the most exciting and first national broadcast-worthy 76ers team since the days of Allen Iverson. Picture this: ROTY Michael Carter-Williams, Wiggins, Thad Young, Nerlens, and -insert other 1st rounder here- as Philly's starting line-up. That's a potential top 3 team in the East three years down the road.

4. Orlando Magic - PF Aaron Gordon (Arizona)

The fact that Gordon looks like Blake Griffin only helps the comparisons.

All aboard the Aaron Gordon hype train (choo choo), I am the conductor. I don't think I've heard one single comparison for the former Arizona Power Forward this past year that was not Blake Griffin. Considering Griffin is coming off a top-3 MVP season, Orlando should pop champagne in the draft room as Aaron Gordon could be a franchise-altering pick. Orlando has all the pieces except they are missing a star. Gordon could be that star that catapults them from cellar-dweller to playoff-contender. Andrew Wiggins is all potential, Embiid is hurt, Parker's game might not translate to the NBA (as has been a problem for former Duke players), and Exum is Australian so nobody really knows as much about him. All Aaron Gordon requires is the eye test and he passes with flying colors. He is the most overlooked great basketball player in this draft.

5. Utah Jazz - PG/SG Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State)

In a roster full of young guys who have yet to reach their prime, one hole has yet to be successfully filled: Shooting Guard.

Marcus Smart was a Point Guard in college but with his size and the matter of how he plays, Smart appears to be more destined to become a two-guard. That fits perfectly into Utah's system as they have hope built around Center Enes Kanter, Power Forward Derrick Favors, Point Guard Trey Burke (who should only be a sixth man but that's another story), and Small Forward/Face of the Franchise Gordon Hayward. They also have a former lottery pick in Shooting Guard Alec Burks but rumor has it, Burks is on the trading block. This comes as a surprise to virtually nobody as he has begun to show flashes but with a new head coach and a team that still heavily struggled last season, somebody has to go. 

I could also see this pick being part of a trade either involving Alec Burks and/or Favors or involving them keeping the same line-up but trading down for a stronger bench. For the sake of this blog, I won't predict any draft day trades officially but will sort of *hint hint*  *wink wink* at a couple of alternate possibilities.

6. Boston Celtics - C Joel Embiid (Kansas)

One underrated aspect of this gif is the man in the bottom right corner's reaction who looks like he just watched (SPOILER ALERT) Todd go from playfully waving to shooting a kid on Breaking Bad.

There is no risk in Boston taking Embiid at number six overall, none at all... except they have to trade Rajon Rondo IMMEDIATELY. The way I see it is there are two scenarios for the Celtics in this draft:

1. Wait for the pick, see that it's Embiid, take Embiid. Later, trade Rondo to anyone who wants a Point Guard who just loves to boost his assist totals.

2. Wait for the pick, "oh crap, Embiid is gone". Package this pick along with Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger, 2015 & 16 1st's or the #17 pick later in this draft and one of 15/16 (this might cause some issues on Boston's end) and probably one other guy (Brandon Bass? Gerald Wallace?) to Minnesota for Kevin Love. Your new Celtic line-up is: Rondo, Avery Bradley, Gerald Wallace? (trust me, this is me free-styling a trade offer off the top of my head, I have no idea if this works in any dimension), Love, and either Kelly Olynyk or Joel Anthony. That might be enough to get 5th in the East.

"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?" asked Avril Lavigne fan, Joel Embiid.

7. Los Angeles Lakers - PF Julius Randle (Kentucky)

Kelly Kline/ESPNHS
Closest non-photoshopped photo I could find of Randle in a Laker-colored uniform.

Pau Gasol is a free agent and I'm no expert but he's probably sick and tired of waiting around for Kobe to come back, losing, the Buss family, and the entire Laker hoopla that has taken place since their last championship. That would leave a gaping hole at Power Forward if Pau were to leave. Only five Lakers are under contract next season (Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Robert Sacre, Nick Young, and Kendall Marshall) and none are Power Forwards. Kobe and Nash are going to be shells of their former selves once they're finally healthy next year (IF they ever get healthy) and Nick Young is not the future of the franchise. Julius Randle is the perfect fit for this presently coach-less team. Although Kentucky coach John Calipari restricted Julius Randle's shooting abilities in his one season as a Wildcat, Randle can still shoot a nice LaMarcus Aldridge-esque jumper and has the capabilities to do every other obvious task that you would expect from a Power Forward (rebound, work inside the paint). Randle might be the guy who saves the Lakers from a dreaded stretch of multiple years of failure and overall dreariness ahead. 

8. Sacramento Kings - PG Zach LaVine (UCLA)

His 46-inch vertical has caught the fans' attention and might be too much for Sacramento to pass up.

Zach LaVine can fly like no other player in the draft. It might seem like a ridiculous comparison to make and convenient since both went to UCLA but LaVine's offensive skill-set reminds me of a less-confident (Read: less erratic) Russell Westbrook. LaVine has the upside of youth (19 years old) and his current problems with decision-making will figure themselves out after a season or two in Sacramento. LaVine's height could put him at either Point or Shooting Guard which is great for Sacramento because outside of Isaiah Thomas, the team doesn't have a clear starting guard (although Ben McLemore will certainly get his minutes). As much as my evil side wanted to have Marcus Smart and his over-exaggerated "anger issues" join the same team as Boogie Cousins, I just don't see him falling out of the top 7. 

This pick will definitely be up for discussion as a trade as one team will try to trade up for Noah Vonleh. NBA teams shouldn't draft for need and this is a "need" pick, Sacramento might be able to get LaVine at 11 or 12.

9. The New Charlotte Hornets - SF Doug McDermott (Creighton)

Dougie McBuckets gives the Hornets some much needed offense.

Out of all of the lottery picks, Doug McDermott is the least likely to become an all-star. The reason he is least likely though is because McDermott isn't supposed to be the greatest all-around player on your team instead, he does what he's good at (shooting) while the other four players on the court do everything else. This pick is a perfect fit for Charlotte as they need offense and Small Forward is a question mark position for them (MKG? Gerald Henderson?). This wouldn't be too much of a reach though as McDermott fits a perfect role for many teams that are lacking a consistent three-point shooter and I don't see Charlotte trading out especially since they just made the playoffs as a seven-seed.

10. Philadelphia 76ers - PF Noah Vonleh (Indiana)

Indiana may have missed March Madness but, they still have a top-10 pick in Noah Vonleh.

In a dream scenario, Philadelphia manages to keep Thaddeus Young, denying all trade offers and teams up Noah Vonleh with Young and the team gets to ease Nerlens Noel back to full basketball speed before the end of the season. This is only if the team does the typically correct move and targets the best player available instead of going after a need (Small Forward). The team should hold onto Thad Young until they are absolutely certain that Vonleh and Noel can manage to start in a contending line-up alongside Andrew Wiggins and Michael Carter-Williams. The Sixers really lucked (or sucked?) out by getting two more top ten picks.

Dario Saric would be the need pick here and would not shock me but if Vonleh is here, JUST DO IT SAM HINKIE!

11. Denver Nuggets - PG Elfrid Payton (Louisiana)

With his wild hair and New Orleans Hornets tattoo on his right shoulder, Payton is another intriguing member to add to a roster that already has JaVale McGee, Kenneth Faried, and tons of injuries.

Elfrid Payton is another need-pick but not a reach as the only players Denver would ignore by picking him are Gary Harris and Dario Saric. Nobody seems certain what the extent of Ty Lawson's foot problems last season are headed into the 2014-15 season and Nate Robinson is still out with his torn ACL. Sure, Randy Foye and Evan Fournier aren't bad but the Nuggets would like to add some extra insurance like they didn't have behind JaVale McGee last year or Danilo Gallinari the season before that. Payton only had one round to nationally showcase his talents in the round of 64 during March Madness but the kid has some real defensive potential, something Denver kind of needs right now.

12. Orlando Magic - PG Shabazz Napier (Connecticut)

Size was never a problem with Jameer Nelson and the Magic got ten years (and counting) out of him.

Being the NCAA March Madness Tournament's Most Outstanding Player typically boosts a players stock through the roof. Having four years of college experience doesn't hurt either. Oh, two championships you say? Yeah, Napier might not translate to the NBA that well but with his resume, it's going to be difficult for Orlando, a team that has started Jameer Nelson for the past decade and took a Power Forward with the fourth pick, to pass up on Shabazz Napier's hot streak. This could be the final piece for Orlando's line-up puzzle, making their starting five: Napier/Nelson, Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Gordon, Nikola Vucevic' assuming they trade Arron Afflalo to a team needing a Shooting Guard and they totally will. (Boston? Utah? Minnesota? Charlotte? Miami? there are tons of options out there.)

13. Minnesota Timberwolves - PF Dario Saric (Croatia)

"C'mon now. Really?"

Sometime between now (Monday night) and the draft, the Timberwolves will realize there's no way they're keeping Kevin Love past next season and will plan his replacement in the thinner, sharp-shooting Dario Saric. This pick makes very little sense for Minnesota, especially considering Saric just signed in Turkey and will spend a "minimum of 2 years" not in the NBA. Let me try to explain how this works...

1.) Embiid fell to Boston, they don't think they need Kevin Love and trade Rajon Rondo somewhere else (not Minnesota) instead.

2.) The Warriors think about the Klay Thompson & Harrison Barnes offer but decide to decline as the young combination of Thompson and Barnes is too much for a guy who's never made the playoffs. 

3.) Houston ends up getting caught up in trying to sign Carmelo Anthony or Lebron James that they decide to wait on Kevin Love until next season.

4.) Minnesota attracts zero free agents as they usually do and end up with the same tenth-seeded team for the five-hundredth year in a row. 

5.) They lose all hope on K-Love trade offers this week and wait until the trade deadline to bring up trade discussions again.

6.) Minnesota collectively sighs and selects Dario Saric so they at least feel like they have a replacement in line even though it'll take a top five pick for them to find another KG or KL.

"Playing with Ricky Rubio pleases me." Mikhail Prokhorov's evil son exclaimed while clapping with a fake smile and mo-hawk the likes of which Brandon Jennings is jealous of.

14. Phoenix Suns - SG Gary Harris (Michigan State)

The sleeper team of the off-season picks up a sleeper of a Guard who nobody will be sleeping on once he falls out of the top twelve picks.

Phoenix has a lot of good talent on their team and some impressive depth but with Power Forward/Center Channing Frye opting out of his contract, the team will lose their only consistent three-point shooter outside of all-star snub Goran Dragic. Gary Harris will add depth behind Dragic, Bledsoe, and Gerald Green, helping Phoenix land an 8-seed finish at least. Phoenix would be fine taking a James Young or even a Nik Stauskas here but the best player available is Gary Harris and with his potential, Harris will be a perfect fit for second-year Head Coach Jeff Hornaceck. 

15. Atlanta Hawks - SF James Young (Kentucky)

James Young caught the nation's eyes with his awareness and put-back dunks during March Madness.

James Young is going to be the best highlight-reel player the Hawks have had since all-star Josh Smith. This is a good thing because it gets the fans excited for an otherwise dull team and with James Young's solid offensive and defensive skills, he could help them improve from an eight-seed to a slightly higher seeding next postseason. James Young also fits perfectly in Atlanta's scheme as DeMarre Carroll is a solid NBA player but in no form should he be starting on a playoff team. James Young might be able to take over from day one or at least mid-way through the season as there's definitely room for improvement in his game.

16. Chicago Bulls - SG Nik Stauskas (Michigan)

Michigan's superstar offensive player doesn't leave far from home.

The Bulls have three potential free agents at the guard positions: D.J. Augustin, Kirk Hinrich, and Jimmer Fredette. The Bulls didn't get a lot of what they expected from Fredette and as a result, should let him walk. Nik Stauskas could fill Jimmer's role of three-point shooter efficiently alongside fellow outside threat, Mike Dunleavy Jr. Stauskas won't be a starter in the NBA and might just flame out the same way Jimmer did but if he reaches his full potential, we could be looking at a poor man's Glenn Robinson (Oh, the Michigan comparisons!). 

17. Boston Celtics - SG Rodney Hood (Duke)

In the scenario I have created, never has it been less-exciting for someone to be a Celtic.

Who's ready for another round of Andy Todd hypothetical draft scenarios?!

1.) The Celtics will trade Rondo, leaving Avery Bradley to re-take the Point Guard position.

2.) This pick could also be up for trade discussion as previously mentioned in a Kevin Love draft-day trade scenario but only IF Joel Embiid doesn't fall to Boston at #6.

3.) Once both these things happen (and neither will because NBA drafts are impossible to predict, ESPECIALLY trades), Boston will have a hole to fill at Shooting Guard and won't want to completely embarrass themselves by taking another project-in-waiting in Bosnian Center Jusuf Nurkic. As a result, Boston takes the aggressive Shooting Guard from Duke who would form a perfect cellar-dweller tank-fest of a team starring: Bradley, Hood, Olynyk, Sullinger, Gerald Wallace, an injured Joel Embiid and Joel Anthony. I'm sorry, Brad Stevens. This is just the way things have to be when you coach too well to finish in the bottom three of the standings.

18. Phoenix Suns - PF Adreian Payne (Michigan State)

All aboard the Phoenix Suns hype bandwagon! CHOO CHOO!

Adreian Payne looked awesome during March Madness and now he gets to join an already stacked team with his college teammate Gary Harris already on the bench! Somebody get me Phoenix Suns season tickets! Barring they don't trade this pick for (dare I say it again) Kevin Love, Payne is another perfect fit and would make the Suns the most complete bench this early on in the off-season.

19. Chicago Bulls - PG Tyler Ennis (Syracuse)

Tyler Ennis would give Derrick Rose some much needed rest off the bench as Rose recovers from his second leg injury.

The Bulls will probably be able to re-sign Kirk Hinrich and have him ready in case of Derrick Rose emergency #3 but with Hinrich entering his twelth season in the NBA, it's time for Chicago to be even more prepared for once Hinrich isn't on the team. Tyler Ennis showed he had first-round talent all season long and while sometimes inconsistent, is still a great game manager and ball-handler. The offense might actually be better off with Ennis in the game instead of Hinrich.

20. Toronto Raptors - C Jusuf Nurkic (Bosnia)

Some think Nurkic is NBA-ready now, others don't think he'll ever be. He is the 2014 NBA Draft mystery man.

Jusuf Nurkic. Jonas Valanciunas. Assistant Coach John Mahlalela. If Charles Barkley has to call a Raptors game in the future, we are all in for three entertaining hours of pronunciations. I get the sense that Toronto wants out of this pick and if they find no suitors, I could see them settling on a project big-man like Nurkic. The team's only weakness could be at the point if Kyle Lowry decides to take his talents elsewhere but with no big-name Point Guards available and no guarantee that Lowry is leaving, Toronto will probably trade down. 

21. Thunder - SG P.J. Hairston (North Carolina)

P.J. Hairston already has some D-League experience which showcased his scoring ability.

The best scorer in the NBA's Developmental League last year was Pierre Jackson. Pierre Jackson is no longer in America, playing for the Turkish Basketball League even though he scored 58 points in a game against a bunch of almost-NBA players (A D-League record). P.J. Hairston doesn't have a great reputation after being suspended from the Tar Heels' 2013-14 roster which will only hurt his draft stock. Desperate times call for desperate measures though, and after the terrible bench scoring performance and Shooting Guard performances from OKC's team in the Western Conference Finals, This is the move that GM Sam Presti needs to make if Scott Brooks wants to return post-2015.

22. Memphis Grizzlies - SF T.J. Warren (NC State)

The Grizzlies will end up lucking out as the best player available fills their largest hole offensively.

 I think this quote from Michael Levin of SBNation.com sums this pick up perfectly...

"Memphis desperately needs scoring, and Warren's strengths -- not being Tayshaun Prince the biggest one -- play to that." 

I love it when other websites agree with me on draft picks. Well done, Michael Levin. Well done.

23. Utah Jazz - PF Kyle Anderson (UCLA)

Kyle Anderson isn't exactly Kevin Love. Actually, I'm not even sure what position he is.

Kyle Anderson doesn't exactly have the size of fundamentals to be a Power Forward but could shoot like a mini-Serge Ibaka. The Jazz need more forward depth around Derrick Favors and Anderson would provide them with a decent offensive force on a team lacking big-men who can shoot. This is a pick that could definitely be traded as the available names in the draft pool are losing steam and Utah doesn't want any more mediocre players on a team already stacked with those. 

24. Charlotte Hornets - PG Jordan Clarkson (Missouri)

Jordan Clarkson's most likely the last Point Guard selected for another 15 or so picks.

Clarkson is this year's Archie Goodwin in that even though he went to a fairly big school, not a whole lot is known about him nationwide and he probably won't do anything his first year in the NBA. Charlotte has a couple of veteran expiring contracts at both guard positions and will be looking to add depth with a guard choice here. Considering they have no one besides Gary Neal and Kemba Walker at Point Guard, look for them to snag Jordan Clarkson about five picks too early.

25. Houston Rockets - PF Jarnell Stokes (Tennessee)

Jarnell Stokes will be very Jarnell "Stoked" once he falls to a contender.

Houston's depth chart looks pretty damn solid right about now with five capable starters and at least one competent back-up at each position. If they feel super comfortable with the roster they have now, they might go with a foreign player (something they've been known to do) who they can wait for a couple seasons to arrive to America. It's really a toss-up between that and adding something at Power Forward. Something could be

A.) Kevin Love

B.) -Insert other free agent here-

C.) -Insert player acquired for this draft pick-

D.) Jarnell Stokes because they're okay with Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas, and Jarnell Stokes.

Stokes is a southern player and consistently picked up double-doubles for Tennessee so he might be a steal here for Kevin McHale and company.

26. Miami Heat - SF Cleanthony Early (Wichita State)

The new Big 3: Dwyane Wade, Norris Cole, and Cleanthony Early.

With all obvious Miami jokes set aside, the Heat have five players under contract right now (Dwyane Wade & Chris Bosh could both opt-out, Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem, and somebody named Justin Hamilton). It's time for Pat Riley to panic. I could totally see this pick being traded but if they want to add depth on their bench, they need to keep it and take the gifted Wichita State Forward Cleanthony Early. The Heat bench disappeared during the Finals and adding Cleanthony's jumper would help add another Rashard Lewis-type scorer. His defense is never going to be more than mediocre but Early's future is not going to be as a starter. If Lebron returns, Early will likely only see James Jones' minutes. 

27. Phoenix Suns - SF Glen Robinson III (Michigan)

Former #1 pick Glen "Big Dog" Robinson's son is seen as a second rounder in many eyes.

The Suns have already drafted two players from Michigan State since their a fan of pairs (See: The Morris twins) and now are going to stir the pot by adding another jump-shooter and solid rebounder in Glen Robinson III. With college teammate Mitch McGary's off-court problems, I don't see him going before Robinson and Robinson fits better in Phoenix. 

28. Los Angeles Clippers - C Walter Tavares (Spain)

7'3''? -General Manager begins drooling-

Not much is known about the 7-3 Center from Spain but with the Clippers needing absolutely nothing besides a big Center for their bench, this is a beautiful fit for LA's new #1 team. 

29. Oklahoma City Thuder - SG Jordan Adams (UCLA)

UCLA's third player drafted will go off the board with OKC's second pick.

Eight teams have multiple first round draft picks and Oklahoma City is two great steals of draft picks away from the NBA Finals. Sadly, most of the guards talented enough to assist Kevin Durant in a championship run are already off the board so for the second time in the first round, OKC settles for a Shooting Guard with some potential who isn't quite ready for the big show yet. Maybe a year or two down the road and Adams could turn into a poor man's Thabo Sefolosha but for now he's an average offensive player with solid defensive skills and little discipline.

30. San Antonio Spurs - SF Damien Inglis (France)

Players that fall into the second round include: Mitch McGary, Clint Capela, Patric Young, and my personal favorite Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Damien Inglis is French. Tony Parker is French. The Spurs love taking foreign players. My one guarantee of the draft is that they stash away another foreigner here, leaving their championship roster exactly the same for next season and then, once Danny Green finds a better contract somewhere else, Inglis will finally come over to play for San Antonio. 

This makes bearded Popovich happy.

Best of luck to all of your teams and may you all avoid drafting a Sam Bowie over a Michael Jordan!