NBA Draft: Cleveland Wins Lottery

The draft order is finally set and the Cavs look to be the big winner with 2 picks in the top 4.  There have been rumors that the Timberwolves will try and move down to add a veteran player and there have been rumblings that  teams such as the Blazers will target a player and try to move up to get them.  The players also just finished up at the Chicago combine and a few players such as Kanter and Marshon Brooks may have improved their stocks.  


1. Cleveland Cavaliers-Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke- Cleveland takes the best prospect in the draft by choosing Irving.  He may not have the immediate impact as some recent first overall picks, but as the year goes on I think his game will improve.  


2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Enes Kanter, C, Turkey- Kanter had a good showing in Chicago and showed off his athleticism.  He would take over for Darko as the starting center and would be a nice fit next to Beasley, Love, and Randolph.  


3. Utah Jazz- Derrick Williams, SF, Arizona- Utah lucks out and gets the player who may be the best in the draft.  He also fills a need at the small forward position and as a potent scorer.  He would be a great fit for the Jazz.


4. Cleveland Cavaliers-Kawahi Leonard, SF, San Diego State- Leonard is shooting up the draft board because of his freaky wingspan, improved shooting, and awesome defense.  He reminds me a lot of Gerald Wallace, and it looks like he still has room to improve his offensive game.  

5. Toronto Raptors- Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky- Knight has the ability to shoot the lights out at the next level.  He would be a nice fit next to DeRozan and may finally force Calderon out of Toronto.


6. Washington Wizards- Jonas Valanciunas, PF, Lithuania- Jonas is widely considered the best foreign prospect in the draft, but contract concerns may cause him to fall in the draft.  Washington could take a chance on him as Andre Blatche is consistently inconsistent.  Jonas could be a nice fit next to McGee.


7. Sacramento Kings- Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut- Walker has been able to fit in to the various needs of team during his college career.  He has shown the ability to be a solid defender, a brilliant scorer, and a distributor at different points of his time at Uconn.  Kemba would be a nice fit at the point guard and wouldn't have to be the main scorer with Evans and Cousins already on the team.


8. Detroit Pistons- Jan Vesely, PF, Czech Republic- Vesely is a tough scrappy player that isn't afraid to get on the boards.  He would be a nice fit next to Monroe and his ruggedness would be a perfect fit on this Detroit team.

9. Charlotte Bobcats-Tristian Thompson, PF, Texas- Tristian Thompson is a player who could jump up the boards before the draft.  He is athletically gifted with extremely long arms which allow him to be a scary shot blocker.  He will need to improve offensively but has the work ethic to make the transition.


10. Milwaukee Bucks-Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo- Biyombo has elite athletic ability.  He can jump out of the gym and has extremely long arms.  He reminds a lot of people of Serge Ibaka.  There are questions concerning his age and reports saying he could be as old as 26.  


11. Golden State Warriors-Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas- The Warriors have a lot of needs, Jordan Hamilton could fill the need at SF.  Dorrell Wright had a coming out party last season, but the Hamilton has the potential to be a better all around player.


12. Utah Jazz- Alec Burks, SG, Colorado- Alec Burks is the most talented 2 guard in the draft and if a team falls in love with his slashing ability he could be taken in the top 10, possibly to the Bobcats or Bucks.  If the Jazz land him their offensive potency will be incredibly improved by the draft.  


13. Phoenix Suns-  Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas-  Marcus is believed to be the more talented of the twins, but just barely.  He can step out and consistently drill the mid range jumper and he has great basketball IQ. 


14. Houston Rockets-Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State- Singleton is a physical defender at the three position and will add another solid roll player to the deep Rocket's bench.

15. Indiana Pacers-Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence- Brooks had a great combine in Chicago and measured very well.  He has explosiveness and is a great shooter from the perimeter.  He could be the dynamic scorer that the Pacers need at the shooting guard position.  


16. Philadelphia 76ers- Tobias Harris, SF, Tennessee- Tobias Harris could make up for the potential loss of Thaddeus Young and play the same type of role off the bench.  Harris has a lot of potential and he showed a lot of room to improve during his only season at Tennessee.


17. New York Knicks- Donatas Montiejunas, PF, Lithuania- The Knicks need a big man and Montejunas could fill that need.  Ideally the Knicks would get a center, but Donatas is more of a stretch power forward.  He is has a great outside shot and is talented around the basket.  This would move Amare to the center position, which he has been successful playing in the past.


18. Washington Wizards- Jimmer Freddette, PG, BYU- Jimmer would be a nice back up for John Wall.  He could come off the bench and be a lethal scorer for 15 minutes per game.  He has amazing range on his jump shot and he has proved he is not outmatched athletically.


19. Charlotte Bobcats- Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State- The Bobcats need a legitimate shooting guard, Thompson is the best available.  Klay had a very productive season in Pullman last season and should go around this area on draft day.  


20. Minnesota Timberwolves-Reggie Jackson, PG, Boston College- It wouldn't be a draft if the Wolves didn't take a point guard, but at least Jackson can double as a scoring guard at the next level.  Jackson has a huge wingspan and has been compared to Russell Westbrook.  


21. Portland Trail Blazers- Kenneth Faried, PF, Moorehead State- Faried could be drafted much higher, possibly by the Knicks, because of his relentless rebounding.  Rebounding is one skill that is easily translatable to the NBA game, and he is the best.  


22. Denver Nuggets-Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas- Markieff Morris would be a perfect replacement for Kenyon Martin if they decide to let the veteran go.  Morris is the bigger of the twins, and is a very good rebounder and shot blocker.  

23. Houston Rockets-Josh Selby, PG, Kansas- Selby who is a player that did not live up to his hype this past season.  He is athletic and has a nice shooting stroke, but is very inconsistent and did not show he is ready to be the leader of a team yet.


24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Tyler Honeycutt, SF, UCLA- Honeycutt is a unselfish, high IQ player that would be perfect off the bench for the Thunder.  He needs to improve his jump shot, but his defense and length would help immediately.


25. Boston Celtics- Jordan Williams, C, Maryland- Williams is said to have lost about 15 pounds since the season ended.  He has a lot of room to improve, but he is a big body in the middle which the Celtics missed this post season.




26. Dallas Mavericks- Nikola Mirotic, SF, Serbia- Mirotic is compared to a young Peja Stojakavic because of his pure shooting stroke.  He still needs a few years to improve but he could be a steal in a year or two.


27. New Jersey Nets- Justin Harper, PF, Richmond- Harper is a stretch 4 with NBA dna.  He would be a nice complement to Brook Lopez.

28. Chicago Bulls- Charles Jenkins, SG, Hofstra- Jenkins can flat out score.  He is a little undersized for a NBA shooting guard but he is fast enough to get to the basket off the dribble and finish at the hoop.


29. San Antonio Spurs- Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil- Nogueira is a raw defensive minded and athletically gifted center.  He will most likely head to Europe for a year or two before he is ready.


30. Chicago Bulls-Jereme Richmond, SF, Illinois- The Bulls could use a back up at the small forward, Jereme Richmond will not be able to fill that need immediately.  He will, however, be in a perfect situation to grow and work on his game to go along with his elite athleticism.  This would be a perfect place for Richmond to grow into a great player along side Rose.


Second Round
31. Miami Heat- Nolan Smith, PG, Duke
32. Cleveland Cavaliers- Trey Thompkins, PF, Georgia
33. Detroit Pistons- Darius Morris, PG, Michigan 
34. Washington Wizards- Davis Bertans, SF, Latvia
35. Sacramento Kings- Norris Cole, PG, Cleveland State
36. New Jersey Nets- Travis Leslie, SG, Georgia
37. Los Angeles Clippers-Kyle Singler, SF, Duke
38. Houston Rockets- Keith Benson, C, Oakland
39. Charlotte Bobcats- Malcolm Lee, PG, UCLA
40. Milwaukee Bucks- Chandler Parsons, SF, Florida
41. Los Angeles Lakers-Bojan Bagdonavic, SF, Serbia
42. Indiana Pacers- JaJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue
43. Chicago Bulls- Nikola Vucevic, PF, USC
44. Golden State Warriors- E'Twaun Moore, SG, Purdue
45. New Orleans Hornets-Jon Leur, PF, Wisconsin
46. Los Angeles Lakers- Jeremy Tyler, PF, Japan
47. Los Angeles Clippers- Scotty Hopson, SG, Tennessee
48. Atlanta Hawks- Shelvin Mack, PG, Butler
49. Memphis Grizzlies- Justin Holiday, SF, Washington
50. Philadelphia 76ers- Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington
51. Portland Trail Blazers-Corey Joseph, PG, Texas
52. Denver Nuggets- Jamine Peterson, SF, NBDL
53. Orlando Magic- Vernon Macklin, PF, Florida
54. Cleveland Cavaliers- Michael Dunigan, C, Oregon
55. Boston Celtics- Jimmy Butler, SF, Marquette
56. Los Angeles Lakers- Demetri McCamey, PG, Illinois
57. Dallas Mavericks- Jacob Pullen, PG, Kansas State
58. Los Angeles Lakers-LaceDarius Dunn, SG, Baylor
59. San Antonio Spurs-Joffrey Lauvergne, PF, France
60. Sacramento Kings- Ben Hansbrough, PG, Notre Dame