Jun 27, 2013
There has been a lot of discussion about the lack of depth and quality in the 2013 NBA draft. However, teams will still be looking at this as a great opportunity to add pieces for current teams and for the future make-up of their team. No NBA championship is built on star players alone. Drafting well is just about vital.
Few recent NBA drafts have come under the veil of so much uncertainty in recent years, especially at the top. With that said, we break down a mock top 10 of how events could possibly go down in Brooklyn tonight.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel
There has been a lot of speculation about the possibility of Cleveland trading their pick and various different players have been mentioned in this spot. It almost seems risky to suggest that the former consensus first overall pick Noel will go first. However, in a draft filled with uncertainty, surely the Cavaliers will select a player with clear NBA upside.
2. Orlando Magic – Victor Oladipo
The Magic need a game changing player for their franchise. Oladipo isn’t necessarily the perfect player in terms of their organizational strengths, but he does perhaps have the greatest upside of any player in this draft. Oladipo possesses tremendous athleticism and should be an appealing player in the second overall spot.
3. Washington Wizards – Otto Porter Jr.
This feels like as close as a sure things as anything in this draft. If Porter Jr. is available when the Wizards step up, then surely they will select a player who has decent athleticism and should make a pretty good scoring small forward in the NBA.
4. Charlotte Bobcats – Trey Burke
The Bobcats need a lot in this draft. Their drafting strategy hasn’t necessarily been easy to comprehend in recent seasons, but it makes sense for Charlotte to draft a player with very high IQ and great leadership qualities. Burke has plenty of talent as well by the way.
5. Phoenix Suns – Ben McLemore
The Suns will be ecstatic if they can grab arguably the best shooter in the draft at this spot. McLemore would be a no-brainer if he drops to five, and he just might.
6. New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Bennett
After grabbing two players in last year’s draft in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers whom they believe can be studs, the Pelicans will take a little bit of a risk on a player who should have tremendous upside. Bennett sometimes dodged national attention at UNLV, but he has a strong inside game and the potential to develop a dangerous jump shot.
7. Sacramento Kings – C.J. McCollum
Lehigh guard McCollum is apparently firmly on the radar for the Kings. There is no smoke without fire.
8. Detroit Pistons – Alex Len
Len is quietly being tipped by some as the first overall pick. He has arguably the best offensive game of the draft’s big men and the Ukrainian definitely has the frame to compete in the NBA straight away.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – Shabazz Muhammed
Muhammed is a risky pick and probably not the most sensible pick. However, his talent level suggests that he is the sort of player that might just be worth taking a bit of a risk on. Shabazz has the potential to shake up an organization and the Timberwolves need shaking up.
10. Portland Trail Blazers – Cody Zeller
Steven Adams is appearing a lot in this spot and actually Adams is probably going to be the better all-round player. The thing is, Zeller is just a little bit more intriguing and Portland will be intrigued.
Of course, this draft feels like a draft where there will be major trades involved. It feels like our top 10 order is just as risky in terms of the order of teams as well as the order of players.
