2013 NBA DRAFT

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1105/grant_g_noel_sl_576.jpeg

Havent watched one college game this year :/

College hoops have fallen on hard times now that all the most talented players are one-and-done. I still find interest in the tournament, where I usually root for the teams who show the best passing, teamwork and coaching, even if they don't have mad athleticism.

Yeah tourney is still cool by me but the NBA product is way on top right now, has been since 05-06.

if the nba had a two years of college requirement college basketball would be p tite

nba would prob be better too

I don't watch until conference championship time at the very least.

Yeah thats about when I get on board.

Really into this draft, talent level is hugely underrated right now

Anthony Bennett is amazing

collegezzzzz

shabazz muhammed is giving me heavy james harden vibes... seems like the obvious no. 1 pick at least at the moment

chad ford quoted some GMs who have McLemore number 1 right now

i haven't seen him play... KU basketball seems particularly wretched from an enjoyment standpoint this year

awww come on they have a lot of dunking

muhammed strikes me as the player everyone wanted harrison barnes to be... or at least bradley beal

his shot selection could definitely improve and i'm not sure he's as strong off the dribble as harden, but a true wing freshman averaging 17 and 5 boards and shooting 46% from three sounds pretty close to a star to me

he has more post-up potential than Harden

def

shabazz in detroit plz :(

rip nerlens :(

though he'll probably stay in the draft and be a lottery pick anyway.

yah I doubt he'll drop out of the top 3

he won't but he should

Draftexpress is saying that it wall have zero impact on his draft stock which is such a load of horseshit

good piece http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/16/4106272/nerlens-noel-kentucky-basketball-wildcats-nba-draft-2013

the football highlights of Cauley-Stein are really funny

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 4m
When @johnhollinger put together his draft rater years ago he found age to be a HUGE factor in predictor in determining pro success.

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 6m
Muhammad's age matters because: 1. He's been dominating younger guys in high school for years. Changes how he would've been scouted/ranked

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 21m
LA Times reporting that Shabazz Muhammad is 20, not 19. Could be another blow to his draft stock. http://www.latimes.com/news/columnone/la-fi-shabazz-muhammad-inc-20130322-dto,0,3133186.htmlstory …

Is Shabazz Muhammad overrated?
What the scouts and stats are saying about the top NBA draft prospects
Updated: March 29, 2013, 3:37 PM ET
By Kevin Pelton | ESPN Insider

What do the stats have to say about Shabazz Muhammad's game?
Last week's drama involving UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad made clear what statistical analysts have long known about the NBA draft: Age matters. The Bruins have been listing Muhammad's birthday as Nov. 22, 1993, but an investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that Muhammad's birth certificate is actually dated a year earlier, making Muhammad 20, and not 19 -- older than the typical college freshman. If Muhammad declares for the NBA draft as expected, the difference could cost him a few spots in the lottery. It should.

While Muhammad's unusual case is an extreme example, history shows that age is key to understanding how college players end up developing in the NBA. In fact, age is one of just two factors that make up my rankings of college players. The other is their performance during the previous season, translated to its NBA equivalent based on the past performance of rookies and adjusted for strength of schedule.

The rookie translations generally do a good job of separating newcomers who are ready to contribute right away from those who are too raw to contribute. But in terms of projecting value beyond the first season, as measured by wins above replacement (WARP) in the players' first five years in the NBA, age proves almost equally important. Based on regression, age makes up about 40 percent of the WARP projection for rookies, with translated performance accounting for the other 60 percent.

That's bad news for Muhammad. First off, his NBA translation is poor, pegging him for a .313 winning percentage -- far worse than replacement level (.410) -- due to his low numbers in assists, steals and blocks. Because players develop so quickly in their teens and early 20s, such a projection isn't a death knell for a freshman. Eric Bledsoe, for example, rated similarly playing out of position at Kentucky.

That's where Muhammad's age is problematic. Because age, not class, predicts future development, we're now effectively comparing Muhammad to more polished sophomores. The extra year takes a significant chunk out of his WARP projection, dropping it from 1.0 WARP per season to 0.4 -- a figure that usually lands a prospect in the second round. My database, which includes all college rookies since 2005 and selects ones dating to 2000 (based on the availability of team stats), has just a handful of lottery picks with a WARP projection of 0.5 or lower.

Player Year Pick pWARP
Joe Alexander 2008 8 0.5
Acie Law 2007 11 0.5
Melvin Ely 2002 12 0.3
Brandon Rush 2008 13 0.3
Terrence Ross 2012 8 0.2

Leaving out Terrence Ross, who is still developing, none of the other players became regular starters, and Joe Alexander is one of the biggest busts in recent draft memory. Muhammad isn't necessarily consigned to the same status -- he profiles as similar to Golden State's Harrison Barnes, who narrowly escaped this list (0.6 projected WARP) and has started for a playoff-bound team as a rookie. Still, Muhammad's combination of age and underwhelming performance at UCLA should give teams drafting in the lottery major cause for concern.

Muhammad isn't the only player on whom the numbers disagree with conventional wisdom. Let's take a look at five favorites of the stats, five players the scouts prefer and five lottery picks on whom they agree.

STATS SAY ...

Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA
Big Board rank: 42 | 1.9 projected wins above replacement (WARP)
(Rank: 11)

Why the stats like him: Anderson used his size and wingspan to rack up 62 steals and 30 blocks as a freshman. Usually, that combination of skills suggests a quality NBA defender.

Why scouts are skeptical: Anderson's nickname is "Slow Mo," and it's apt. Despite his length, Anderson will be hard-pressed to defend NBA perimeter players, and he can be outmuscled by big men.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
Big board rank: 31 | 2.2 projected WARP (7)

Why the stats like him: Caldwell-Pope shouldered a heavy offensive load at Georgia with reasonable efficiency. Young for a sophomore -- he's three months younger than Muhammad -- Caldwell-Pope has room to develop.

Why scouts are skeptical: As Caldwell-Pope's jumper goes, so goes his overall performance. As a result, he made better than 40 percent of his shots just three times in his last 10 games.

Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
Big board rank: 76 | 2.6 projected WARP (4)

Why the stats like him: Coming off the bench, Dekker made 57.1 percent of his 2-point shots and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. Ken Pomeroy's similarity scores say the best match for his freshman campaign is lottery pick Ben McLemore.

Why scouts are skeptical: Dekker is seen as a better college player than a pro. Before he can even think about the NBA, he'll have to crack Bo Ryan's starting five first.

P.J. Hairston, G/F, North Carolina
Big board rank: 37 | 2.4 projected WARP (6)

Why the stats like him: After moving to power forward as part of North Carolina's small-ball starting five, Hairston emerged as an elite scorer. Among players who used at least a quarter of their team's plays, Hairston ranked in the nation's top 10 in offensive rating.

Why scouts are skeptical: Playing on the wing as a pro, Hairston will have to improve his ballhandling. Part of the reason he was so efficient is that he rarely tries to make plays for others.

Jarnell Stokes, F/C, Tennessee
Big board rank: 96 | 1.9 projected WARP (13)

Why the stats like him: Stokes' size and strength make him an elite offensive rebounder, a skill that tends to translate nicely to the NBA. He's also a fine shot-blocker and played half of this season at age 18 after graduating early from high school.

Why scouts are skeptical: Stokes isn't a particularly accurate finisher around the rim, in large part because shot-blockers give him difficulty.

SCOUTS SAY ...

Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
Big board rank: 21 | 0.6 projected WARP (50)

Why the stats don't like him: Among a group of Kentucky freshmen who collectively failed to live up to the hype, Goodwin stands out. He's not yet ready to score efficiently in the NBA and projects to make just 22.4 percent of his 3-pointers.

Why scouts do: There's no denying Goodwin's ability to put points on the board, and part of his struggles as a freshman can be traced to spending time running John Calipari's offense as a point guard -- something he won't be asked to do as a pro.

Alex Len, C, Maryland
Big board rank: 11 | 1.0 projected WARP (33)

Why the stats don't like him: Len is still very much a project and could be overmatched against NBA competition next season. He's weak on the glass for a 7-footer and hasn't yet polished the skills to overcome that deficiency.

Why scouts do: Skilled 7-footers are a commodity, and the Ukrainian is young enough to make strides quickly as a pro.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
Big board rank: 2 | 1.7 projected WARP (19)

Why the stats don't like him: As a scorer, McLemore should be just fine in the NBA. The numbers don't suggest he'll develop the all-around game to justify a top-five selection, and he's already 20.

Why scouts do: McLemore's combination of size and skill are hard to find outside the lottery. If he can be convinced to play more aggressively on offense, he could be an elite scorer.

Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
Big board rank: 7 | 0.4 projected WARP (53)

Why the stats don't like him: The biggest Muhammad red flag is his poor steal rate. Besides their intrinsic value, steals are especially important for prospects because they are the best single statistical indicator of athleticism. The only perimeter player in recent history to develop into a full-time starter with so few steals is another UCLA product, Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic.

Why scouts do: Muhammad's powerful frame will allow him to post up smaller defenders and gives him the potential to become a strong one-on-one defender.

Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke
Big board rank: 14 | 0.3 projected WARP (56)

Why the stats don't like him: At 23, Plumlee needs to be ready to contribute right away to justify a spot in the lottery, but his translated numbers score right near replacement level. He lacks a signature statistical skill.

Why scouts do: Plumlee boasts the requisite size and athleticism for an NBA big man, and he started the season as one of the best players in the country through December.

BOTH AGREE ON ...

Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
Big board rank: 1 | 4.0 projected WARP (1)

What both like: Before his ACL injury, Noel scored far and away as the best prospect in this draft. The difference between his WARP projection and the No. 2 prospect (Georgetown's Otto Porter) is as large as the gap between Porter and No. 7.

Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
Big board rank: 6 | 2.0 projected WARP (9)

What both like: Oladipo's athleticism shows up all over his statistics, nowhere more than at the defensive end. Only one other player in my database (Renaldo Balkman) had a combination of a steal rate better than 3.0 and a block rate better than 1.5. And Oladipo is a much better offensive prospect than Balkman, the infamous Isiah Thomas selection taken one pick ahead of Rajon Rondo.

Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
Big board rank: 4 | 3.1 projected WARP (2)

What both like: Porter's all-around game will ease his transition to the NCAA. Compared to other small forwards in my database, Porter is among the top 25 percent in six key categories and does not have a single statistical weakness (among the bottom 25 percent). Plus Porter is nearly seven months younger than Muhammad.

Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
Big board rank: 3 | 2.5 projected WARP (5)

What both like: Rebounding is a surprisingly important indicator for point guards because it demonstrates the athleticism to excel at the position. Smart is great on the glass and has the best steal rate of anyone in this year's draft, another positive marker.

Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
Big board rank: 8 | 2.1 projected WARP (8)

What both like: Besides Noel, Zeller is the other top-10 player who lands in the same spot in both rankings. His polished game has just one statistical weakness: shot-blocking.

yeah interesting piece... guess we won't have hollinger's draft rater this year

yeah i wonder what espn retained when he left maybe they could just rebuild it

yeah he may have even made the bulk of the formula public?

this draft is gonna be fun tho

Why the stats don't like him: Len is still very much a project and could be overmatched against NBA competition next season. He's weak on the glass for a 7-footer and hasn't yet polished the skills to overcome that deficiency.

Len averages 11.5 rebounds per 40 pace adjusted. Noel averages 11.6.

well that point one im sure makes a big difference

Len averages the same rebounds per 40 as Dieng and Noel and more than Withey, Olynyk, Plumlee etc.

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 3h

For those who say its crazy to even consider Brittney Griner a NBA prospect, check out her Synergy page. Dominance: http://www.draftexpress.com/gallery/General/1365185547.jpg …

smh

pelton had a good post today on insider that said her closest analogue in the NBA is jarvis varnardo

essentially that she could prob hang around the nba but would need to develop another skill besides shot blocking (like a mid range jumper) to actually crack a rotation

pelton said that she's not really an elite rebounder for having insane size

she could not hang around the NBA, this is absurd

she's 6'8, 207 and plays exclusively in the low post

everybody is demeaned for participating in this discussion

moving on

jarvis varnardo sounds like a made up name

her closest analogue in the NBA is jamille harvellcamp

she could not hang around the NBA, this is absurd

― Matt Armstrong, Friday, April 5, 2013 6:11 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

well vanardo never plays

Griner had like 20 dunks in her career, Varnado would have had like 400

word. pelton might not have said that she could hang around the NBA btw i might have made that part up.

IDGAF let her play imo

I could see a team inviting Griner to try out. It would be good publicity and wth it's a try out, not a contract. If she somehow proves up in her try out, then it's great for the game. Otherwise, it's a nice gesture and hurts nothing.

uh oh, looks like griney has some competition for first lady nba baller

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kTTNXttoXQY/UV-IojVRkfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/IWTAlINwjtQ/s583/lmao+espn.png

well shes got the cool ranch taco

yeah, but she eats against only other women, u put her in the men's league of taco-eaters, and they will leave her in their dorito dust

no doubt she will be unstoppable in the WTEL

chad ford mock draft has shabazz going to the kings, which... man that would be a disaster

imagine if OKC had a top 10 pick in next year's draft instead of this year's *shudders*

chad ford

The Final Four is over and the Louisville Cardinals are the national champions. With their victory, the college basketball season has come to an end. Likewise, the scouting of competitive games also has ended, and thus we're ready to reveal our first full mock draft of 2013.

All year we have kept tabs on the draft stock of players using our Big Board and the Top 100 list. Both tools are a reflection of the consensus of NBA scouts and GMs about a player's relative value in the draft.

A mock draft is a different animal altogether. In a mock draft we don't tell you where a player should go, but rather, what each team in the draft would likely do with their pick. At this point very little is set in stone, as we are still in the NBA regular season. Expect this mock draft to fluctuate greatly over the course of the next two months.

Draft order will change, as will the stock of a number of players thanks to draft camps in Portsmouth, Va., and Chicago in the coming month. We still won't know which underclassmen officially declare for the draft until the April 28 deadline. We won't even be sure of the non-lottery draft order until the regular season ends. Nor will we know the results of the lottery draft order until the NBA draft lottery on May 21. Thus, the mock draft order begins with the lottery teams owning the greatest possibility of winning the No. 1 pick (by percentage), then followed by the remaining teams in reverse order of current standings.

If you want to check out what your team would do with the No. 1 pick, check out our Lottery Mock Draft Machine that features more than 2,000 scenarios.

Here's my initial stab at a full first-round mock draft for 2013 (assuming every eligible prospect who has yet to state their intentions on the draft declares), after accounting for team needs.

1. Nerlens Noel
Charlotte Bobcats (25 percent chance to win lottery )
COLLEGE: Kentucky
AGE: 18
HT: 6-11
WT: 215
POS: C

Analysis: The Bobcats need help everywhere. With the possible exception of small forward (where last year's No. 2 pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is holding down the fort), Charlotte doesn't really have an A-list player on its roster. The Bobcats already have a young, athletic project in Bismack Biyombo, but every scout feels that Noel has much more potential than Biyombo and most GMs feel Noel has the most upside of any player in the draft. Noel's ACL injury is an obvious red flag, but even that could turn into a blessing. If the Bobcats have to sit Noel for much of the season, they'll likely finish with the best chance of winning the lottery in 2014. With Andrew Wiggins and a stellar high school class of 2014 coming up, it might be worth the wait.

2. Marcus Smart
Orlando Magic (19.9)
COLLEGE: Oklahoma St.
AGE: 23
HT: 6-4
WT: 225
POS: PG

Analysis: The Orlando Magic have promising young players at the 3, 4 and 5. While they could certainly upgrade there (and might if Noel is available), I expect them to take a backcourt player at No. 2. Jameer Nelson is 31 and starting to slow down. Adding a dominant player like Smart would upgrade the position immensely. While Smart has his weaknesses (his jump shot is shaky and he needs to tighten up his handle), he's strong, has a great motor and toughness, is a beast defensively and brings the leadership a young rudderless team like the Magic desperately needs.

3. Ben McLemore
Phoenix Suns (15.6)
COLLEGE: Kansas
AGE: 20
HT: 6-5
WT: 195
POS: SG

Analysis: The Phoenix Suns shot 32 percent on 3-pointers this season and desperately need to improve. Their starting 2-guards, Shannon Brown and Wesley Johnson, both struggled from 3. Adding McLemore makes a lot of sense. He's one of the two or three best pure shooters in the draft and has great length and athleticism at his position. He can be a bit of a wallflower, but when he gets going he's as good as anyone in the draft.

4. Otto Porter
Cleveland Cavaliers (11.9)
COLLEGE: Georgetown
AGE: 19
HT: 6-8
WT: 200
POS: SF

Analysis: The Cavaliers have dynamic scorers in both backcourt positions in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Their frontcourt is also virtually set with Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller. Their biggest hole is at the 3, and Porter looks like the perfect complementary piece. He's a jack of all trades, doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective and is a team player. I can't think of a better fit for Porter or the Cavs.

5. Victor Oladipo
Detroit Pistons (8.8)
COLLEGE: Indiana
AGE: 20
HT: 6-5
WT: 214
POS: SG

Analysis: The Pistons' biggest need is at small forward. Since shipping Tayshaun Prince off to Memphis, they haven't really had anyone fill his spot. However, I think Oladipo is a better fit for Detroit. Rodney Stuckey has worn out his welcome in Detroit and Oladipo is the type of player that thrived with the Pistons when President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars was still suiting up. Olapido is an elite defender, an explosive athlete and a rapidly improving offensive player. They could settle on a player like Shabazz Muhammad here, but I think Oladipo is the best player on the board for them.

6. Trey Burke
New Orleans Hornets (5.5)
COLLEGE: Michigan
AGE: 20
HT: 6-1
WT: 175
POS: PG

Analysis: The Hornets have interesting young players at every position right now. Their biggest need is probably at small forward, though Al-Farouq Aminu has started to show some promise this year. Clearly the Hornets have a very solid point guard in Greivis Vasquez. However, Burke gives them a completely different look and would be a nice complement to Vasquez at the point. He might be a bit undersized, but his toughness, all-around game, mistake-free basketball and winning attitude should be a great fit in New Orleans.

7. Shabazz Muhammad
Sacramento Kings (5.4)
COLLEGE: UCLA
AGE: 20
HT: 6-6
WT: 225
POS: SF

Analysis: The Kings' biggest hole is at small forward, where they continue to feel the sting from the disastrous John Salmons trade from a couple years ago. Salmons is a shell of himself and the Kings are desperately in need of an upgrade. While Muhammad has been a slight disappointment as a freshman, he's tough, knows how to score and brings a strong motor to the table. I'm not sure if there will be enough shots for Muhammad with DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton, but I assume the Kings, under new management whether in Sacramento or Seattle, will start to clean house.

8. Alex Len
Oklahoma City Thunder via Toronto Raptors (2.2)
COLLEGE: Maryland
AGE: 19
HT: 7-1
WT: 225
POS: C

Analysis: The Thunder get this pick from the Raptors (which the Rockets received as part of the Kyle Lowry trade only to move it onto OKC as part of the James Harden deal) as long as the Raptors aren't picking in the top three. Oklahoma City needs to find a long-term replacement for Harden at the 2 and a long-term backup for Kendrick Perkins at the 5. Len seems like great value here. He's one of the two or three biggest players in the draft, has a decent offensive game and can rebound and block shots. It really feels like he's scratching the surface. The Thunder can afford to bring him along slowly and hope he develops.

9. Anthony Bennett
Washington Wizards (2.3)
COLLEGE: UNLV
AGE: 20
HT: 6-8
WT: 240
POS: PF

Analysis: The Wizards would have to be thrilled if they can land Bennett this late in the draft. Some teams will look at him as high as No. 2. Not only is Bennett the best player left on the board, but he also fits a need for Washington at the 4. Emeka Okafor has been solid there, but he's not the long-term answer. And at this point it doesn't look like young players like Jan Vesely or Kevin Seraphin are, either. Bennett's NBA body combined with his ability to score anywhere on the floor should give the Wizards another big boost next year.

10. Gary Harris
Minnesota Timberwolves (1.1)
COLLEGE: Michigan St.
AGE: 18
HT: 6-4
WT: 210
POS: SG

Analysis: I think it's pretty likely that Harris decides to stay in college another year and undergo shoulder surgery. However, if he does end up declaring, he's a very good fit for a Timberwolves team that still is searching for a long-term solution at shooting guard. The team is shooting just 30 percent from beyond the arc this year and getting a player like Harris who can really knock down shots is a priority.

11. Cody Zeller
Philadelphia 76ers (0.8)
COLLEGE: Indiana
AGE: 20
HT: 6-11
WT: 210
POS: C

Analysis: At the start of the season there was talk of Zeller being the No. 1 pick. However, he didn't improve as much as scouts expected him to this season and his stock has slid a bit. He'd be a nice fit in Philly, however. With the exception of Spencer Hawes, the Sixers just don't have a lot of size. While I don't think Zeller is worthy of a top-five pick anymore, he's a good value here.

12. Mitch McGary
Portland Trail Blazers (0.7)
COLLEGE: Michigan
AGE: 20
HT: 6-10
WT: 250
POS: PF

Analysis: McGary mania is in full swing after a terrific run in the NCAA tourney, but NBA scouts still are getting their arms around his draft stock. They've really only been scouting this Mitch McGary for about eight games. However, on the surface, it appears that McGary has a lot of promise. He's got an incredible motor, is a good athlete, has great hands, rebounds, blocks shots and has shown a midrange game. It's possible he's a one-hit wonder, but I think more and more teams believe he's the same kid that ranked as one of the top five players in the country after his junior year of high school. He could be a great replacement for J.J. Hickson should he bolt in free agency this summer.

13. Michael Carter-Williams
Dallas Mavericks (0.6)
COLLEGE: Syracuse
AGE: 21
HT: 6-5
WT: 175
POS: PG

Analysis: The Mavs have been riding Darren Collison all season at the point and there's a chance they re-sign him as a restricted free agent this summer. Whether they do or don't, Carter-Williams seems like a safe play. When he's good, he looks like a top-five pick. When he's off, he doesn't look like a first-rounder. He's a good passer with great size for his position and a very smooth athlete. He lacks a jump shot and needs to get stronger, but there's so much potential there, the Mavs could swing for the fences with him at No. 13.

14. Mason Plumlee
Phoenix Suns via Los Angeles Lakers (0.5)
COLLEGE: Duke
AGE: 23
HT: 6-10
WT: 230
POS: PF

Analysis: The Suns will get this pick via the Lakers as part of the Steve Nash trade if L.A. ends up in the lottery. If the Suns go with a shooter with their first pick, don't be surprised if they try to add some size with their second one. Plumlee's combination of athleticism and size might make the most sense since, while he isn't exactly tough, he's tougher than most of the finesse young bigs on the roster.

15. Glenn Robinson III
Milwaukee Bucks
COLLEGE: Michigan
AGE: 19
HT: 6-6
WT: 210
POS: SF

Analysis: The Bucks don't have a lot going for them right now at the small forward position -- especially since sending Tobias Harris out of town in the J.J. Redick deal. Robinson would give them yet another long, athletic forward who can fly up and down the floor. The difference with Robinson? He can shoot, and let's face it, there's some karma at play here, too. The Bucks drafted Robinson III's father with the No. 1 pick in 1994. Keep it in the family.

16. Kelly Olynyk
Boston Celtics
COLLEGE: Gonzaga
AGE: 21
HT: 7-0
WT: 238
POS: C

Analysis: The Celtics definitely need size, and Olynyk is the sort of stretch big man that the team has liked in the past. His low-post game is still so-so, but he's a very difficult matchup on the high post. His ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket is special for a player his size. He could be a nice complement, in the long run, with Jared Sullinger.

17. C.J. McCollum
Utah Jazz
COLLEGE: Lehigh
AGE: 21
HT: 6-3
WT: 190
POS: PG

Analysis: The Jazz have been in the market for a point guard for a while and had their sights set on both Jimmer Fredette and Damian Lillard in the last two drafts only to lose them both. I'm not sure if McCollum is a true point guard, but I'm also not sure the Jazz need one as both Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks can handle the ball. What they really want is another shooter, and McCollum shot 51 percent from 3-point range before going down with a season-ending foot injury. He's one of the most dynamic scorers in the draft and some scouts believe he could be this year's Lillard.

18. Dario Saric
Atlanta Hawks
COLLEGE: Croatia
AGE: 19
HT: 6-10
WT: 223
POS: SF

Analysis: There are mixed messages on whether Saric will enter the 2013 NBA draft. If he declares and slides this far, he probably won't stay in the draft. But if the Hawks can get their hands on him, they are getting a player with an off-the-charts basketball IQ who can play a lot of point forward in the pros. He's struggled a bit this year, but most international scouts in the know think the talent makes him worthy of a lottery pick. He's a great get here.

19. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Chicago Bulls
COLLEGE: Georgia
AGE: 20
HT: 6-5
WT: 190
POS: SG

Analysis: Every year the Bulls are in the hunt for a shooter at the 2-guard position and every year they come up just a bit short. Landing Caldwell-Pope could be their lucky day, as he has both the size and shooting ability to be a serious threat in the NBA. He's played on such a poor team the past two years that his stock has fallen a bit, but if he's surrounded by other players who can score the ball (and he would be in Chicago), he could suddenly be the steal of the draft.

20. Jamaal Franklin
Atlanta Hawks via Houston Rockets
COLLEGE: San Diego St.
AGE: 21
HT: 6-5
WT: 195
POS: SG

Analysis: Franklin's game defies a position. He's a super-athletic wing who rebounds, plays above the rim and can do just about everything (but shoot) on the floor. The Hawks could really use a player like Franklin as a jack-of-all-trades coming off the bench.

21. Jeff Withey
Utah Jazz via Golden State Warriors
COLLEGE: Kansas
AGE: 23
HT: 7-0
WT: 235
POS: C

Analysis: If the Jazz go small with their first pick, don't be surprised to see them go big with their second one. Al Jefferson will most likely leave over the summer and Derrick Favors would probably take over as the starting 5, but he'll need help. Withey isn't special on the offensive end, but he's a dominant shot blocker who stays out of foul trouble. They'll be able to find 15 minutes a night for him.

22. Gorgui Dieng
Brooklyn Nets
COLLEGE: Louisville
AGE: 23
HT: 6-11
WT: 235
POS: C

Analysis: The Nets could really use some backup help at the 5, and they need someone who can step in and play right now. Dieng drops a few spots on our board because of his age, but he should be a terrific fit as a backup to Brook Lopez in Brooklyn. The team could really use his shot-blocking abilities.

23. Rudy Gobert
Indiana Pacers
COLLEGE: France
AGE: 20
HT: 7-1
WT: 220
POS: PF

Analysis: The Pacers have plenty of young players and no real pressing needs right now. If there was a long-term replacement for David West here, they'd obviously take him. But without one, look for them to swing for the fences and take a player with huge upside in Gobert. He has a 7-foot-9 wingspan and is a good athlete. He's not ready for the NBA, but the Pacers will have the luxury of developing him over in France for the next couple of years.

24. Isaiah Austin
New York Knicks
COLLEGE: Baylor
AGE: 19
HT: 7-0
WT: 215
POS: PF

Analysis: Austin was hailed as a potential top-10 pick coming into the college season. However, he struggled a bit on both ends of the ball and scouts became wary. He needs a lot of work on both his body and his jump shot, but on long-term upside, he might be worth a shot here.

25. Allen Crabbe
Los Angeles Clippers
COLLEGE: Cal
AGE: 21
HT: 6-6
WT: 210
POS: SG

Analysis: The Clippers could always use more shooting, and when Crabbe gets hot, he's very difficult to contain. He can be a bit lackadaisical on the defensive end, but at this point in the draft, he's a very good value.

26. Steven Adams
TWolves via Memphis Grizzlies
COLLEGE: Pittsburgh
AGE: 19
HT: 7-0
WT: 240
POS: C

Analysis: Adams probably should've spent another year in school at Pittsburgh and played himself into the lottery. He's got that sort of talent. But he's so raw offensively, anyone that drafts him is going to have to be patient. On the defensive end, however? He can play right now.

27. James Michael McAdoo
Denver Nuggets
COLLEGE: North Carolina
AGE: 20
HT: 6-9
WT: 223
POS: PF

Analysis: McAdoo was considered a potential top-five pick at the beginning of the season. But his lack of polish offensively and high turnover rate scared off scouts. There's no question he's an NBA athlete and has the body, but he's still a pretty big work in progress. The Nuggets could really use a little more help in the frontcourt and he could be a nice long-term investment.

28. Glen Rice Jr.
Oklahoma City Thunder
COLLEGE: Georgia Tech
AGE: 22
HT: 6-5
WT: 206
POS: SG

Analysis: At the moment, Rice is dominating the D-League for the Rio Grande Vipers. He was dismissed from Georgia Tech last year, so he still has draft eligibility. Since being named a starter he's been averaging 17.6 ppg, shooting 42 percent from 3-point range and averaging eight rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He looks like the sort of player the Thunder would steal late in the first round.

29. Kyle Anderson
San Antonio Spurs
COLLEGE: UCLA
AGE: 19
HT: 6-9
WT: 235
POS: SF

Analysis: Anderson might be the most eccentric player in the draft. Nicknamed "SloMo," he's a big point power forward who can handle the ball, make terrific passes and rebound. He could end up filling the same niche that Boris Diaw (his best comp) did.

30. P.J. Hairston
Cleveland Cavaliers via Miami Heat
COLLEGE: North Carolina
AGE: 20
HT: 6-5
WT: 220
POS: SG

Analysis: The Cavaliers might have their backcourt of the future set, but they can always use depth. Hairston is big enough to play the 2 and the 3, and he can be a terrific shooter. He's also tough and aggressive and understands a role coming off the bench. The Cavs are big believers in the numbers, and all of Hairston's advanced statistic profiles come out high, so you could see him sneak into the first round.

predict mcgary, austin rise; muhammad, zeller fall

I think Austin sucks but even I can't see him slipping to 24.

this is a really fascinating draft, it's super deep through 10-30 and pretty much everyone disagrees about what 1-9 should look like. Except for Nerlens, Chad's top 9 is pretty much the reverse of how I have it.

great point by Chad about Nerlens' excellent tanking value

yeah the two year tank is for sure the way to go, orlando could string three together if they play their cards right

do not want celtics to draft gonzaga's big wite :(

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--croatian-teen-dario-saric-declares-for-nba-draft-195321165.html

http://sulia.com/channel/basketball/f/e2c52594-927c-49d0-b38b-145b3df90fb1/?source=twitter

Basketball
Sam Amico
Top 30 NBA draft prospects, according to one assistant GM:
An NBA assistant general manager has forwarded his “extremely early” list of top 30 prospects. He’s ranked them in terms of ability, not need. “This could drastically change between now and the draft (June 29),” he said.

lol "mile plumlee"

marcus smart staying in school, cannot recall a potential #1pick making that choice recently

blake i guess

big mistake imo

I don't get the hype for Smart and Otto Porter

neither of them looked at all good in the tourney but cant say i watched them besides that

and yeah i think if youre projected to go in the first round then enter the draft is a good rule of thumb, thats guaranteed money and time to develop

next year's draft is packed too right?

youll never get to go to frat parties ever again w/o being creepy. but otoh nightclubs

college life is im sure better than the nba but these guys have been on the nba career path for a long time seems weird to take a year out to enjoy yrself, but kudos i can get behind it

im not painting with a broad brush but i am, bet ok state has great greek life

Jeff Withey: 26.5" standing vert. 29" max vert.

nooooooo

cody is killing it

Oladipo and McLemore's 42" max vertical is the highest at #NBACombine since Josh Selby and Iman Shumpert in 2011.

shane larkin highest vertical since 2000 o____O

I saw someone tweeted a picture of they had to put the vertical measuring poll on top a box cause a guy was jumping too high

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-cavaliers/cleveland-cavaliers-1.275356/former-ohio-state-star-deshaun-thomas-refuses-to-give-nba-team-his-phone-number-at-combine-1.398278

haha

cavs win lottery, windohrst says bron out and resigns in cleveland, i smell a sternspiracy

Cavs win!!!!!!!!!!! Nick Gilbert is awesome.

bron has to go back to cleveland now

Should go w/o saying that Kyrie + Bron + AV + rando #1 pick on a rookie contract would be much more fun to watch / root for than Bron finishing out in Miami.

theyre take nerlens right

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 1m
And … a few teams, including the Cavs, may not mind Noel not playing next year. Want a shot at Andrew Wiggins & loaded 2014 lottery

o man so true, double draft

lol @ bobcats

Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 1m
And … a few teams, including the Cavs, may not mind Noel not playing next year. Want a shot at Andrew Wiggins & loaded 2014 lottery

o man so true, double draft

― lag∞n, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 9:12 PM (7 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

STARS COULD ALLIGN FOR THIS BTW

Brian Windhorst ‏@WindhorstESPN 30m
With cap space, 2 first round picks & interest in improving fast, the Cavs will investigate trade options with No. 1 pick

hmm

noooo double draft all the way

you play in the same conference as the heat don't be stupid!

otm

you're telling dan gilbert to not be stupid

if the cavs cashed in some of their picks -- including the no. 1 overall -- for an established player because they think they can lure back lebron i wouldn't be surprised at all

can anyone tell me how horrible it would be to bail out on nerlens noel?

tanking for wiggins by picking noel is silly, this isn't the NFL. At best you'd have what, a 40% chance of getting the number one pick? If you have the number 1 pick just take the guy who you think is best.

well if you tank for a top 3 pick by picking noel you still will potentially end up with a player better than anyone in this draft

that could even extend to the top 5 of the 2014 draft

I mean, what are you worried about, accidentally taking someone who is good and makes it hard to tank?

plus next year's draft is so deep you could end up with a superstar at 12, just pick whoever is best

bron is not going anywhere near the cavs while comic sans draws breath

can anyone tell me how horrible it would be to bail out on nerlens noel?

― call all destroyer, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:48 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark

it would be defensible if you took ben mclemore i think... i'm not sure otto porter is worth it, but i haven't seen that much of him

bron is not going anywhere near the cavs while comic sans draws breath

― joe smith avatar (agent hibachi), Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:56 PM (50 seconds ago) Bookmark

shhhhhhhh

I mean, what are you worried about, accidentally taking someone who is good and makes it hard to tank?

― Matt Armstrong, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:55 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

plus next year's draft is so deep you could end up with a superstar at 12, just pick whoever is best

― Matt Armstrong, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:56 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i agree with you btw... no one in this draft is good enough imo that he will alone will radically alter the one year trajectory of one of the 3-5 worst teams in the nba

If I were him I'd also want to see kyrie play a full season and I'm not sure I trust any cavs beyond that more than I would trust evil genius Riley to reload

I mean there's gonna be an awesome player in this draft, there's like 7 guys who are raw as shit but super talented, if you happen to pick one of them who is good in the first season that's not a bad thing!

a better way to tank would be to trade varejao for a future first

eh i do agree that there's only so many rookies they can take on

Is Varajao still worth a first? Getting rid of him would be very effective for tanking though- obv worked this year

a good team might trade a heavily protected first for him only because he can never stay on the floor

chad ford has the magic taking trey burke at #2 which... man, that would be kind of a disaster imo

Magic should take Bennett imo.

it would make no sense to me if trey burke went in the top 5 but shane larkin went in the 20s

magic should take mclemore and trade afflalo

can anyone tell me how horrible it would be to bail out on nerlens noel?

― call all destroyer, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:48 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark

it would be defensible if you took ben mclemore i think... i'm not sure otto porter is worth it, but i haven't seen that much of him

― J0rdan S., Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:57 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

read some thing where people are worried that noel having such a slight frame will never fill out to nba center size and doesnt really have the game to move to the 4 but who knows

But who will Cavs trade for to lure LeBron back? Žydrūnas? Oldshaq? Szczerbiak? Antawn? Another amazing 2nd piece that I'm forgetting?

mo

carlos boozer

how could he leave that team waht a traitor

read some thing where people are worried that noel having such a slight frame will never fill out to nba center size and doesnt really have the game to move to the 4 but who knows

― lag∞n, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 7:02 AM Bookmark

yeah nerlens is like, 205? but he's been riding pine for like the last 6 months. and he's like 19. i feel if he gets up to like, 230/240 that's camby-esque and he'll be fine

Camby has a broad frame tho nerlens has narrow shoulders and everything is the concern iirc

dont worry nerlens i have faith in u

id be surprised if he's turns out to be the best guy from this draft, but if course he's only one guy

id be surprised if he's turns out to be the best guy from this draft

this sounds about right but he's also a low floor pick because i think everyone agrees that at worst he'll be a game changer on defense

i feel like if noel's offense doesn't progress AT ALL you're at least getting a larry sanders type player but i think people believe he'll get better on that end

the thing tho is what if he's not big enough to guard m gasol Dwight etc

can he shoot maybe he can be ibaka

he cant shoot now but who knows he's 19 w half a season of college ball

he's more athletic than ibaka

and taller

And we determined that Ibaka in fact is not good at all so...

oh boy

Analysis: Roy Hibbert's stellar performance in the NBA Eastern Conference finals helps a player such as Gobert. Yes, Gobert will be drafted largely on sheer size. He doesn't have a great motor yet nor does he know what he's doing. But you can't teach 7-foot-2.

if he had a great motor he'd be the number 1 pick

and it's not that he's 7'2, it's that he's 7'2 with the biggest standing reach since Muresan.

was listening to simmons/rusillo podcast today and rusillo was saying that noel has an epically bad group of people around him

Reading some of the miscellaneous endgame discussion in the Spurs-Heat Finals thread, it hit me harder than usual the degree to which small market teams absolutely must maximize their draft choices if they want to build a team that can go far into the playoffs. Because why? Because the first several years of a draft pick's contract are limited by the CBA and therefore your draft picks are going to be where the biggest bargains are found.

But once you've landed an extremely high value player in the draft (not necessarily a high pick, but high value) you have to leverage that value to the maximum before they enter free agency. The more low-paid high-value players you have under contract at one time, the better leverage you've got. So, the name of the game is pulling high value out of low picks and knowing when to lock your high value lottery pick into a RFA max contract and when to trade them before they ruin your salary cap position or else walk away.

Also, it helps if you can pick up a proven nba talent with a bad reputation at a fire sale price, just as they suddenly realize they need to start acting more mature or else they'll be playing in Slovenia next season. Or identifying teams with a logjam of talent at one position and picking their pocket for the bench riding guy who needs more minutes to break out.

Is there a formula for small market teams? Is it aping the Spurs as slavishly as you can?

yes and yes

More than anything else, it all seems to start with being excellent at evaluating talent -- in depth. All the cap and contract tactics are secondary to that.

this rly is the key to the spurs success imo. it starts with getting lucky. drafting david robinson and tim duncan meant they were going to be good for a long time. but i think what distinguishes them from other teams who draft high is finding the right types of personalities who will succeed in the nba (ie kawhi, george hill, tony parker), developing overlooked talent (danny green, cory joseph, gary neal), and getting on the international scouting wagon early. i think the rest of the league has caught up to them in that last category, but they still have advantages over most teams elsewhere.

the draft rly is key for them bc they cannot attract high-level free agents, for all of their success in the league. in the past, theyve pursued chris webber, jason kidd, they'll likely go after other big names quietly now. but it basically comes down to this: if you play in SA you will toil in obscurity most of the time, the only endorsements u get will be local car dealers and HEB, you will not be given free reign to do whatever, you wont have an exciting nightlife etc etc. its not that its not glamorous, but this is not a city where young rich 20-somethings living the fast life want to live in. you look at most of the players the spurs have and they are mostly draft choices (TD, TP, manu, kawhi for all intents and purposes, tiago, nando, cory joseph, dejuan). outside that u have low key free agent signings mostly to fill out the bench (danny green, gary neal, fat boris, tmac, patty mills, aron baynes) and one trade (matt bonner). most of the non-draftees have played most of their careers in SA. spurs v clearly value continuity in a way that other teams do not. its a key to their consistency.

spurs do balance their cap situation p well usually. they do have the odd bad contract from time to time (malik rose, rasho nesterovic and richard jefferson come to mind, though in each case they were able to find trade partners to rid themselves of their length and expense). but tim and tony together are making less than $23 million next season. kobe is making $30 mil. joe johnson will make about $21 mil. spurs have some shit figured out when it comes to contracts.

in a lot of ways, this place is perfect for reserved types like tim and manu who thrive without a lot of attention (though they get their share here obv bc they are basically saints here). tony i think could thrive anywhere, but he's v close to tim and pop and manu.

ive posted in other threads how loyal our fans are. the city is rly appreciative of the type of ppl the spurs are, not just for their success on the court but we rarely have instances where the spurs have represented us negatively. tony parker's indiscretions aside.

anyway, this draft, im p sure they will draft some french guy. i have no idea if he will come over and play right away, probably not. he'll come over in 2 years or something and wreck the league and everyone will be like why did 27 teams pass over this guy blah blah.

pelton's draft board

Full WARP Projections
Rank Name Pos From Win% WARPp
1 Nerlens Noel C Kentucky .488 3.6
3 Otto Porter SF Georgetown .466 2.7
39 Andre Roberson SF Colorado .497 2.6
11 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG Georgia .469 2.6
10 Cody Zeller PF Indiana .475 2.5
9 C.J. McCollum SG Lehigh .496 2.5
14 Lucas Nogueira C Estudiantes .474 2.4
59 D.J. Cooper PG Ohio .504 2.3
36 Nate Wolters PG South Dakota St. .492 2.2
8 Trey Burke PG Michigan .459 2.2
35 Pierre Jackson PG Baylor .482 2.1
56 Arsalan Kazemi PF Oregon .510 2.1
4 Anthony Bennett PF UNLV .447 2.1
7 Michael Carter-Williams PG Syracuse .473 2.0
13 Sergey Karasev SF Triumph .429 2.0
74 Ryan Broekhoff SF Valparaiso .497 2.0
12 Steven Adams C Pittsburgh .429 1.9
78 Khalif Wyatt SG Temple .474 1.6
24 Glen Rice Jr. SF Rio Grande Valley .473 1.6
18 Shane Larkin PG Miami (FL) .433 1.6
33 Mike Muscala C Bucknell .460 1.5
63 Marko Todorovic PF FC Barcelona .442 1.5
38 Grant Jerrett PF Arizona .415 1.5
21 Tony Mitchell SF North Texas .442 1.5
75 Robert Covington SF Tennessee St. .467 1.4
34 Alex Abrines SG FC Barcelona .407 1.4
48 Phil Pressey PG Missouri .454 1.2
91 Will Cherry PG Montana .453 1.2
67 Bojan Dubljevic PF Valencia .438 1.2
25 Allen Crabbe SG California .426 1.1
44 Ray McCallum PG Detroit .444 1.1
53 James Southerland SF Syracuse .466 1.1
55 Ryan Kelly PF Duke .446 1.1
19 Kelly Olynyk PF Gonzaga .445 1.1
2 Victor Oladipo SG Indiana .443 1.1
6 Ben McLemore SG Kansas .404 1.1
58 D.J. Stephens SF Memphis .449 1.0
23 Reggie Bullock SF North Carolina .443 1.0
32 Jeff Withey C Kansas .465 1.0
45 B.J. Young PG Arkansas .393 0.9
87 Matthew Dellavedova PG Saint Mary's .450 0.9
29 Isaiah Canaan PG Murray St. .430 0.8
20 Jamaal Franklin SG San Diego St. .424 0.7
97 Ian Clark SG Belmont .431 0.7
94 Joffrey Lauvergne PF Partizan .416 0.6
28 Tim Hardaway Jr. SG Michigan .405 0.6
52 Deshaun Thomas SF Ohio St. .417 0.6
65 Raul Neto PG Lagun Aro .395 0.5
57 James Ennis SF Long Beach St. .434 0.4
68 Seth Curry SG Duke .430 0.4
50 Trevor Mbakwe PF Minnesota .463 0.4
40 Erick Green PG Virginia Tech .413 0.4
5 Alex Len C Maryland .366 0.3
90 Brandon Davies PF Brigham Young .406 0.3
70 Brandon Paul SG Illinois .411 0.3
83 Laurence Bowers SF Missouri .433 0.3
27 Gorgui Dieng C Louisville .435 0.2
49 Myck Kabongo PG Texas .389 0.1
88 C.J. Aiken SF Saint Joseph's .413 0.1
54 Richard Howell PF North Carolina St. .413 0.1
62 Erik Murphy PF Florida .409 0.0
79 Solomon Hill SF Arizona .399 0.0
76 Peyton Siva PG Louisville .405 -0.1
96 Oleksandr Lypovyy SF BC Donetsk .382 -0.1
30 Tony Snell SF New Mexico .379 -0.2
99 Christian Watford SF Indiana .387 -0.2
98 Rotnei Clarke PG Butler .425 -0.3
64 Adonis Thomas PF Memphis .345 -0.3
42 Lorenzo Brown PG North Carolina St. .397 -0.3
37 Archie Goodwin SG Kentucky .312 -0.3
80 Rodney Williams SF Minnesota .379 -0.4
77 Will Clyburn SG Iowa St. .403 -0.4
22 Mason Plumlee PF Duke .407 -0.4
81 Ed Daniel PF Murray St. .401 -0.4
51 Nemanja Nedovic SG Lietuvos Rytas .376 -0.4
84 Zeke Marshall C Akron .387 -0.4
41 C.J. Leslie PF North Carolina St. .373 -0.5
85 Ramon Galloway PG La Salle .380 -0.5
17 Shabazz Muhammad SF UCLA .335 -0.7
100 Elijah Johnson PG Kansas .380 -0.8
82 Elias Harris SF Gonzaga .395 -1.0
95 Travis Releford SG Kansas .381 -1.0
86 Jamelle Hagins PF Delaware .363 -1.1
71 Vander Blue SG Marquette .323 -1.1
69 Augusto Lima PF Malaga .341 -1.1
60 Carrick Felix SF Arizona St. .361 -1.2
89 Romero Osby PF Oklahoma .367 -1.2
43 Jackie Carmichael PF Illinois St. .364 -1.5
73 DeWayne Dedmon C USC .370 -1.5
47 Colton Iverson C Colorado St. .359 -1.8
66 Kenny Kadji PF Miami (FL) .380 -1.9
72 Michael Snaer SG Florida St. .330 -2.5
93 Amath M'Baye SF Oklahoma .299 -3.0

i hope this report is just BS

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/06/25/source-bobcats-shopping-kidd-gilcrest-to-draft-otto-porter/

then again

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/02/06/sheridan-al-jefferson-to-spurs/

simmons contradicts himself on his podcast with chad ford that i'm getting actually enraged

cleveland now starting to think that nabbing a number one pick wasn't so lucky as all that.

for cleveland's sake i hope they just take noel and don't overthink it

otm

AlexKennedyNBA Cleveland has offered New Orleans the No. 1 pick for Greivis Vasquez, the No. 6 pick and a 2014 first-round pick

do nobody wants anything to do with this draft is my understanding

so/do

AlexKennedyNBA Cleveland has offered New Orleans the No. 1 pick for Greivis Vasquez, the No. 6 pick and a 2014 first-round pick

"no thanks"

for cleveland's sake i hope they just take noel and don't overthink it

― J0rdan S., Wednesday, June 26, 2013 4:45 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

otm

― lag∞n, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 6:08 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Why are you guys so sold on the 19 year old who has had two major leg injuries?

he has cool hair

well they're giving him a clean bill of health... ACL surgeries are a step below "major" at this point

advanced stats have him as the best player, he has the most upside and his floor as larry sanders is still an okay outcome. the only other guy i'd consider if i was the cavs is otto porter.

He also got his ass kicked by Alex Len

He fractured his left knee in high school and then tore his left ACL before his second semester of college. Reports are that some teams do not have him with a clean bill of health and are concerned about it.

He improved a lot after the Maryland game. I heard he averaged 2.2 steals a game which is a good indicator of MBA success

Masters of Ballin' Administration

another player could easily turn out better than noel but its not really clear who that might be, not alex len tho

injury history is a question, as is if he can put enough weight on his thin fram to play center

but like jordan said the advanced metrics love him hes a crazy athlete and hes really tall, seems like the best bet if not a sure thing #1 like some years have

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 25 Jun
NBA Green Room Invites (cnt'd): Alex Len, C.J. McCollum, Ben McLemore, Nerlens Noel, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Cody Zeller

NBA Green Room Invites: Steven Adams, Anthony Bennett, Trey Burke, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Carter-Williams, Sergey Karasev (cnt'd)

another player could easily turn out better than noel but its not really clear who that might be, not alex len tho

― lag∞n, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:20 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

why not?

Just to get it out there my top 5 is 1. Bennett 2. Len 3. Oladipo 4. Noel 5. McLemore

if Len didn't have the fractured ankle he'd be number 1 for me

len could be brook lopez or he could be a colossal bust. but brook lopez was pretty dominant in college.

my top 5 would be

1. noel 2. porter 3. bennett 4. mccollum 5. caldwell-pope

i'm not sold on oladipo's offense but he'd be pretty solid, i'd take caldwell-pope over him though but i'm privileging scoring

i'm basically off the mclemore hype train altogether

i like zeller too as a pick in the 8-10 range

he's not really similar to Lopez at all. Valanciunas is a better comparison, or young Ilgauskas. Lopez is much more skilled than Len and much more of a stiff.

lopez is the best case scenario for "lumbering big man who derives almost all of his value through scoring"

big z was pretty skilled!

"Perhaps the pants he wore with his sports jacket and orange tie were just too tight, but Noel was walking gingerly as he exited a hotel ballroom after meeting with the media Wednesday."

yeah how could Cleveland pass on this guy

young big Z wasn't that skilled, he primarily ran the floor and was really athletic for his size. The skills developed after he got in the league.

also "lumbering big man who derives almost all of his value through scoring" makes me think you haven't watched Len play very much

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbn5U7aI2Ng

Very excited about Giannis Adetokunbo's future with the Hawks.

another player could easily turn out better than noel but its not really clear who that might be, not alex len tho

― lag∞n, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:20 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

why not?

― Matt Armstrong, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 7:20 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

he wasnt a great college player at all and he particularly had poor rebounding numbers and abismal steals numbers both of which are considered important for projecting to the pros

olapido is old as hell and wasnt any good until his junior season, can see drafting him ahead of guys who were good their freshman years

also man u want to be a starting center in 5 years, show some ambition

noel defensive savant? http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/60446/is-nerlens-noel-worth-the-no-1-pick

he wasnt a great college player at all and he particularly had poor rebounding numbers and abismal steals numbers both of which are considered important for projecting to the pros

― lag∞n, Thursday, June 27, 2013 4:24 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

he did not have poor rebounding numbers

he rebounded at almost exactly the same rate as Noel

pelton said they were poor but then didnt show his work so im not really sure what he was talking abt, but anyway can i just say lol at that draft xpress video, like if youre gonna be saying over and over how nimble and athletic he is you should try to demonstrate that in the video clips, he looks slow as hell to me

oh pelton said they were poor ok

11.9 rebounds per 40, but kevin pelton says he's bad

his steals rate is truly all time bad tho, and he looks like a stiff when he plays basketball

hes maybe not thabeet bad but i do think hed be a major mistake to take w a high pick

Tim Duncan averaged .5 spg in 35 mpg for Wake Forest

plenty of centers don't get steals, what the fuck is this obsession with steals from 7 footers

hey goonie it's ok to admit that kevin pelton is wrong about something you know, I won't tell

steals are a good indicator of quickness is the reasoning

what am i some sort of kevin pelton booster on this message board

well he's obviously wrong about the rebounding thing, why cling to this idea that Len is a bad rebounder dude, let it go

i only said it once im not clinging!

and seriously if you look at that video and don't see a lot of athleticism I don't know what to say. He shows great end to end speed, explosiveness, agility etc. He's also really raw from a skills standpoint.

he does not show any explosiveness in that video! and hes not fast at all, i mean hes a big dude so he could still be effective but they assembled a highlight reel w/o one play that makes you go wow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmyL-N81WlA

i mean thats the highlight reel and its full of uncontested dunks

he got like five inches off the ground on that dunk of the day!

haha ok whatever man

its not a very impressive play

very few 7 footers have the coordination and agility for that play, it's something you see more often from quick 4s like Chris Bosh (RIP)

alex len will not be making that play in the pros

i mean there are prob lots of guys who can do that against that D

not that quickly and smoothly, no

its wasnt that quick his man got up on him then let him walk by and there was no help

that is mostly some horeshit defensive work in that youtube clip

he takes one step on the defender and the guy is like "well okay then, after you"

this is very silly, if we saw that in an NBA game we'd all say "oh man, sick," u just hatin'

what he didnt wouldnt work in an nba game

except maybe against the kings in mid december

look at this blinding speed against a NBA defense, clearly next level

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHxgWYlF-M

lopez is prob the best case scenario, but hes somehow become a really really good offensive player to compensate for the mediocrity of the rest of his game, which is pretty rare, i think len could be alright but im def not seeing super star worth a top five pick, he looks robotic and not really athletic enough to rely on that so idk

seems like one of those guys that does okay playing against college players but then ends up being kinda niche in the pros

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8v0hsyswwo

look at this mope getting blown by, smh this must be a meaningless game or something

plus the white guy didn't even jump that high this is like a high school game or somethin

one of these things is not like the other

and lens like two years older than pau when he made that play lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlQpMpgB14

Plumlee will not let this happen in the NBA!

hes so dunky he shouldve taken more shots

he can totally just dunk it every time why because highlights

6pts a game freshman year

you're the wanted more sik dunkz

*the one who wanted

show me a clip of him finishing through contact, i know you have one

6pts a game freshman year

― lag∞n, Thursday, June 27, 2013 5:34 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

now you're getting somewhere; he was very inconsistent, only seemed to show up for big games last year. Was it because he was on a shitty team?

The call on that Gasol dunk brrrrrrrrrrrr

maryland prob didnt use him correctly but to me a number one pick isnt the type of player you have to make those excuses abt, like if youre seven feet tall and you have #1 pick type skills you score more than six points, or at least you better be an all world defender or something

dude there's excuses about all the top guys this year. Nerlens Noel has two serious knee injuries, Bennett has a torn rotator cuff and may be just a scorer, Oladipo is a late bloomer etc etc

yeah theres no consensus #1 but i take nerlens cause at least he is super l33t at something

so weird that two guys who prob wouldve ended up in the top five stayed in college

In a normal draft I'd have Len around 5.

and btw, Lopez was super skilled in college already

it was Brook on offense and Robin on defense basically their whole lives

yeah he was but his scoring game has become kinda otherworldly in its own way, hes maxing his talent out right there xp

I mean will you give me this: can you really imagine brook doing that baseline dunk on Plumlee

or how goofy it would be if it really ever happened

i can imagine it and yes its very goofy

I WENT TO THE SOURCE, 4 U MATT

joe sch ‏@on3ness 23m
@kpelton curious by what metric you conclude len is a bad rebounder, cant figure it out
Details


Kevin Pelton @kpelton
@on3ness His translated rebound percentage is below average for an NCAA center entering the draft.

joe sch ‏@on3ness 19m
@kpelton pretty close to noels numbers, is he a bad rebounder too, just read some thing calling him elite

Kevin Pelton ‏@kpelton 17m
@on3ness Noel is certainly not elite, but when you factor in Len's freshman season, Noel is somewhat better.

joe sch ‏@on3ness 14m
@kpelton would you say len is a below average but not terrible rebounder then

Kevin Pelton ‏@kpelton 12m
@on3ness He's at about the 25th percentile among centers.

joe sch ‏@on3ness 10m
@kpelton k thx im having trouble digging up those stats, best i could find was this page that just has the top 20 http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/2013-leaders.html …

Kevin Pelton ‏@kpelton 9m
@on3ness This is comparing him to past NCAA draftees from my database.

joe sch ‏@on3ness 7m
@kpelton gotcha, it would be cool if we could see a little bit more of yr work in that warp big board thing you did

the internet is cool btw

whoa ur on twitter

so on twitter

He's kind of admitting that Noel wasn't a better rebounder last year so I don't see how Noel gets a pass on it.

And I don't really buy that they're bad rebounders. Lanky shotblocking 7 footers are less likely to get rebounds in general and 11.9 per 40 is really solid for that type of player.

Len TRB% 16.5
Noel TRB% 16.8

ugh I'm gonna be the Alex Len guy forever aren't I, oh well:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&year_min=&year_max=&conf_id=&school_id=&class_is_fr=Y&class_is_so=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=trb_pct&c1comp=gt&c1val=16&c2stat=blk_pct&c2comp=gt&c2val=7.5&c3stat=mp&c3comp=gt&c3val=400&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts

RIP

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 2h

Could be a long night for Shabazz tomorrow. Really have no idea where he or Plumlee are going. Could be in the lottery, or could be in 20s.

i'm not some alex len truther or something but the guy is 7-1 and averaged under 8 boards a game in college, i think it's obvious why one would be skeptical about his ability to rebound well in the nba

as for him vs noel, aside from the difference in age when comparing stats, noel's defensive ability sort of mitigates however mediocre his rebounding numbers are

if they're both putting up 11 and 7 in the nba, noel is gonna be better because of his defensive potential

in general though i just don't see the upside in len

that said i would find it sensible if the bobcats took him at 4 considering how historically horrendous their frontcourt is

He's kind of admitting that Noel wasn't a better rebounder last year so I don't see how Noel gets a pass on it.

And I don't really buy that they're bad rebounders. Lanky shotblocking 7 footers are less likely to get rebounds in general and 11.9 per 40 is really solid for that type of player.

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 3:10 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Len TRB% 16.5
Noel TRB% 16.8

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 3:16 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ya theres the age difference, lens freshman % is 14.5, tho i agree that peltons kind of splitting hairs, but if its true that len is in the 25th percentile for drafted centers then maybe neither of them are good rebounders

intro to chard fords latest mock

Happy draft day. This year I think the NBA has something really crazy in store for all of us. In the 11 years I've been doing this, this is the most unpredictable draft I've ever seen.

he has noel 1st and len 5th

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 3m
Happy NBA Draft day everyone. Tonight's going to be wild it seems. There will be a lot of crazy moves. No one has any clue. Enjoy the ride!

damn im gonna miss it :(

ha holy shit I thought the draft was another week away. guess I better put on my seat belt b/c today is gonna be a wild ride~~~

Last night I watched NBA.tv's live mock draft show, with Ernie Johnson pretending to be the commish. They had Ben McLemore going first. It was really weird.

I'm going to miss tonight's draft. IT'll be the first time in 20+ years. Also, first year I really don't give a shit so I'm not too bothered.

okc looking to deal perry + lamb tonight i think

The NBA says no trades were submitted before the 2 p.m. ET deadline meaning tonight's draft order is set.

okc, jeez

The NBA says no trades were submitted before the 2 p.m. ET deadline meaning tonight's draft order is set.

pretty sure this doesn't mean deals can't be done during the draft, where x team drafts for y team in exchange for whatever. that's how it usually goes down, anyways.

right

waaaaaaat

Sam Amico ‏@SamAmicoFSO 4m

Timberwolves and Suns in play for Cavs' No. 1 pick, source tells FOX Sports Ohio. #NBADraft

kaaaaaaaaaaaaah- oh wait

phoenix would be a really interesting spot for noel considering their medical staff and the fact that they have probably the worst roster in the nba

it's time...

turns out Im not going out for an hour so should catch some of it.

yeah it's funny that you said you weren't interested, to me this is the most interesting draft in 5 years

when was the last time the no. 1 pick was this up in the air this close to the draft

even the kyrie year, it leaked that the cavs were picking kyrie the night they won the lottery

I'm not sure it's happened in like 20 years

i'm almost scared to read twitter at this point now that we're this close to an actual suspenseful first pick

I'm turning off the NBA and basketball in general. I hate the way the game has evolved, even if today's players are better than ever.

the last true holy shit moment I can remember in the draft is when the bulls traded Brand for Chandler

Oladipo was wearing Google Glass earlier and it KINDA looked cool?

it's too bad the NBA doesn't have teams like the Raiders and Patriots that are both weird and immune to draft leaks

battier should just retire at this point

god Jay Bilas just fucking wings it with this shit

@chadfordinsider 1m

Hearing Cavs will take Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 pick!

wow, cavs

YEAH BABY, GOOD JOB CAVS

RIP the tristan thompson era

man

@timkawakami 12s

Couple NBA people I talked to yesterday said Anthony Bennett was actually the No. 1 talent in this draft. I did not believe them.

Oladipo 2, Porter 3.

let's not spoil itt

Thompson could play the 5 if they got rid of Varejao, the Cavs are right to go BPA and HE'S THE BPA BABY

please xp

is this a good pick if oladipo ends up to be evan turner

are we gonna find out in an hour that Noel was redflagged all over the place?

okay jordan, sorry. I don't have the stream working so I don't know what's happened yet.

Thompson could play the 5 if they got rid of Varejao, the Cavs are right to go BPA and HE'S THE BPA BABY

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 7:47 PM (46 seconds ago) Bookmark

can he though? i'm not against taking BPA but if you take two PF in the top 5 in two of three drafts, you screwed up somewhere

IIRC they played Thompson at the 5 a lot with speights with some success, it's definitely small ball tho

orlando gotta flip afflalo

@DraftExpress 11s

Multiple NBA teams told me today that there are "no concerns whatsoever" with Nerlens Noel's medical report. So strictly a talent decision.

LOL Bilas has Saric in his best available?!?!

well that must be something he turned in like 2 weeks ago and some production person forgot to erase

it would be so hilarious if it lasted all night, let's not tweet about it

best available: LeBron James

Andrew Wiggins

ZELLER????????????????????????

I hate Zeller but.... this actually is a great fit for him.

they're so desperate for anyone who knows how to score

gilchrist-zeller is a really interesting forward combo

yeah they really do need a big guy who can score maybe more than any team in nba history

how could he possibly be called the big handsome

indiana must be a supremely ugly place

I thought Bennett was the perfect guy for them but it was not to be

yeah i think you're right

suns gotta take noel

oh wow

at this point I don't believe noel's medical checked out clean everywhere

his knees gotta be made of confetti

hornets can't take nerlens

maybe it could be something like, yeah it's clean, but the probabilities are that he's injury prone

I'm drinking sake btw, draft tradition

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

hahaha

trade?

ryan anderson absolutely cannot play the 3

this team makes no sense

plz do something crazy kings

Nerlens better start gorging on protein shakes

most sensible thing that's happened all night

kinda no brainer pick for the kings

shouldn't the Suns be trading Gortat?

RIP jimmer

can't tell if this is a good or bad place for him personality wise

I feel like McLemore's floor is a not-insane JR Smith

Jimmer is supposedly on the move to be a backup PG somewhere else

Indiana probably

I feel like McLemore's floor is a not-insane JR Smith

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 8:19 PM (44 seconds ago) Bookmark

so basically ben gordon?

should I spoiler trades y/n

for players that have already been picked?

sure

Noel traded for Jrue Holiday

THE SIXERS HAHAHAHAHAHA

jrue for noel

oh my god, the poor sixers fans

Correction: New Orleans sends a 2014 1st round pick to Philadelphia in the deal.

this trade is CRAZY

i like jrue but man idk if i like drew enough to give up a 2014 lottery pick

caldwell pope's gonna be better than mclemore

Wolves really wanted KCP

KCP is an amazing nickname

I think Jrue is crazy overrated and tanking is cool so whatever

wolves should maybe take burke, he could cross-match with rubio

honestly I think it's a shitty trade for the pellys

the 'cans

i'm not sure i like that trade for either of those teams

but seriously the sixers fans and the knee issues

the sixers going all in on the 2014 draft is great though

yeah tankapalooza

trey burke's a back up imo but i guess this makes sense

wait so who traded a pick... NOLA or 76ers

i shouldn't be reading twitter 10 mins behind lol

nola traded a first and noel for Jrue

ah ok this makes sense

and got philly's second

i like burke in utah

oh man lillard/mccollum is so very baller

can't wait to see what Minny got for Burke

trading up for burke when you can just wait and pick shane larkin is insane to me

oh man the jazz traded both picks, what a horrible trade

are you guys ready for Giannis time

nice start for Flip Saunders

they traded 14/21 for burke?

burke is better than larkin

jrue-eric gordon-mystery player-ryan anderson-anthony davis is totally not making the playoffs next year but i'm mildly intrigued

burke is better than larkin

― moullet, Thursday, June 27, 2013 8:40 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

eh

Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA

Houston is trying to dump Jeremy Lin's salary, going so far as to prioritise cap relief over young basketball assets.

DWIGHT NOOOO

i have no idea what to think about MCW

i'm trying to stop myself from liking him

MCW + noel + 2014 baller is pretty intriguing though

Jeff McDonald ‏@JMcDonald_SAEN 3m

So Woj typos the terms of the Philly-NOLA trade, and everybody else's "sources" get them backwards too. An interesting thing I noticed.

haha, so true

Chris Broussard ‏@Chris_Broussard 1m

Correction: Philly is getting Nerlens Noel and the Pelicans' 2014 1st round pick (1-3 protected) for Jrue Holiday, sources say

aldridge did it too

have we talked about how steven adams has like 200 siblings and one of them is the women's gold medalist in shotput

man, james harden for jeremy lamb and steven adams

man

Adams is just SUCH a stiff

it looks like he's a shotputter too

how many more players would have to be thrown into that trade for it to be fair

holy shit is dallas really doing this

chad ford tweeted that the NOLA pick is protected 1-5??

NOLA pick to sixers

yeah

great trade for the sixers now

i like it a little less if they can't get one of the top 5 picks

Boston traded for this pick, the number 16 and 2 2nd rounders

i gotta say, i kinda like olynyk

hmm katz says just 2 2nd rounders

yeah the mavs were just selling the pick basically

woj reported it was a first and 2 2nds tho

yeah, chad ford too

we'll see

the 13th pick for two second rounders is nuts

but swapping picks for two second rounders is also kind of nonsensical

bazz to the wolves makes a good bit of sense

very solid choice for the puppies

why does simmons hate shabazz

"a less athletic james harden" is a pretty damn good player at 14!

Simmons thinking Bazz is less athletic than Harden, come on dude no

I mean maybe like 5% less athletic but Harden isn't exactly a guy who needs his athleticism much

even if he means "james harden with no ability to drive" that's a good player! harden guy can shoot the lights out

the worst case scenario for trey burke is not a third guard

and we don't know that trey burke is a good player

simmons has this all backwards

reminder that Bill Simmons said Yao sucked based off of watching 5 minutes of him shooting in a gym on ESPNEWS

hahaha

Bucks should go Karasev here imo

the worst case for trey burke is a guy who's out of the nba after his rookie deal

hahaha enjoy milwaukee in the winter, giannis

John Hammond loves his wingspans

Giannis-Henson-Sanders: longest wingspanned frontcourt in NBA history?

yeah

bucks going all in on 2014 too yeah?

2014 draft i mean

Giannis really does look amazing, this is about where he should go

if they lose jennings, monta and reddick they're gonna win 18 games

giannis looks batum-ish to me

wow, boston picking for team x THROUGH team y, that's kinda amazing

i kinda want them to bottom out, get rid of all of them

just hire Woj already

right?? i feel like woj would never work there even if they wrote him a blank check

Atlanta had secret workouts with Giannis and were the only team with his medical report. Probably super pissed.

haha dallas traded down again, jesus

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 3h
Oklahoma City has to be frightening Atlanta with threat of selecting Greece's Giannis Adetokunbo at No. 12. Hawks have long wanted him.

this guy! lucas!

everyone in MN is freaking out and pissed about Shabazz... :/

i don't really know what to think, i haven't seen him

i think it was a really good pick

is schroeder for the mavs, i'm very confused

I wonder how many people pissed about the shabazz pick were also mad about mayo for love

ridnour for udoh is close apparently

i keep expecting stern to pull a flask out of his jacket at the podium

schroeder looks amazing

atlanta going total international is kinda awesome

uh bill, there was another german guy in the NBA

bilas has got to be shitting me with plumlee at 13

schroeder might end up being best pg in the draft

jesus christ these guys have no idea what is going on

This pick is dallas' you fuckwits

it's pretty embarrassing

i think shane is gonna be a baller

none of the PGs separated themselves, really a crapshoot

he's gonna have trouble finishing at the rim but he's ridic athletic, an awesome shooter especially out of the PNR and controlled a team of guys all 5 years older than him

uhhhh are we sure thomas robinson is better than the last 6 picks?

Faried is on the block apparently

man, the nuggets were really like a streaking comet

yeah the cavs really need another PF, simmons

I like Karasev a lot, he was amazingly poised in the hoop summit

Jalen thinking Bennett can play the 3 is pretty much a fireable offense

Good to see so much engagement here.

Jalen thinking Bennett can play the 3 is pretty much a fireable offense

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:41 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

yeah i mean.... yeah

i have no idea who tony snell is

this is so unreal... shabazz coming up 30 mins after his pick to wear a hat for a team that we knew was trading him an hour ago

I'm just gonna assume Snell is a great pick because it's Chicago

i have no idea why chris broussard has a job, it makes no sense

he better hope like hell his dwight sources are on point

DIENG

freakishly long arms?

gotta say, i kinda love minny's draft tonight

what if flip saunders actually knows what he's doing

a back up big who can hit jumpers like that is pretty solid

really like what Flip is doing, it's a new era

if the celtics deal goes through, the nets luxury tax bill this year will be 80m

oh my god, simmons making that chinese food joke

whyyyyyyyy

hahahahahaha plumlee

everyone super pumped to hear the name of a mediocre player they've heard of before

plumlee is fucking garbage

should be playing volleyball

he can pump fake four boston college players though

kidd's energy jumping off the screen

the nets are gonna run up an $80m tax bill with a coach who just said "i'm trying to put together the best staff to help me learn how to be the best coach i can be"

ha man it's so funny switching between my MN centric board and ILH....it's like night and day reactions to the T-Wolves draft....though for obvious reasons Wolves fans are almost insanely neurotic

Stern is trolling so hard tonight, A+

this stern performance needs to be in the smithsonian

the pacers just picked another bench guy who can't score at all right?

the knicks are gonna knick here

someone should take Gobert already

they need a shooter since their team is built around three point shooting but have a bunch of guys who can't actually shoot

it's hilarious that Thabeet went 2 and Gobert is still available

crabbe would be interesting

tim hardaway jr can't shoot!!!

40% on catch and shoot shots is unbelievably horrendous!

30% on pullups, mad solid

what if spike was like "I hate the pick, his WARP is shitty and his hotzones don't fit our offense"

my friends and i used to mess around with tim when he was 10 or 11 year old

he was always hanging around the park where we'd play football

terrible rumors that the Wolves are trading the 26th pick for cash, Glen Taylor sucks

Golden State bought 26 and then traded to OKC for 29 & cash. Allen Crabbe going at 26.

bullock is gonna be in the nba for a while even if he's just dorrel wright

Oh shit did I do it again? Sorry!

it's okay, it's the 26th pick

selling first rounders when you're like the 7th richest owner is lame

Excited that the Dubs are jumping in. When you buy a pick does that cash count on your cap?

realistically they don't want to bring in 3 guaranteed contracts at once tho

though i would prefer a stash euro pick

wait so the warriors bought the 26th pick then traded it for a lower pick and cash? how does that make any sense

it's actually kind of a heist if you think about it

yeah i don't get it

GSW is getting Malcolm Lee too apparently

ha remember when kahn signed malcom lee to a guaranteed contract before he ever played a game

Apparently not Crabbe at 26

xpost - yes, yes, i do

wait so roberson was for OKC? man they're really doubling down on the frontcourt

someone needs to pick Muscala soon too

this pick is for the Jazz

a tear rolls down masai's face as the nuggets take gobert

i have no idea what's going on

nuggets deal gobert for a deep second rounder and cash

well that's the last i'll ever think of rudy gobert

do you ever think of alex ajinca

i do not

:(

there's a 3 minute highlight reel on youtube that's 4 plays over and over

i think of desagna diop a few times a year tho

lol at stern having to go out on all these euros

lol:

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 1m

Livio Jean-Charles did not conduct a single workout for any NBA team. Completely shut it down after his amazing Hoop Summit performance.

yeah i bet

the thunder were playing derek fisher in crunch time minutes throughout the playoffs but have taken two bigs tonight fwiw

what about ndudi ebi

phoenix really just traded up one spot? they really thought the warriors were gonna take whoever this player is

whoaaaa i'm surprised archie went in the first, man he lucked out

good pick for phx tho he can really go to the rack

lol kendall marshall tho

this euro scout I follow on twitter says Mirotic would have gone number 1 in this draft o_O

nothing seems far fetched as it pertains to this draft

Simmons chickened out hardcore there

hahaha what a final pick

uh apparently kosta koufos just got traded for darrel arthur

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m

Kevin Garnett will agree to trade to Brooklyn and Celtics are sending KG and Paul Pierce to the Nets, league sources tell Y! Sports.

the european derrick rose!!

portland traded up for crabbe, i like that

haha broussard reporting woj's news on espn, poetic

if the picks are unprotected I will laugh my ass off

i sort of think at this rate that the nets will always be able to buy themselves into the playoffs even 5 years from now, but the celtics have to be liking that

oh man simmons, this is beautiful

Even if the trade isn't great, this is why I love Ainge. He's fearless.

i mean it was probably as good as it was gonna get

and i bet there's no way wallace finishes his career there

by career i mean contract

breathlessly awaiting britney Griner's name to be called late in the 2nd round.

lmao at the idea that lebron gives a fuck abotu anthony bennett, sergey karasev and carrick felix

"If it's up to me I will live and die green," KG said. When reminded its up to him, KG said: "OK then. So what are we talking about it?"

When asked if there was any team or circumstance that he would drop his trade clause for, Kevin Garnett simply said: "No."

this is why reporters should just stop asking that question

by "no" he meant "at least two"

hilly rebuilds with Noel
The 76ers reportedly send guard Jrue Holiday and the No. 42 pick to the Pelicans in exchange for the rights to center Nerlens Noel and a protected 2014 first-round pick.

New Orleans: D
When Noel dropped to the sixth pick, the Pelicans found themselves with an opportunity. Since Noel made less sense in New Orleans alongside Anthony Davis than almost anywhere else, a trade was nearly inevitable. Pelicans GM Dell Demps decided to use Noel as a lure to fill point guard position for years to come with Jrue Holiday, an All-Star for the first time last season at the age of 22.

Holiday is an upgrade on Greivis Vasquez, who could be either a trade asset or a quality reserve in the last year of his contract. And he's still got room to grow with years until he reaches his prime. However, the cost was immense. In addition to the rights to Noel, New Orleans had to send its first-round pick in 2014 to Philadelphia. The Pelicans aren't out of the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes, since the pick is top-5 protected, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein. But New Orleans is still looking at potentially giving up two top-10 picks.

Talent-wise, those players might -- might -- be a wash with Holiday. The secondary issue is financial. Both Noel and next year's first-round pick would be on cost-controlled rookie contracts for their first four seasons. Holiday's rookie contract is already up, and he'll begin a four-year, $41 million extension next fall. So Holiday has to be better than not only Noel and next year's pick, but also whoever the Pelicans could have signed with the $5 million a year difference in their combined salaries. That's unlikely to be the case.

Philadelphia: A+
Since the 76ers hired Sam Hinkie in mid-May, we've been waiting for some indication of his vision for the franchise. Well, we unmistakably got it Thursday. Hinkie is ripping apart a team that was stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference and heading -- at least temporarily -- for the bottom. That's the message in trading away Holiday, Philadelphia's best player, for a pair of first-round picks.

With the loaded 2014 draft class 12 months away, this is the time to rebuild. Noel is the ideal centerpiece in that regard. In time, Noel -- rated far and away the best player in this year's draft by my WARP projections -- could be a star and every bit as good as Holiday. In 2013-14, coming back from ACL surgery, Noel is unlikely to contribute. A 76ers team with no Holiday, and presumably no Andrew Bynum, could be among the contenders for the No. 1 overall pick. Depending where New Orleans' pick lands, Philadelphia could easily have a pair of top-10 picks in what is considered the deepest draft in years.

With those picks joining Noel and the 76ers' own first-round pick, Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams (No. 11 overall), Hinkie could have his new core in place by this time next June. Philadelphia will have flexibility to build around those young players, since the Sixers have just two non-rookie contracts (forward Thaddeus Young and guard Jason Richardson) that extend past next season.

While Philadelphia won't be a major player in free agency in the coming years, Hinkie can use that cap space to add additional assets using the model popularized by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder model requires adding elite talent in the draft. In Noel, and possibly next year's picks, the 76ers are off to a good start.

Holiday for Noel would have been a decent move for Philadelphia. Add in the 2014 first-round pick and this deal is an enormous win for the 76ers.

that's by pelton

Koufos dealt for Arthur and the 55

philly GM kinda balling out tonight

these prokhorav-era nets are so frustrating; so willing to spend $$ but so many dumb transactions.

this move makes sense imo if they truly give zero fucks about the cost

Muscala still available smh

haha Dumars is such a gambler

cool pick imo, they could really use an athletic wing

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m

Kris Joseph will part of the Nets package to the Celtics, as well as the right to swap draft picks in 2017, league source tells Y! Sports.

haberstroh's column says all the nets picks are unprotected

please jamaal franklin, be there when atl picks.

haha oh my god, meyers leonard/jeff withey frontcourt

that's beautiful

okay, muscala then

Bucks may be my new team with these Giannis and Muscala picks

and the demise of the masai era :(

what's happening with teague, is he inclined to stick with alt?

agh more suited for the offseason thread

I haven't heard anything about that on twitter other than "wtf are they going to do with teague now"

i had to meet with a lawyer tonight and totally would've not scheduled it for today if I'd put it together that the draft was tonight. Don't think I've missed watching a first round in a decade or so. and this wacky draft too!

4:50pm: David Stern listening to the boos, then smiling and saying "I can't hear you."

Did this really happen tho, because if so

he was in top form tonight!

Had some great quotes

oh man, i have to work til like 3am tonight but maybe i'll come home and find a stream of this or something. that's how dedicated i am to my boy davey stern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCHTiffWAw#at=45

there's the highlights

“the boo is an American sign of respect”

spurs pick a french guy who will play in europe next year and a 6'7" combo forward who can hit corner 3s
the more things change the more they stay the same

wow stern announcing the first overall pick is pure gold. what an overall performance. how will i live without this guy?

End result is Warriors ended getting #30 pick and gave up $600K (in back and forth of deals) and their 2014 No. 2 pick.

Dick Vitale ‏@DickieV 3h

How wacky is this draft? Utah gets a future PTPer in @Trey_Burke3 - Minnesota gets MR MEDIOCRITY!

End result is Warriors ended getting #30 pick and gave up $600K (in back and forth of deals) and their 2014 No. 2 pick.

― polyphonic, Friday, June 28, 2013 4:32 AM (3 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is grand larceny

i'm behind you guys but my god this draft was a gem, just a beautiful and hilarious night.

i don't *love* the 'cans trade by any stretch but pelton's grades are just dumb

End result is Warriors ended getting #30 pick and gave up $600K (in back and forth of deals) and their 2014 No. 2 pick.

― polyphonic, Friday, June 28, 2013 4:32 AM (3 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is grand larceny

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:33 PM (10 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Matt, tell me why this is larceny?

omg hakeem coming out <3

this is why the nba is the best and funniest league

like what other sport would do that

Yeah and he had nothing to say. My favorite player of all time.

German Rondo has to immediately be in contention for ugliest dude in the league right

love that the hawks are becoming Spurs East. u saw the birth of a dynasty tonight yall

Imagine if, in the NFL, you traded a 3rd round pick this year for a 4th round pick in next year's draft, and all it cost you was 600k.

acquired, not traded

Cool thx

Matt, tell me why this is larceny?

― Shock G Mo Collier (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Friday, June 28, 2013 4:45 AM (26 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

picks used to sell for like 3 million, 600k is a great bargain

Nice, not used to competent warriors management you see so this is new territory for me.

could someone post the rest of pelton's trade greases pretty please?

katz:
No one knows for certain why Noel fell. One general manager who passed told ESPN that it was likely due to the ACL injury and those he decided to surround himself with throughout the draft process.

Another executive responded with the following text message: "The knee looks bad."

Oden got everyone shook

oh man I missed this gem:

"The Utah Jazz have needed a point guard since John Stockton retired." --Jalen Rose

HAHAHA

Why dont we see more of Legler on these things?

oh and by trade greases meant trade grades obviously, please and ty

def saw on twitter earlier tonight that the suns I believe had red flagged noel

11. A dose of perspective: "This moment, I'm very happy. And I think, in the past, make me sad. We struggled a lot in the past to have a better life, and now that I get drafted in the NBA, for sure, we're going to have a better life. And I think now my mother and my father at home, they will be very happy to see me drafted, because four years in sadness and poverty is very difficult. Maybe after four years, maybe today is the happiest day of their life to see me drafted — to see all that work and effort that they gave, and then, he worked out. He worked out. A good thing." — Giannis Antetokounmpo

aw

okay, muscala then

― Heez, Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:27 PM (Yesterday)

oh sweet, he actually did end up on the hawks.

Man the reactions to the wolves draft locally has been scathing

what did people want them to do

ppl in Minnesota had a weird delusion that all these teams were lining up around the block to trade us high draft pick for Derrick Williams

also lots wanted a shooting guard, maybe the Russian dude who i'm sure everyone totally knew about before yesterday

cant ever recall a draft where the guy whod been #1 in every mock for the pas year slipped to 6th, crazy

sixers got a vv good deal

Rating every team's draft selections
Updated: June 28, 2013, 12:05 PM ET
By Kevin Pelton | ESPN Insider

Nerlens Noel didn't go No. 1 in the draft, but he helped the Sixers earn the No. 1 spot on these rankings.
To complement the traditional draft grades done by our Chad Ford, I'm offering a slightly different spin on the day-after evaluation. Using my WARP projections for this year's draft and the typical outcome of past drafts, it's possible to rate every selection -- with the exception of the handful of player without projections -- against the expected value of the pick. I've totaled that up for every team (except for the Raptors, who didn't have a pick), factoring in expected trades, and ranked them. Let's take a look.

1. Philadelphia 76ers, +3.7 (Expected: 4.0, actual 7.7)
What a debut for GM Sam Hinkie. Not only did I rate the 76ers' trade with New Orleans an A+, all three picks Philadelphia made -- highlighted by Nerlens Noel (3.6 projected WARP) -- rated well above the expected value for those spots. In total, the 76ers added players projected to average 7.7 wins above replacement (WARP) over their first five seasons, when typical selections at the same picks would combine for 4.0 WARP. Michael Carter-Williams (2.0) was a good value for Philadelphia at the 11th pick, and Hinkie picked up sleeper Arsalan Kazemi (2.1) late in the second round.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder, +3.4 (Expected: 4.0, actual 7.4)
The Thunder surprised everyone but the WARP projections by taking Colorado forward Andre Roberson (2.6) in the first round. Because WARP rated Roberson third overall in the draft, his selection scored as the single best value. Oklahoma City got another sleeper by buying the No. 40 pick from Portland to take Arizona forward Grant Jerrett (1.5), and No. 12 overall pick Steven Adams (1.9) also grades out well.

3. Portland Trail Blazers, +2.4 (Expected: 3.8, actual 6.2)
For a few picks there, the Blazers seemed to be drafting straight off my board. With the second-round picks they kept, they landed three excellent values in Allen Crabbe (1.1), Jeff Withey (0.7) and international stash Marko Todorovic (1.5). Add in the highly rated C.J. McCollum (2.5) in the lottery and Portland GM Neil Olshey appears to have upgraded a bench that was a huge weakness last season.

4. Atlanta Hawks, +2.0 (Expected: 1.9, actual 4.0)
The Hawks also successfully went overseas. While guard Dennis Schroeder does not have a projection, center Lucas Nogueira (2.4) has terrific potential for the 16th pick based on his performance in the ACB. Second-round pick Mike Muscala (1.5) also rated well.

5. Milwaukee Bucks, +1.5 (Expected: 0.7, actual 2.2)
First-round pick Giannis Antetokounmpo is another player without a rating, so this spot is strictly based on the Bucks dealing for Nate Wolters in the second round. The South Dakota State product projects as a useful backup point guard; the question of who he might back up remains unanswered.

6. New Orleans Pelicans, +1.5 (Expected: 0.6, actual 2.1)
While I wasn't a fan of the Pelicans' trade for Jrue Holiday, they were wise to get back the No. 42 pick as part of the deal. With it, New Orleans picked up another solid point guard prospect in Pierre Jackson (2.1). Now the Pelicans have to figure out how he fits with Holiday and Greivis Vasquez.

7. Detroit Pistons, +1.0 (Expected: 3.0, actual 4.0)
The Pistons surprised everyone by taking Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2.6), rated fourth overall by WARP. Detroit also snagged Tony Mitchell (1.5) when he dropped to the second round, getting excellent value.

8. Washington Wizards, +1.0 (Expected: 3.2, actual 4.2)
Even with Noel dropping, Otto Porter (+2.7) might have been the draft's easiest pick in terms of value and need. The Wizards added another solid wing prospect in the second round, trading for Glen Rice Jr. (+1.6).

9. L.A. Lakers, +0.5 (Expected: 0.6, actual 1.1)
The Lakers didn't pick until 48th overall, getting Duke forward Ryan Kelly (1.1), a well-rounded stretch 4.

10. Utah Jazz, +0.4 (Expected: 2.3, actual 2.7)
Since Rudy Gobert doesn't have a projection, the Jazz's rating is nearly all about trading up for Trey Burke (+2.2), a value pick when he slipped to ninth overall.

11. Dallas Mavericks, +0.3 (Expected: 1.2, actual 1.6)
Had the Mavericks taken Shane Larkin (1.6) with their original pick, he would have rated almost exactly at the expected value for the pick (1.5). But by trading down, Dallas added a pair of second-round picks and got better value.

12. Charlotte Bobcats, +0.3 (Expected: 2.3, actual 2.5)
As surprising as Cody Zeller may have been at No. 4 -- especially with Noel still on the board -- by this measure he scores as a positive pick thanks to the fifth-best WARP projection in the draft.

13. San Antonio Spurs, +0.2 (Expected: 0.4, actual 0.6)
Again, no projection for San Antonio's first-round pick (French forward Livio Jean-Charles). By the time we get to the Spurs' second-rounder, No. 58, expectations are understandably low. DeShaun Thomas (0.6) slightly exceeded them.

14. Memphis Grizzlies, +0.1 (Expected: 0.7, actual 0.7)
While the WARP projections weren't particularly high on Jamaal Franklin (0.7), by the time he slipped into the middle of the second round he was fine value for Memphis. The Grizzlies will also stash Mr. Irrelevant, Latvian forward Janis Timma, who does not have a projection.

15. Los Angeles Clippers, +0.0 (Expected: 1.0, actual 1.0)
The Clippers had one pick, North Carolina wing Reggie Bullock (1.0), who rates as precisely typical of a No. 25 selection.

16. Denver Nuggets, +0.0 (Expected: 1.0, actual 1.0)
No. 55 pick Joffrey Lauvergne (0.6) rates slightly better than typical, No. 45 pick Erick Green (0.4) slightly worse. Add them together and the Nuggets were dead even.

17. Houston Rockets, +0.0 (Expected: 0.8, actual 0.8)
Naturally, teams that heavily value analytics tend to score well by this rating. The Rockets are the exception; their one pick, Isaiah Canaan at No. 34 (0.8) was completely average for that spot.

18. Miami Heat, -0.1 (Expected: 0.5, actual 0.4)
The Heat, who began the night without a pick, traded into the second round to get Long Beach State forward James Ennis (0.4), a fairly average No. 50 pick.

19. New York Knicks, -0.4 (Expected: 1.0, actual 0.6)
The Knicks went for Tim Hardaway Jr. (0.6) over a handful of wings that rated better, including Bullock, Crabbe and Rice.

20. Sacramento Kings, -0.4 (Expected: 2.6, actual 2.2)
Though they were taken a round apart, both Kings picks -- Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum have identical 1.1 ratings.

21. Indiana Pacers, -1.1 (Expected: 1.1, actual 0.0)
The Pacers pulled the surprise of the evening by taking Arizona forward Solomon Hill (0.0) with the 23rd overall pick. The comparisons to Draymond Green from last year's draft don't bear out statistically, since Green was rated one of the top prospects available in 2012.

22. Golden State Warriors, -1.2 (Expected: 0.9, actual -0.3)
The scouting report on the Warriors' No. 30 pick, Nemanja Nedovic, is promising. He doesn't rate as well statistically because he was a low-percentage finisher and had an assist-to-turnover ratio worse than 1.0 in Euroleague play last season.

23. Brooklyn Nets, -1.4 (Expected: 1.1, actual -0.4)
23-year-old Mason Plumlee (-0.4) will have to contribute next season to justify a first-round selection. I'm skeptical based on his translated statistics.

24. Chicago Bulls, -1.8 (Expected: 1.7, actual -0.1)
With his long arms and 39 percent NCAA 3-point shooting, Tony Snell (-0.2) looks the part of a 3-and-D role player. However, his defensive intensity was inconsistent at New Mexico and poor rebound and steal rates caused his WARP projection to drop below replacement. Second-round pick Erik Murphy (0.0) may be able to stretch the floor right away, but at 22 and limited athletically he's got little upside.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers, -2.3 (Expected: 5.2, actual 2.9)
Given the lack of star talent in this draft, assessing the Cavaliers based on the typical No. 1 overall pick seems a bit unfair. However, Noel would have scored as a positive pick by this method. Anthony Bennett (2.1) is much worse than the average No. 1 choice. Cleveland's rating is also hurt by second-round pick Carrick Felix (-1.2), a late bloomer in college who wasn't on the NBA's radar until this year. Those choices overwhelm an excellent value pick at No. 19 in Sergey Karasev (2.0).

26. Boston Celtics, -2.7 (Expected: 1.9, actual -0.7)
The Celtics sink so far almost entirely because they bought the No. 53 pick and drafted Colorado State center Colton Iverson (-1.8). Iverson scores poorly because of his age (he'll be 24 on Saturday) and middling career at Minnesota before transferring. But if Iverson plays down to his rating, Boston will simply cut him and move on, so this rating is overly harsh. First-rounder Kelly Olynyk (1.1) rates as a slight reach at No. 13, but he might not have been available to the Celtics at their original 16th pick.

27. Orlando Magic, -2.7 (Expected: 3.2, actual -0.5)
The Magic, too, are weighed down by their second-round pick. Oklahoma forward Romero Osby (-1.2) is another 23 year old with an unimpressive track record. WARP projections also favored Noel over Victor Oladipo (1.7).

28. Minnesota Timberwolves, -3.0 (Expected: 3.4, actual 0.4)
Not a great start for Flip Saunders, statistically speaking. Trading back from No. 9 made sense after the Pistons took Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but the WARP projections favored numerous wings over UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad (-0.7), who rates as the single weakest pick of the draft by this method. Gorgui Dieng (0.2) also scored as a reach, though it's much easier to see how Dieng could be valuable to the Timberwolves as a backup center. The best of the Minnesota picks in terms of WARP projection was actually the last one, stash forward Bojan Dubljevic (1.2) at No. 59.

29. Phoenix Suns, -4.6 (Expected: 3.4, actual -1.2)
The Suns drafted three players, and two of them have negative WARP projections. No. 29 pick Archie Goodwin (-0.2) is young enough to have upside, but will have to develop massively after one disappointing year at Kentucky. No. 57 pick Alex Oriakhi (-1.1) is yet another college veteran whose translated performance doesn't suggest immediate contributions. In the lottery, Phoenix went with Alex Len (0.3) over Noel when both centers were available. Statistically, Noel is the much more impressive prospect.

#30? ):

minnesota wanted KCP

ya idk 30 doesnt exist

Draft grades: 30 team evaluations
How did your squad perform on draft night? We hand out report cards.
Originally Published: June 28, 2013
By Chad Ford | ESPN.com

NBA Draft Winners

Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose and Jay Bilas with their winners from the NBA draft.
Tags: NBA Draft, Trail Blazers, Anthony Bennett
NEXT VIDEO
Implications Of Nets-Celtics Blockbuster
Every year I hand out grades just hours after the draft. As I'm a college professor in my day job, the exercise amounts to the equivalent of giving a student a final grade after the first day of class. There's so much we don't know about the teams and how these players will fit with their respective teams. In other words, these grades are subjective and unfair. In truth, you can't grade a draft for at least two years.

So why do it? Because it gives us a great opportunity to get an instant reaction on the future of every team in the league. What I write today won't be the definitive word on this draft, but it's a great way to start the conversation.

Here's our take on how every team in the league did Thursday night:

ATLANTA HAWKS | GRADE: C

Round 1: Lucas Nogueira (16), Dennis Schroeder (17)

Round 2: Mike Muscala (44), Raul Neto (47)

Analysis: The Hawks probably are losing a chunk of their rotation this offseason and didn't get much help in the draft for next season. It may be several years before we can accurately gauge how well they did.

Nogueira and Schroeder have upside. Nogueira can develop into an effective rim protector, and Schroeder is quick, athletic and tenacious on both ends. But both players appear to be several years from being serious contributors at the NBA level.

Muscala is the opposite of Nogueira and Schroeder. He's a polished college veteran who, of the Hawks' draft picks, might be the most ready to play now. Neto is a good player as well, but he's unlikely to come over to the NBA this year.

BOSTON CELTICS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Kelly Olynyk (13)

Round 2: Colton Iverson (53)

Analysis: The Celtics made more noise outside the draft on Thursday, agreeing to trade Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry to the Nets for what boils down to three first-round picks.

So the Celtics are starting over, and it looks like Olynyk will be part of a young core led by Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger. (Rajon Rondo's future in Boston as he recovers from a knee injury is uncertain.)

It could get ugly real fast for Celtics fans. Although I haven't been a huge fan of Olynyk, I think he can stick in the league in the right style of play -- as long as his coach doesn't try to turn him into a center. He can hit shots and get to the rim, although he'll also play some matador defense.

Iverson adds toughness and six fouls, but no one will expect much.

BROOKLYN NETS | GRADE: B

Round 1: Mason Plumlee (22)

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Nets made their mark on draft day with agreement on a massive trade with Boston that landed Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, other players and three future first-round draft picks. Clearly in the short term, the Nets came out way ahead.

On top of that, they kept their 2013 first-round pick and landed Plumlee, the most athletic big in the draft not named Noel. Plumlee slid in the draft because of his age. Had he been 19 or 20 years old, he would've been a lottery pick. But at 22, teams question how much upside he has. He runs the floor and finishes high above the rim, but he probably will be relegated to spot minutes in a backup role.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS | GRADE: C

Round 1: Cody Zeller (4)

Round 2: None

Analysis: We began hearing on Wednesday that the Bobcats were seriously considering Zeller at No. 4, although it was hard to believe they would take him -- and it would've been even more difficult to accept if we had known the Bobcats would be passing on Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore to take Zeller.

I like Zeller's NBA potential, but this pick was a major reach. Zeller is athletic and was probably underrated, but he'll have to change his game dramatically to succeed in the NBA, and no one knows whether he'll pull it off. Shooting jumpers in workouts is one thing. In an NBA game, it's another.

The Bobcats have made some pretty bad picks during owner Michael Jordan's reign. I don't think Zeller will be a bust in the way that Adam Morrison and D.J. Augustin were. But I struggle to believe he'll have the career of Noel or McLemore. For the Bobcats' sake, I hope Zeller proves me wrong.

CHICAGO BULLS | GRADE: C-

Round 1: Tony Snell (20)

Round 2: Erik Murphy (49)

Analysis: The Bulls really wanted a swingman and selected Snell, a workout wonder. Because Reggie Bullock, Allen Crabbe and Tim Hardaway Jr. were on the board, all three of whom have better track records, I was a little surprised that Snell was the pick. He might have more upside, but his lack of consistency on both ends is concerning. The Bulls filled a need, but I don't think they got the best guy to do it.

Murphy was a good second-round pick -- a terrific shooter who should be able to play stretch 4.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Anthony Bennett (1), Sergey Karasev (19)

Round 2: Carrick Felix (33)

Analysis: The Cavs kept everyone in suspense for six weeks. They talked trades with everyone. They wrung their hands over whom to take. And then they shocked just about everyone by taking Bennett with the No. 1 pick. I understand the reasoning. Cleveland wanted a pick-and-roll partner for Kyrie Irving. Bennett has the potential to be a 20-and 10-guy, perhaps the only one in the draft.

On the other hand, I think Noel, Victor Oladipo and Otto Porter were better prospects, and I would have liked their fit in Cleveland as much as or more than Bennett's. With the No. 1 pick, the Cavs needed to get the best talent, and I'm not sold on the idea that they did.

I loved the Karasev pick. They needed a shooter with a high basketball IQ, and I think he has a chance to be a solid player in the NBA. That's all you can ask for at No. 19.

Felix is a tough defender and should be able to get minutes coming off the bench. He's not an upside player but should play right away.

DALLAS MAVERICKS | GRADE: B-

Round 1: Shane Larkin (18)

Round 2: Ricky Ledo (43)

Analysis: The Mavericks are trying to lure free agent Dwight Howard. To create salary-cap space, the Mavs moved down from No. 13 to No. 18 and traded Jared Cunningham.

The prospects they landed are both solid. Larkin has the skills to be a NBA point guard -- the question will be, Does he have the size? Ledo has the skills to be a terrific scoring wing -- the question will be, Will he show more maturity than he has in the past?

Of the two, it's Ledo that has the better chance to be special. If the Mavs nurture him, he could be this year's Lance Stephenson.

DENVER NUGGETS | GRADE: C

Round 1: None

Round 2: Erick Green (46), Joffrey Lauvergne (55)

Analysis: The Nuggets traded the draft rights of Rudy Gobert to the Jazz for cash and the 46th pick. Time will tell whether the cash and a mid-second-round pick were worth passing on the longest player in the draft. In return, Denver got one of the best scorers in the draft. Green can score efficiently from just about anywhere. He slid in the draft because of concerns about his position. He's a classic tweener -- too small to be a shooting guard but lacking the vision of a point guard.

Lauvergne is athletic and soft and the type of draft-and-stash candidate who rarely gets unstashed.

DETROIT PISTONS | GRADE: B

Round 1: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (8)

Round 2: Tony Mitchell (37), Peyton Siva (56)

Analysis: After weeks of us hearing about the Pistons' need for a point guard and their desire to move Brandon Knight to the 2, they passed on all three of the top point guards in the draft and drafted another 2-guard. That felt a bit odd.

I do like Caldwell-Pope. He can shoot, has a high basketball IQ and has a lot of defensive potential. Although he doesn't fit a need, I think the Pistons felt he was the best player available and they would solve the point guard conundrum some other way.

At No. 37, they walked away with one of the most physically talented players in the draft. Mitchell was a disappointment this past season at North Texas, but his athleticism, length and rebounding suggest that in the right role, such as coming off the bench behind Greg Monroe, he could be fantastic.

As for Siva, his niche in the NBA likely will be limited to disrupting opponents. He has quick hands and feet, is a jet up and down the floor and plays with passion. He just is offensively challenged.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS | GRADE: B-

Round 1: Nemanja Nedovic (30)

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Warriors began the night without a first-round pick but traded back into the first round at No. 27 before trading that pick to the Thunder in return for the No. 29 pick, which they then traded to the Suns for the No. 30 pick. Got that?

The player they ended up with is interesting. Nedovic is an athletic combo guard who some scouts think will be an absolute stud in the NBA. The Warriors needed a fourth guard behind Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Jarrett Jack (if he returns). Nedovic is probably not a draft-and-stash player. They'll bring him into the Summer League and give him a shot to win a spot on the team.

HOUSTON ROCKETS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: None

Round 2: Isaiah Canaan (34)

Analysis: The Rockets also didn't have a first-round pick but essentially got one anyway at No. 34. Canaan might have been the fourth-best point guard in the draft, and I think Houston got great value. Canaan isn't a pure point guard, but he's a great athlete and a dominant scorer who can really shoot the ball. Not a lot of second-rounders stick in the NBA. I think Canaan will be one who does.

INDIANA PACERS | GRADE: D-

Round 1: Solomon Hill (23)

Round 2: None

Analysis: Last year I hated the Pacers' pick of Miles Plumlee, which felt like an enormous reach -- a pick made on the misguided belief that a college senior would naturally be able to come in and contribute for an NBA playoff team. That didn't work for the Pacers last season (Plumlee played just 14 games and averaged 3.9 minutes per game), and I'm not sure it will work this year either. I like Hill better than Plumlee, but not by much: He was ranked No. 79 on our Top 100, if that tells you anything. As a college player, Hill was a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. There isn't a single characteristic he has that screams first-round pick.

I imagine the Pacers will say that a college veteran who plays the right way can help off the bench. Color me very skeptical.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Reggie Bullock (25)

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Clippers wanted a wing who can shoot and got great value at No. 25. Bullock will fill a role for the Clippers as a 3-point specialist, and he can play some defense. In those regards, his best comparison might be Danny Green of the Spurs.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: None

Round 2: Ryan Kelly (48)

Analysis: I'm not sure I'm in love with Kelly as a prospect in general. But Kelly on a Mike D'Antoni team? I can get excited about that. Kelly's ability to shoot the rock, handle the ball and play point power forward at times should make him a perfect fit in D'Antoni's system. I'm not predicting Kelly will be a star, but his chances for success go up dramatically under D'Antoni's watch.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | GRADE: A

Round 1: None

Round 2: Jamaal Franklin (41), Janis Timma (60)

Analysis: Franklin was ranked 19th on my Big Board yet somehow managed to land in the Grizzlies' lap at No. 41. I'm stunned. To me, he's Tony Allen 2.0 -- an aggressive, long wing who can do a bit of everything. I love this pick.

Timma is an athletic wing from Latvia who will continue to hone his skills in Europe.

MIAMI HEAT | GRADE: B-

Round 1: None

Round 2: James Ennis (50)

Analysis: The Heat traded into the second round to grab Ennis, a long, athletic wing who was one of the sleepers in the draft. I was really impressed with his play at the Brooklyn workout and think that, in the right environment, he has a chance to stick. A solid pick at No. 50.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS | GRADE: Inc.

Round 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo (15)

Round 2: Nate Wolters (38)

Analysis: Give the Bucks credit: They aren't afraid to take a chance.

It may be several years before we know whether the Bucks wasted their pick or struck gold with Antetokounmpo. Although he is a skilled, athletic point forward, he has the body of Kevin Durant and very little experience playing against other talented players. Also, he's expected to come to the NBA now, meaning that the Bucks will spend millions of dollars for a player who is likely to play in the D-League for a couple of years. But could the investment be worth it down the road? Yes.

As for Wolters, he was one of my favorite second-round picks, a Jimmer Fredette type with better court vision and much less hype. I could see him getting minutes right away for Bucks.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | GRADE: B-

Round 1: Shabazz Muhammad (14), Gorgui Dieng (21)

Round 2: Lorenzo Brown (52), Bojan Dubljevic (59)

Analysis: Flip Saunders walked away from his first draft as Timberwolves president and acknowledged that folks were a little disappointed. Four months ago, getting Muhammad at No. 14 would have been seen as the coup of the draft. But Muhammad's reputation is tainted, and fans are less excited.

The Wolves wanted scoring, and once Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was off the board, they found a way to get the other guy they liked in Muhammad. I think Muhammad is a terrific scorer and he'll find his niche in the league. Although I don't love him as a prospect, the venom directed toward him as a player and a person is unwarranted.

Dieng is a little harder for me to swallow. I see the appeal because of his size and length, but hearing the words "raw" and "23 years old" together doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.

Brown has talent as a big point guard, but like Ricky Rubio, he can't shoot.

Dubljevic is a terrific shooter, but he lacks athletic ability, enough to make him a question mark.

So while the Wolves walked away with talent, I'm not sure that anyone they drafted on Thursday night moves the needle much.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | GRADE: B+

Round 1: None

Round 2: Pierre Jackson (42)

Analysis: General manager Dell Demps decided he was done with the lottery on Thursday night and sent the draft rights to Nerlens Noel and the Pelicans' 2014 first-round pick (top-five-protected) to the 76ers in return for Jrue Holiday and the draft rights to Jackson.

On the one hand, I question this decision. Noel was the top-rated player on our Big Board and has more upside than Holiday. New Orleans also lost a valuable asset, a probable lottery pick in the 2014 draft, which will feature a collection of talent that looks amazing on paper. In fact, the Pelicans were the only team in the NBA to give away a 2014 first-round pick.

On the other hand, it's clear that Demps is under pressure from new ownership to get better now, and Holiday, who is just 23, is a great get. By putting him with Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis, the Pelicans will have the makings of a great young core that could compete for years.

NEW YORK KNICKS | GRADE: C

Round 1: Tim Hardaway Jr. (24)

Round 2: None

Analysis: The Knicks got name recognition on Thursday, but unfortunately, Hardaway Jr. is no Hardaway Sr.

Hardaway Jr. does have great size for his position and he's a good shooter, but his game is pretty forgettable, as three years at Michigan demonstrated. He was able to win over coaches and teams with his professionalism and work ethic in workouts. But I'm not sure that his talent allows him to have a ceiling any higher than rotation player.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | GRADE: B+

Round 1: Steven Adams (12), Andre Roberson (26)

Round 2: Alex Abrines (32), Grant Jerrett (40)

Analysis: The Thunder got a little bit of everything on Thursday.

Want upside? Adams has a ton of it, with great NBA size and strength and the ability to shut people down in the paint. If his offensive game comes around, he could be really good.

Want rebounds? Roberson was one of the two or three best rebounders in the draft -- an athletic specialist who might carve out a Reggie Evans-esque career.

Want a scorer? Abrines has a chance to be a better version of Rudy Fernandez if OKC is patient. Want shooting? Jerrett has the ability to be a lethal stretch 4.

ORLANDO MAGIC | GRADE: A-

Round 1: Victor Oladipo (2)

Round 2: Romero Osby (51)

Analysis: Oladipo was my favorite player in the draft. Not only is he, in my opinion, a sure thing, but he still has upside, too. He'll bring it every hour of every day for a young, impressionable team.

Osby is a tough, physical, undersized 4.

It's clear GM Rob Hennigan is trying to change the culture in Orlando, and he took a big step forward on Thursday night.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | GRADE: A+

Round 1: Nerlens Noel (6), Michael Carter-Williams (11)

Round 2: Arsalan Kazemi (54)

Analysis: New GM Sam Hinkie came out swinging on Thursday night. The last thing Hinkie wanted was to be where the 76ers have been the past few seasons -- in the middle of the standings. So he blew up the team in an effort to build a foundation of greatness. He made the boldest trade of the draft and walked away with a potential franchise center, a very promising point guard and a valuable 2014 first-round pick from the Pelicans.

It cost him All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday, but in the long run it may be worth the price. With Noel possibly missing some time next season, the Sixers likely will be in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in 2014. By next July, this team could have four young players with franchise potential on its roster. In three years, it could be wicked good.

PHOENIX SUNS | GRADE: B-

Round 1: Alex Len (5), Archie Goodwin (29)

Round 2: Alex Oriakhi (57)

Analysis: The Suns have blown the draft in most recent years, as the names Earl Clark, Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall demonstrate. This year, Suns president Lon Babby hired one of the best scouts in the business, Ryan McDonough, as his new general manager. But the first draft pick of the McDonough era, in some ways, looked a lot like the draft picks the Suns have been making.

Len has upside, but he's coming off stress-fracture surgery, and in two years at Maryland he showed only flashes of greatness -- he rarely could sustain it. Len was the riskiest pick of the consensus top six, and Phoenix passed on two better prospects -- Noel and McLemore -- to take him.

With the No. 29 pick, things got a little better. The Suns wisely overlooked Goodwin's so-so freshman performance and saw the potential he has. If he ever gets a jump shot, or learns what a good shot is, he could be special.

As for Oriakhi, I think there were better players on the board, but I can't quibble too much. At No. 57, there wasn't going to be a difference-maker, and he does bring length and toughness.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | GRADE: A

Round 1: C.J. McCollum (10)

Round 2: Allen Crabbe (31), Jeff Withey (39), Marko Todorovic (45)

Analysis: Portland GM Neil Olshey must believe the Blazers need more offense in their backcourt, as they drafted two of the most aggressive scorers and best shooters in the draft.

The Blazers had coveted McCollum for a while and think he's a great fit in the backcourt next to rookie of the year point guard Damian Lillard, who thrived when he played off the ball last season. Portland sees McCollum as a guard who can play both positions, too.

Crabbe is a shooter with ridiculous range, and he isn't afraid to let if fly.

Withey is one-dimensional, but the one thing he does well, shot-blocking, he does really well.

Todorovic is a project they'll revisit down the road.

SACRAMENTO KINGS | GRADE: A-

Round 1: Ben McLemore (7)

Round 2: Ray McCallum (36)

Analysis: Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro has been on the job just nine days, but things are already looking up. Having McLemore, one of the two or three top talents in the draft, slide all the way to No. 7 was a godsend. The Kings wanted athleticism and shooting at the 2, and McLemore is a great fit. He has the chance, with hard work and greater confidence, to be the best player in the draft.

McCallum is a solid, no-frills point guard who might earn a lot more minutes if the Kings decide to clean house this summer.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS | GRADE: C

Round 1: Livio Jean-Charles (28)

Round 2: Deshaun Thomas (58)

Analysis: The Spurs, like the rest of the NBA, were wowed by Jean-Charles' 27-point performance in the Nike Hoop Summit. Jean-Charles is a forward who can play the 3 and the 4. He's not particularly skilled, but he has a nose for the ball and finds a way to contribute. He'll likely stay in France for another year.

Thomas is one of the top five scorers in the draft, but he slipped because of an inconsistent effort on the defensive end. If Pop can get him to play some defense, he might be another second-round steal for the Spurs.

TORONTO RAPTORS | GRADE: N/A

Round 1: None