Way Too Early Look At NBA Lottery 2014
1. Milwaukee Bucks Joel Embiid, C
Embiid might have the most expansive potential of any prospect in this extremely talented prospect
pool. The freshman center has been absolutely fantastic in his first year with the Jayhawks, averaging 11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks per game this season. The crazy thing about Embiid is that he has only been playing basketball for a couple years and has an incredibly high ceiling. It would be crazy to think that anybody not named Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins would be the No. 1 prospect when the year began but Embiid has just been that impressive.
2. Utah Jazz Jabari Parker, F
Parker has been great this year for Duke, averaging nearly 19 points a game for the Blue Devils. Utah needs some more things to build around in their frontcourt and Parker would be a nice addition to the power of Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. Parker brings athleticism and strength right away to any team and is more reliable of a scorer than Andrew Wiggins.
3. Orlando Magic Andrew Wiggins, F
It was so unfair to label Andrew Wiggins as "The Next LeBron". Wiggins has had a great first year with Kansas but some could go as far as to label it as a disappointment, despite averaging 15.2 points a game. Wiggins is extremely dangerous in transition and imagine him in the same lineup as Victor Oladipo. It would bring a lot of athleticism and excitement to a team that definitely needs it.
4. Philadelphia Sixers Dante Exum, PG
Exum is by far and away the best international prospect in this year's draft. The Australian has the size to get to the rim and finish and is still developing a consistent jump shot. It will be interesting to see what Philadelphia does in this year's draft. Exum or Marcus Smart would be tough to pass up on but the Sixers have a future star in point guard Michael Carter-Williams.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers Julius Randle, PF
Cleveland has obviously found their new star in Kyrie Irving but they still lack a consistent scorer to go along with him, especially in the frontcourt. Randle is a proven scorer who has fantastic touch around the rim but can also step out and make a jumper. The lefty is averaging 16.7 points per game and is knocking down shots at an incredible rate, hitting more than half of his shots.
6. Sacramento Kings Marcus Smart, PG
If Smart were to drop here to the Kings, it would definitely be the steal of the draft. Smart has had a great sophomore season in Stillwater, scoring at will. Smart would give the Kings an athletic point guard and scorer to go along with the improving talent on this roster, including Rudy Gay and Demarcus Cousins.
7. Boston Celtics Rodney Hood, SF
Hood's first season with Duke has been great since transferring from Mississippi State. Hood is a fantastic shooter and would bring a scorer that could be helped out a lot by Rajon Rondo, assuming the Celtics keep him. Hood is hitting 45% from 3-point land, averaging 17.6 points per game for the Blue Devils.
8. Denver Nuggets Zach LaVine, G
LaVine has been rocketing up draft boards and for good reasons. He has been the star on a strong UCLA team and has made plenty of highlight-reel dunks and plays. LaVine can play both point and shooting guard and could bring help to Ty Lawson in the Denver backcourt. He still needs to develop a consistent three-point shot to be considered a top-flight prospect.
9. Los Angeles Lakers Gary Harris, SG
Kobe Bryant's career is obviously on it's last legs and the Lakers know they can't build around Nick Young. Gary Harris is a fantastic shooter who could help the Lakers if they hope to rebuild. He still isn't the go-to scorer of some of these other prospects but he is still a playmaker.
10. Atlanta Hawks Jordan Clarkson, SG
Clarkson is a pretty high-risk prospect from Missouri but Atlanta could use his vast scoring potential. He is averaging 18.7 points a game for the Tigers in the SEC but he still lacks consistency. Atlanta has talent in the backcourt already with Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroeder but neither are much of scorers.
11. Memphis Grizzlies James Young, G/F
Taking a look at the Grizzlies' roster, you can clearly see they need some shooting help. Young sometimes can wow you with shooting potential and has the size to play either guard or forward. Sometimes though, he struggles to be a factor in games and lacks discipline.
12. Philadelphia Sixers Willie Cauley-Stein, C
There is still a lot to be desired in Cauley-Stein, a seven-footer from Kentucky with the potential to be quite the star. But, his offensive game is still very limited and he still hasn't proven you can build around him. Still, the Sixers would love pairing him up with another former Kentucky product in Nerlens Noel. If nothing else, Philly will get two of the NBA's best young shot blockers.
13. Orlando Magic Tyler Ennis, PG
Ennis' has had a great freshman campaign running the offense for the undefeated Orange. Ennis won't be a scorer on the next level but he will be a fantastic distributor and a leader from the beginning. He is a very efficient player who you know will be a solid player from the start of his career. Picking him up late in the lottery would be quite a pickup for the Magic.
14. Phoenix Suns Aaron Gordon, F
Gordon hasn't quite been the player that people expected him to be when he committed to Arizona. He still has been a freak of an athlete but he still hasn't developed as a scorer and is a high-risk prospect. He would still be a solid wing who already has fans in the area considering he plays nearby.
Embiid might have the most expansive potential of any prospect in this extremely talented prospect
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| Joel Embiid |
2. Utah Jazz Jabari Parker, F
Parker has been great this year for Duke, averaging nearly 19 points a game for the Blue Devils. Utah needs some more things to build around in their frontcourt and Parker would be a nice addition to the power of Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. Parker brings athleticism and strength right away to any team and is more reliable of a scorer than Andrew Wiggins.
3. Orlando Magic Andrew Wiggins, F
It was so unfair to label Andrew Wiggins as "The Next LeBron". Wiggins has had a great first year with Kansas but some could go as far as to label it as a disappointment, despite averaging 15.2 points a game. Wiggins is extremely dangerous in transition and imagine him in the same lineup as Victor Oladipo. It would bring a lot of athleticism and excitement to a team that definitely needs it.
4. Philadelphia Sixers Dante Exum, PG
Exum is by far and away the best international prospect in this year's draft. The Australian has the size to get to the rim and finish and is still developing a consistent jump shot. It will be interesting to see what Philadelphia does in this year's draft. Exum or Marcus Smart would be tough to pass up on but the Sixers have a future star in point guard Michael Carter-Williams.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers Julius Randle, PF
Cleveland has obviously found their new star in Kyrie Irving but they still lack a consistent scorer to go along with him, especially in the frontcourt. Randle is a proven scorer who has fantastic touch around the rim but can also step out and make a jumper. The lefty is averaging 16.7 points per game and is knocking down shots at an incredible rate, hitting more than half of his shots.
6. Sacramento Kings Marcus Smart, PG
If Smart were to drop here to the Kings, it would definitely be the steal of the draft. Smart has had a great sophomore season in Stillwater, scoring at will. Smart would give the Kings an athletic point guard and scorer to go along with the improving talent on this roster, including Rudy Gay and Demarcus Cousins.
7. Boston Celtics Rodney Hood, SF
Hood's first season with Duke has been great since transferring from Mississippi State. Hood is a fantastic shooter and would bring a scorer that could be helped out a lot by Rajon Rondo, assuming the Celtics keep him. Hood is hitting 45% from 3-point land, averaging 17.6 points per game for the Blue Devils.
8. Denver Nuggets Zach LaVine, G
LaVine has been rocketing up draft boards and for good reasons. He has been the star on a strong UCLA team and has made plenty of highlight-reel dunks and plays. LaVine can play both point and shooting guard and could bring help to Ty Lawson in the Denver backcourt. He still needs to develop a consistent three-point shot to be considered a top-flight prospect.
9. Los Angeles Lakers Gary Harris, SG
Kobe Bryant's career is obviously on it's last legs and the Lakers know they can't build around Nick Young. Gary Harris is a fantastic shooter who could help the Lakers if they hope to rebuild. He still isn't the go-to scorer of some of these other prospects but he is still a playmaker.
10. Atlanta Hawks Jordan Clarkson, SG
Clarkson is a pretty high-risk prospect from Missouri but Atlanta could use his vast scoring potential. He is averaging 18.7 points a game for the Tigers in the SEC but he still lacks consistency. Atlanta has talent in the backcourt already with Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroeder but neither are much of scorers.
11. Memphis Grizzlies James Young, G/F
Taking a look at the Grizzlies' roster, you can clearly see they need some shooting help. Young sometimes can wow you with shooting potential and has the size to play either guard or forward. Sometimes though, he struggles to be a factor in games and lacks discipline.
12. Philadelphia Sixers Willie Cauley-Stein, C
There is still a lot to be desired in Cauley-Stein, a seven-footer from Kentucky with the potential to be quite the star. But, his offensive game is still very limited and he still hasn't proven you can build around him. Still, the Sixers would love pairing him up with another former Kentucky product in Nerlens Noel. If nothing else, Philly will get two of the NBA's best young shot blockers.
13. Orlando Magic Tyler Ennis, PG
Ennis' has had a great freshman campaign running the offense for the undefeated Orange. Ennis won't be a scorer on the next level but he will be a fantastic distributor and a leader from the beginning. He is a very efficient player who you know will be a solid player from the start of his career. Picking him up late in the lottery would be quite a pickup for the Magic.
14. Phoenix Suns Aaron Gordon, F
Gordon hasn't quite been the player that people expected him to be when he committed to Arizona. He still has been a freak of an athlete but he still hasn't developed as a scorer and is a high-risk prospect. He would still be a solid wing who already has fans in the area considering he plays nearby.
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