Seton Hall
Dissecting the NBA Draft: Top ten follows the chalk, lots of international love
Date: June 28, 2014By: John Fanta
While Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were both picked as they were projected in a loaded NBA Draft, this year’s class also carried its curveballs throughout the night in Brooklyn. Trades did not lack, but nothing huge arose with a big name like Minnesota’s Kevin Love or Boston’s Rajon Rondo involved. The 76ers and Magic did get a deal done, but not for the first pick they both wanted.
The Cleveland Cavaliers hung on to the top selection, taking Wiggins, who comes out of Kansas. Wiggins averaged over 17 points and nearly six boards per game and came into college being compared to as the next Lebron James. While Wiggins has not necessarily played up to that type of hype, as he told the Cleveland media, it’s not about who is compared to or what he is like. “I jus try to do my own thing,” he said. The Cavs were speculated as to looking for a potential trade with the top selection, but did not get a partner to go outside of the box. But going vanilla was not such a bad thing with the skills Parker possesses. Cleveland did not go out on a limb, and considering what they have done before with Anthony Bennett, that was not a bad thing by any means. They had their choice, and got a guy who many experts say a team cannot go wrong with. The 19-year old Wiggins was asked in Thursday night’s conference call what message he had to Clevelanders. It was simply put, “I won’t let you down.” For a city that still to this day feels the pain of the departure of Lebron James, Wiggins’ statement alone gives off a strong vibe.
Parker said leading up to the draft that he was feeling comfortable at getting picked second. The Bucks called and told him they would pick him if he were on the board. And that they did. Averaging 19 and nine per game, Parker knows how to score and control the pace of a game near the rim. If Mike Krzyzewski had not thrown Parker down low to play center at times, his options would have been even thinner. When Duke needed production in the post, the forward was there time and again. He joins a young Bucks team that has some solidity in the backcourt with Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo.
The 76ers have been one of the most active teams in the past 24 hours, and while they did not have the top pick, Philly did get a guy that was argued as a potential top pick had his health not been an issue. 7-footer Joel Embiid has been compared to the likes of hall of famer Hakeem Olajuwon. But there’s one problem? He has a flavor of Greg Oden in his physical condition, with back issues and a right foot fracture that is keeping him out for the next four to six months.
The draft stayed its script until the Celtics overtook what the Lakers reportedly wanted. Marcus Smart went sixth to Boston, which further created the buzz surrounding Rajon Rondo and his status with the Celtics. LA missed out on the All-America Honorable Mention, instead going with forward Julius Randle out of Kentucky. The big man was projected as a top three pick when he began his career. While seventh is a great spot for him, the questions surrounding Randle are how he is going to keep defenses thrown off. If Randle can stay away from a one-dimensional style, he could be a steal at #7. The Hornets did something curious at #9, picking Indiana’s Noah Vonleh over the Naismith Player of the Year, Doug McDermott. Why Vonleh? He is believed to be a premier rim protector and is more physical than McDermott. “McBuckets” did not have to wait long, getting selected 11th by the Nuggets before the Bulls traded for him. The idea that McDermott cannot defender in the NBA may have just found a nice kickstarter formula. Chicago has been known as one of the tougher, physical teams in the league. And McDermott could be the perfect frontcourt piece to complement Joakim Noah. The unselfishness and intelligence along make McDermott attractive.
A common theme of the night in Brooklyn was the international flare. Six players from outside of the country were taken, with 6-foot-6 guard Dante Exum going fifth to the Jazz. His abilities aren’t the questionable part of his game. A lack of competition and his “tweener” size are where the questions arise.
Orlando really, really wanted Elfrid Payton. The Sixers took the UL – Lafayette point guard at #10, but the Magic traded Dario Saric to Philadelphia. The Sixers also received a 2017 first-rounder, which is top-11 protected and top-eight if it falls to 2018, along with a 2015 second-rounder. Saric put up 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for Cibona in the Adriatic League last season. He will not be ready this year, but it could be as soon as 2015. While Philly was looking to get better instantly before the lottery began, the approach has transitioned to a focus toward the future, one that Sixers fans may have a tough time to swallow.
After the Suns took a dynamic scorer in T.J. Warren with the 14th pick, the Hawks filled a void in the frontcourt, going with Michigan State’s Adreian Payne.
The thing that makes Payne special is his ability to score from just about anywhere on the court, yet he has a 6-foot-10 frame.
The Nuggets picked center Jusuf Nurkic, who also comes from the Adriatic League. He was projected to be selected into the top 20, making it quite a safe pick. The Denver Post reports that there is a “strong possibility” that he will not come over right away. Denver won with the 19th pick, getting Gary Harris. They won at the shooting guard spot by also picking up Arron Afflalo earlier in the draft. Harris is a tremendous defender, and while he has some size issues, the 6-foot-4 guard has been labeled as a high-level competitor by scouts.
One of the more premature draftees, Tyler Ennis was picked by the Suns at #18 much to the dismay to the Raptors, who were eyeing the Canadian. Fittingly, Toronto went on the road many other teams had taken, picking Brazilian small forward Bruno Caboclo. The 6-foot-9 Caboclo has a major unknown factor to his game, but the Raptors look at him as a raw guy currently that could be a gamble that pays off.
While Jabari Parker stole the show at Duke, a very solid big man that added a continual boost for the Blue Devils last season was Rodney Hood. And after Utah went after Exum, they created balance in the draft with the selection of the 6-foot-9 sharpshooter. In a run-and-gun style, Hood could really fit because he can hurt teams from multiple dimensions.
King James may have opted out, but that didn’t keep Pat Riley and the Heat from making an impact. While Shabazz Napier is not going to be the determining piece to lure LBJ in, the pick is just a first step of how much of an impact he makes. And it furthers the case of Riley and the power he has. Why fix something that isn’t broken LBJ? Well, we can only wait and see.
Top Five 2nd-Rounders
34. Cleanthony Early (Wichita State)
The Knicks got a guy who is as explosive inside as anybody in this draft. While Early has some defensive questions and doesn’t get as much credit as others do because of the competition he was facing, he was the best player on the floor in the Shockers’ loss to Kentucky in the Round of 32 in this year’s NCAA Tournament
37. Deandre Daniels (Connecticut)
The Raptors got a champion. While one can argue that Napier and Ryan Boatright were the main men for UConn, Daniels was the man down low. Had he not been there, UConn’s post presence in standing up against Kentucky would not have been possible. Daniels is a solid defender, but needs work offensively.
42. Nick Johnson (Arizona)
Johnson was the best player in the Pac 12. Does he have his question marks? Yes, but at 42 for the Rockets, it’s a nice pick.
44. Markel Brown (Oklahoma State)
Zach Lavine may not have been happy about getting picked by the T-Wolves, but Brown should be. He can get a shot to bolster a backcourt that needs strength from a guy like him. Marcus Smart’s right-hand man looked as if he did take a nice boost with Smart on the floor, but Brown has the quickness to run with anybody.
59. Xavier Thames (San Diego State)
He was Mr. Everything for Steve Fisher’s program. I won’t say that he’ll make a lot of noise for the Raptors, but this could be an outside serviceable guy.
Biggest snubs:
Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
Bryce Cotton (Providence)
James Michael McAdoo (North Carolina)
