NBA Draft Day Grades: Cavs, Magic, Wizards, Bobcats, Suns

The decisions that were made on Thursday night weren’t only surprising, but they were big game-changers.  Each and every team had an unusually large amount of selections to strongly consider and choose between.  Every single process in picking the team’s player was important, such as watching game tape, the NBA Draft Combine, and individual team workouts.  However, sometimes these can be somewhat misleading.  That’s why instinct is a huge part of this crucial decision-making, especially in a draft where the seventh pick is supposed to be the most talented player.  I am going to tell you how well I think each team did (in different parts) in the 2013 NBA Draft, as well as give my opinionated ceilings and floors for some draftees:

Cleveland Cavaliers: 

Pick #1. 6-7 PF Anthony Bennett

Ceiling – Larry Johnson

Floor – Brandon Bass

In my mock draft, I said the Cavs had a bundle of options.  Honestly, the Cavs may not have made their decision until just hours before the draft started.  At the end of the day, I think this was a safe decision.  Bennett is a very exciting and very physical player.  I don’t see him being afraid to take a big role from day one and help turn around the Cavs’ franchise.

Pick #19. 6-7 SF Sergey Karasev

Having the knack for picking out European players that are capable of being effective NBA players is not easy (unless you’re the Spurs).  I’m sure the Cavs invested some time in Karasev and saw him fitting in well with their current group of young players.  Karasev speaks very confidently about himself and envisions a successful NBA career.

Pick #33. 6-6 SG Carrick Felix

Grade:  B+

Orlando Magic: 

Pick #2. 6-4 SG Victor Oladipo 

Ceiling: Dwyane Wade

Floor: Avery Bradley

The comparisons for Oladipo are tough to come up with because there have been very few all-star shooting guards that were defensive specialists (aside from Wade).  Oladipo’s jump shot is probably the biggest concern at this point.  However, I see no reason he won’t develop into a solid shooter.  Oladipo is the type of player that will put extra hours in the gym but it may take him a few years to possibly get to all-star level.

Pick #51. 6-7 PF Romero Osby

Grade: B+

Washington Wizards: 

Pick #3. 6-8 SF Otto Porter

Ceiling: Luol Deng

Floor: Al-Farouq Aminu

I really like what the Wizards are doing.  In my opinion, John Wall was the start of a good future in D.C.  Adding Porter to a mix of Wall and Beal gives Washington the potential to be a young, upcoming team full of very good, explosive players.  Porter is definitely going to have to spend some time at PF as the Wizards don’t get consistent production at that position.

Pick #35. 6-6 SF Glen Rice

Grade: A-

Charlotte Bobcats:

Pick #4. 7-0 C Cody Zeller

Ceiling: David Lee 

Floor: Zaza Pachulia

Most definitely a stretch at #4.  Although Charlotte’s bigs were M.I.A. last season, their biggest need was any type of talent.  MJ must have seen a ton of risk in Ben McLemore not to take him.  Don’t get me wrong; Cody Zeller is a workhorse and he could surprise just as David Lee did.  However, he isn’t the most ideal center to be selected fourth overall.

Grade: D+

Phoenix Suns:

Pick #5. 7-1 C Alex Len

Ceiling: Zydrunas Ilgauskas 

Floor: Rasho Nesterovic

The Suns must have seen the same problem, whatever it was, in Ben McLemore than the Bobcats did.  The fact of the matter is that this is another squad that needs a player to bring them to life.  Alex Len has the potential to be a stable starting center for several years.  It depends on how agile and coordinated he can prove himself to be.  On the bright side, Charlotte and Phoenix are two teams sure to remain in the top five in the 2014 draft.

Pick #29. 6-5 SG Archie Goodwin

Pick #57: 6-9 PF Alex Oriakhi

Grade: C

This isn’t it…I’m just breaking my draft review up into a few different sections.  Stay tuned for more draft analysis to come in the near future…

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2013 NBA Draft Preview

This draft may not have one stand-out player to be excited about, but that”s what makes the 2013 draft unique.  It gives us a lot to question and it reflects on the true quality of each franchise’s front office decision-making.  Here, I will discuss some potential lottery pick situations and factor in my take on them (Keep in mind, this preview disregards the possibility of lottery picks being traded, which there is a fair possibility of):

Italicized – My prediction

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: a bundle of options including Ben McLemore, Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, Alex Len, and Victor Oladipo.

There is thought to be a significant difference between the talent level and potential of this year’s first pick and next year’s first pick (Andrew Wiggins or whoever that may be).  At first sight, it was looking like Nerlens Noel was the guy to grab at the number one slot.  However, injuries and doubts about his ceiling on offense have made him a questionable call.  My opinion: too risky of a pick and the Cavs may be better off going in another direction.  Ben McLemore definitely has superstar potential and talent is what the Cavs need.  Maybe him and Irving become the best backcourt in the NBA in a few years.  Don’t count out Otto Porter.  He may actually be the safest pick because you know what to expect out of him: immediate solid all-around contribution from a lanky small forward (making the playoffs next season is one of the Cavs’ main goals).  Alex Len being the first pick has also been mentioned.  Nobody really knows if that’s a legitimate possibility, though.

2. Orlando Magic: Victor Oladipo, Ben McLemore, Nerlens Noel

The Magic are definitely going to end up with one of these three players.  After some excellent moves by Orlando’s front office, we should assume that they remain confident about big decisions they have to make.  According to reliable sources, the Magic claim to “guarantee” they’ll take Nerlens Noel if he’s there.  That may be true but I’m not completely buying it.  Orlando already has pretty solid size and they would greatly benefit from an explosive guard who can score the ball/run a team.

3. Washington Wizards: Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter

These two guys seem to be the most likely possibilities for D.C.  I think the Wiz are more than content with their future backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal.  Plus, it’s not like they’re looking for an upgrade over Beal, who they chose 3rd overall in the 2012 draft.  The Wizards really need some more life at the PF/C position.  Nene Hilario is a very good player but he doesn’t seem to possess the energy and athleticism that he used to; that’s a strong case for Nerlens Noel and I’m sure they would be thrilled if he was on the board.  Otto Porter is probably their selection in an ideal world.  Washington absolutely does not have a starting small forward set-in-stone, and Porter would certainly be that guy.

4. Charlotte Bobcats: Otto Porter, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Alex Len, Anthony Bennett

This pick, obviously, strongly depends on what players are available.  You could make a case for Michael Jordan taking any of these guys.  McLemore would be really hard to pass up here.  However, if that’s the case, they might favor Oladipo over him because of his work ethic and defensive ability.  The Bobcats also desperately need a power forward and center.  But in this scenario, talent (Otto Porter) wins overall.

5. Phoenix Suns: Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter

After letting go of Steve Nash, the Suns basically had to start from the beginning.  Phoenix is at the start of a major rebuilding process.  They are craving an intriguing prospect that can take over a game and eventually make them a competitive team.  McLemore and Oladipo would very likely be their top two priorities.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Anthony Bennett, Trey Burke

I, personally, don’t think Ben McLemore will slide down this far.  Then again, this draft is a total guessing game for the fans (and the GMs).  Trey Burke seems to be the common projection for the Pelicans and I don’t see why not.  I think he’s the perfect fit for this team.  They could plug him into the starting lineup right away, assuming Eric Gordon gets moved.  Burke and Vasquez could start together considering both are combo guards.

7. Sacramento Kings: Trey Burke, Anthony Bennett, CJ McCollum, Michael Carter-Williams

This is a huge draft for the Kings.  Sacramento continues to land great lottery picks but they haven’t seemed to benefit the team much.  I think they are in desperate need of a smart player who knows how to lead a team.  Trey Burke or CJ McCollum could be that guy.  McCollum played four years of college ball, which is a factor that is definitely underlooked.  Both players have a sweet stroke as well as most of the tools necessary to play point guard in the NBA.

8. Detroit Pistons: CJ McCollum, Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams, Shabazz Muhammad, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Again, we have to see what players are going to be left on the board at number 8.  In last year’s draft, the Pistons were extremely fortunate to have a potential franchise-changing player available at number 9.  Who knows, maybe a name that I don’t expect to drop could fall this far.  Let’s just say that the Pistons have narrowed it down to McCollum, Carter-Williams, Caldwell-Pope (assuming Burke is taken).  Any of these players are a strong possibility.  Personally, I like McCollum because of his court awareness and the fact that he can consistently put the ball in the hoop (the Pistons need that).  The Pistons could have a future backcourt of Knight and McCollum, who both have the flexibility to play the 1 and 2.

The Pistons are my hometown team so it’s only right that I stop here before I continue to embarrass myself with these incorrect picks (although I’d be extremely impressed if someone could get all eight correct).

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