If you don’t know what we’re doing with our mock draft, check out Part 1. Here’s a quick recap of the first 8 picks:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Joel Embiid, C, kansas
2. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, SG/SF, kansas
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, PG, Australia
5. Utah Jazz: Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona
6. Boston Celtics: Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
7. LA Lakers: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
8. Sacramento Kings: Marcus Smart,PG, Oklahoma St
And now to the next 8 picks. Apparently they all played college in Michigan. Or at UCLA.
2014 SpreeGoogs Fan-Sourced NBA Mock Draft Part 2
Doug McDermott
9. Charlotte BobNetHornCats (pick made by Frank Bauch): Douggie Fresh, SF, Creighton
Though I’m not a Charlotte fan, we couldn’t find one of our friends who fits that category, but I’ve got to imagine this is the peak of fandom for fans of the team formerly known as the Bobcats. They are changing their team name and switching to much better jerseys, they just made the playoffs, and they lucked out by getting the Pistons first round pick in the best draft in years. Last year, the BobNetHornCats were led by Kemba Walker at PG and Big Al Jefferson at center, and both players should be back as starters to lead the team. What this team needs is efficient scoring – they were near the bottom of the NBA in FG and 3PT percentages, as well as overall points per game. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist leading the way defensively, they need someone who can provide either bench scoring or an additional shooting threat. To me, that came down to Douggie Fresh McDermott or Nik Stauskas from the players left on the board, and McDermott strikes me as more likely to translate straight to scoring in the NBA because of his size. Here’s hoping that he doesn’t become another Adam Morrison, because it’d be cool to see the new look Hornets take another step forward.
Editor’s note: Frank isn’t a Bobcats fan, but you try finding one
Zach Lavine
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans) (pick made by Adam Rosenberg): Zach LaVine, SG, UCLA
As mentioend before, the Sixers have needs on the offensive end all over the place. This team is being COMPLETELY rebuilt and a championship-caliber team needs an outside scoring threat. Enter: Zach LaVine. His ability to maximize his time on the court with smart outside shots makes him a perfect match as the two in a backcourt with MCW. LaVine also should gel really well with coach Brett Brown after the debacle that was his playing time issues with “Daddy Ball.” LaVine still needs some work (especially on defense) and will have to adjust to the pace but his first year will tell whether or not the guy becomes a solid Kyle Korver-type sniper off the bench or can be successful as a straight up Jodie Meeks-style shooter at all times. Also, yes – i have no problem with a Jodie Meeks on my team. Shooters, score. Period.
Gary Harris
11. Denver Nuggets (pick made by Micah Peterson): Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
Can someone please remind Nuggets GM Tim Connelly that his team plays in the Western Conference? Connelly continues to insist that the Nuggets are a playoff team, yet the 36-win team from a year ago looks destined for mediocrity again this upcoming season (unless you consider the return of JaVale McGee a good thing). Outside of a fringe top-10 point guard in Ty Lawson, the Nuggets are a roster full of one-dimensional, overpaid role players. This was evidenced by the Timberwolves quick dismissal of the Nuggets’ trade offer for Kevin Love that included Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler, and this year’s first round draft pick. Sorry, Tim, but Wilson Chandler is better known for the portrait tattoo of his daughter on his neck than his actual basketball skills.
There is at least some indication that Connelly is at least considering using this pick for great roster reconfiguration. That should be the Nugget’s move here, but let’s assume they hold the 11th pick. The Nuggets have been linked to Harris for weeks now, impressed by his athleticism and shooting ability. He recently measured at a surprisingly low 6’2’’ at the draft combine, which should concern Nugget’s officials, given the already vertically-challenged Lawson. That potentially under-sized backcourt is workable, though, given Harris’ potential to be a defensive ace. International players Dario Saric and Jusuf Nurkic could also be in play for the Nuggets.
Adreian Payne
12. Orlando Magic (pick made by Patrick Bell): Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
Orlando makes their second pick of the first round via one of the picks acquired in the Dwight Howard trade from two summers ago. With this selection, the Magic look to pair another asset acquired in that trade (big man Nikola Vucevic) with a front court running mate. At 6’ 10” and 240 lbs, Payne brings the physical style of play that the Magic front line needs, while also possessing enough touch and shooting skills to be more than just a banger on the blocks. While Payne does not project to be a franchise player or even someone who will be counted on every night to carry the load, the Magic see a long term contributor here with many intangibles to help carry this team as they continue the total rebuilding process.
Rodney Hood
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (pick made by Lee Linderman): Rodney Hood, SF, Duke
The Timberwolves enter the 2014-15 season the same way they’ve entered the previous 10 seasons: playoff-less losers. With the very real prospect of Kevin Love opting out of his contract next summer (assuming Minnesota doesn’t trade him before then), the Wolves need to go all-in and draft a scoring wing such as Duke SF Rodney Hood.
At 6’8″ and 208 lbs with a silky smooth jumper, Hood provides Minnesota with a much-needed scoring punch from the perimeter. The leftie averaged 16.1 PPG last year at Duke while leading the ACC with 42% 3PT shooting. Hood was the only player in the ACC to rank among the top 10 in PPG, 3PT%, FG%, FT%, and 3PT made.
Love has watched a revolving door of mediocrity clog Minnesota’s SF position since he joined the team in 2008. If the Wolves can fill that void with a natural scorer like Hood, it may provide just enough to bring Minnesota back to the playoffs–and cause Love to opt-in.
Nik Stauskas
14. Phoenix Suns (pick made by Michael Ziman): Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
Well here’s a nice treat. In a Phoenix fan’s ideal scenario, the Timberwolves are picking here, and again at 18, and 27 too if they want, and with as many late first rounders as their Minnesota-nice hearts desire over the next 5 years as the Kevin Love-led Suns lay waste to the league. But failing that, we’ll settle for more points falling into our laps. The Suns love buckets and are already developing enough prospects from last year’s draft, so an NBA-ready marksman with offensive skills that burst right through the “Kapono ceiling” will do just fine.
The 48-win, lottery-team-in-name-only, Suns had an obvious weakness at the 4 spot this past season, but the continued improvement and hopeful promotion of Markieff Morris into the starting lineup will shore that up next year. So it’s BPA city for Phoenix with Adreian Payne surprisingly off the board here. Stauskas would slide in somewhere after Gerald Green on the depth chart at off-guard, and should co-exist nicely with Archie Goodwin to solidify a young, exciting bench unit that often outplayed Phoenix’s young, exciting starting five last season. Stauskas would also look great in Minnesota blue if, you know, they’re feeling frisky.
Dario Saric
15. Atlanta Hawks (pick made by Tim Shovers): Dario Saric, SF/PF, Croatia
A 20-year-old 6’10 guy from Croatia. Won’t exactly be a popular pick with the Hawks fanbase since he has no connection to March Madness but fits what they need. This draft has a lot of shooters, but so do the Hawks. He can give them additional rebounding options, especially since Paul Millsap only has one year left on his deal. They certainly could have used rebounding help in Games 6 & 7 against Indiana.
The ideal pick for the Hawks seems to be Adreian Payne out of Michigan State, but he was off the board here three picks earlier to Orlando.
Kyle Anderson
16. Chicago Bulls (from Charlotte) (pick made by Dan Bruhl): Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA
Scoring. Scoring. Scoring. These “gritty” Bulls were 30th in points per game last season. Yikes. After an admirable second-half run that ended unceremoniously to the balanced (and kind of fun??) Wizards, it’s clear these Bulls need scoring and badly. An already punchless team even with Rose, the Bulls need 3 point shooting, wings that can handle (no offense Jimmy Butler), and most importantly, players who can drive to create their own opportunities. Enter Kyle Anderson. Not only can he act as a secondary ball-handler, he made around 50% of his 3′s last season. Add in that he’s a long rangy wing, Thib could surely rub some of his fairy defense dust and make him a solid rotation player. Plus, the Bulls might be losing forwards Jimmy Butler/Taj Gibson in a trade to land a big gun…wouldn’t hurt to have a young wing to take up some of those missing minutes.
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Part 3. And then bring it home with Part 4.
The post 2014 SpreeGoogs Fan-Sourced Mock NBA Draft Picks 9-16 appeared first on SpreeGoogs.
