We’ve learned a little since my last mock. Here’s another one.
1. CLE (via LAC)—Kyrie Irving, PG Duke: Well, we didn’t learn that the Cavs are going to, or should, go with anyone but Irving with the number one pick, despite how much Derrick Williams thinks he can help them.
2. MIN—Derrick Williams, SF/PF Arizona: Cleveland is currently in trade talks to get the best two players in this draft. David Kahn is a counter-productive douche-nozzle. Stay tuned.
3. UTAH (via NJ)—Enes Kanter, PF/C International: As much as I’ve heard about Utah loving Brandon Knight, I’ve heard even more about them wanting Jimmer. They can’t have both. That would be stupid. Kanter will be somewhat redundant, but if they draft him the Jazz will have the freedom to unload Al Jefferson and/or Paul Millsap in salary dumping, pick-acquiring deals.
4. CLE—Bismack Biyombo, PF/C International: Even though teams are cooling on Bismack, if this ends up being Minnesota’s pick I can’t imagine Kahn would go anywhere else. He really needs a two-guard, but would he take Brandon Knight? Not if he thinks Rubio would ever play in Minny. It’s too high for Alec Burks. Biyombo would produce what Darko does for 3/4ths the money and would make Kahn look smart if he paid off.
5. TOR—Brandon Knight, PG/SG Kentucky: The Raptors get less screwed here than in most mocks, and that’s only because Kahn (or Cleveland) can’t justify taking two point guards). The Raptors can thank Utah for their Jimmer love.
6. WAS—Jan Vesley, SF/PF International: Still can’t see Washington passing on the fast breaking Czech. Seems like a natural fit.
7. SAC—Kemba Walker, PG/SG Connecticut: Walker is a dynamic scorer and needs the ball in his hands a ton to make things happen on offense. Sound familiar? It’s going to be difficult for Walker and Tyreke Evans to co-exist; anyone can see that. But they’ve talked about wanting him, so I guess we’ll see. I bet they draft him if he’s there.
8. DET—Alec Burks, SG Colorado: Here’s where Kahn will take his two-guard if he’s smart. Which he’s not. But let’s assume he’s not a complete moron. Burks is an actual two-guard, while Wes Johnson is a three masquerading as one.
9. CHA—Jonas Valanciunas, C International: This pick hasn’t changed since the last mock. He fills a need and has a ton of potential. Most experts have him going to Toronto or Detroit, so he’s definitely a consensus top-10 guy.
10. MIL—Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State: Imagine Luc Richard Mbua whatever but he can shoot threes. I know he’d be somewhat of a redundant piece in Milwaukee, but Leonard would fit right in and immediately endear himself to fans with his energy.
11. GSW—Klay Thompson, SG Washington State: If there’s any truth to the Monta Ellis trade rumors, another SG wouldn’t hurt. A player capable of shooting the lights out and playing on the wing wouldn’t hurt any team. Thompson has some red flags, but will fit in with a team that can use his scoring off the bench.
12. UTAH—Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG Brigham Young: Call me predictable, but I think it goes without saying that the Jazz want Jimmer. I’ll actually be shocked if some other team doesn’t try to hold them hostage for the pick. Either way, I’m pretty sure he’ll be the new face of the Jazz franchise (or at least he’ll try to be) sometime in the next few years.
13. PHO—Marcus Morris, SF/PF Kansas: Phoenix supposedly loves the Jimmer as well, but with him gone they address a more pressing need in Morris, and score a helluva value in the process. Morris has a shot at the top-8.
14. HOU—Markieff Morris, PF/C Kansas: Back-to-back Morris brothers? Could happen. Houston has a hole to fill at center with Yao and Chuck Hayes both potentially departing this off-season. They may also look to trade the pick (they have two first rounders).
15. IND—Tristan Thompson, PF Texas: Thompson represents probably the best case scenario for my Pacers. He’s long, lean and super-athletic. Best of all he fills a need and could be good enough to start at PF very soon.
16. PHI—Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead State: I’ll keep Faried here, but I’m not sure. I think Philly will most likely be looking for a big who is more prototypically-sized, there just doesn’t seem to be many to pick from at this stage of the first.
17. NYK—Donatas Motiejunas, SF/PF International: The Knicks rarely get to draft, so when they do they have to make it count. That said, there are very few sure-fire prospects in this field. Motiejunas has too much potential to slip much farther, so I’m keeping him here.
18. WAS (via ATL)—Chris Singleton, SF/PF Florida State: Word is the Wizards like Singelton but don’t want to draft him #6. In the perfect storm of Wizards good fortune, they get two prospects they love without having to trade anyone. Both guys play the same position, and both are similar players. But in this kind of draft, a developing team like Washington can just draft for talent and hope for the best.
19. CHA (via NOR)—Marshon Brooks, SG Providence: The Bobcats need wing scoring, and Brooks is a legit wing scorer. This is a bit high for him, but having already drafted a big in this scenario, he makes some sense.
20. MIN (via MEM)—Josh Selby, PG/SG Kansas: If the proposed three-way trade goes through, Minny will have the luxury of letting Kahn pick a point guard. I suspect he’ll try, anyway. Here’s hoping (for T-Wolves’ fans sake) that he’ll at least pick one with upside who can play the two and provide some scoring punch.
21. POR—Darius Morris, PG Michigan: Morris slipped from the top 10 in my last mock to #21 in this one, so obviously I think he has value. Portland opts to snag him up instead of reaching on a center. Andre Miller could be gone with a team option and Morris is his younger, cheaper clone.
22. DEN—Jordan Hamilton, SF Texas: Hamilton is an athletic and versatile wing who could take over for Wilson Chandler (an RFA) if he’s not retained.
23. HOU (via ORL)—Tyler Honeycutt, SG/SF UCLA: The Rockets can afford to go best available here, and Honeycutt fills a need (defensive-minded wing).
24. OKC—Davis Bertans, SG International: Clutch spot shooting would’ve been nice vs. the Mavs in the Western finals. The Thunder are set pretty much everywhere else.
25. BOS—Tobias Harris, SF/PF Tennessee: The Celtics are shallow on the wing. Harris is a tweener who needs help conditioning, but he’s about all that’s left.
26. DAL—Nikola Mirotic, SF/PF International: The Mavs are deep with talented vets, so they can afford to wait a few years for a still-developing Mirotic to iron out his contract and eventually step in for Stojakovic or even Dirk.
27. NJN (via LAL)—Trey Thompkins, PF Georgia: I maintain that Jersey could use more bodies down low, especially if Kris Humphries departs. Thompkins isn’t overwhelming, but he’s got NBA size.
28. CHI (via MIA)—Shelvin Mack, PG/SG Butler: The Bulls are still searching for that clutch-shooting two-guard to compliment D-Rose in the backcourt. Mack could be the guy, and his early workouts have been great.
29. SAS—JaJuan Johnson, SF/PF Purdue: I’m keeping Johnson here. I think he immediately fits in with his smarts, work ethic and willingness to improve. The perfect coach’s player.
30. CHI—Nolan Smith, PG Duke: I love Smith as a good value and immediate backup PG upgrade for the Bulls at the end of the first.
31. MIA (via MIN)—Keith Benson, C Oakland
32. CLE—Kyle Singler, SF Duke
33. DET (via TOR)—Nikola Vucevic, PF/C Southern California
34. WAS—Reggie Jackson, PG/SG Boston College
35. SAC—Chandler Parsons, SF Florida
36. NJN—Isaiah Thomas, PG Washington
37. LAC (via DET)—Corey Joseph, PG Texas
38. HOU (via LAC)—Jeremy Tyler, PF International
39. CHA—Greg Smith, C Fresno State
40. MIL—Jon Leuer, PF Wisconsin
41. LAL (via GSW)—Malcolm Lee, SG UCLA
42. IND—Demetri McCarney, PG Illinois
43. GSW (via UTAH)—Jordan Williams, PF Maryland
44. CHI (via PHO)—Jamie Skeen, PF Virginia Commonwealth
45. NOR (via PHI)—Norris Cole, PG Cleveland State
46. LAL (via NYK)—Matthew Bryan-Amaning, PF/C Washington
47. LAC (via HOU)—David Lighty, SG Ohio State
48. ATL—Jereme Richmond, SF Illinois
49. MEM—Robin Benzing, SF International
50. PHI (via NOR)—Bojan Bogdanovic, SF International
51. POR—Vernon Macklin, PF Florida
52. DEN—Willie Reed, PF St. Louis
53. ORL—Matt Howard, PF Butler
54. CLE (via OKC)—Scotty Hopson, SG Tennessee
55. BOS—Chris Wright, SF Dayton
56. LAL—E’Twaun Moore, SG Purdue
57. DAL—Andrew Groudelock, PG/SG Charelston
58. LAL (via MIA)—DeAndre Liggins, SG Kentucky
59. SAS—Jeoffrey Lauvergne, SF International
60. SAC (via CHI)—Travis Leslie, SF Georgia
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