2013 NBA Mock Draft: Where Next Year's Top Prospects Should Land

Jun 7, 2018

The 2013 NBA draft may still be over 10 months away, but it's never too early to make predictions on where the star prospects will land.

While the class of 2013 may not be quite as deep as its 2012 counterpart, it does offer a nice collection of talent at a variety of positions.

Here is an updated mock with the best predictions of who every first-round team will pick, complete with prospect information and analysis.

1. Orlando Magic: Shabazz Muhammad

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Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'6", 220 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Freshman

With no offense to Bradley Beal, Muhammad may very well be the best shooting guard in the 2012 and 2013 draft classes combined.

Part of a monster recruiting class for UCLA, Muhammad is also a talented defender and rebounder and should have the Bruins in contention for a Final Four berth as a freshman.

Able to score anywhere on the court, often with a smooth left-hand finish, Muhammad could very well be 2013's first overall pick.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Nerlens Noel

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Position: Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 215 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

A tall, lanky center holding down the paint for Kentucky while swatting away a ridiculous number of shots?

Hmm, this sounds all too familiar.

Noel is the perfect replacement for Anthony Davis at Kentucky and someone who Davis seems to like.

"A great shot-blocker," said Davis, who set a Southeastern Conference record with 186 blocks this past season. "I think he's better than me."

The similarities may not end there, as Davis was the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and Noel is the projected No. 1 pick for 2013 by many draft sites.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyle Anderson

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Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Freshman

Anderson has the skills to play four or even five positions, but he projects as a small forward in the pros.

He has a very high basketball I.Q. and should help lead UCLA back to the Final Four, along with Shabazz Muhammad.

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4. Washington Wizards: Cody Zeller

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Position: Power Forward/Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 209 pounds

School: Indiana

Year: Sophomore

Very skilled for a player of his size, Cody Zeller is an excellent shooter who can run the floor well, much like his older brother Tyler.

He will most likely play power forward in the NBA due to his thin frame, but he will be able to stretch defenses with great outside shooting.

Though he's not a great rebounder or shot-blocker, he will be nearly impossible to guard.

5. New Orleans Hornets: James Michael McAdoo

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Position: Small/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 226 pounds

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

McAdoo should star at North Carolina with so many players ahead of him heading to the pros.

Able to play either forward position with a 7'1" wingspan, McAdoo is also a good ball-handler and rebounder for his size.

With a few added post moves, he could be a star.

6. Detroit Pistons: Alex Poythress

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 215 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

A combo forward, Poythress was the 2012 Tennessee Player of the Year for Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tenn.

Able to play inside and out, Poythress is probably best suited for a small forward role, as he has three-point range and is an excellent finisher at the rim.

With a 7'1" wingspan, he remains an intriguing option on the defensive end and should be one-and-done at Kentucky.

7. Toronto Raptors: Steven Adams

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Position: Center

Height/Weight: 7'1", 245 pounds

School: Pittsburgh

Year: Freshman

Adams is a very athletic big man who can run the floor with ease. A good shot-blocker and rebounder, he is still developing his overall game.

Adams needs to work on his free-throw shooting and post moves, but he should be a very good center in a few years in the NBA.

8. Sacramento Kings: Myck Kabongo

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Position: Point Guard

Height/Weight: 6'1", 170 pounds

School: Texas

Year: Sophomore

Kabongo is a pure point guard with great playmaking skills. His small frame allows for his extra quickness, but some added muscle would be a plus.

It might take a few years, but Kabongo should be a very good point guard in the NBA.

9. Milwaukee Bucks: Isaiah Austin

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Position: Center

Height/Weight: 7'0", 215 pounds

School: Baylor

Year: Freshman

Austin is the latest gem in a recruiting surge for the Baylor Bears the last couple years.

A true seven-footer, Austin is a bit of a project right now, but he has good ball-handling skills and a soft touch for a player his size.

Austin will have to add about 20 to 30 pounds of muscle to his frame to not get pushed around in the pros, but his skill set would have been worth a lottery pick in this year's draft.

10. Utah Jazz (via Golden State): Tony Mitchell

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 235 pounds

School: North Texas

Year: Sophomore

Greg Monroe's twin? Well, not exactly, but Mitchell could turn out to be just as talented.

Able to play either forward position with shooting abilities out to the three-point line, Mitchell has a variety of skills but was forced to sit out his freshman season for academic reasons.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Archie Goodwin

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Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'5", 185 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Freshman

Goodwin is an attack-first shooting guard who plays with an aggressive style.

Very good on the defensive side of the ball as well, Goodwin should thrive in Lexington, taking over Doron Lamb's spot.

12. Phoenix Suns: Rudy Gobert

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Position: Power Forward/Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 225 pounds

School: Cholet, International

Age: 20

What stands out right away with Gobert is his insane wingspan—all 7'9" of it.

Naturally, he's already a talented shot-blocker due to his crazy length, but Gobert is also a good athlete who's slowly developing a nice offensive game.

13. Houston Rockets: Adonis Thomas

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Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'6", 220 pounds

School: Memphis

Year: Sophomore

Thomas is a good athlete who can finish at the rim and plays every game with a high motor.

He needs to improve his outside shooting and ball-handling skills to succeed at the next level.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. McCollum

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Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'3", 165 pounds

School: Lehigh

Year: Senior

A combo guard from a small school (a la Damian Lillard), McCollum is a great scorer and rebounder for his size.

A talented defender as well, McCollum averaged 2.6 steals during his junior season.

15. New York Knicks: C.J. Leslie

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 207 pounds

School: N.C. State

Year: Junior

An explosive athlete who brings energy to every game, Leslie runs the floor very well and is a candidate to finish many alley-oops.

He needs to improve his post game if he wants to play the 4 in the NBA.

16. Utah Jazz: P.J. Hairston

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Position: Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'5", 220

School: North Carolina

Year: Sophomore

An average playmaker with a high basketball I.Q., Hairston should see a big jump in minutes during his sophomore season. He is an excellent shooter and good defender.

Look for Hairston's stats to make a huge leap this year.

17. Dallas Mavericks: Joshua Smith

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Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'9", 300 pounds

School: UCLA

Year: Junior

A big-body center who will likely play the 4 in the pros, Smith uses his size to be a dominant force in the paint.

He will likely have to drop some weight to be quick enough to guard opponents at the next level and keep up with the pro pace.

18. Chicago Bulls: Le'Bryan Nash

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 220 pounds

School: Oklahoma State

Year: Sophomore

A very athletic forward with good size and strength, Nash excels taking the ball to basket.

He needs to develop his shot and ball-handling to star in NBA.

19. Brooklyn Nets: Reggie Bullock

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Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'5", 190 pounds

School: North Carolina

Year: Junior

Bullock is already a good defender with a great work ethic, something any team would like to have.

He has a shooting guard's body, but he must improve his ball-handling to play the 2 in the NBA.

20. Philadelphia 76ers: Jeff Withey

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Position: Center

Height/Weight: 6'11", 240 pounds

School: Kansas

Year: Senior

Withey made a name for himself in the 2012 NCAA tournament, helping Kansas advance to the national title game.

The excellent shot-blocker is still a project on offense, but he has a lot to offer as a developmental center.

21. Atlanta Hawks: Otto Porter

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Position: Small Forward

Height/Weight: 6'8", 210 pounds

School: Georgetown

Year: Sophomore

A good mid-range shooter who plays a very fluid game, Porter has a good work ethic and size for his position.

Porter needs to work on his outside shooting and ball-handling skills before he can be an effective pro.

22. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis): B.J. Young

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Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

Height/Weight: 6'3", 160 pounds

School: Arkansas

Year: Sophomore

A very quick guard who led Arkansas in scoring last season, Young is excellent at finishing at the rim and shooting from the outside.

Young has the body of a point guard but the game of a shooting guard at this point. He will have to decide what he wants to be and work towards it before declaring.

23. Denver Nuggets: Andre Roberson

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Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 210 pounds

School: Colorado

Year: Junior

Roberson averaged over a double-double his sophomore year and is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.

He needs to add muscle to his frame to play in the NBA post and is still working on his shot, but he represents a lot of upside.

24. Los Angeles Clippers: DeShaun Thomas

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 220 pounds

School: Ohio State

Year: Junior

Thomas, a volume scorer who can rack up points in a variety of ways, can play either forward position now but will likely be a 3 at the next level.

He shot nearly 60 percent on two-pointers last season and should get even more looks with the loss of Jared Sullinger to the NBA.

25. Indiana Pacers: Ryan Harrow

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Position: Point Guard

Height/Weight: 5'11", 160 pounds

School: Kentucky

Year: Sophomore

The small but mighty Kentucky transfer is a score-first point guard with good handles.

Harrow should thrive with a talented supporting cast on the defending champion Wildcats.

26. Boston Celtics: Doug McDermott

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Position: Small Forward/Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'7", 210 pounds

School: Creighton

Year: Junior

The dynamite scorer put up 22.9 points on better than 60 percent shooting during his sophomore season.

Though he's a good rebounder, McDermott may have to play the 3 in the pros due to his size.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Miami): Mason Plumlee

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Position: Power Forward

Height/Weight: 6'10", 235 pounds

School: Duke

Year: Senior

An athletic big man who does almost everything well but nothing great, Plumlee is the type of player that will be a solid backup big and can step in at either power forward or center.

However, he is a poor free-throw shooter who has hovered around 50 percent for his college career.