2013 NBA Mock Draft: Smart Moves Every Team Must Make

With the NBA draft lottery on the horizon, now is a good time to take a look at projections based on statistical odds for draft positioning.

When the ping-pong balls are drawn, the draft order is likely to look much different. For now, we’re left to identify optimal landing spots for some of the nation’s top prospects and break down some smart selections for each first-round team as 2012-13 records would suggest.

Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns are in tremendous position to take advantage of this class’ talent with multiple selections in the first round. Barring first-round trades, each team has an opportunity to fill several needs in this draft.

But for others, the prospect of finding a potential starter in this class are much slimmer. As recent drafts have taught us, sometimes it takes a lot of luck (and extra ping-pong balls) to make a splash in the draft.

Let’s take a look at the latest projections for the 2013 NBA draft and highlight a few particularly smart moves that could make a big difference in the future of those franchises.

 

1. Orlando Magic: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

Despite concerns about his recovering ACL tear, Kentucky center Nerlens Noel is arguably the most pro-ready big man in this draft.

With tremendous length and athleticism—as well as astronomical defensive potential—Orlando can’t afford to pass on Noel based on his freak knee injury.

They may no longer have Dwight Howard, but the Magic have an opportunity to replace him in short order. Should they acquire the first pick, Noel is the most logical option.

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

McLemore has a chance to go No. 1 overall depending on need and fit, but if the top of the lottery plays out how it should, he’ll likely fall past Orlando and into Charlotte’s lap. Anthony Bennett could also be an option here, but can the Bobcats resist selecting the purest shooter in college basketball?

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV

Bennett’s future position is hard to project. He has the frame to play either the three or four in the NBA, but the athleticism of a pure small forward. That’s exactly where the Cavs would play Bennett, and he’d be a big upgrade at the position.

4. Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

Victor Oladipo entered the 2012-13 season somewhat under the radar, but his exploits with Indiana this season skyrocketed him into the discussion as a top-five pick.

The Hoosiers swingman has ideal size for the two-guard position in the NBA, and his exceptional athleticism and defensive prowess can’t be ignored.

With limited starting options along the perimeter, Phoenix has an opportunity to acquire an immediate starter and impact player with the No. 4 pick. There may be more high-upside options with this pick, but Oladipo is virtually assured of solid production in his formative years.

5. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

Burke was arguably the best point guard in college basketball this season, and his draft positioning will likely reflect that. While none of his measurables stand out, the Michigan product is the best available player at this point. Regardless of who that player is, New Orleans can’t afford to pass on him.

6. Sacramento Kings: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

Expect Sacramento to select the best perimeter scorer available at this point in the lottery. The Kings already have some talent in the frontcourt, and adding a swingman like Porter will give them another quality scorer who can open things up at the offensive end.

7. Detroit Pistons: C.J. McCollum, PG/SG, Lehigh

The Pistons are just a couple pieces shy of being contenders in the coming years, and bolstering their backcourt should be a priority in the early first round. Finding the right position for McCollum may be tricky, but his college stats speak for themselves (23.9 points per game in 2012-13).

8. Washington Wizards: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Zeller could have benefited from returning to school for another season, but he already has the measurables and sound fundamentals to develop into a terrific big man in the NBA. Washington may also consider Shabazz Muhammad with this pick, but it will be hard to pass on a seven-footer with Zeller’s upside.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

With David Kahn out of town, it’s hard to predict what Minnesota will do with its first selection—though it may actually be easier. If logic prevails, the Timberwolves will select the best available perimeter scorer in Muhammad and hope he pans out better than many of Kahn’s recent selections.

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Alex Len, C, Maryland

Frontcourt depth is a big issue for the Trail Blazers. They weren’t as bad this season as their record suggests, but the Trail Blazers have to take advantage of their situation this offseason and select a center who can augment the potential loss of J.J. Hickson this summer.

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

It’s unclear what the 76ers plan to do with Andrew Bynum this summer. Should they choose to let him walk in free agency, finding a replacement would be a good option here.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto): Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

Trading James Harden was a big oversight, and Oklahoma City's playoff failures highlighted that fact. With Russell Westbrook on the shelf, the Thunder were left to wonder what might have been had they held onto him.

If Oklahoma City hopes to atone for its shortsighted decision, adding another terrific guard like Michael Carter-Williams would be a good option. The Thunder don’t lack scorers (with Westbrook on the floor), but they could certainly use more depth in their backcourt.

13. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany

Dallas’ backcourt situation is a bit of a mess at this point, and there’s a good chance it grabs a guard with this pick. Unfortunately, the cupboard is more bare than the Mavericks would probably like. With a lot of proven talent already off the board, they may opt for one of this class’ top foreign talents in athletic German point guard Dennis Schroeder.

14. Utah Jazz: Shane Larkin, PG, Miami (Fla.)

Utah’s backcourt needs some serious rebuilding this offseason. Shane Larkin isn’t the biggest point guard available (5’11”), but he does have tremendous athleticism and a ton of upside—two things the Jazz desperately need.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Mason Plumlee, PF/C, Duke

Milwaukee’s first-round selection will depend a lot on what it decides to do with Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings and J.J. Redick this summer. It’s likely at least two of the three remain with the Bucks entering next season, however, and they certainly don’t need any more clutter in their backcourt.

16. Boston Celtics: Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh

Facing some big decisions after a disappointing season, the Celtics won’t be in a position to find a major contributor at pick No. 16. If they look for upside, however, Steven Adams is a terrific choice. He’s a seven-footer who has also shown some nice mid-range shooting ability, and he could be a solid contributor for Boston in the next couple years.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville

There may not be a team in the league facing a bigger roster overhaul this offseason. With a lot of holes to fill and two selections in the first round, the Hawks can afford to gamble on at least one high-upside big man.

18. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston): Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky

There’s a chance Archie Goodwin doesn’t fall this far in the first round, but one has to wonder how much teams are taking stock in the recent failures of some of Kentucky’s best one-and-done products.

Still, Atlanta needs to take a chance on some high-ceiling talent this year. Goodwin has room to grow, but he has as much potential as any guard still available at this point in the draft.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Rudy Gobert, C, France

Small forwards and centers will be at the top of Chris Grant’s wish list this summer. With Anthony Bennett already locked up with the third pick, he can turn his attention to one of the more intriguing foreign players in this draft.

The French center is a massive prospect (7’2”) with a huge wingspan and enough defensive polish to match his size. The Cavs are lacking a strong frontcourt defender, and Gobert would give them just that.

20. Chicago Bulls: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia

The Derrick Rose talk will be put to rest with Chicago’s playoff exit, and all attention should now turn to patching up a roster that could do some serious damage next season.

But if Rose’s absence proved anything, it’s that the Bulls need another reliable perimeter scorer who can augment Rose’s offense when he’s not on the floor.

21. Utah Jazz: Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan

As previously mentioned, Utah’s backcourt needs work. Don’t be surprised if the Jazz double up on guards in the first round, especially if a high-upside talent like Tim Hardaway Jr. is still on the board.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Dario Saric, F, Croatia

Dario Saric’s size alone makes him an intriguing NBA prospect. A small forward in a power forward’s body, the 19-year-old could be a matchup nightmare for NBA defenders.

 

23. Indiana Pacers: Lorenzo Brown, PG, N.C. State

The Pacers are a tremendously talented squad, but they still lack depth to be a true offensive threat night in and night out. Lorenzo Brown could provide a little depth behind George Hill and also give Indiana another lengthy defender to aid at the other end of the floor.

 

24. New York Knicks: Erick Green, PG/SG, Virginia Tech

It’s hard to pinpoint a position at which New York must get stronger. And at this point in the draft, finding a player who will warrant a lot of minutes probably won’t be a possibility anyway.

But Erick Green would give the Knicks some added depth in their backcourt—and the versatility to play either guard position in a rotational role. He also offers New York the kind of athletic slasher it needs more of from the guard positions.

 

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Deshaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State

Deshaun Thomas could go anywhere outside the lottery, and if he falls to No. 25, Los Angeles may have to pull the trigger. He doesn’t have the upside some probably expected, but he’s a pro-ready prospect who can contribute minutes in his formative years.

 

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis): Tony Snell, SG, New Mexico

Minnesota needs a guard who can take advantage of Ricky Rubio’s tremendous passing ability and ball-handling skills. Tony Snell is an excellent three-point shooter who will take a lot of pressure off Rubio and give opposing defenses another scoring threat to worry about.

 

27. Denver Nuggets: Jeff Withey, C, Kansas

The Nuggets may be looking for a perimeter scorer who can step in immediately and replace some of the production they will lose with Danilo Gallinari on the shelf.

But there aren’t any players worth taking here that fit that description, and Withey gives Denver another big man who can eat up some minutes and contribute immediately at the defensive end.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Giannis Adetokounbo, SF, Greece

The Spurs aren’t desperate to address any particular position this summer. As is typically the case, expect San Antonio to take a late flyer on a player like Adetokounbo who has the potential to be a solid contributor in the next few years.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Sergey Karasev, SG/SF, Russia

If a top-shelf center doesn’t fall to Oklahoma City here, there won’t be many options for building on its frontcourt at No. 29. Sergey Karasev is a terrific shooter with good size and versatility, though, and the Thunder need to continue adding depth on the perimeter.

30. Phoenix Suns (via Miami): Tony Mitchell, PF, North Texas

Phoenix is in position to take a high-ceiling athlete with this pick. At No. 30, upside is the name of the game.

Mitchell has plenty of athleticism, but he’s far from a proven offensive player. That said, Phoenix can afford to take the risk and hope for the best.