NBA Draft 2013: Most Intriguing Pick at Each Position
The 2013 NBA Draft features some freak athletes and some serious scorers, and there are some very interesting guys at each position who will turn heads this year.
There are the guys who are no-brainers to go in the top five like Nerlens Noel and Otto Porter, and then there are the guys who have unusual background stories heading into the draft.
Let’s take a look at the most intriguing pick at each position in the year’s draft, which is sure to produce some franchise players.
Point Guard: Dennis Schroeder, Germany
There are plenty of international prospects in this year’s draft, but Schroeder is probably the most exciting one at the point guard position.
When you watch this guy play, it looks like he’s playing streetball. His combination of solid ball-handling along with impressive quickness helps him drive to the basket and avoid defenders.
Schroeder may still be an overall raw prospect with a jumper that will need to be more proven at the next level. Still, his explosiveness with the ball in his hands would make him an ideal backup point guard while he develops into a more solid overall player. Expect Schroeder to get taken in the mid-to-late first round, possibly by a team like the Indiana Pacers.
Shooting Guard: Glen Rice, Jr., NBA D-League
When it comes to NBA draft prospects, Rice certainly took a strange path to the NBA.
After being thrown off of the Georgia Tech basketball team, Rice elected to enter the D-League draft rather than transfer to a different school.
It was a heck of a year for Rice with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He helped lead the team to a D-League title while averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Overall, Rice has a proven jumper and is capable of finishing at the rim. Although his defense may not be up to par yet, his high-powered offensive game has earned him first-round consideration.
Small Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece
Based off of his name alone, this guy from Greece could be the most intriguing pick in the entire class.
Seriously, I don’t think I can even try to announce that name.
Regardless, the film on this guy is eye-opening. He is listed at 6’9’’ with a crazy 7’3’’ wingspan, and uses that size to his advantage on defense. Despite being so big, he has some superb ball-handling skills and makes the right pass when needed.
Picking up this guy would definitely be a long-term pick rather than an immediate starter. But he certainly has enough upside to be worth a first-round pick for a team that doesn’t need immediate help on its roster.
Power Forward: Anthony Bennett, UNLV
It’s strange to think that a guy coming out of UNLV could be a possible top-10 pick in the NBA draft, but Bennett is looking to go even earlier.
Despite being only a freshman last season, Bennett lit it up for the Rebels. He averaged 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
Bennett has good length at 6’7’’ and is capable of stepping back and shooting a three. He also uses his impressive strength to dominate weaker defenders and can finish at the rim with impressive intensity.
He may have only been a freshman last season, but Bennett has impressed plenty of NBA scouts, and he will likely be hearing his name called quite early once the draft begins.
Center: Alex Len, Maryland
There are a number of big names coming in at center, but Len is certainly one who's been quickly rising up the draft boards over the past few weeks.
Listed at 7’1’’, Len has a lot of upside but is relatively unproven. He averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.
Len is also a pretty big risk considering he is having surgery for a stress fracture, according to ESPN’s Andy Katz.
In a draft class with names like Kelly Olynyk and Noel, Len is making a name for himself. However, his upside will have to outweigh his injury concerns in order for him to be drafted early.
