NBA Draft 2014: Non-Lottery Picks Who Will Prove to Be Steals

The 2014 draft class is stacked—and we're not talking about the top. 

With a likely top five of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, Joel Embiid and Dante Exum in some order, it's no wonder why this year's class has forced so many teams into tank-a-palooza. 

But it's not just top-heavy.

There is a bevy of talent throughout the upcoming class, and teams that find themselves in the middle and end of the first round shouldn't have trouble finding an impact player. 

Although there were plenty of choices, let's take a look at some players currently projected outside the lottery who will outplay their draft position. 

Cleanthony Early, Wichita State

Charlie Riedel

Wichita State's dream season came to a disappointing early end, but that had nothing to do with Cleanthony Early. Going up against consensus future top-five pick Julius Randle, the senior power forward poured in 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting—a tasty 1.82 points per shot against one of the nation's best frontcourts. 

There are concerns about Early's size (6'7", 207 pounds, 6'9" wingspan, per DraftExpress.com), but against the Kentucky's NBA-sized bigs (Randle, Dakari Johnson, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress), he showed how he can quell those problems at the next level. 

Early pulled Kentucky's big men away from the basket, hitting four of six threes, and he used his explosive athleticism in transition. Exhibit A through Z: 

There is always going to be room in the NBA for athletic, skilled power forwards who have range to the three-point line. 247Sports' Jerry Meyer went as far to call Early a lottery pick:

Early's size and age may prevent that from happening, but he is someone who can come off the bench as an offensive spark plug and versatile mismatch right away.

Projected at the end of the first round by DraftExpress.com, he's going to improve a contender immediately. 

Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

David J. Phillip

After leading the Huskies to an unbelievable national championship run, Shabazz Napier's draft stock is skyrocketing. But in all reality, he didn't do anything on the court he hasn't been doing the last couple of years. 

Napier has electrifying speed. He can create off the dribble with ease, his step-back jumper is impossible to stop, he has on-the-court range and perhaps most importantly, he has the "it" factor. 

The latter is somewhat undefinable, but when you win two national championships and consistently hit big shots, you probably have "it":

A guy who knows a thing or two about the NBA put it simply:

Burgeoning superstar John Wall, via CSN's J. Michael, agreed: "He's got to be the first point guard taken, in my opinion, (with) the way he finished the season."

NBA general managers aren't likely to agree, of course. Dante Exum, Marcus Smart and Tyler Ennis will all be selected before Napier, who lacks ideal size, but that just means a team will be getting a galvanizing star at a bargain. 

Nik Stauskas, Michigan 

David J. Phillip

Nik Stauskas' name isn't yet in the draft hat, as he himself made clear on Thursday morning: 

Still, with his potential, it would be a surprise if the Big Ten Player of the Year returned for another year of school. 

The common assumption is that the lanky Canadian should be labeled as a shooter. And, well, when he puts out videos like this, it's easy to see why:

He is definitely a shooter. After hitting 44.0 percent of his threes as a role player during his freshman year, Stauskas attempted one more trey per game as the focal point of the defense this season and still managed to hit 44.2 percent of his attempts. But while he is deadly from beyond the arc, Stauskas is far more than just a shooter, eh. 

A combo guard would be a more appropriate description. Helping the Wolverines make the transition from All-American Trey Burke to freshman Derrick Walton at point guard, Stauskas assumed much of the ball-handling duties, proving capable of taking opponents off the dribble, finishing at the rim or finding the open teammate. 

He's not a great defender, but throw in nice length (6'6" with a 6'7" wingspan) and athleticism, and Stauskas, who is projected just outside the lottery, has the look of a future offensive star.