2014 NBA Mock Draft: Best Selections for Each Team After Combine
The NBA combine gave fans, general managers and coaches a closer look at the raw athleticism and true measurements of most of the top prospects in the upcoming draft.
While this exhibition is just a small piece in the overall evaluation process, big time performances can help a player's draft stock.
Poor measurements can create doubt as to whether a fringe player has what it takes to play his desired position in the NBA.
This mock draft breaks down the best picks for each team after seeing what the participating prospects had to offer at the combine.
The draft order is only official from picks 15-30. The order of the top 14 won't be determined until the NBA draft lottery takes place on May 20.
For now, the top 14 are arranged according to record. The results of traded picks are accounted for as well.
1. Milwaukee Bucks - Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
Parker is the safe pick. When you look at the Bucks' history, they can't afford to go any other direction. As good as Kansas' Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid could be, it seems we have more of a feel for who Parker will be in the NBA.
None of the three came to the combine, per ESPN's Chad Ford, but they really didn't need to.
Their spots in the top three or four picks seem to be locked. Parker's ability to score and rebound, plus his desire to be great, makes him a less risky pick.
2. Philadelphia 76ers - Andrew Wiggins, SF/SG, Kansas
With Nerlens Noel already set to begin his rookie season in the 2014-15 campaign, the Sixers don't need to draft another center. Because of this luxury, the team can add to its growing number of athletic wings.
Wiggins could step in as a primary scoring option for a team desperately in need of one.
3. Orlando Magic - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
The Magic have Nikola Vucevic, but he will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season.
Embiid would likely be an upgrade over Vucevic, or he could help to form a formidable and young PF-C combination if the team re-ups with Vucevic.
Defensively, Embiid is likely ready to make an impact in the NBA. Carl Berman of NetScouts Basketball writes:
"Defensively, Embiid has translated his volleyball background into the basketball game as an elite shot-blocker. He can still improve as a help defender and foul trouble can be an issue, but his lack of experience is likely the reason for these issues. If an NBA team is looking for a rim protector, similar to what Roy Hibbert provides in Indiana, Embiid can certainly fill that role.
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The only question for Embiid is his health. He missed the latter part of the season and NCAA tournament with a bad back.
That has certainly sent off a few warning signs. If he checks out, don't be surprised to see the Bucks follow the old strategy and draft for size with Embiid at No. 1.
4. Utah Jazz - Noah Vonleh, PF/C, Indiana
Though Vonleh measured just 6'9.5" in shoes, his wingspan (7'4.25") and hand width (11.75) should aid him on the post.
Here's Vonleh showing off his humongous mitts per the NBA Draft on Twitter:
When you consider Vonleh has already demonstrated the ability to step outside and knock down open looks, you have to be excited about his ceiling.
5. Boston Celtics - Dante Exum, PG/SG, Australia
Exum could probably go as high as No. 2. He's this year's international man of mystery. Scouts haven't seen nearly as much of him as they have of the players from the US. However, what we have seen has been impressive.
Exum can play either guard spot, score and distribute. He sounds like the perfect player to help lead the Celtics back to respectability.
6. Los Angeles Lakers - Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
Randle could turn out to be a more athletic version of Zach Randolph. He's bullish on the block, but he's blessed with more athleticism than Z-Bo.
If he can add some weapons offensively, you can pencil in 20 and 10 for him for the next eight to 10 years.
That's not a bad building block for the Lake Show.
7. Sacramento Kings - Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
Any general manager who overreacts to Smart's blowup with the Texas Tech fan or looks too deeply into his anger issues could miss out on a truly great player in the NBA.
Smart's game has some holes for sure. He needs to be a better shooter from the outside. The 30 percent three-point shooting must improve if he's going to become a complete player.
A jump shot can be improved.
Smart should have dispelled any concerns about athleticism at the combine.
His lane agility time was the eighth fastest at the combine, and he posted a respectable 36-inch max vertical leap.
The combine doesn't measure leadership skills and competitiveness. Smart measures off the charts in those two categories.
Those qualities are exactly what the Kings need.
8. Detroit Pistons - Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona
Detroit needs a scorer and could be tempted to take a player like Creighton's Doug McDermott here.
Clearly, McDermott doesn't have the upside that Gordon does. For a rebuilding team like the Pistons, Gordon's athleticism and versatility will be too much to ignore.
He posted a 39-inch max vertical leap to go with a lane agility time of 10.81. The latter was faster than all but three point guards at the combine.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers - Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton
As expected, McDermott didn't dazzle at the combine. He did have a surprising 36-inch max vertical, but he only measured 6'7.75 in shoes, with a 6'9.25" wingspan.
That's a wing player's measurements.
The question is: Can he defend twos and threes in the NBA? That's to be determined, but there are no questions about his shooting, though.
McDermott nailed 45 percent of his threes in college. He should at least provide long-range bombing for a Cavs team that badly needs a player with that skill set.
10. Philadelphia 76ers - Dario Saric, PF, Croatia
Lost in the talk about Exum is Saric, another international prospect. At 6'10", Saric has the size to play either forward spot and the game to excel on the perimeter or on the block.
11. Denver Nuggets - James Young, SG/SF, Kentucky
The depth chart at shooting guard is looking a little sparse for the Nuggets. There's no one currently on the roster at that position who would stand in the way of major playing time for an incoming rookie.
Young has the athleticism and size at 6'6.75" to defend in the NBA. He can also shoot it from deep and finish at the rack, as he displayed in the national championship game against UConn.
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12. Orlando Magic - Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse
Jameer Nelson is looking at a non-guaranteed contract heading into the 2014-15 season, and he's 32 years old.
Victor Oladipo is better suited for the 2-guard position, and Arron Afflalo could be a trade target for other teams, per Marc Stein of ESPN.
Oladipo could step into his more natural position at shooting guard.
Ennis' ability to lead a team and make clutch shots would be a great fit with an exciting young nucleus.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves - Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
The Wolves have to find a shooter. The team was 26th in the NBA in three-point shooting this season.
There may not be a better one in the draft than Stauskas. He made 44 percent of his threes during the 2013-14 season, and he's an underrated athlete.
He'd be an ideal wing player for Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.
14. Phoenix Suns - Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia
Nurkic is massive and the Suns badly need an interior presence. They drafter Alex Len in 2013, but the jury is still out on whether he's ready to contribute in the pivot.
Nurkic is just 19 years old, but he already displays the type of basketball I.Q. that should entice the Suns' front office.
15. Atlanta Hawks - Rodney Hood, SF/SG, Duke
Already considered a strong prospect because of his smooth shooting stroke, Hood only helped his stock at the combine.
He measured 6'8.5" in shoes and knocked down at least 40 percent of his shots in all of the shooting drills, except for one.
He could step in and complement Jeff Teague and the returning Al Horford from Day 1.
Here's his combine interview from Draft Express.
16. Chicago Bulls - Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn
Chicago could be tempted to take a player like Zach LaVine here, but Napier is more of a Bulls pick. He played four years, has great character and is a proven scoring point guard.
He could play a role similar to the one D.J. Augustin played for the team last season off the bench.
Obviously, Derrick Rose is the man at point guard for the team, but should he get hurt again, Napier's skill set says he could excel in the Bulls system.
17. Boston Celtics - Zach LaVine, SG, UCLA
Talk about adding some athleticism to the backcourt. If the C's come away from the draft with Exum and LaVine, the team's fans should be ecstatic.
LaVine might be the best pure athlete in the draft, and his versatility is exciting.
He made 37 percent of his threes in his lone season for UCLA and regularly showed off jaw-dropping leaping ability.
18. Phoenix Suns - T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State
With P.J. Tucker and Marcus Morris at small forward, the Suns could stand to add a consistent scorer at the small forward position.
Warren isn't known as a great athlete, but he did post a respectable 35.5-inch max vertical leap.
Warren is an in-between scorer who could be a solid scorer off the bench.
19. Chicago Bulls - Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland
It would be a shock if the team kept both of its first-round picks. The Bulls are rumored to be looking to trade Carlos Boozer, per ESPN's Marc Stein. One or both of the Bulls' picks might need to be included in a deal to make it work.
If Chicago does keep the pick, look for the team to draft an international player it can stash overseas for more development.
Capela has a ton of raw skills, but his game needs a lot of refinement.
20. Toronto Raptors - Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Latvia
Many haven't heard of Porzingis yet, but the closer we get to the draft, the more his name will be tossed around.
He's a legit 7-footer, per Draft Express, with athleticism that makes people take notice. The Raptors could use another big to pair with Jonas Valanciunas.
Though Porzingis might need a little more seasoning, he and Valanciunas could make for a long, athletic and talented frontcourt.
Here's a look at a recent scouting video.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
Imagine a stretch 4, with underrated athleticism, on the floor with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
That's exactly what OKC could have if it drafted Payne. He gets some flack for his defense and motor, but when engaged, his skill set has value.
22. Memphis Grizzlies - Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
Back-to-back Spartans going here with Harris. Though he's small for the 2-guard position at 6'4.5", Harris is a good offensive player.
Memphis badly needs a player who can get buckets from the position. Tony Allen is best suited as a bench player.
23. Utah Jazz - Kyle Anderson, SF/PG, UCLA
Anderson might be the most intriguing player in the draft. At 6'8.5", he handles the ball and passes like a point guard. He averaged 6.5 assists per game, but he also yanked down 8.8 rebounds.
He's not a great athlete, so he could have issues on the defensive end. That said, his unique skill set makes him a player worth taking later in the draft.
24. Charlotte Bobcats - P.J. Hairston, SG, North Carolina
Hairston can flat-out score. He makes shots off the dribble and drains the spot-up jump shot.
His game is similar to the Los Angeles Clippers' Jamal Crawford, though he has some things to prove before he reaches that level.
As a sixth man, he could be a great value for the Bobcats.
25. Houston Rockets - K.J. McDaniels, SF, Clemson
Houston could use a player who thrives as a perimeter defender.
McDaniels is extremely athletic and physically strong. He could help to hide James Harden's deficiencies on that end of the floor and provide the team with a dynamic finisher at the rim.
26. Miami Heat - Glenn Robinson III, SF/SG, Michigan
With Mario Chalmers possibly leaving as a free agent, the Heat need to at the very least add depth at point guard. That said, there aren't a ton of options available at this juncture of the first round.
Miami could get more value at the position in the second round.
GR3 has awesome physical tools, but his sleepy demeanor has him as a fringe first-rounder. Perhaps playing with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh—provided they return—will help develop him.
27. Phoenix Suns - Jordan Adams, SG, UCLA
Adams hurt his stock at the combine. His max vertical leap of 29.5 inches was tied for the lowest, and his lane agility time of 12.13 seconds was the fifth slowest.
Still, he is a solid outside shooter with a knack for poking away the opponent's dribble and playing the passing lanes.
He could possibly grow into a rotational player in the NBA.
28. Los Angeles Clippers - Mitch McGary, PF/C, Michigan
DeAndre Jordan needs a break sometimes, and the Clippers have to find a young big man to plug in to give Jordan a rest.
McGary's energy and size (6'10", 263 pounds) make him a near prototypical backup center in the NBA.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana-Lafayette
Payton's perimeter defense could push Reggie Jackson for minutes as Westbrook's backup.
Though Payton is not a great shooter, he has an explosive first step and his on-ball pressure can be a great asset to any team.
30. San Antonio Spurs - Patric Young, PF/C, Florida
Coming from a winning program, Young has the intangibles needed to be an attractive target for the Spurs.
He's built like a tight end and he performed well at the combine. Measuring at 6'10" with a wingspan of 7'1.75", Young has the size to play power forward and center.
He'd be a nice addition to the Spurs' bench.
Salary information per Spotrac.
Statistics per Sports Reference and Basketball-Reference.
Combine Performance numbers and measurements per NBA.com, unless otherwise noted.
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