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Clayton -
Well Jeff, it is finally here. The topic of my NBA obsession for the past year. The Tank came through for the Lakers and it is draft time!
**WARNING** Trades before the draft will likely make some of this invalid, nature of the beast though (I'm looking at you Charlotte... jerks). Pictures only for the lottery.
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Minnesota Timberwolves - C - Kentucky - Karl-Anthony Towns
Jeff - Who they take -This one is a no brainer for me (and basically everybody out there) Towns gives the Wolves exactly what they need on both ends of the floor and doesn’t have as many weaknesses in his game as Okafor.
Who they should take - No change for me, I think the pick they make is the right one.
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Los Angeles Lakers - C - Duke - Jahlil Okafor
Clayton - Who they take - This seems to be the popular pick even though Jeff and I have been wary of Okafor even during the Tournament. He does have major flaws as his defense is pathetic as well as his conditioning. He has trimmed down substantially since then, but will he keep it up?
He may be the best post player in the past decade, but in the modern game of pace and space, you worry that his lack of a mid-range game, conditioning, rim protection and free throw shooting could be his downfall.
Who they should take - I would give a long look at D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay is a personal favorite and I would have a hard time passing him up, but sadly for me, it probably not in contention despite a strong second workout with the team. Russell would be a great pick too, as he provides great shooting and a great passing skills. He may be a shooting guard, but he could pull it off a la James Harden.
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Philadelphia 76ers - PG - Ohio State - D'Angelo Russell
Jeff - Who they take - I think the Porzingis interest coming out of Philly is more about luring Orlando or NY into trading up for him rather than a genuine interest from the Sixers front office. Russell is a big point guard that could make an immediate impact on a team that can’t seem to figure out what they want to do.
Who they should take - If I am Philly I am looking at another man who handles the rock in Emmanuel Mudiay. He has similar size to Russell and up until the beginning of the calendar year was a lock for the top 3. Philly can’t go wrong with either of these guys, but I definitely think it has to be one of those two.
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New York Knicks - PF - International - Kristaps Porzingis
Clayton - Who they take - Do not ask me why I think they are going to take Porzingis. I actually really like him, but I would go with Mudiay. Phil Jackson has already mentioned that they will draft a player that fits the Triangle Offense instead of the best player available. It’s beyond stupid in my opinion. With the point guard de-emphasized in the Triangle, Zinger’s slick shooting will be huge. Fans probably would be livid though.
Who they should pick - Emmanuel Mudiay or Justise Winslow. They just make more sense as I think Melo needs to be shifted to the 4. Management seems to disagree so we will see.
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Orlando Magic - SF - Duke -Justise Winslow
Jeff - Who they take - I think they want Porzingis here and Orlando is probably the best fit for him but with NY snagging him at 4 they take Winslow here to create a pretty good outside core of Payton, Oladipo, and Winslow with Vucevic as the man in the middle. Some have compared Winslow to Jimmy Butler which is what the Magic hope Winslow can become for them. (Editor’s Note: With taking Winslow, it could mean that Tobias Harris may be leaving town.)
Who they should take- With Porzingis off the board Winslow is probably the best bet for them here.
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Sacramento Kings - PG - Emmanuel Mudiay - Guangdong, China
Clayton - Who they take - There is a ton of noise that this pick will be moved in a Cousins deal, but if not, they need a point guard who is better than Darren Collison. A new rumor of Rondo coming in on a one year deal could change this, but as of right now, this sadly seems to be where I feel the second best prospect in the draft falls.
Who they should take - Mudiay. Willie Cauley Stein has been here for a while, but with possible past foot injuries and teams worried about his outside of basketball interests, his stock is slipping. We could see him actually drop out of the lottery if he does not go 4, 5, or 6.
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Denver Nuggets - SG - Croatia - Mario Hezonja
Jeff - Who they take - I think Hezonja gives the Nuggets the scoring weapon they need on the wing and the size to play the SF position as well. He really gives them flexibility at this position which is important for a team looking to start over.
Who they should take - The only other guy I see going here is Devin Booker who can flat out put the ball in the basket.
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Detroit Pistons - SF - Stanley Johnson - Arizona
Clayton -Who they take - I am much lower on Johnson than most, but this seems to be where he is destined to go. They no longer need a PF as they traded for Ersan Ilyasova and they seem happy with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at the 2. Johnson is a big body but lacks great shooting, great finishing at the rim and is not an elite athlete.
Who they should take - I like Kelly Oubre more, but with Stan Van Gundy, Johnson may be the better fit.
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Charlotte Hornets - C - Texas - Myles Turner
Clayton - Who they take - Charlotte just screwed this up and traded for Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lamb. Jeff had picked Devin Booker, but with him away, this gets changed. In getting Batum, the Hornets traded Noah Vonleh. I was up and down on him, but now they may want to replace him. Turner, though raw, oozes with potential. He is big, mobile and can shoot possibly as deep as NBA 3. He would also be interesting next to Cody Zeller as the better defender of the two.
Who they should take - Devin Booker would have been the pick if it weren't for Charlotte making a trade for Jeremy Lamb and Nicolas Batum. Watch out for Kaminsky here too if MJ wants to win right now.
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Miami Heat - SF - Kansas - Kelly Oubre
Clayton - Who they take - Most may think that Pat Riley will go with an older, more ready player, so this pick may be a bit surprising. Oubre has a great ceiling, could fit what they need for now and they already have Bosh, McRoberts and Whiteside in the front court. Oubre will be average defense (with the ability to be very good), provide very good range and some flashy plays. He is one of my favorites.
Who they should take - I say Oubre, but I could see them going with Frank Kaminsky, Booker or Turner.
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Indiana Pacers - C - Kentucky - Willie “Trill” Cauley-Stein
Jeff - Who they take - This is an interesting one because the players available at the positions they need aren’t worth taking at 11. I’m a fan of Hibbert, despite his bad year, but Stein is too versatile to not take and see how things play out. He is the most versatile defender in the draft and that alone makes him the right pick here.
Who they should take - I think they should also look at a guy like Cameron Payne or RJ Hunter here.
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Utah Jazz - SG - Kentucky - Devin Booker
Clayton - Who they take - Though they are in the lottery and developing, they tuned it on at the end of the season. I also do not know what exactly they need. They could use a bit more shooting, so with Booker being available it seems like the best fit. Rodney Hood provides very good spacing already, but I think Booker is just better. They really are a team that I could be afraid of soon. If Alec Burks returns healthy, they are unbelievably deep. Maybe a bit of front court depth would help, but I think that Booker is better than say Kaminsky, Lyles or Portis.
Who they should take - Booker is a great fit, but maybe a stretch big like Kaminsky, Looney or Portis. Myles Turner should be their dream get though.
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Phoenix Suns - PF - Kentucky - Trey Lyles
Jeff - Who they take - Phoenix really needs to add to their front court, as the West is getting tougher and tougher. Lyles offers a solid offensive skill set and versatility on the defensive end. Phoenix has made some questionable trades in the past year, but this could help them calibrate themselves.
Who they should take - I think this is the right pick for them here.
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Oklahoma City Thunder - PG - Murray State - Cameron Payne
Clayton - Who they take - The Thunder having a lottery pick is kind of unfair, but their decimation by injury helped them a lot. Payne is a solid prospect whose stock may have been boosted by other mid-major guys like Damian Lillard. With D.J. Augustine having only one year left on his deal and Reggie Jackson shipped out of town (and a restricted free agent as well), they need a solid backup for Russell Westbrook. They could go after a 4, but they are loaded in a frontcourt, especially if they re-sign Enes Kanter
Who they should take - I prefer Jerian Grant due to his size, but it appears that his streaky shooting and age are making him slide further than I think he would have normally gone
Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) - SG - Georgia State - RJ Hunter
Jeff - Who they take - Let’s face it, Korver isn’t getting any younger (currently 34) and the Hawks biggest knock in the playoffs was their lack of a “go to guy” I understand Hunter kind of came out of nowhere this season (Editor’s Note: he came out to the general public, some of us have known about him since last year.), but he has proven to be the type of guy to make the big shot when it counts…. and subsequently injure his father. Atlanta has some pending needs coming up, but they would be hard-pressed to make a better pick than Hunter here,
Who they should take - I think Hunter is a home run here and the only other guy to look at would be a guy like Portis or Kaminsky.
Boston Celtics - PF - Arkansas - Bobby Portis
Clayton - Who they take - Personally I think Portis should go higher than this. He does not exactly excel at any one aspect of the game, but he is a good swiss army knife. He also plays mean and has been quoted that before every game he pretends that someone “slapped his mom.” Though they have Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, I think that one of the two will be used as a sweetener in a deal this off-season, maybe even both.
Who they should take - Portis or Kevon Looney
Milwaukee Bucks - PF - UCLA - Kevon Looney
Jeff- Who they take-The Bucks biggest need is at PF and I think regardless of who is available they take the best PF left on the board here. Looney isn't as good as Portis (EN: right now), but with my Celtics scooping him up 1 pick earlier this is who Milwaukee gladly grabs.
Who they should take - Best PF available
Houston Rockets (via New Orleans) - PG - Duke - Tyus Jones
Clayton - Who they take - Patrick Beverley is a free agent and it is not a sure thing that he comes back. Daryl Morey and the Rockets are known for their analytical thinking, where Jones is an analytic darling. He won’t have to worry too much about ball handling as Harden is pretty much a point guard since he is such a ball dominant guy. He only needs to continue shooting well, give Houston another creator and defend adequately enough.
Who they should take - Jones or the older, bigger and more versatile Jerian Grant.
Washington Wizards - SF- Arizona - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Jeff- Who they take- I foresee The Truth leaving the Nation’s Capitol and heading out west to LaLa Land to reunite with Doc Rivers. That leaves a spot at small forward (Sorry Otto Porter) and RHJ has the defensive presence and athleticism to make the Wiz take him here. They need help down low but I don’t think there is a player left that can really step in and make an impact here so they make this pick for the future. If RHJ can develop an offensive game outside of transition he could be a steal at 19.
Who they should take - Probably Frank the Tank simply off of need .
Toronto Raptors - C -Wisconsin - Frank Kaminsky
Clayton - Who they take - I have not seen Kaminsky going this late in any recent mocks, but I guess that is just how it goes. He could go much higher, reportedly even as high as Charlotte, but I guess me and Jeff just prefer others. With Lowry and DeRozan constantly driving, they need more shooters. They have a few other stretch bigs, but he is possibly the best shooter in the draft. His defense is lacking, but it would be a good outside-inside punch with Jonas Valanciunas, who still needs to break out.
Who they should take - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Delon Wright could make some sense here.
Dallas Mavericks - PG - Notre Dame - Jerian Grant
Jeff- Who they take - After the disaster of acquiring Rajon Rondo the Mavs desperately need their PG of the future. He is a PG by nature, but has the size to slide over to the 2 spot if need be depending on the match-up. Grant can really be a solid piece on this team and depending on what the Mavs do in free agency he could be play big minutes come playoff time, which is good for one of the most experienced players in the draft.
Who they should take - anybody who can bring the ball up the court and run the plays Carlisle calls.
Chicago Bulls - PG - Utah - Delon Wright
Clayton - Who they take - He was higher on boards during the season, but by the time the tournament rolled around, his stock had slipped. He is a bit older, not super athletic and a bad shooter, but his elite defense makes sense for the Bulls. Aaron Brooks faded into obscurity during the playoffs and is probably on his way out of town. With Fred Hoiberg taking the reigns as head coach, who know how he wants to coach. I also believe that the Bulls could have a big roster overhaul this summer.
Who they should take - Wright makes great sense but Maybe Montrezl Harrell or Justin Anderson could be better long term guys.
Portland Trail Blazers - PF- Louisville - Montrezl Harrell
Jeff- Who they take - I have a feeling the Blazers leave nothing to chance and draft Aldridge’s potential replacement here and now. He is a physical big who can finish at the rim, but most importantly, can’t leave them this off-season.
Who they should take - Potentially Sam Dekker?
Cleveland Cavalier - SF - Wisconsin Sam Dekker
Clayton - Who they take - I actually think this pick is going out of town with Brendan Haywood’s massive expiring un-guaranteed deal to acquire a better version of J.R. Smith (the Lakers would be more than happy to give you Nick Young). Dekker is not they guy people saw in the tourney where he could probably shoot from half court and make 50% of his shots. He is a very solid player with few weaknesses but no obvious strengths in my opinion. He could go as high as the late lottery though.
Who they should take - Dekker or Justin Anderson seem to be the best fits for the Eastern Conference champs, but like I said, I think this pick is being shipped out of town.
Memphis Grizzlies - SG - UNLV - Rashad Vaughn
Jeff - Who they take - It is no secret that the Grizz are a defensive powerhouse, the trade to bring in Jeff Green was supposed to give them the scorer they had lacked. Unfortunately, Green didn’t have enough to do it on his own. Vaughn had some issues at UNLV with his decision making but I think a team like Memphis (with a guy like Z-Bo) can help mold him into a decent player.
Who they should take - Potentially a versatile guy like Justin Anderson.
San Antonio Spurs - C - Spain - Guillermo Hernangomez
Clayton - Who they take - Hernangomez seems to be the Spurs pick on pretty much every mock. I am not super high on him, but Duncan is aging and Splitter is no spring chicken either. They are one of the best drafting teams in the league, so if they are keyed in on Guillermo, I will not disagree.
Who they should take - Hernangomez makes sense, but Justin Anderson, Rashad Vaughn or if he slides, R.J. Hunter.
Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) - SF - Virginia - Justin Anderson
Jeff - Who they take - The Lakers need to consider finding Kobe’s future replacement, but given the way this draft has played out, Anderson is the only guy that makes sense here. They don’t have a true SF on the roster and he has 7 foot wingspan which can be a real difference maker on the wing. He also shot 45% from 3 last year and could help put some points up for the Lakers.
Who they should take - Really no other choice here.
Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) - PF - Syracuse - Chris McCullough
Clayton - Who they will take - McCullough was looking very impressive early in the season, but started to play poorly before tearing his ACL. Like I said before, Sully and Olynyk could be sweeteners in other deals, so he would fit in just fine. He may not be healthy until December, but he has very good potential and his versatility could intrigue Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge.
Who they should take - McCullough or Christian Wood would be solid here. I think Terry Rozier would possibly be intriguing as well.
Brooklyn Nets - PF- Kansas - Cliff Alexander
Jeff - Who they take - The Nets get jipped here and are forced to swap picks with the Hawks. They are forced to make something happen with this pick. Cliff is a physical shot blocker that could come off the bench for this team. He might not be a difference maker right away but in a few years this could turn out to be a good pick.
Who they should take - Possibly Rozier to give them some guard help.
Golden State Warriors - PF - UNLV - Christian Wood
Clayton - Who they take - They are trying to trade David Lee and could be packaging this pick to do just that. I they do not have to surrender the pick, letting Wood develop would be a very solid move. He has great skills even though he is inconsistent and rail thin. There is also chatter that they may try to trade up, so Golden State could be making this deal for another team.
Who they should take - Wood or Terry Rozier would be solid fits. They are so deep and don’t really have many holes, so taking a young developmental guy to learn behind some of their other great young’ns makes sense instead of a win now sort of prospect.
You can follow Jeff on Twitter at @Jeffkay1989
You can follow Clayton on Twitter at @19Yanks23
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