Joel Welser 2013 NBA Mock Draft – 4 May 2013
May 4, 2013 · Joel Welser
1. Nerlens Noel 2. Ben McLemore 3. Otto Porter 4. Anthony Bennett 5. Trey Burke
| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 |  |
Orlando | Nerlens Noel | C | Kentucky |
| There is a bit of a risk in selecting Nerlens Noel with the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. His ACL injury is expected to have him on the sidelines during the summer and that will slow his progress while transitioning into the NBA. For the Magic, it should not really matter. They need to take the best player in this class and keep building for the future. | |||||
| 2 |  |
Charlotte | Ben McLemore | SG | Kansas |
| Charlotte needs a scorer and a star. Ben McLemore could easily be both. The Bobcats could look for a star in the frontcourt as well with Anthony Bennett still on the board. However, McLemore could be the face of the franchise for a long time to come. | |||||
| 3 |  |
Cleveland | Otto Porter | SF | Georgetown |
| The Cavaliers do not have a true small forward and Otto Porter is the best on the board. Coming off of an amazing season with Georgetown, in which he averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, Porter would be a great fit for Cleveland and the young talent they already have on the roster. | |||||
| 4 |  |
Phoenix | Anthony Bennett | PF | UNLV |
| At this point in the draft Victor Oladipo is a bit of a reach and Shabazz Muhammad is not a good enough outside shooter to fill the Suns need at shooting guard. There are other needs so Phoenix should take a long look at Anthony Bennett. The 6-8 power forward dominated the MWC during his only year UNLV. | |||||
| 5 |  |
New Orleans | Trey Burke | PG | Michigan |
| Trey Burke should turn his award winning sophomore season at Michigan into a top ten selection in the 2013 NBA Draft. Burke led the Wolverines to the national championship game and averaged 18.6 points and 6.7 assists as a sophomore. The young Pelicans can build around Burke. | |||||
| 6 |  |
Sacramento | Cody Zeller | C | Indiana |
| With Victor Oladipo still on the board, the Kings could get somebody who can actually play perimeter defense. They do need some interior defense as well, so Oladipo’s teammate Cody Zeller is another option and the best player on the board. | |||||
| 7 |  |
Detroit | Victor Oladipo | SG | Indiana |
| The Pistons are a good scoring wing away from being a pretty good team. Instead they will get Victor Oladipo. Oladipo is not a bad scorer when he wants to be, but it is his defense that will keep him in the NBA. Oladipo will be a solid NBA player either way, but he will not be what Detroit needs this season. | |||||
| 8 |  |
Washington | Alex Len | C | Maryland |
| Eventually Alex Len could be the best big man in this class. It may take some time for him to develop, but Washington can give him that time. The 7-1 center can also learn behind a couple very good interior players while he continues to develop. | |||||
| 9 |  |
Minnesota | Rudy Gobert | C | International |
| Minnesota needs size and the 7-1 Rudy Gobert can provide it. The Frenchman is not a physical player, but his unique mix of size and athleticism makes him a very attractive option at this point in the draft. | |||||
| 10 |  |
Portland | Shabazz Muhammad | SG/SF | UCLA |
| The Trail Blazers do not have a ton of needs so they can take the best player available and get anybody who just happened to fall to them at the ten spot. Shabazz Muhammad is slipping down draft boards for now, but he is a great talent who can add another scoring punch for Portland. | |||||
| 11 |  |
Philadelphia | Kelly Olynyk | C | Gonzaga |
| Kelly Olynyk does not have much collegiate experience for a player who spent four years in college. However, the seven-footer averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior during Gonzaga’s amazing 2012-2013 campaign. The 76ers will likely need size and Olynyk can help right away. | |||||
| 12 |  |
Oklahoma City (from TOR) | Steven Adams | C | Pittsburgh |
| Oklahoma City has the luxury of going a lot of different directions with their pick that originally belonged to the Raptors. Rudy Gobert would be a good fit if he was still around, but Steven Adams is a more traditional big man with a ton of upside. The Thunder can spend some time waiting as he develops his game. | |||||
| 13 |  |
Dallas | C.J. McCollum | PG/SG | Lehigh |
| The Mavericks have quite a few holes to fill. Both spots in the backcourt could be open. C.J. McCollum is a great scorer and will likely be an undersized shooting guard in the NBA. He can handle the ball a bit, but what he does best is score. | |||||
| 14 |  |
Utah | Michael Carter-Williams | PG | Syracuse |
| The Jazz will be eyeing some of the top big men in this draft, but they are in need of a point guard as well. If Michael Carter-Williams falls this far, it will be tough for the Jazz to turn him down. At 6-5, Carter-Williams is a unique point guard with amazing vision. | |||||
| 15 |  |
Milwaukee | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | SG | Georgia |
| If there is a shooting guard Milwaukee thinks is worth picking up at this point in the draft, they should do it. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope flew a bit under the radar during his two years at Georgia, but he is a very good all-around scorer who easily led the Bulldogs with 18.5 points per game during 2012-2013 season. | |||||
| 16 |  |
Boston | Jeff Withey | C | Kansas |
| The Celtics are another team in the market for a big man. Fortunately, there are plenty to go around and somebody like Jeff Withey could be available to them with at pick 16. Withey is a great defender and that skill alone could be useful to Boston right away. | |||||
| 17 |  |
Atlanta | Mason Plumlee | PF | Duke |
| Atlanta has quite a bit of rebuilding to do, but they will need a power forward. Mason Plumlee is a very experienced player who has plenty of experience against top notch competition from his four years at Duke. | |||||
| 18 | |
Atlanta (from HOU) | Dario Saric | SF | International |
| If the Hawks take a player like Mason Plumlee, who can step in and make an impact right away, they will have a bit more flexibility here. Dario Saric certainly has the talent to see quality minutes as a rookie, but the Hawks could also stash him overseas for a year if they need to. | |||||
| 19 | |
Cleveland (from LAL) | Archie Goodwin | SG | Kentucky |
| With Kentucky having a disappointing 2012-2013 and Nerlens Noel taking a majority of the headlines, Archie Goodwin flew a bit under the collegiate radar. He is not a prolific shooter, which will have some teams concerned, but he is a quality all-around scorer and a solid perimeter defender. | |||||
| 20 |  |
Chicago | Jamaal Franklin | SG | San Diego State |
| A shooting guard is the most likely option for the Bulls. Jamaal Franklin is a tough guard and a smart player. He is not much of a shooter, but he is a proven scorer who will use his strength to attack the basket and help out on the glass. | |||||
| 21 | |
Utah (from GS) | Gorgui Dieng | PF | Louisville |
| Utah got their point guard early in the first round. Now they need to go after some size. Gorgui Dieng is still developing offensively, but any team would love to have a defensive specialist like the 6-11, 245 pound Dieng. | |||||
| 22 |  |
Brooklyn | Giannis Adetokunbo | SF | International |
| Giannis Adetokunbo has a slight frame at 6-9 and 195 pounds, but he can do more than enough to make up for his still growing body. The small forward from Greece has a large wingspan and is a solid all-around player. | |||||
| 23 |  |
Indiana | Tony Mitchell | SF | North Texas |
| At 6-8 and 235 pounds, Tony Mitchell has the potential to play power forward in the NBA. At North Texas he was often the lone big man surrounded by four guards. However, Mitchell is a good athlete with a decent jump shot who could play small forward as well. For now, the Pacers need depth at power forward and Mitchell will do just fine. | |||||
| 24 |  |
New York | Sergey Karasev | SF | International |
| Sergey Karasev will need to add some weight so he can use his 6-7 frame to effectively attack the basket in the NBA. Karasev tends to settle for three-point shots as well and that could develop into a bigger problem if he struggles to get to the rim effectively. But even if that takes a little time, Karasev is a great talent who will get even better. | |||||
| 25 | |
Minnesota (from MEM) | Allen Crabbe | SG | California |
| Having gone with a post player earlier in the 2013 NBA Draft, it is time for Minnesota to add depth on the wing. Allen Crabbe has everything the Timberwolves could want in a shooting guard. He has plenty of size at 6-6 and can shoot over defenders or use his size to attack the basket. | |||||
| 26 |  |
L.A. Clippers | Lucas Nogueira | C | International |
| Lucas Nogueira has a great combination of size and athleticism. The seven-footer has quite a bit of experience, most recently in Spain, but he is still young and relatively raw. The addition of strength over the last couple of years has greatly improved his draft stock and the Clippers can spend some time to develop him into a great player. | |||||
| 27 |  |
Denver | C.J. Leslie | SF/PF | North Carolina State |
| The powers that be in Denver may not think C.J. Leslie is a first round talent, but they will have the opportunity to take a chance on the North Carolina State player. He is versatile with the size and athleticism to do just about anything and is worth a gamble this late in the first round. | |||||
| 28 |  |
San Antonio | Shane Larkin | PG | Miami (FL) |
| Shane Larkin had an amazing sophomore season with the Hurricanes of Miami. He was the leader on the floor for a team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference and has the potential to be a consistent point guard in the NBA. For now he will be a defensive specialist and a pass first point guard, but that could change shortly. | |||||
| 29 | |
Oklahoma City | Dennis Schroeder | PG | International |
| With two first round selections, Oklahoma City may be very interested in picking up a player like Dennis Schroeder. He has made a big splash recently and is expected to turn into a productive point guard sooner or later. While they wait, the Thunder can keep him overseas for a while longer. | |||||
| 30 | |
Phoenix (from MIA) | Tim Hardaway, Jr. | SG | Michigan |
| Phoenix added Anthony Bennett to their roster earlier in the draft and now they are looking for depth on the wings. Tim Hardaway, Jr. opted to leave Michigan after his junior campaign and join Trey Burke in the NBA. He is a quality scorer and a decent shooter who should be able to provide a spark off of the bench. | |||||
| Round 2 | |||||
| 31 | |
Cleveland (from ORL) | Myck Kabongo | PG | Texas |
| With four of the first 33 picks in the draft, Cleveland can do a lot of different things in the 2013 NBA Draft. Adding even more depth in the backcourt is a good way to keep going. | |||||
| 32 | |
Oklahoma City (from CHA) | Livio Jean Charles | SF | International |
| The Thunder can go after another international player in Frenchman Livio Jean Charles and keep him overseas as long as needed. | |||||
| 33 | |
Cleveland | Mouhammad Jaiteh | C | International |
| With yet another pick in the draft, Cleveland adds another player with a ton of potential. | |||||
| 34 |  |
Houston (from PHX) | Lorenzo Brown | PG | North Carolina State |
| This is Houston’s only pick in the draft and they can make it count by taking Lorenzo Brown, a big point guard who can play off the ball as well. | |||||
| 35 | |
Philadelphia (from NO) | Andre Roberson | SF | Colorado |
| Andre Roberson’s ability to rebound should make him a borderline first round selection. He is not a bad scorer either. | |||||
| 36 | |
Sacramento | Deshaun Thomas | SF | Ohio State |
| Deshaun Thomas is not much of a defender or outside shooter, but he is a great scorer when attacking the basket. | |||||
| 37 | |
Washington | Adonis Thomas | SF | Memphis |
| Adonis Thomas may not have lived up to expectations during his sophomore season at Memphis, but he is still loaded with potential. | |||||
| 38 | |
Detroit | Alex Abrines | SG | International |
| Detroit should keep adding youth to their backcourt to join the talented frontcourt. | |||||
| 39 | |
Portland (from MIN) | Reggie Bullock | SG | North Carolina |
| Reggie Bullock is a good value in the second round and brings a lot of size to the shooting guard position. | |||||
| 40 | |
Portland | B.J. Young | PG | Arkansas |
| If B.J. Young develops a better outside shot he could emerge as a productive scoring point guard or even play more off of the ball. | |||||
| 41 | |
Philadelphia | Isaiah Canaan | PG | Murray State |
| There are a lot of point guards that are early second round talent and the 76ers just got one of the most experienced of the bunch. | |||||
| 42 |  |
Memphis (from TOR) | Brandon Paul | SG | Illinois |
| Brandon Paul is a big time scorer, but he needs to find his stroke again if his NBA career is going to last too long. | |||||
| 43 | |
Milwaukee | Nate Wolters | PG | South Dakota State |
| If you missed Nate Wolters during his college days, you missed out on a dominant player who was always fun to watch. | |||||
| 44 | |
Dallas | Ray McCallum | PG | Detroit |
| The run of point guards continues with another player who can score in bunches. | |||||
| 45 | |
Portland (from BOS) | Trevor Mbakwe | PF | Minnesota |
| This is Portland’s third pick in the first half of the second round and they can keep adding depth. | |||||
| 46 | |
Utah | Mike Muscala | PF | Bucknell |
| If the Jazz need more new bodies in the frontcourt, Mike Muscala has the experience to play right away. | |||||
| 47 | |
Atlanta | Grant Jerrett | PF | Arizona |
| Grant Jerrett did not get much of an opportunity to show his stuff at Arizona as a freshman, so he is mostly considered potential at this point. | |||||
| 48 | |
Atlanta (from HOU) | Erick Green | PG | Virginia Tech |
| It is not easy to quietly average 25.0 points and 3.8 assists in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but Erick Green managed to pull it off. | |||||
| 49 |  |
L.A. Lakers | Ricky Ledo | SG | Providence |
| Ricky Ledo is full of potential, partially because he missed his freshman campaign at Providence. With some good showings at the pre-draft workouts, Ledo could move up into the first round. | |||||
| 50 | |
Chicago | Kenny Kadji | PF | Miami (FL) |
| Chicago needs a big man and they do not get much bigger than Kenny Kadji, a 6-11, 251 pound power forward. | |||||
| 51 | |
Orlando (from GS) | Tony Snell | SF | New Mexico |
| After selecting Nerlens Noel with the first overall pick, Orlando adds some depth on the wing. | |||||
| 52 | |
Minnesota (from BRK) | Pierre Jackson | PG | Baylor |
| Pierre Jackson’s lack of size is a problem and that is why he is not considered a major prospect in the 2013 NBA Draft, but at this point he is worth a try. | |||||
| 53 | |
Indiana | Vander Blue | SG | Marquette |
| After going for size in the first round, Indiana will add some depth on the wing. | |||||
| 54 | |
Washington (from NY) | Rodney Williams | SF | Minnesota |
| Rodney Williams did not have a great senior season at Minnesota, but he is a good athlete who can rebound from the wing and do a bit of scoring above the rim. | |||||
| 55 | |
Memphis | DeWayne Dedmon | C | USC |
| DeWayne Dedmon is not going to do much scoring, but he is a seven-footer who can block shots and grab a ton of rebounds. | |||||
| 56 | |
L.A. Clippers | Elias Harris | SF/PF | Gonzaga |
| Despite averaging 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds for one of the best collegiate teams in the nation, Elias Harris has been a bit disappointing throughout his collegiate career. | |||||
| 57 | |
Phoenix (from DEN) | Phil Pressey | PG | Missouri |
| It was a surprise that Phil Pressey left Missouri a year early, but he will get a shot at making an NBA team. | |||||
| 58 | |
San Antonio | Richard Howell | PF | North Carolina State |
| The Spurs will look to grab some depth in the second round and Richard Howell has the strength to battle in the paint in the NBA. | |||||
| 59 | |
Minnesota (from OKC) | Jackie Carmichael | PF | Illinois State |
| Minnesota already added some size with Rudy Gobert, but they could take a chance on Jackie Carmichael too. | |||||
| 60 | |
Memphis (from MIA) | Solomon Hill | SF | Arizona |
| Solomon Hill may not have a ton of upside, yet he is a dynamic scorer who can be a shooter and slasher off of the bench. | |||||
