The much-hyped 2014 NBA Draft lottery is inching closer by the day and the anticipation for many an NBA general manager is also growing by the day. The hyped draft class is being touted as the best, most complete and deepest draft in over a decade. The prospects entering the draft are being looked upon as franchise saviours despite having never played in the Association.
The battle for league worst will be a tightly contested race as the jockeying for a top draft slot will be coveted. As teams realize that their season’s are meaningless and that any playoff aspirations are already dead in the water; they will focus their efforts, or lack thereof, on the hunt for a draft pick.
The lure for many a NBA team will be the potential to land that franchise cornerstone. The talent level of the potential draftees is high and for teams fortunate enough to land a top-five pick, the potential is sky high.
eDraft will compile a draft big board to track and update the movers and shakers as the college season progresses. The projected picks are based on player talent and performance and are not based on an NBA team’s individual need. As the NBA season progresses we will slot the projected lottery teams into their respective draft slots and project how they will use their selection. Without further delay, let’s take a look at the inaugural eDraft big board.
1. Andrew Wiggins SF - Kansas
There is little doubt that Wiggins is a special type of player who comes along once or twice every decade. He is an extremely talented young man who has a well-rounded game and is humble and modest about all his accomplishments.
This young man has grown up in the hops media spotlight and he shoulders the pressures seemingly with ease. Regardless of how the season goes or how hyped other prospects will be; I just can’t see a general manager not taking Wiggins first overall.
If Wiggins becomes the pro player that many think he will be then no one wants to be known or remembered as the guy who whiffed on him in favour of someone else. Baring a complete collapse, serious injury or barn-burning performance from Parker down the stretch; Wiggins should be considered the top propect heading into draft day.
2. Jabari Parker PF - Duke
Parker has been a hoops darling since his early teenage-hood years. In what will likely be his only year at Duke, Parker has not disappointed as he is averaging 19.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg in only 29 minutes a night.
Parker will see a lot of scrutiny leading up to draft day and draft predictors will have him all over the board, but the bottom line is that Parker could change a franchise and that opportunity will be too much for many to pass on.
3. Joel Embid C - Kansas
The old adage of ‘you can’t teach height’ will keep Embid in the discussion for top overall pick in the draft. The 7’0” has a 7’5” wingspan and he uses every bit of it to his advantage around the basket. Embid has the body to play center at the next level, he also has a nice touch around the basket and will defend the hoop.
A team will grab the inexperienced Cameroon native with a high pick as they will be enamoured with the possibility of getting a true seven-footer to protect the paint, rebound the ball and score a few buckets a game. Embid may not have the franchise type potential that others have in this draft but his game will fit in immediately in the NBA.
4. Julius Randle PF - Kentucky
Randle is just one of many prospects in this draft that are being tabbed as can’t miss guys. Based on his collegiate and high school performances one would tend to agree with the talent assessment. Randle is an outstanding athlete who has few deficiencies in his game. He is explosive yet has some finesse to his game. He will need to expand his offensive repertoire for the next level and he will need to get better defensively to be able to guard some of the NBA’s toughest power forwards on a consistent basis.
5. Aaron Gordon PF - Arizona
Gordon is the kind of freakish athlete than General Managers drool over. He is strong, long and can jump out of the gym. His offensive game is unpolished as evidenced by his .500 free throw percentage.
He is a terrific rebounder who has huge hands and great tenacity around the basket. Aaron really lacks a perimeter game and he is of little threat outside of the painted area. To really blossom at the next level Gordon will need to develop a touch ala Blake Griffin.
6. Dante Exum PG/SG- Australia
There is a chance that this kid from the land down under could emerge as the best and brightest in this very deep draft class. The only thing holding this kid back right now is himself. Exum could decide to play NCAA ball next season rather than declare for the 2014 NBA Draft. Exum has the complete package; he can score in a variety of ways, he can be a playmaker, a finisher and a leader. He has a slight frame that will take a pounding in the Association and that is something that will be a detraction moving forward.
7. Noah Vonleh C - Indiana
Noah is the man in the middle for the Hoosiers; however, his size and body is more akin to an NBA power forward as he is still quite slight in stature. A huge upside for Vonleh is that his 6’8” height is augmented by his 7’4” wingspan. He is a young talent who needs some developing, but an NBA team will gamble on him given the natural physical skills. Vonleh will need to be more assertive and aggressive moving forward; however, given that he is an 18-year old freshman he is off to a great start.
8. Marcus Smart PG - Oklahoma State
Smart decided to return to college for another season and in doing so probably took himself out of the running for what would have been a top five pick in last year’s NBA Entry Draft.
This year the draft class is deeper and Smart may not enjoy such a lofty spot come draft day. Whichever team does grab Smart will get themselves one heck of a player though. He is a strong, athletic and long point guard who can shoot the ball, attack the rim and play defense. He does lack in the control department and his consistency leaves something to be desired.
All in though Smart is going to be looked upon as a sure-fire success and his eventual draft slot will come down to team need.
9. Dario Saric PF - Croatia
Saric withdrew from last year’s draft prior to the deadline. It was a good call as his game needed a significant upgrade. Saric seems to have put in the work and his game has matured greatly. He still isn’t a great shooter and he still turns the ball over at a fairly alarming rate; however, he shows solid upside and has good size for an NBA small forward. Saric’s hold in the top ten is tenuous as many a college player will have opportunity to showcase their talent in the March tournament and bump him down in the draft.
10. Gary Harris SG - Michigan State
Harris is showing some nice improvement from a solid 2012-13 campaign with the Spartans. This season he has raised his scoring average to an impressive 17.6 ppg on 49.7% field goal percentage. In addition to Harris’s shooting touch he has a nice game off the dribble and is a finisher around the rim. It is Harris’s ability to catch and shoot the ball with accuracy and reliability that will keep him in the top ten of the draft. His game will transition well into the NBA as shooter just make shots regardless the game.
11. Willie Cauley-Stein C - Kentucky
7’0” ers are coveted assets regardless of their true playing potential. In the case of Cauley-Stein he has some game to go with his size. He is athletic and can run the floor with ease. Not surprisingly he is a defensive stalwart who protects the rim with aggression. Teams looking at Willie will want to see Anthony Davis like potential and while the body types are similar, Willie is a ways off from having a rounded offensive repertoire.
12. Tyler Ennis PG - Syracuse
Ennis is a 6’2” PG with a 6’5” wingspan who can use the length to his advantage on the defensive end as Ennis is averaging 2.2 steals per game for Orange this season.
The length helps to compensate for the lack of footspeed on the offensive end as he is able to get his shot off with ease; however, he has trouble finishing around the rim.
Ennis has a very NBA-ready game as he can go left and right, pick-and-pop off screens and create off the dribble for teammates. Ennis’ stock is on the rise as Oklahoma’s Smart is starting to slide a bit.
13. James Young SG/SF - Kentucky
This freshman could be a one-and-done at Kentucky despite having some fairly glaring holes to his game. Upshot of Young is his length, athleticism and the fact that he is left-handed. Downside is that Young is inexperienced, weak off the dribble, average shooter and at times can become complacent on the court. He would probably be best served to stay another season but the lure of guaranteed NBA money will likely lure him out early.
14. Jerami Grant SF - Syracuse
Grant is viewed as a work in progress kind of prospect. His size and length is impressive; however, he has yet to fully develop the the coordination to go with his big body. The potential is definitely here as Grant has NBA blood lines and the work ethic to make his NBA dream come true. Grant was one of 12 players selected for the USA U18 National Team and he has already received his invite for this June’s U19 USA tryout. Grant is currently averaging 12.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg for the Orange this season and if he can improve on his outside game and scoring off the dribble he will continue to project as a late lottery selection.