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Welcome to the No Flop Zone. I am an amateur analyst and current college student blogging about college basketball and football and other sports interests. Follow me on Twitter @nofloppinghere

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

No Flop Zone's 2014 Mock Draft: Edition 1

1. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas (SF/SG, 6-foot-8, 200 pounds)
The "Canadian Jordan" is still the best player on the board at this point. The forward duo of Wiggins and Giannis Antetokounmpo would be incredibly deadly.

2: Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker, Duke (F, 6-8, 240)
Teaming up Jabari Parker with NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel could make a deadly young core for the 76ers.

3. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, Australia (G, 6-6, 180)
With Jameer Nelson aging, the Magic need to select a point guard here to play in the backcourt with Victor Oladipo. Exum's size, range, and playmaking ability make the most sense here for the Magic.

4. Utah Jazz: Joel Embiid, Kansas (C, 7-0, 250)
Embiid was a possibility for the first 3 picks, but his back injury raises question marks. With the Enes Kanter experiment not working super well for Utah, the Jazz can't pass up Embiid at this spot.

5. Boston Celtics: Aaron Gordon, Arizona (F, 6-8, 210)
Aaron Gordon would make a strong frontcourt even better. He would help Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, and Jared Sullinger put the ball and basket and provide energy.

6. Los Angeles Lakers: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State (PG, 6-3, 225)
The Lakers only real point guard the 40-year old Steve Nash. Why not fill the void with the young, athletic point guard from Oklahoma State.

7. Sacramento Kings: Julius Randle, Kentucky (PF, 6-9, 225)
Picture a frontcourt of Randle, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rudy Gay. That's a really good frontcourt.

8. Detroit Pistons: Dario Saric, Croatia (F, 6-10, 225)
Team executives will have a hard time turning down Saric’s combination of size and versatility, even if he moves like he is standing in four feet of water.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers: Noah Vonleh, Indiana (PF, 6-10, 240)
When the Cavaliers are looking for Anderson Varejao's replacement, they should look no further than the big man out of Indiana. Vonleh's size and inside game should give him an advantage in the post.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Gary Harris, Michigan State (SG, 6-4, 210)
Harris's shot and competitiveness will make him a favorite in Philly, and he might even have an opportunity to start next to Michael Carter-Williams.

11. Denver Nuggets: James Young, Kentucky (SG, 6-6, 215)
Young's athleticism and shooting ability make him a perfect small forward prototype in the NBA. The Nuggets cannot pass up Young at 11.

12. Orlando Magic: Adreian Payne, Michigan State (PF, 6-10, 245)
Payne comes as a surprise here, but he really shouldn't. He is 6'10", athletic, and can shoot the rock. He makes the most sense for the Magic as a power forward after they drafted Exum at 3.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyler Ennis, Syracuse (PG, 6-2, 180)
With Ricky Rubio still erratic from the field, the Timberwolves take Ennis, a good shooter and playmaker. Ennis is kind of like a Rubio 2.0.

14. Phoenix Suns: C.J. Wilcox, Washington (SG, 6-5, 195)
This is the highest you will probably see C.J. Wilcox in a mock draft. But he should be worth this pick, as Wilcox is the best three-point shooter in the draft. Wilcox will get good minutes behind the guards and forward for Phoenix when they go to sit, and send Wilcox in. Wilcox has the potential to lead a team in three-pointers.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Rodney Hood, Duke (SF/SG, 6-8, 180)
Rodney Hood is a great shooter and has exceptional length, but he almost never goes all out on either side of the floor, which raises questions.

16. Chicago Bulls: Nik Stauskas, Michigan (SG, 6-6, 205)
Stauskas was the most improved player in college basketball in his sophomore season. He has catapulted to the number 16 spot, where the Bulls will snatch him up to help lead the offense.

17. Boston Celtics: P.J. Hairston, D-League (SG, 6-6, 220)
Hairston has lottery potential, but his character concerns will knock him down to number 17.

18. Phoenix Suns: Doug McDermott, Creighton (F, 6-8, 210)
McDermott and C.J. Wilcox will be a deadly shooting combo for Phoenix.

19. Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine, UCLA (SG, 6-5, 180)
LaVine is one of the best athletes in this draft. He also has the potential to be one of the best shooters in the draft. He slipped during the second half of last season, but he could be a lottery pick.

20. Toronto Raptors: Jerami Grant, Syracuse (SF, 6-8, 210)
Grant is an athletic, strong power forward who can give a team a boost off the bench. Expect him to have a large role on the Toronto Raptors next year.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: K.J. McDaniels, Clemson (SF, 6-6, 200)
McDaniels is a perfect example of why I'm not an NBA general manager, because if I was, I would take him much higher than anybody probably should. McDaniels’ ridiculous hops and willingness to attack opponents both offensively and defensively will make him both loved or hated by fans, depending on which side they are rooting for.

22. Memphis Grizzlies: T.J. Warren, NC State (F, 6-8, 215)
Warren can provide a badly needed scoring bunch to this Grizzlies team who's best scorer is Mike Conley.

23. Utah Jazz: Kyle Anderson, UCLA (SF, 6-9, 230)
Kyle Anderson is a 6'9" point guard who averaged 15 points per game, 9 rebounds per game, and 7 assists per game. But the bad news is: he can't shoot and he is slow.

24. Charlotte Hornets: Shabazz Napier, UConn (PG, 6-1, 180)
Napier is one of the best point guards in the NBA Draft. He will get the opportunity to back up former UConn teammate Kemba Walker on the Hornets.

25. Houston Rockets: Cleanthony Early, Wichita State (SF, 6-8, 220)
Cleanthony Early has a great game, and the best way to utilize it would be to back up Chandler Parsons and Terrance Jones on the Rockets.

26. Miami Heat: Jordan Clarkson, Missouri (PG, 6-5, 195)
Jordan Clarkson. Dwyane Wade. LeBron James. This team would be so deadly that the league would just give the title to them. Oh wait, they have the last two years.

27. Phoenix Suns: Glenn Robinson III, Michigan (SF, 6-6, 220)
Robinson is pure athleticism. When he develops a strong jump shot, he could be very deadly.

28. Los Angeles Clippers: Deandre Daniels, UConn (SF, 6-8, 195)
Deandre Daniels would be yet another stretch and slam player for the Clippers. Lob City would yet again be expanded.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Markel Brown, Oklahoma State (SG, 6-3, 190)
The Oklahoma City Thunder select..... The greatest athlete in the history of space and time.

30. San Antonio Spurs: Elfrid Payton, Louisiana Lafayette (PG, 6-3, 190)
Payton can't shoot and he turns the ball over too much, but Coach Pop will turn him around easily.
























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