The Craziest NBA Draft

There was plenty of activity in between picks in tonight’s NBA Draft where the newest professional athletes were forced to relocate barely fifteen minutes after hearing David Stern announce their names. Before they could even read their draft day hats, centers Kelly Olynyk of Gonzaga, Gorgui Dieng of Louisville, Brazilian Lucas Nogueira; Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel; and Michigan guard Trey Burke would all find a new home.

Burke, the reigning Consensus Player of the Year, was traded to the Utah Jazz from the Minnesota Timberwolves after his selection at number nine. The Jazz would draft picks fourteen and twenty-one overall for Minnesota, first reported by ESPN’s NBA Insider, Chris Broussard. Utah would draft UCLA forward Shabazz Muhammad with the fourteenth overall pick and Louisville center Gorgui Dieng at number twenty-one for Minnesota.

Leading Michigan to a National Title Game appearance, Burke averaged over 18 points and about seven assists per game this past season. Burke would also shoot .463 from the field and .384 from downtown as a sophomore.

After being a top prep recruit from Las Vegas’s Bishop Gorman, the high profiled Muhammad will join the Timberwolves after a disappointing season as part of an underperforming UCLA squad. In his lone college season Muhammad averaged just under eighteen points and just over five rebounds per game.

Coming off a national championship over Trey Burke’s Wolverines, Dieng scored 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds per game in his junior season.

Noel fell all the way to number six on the board after discussion as the number one pick and was drafted by the New Orleans PELICANS. The Pelicans traded the former Wildcat to the 76ers in return for point guard Jrue Holiday and a 2014 first round draft pick. Picks one to three in the 2014 draft will be protected for New Orleans.

New Orleans is forfeiting the opportunity to create the best young shot blocking duo below the basket in Noel and Anthony Davis. Coming off an ACL injury, Noel will likely replace the basically nonexistent Andrew Bynum in Philadelphia. In his shortened freshman season, Noel averaged just over 10 points but blocked an astonishing 106 shots through 24 games.

Holiday scored just under 18 points per game with Philadelphia and may be a reasonable replacement for Chris Paul in New Orleans.

The Dallas Mavericks would trade their thirteenth overall pick, Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk, to the rebuilding and Doc River-less Boston Celtics for their sixteenth overall pick, another center, Lucas Nogueira (Better start learning how to say/spell that). Dallas will also receive future two second round picks.

Olynyk scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds per game this season where he and his iconic ‘do became the poster boy of Gonzaga’s run to a top seed in this year’s March Madness. In Brazil, Nogueira rocked the one hairstyle more stylish than Olynyk’s, an afro which a Celtics hat was perched upon for a mere five minutes. In the ACB, Nogueira posted average stats not recorded by ESPN but has a high ceiling, due to his age and size.

2003 was the best Draft with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and of course Darko Milicic. 2000 was the worst where Kenyon Martin went number one overall. In what was considered to be a weak draft class, 2013 became the craziest with three trades taking place in the first round, involving five players changing cities minutes after being drafted. All trades only grant rights of each player to prospective team.

It case anyone got lost with all the acquisitions:

Trade #1- Utah Jazz get: Trey Burke (9^th overall)

                    Minnesota Timberwolves get: Shabazz Muhammad (14^th overall) and Gorgui Dieng (21^st overall)

Trade #2- Philadelphia 76ers get: Nerlens Noel (6^th overall)

                   New Orleans Pelicans get: Jrue Holiday and 2014 1^st round pick (after pick #3)

Trade #3- Dallas Mavericks get: Lucas Nogueira (16^th overall) and two future 2^nd round picks

                   Boston Celtics get: Kelly Olynyk

Can Nerlens Be the First Noel?

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This year’s NBA Draft lacks a superstar player that will undoubtedly go first overall. In recent years, players like Kyrie Irving and Lebron James were almost definite number one picks. There is not one single player that will unquestionably turn an organization around completely like James, Tim Duncan, and Derrick Rose have done in the past fifteen years. There is less of a question that Andrew Wiggins will be next year’s number one pick compared to this year’s draft, which is just over 48 hours away.

This year’s NBA Draft is not a bad draft class. There are big names like Kansas’s Ben McLemore, reigning AP Player of the Year Trey Burke, and Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel. Most mock drafts project Noel as the number one overall pick, but with all the questions surrounding the nineteen year old can he become the third Kentucky player to be taken with the first pick in the past four years?

Taking Noel is a risk, as he is thought to be among the most talented and coveted in this year’s class, despite coming off an ACL injury. Considering Noel has yet to play since his February 12 injury, he may be too much of a liability to be taken number one. Noel played just 24 games before his injury, giving the Cavaliers, or any lottery pick, a limited view of John Calipari’s latest one and done phenom.

Teams also do not know how Noel will return from his injury, as he might lack NBA caliber agility and play conservatively to prevent another injury. Noel also did not participate in pre-draft workouts.

Another question surrounding Noel is his lack of size and power as a center at 6’11’’. Before the season, Noel was listed to be around 230 pounds but his injury has caused him to drop to under 210. Noel’s lack of size will hurt him in the paint, rebounding against gargantuan players like Roy Hibbert. Being only nineteen, Noel has time to grow and get stronger, but the clock is ticking for this not-so-big big man.

In his 24 games, Noel averaged about eleven points and ten rebounds per game. These stats are usually not good enough for a number one pick, but it is what happens on the other side of the court that brings the undersized center fame.

Noel tallied 106 blocks for the Wildcats in his shortened season, averaging more than four a game. Despite his lack of size, Noel is considered be one of the top shot blockers to ever play basketball.

The hype is not real with Noel. Just because he played in Lexington does not make him the next superstar of the NBA. Noel is an undersized defensive minded player lacking an elite offensive game. Even if he played the entire season, Noel would still not be the definite number one pick.

At best, Noel grows and develops a better build, becoming a journeyman defensive specialist like Tyson Chandler. Even in the best-case scenario, the number one overall pick is too valuable for a player focused on defense. Despite the comparison, Noel will not become the next Dwight Howard due to his lack of size and offensive ability. At worst, Noel joins Greg Oden on the never-ending list of first round failures in the NBA.

2013 NBA Mock Draft

With the NBA Draft order finalized, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won yet again, hoping to strike gold one more time like they did with Kyrie Irving in 2011 and Lebron James 10 years ago. This is a very talented yet young draft class, highlighted by standout freshmen, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Kansas’s Ben McLemore, along with the convalescent Kentucky big man, Nerlens Noel. The only downside of winning this year’s lottery is it may be a year too early, as highly touted and number one ranked incoming freshman, Andrew Wiggins, will likely enter the draft next year.

1.     Cavaliers- Ben McLemore, Kansas SG

Though almost every other mock draft will not agree with me, McLemore is my projected #1 pick. Kyrie Irving needs someone to work with up top, and Nerlens Noel coming off his injury is too much of a liability for a first round pick. Perhaps this can lead to Lebron’s return to Cleveland?

2.     Magic- Nerlens Noel, Kansas PF

John Calipari’s latest one and done player did not even finish his one due to injury, but the Magic will not be able to pass up on the class’s best available talent, not to mention a possible replacement for Dwight Howard. Only issues would be his history of leg injuries through both high school and college.

3.     Wizards- Anthony Bennett, UNLV PF

As the third freshman in my mock draft’s first three picks, Bennett provides some help and lightens the load for John Wall. Bennett was able to average over 16 points and 8 rebounds a game, in just 27 minutes of floor time.

4.     Bobcats- Trey Burke, Michigan PG

As the oldest player taken thus far, the reigning AP Player of the Year will provide a spark to the miserable franchise. Burke’s exceptional ball handling abilities, offensive prowess, and speed on the court might be able to fill some seats in Time Warner Cable Arena.

5.     Suns- Otto Porter, Georgetown SF

Another sophomore, Porter provides a great basketball mind, proving he is able to create shots and open up the floor. Porter shows an excellent basketball IQ, and would be able to help Jared Dudley and Goran Dragic with some rebounds down low.

6.     Pelicans- Victor Oladipo, Indiana SG

Oladipo’s defense would help any team, along with his high shooting percentages. The junior’s lockdown defense can make up for his streaky offense. Oladipo will likely replace Al-Farouq Aminu at the wing on quite a disadvantaged and Chris Paul-less team.

7.     Kings-Alex Len, Maryland C

The Ukrainian born Len uses his size to his advantage while moving around the floor well. However, Sacramento could bring Len in to make a statement to troubled young center, Damarcus Cousins about his attitude. If Cousins does change, Len can be traded to numerous teams looking for a center with his size and athleticism. If Cousins does not, the Kings have a physically gifted center in Len and drop the emotional roller coaster in Cousins.

8.     Pistons- Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse PG

Detroit needs someone to run their offense and make shots. Brandon Young has played strong but would be better suited as a role player. At 6’6’’, Carter-Williams has a size advantage over most opposing point guards, while providing versatility in covering shooting guards. If Carter-Williams develops a bigger build, along with a more refined jump shot, he can become a Jason Kidd like player.

9.     Timberwolves- C.J. McCollum, Lehigh SG

In his four years in college, McCollum averaged over 19 points a game, including an outstanding performance in last year’s preliminary round defeat of Duke. McCollum has exceptional ball control to get by defenders to go with his proficient shooting. Going into next season, Minnesota will be much healthier which allows them to take a chance on an undersized secondary ball handler like McCollum.

10. Trail Blazers- Cody Zeller, Indiana C

If the Kings pass on Zeller to take Len, the Hoosier big man will most likely be Portland bound. At 7 feet tall, Zeller is unusually athletic and runs the floor with a good basketball mind, as a rough combination of Len and Porter.

11-12. 76ers and Thunder- Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga PF; Mason Plumlee, Duke PF

This pick will likely be a variation between these two very similar power forwards. Both Olynyk and Plumlee are athletic for their size but are not physically able to become elite NBA centers. The main difference between these picks is one will vie for a championship alongside Durant and Westbrook, while the other struggles on a rebuilding 76ers team with Jrue Holliday.

      13.             Mavericks- Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA SG

Mark Cuban takes the fellow high profiled Muhammad to add a big name to a Dallas team coming off a down year. With only a few players returning to next year’s roster the Mavericks could use Muhammad in an effort to combine his and Dirk Nowitzki’s intensity and offensive abilities to spark a return to the playoffs.

      14.              Jazz- Shane Larkin, Miami PG

With the final pick in the lottery round, the Jazz look for someone to run their offense. At 5’11’’, Larkin is capable of keeping up with bigger opponents. At the draft combine, Larkin had the best sprint time and a 44-inch vertical. Larkin has potential to develop into a Nate Robinson/Rajon Rondo like court general.