This
will also be NBA Commissioner David
Stern’s
last time at the podium on draft day. Stern will retire in February
after 30 years on the job.
Bennett
may be the best pure athlete of the draft, based on his
explosiveness, speed and physique. He may be undersized for an NBA
power forward but he counters that with his versatility. He can post
up, shoot the three and take defenders off the dribble, providing a
matchup problem for almost any team. The Canadian international made
an immediate impact at Nevada Las Vegas in his freshman year,
averaging 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Ben
Bolch comment: Surprise,
surprise! Even for someone who played collegiately in the land of
prop bets, Bennett going first was the longshot of longshots.
No.
2 -- Orlando
Magic -- Victor
Oladipo,
6-4, 213, Indiana,
shooting guard
Oladipo is considered one of the more NBA ready guards based on his impressive defensive prowess. But the biggest area where Oladipo has improved is his shooting. With the Hoosiers, the 21-year-old junior shot 60% from the field (44% from three-point range) and averaged 13.6 points and 2.2 steals. Maybe Oladipo isn’t a great shot creator or playmaker, but he could make an instant impact of the defensive side of the floor for any team.
Oladipo is considered one of the more NBA ready guards based on his impressive defensive prowess. But the biggest area where Oladipo has improved is his shooting. With the Hoosiers, the 21-year-old junior shot 60% from the field (44% from three-point range) and averaged 13.6 points and 2.2 steals. Maybe Oladipo isn’t a great shot creator or playmaker, but he could make an instant impact of the defensive side of the floor for any team.
Bolch
comment: Picking
Oladipo could be a sign that the Magic are aggressively
shopping Arron
Afflalo,
who could end up with Clippers.
No.
3 -- Washington
Wizards -- Otto
Porter Jr.,
6-9, 198, Georgetown,
small forward
Porter has immense raw talent, but he still is considered one of the most draft-ready players with his versatility. He turned heads with his improvement in his sophomore year at Georgetown, as he won the Big East player-of-the-year honors. The 20-year-old averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds and was held to single-digit scoring only three times. His slender physique needs some added muscle, and scouts have raised concerns over his athleticism. But Porter makes up for these shortcomings with court awareness and a high basketball IQ.
Porter has immense raw talent, but he still is considered one of the most draft-ready players with his versatility. He turned heads with his improvement in his sophomore year at Georgetown, as he won the Big East player-of-the-year honors. The 20-year-old averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds and was held to single-digit scoring only three times. His slender physique needs some added muscle, and scouts have raised concerns over his athleticism. But Porter makes up for these shortcomings with court awareness and a high basketball IQ.
Bolch
comment: The
former Georgetown star has the added bonus of knowing the few spots
to get cell phone reception inside the Verizon
Center.
No.
4 -- Charlotte
Bobcats -- Cody
Zeller,7-0, 230, Indiana, power forward/center
Zeller’s draft stock might have taken a hit by returning for his sophomore season, but he made steady improvements while in Bloomington. Zeller averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, including 10 double-doubles. Scouts say that Zeller does many things well, but does not excel in any one area. He needs to get stronger in the post and on defense. But the second-team All-American has great court awareness and versatility that can spread the floor.
Zeller’s draft stock might have taken a hit by returning for his sophomore season, but he made steady improvements while in Bloomington. Zeller averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, including 10 double-doubles. Scouts say that Zeller does many things well, but does not excel in any one area. He needs to get stronger in the post and on defense. But the second-team All-American has great court awareness and versatility that can spread the floor.
Bolch
comment: Athletic
big man becomes the third Zeller brother in the NBA and the second
Hoosier to go in the top four of this year’s draft.
No.
5 -- Phoenix
Suns -- Alex
Len,
7-1, 250, Maryland,
center
Experts consider the Ukrainian big man as one of the more raw players in the draft pool, having just turned 20 years old and still filling into his huge frame. In his second season with the Terrapins, Len averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game, including a 20-point, eight-rebound season-ending performance against North Carolina. A stress fracture in his ankle has kept the pick-and-roll specialist out for the last month, limiting his workouts and activity.
Experts consider the Ukrainian big man as one of the more raw players in the draft pool, having just turned 20 years old and still filling into his huge frame. In his second season with the Terrapins, Len averaged 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game, including a 20-point, eight-rebound season-ending performance against North Carolina. A stress fracture in his ankle has kept the pick-and-roll specialist out for the last month, limiting his workouts and activity.
Bolch
comment: The
7-foot-1 center from Maryland was the highest-drafted Terrapin since
Steve Francis went No. 2 in 1999.
No.
6 -- New Orleans Pelicans -- Nerlens
Noel,
6-11, 206, Kentucky,power forward
Noel arguably has the highest upside of any player in this draft. A pure shot-blocker and impressive leaper, he has the size, timing and talent to be a top-tier NBA big man — if he stays healthy. His offensive game is relatively raw: he averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks in 24 games before tearing his left ACL in February. Noel said he expects to be able to play in a game by Christmas.
Noel arguably has the highest upside of any player in this draft. A pure shot-blocker and impressive leaper, he has the size, timing and talent to be a top-tier NBA big man — if he stays healthy. His offensive game is relatively raw: he averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks in 24 games before tearing his left ACL in February. Noel said he expects to be able to play in a game by Christmas.
Bolchcomment: Consolation
prize: Noel may not have been the first player taken but he’ll go
down as the first Pelican ever drafted and traded!
No.
7 -- Sacramento
Kings -- Ben
McLemore,
6-5, 189, Kansas,shooting guard
NBA teams see a lot of potential in McLemore, especially as a spot-up shooter and lockdown defender. McLemore can get out and run with the best of them in transition and has the athleticism that scouts drool over. In his only year with the Jayhawks, McLemore shot 42% on three-pointers and averaged 15.9 points a game, underlined by a 36-point outburst against West Virginia on March 2. His offensive repertoire and ballhandling could use some work, but the key word with McLemore is upside.
NBA teams see a lot of potential in McLemore, especially as a spot-up shooter and lockdown defender. McLemore can get out and run with the best of them in transition and has the athleticism that scouts drool over. In his only year with the Jayhawks, McLemore shot 42% on three-pointers and averaged 15.9 points a game, underlined by a 36-point outburst against West Virginia on March 2. His offensive repertoire and ballhandling could use some work, but the key word with McLemore is upside.
Bolchcomment: Kings
hoping they got lucky that the player with perhaps the biggest upside
in the draft fell to them in this slot.
No.
8 -- Detroit
Pistons -- KentaviousCaldwell-Pope,
6-6, 204, Georgia,shooting guard
Caldwell-Pope enters as one of the draft’s best pure scorers, utilizing a consistent jump shot and a reliable offensive instinct. At Georgia last season, he averaged 18.5 points per game and led the team in rebounding. No opponent was able to hold Caldwell-Pope to single-digit scoring in a breakthrough 2012-13 season that ended with Southeastern Conference player of the year honors. The only major knock on the Greenville, Ga., native is his lack of defensive prowess and consistency.
Caldwell-Pope enters as one of the draft’s best pure scorers, utilizing a consistent jump shot and a reliable offensive instinct. At Georgia last season, he averaged 18.5 points per game and led the team in rebounding. No opponent was able to hold Caldwell-Pope to single-digit scoring in a breakthrough 2012-13 season that ended with Southeastern Conference player of the year honors. The only major knock on the Greenville, Ga., native is his lack of defensive prowess and consistency.
Bolchcomment: The
prolific shooting guard may need to shoot 100% to lift the Pistons
out of mediocrity.
Source:
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