2013 NBA Mock Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers Are On The Clock
By Tyler Cox
1.) Cleveland Cavaliers – Nerlens Noel C 6’11 – Kentucky
I have heard that the Cavs may be weary of taking him at #1 because of what team doctors are saying about his knees recovery. If Cleveland passes on him, other teams may pass on him as well, and he could slip all the way to 6 or 7. I don’t see this happening however, just for the simple fact that Noel has so much talent that it will be hard to pass up.
2.) Orlando Magic – Ben McLemore SF 6’9 – Kansas
The Magic are in full “rebuild mode.” They need a whole lot of everything. McLemore will provide them with tough grit, a will to win and something to be proud of down the road.
3.) Washington Wizards – Otto Porter SF 6’8 – Georgetown
The Wizards won’t look past Porter here. Some people have Washington taking Trey Burke, but with John Wall and Bradley Beal locked for a good deal of time, no way they take a guard with the 3rd pick.
4.) Charlotte Bobcats – Alex Len C 7’0 – Maryland
WHOA! Yeah I know. Seems a bit soon for Len to go this high right? Well, not really. With Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, I believe the Bobcats will go with the better big man and take him. Yes, I did say he was a the best big man left on the board, work with it.
5.) Phoenix Suns -Victor Oladipo SG 6’4 – Indiana
The Suns need a little more athleticism, and where better to start than with Victor Oladipo?
6.) New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Bennett PF 6’9 – UNLV
At this point the Pelicans have to take the best player available. Anthony Bennett is an absolute beast. Can you just imagine Davis and Bennett playing alongside each other for years to come? Scary
7.) Sacramento Kings – Trey Burke PG 6’1 – Michigan
This may seem like a weird pick here, but Burke provides the Kings with a better long-term option at point guard, he’s a better play maker than Isaiah Thomas and also has better size than Thomas.
8.) Detroit Pistons – CJ McCollum PG 6’3 – Lehigh
Another strange pick, with Detroit already having Stuckey and Knight, but McCollum will give the Pistons a scoring ability from deep that is really lacking in the Palace.
9.) Minnesota Timberwolves – Shabazz Muhammad SF 6’6 – UCLA
Shabazz’s selfishness and lack of production and UCLA pushed him from being a top 3 pick to falling out of the top 6. That said the T’Wolves can’t afford to let him slip past.
10.) Portland Trailblazers – Sergey Karasev SF 6’7 – Russia
I did have Dario Saric going here but with the recent news about him taking his name out of the draft of course had me rearranging my mock draft. The Trailblazers will have to look at taking Karasev here if they want another Small Forward.
11.) Philadelphia 76ers – Robert Gobert C 7’2 – France
At 7’2 Gobert will give the 76ers a nasty front court with Bynum still there. Even if Bynum ends up going somewhere else, Gobert is stil an excellent pick.
12.) Oklahoma City Thunder – Cody Zeller C 7’0 – Indiana
What could be scarier than a center that can keep up with Westbrook?
13.) Dallas Mavericks – Michael Carter-Williams PG 6’6 – Syracuse
I absolutely love this pick for the Mavs. A point guard at 6’6? Shew wee. What a weapon he could be for Dallas. Passing the ball to Dirk for a 3, driving and over powering the smaller defender.
14.) Utah Jazz – Gorgui Deing C 6’10 – Louisville
Though this is a UK website and we’re supposed to hate Louisville and all their players, well that’s not the case. I think most Kentucky fans respected Deing just as much as he respected Kentucky and Rupp Arena with his comments. I will always like Deing for that. The Jazz could use some depth at Center plain and simple.
15.) Milwaukee Bucks – Shane Larkin PG 5’11 – Miami(FL)
Brandon Jennings is a restricted free agent, Reddick is a free agent and Monte Ellis has a player option, so Shane Larkin would give the Bucks some help in a much-needed way. Larkin could be the breakout player from this draft class.