2013 NBA Mock Draft: The Cleveland Cavaliers Are On The Clock 2.0
By Tyler Cox
May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Nerlens Noel is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
This is an updated version of my earlier 2013 NBA mock draft. As you read this you will see that there really have been no new changes. There have been some very close “near changes,” but nothing really panned out. With no new changes you can see how much of a weak draft this is.
Also, this version includes a 2nd round mock look.
FIRST ROUND
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.
16.) Boston Celtics – Mason Plumlee PF 7’0 – Duke
Plumlee has great size and athleticism for a power forward. Garnet is old and the Celtics need to address the front court issue. Unless the Celtics trade up to get a better front court option they’ll have to stick with Plumlee and hope it works out.
Mar 7, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) is fouled by Kentucky Wildcats guard Archie Goodwin (10) during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia defeated Kentucky 72-62. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
CHANGE
17.) Atlanta Hawks – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG 6’5 – Georgia
I decided to move KCP up to Goodwins spot, because of the growing vibe that teams are starting to really like Caldwell-Pope better than Goodwin. Therefore I switched spots with each other.
18.) Atlanta Hawks – Giannis Antetokounmpo SF 6’9 – Greece
Do you know how many times it took for me to finally type his name right? A lot. Giannis has been rising his stock and if he isn’t taken here he won’t drop past 22.
CHANGE
19.) Cleveland Cavaliers – Archie Goodwin SG 6’4 – Kentucky
With this switch the Cavs now have themselves two players with chemistry and tremendous upside and will give the Cavs a dominating force for years to come with Irving, Waiters, Noel and Goodwin.
20.) Chicago Bulls – Kelly Olynk C 7’0 – Gonzaga
As if the Bulls didn’t already have enough ugly players, they go and draft Olynk, the closest looking thing to a woman in this draft.
21.) Utah Jazz – Dennis Schroeder PG 6’1 – Germany
Other mock drafts have Schroeder going in the top 15, but I don’t see teams falling in love him. That’s ok with the Utah Jazz though. The Jazz have no point guard under contract right now, so this would be a no brainer.
22.) Brooklyn Nets – Steven Adams C 7’0 – Pittsburgh
Many may think that Adams will go a little higher than 22, but teams will see more experienced options to go with. That’s not taking away from what a great athlete Steven Adams is though.
23.) Indiana Pacers – Ricardo Ledo SG 6’6 – Providence
What Ledo can do is flat out shoot the ball from deep. What the Pacers need, despite George Hill’s efforts, is some one that can consistently shoot the ball from deep. This is why Ledo makes sense for the Pacers when they’re on deck.
24.) New York Knicks – Jeff Withey C 7’0 – Kansas
Withey will give the Knicks with a defensive attitude when Withey gets to New York. Not only that, he will give the Knick good depth in the front court.
25.) Los Angeles Clippers – Tony Mitchell F 6’9 – North Texas
The Clippers don’t need another guard right now, so they’ll have to take a big man, Tony Mitchell is the best big man left available.
26.) Minnesota Timberwolves – Jamal Franklin SG 6’5 – San Diego State
With Minnesota already taking a Forward/Guard combo in Shabazz, look for the T’Wolves to take the best player available and some good shooting depth to their arsenal.
27.) Denver Nuggets – Allen Crabbe SG 6’6 – California
What the Nuggets really need to do is replace Javale McGee, but that’s not going to happen. Instead they will take my least favorite player in the draft. I just don’t see the potential but he is still a good shooter with good size, so Denver can’t pass him up.
28.) San Antonio Spurs – Lucas Noguiera C 7’0 – Brazil
Tim Duncan is nearing the end of his career and the Spurs need to address that. They do just that. The Spurs know what they are doing. They have one of, if not, the best front offices in the league.
29.) Oklahoma City Thunder – Glen Rice Jr. G/F 6’6 – NBA D-League
The Thunder could use player to fill the James Harden void and add depth. With Rice’s size and ability to creat and shoot, it makes him a sexy pick for Oklahoma here.
30.) Phoenix Suns – Reggie Bullock G/F 6’7 – North Carolina
SECOND ROUND
31.) Cleveland Cavaliers – Isaiah Canaan PG 6’0 – Murray State
32.) Oklahoma City Thunder (From Charlotte) – Alex Abrines SG 6’5 – Spain
33.) Cleveland Cavaliers – DeShuan Thomas SF 6’7 – Ohio State
34.) Houston Rockets – Tony Snell SF 6’7 – New Mexico
35.) Philadelphia 76ers – Grant Jarrett PF 6’10 – Arizona
36.) Sacramento Kings – Livio Jean Charles PF 6’9 – France
37.) Detroit Pistons – James Southerand SF 6’8 – Syracuse
38.) Washington Wizards – Erick Green G 6’3 – Virginia
39.) Portland Trailblazers (From Minnesota via Boston and Cleveland) – Mike Muscala PF 6’11 – Bucknell
40.) Portland Trailblazers – Nate Wolters G 6’5 – South Dakota State
41.) Memphis Grizzlies (From Toronto)- Kenny Kadji PF 6’10 – Miami(FL)
42.) Philadelphia 76ers – Pierre Jacson PG 5’10 – Baylor
43.) Milwaukee Bucks – Myck Kabongo PG 6’3 – Texas
44.) Dallas Mavericks – Carrick Felix SG 6’6 – Arizona
45.) Portland Trailblazers (From Boston) – Ryan Kelly PF 7’0 – Duke
46.) Utah Jazz – CJ Leslie PF 6’9 – N.C. State
47.) Atlanta Hawks – Andre Roberson SF 6’7 – Colorado
48.) Los Angeles Lakers – Will Clyburn SF 6’7 – Iowa State
49.) Chicago Bulls – Solomon Hill SF 6’7 – Arizona
50.) Atlanta Hawks – Lorenzo Brown PG 6’5 – N.C. State
51.) Orlando Magic (From Golden State via Denver and New York) – Ray McCallum PG 6’2 – Detroit
52.) Minnesota Timberwolves (From Brooklyn) – Marko Todrovic C 6’11 – Montenegro
53.) Indiana Pacers – Jackie Carmichael PF 69 – Illinois State
54.) Washington Wizards (From New York) – Erik Murphy PF 6’9 – Florida
55.) Memphis Grizzlies – Vander Blue SG 6’5 – Marquette
56.) Detroit Pistons (From LA Clippers) – Augusto Lima PF 6’11 – Brazil
57.) Phoenix Suns (From Denver via LA Lakers) – Bojan Dubljvic PF 6’10 – Serbia
58.) San Antonio Spurs – Nemanja Nedovic G 6’4 – Serbia
59.) Minnesota Timberwolves (From Oklahoma) –
60.) Memphis Grizzlies (From Miami) – Dan Smith BYU…. Just kiddin. Jmaes Ennis SF 6’7 – Long Beach State
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