ICYMI: The WBN 2014 NBA Mock Draft
By Tyler Cox
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers – Andrew Wiggins SF 6’8 197 Kansas
Team Needs: Small Forward, Center, Shooting Guard
Explanation: Andrew Wiggins is widely regarded as the best player to come out of high school since Lebron James came out of high school and went #1 overall to the Cavs in 2003. Guess what? The Cavs are in position to draft the Lebron of 2014 in Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins had a stellar freshman season at Kansas averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game. I have the Cavs taking Wiggins because I do not believe at this point that Cleveland’s front office feels like Joel Embiid’s back is at full health. That could change though, and if it does, look for the Cavs to take Embiid with the first pick. For now Andrew Wiggins will be the first pick of this 2014 NBA Mock Draft.
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#2 Milwaukee Bucks – Joel Embiid C 7’1 240 Kansas
Team Needs: Center, Power Forward, Point Guard
Explanation: As explained earlier, if the Cavs feel like Embiid’s back is at full health they will take him. Since, in this draft I have the Cavs taking Wiggins for now, the Bucks have no choice in the matter to worry about his back. The Bucks number one need is a center and if Embiid is going to be available to Milwaukee he is the best on the board and the Bucks will be more than ecstatic to draft him at #2.
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#3 Philadelphia 76ers – Jabari Parker SF 6’8 241 Duke
Team Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard, Power Forward
Explanation: Wow. What an awful season the 76ers had this year, breaking the NBA all-time losing streak record previously held by Cleveland. They did have one bright spot however, that was Michael Carter-Williams winning the rookie of the year award. Philadelphia will get Nerlens Noel back this year and they will continue to build their team with outstanding talent when they take Jabari Parker. That will be a dynamic trio of players to have for years to come and eventually wreak havoc on the NBA one day.
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#4 Orlando Magic – Dante Exum PG 6’9 196 Australia
Team Needs: Point Guard, Small Forward, Center
Explanation: This one was an easy pick. The Magic desperately need a point guard and they get an outstanding one with the big 6’6 Dante Exum out of Australia. Exum contemplated coming to the States this year to play for a college, but he opted out and stayed put. Can not help but think that Indiana was one of the schools he was looking at and eventually Tom Crean’s weird antics scared him away. (Kidding obviously). The Magic still have a gaping hole at small forward and center, but they will address those needs later in the draft.
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#5 Utah Jazz – Noah Vonleh PF 6’9 247 Indiana
Team Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard, Center
Explanation: I might get some heat for having Noah Vonleh go before Julius Randle, I do think Randle is better and has the better upside, but everything that I have heard and read is that teams are falling in love with the player that Vonleh is. Vonleh is an extremely talented big man with good post moves who can shoot. My only knock on him is that he wasn’t consistent enough and disappeared when he had a tough matchup assignment. Those are fixable though. With the news that the Jazz are putting Enes Kanter on the trading block, I feel like this would be a good pick for them, and they will be more than satisfied with Vonleh. This marks the second year that Indiana has had a player go in the top 5, and with nearly nothing to show for it in the regular season.