[Offseason] ✖ Legacy Arise ✖ Retired

[Martti.]

Not really a surprise move. Has he developed as good in your association as he has IRL?

[Valor]

Not really a surprise move. Has he developed as good in your association as he has IRL?

Unfortunately, not nearly as good offensively. He's really caught up to pace on the defensive side of the ball tho

[Valor]

2013 NBA Lottery Mock Draft


Noel's talent has him looking at the top spot while Len is shooting up the draft boards

May 25th, 2013 -- With the lottery now complete and the draft order set, it is time to take a look at how this year’s draft could possibly go.

While there’s no sure-fire transcendent talent such as the ’03 class of LeBron, Wade, and Carmelo Anthony, or as it is predicted for next year’s class of Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, this year’s draft isn’t as weak as people are making it out to be as there are a lot of intriguing young prospects that could make an impact on an NBA roster.

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana
A rare true center, Zeller can play in the post, run the floor and finish above the rim. The sophomore center has terrific footwork and is as fundamentally sound as any big man in the NCAA. Zellar is also very mobile for a big man, but needs to get stronger and could be a better rebounder and expand his range with the jumpshot. The Bobcats need size up front and Zeller is a prospect who can make an immediate impact in the NBA.

2. New Orleans Pelicans: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
Noel is a long, super-athletic 19-year-old who is already a dominant shot-blocker and rebounder. He is very raw on the offensive side of the ball and does need to add some strength to his frame, but his development has impressed scouts, as has his consistently high motor. With the 7 foot Noel in tow, last year’s number one overall pick Anthony Davis can slide back down to his natural PF spot and become one of the most dominant defensive duos for the New Orleans Pelicans.

3. Orlando Magic: Shabazz Muhammad, SG, UCLA
A great athlete with NBA strength, Muhammad can score from anywhere. He’s not an elite defender or a great rebounder and doesn't really get others involved, but he can flat out score and has potential to be one of the best offensive players in the league. The Magic are set up front with the reigning Defensive player of the year Gustavo Ayon anchoring the middle, and the addition of a young and talented scoring threat on the perimeter could be just what they need to return to relevance.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
Caldwell-Pope is an offensive minded guard with very good upside as an off-ball scorer. The sophomore guard has all the tools to be a very good prospect for a team, with the size to get shots off, a high release point, and a reasonably quick release and steady follow through. Despite being somewhat of a one-dimensional player, Caldwell-Pope’s natural scoring ability and unlimited range could just be what the Cavaliers need as Dion Waiters (Last year’s 4th overall pick) has simply not panned out thus far.

5. Detroit Pistons: Alex Poythress, SF, Kentucky
Poythress is an outstanding athlete, explosive around the rim with good agility for a player his size, allowing him to make his presence felt on a regular basis in transition, crashing the offensive glass, and as a playmaker defensively. A good rebounder for his size, Poythress needs to work on his offensive game, but he has a decent form on his jump shot that can at times extend to the three point line. Detroit has desperate needs at the small forward spot and Poythress would fit right in and contribute tremendously.

6. Phoenix Suns: James McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
A solid, athletic power forward who possesses an all-rounded game, McAdoo is the of former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo and has carved out a solid two year career at North Carolina. A good rebounder with the potential to make an impact defensively as a shot blocker, McAdoo is one of those players who can contribute immediately with his talent and effort alone. The Suns have prospects all over their roster and McAdoo should fit well into their rebuilding process.

7. Indiana Pacers: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
Burke is the prototypical point guard who can do just about everything on the basketball court. He's got the perfect balance between scoring and helping others, and he plays almost mistake-free basketball. He's an excellent shooter, a fearless floor leader and a much improved defender. The Pacers’ glaring weakness lies in their lack of a true point guard, and Burke would be a great fit in Indiana.

8. Sacramento Kings: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
Prototypical 2-guard with a tremendous combination of athleticism and shooting ability, McLemore has the potential to be the best wing player in this draft. Natural scoring talent and one of the best shooting touches you’ll see in an NBA prospect. Maturity and confidence level leaves something to be desired, but overall a good kid who just needs the right guidance. Kings have the likes of Marcus Thornton, John Salmons and Tyreke Evans at the wings, but McLemore has the potential to surpass all of them.

9. Milwaukee Bucks: Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina St.
An oversized point guard at 6-5, Brown has tremendous court vision and uses his size to full effect on the boards. Has shown huge upside as an on-ball defender with his length and quickness. Glaring weakness is his lack of an outside jumper, he is much more comfortable with floaters, runners and leaners and shoots less than 30% on jump shots. Milwaukee is in need of a point guard with Beno Udrih demanding a trade, and Brown has the potential to be a game-changer.

10. Portland Trailblazers: Alex Len, C, Maryland
Len is a big, traditional center who can score in the paint or step outside and hit a jumper. Despite being still very raw and far from a finished product, Len moves very well for his size and is a good rebounder and shot-blocker and would fit in very well in the Blazers front-court next to All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

11. Houston Rockets: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
Porter is a multi-skilled small forward possessing tremendous length and veteran basketball savvy, gets out in the open court and runs exceedingly well end to end. Plays a smart, composed game and understands his role on both ends of the floor. Will fit in nicely at the wing next to James Harden on the Rockets and has the potential to be a beast on the defensive end.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves: CJ Leslie, SF, North Carolina St.
Explosive athlete who excites with his above-the-rim play, Leslie possesses great length that he uses effectively on the defensive end. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and take his man off the dribble from about the foul line extended, and can finish strong around the rim in a variety of different ways. Should be a great fit in Minnesota with Ricky Rubio leading the break.

13. Washington Wizards: Rakeem Christmas, PF, Syracuse
A long athletic forward who possesses great length with a 7'2 wingspan, Christmas possesses a good face-up game and a real ability to beat his defender off the dribble with his quickness. Needs to develop much better footwork in the post to be a consistent offensive threat and work on his defense. Will be a good prospect in Washington, where he can learn behind veteran bigs such as Nene and Emeka Okafor.

14. Utah Jazz: C.J. McCollum, PG, Lehigh
Combo guard with a deadly offensive game, McCollum is simply lethal off the dribble and can score just about anywhere on the basketball court. Gets to the line often and is a terrific free throw shooter. McCollum will need to work on his lead guard skills at the next level. Utah has a plethora of young talent and McCollum will fit in very nicely as they continue to grow as a team.

[Valor]

2013 Draft Preview: Chicago Bulls


The Bulls are hoping to find more Butler-like late round gems in this year's draft

Team Overview
2012-13 Record: 54-28, Lost in conference semifinals to New York
Draft Picks: 17th (via Dallas), 27th

Under Contract
G: Derrick Rose
G: Kirk Hinrich
G: Marquis Teague
G/F: Jimmy Butler
F: Luol Deng
F: Carlos Boozer
F: Taj Gibson
C: Joakim Noah

Free Agents
G: Nate Robinson
F: Luke Zeller
F: Vladimir Radmanovic
C: Jermaine O’Neal
C: Nazr Mohammed

Areas of Strength
The Bulls potentially have a starting lineup that can be the equal of any in the NBA, with current All-Stars Joakim Noah and Luol Deng joined on the front line by former All-Star Carlos Boozer, who had his best season of three in Chicago. Jimmy Butler, a deep reserve at this time last year, developed so quickly that he'll most likely continue to start at shooting guard after replacing Richard Hamilton in the middle of the season. And Derrick Rose, finally, will be back (he will, won't he?). Chicago, as usual in the Tom Thibodeau era, is the best defensive team in the league, but offensive struggles still haunt this squad, and Derrick Rose is still going to need some help.

Needs work
Once the famed “bench mob” that was as deep as any, the Bulls bench is a major concern heading into this off-season. Robinson will probably fetch higher price tags than the Bulls management is willing to pay. They’ll also need to get younger up front as both Nazr Mohammed and Jermaine O’Neal are nearing the end of their careers and are unlikely to be brought back. Chicago is also the league’s worst team from three, so depth is an issue, along with outside shooting.

The way to go
A bit of tough luck for the Bulls, as the Mavericks late-season addition of Richard Hamilton was able to push them over the edge and into the post-season, meaning Chicago will get another mid-late first round pick instead of one late in the lottery. This year's draft class allegedly offers depth at shooting guard, though anyone still on the board at No. 17 or No. 27 are unlikely to challenge Butler for the starting spot, so a backup big and/or perimeter shooting are the best bets.

Best Fit
Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
Michael Snaer, SG, Florida St.

[Lamrock]

Provided a few guys slip in the draft (as always seems to happen in 2K) and everybody stays healthy, you'll be as good as any team heading into next season. As far as free agency goes, I'd look into a guy like Dorell Wright to shore up the back-up SF position without demanding too much money or playing time. Good luck!

[Valor]

Provided a few guys slip in the draft (as always seems to happen in 2K) and everybody stays healthy, you'll be as good as any team heading into next season. As far as free agency goes, I'd look into a guy like Dorell Wright to shore up the back-up SF position without demanding too much money or playing time. Good luck!

Yeah and there's not really a lot of clear-cut lottery-locked picks in this draft class so the mock might be completely different from the eventual result, wouldn't be surprised.

[Valor]

Bizarre Firing of Mike Woodson amongst record Coaching Changes



June 23rd, 2013 -- NBA teams just can't seem to stick with coaches this season.

Since the end of the 2012-13 NBA season, there has been 11 coaching changes – tying the mark set ten years ago in the 2003 offseason – of the 11, George Karl (43-39) and Mike Woodson (55-27) fielded playoff teams with the Nuggets and Knicks, respectively.

Woodson’s Knicks made the Eastern Conference Finals as the second seed in the conference and was narrowly eliminated in game 7.

Is there a reason for such turnover in 2013? Is it a panic as the Miami Heat and few others have created super teams? Is it a knee-jerk business reaction in a new era affected by the shorter contracts of the collective bargaining agreement?

Maybe it's simply the cyclical nature of a league where winning isn't enough.

Really now James Dolan, do you really believe that your new hire Norm Nealy could have this squad win more in the upcoming season than what Mike Woodson just accomplished? With all due respect to Nealy, that is just ridiculous.

Then there is the New Orleans Pelicans, who fired Mike Dunlap after hiring him just two months ago. If that wasn’t enough, the Pelican’s former assistant GM and interim head coach Percy Barber has been hired by the Charlotte Bobcats as their new head coach. Oh, did I mention that New Orleans have also replaced Dunlap with Willard Lane, who coached the Bobcats after they fired Dunlap last season? Yeah, they basically traded coaches. Again.

Talk about a mess.

A complete list of the coaching turnovers has been compiled below.


Coaching Changes 2013


Charlotte Bobcats: Fired Willard Lane; Hired Percy Barber
Cleveland Cavaliers: Fired Johnnie Woolridge; Hired Mel Booth
Denver Nuggets: Fired George Karl; Hired Rickey Griffin
Detroit Pistons: Fired Matthew Reece; Hired Jerry Forte
New Orleans Pelicans: Fired Mike Dunlap; Hired Willard Lane
New York Knicks: Fired Mike Woodson; Hired Norm Nealy
Orlando Magic: Fired Jacque Vaughn; Hired Mitch Waters
Phoenix Suns: Fired Darrel Haywood; Hired Quinn McGuire
Portland Trailblazers: Fired Terry Stotts; Hired Ellis Aldridge
Sacramento Kings: Fired Mel Booth; Hired Jordan Henderson
Utah Jazz: Fired Tyrone Corbin; Hired Johnnie Woolridge

[Martti.]

2K really went too far with the coaching changes, after a season Woodson had, I doubt he'd be fired. (IRL is a different matter though. )

[Solaris Phase Two]

Lucas Bebe Noguiera!

[Valor]

2K really went too far with the coaching changes, after a season Woodson had, I doubt he'd be fired. (IRL is a different matter though. )

Yeah, it actually resembles the firing of their GM after their great season in 2013 tho, so I'm not that shocked. More so at all those other ridiculous changes where they are just playing coaching job musical chairs swapping gigs left and right....

Lucas Bebe Noguiera!

Not sure if he's in the draft class I am using unfortunately, maybe next season

Apologizes for the lack of activity lately, work and uni has been hectic and I really need to find some free time Will update when I can though! Exciting offseason coming up!

[Fresh8]

Waiting for the next update!

[unitas9]

Dud this Legacy is awesome! I'm all the way back on chapter 3 catching up, keep up the good work!

[Valor]

Waiting for the next update!

Dud this Legacy is awesome! I'm all the way back on chapter 3 catching up, keep up the good work!

Cheers guys, writing up the next chapter and the (very lengthy) draft recap so stay tuned!

[Valor]

Chapter 7

“Butler’s shot…no good! Anthony on the rebound, and the Knicks will hold it here for a final shot with 25 seconds remaining in regulation” Mike Breen announced, “Here comes Carmelo Anthony, Deng on him.”
“JR Smith has been red hot shooting the basketball Mike,” Jeff Van Gundy said, “Look for the Knicks to run him on a curl for a clean look”
“5 seconds remaining. Anthony…to Chandler! The Knicks with the two point lead!” Breen yelled, “4.7 seconds remaining and Tom Thibodeau will call his final timeout.”
“What a beautiful play, Chandler set the initial screen for Smith, which forced Boozer to close out, and that left Jimmy Butler alone with the 7 foot Chandler on the post” Van Gundy remarked, “Good awareness by Anthony to exploit that mismatch”
“Chants of defense, here at the Garden” Breen said as the timeout finishes and Luol Deng took his place as the inbounder, “It’s Robinson, guarded by Jason Kidd. Robinson, launches a three at the buzzer….it’s no good! The New York Knicks are going to the Conference Finals!”
Madison Square Garden explodes as Anthony his teammates jump up and down in joy, confetti fell from the rafters and reporters streamed onto the court looking for interviews.

“Leo? What are you doing here?” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said as he walked into the film room, he saw what was being played and turned it off, “Look, you can’t keep dwelling on that loss.”
“We were so close…” Lai muttered, still staring at what was now a blank screen.
“It happened, it’s over. There’s nothing you can do about it now” Thibodeau stated firmly, “Now come out of there”
Lai got up slowly; he had been in the film room at the Berto Center for three days now, watching the season-ending game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals over and over again. The Bulls had lost by one basket in the final moments, and the first-year general manager was having difficulty getting over the loss.
Thibodeau patted him on the shoulders, “Go wash yourself up, I’ll be at the meeting room. The end of season debriefing is today. We got to address the team”
Lai nodded and walked to the bathroom, he splashed water on his face. The ice cold liquid seemed to revitalize and refocus him as he opened his eyes.

It was time to get back to work.

✧✧✧✧✧

“John’s not happy with you” Thibodeau said as he entered Leo Lai’s office unannounced, there was no need to, the two had spent so much time at their offices at the Berto Center they might as well had sold their houses and moved in permanently.
“I know” Lai replied, “He’ll change his mind”
“I’m not happy with you either, you know” Thibodeau remarked.
Lai shrugged a little as he finished what he was doing on the computer, “I know that too”
“You shouldn’t have traded Lu away” Thibodeau stated bluntly,
“Tom, he was asking for $12-$15 million per, we can’t afford to keep him” Lai said as he looked at the coach.
“Well, it is what it is I guess” Thibodeau let out a sigh as he poured himself a cup of coffee, “I like your picks though, not crazy about them, but I think we got ourselves some solid players”
Lai grinned, “Hey, trust me on this. These kids will turn out great”
“You don’t have to sell me, John’s the one who doesn’t like it” Thibodeau pointed out.
Seemingly just on cue, Paxson appeared at the door
“Well, well, speak of the devil..” Lai muttered under his breath, “How can I help you, John?”
Paxson’s expression was stern as he replied, “You know what this is about, what were you thinking? There were plenty of players better after we moved up to #12 and you picked Steven Adams? There’s a limit to homerism you know!”
“Woah, chill for a bit John” Lai said, taken aback at the anger being exhibited by the team president, who’s always been on his side since he took the job as the team’s general manager. He expected disapproval, Thibodeau had told him as much, but not to this extent.
“Okay look, I didn’t draft Steve because he’s from the same country as me, let’s get that out the way.” Lai began to explain, “I drafted him because he’s an athletic seven footer and you don’t get many of those running around. Most importantly he’s tough as hell and I know he’s going to work his butt off every day”
“So you are saying those are the reasons you passed up on talents like Poythress, Otto Porter, and CJ Leslie?” Paxson said incredulously, “Are you kidding me?”
Lai looked Paxson right in the eye, “John, you remember how much you gave up to get Omer? How about Mirotic? I’m telling you this kid Steven Adams is going to be a great addition to our basketball team”
Taken aback at the confidence of his GM, Paxson backed off his position slightly, “Alright then, but for your sake I hope you’re right about that.”
Paxson turned and walked to the door, but paused before walking out, “Good job grabbing Hardaway’s kid.” He said before leaving, leaving Lai and Thibodeau to continue mapping out their free agency plans

✧✧✧✧✧

“You know the history of this organization, you know it’s a big market, so I’m not going to waste your time going through all that,” Lai was saying to Andre Iguodala as he showed him around the United Center, “I just want you to look up”
Iguodala was conducting one of his many tours as he explored his free agent options, he looked up at the rafters and saw the six championship banners hanging there, then the four familiar jerseys of Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Lai watched as Iggy’s eyes stopped at the sight of Jordan’s famous number 23 jersey.
“The way I see it,” Lai said, drawing Iguodala’s attention back from the rafters, “When it’s all said and done you’ll have helped us put up a few more championship banners and you’ll have solidified yourself as the second best sidekick this franchise has ever seen”
Iguodala was liking what he was hearing, but frowned as Lai’s speech concluded. He looked over to his agent, who cleared his throat, “How would you guys even make my client an offer though? You are completely capped out. Do know that my client is not going to accept the MLE.” The agent stated as Iggy began to play around with his phone.
“We are ready to exercise the amnesty clause to free up that cap space if you make the commitment to sign with us” Lai replied, slightly taken aback at the change in attitude.
“We’ll be in touch” Iguodala’s agent said before hastily shaking hands with Lai before leaving the building.
Lai watched as Iguodala and his agent left, Well that didn’t go exactly as planned, he thought to himself as he made his way back to his office, there was no time to reflect on what had happened though, as he had a few more scheduled appointments for the day.

Lai’s office was already occupied with the four players he had arranged to meet with, and they all stood up as he entered the room.
“Please, sit down,” Lai said with a smile as he took a seat himself,
“So, let’s cut to the chase. As we have discussed before, these are the terms we are offering” Lai stated as he gave each person their own separate piece of document, “If these terms are amicable, we can sign right now”
Lai watched as the players briefly held a discussion with their individual agents, and broke out a grin as they all nodded and put their signatures on the dotted lines.

“Welcome back to Chicago”

[Valor]

2013 NBA Draft: Live Pick-By-Pick Analysis

7:30 EDT: Good evening and welcome to live coverage of the 67th annual NBA Draft, provided once again by yours truly here at Bulls.com. We will provide on the spot reactions and analysis for all 60 picks as the draft unfolds. Chicago owns selections #17 and #27 tonight. In six of the last 10 drafts, the Bulls have pulled the trigger on a draft night trade.

The Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock with the first overall selection…


1st Round: Lottery Picks (1-14)

1. Charlotte Bobcats select C Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)

7:38 EDT: No surprise picks here from MJ, as he took the guy who has been billed as the number 1 overall selection by most of the mock drafts out there. There are concerns about his knees following the ACL injury and also the people he surround himself with, but Noel is an athletic center with tremendous defensive potential. Bobcats need a big man and they got themselves one.


2. New Orleans Pelicans select C Cody Zeller (Indiana)

7:44 EDT: The other center who was billed as either the #1 or #2 overall pick, the Pelicans wasted no time in picking him up after the Bobcats went with Noel. Zeller is not only athletic, but also very fundamentally sound. New Orleans fans must be drooling at the pairing of last year’s number one overall pick Anthony Davis with their new addition Cody Zeller right about now.


3. Orlando Magic select C Alex Len (Maryland)

7:50 EDT: Someone let me know when was the last time three centers were taken with the first three picks of the draft, because I can’t recall it if it ever happened. Len shoots up the draft boards and ends up being grabbed by the Magic here at number three, where he will team up with last year’s defensive player of the year Gustavo Ayon (who I’m assuming will move to PF) and the rebounding machine that is Nikola Vucevic to form a fearsome three man rotation up front for the Orlando Magic. Not bad for a team that only recently lost Dwight Howard.


4.Cleveland Cavaliers select C Jeff Withey (Kansas)

7:56 EDT: Make that four centers in a row to start the draft, and this comes as perhaps the first real shock of the night if you discount Len at #3. Make no mistake, Withey is a solid 7 foot rim protector who can contribute to any team, but this is a guy who was a fringe first round pick at best coming in, not a top five pick! What is Cleveland thinking?


5. Detroit Pistons select Shabazz Muhammed (UCLA)

8:02 EDT: Excellent pick up by the Pistons, as Muhammed was projected to be a top three talent even coming out of high school. He is by no means a great athlete and there is the age controversy, but he does one thing just about better than anybody in this draft class – score.


6. Phoenix Suns select C Dewayne Dedmon (USC)

8:08 EDT: Yet another center, and yet another shocker. Dedmon averaged a mere 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds over 22.3 minutes last season at USC, not exactly numbers you’d expect from the sixth overall pick in the draft. You can’t teach size, but the Suns will have to be very patient with him as it’ll probably take a few years for him to have any impact at all in the league.

7. Indiana Pacers select SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Georgia)

8:14 EDT: The Pacers get a great talent here, but not one that they need. Caldwell-Pope has tremendous range, and is probably the best shooter in this draft, but the Pacers are loaded at the wing with the likes of Paul George, Danny Granger, Gerald Green, and Sam Young. A trade might be looming here.

8. Sacramento Kings select SG Ben McLemore (Kansas)

8:20 EDT: The Kings has to be thrilled that McLemore was available when it was their turn to pick. This is a player who is just filled with unlimited potential, he possesses what some scouts are saying to be Ray Allen’s shooting ability alongside a bunch of athleticism to boot. Sacramento might have gotten themselves a future superstar here, and definitely a solid building block when paired up with a strong big man in DeMarcus Cousins (potential Kobe-Shaq duo here, anyone?). The Kings are headed in the right direction.


9. Milwaukee Bucks select C Rudy Gobert (France)

8:26 EDT: Fringe first round talent center getting picked in the lottery, is this the trend this year? Seems like it. At least this kid stands at 7-2 and possesses a 7-9 wingspan alongside a 9-7 standing reach, which is then topped by a tremendous leaping ability, making him more of a solid project to work with than Withey or Dedmon. He will need to add weight and strength and refine his post game to best take advantage of his body. Two or three years down the road we will either view this as a genius pick or a colossal failure on the Bucks part.


10. Portland Trailblazers select PG Trey Burke (Michigan)

8:32 EDT: The National Player of the Year will go to Portland…where they already have the reigning Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard running the show at the point. All things aside, Burke is a terrific prototypical point guard, averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 assists this past season and led the Wolverines to the national title game. He shoots well from the perimeter and his drive-and-kick game is an ideal fit for the pick-and-roll-heavy NBA. He may not have the explosiveness of a Chris Paul, but he'll turn out to be one of the better players from this draft.

TRADE
Portland receives: Marvin Williams, Alec Burks, 2015 2nd round pick
Utah receives: Draft rights to 10th pick Trey Burke

8:34 EDT: We had a hunch it was going to happen, and literally minutes after Burke shook hands with the commissioner with a Blazers cap on he had to replace it with a Jazz one. Word had it that the Jazz were looking for Burke all night long and they now got him. Portland gets some much needed depth on the wings with a versatile player in Marvin Williams and a standout scorer in Burks. Both sides get what they wanted.


11.Houston Rockets select SG Michael Snaer (Florida St.)

8:40 EDT: The Rockets secures depth behind James Harden with the pick of the 2012 ACC Tournament MVP, who is going way higher than he was projected to be (second round). Daryl Morey must have seen something we all missed, but Snaer does fit the mold of players that Houston is looking for, guys who can attack the rim and shoot the deep ball. Snaer has NBA range and is a good aggressive slasher who should do just fine in Houston, as long as they are looking for nothing more than a contributor off the bench.

TRADE
Chicago receives: 12th pick (Timberwolves), 32nd pick (Pistons), 2014 2nd round pick (Pistons), Alexey Shved (Timberwolves)
Detroit receives: 27th pick (Bulls), Luol Deng (Bulls), Marquis Teague (Bulls), J.J. Barea (Timberwolves)
Minnesota receives: 17th pick (Bulls), Draft rights to 5th pick Shabazz Muhammed

8:42 EDT: Make that seven of the last 11 drafts the Bulls have pulled the trigger on a draft night trade. The three team deal sees long time Bulls veteran Luol Deng dealt to the rival Pistons while the Bulls swap first round picks with Minnesota to move up into the lottery and traded down from the 27th pick into the second round in a swap with the Pistons. Minnesota gets the rights to Muhammed from Detroit for their troubles as well, as they also send backup point guards J.J. Barea to the Pistons and Alexey Shved to the Bulls. Pretty much a salary dump move by Chicago with Deng looking for a big extension that the Bulls are unwilling to give, Chicago also gets to move up into the lottery in the process.

After the dust settles, Chicago is now on the clock.

12. Chicago Bulls select C Steven Adams (Pittsburg)

8:48 EDT: Seriously, what is with this year’s lottery picks being mostly centers? I thought they were a dying breed? Anyways, a bit of a shocker as the Bulls decided to pass on more highly touted wing prospects such as Alex Poythress or Otto Porter Jr to fill the void left behind by the departure of Deng. The New Zealand native is a very, very raw seven footer, but he’s big, tough, and athletic. The upside is enormous for Adams and Bulls fans who are voicing their displeasures now might change their tune in a few seasons.


13. Washington Wizards select SG Charles Carmouche (LSU)

8:54 EDT: If it wasn’t already, the shock level in this draft just shot straight out of the ceiling here at the Barclays Center. Caromouche himself probably thinks it’s a prank call when he received the phone call. The 6-4 guard spent five seasons in college, two in UNO, two in Memphis, and finished off at LSU. As a fifth year senior he averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. This is a guy who had a 99% chance of going undrafted tonight, somehow the remaining 1% came through. Good for him.

14. Utah Jazz select SF Alex Poythress (Kentucky)

9:00 EDT: Filling the void left by the departure of Marvin Williams, the Jazz picks up the explosive freshmen prospect Alex Poythress out of Kentucky to pair with Gordan Hayward on the wing. The 2012 McDonalds All-American made the All-SEC Freshmen team this past season with the Kentucky Wildcats after averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds. While he still needs to polish and refine his offensive game, the potential is unmistakable and the Jazz should be feeling fortunate that he is still on the board this late.

[Valor]

2013 NBA Draft: Live Pick-By-Pick Analysis

1st Round: Mid-Late Round Picks (15-30)

15.Toronto Raptors select SG Archie Goodwin (Kentucky)

9:06 EDT: A relative disappointment in his lone season at Kentucky, Goodwin did at times showcase the ability to become an explosive player at the next level. He possesses excellent size, speed and athleticism for either guard spot and is one of the youngest prospects in this class. His jumper will require some serious work and he’ll be a project, but the Raptors aren’t in a hurry at either wing spot with the likes of Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Landry Fields and can afford to take their time developing Goodwin into a quality NBA player.


16. Philadelphia 76ers select C Reggie Johnson (Miami)

9:12 EDT: Another player who wasn’t expected to be drafted at all makes it into the first round, not surprisingly, it’s another big man making the leap. Johnson is a 6-10, 307 pound power player who at one point weighed 329 pounds. For the Sixers to reap any value out of this pick they’ll have to really work on his conditioning levels and defensive positioning as he is just too slow to keep up with quicker players at the next level. Offensively he can make a difference if he continues to work on his off-hand in the low post and combine that with his solid jump shot.


17. Minnesota Timberwolves select SG Dexter Strickland (North Carolina)

9:18 EDT: Despite being incredibly and comfortably set at the two guard spot with the newly acquired Shabazz Mohammed and veteran Brandon Roy, the Minnesota Timberwolves decides to take yet another two guard in the form of the former Tar Heel starter. Like with Noel, question marks will come with Strickland as he missed the second half of the season with a torn ACL, but this is significantly more serious as even when healthy Strickland has never averaged more than 7.5 points per game in his three seasons at UNC.


18. Memphis Grizzlies select PG Julius Mays (Kentucky)

9:24 EDT: A player who probably wasn’t going to be drafted prior to a pre-Draft combine hosted by the Brooklyn Nets, former Kentucky guard Julius Mays dominated the workout playing out of position at point guard and showed his potential to be a solid combo guard coming off the bench at the next level. John Calipari raves about this kid despite Mays having only played one season as a Wildcat after transferring to Kentucky (his third college in as many seasons) for his junior season, and Calipari’s word is something to be considered.


19. Brooklyn Nets select PG Lorenzo Brown

9:30 EDT: The Brooklyn Nets must be thrilled for him to have fallen this far down to them at #19 despite being more than set at the point with All-Star Deron Williams running the show and C.J. Watson backing him up. Brown is an all-rounded oversized point guard with triple double potential each and every time he steps onto the floor. Shall he get the opportunity to play, he should bring out the nostalgia in fans as a weaker (ok, a lot weaker) version of a former Net legend Jason Kidd. Standing 6-5 and possesses ideal NBA quickness and ball handling ability, all Brown lacks is range of any sort on his jump shot to become an impact player in the league.


20. Golden State Warriors select PG Myck Kabongo (Texas)

9:36 EDT: A true point guard with good size and a quick first step, Kabongo missed the first 23 games of the season while sitting out a suspension. Despite his abbreviated season, however, he was voted the Longhorns’ MVP after averaging 14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He’ll have to get stronger and improve his jump shot before making an impact, but he has NBA level talent as a floor general and the Warriors should be thrilled about picking him up to potentially serve as Steph Curry’s backup.


TRADE
Atlanta receives: Jared Sullinger
Boston receives: 22nd pick, 2014 2nd round pick

9:38 EDT: The Atlanta Hawks gain depth up front with a potential-filled player in Jared Sullinger while the Celtics enable themselves to have back-to-back picks at 22 and 23 while also gaining an additional second rounder in next year’s draft, clearing up their jam at the power forward position in the process. Good deal for both sides.

Now with that out the way, the Nuggets are on the clock.


21. Denver Nuggets select PG Ian Miller (Florida St.) [b]

9:44 EDT: Many people have compared the 6-3 point guard Ian Miller to Russell Westbrook, let that sink in for just a moment. Before we get too excited though (Nuggets fans, I’m talking to you), he is way more inexperienced and unpolished than Westbrook was coming out of college due to barely playing in both his freshmen and sophomore seasons as a result of academic issues. When he did play, he showcased a knack for scoring in limited minutes with his dazzling speed and solid jump shot. Miller will be a project for the Nuggets, but perhaps one that’s worth anticipating on.

[b]22. Boston Celtics select PG Pierre Jackson (Baylor)

9:50 EDT: With the pick that they acquired from Atlanta, the Celtics get some much needed depth at the point guard position by picking up the relentless and energetic Pierre Jackson from Baylor. Jackson may be a bit undersized at just 5-10 and 176 pounds, but he makes up for it with heart, desire, and a tremendous explosive ability. While he’ll be best developed in the D-League at first, Boston has nobody behind Rajon Rondo and that may force Jackson to have a taste of NBA action right away.


23. Boston Celtics select PG C.J. McCollum (Lehigh)

9:56 EDT: It is a good sign anytime you are compared to a player as good as Stephen Curry, and that’s exactly what the word on McCollum is coming out of Lehigh University. A two time Patriot League Player of the Year (’10, ’12), McCollum is a combo guard that is simply lethal scoring the basketball. Originally expected to go in the lottery in many mock drafts, McCollum is happily picked up by the Celtics, who can still use more depth at guard despite just drafting Pierre Jackson with the previous pick.

24. Los Angeles Clippers select PG Peyton Siva (Louisville)

10:02 EDT: Coming off a NCAA Championship, the two time Big East Tournament MVP will bring both a winning mentality (much needed in the abomination that is the Clippers franchise), as well as solid depth at point guard behind Chris Paul (who is an unrestricted FA and may not return!). While he is a subpar shooter, Siva is very good at running the pick and roll and is as good of a fit with the Clippers offense as any point guard in this draft.


TRADE
Cleveland receives: 25th pick, Eric Maynor
Oklahoma City receives: Tyler Zeller, 31st pick

10:04 EDT: As expected, OKC moves down and out of the first round (and with it, the constraints of a guaranteed rookie contract). Time will tell whether or not they will regret trading away a very good backup point guard in Eric Maynor, they do still have Reggie Jackson there behind Westbrook, whom they are very fond of, and most likely added a starting center in Tyler Zeller in place of Kendrick Perkins and his rapidly declining production (Perk averaged just 1 point and 2.8 rebounds per game last season). Cleveland gets themselves a shot at redemption after the shocking pick at #4 with Jeff Withey, and get Maynor to backup Irving at the same time. Sweet deal for both sides.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers select PG Quinn Cook (Duke)

10:08 EDT: Despite just picking up Eric Maynor, the Cavaliers decided to add further depth at the point guard position in the form of Duke Sophomore Quinn Cook, who made dramatic strides from his freshman season this year, averaging 11.7 points and 5.3 assists in 33 minutes per game. One of the more underrated players in the country, Cook is a very proficient facilitator who should develop into a nice role player at the next level.


26. Los Angeles Lakers select PG Ryan Harrow (Kentucky)

10:14 EDT: Most expected the Lakers to trade out of the first round given their cap situation, but evidently they couldn’t find a trade partner in the end so here we have it, Kentucky point guard Ryan Harrow is going to compete with Steve Blake and Chris Duhon for the backup point guard job behind Steve Nash. Good luck with that, especially since he came off a disappointing up and down season where he averaged just 9.9 points and 2.8 assists, shooting a dismal 29% from beyond the arc. The Lakers are reaching here.


27. Detroit Pistons select PG Isaiah Canaan (Murray St.)

10:20 EDT: An absolute deadeye shooter who shot 42% on threes during his 4 years at Murray State, the two time OVC Player of the Year (’12, ’13) is a good solid pickup this late in the first round….if Detroit didn’t already have about five point guards on the roster. Maybe they just picked him because his name is Isaiah and they need to find a way to put bums in the seats? They seemed to have forgotten that the former Detroit legend’s name was spelt Isiah though, so this PR move doesn’t technically work.


28. New York Knicks select PG Phil Pressey (Missouri)

10:26 EDT: Yet another point guard goes (that’s now what, 11 in a row? Wow), this time it’s Junior Phil Pressey from the Missouri Tigers. A true point guard, Pressey holds the SEC single-game assists record, Missouri single-season and career assists records (average & total), Missouri career steals record (total), and was the 2012-13 SEC assist champion. Standing at just 5-11, Pressey makes up for his lack of size with some nifty ball handling ability and playmaking ability that will translate well at the next level. As long as the Knicks see him as a “game manager” type role player and not expect a lot of improvements, he should be able to meet expectations and carve out a solid career for himself.


29. Miami Heat select SF C.J. Leslie (North Carolina St.)

10:32 EDT: After an agonizing wait in the green room for the last 1 ½ hours, Leslie finally gets on the board after he gets picked up by the Miami Heat, who has potentially gotten themselves the steal of the draft. Originally projected to go just outside the top 10, Leslie waited and waited as he watched his fellow prospects go on stage to shake the commissioner’s hand until he and Otto Porter were the only guys sitting. It is a feeling that very few players, such as Leslie’s new teammate Rashard Lewis (who waited till the second round in ‘98), and Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (slid down to 24th pick in the ‘05 NFL draft) understand, and all I can say to the rest of the league is…look out. Leslie is a freakish athlete who can finish strong above the rim and has great potential to excel on the defensive end, especially with Lebron James showing him the ropes in Miami.


30. San Antonio Spurs select SF Christian Watford (Indiana)

10:38 EDT: The Spurs were trying really, really hard to trade up so they could grab Leslie, but alas for Gregg Popovich, the team that they defeated in the Finals had a little bit of revenge as they grabbed him first. Watford though, isn’t a bad consolation prize for San Antonio with the final pick of the first round. The senior forward out of Indiana has great size and length at 6-9 and a wingspan of 7 feet, but also possesses a great deep ball and the potential to be a stretch forward at the next level. Despite his lack of athletic ability, Watford is going to be a nice fit in the Spurs system as coach Popovich seems to have a knack for finding roles for obscure guys to thrive in, as we’ve seen over the years.

[Valor]

2013 NBA Draft: Live Pick-By-Pick Analysis

2nd Round

31. Oklahoma City Thunder select SF Tony Mitchell (North Texas)

10:41 EDT: Even after moving down to the second round, the Thunder still got the player they wanted all along in Tony Mitchell, who is a freakishly athletic forward with the size and length to play either forward spots comfortably and effectively. With guys such as Kevin Durant, Kevin Martin, Perry Jones III, and Thabo Sefolosha ahead of him, Mitchell will get plenty of time to develop his very raw skills and should be a good contributor in a few seasons for Oklahoma City.


32. Chicago Bulls select SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan)

10:44 EDT: The son of former All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway, Hardaway Jr. is nothing like his father as a player. He's a long, tall and athletic swingman whose handle isn’t yet at the level of his father's legendary dribble. However, his father never possessed the kind of long range shooting ability that Hardaway Jr. possesses, which is exactly what the offensively challenged Bulls need after ranking last in both scoring and three point shooting last season.


33. New Orleans Pelicans select SF Otto Porter (Georgetown)

10:47 EDT: Porter made NBA history, just not the way he wants to as he broke the NBA record for “Most time spent in the Green Room”, edging out the previous record holder Rashard Lewis by one pick (Lewis went 32 in ’98). The kid is close to tears as he walked up onto the stage receiving a standing ovation from the Brooklyn crowd here at the Barclays Center. No idea how he fell so far, but good on the Pelicans for picking him up, and he’ll most likely reward them with his versatile skillset, especially on the defensive end.


34.Indiana Pacers select SF Doug McDermott (Creighton)

10:50 EDT: The Pacers are having themselves a very good draft, as they snag up Creighton shooter Doug McDermott. Just like with fellow Bluejay Kyle Korver, McDermott really is a special marksmen from long range. Over his three years as a Bluejay, he made a name for himself as he earned two MVC Player of the Year honors and MVC Tournament MVPs while winning consecutive MVC Tournament championships and was twice a consensus first team All-American. In past season as a junior, he ranked first in points scored in the nation and second in points per game, averaging over 23 points on 55% shooting, including an amazing mark of 49% from beyond the arc.

35. Phoenix Suns select SF Deshaun Thomas (Ohio St.)

10:53 EDT: A natural scorer who is capable of playing both forward positions on offense, Thomas is very skilled and has a very strong body despite being a bit undersized at just 6-6. He’ll need to work very hard on his defense to be able to contribute at the next level, but his scoring ability is a proven asset that should keep him in the league. Phoenix has an abundance of young talent across the board and Thomas will fit right in with the player development plans for the future.

36. Charlotte Bobcats select SG Ricardo Ledo (Providence)

10:56 EDT: Ledo was a big question mark because he never played at Providence thanks to eligibility issues. He may have more potential than anyone in the second round aside from Otto Porter, but it’s just all upside at the moment.


TRADE
Cleveland receives: 37th pick (Kings), 51st pick (Nuggets)
Denver receives: Daniel Gibson (Cavaliers), 2014 2nd round pick (Cavaliers), Chuck Hayes (Kings)
Sacramento receives: Kosta Koufos (Nuggets)

10:57 EDT: Cleveland once again gets themselves more draft picks as they send out disgruntled guard Daniel Gibson and a future second for both the 37th and 51st selections. Sacramento improves their length up front by adding the 7 feet tall Koufos in exchange for the undersized Chuck Hayes, while the Nuggets get a bundle of assets from a late second round pick, which includes a backup center that better suits their up-tempo style of play.


37. Cleveland Cavaliers select SF LeBryan Nash (Oklahoma St.)

10:59 EDT: One of the top recruited prospects coming out of high school in 2011, Nash has somewhat lived up to the hype as he has put together a very solid two year career as a Cowboy at Oklahoma State University. The 6-7 forward possess an NBA-ready body with next level athleticism and a knack for scoring the basketball, averaging just under 14 points per game over his two seasons at Oklahoma State. Showed dramatic improvements between his freshman and sophomore season, where he raised his field goal percentage from 39% to 46% while also increasing his scoring average by almost 7 points per game. Definitely one of the better picks for the Cavs this evening.


TRADE
Milwaukee receives: E’Twaun Moore, 2014 2nd round pick
Orlando receives: 38th pick, Drew Gooden

11:00 EDT: The Magic gain even more front court depth by adding Gooden and swapped their second round pick next season for the 38th selection while sending away the third year SG E’Twaun Moore (I’m betting it’s cause they can’t pronounce his name). Milwaukee clears out some playing time up front and adds some backcourt depth. Win-win deal right here.


38. Orlando Magic select SF Adonis Thomas (Memphis)

11:02 EDT: The big, long, and strong wing Adonis Thomas gets picked up by the Magic with the pick they just acquired from Milwaukee. Thomas can also really jump out of the gym, but lacks the lateral quickness to be a great defensive player on the outside as he can be easily beat off the dribble. Overall a very raw prospect with decent upside who might be able to contribute in a few seasons.

39. Orlando Magic select SF Dario Saric (Croatia)

11:05 EDT: A near 7 footer from Croatia with an all-rounded game that enables him to contribute as a scorer, rebounder, and facilitator? Wonder where we heard that from before. No, he won’t be as great as Toni Kukoc, but he’ll be pretty darn close. Saric has tremendous potential, as he is just 19 years of age and won’t turn 20 until the end of his rookie season. A great pickup by the Magic here, as Saric has a real shot of becoming a key player for this Orlando franchise for years to come.


40. Portland Trailblazers select PG Seth Curry (Duke)

11:08 EDT: The brother of Warriors star Stephen Curry, Seth Curry has pretty much the same gifts as his older brother and his NBA father Dell Curry – the ability to shoot the lights out. Unlike Steph Curry though, Seth doesn’t have the requisite point guard skills that his slight frame requires him to have at the next level. At just 6-1 and 180 pounds with average length and athleticism, Curry will find it difficult to play at the two guard spot, where his skillset is currently most adapted to play at. Seth will really need to work hard if he wants to stay here at the next level and compete for bragging rights at the dinner table on thanksgiving with his more accomplished family members.


41. Houston Rockets select PG Ray McCallum (Detroit)

11:11 EDT: McCallum has tremendous athleticism and can stuff the stat-sheets in all categories but isn't as proficient of a passer as you’d like, which is what the Rockets really needed. Still, he fits a positional need and should be a good backup behind All Star point guard Jeremy Lin.


42. Minnesota Timberwolves select SF Reggie Bullock (North Carolina)

11:14 EDT: A bit of a surprise to see Bullock fall this far, as the 6-7 swingman out of North Carolina was originally projected to be a late first round talent. He showed vast improvement in each season at UNC shooting the ball and was one of the ACC’s top 3 shooters this year. This skillset combined with his good size and length could carve out a long NBA career as an offensive spark off the bench.


43. Washington Wizards select SF Andre Roberson (Colorado)

11:17 EDT: Roberson is a tremendous rebounder for his size but doesn't have much else in his game. His energy makes him a good defender, but he is a better fit at power forward. Roberson's upside could lead him to being similar to Shawn Marion, but he will need to improve tremendously on offense if he wants to even be a poor man’s version of Marion in the future.


44. Utah Jazz select PG Elijah Johnson (Kansas)

11:20 EDT: At 6-4, Johnson has great size and athleticism for a point guard, which should translate well at the next level. The problem though, is that he is very inconsistent, especially at the defensive end despite all his physical gifts. To find success at the next level, Johnson will need to improve vastly on his focus, shooting consistency, defensive effort and his entire understanding of both sides of the ball. It’s all about the mental aspect for Johnson, as he has all the physical tools to succeed.


45. Memphis Grizzlies select SG C.J. Wilcox (Washington)

11:23 EDT: In Wilcox the Grizzlies are getting a good, solid shooter who possesses the prototypical size and length to play the two guard position at the next level. To a certain extent, what you see is what you get with Wilcox, as his average size, frame and athleticism doesn't leave him a ton of upside to grow into, particularly on the defensive end, where he does not stand out. If Wilcox turns out to be a reliable shooter off the bench, then this pick was well worth the investment.


46. Philadelphia 76ers select SG Brandon Paul (Illinois)

11:26 EDT: A senior guard out of Illinois, Brandon Paul is an athletic 2-guard with prolific scoring ability who possesses a long wingspan and tremendous explosiveness to add onto his solid 6-4, 200 pound frame. However, he does tend to drift away and play in an undisciplined manner and make terrible decisions every once in a while on the floor. That makes two of them in Philly as Paul now joins Nick Young, and the Sixers will really have a headache managing both of them this season.


47. Dallas Mavericks select SF Rodney Williams (Minnesota)

11:29 EDT: A long, versatile, athletic forward who has great potential on the defensive end, Williams is potentially going to become the replacement for the 35 year old Shawn Marion down the line in Dallas. While his offensive game is still very raw, his mechanics appears to be sound and his astonishing athleticism creates enormous upside for future development.


48. Golden State Warriors select SG Durand Scott (Miami)

11:32 EDT: The Warriors somewhat add depth in their backcourt with the addition of Miami senior Durand Scott. The ACC defensive player of the year in 2013, Scott possesses solid size, strength, athletic ability and fundamentals to continue finding success as a defender at the next level. However, his offensive game remains an issue as he has simply stalled in his development in that area over his four seasons at Miami, showing little to no improvements. Scott has Tony Allen-like potential on defense, but will need to improve dramatically on offense if he wishes to stick around in the league.


49. Memphis Grizzlies select SG Rodney McGruder (Kansas St.)

11:35 EDT: One of two players in Kansas State history to rank among the top 10 in both career scoring and rebounding, McGruder earned All-Big 12 First Team and Honorable Mention All-America honors. Despite his accomplishments, however, McGruder does not appear to have the kind of athleticism required to thrive at the next level. Standing at 6-5 with an average wingspan, the Kansas State senior could see plenty of time in the D-League and will be lucky to carve out a 5 year career in the NBA.


50. Brooklyn Nets select C Alec Brown (UW-Green Bay)

11:38 EDT: 7 footers are always a nice commodity in the NBA, and when a 7-1, 235 pound center who is capable of making it rain from downtown is available at pick #50, you pick him up; and that is exactly what the Nets did by selecting Alec Brown from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. His strength in the pros should be as a stretch 4 or 5 and used as a pick and pop player on the offensive end. Brown was also a good shot blocker during his collegiate career, but severely lacks physical strength which should be quickly addressed if he is to be a contributor for the Nets in the future.


51. Cleveland Cavaliers select PF James McAdoo (North Carolina)

11:41 EDT: If James McAdoo had accepted his invitation to the green room instead of staying at home for the draft, he would’ve shattered Rashard Lewis’ old record of “Most time spent in the Green Room” that was broken by Otto Porter about an hour ago. The Cavaliers got themselves an absolute steal with McAdoo, who was projected as potentially being a top 5 prospect. The nephew of former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo, James is a solid 6-9 forward with tremendous length and versatility that will translate well at the next level, especially on the glass and at the defensive end.


52. Atlanta Hawks select PG Brandon Triche (Syracuse)

11:44 EDT: The only Syracuse player to win at least 120 games as a starter, Brandon Triche has started every game he has played in since high school, a mark of his durability as well as consistency in production. Standing at 6-4 with good length, Triche has good size as a combo guard and possesses tremendous physical strength which will translate well at the next level. However, he does not possess the skills of a true point guard and a bit undersized defensively against 2s at the next level, which will hinder his value to an NBA roster.


53. Boston Celtics select PF Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)

11:47 EDT: Another player who was projected to be in the lottery and slipped all the way here to the second round, Christmas’ slide could be attributed to his questionable motor and (at times) poor body language on the court throughout his two year collegiate career at Syracuse. However, he is still a long, athletic forward with great length and possesses a solid mid-range shot that’ll translate well at the next level. The Celtics are hoping that this slide to the second round has given Christmas the motivation to compete at 100% at all times in the NBA.


54. Oklahoma City Thunder select PF Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota)

11:50 EDT: First of all, it’ll be interesting to hear Oklahoma City announcers (attempt to) pronounce his name. In all seriousness though, Mbakwe is a strong, athletic big men who possesses extraordinary length despite being relatively undersized at the next level at 6-8. The first player to lead the Big Ten in rebounding for the Minnesota Gophers since Kris Humphries, Mbakwe should add some good depth to the Thunder frontcourt.


55. Los Angeles Clippers select PF Patric Young (Florida)

11:53 EDT: A truly puzzling prospect to comprehend. At 6-9, 247 and a 7-1 wingspan, Florida senior Patric Young has lottery caliber physical tools and is an elite defensive prospect, but his very conflicting and confusing game continues to make scouts and GMs be indecisive about their opinion of him. He is one of the best offensive rebounders in the draft and one of its worst defensive rebounders. He was very efficient scoring the basketball in his collegiate career but possesses limited fundamentals and an equally limited offensive repertoire that’ll severely hinder his ability to score at the next level.


56. Los Angeles Lakers select PF Alex Oriakhi (Missouri)

11:56 EDT: The starting center for the 2011 NCAA Championship winning Huskies team, Oriakhi transferred to Missouri for his senior season after Connecticut was banned from postseason play for the 2013 season. Standing at 6-9 and 255 pounds, Oriakhi will play the 4 spot at the next level, and while he will never be much of a scorer as his range is limited to 10 feet from the rim, his size and strength will allow him to hold his own in the paint on the defensive end and he should provide good depth behind Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol in LA.


57. Dallas Mavericks select PF Isaiah Austin (Baylor)

11:59 EDT: A 7-1 power forward from Baylor, Austin was projected to be a mid-late first round pick, but a torn labrum has forced him to sit out of individual workouts as well as the draft combine and thus Austin, who is also blind in one eye, has fallen all the way down here to the bottom of the second round to the Dallas Mavericks. Austin is a stretch big with excellent outside shooting alongside a nice touch around the rim with both hands. However, effort is a concern as he often doesn’t box out, and seems to lack the rebounding instinct required for success at the next level.


58. San Antonio Spurs select PF Mason Plumlee (Duke)

12:02 EDT: The Spurs have been famous for finding gems at the bottom of the second rounds, and while Plumlee isn’t going to be a gem, he will be a very solid player at the next level for San Antonio. A four year player from Duke, Plumlee is a 7-1 big man who can play either the 5 or the 4 and is polished enough to come in and contribute right away as a key role player off the bench. He is extremely athletic and still has room to improve on both ends of the floor, and should benefit tremendously learning from the greatest power forward of all time in Tim Duncan.

59. New York Knicks select PF Joshua Smith (UCLA)

12:05 EDT: Knicks fans are having flashbacks of one Eddy Curry, as Smith previously had to quit the basketball team in the middle of his junior season at UCLA due to weight problems. Standing at 6-10, Smith is listed at 350 pounds and despite his claims that he has lost weight and has been focusing on tuning his conditioning levels, his body still looks every bit of 350 and is unlikely to change much anytime soon. He does possess a good low post offensive game, which should translate to the next level, but until he can get his weight back under control, he’ll be close to useless for the New York Knicks.


60. Miami Heat select C Gorgui Dieng (Louisville)

12:08 EDT: Honestly, how many times are the 29 other GMs in the NBA going to allow Pat Riley to continue getting draft steals to boaster his already stacked team? I am still struggling to comprehend how Dieng fell all the way here to the very end of the draft. The Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season after averaging 2.5 blocks and 9.4 rebounds, Dieng is a great shot blocker and is one of the best pick-and-roll defenders in this draft. Despite being somewhat limited on offense, Dieng has the ability to be a key role player for the Miami Heat as they look to recapture the Larry O’Brien trophy this season.

[Vespasian92]

Nice job getting Adams and Hardaway in the draft. I like a 3-big rotation of Noah, Gibson, and Adams, assuming you amnestied Boozer?

[Martti.]

Heat get Dieng with the last pick? 20-20s coming.

Good draft for you, getting two great rookies.

[Lamrock]

Awesome draft coverage, man! Glad you got your guy Adams

[Fresh8]

That's a good draft haul for you. Good stuff!

[Valor]

Nice job getting Adams and Hardaway in the draft. I like a 3-big rotation of Noah, Gibson, and Adams, assuming you amnestied Boozer?

Good toughness inside for sure, as for Booze gotta wait and see my options in the FA market first

Heat get Dieng with the last pick? 20-20s coming.

Good draft for you, getting two great rookies.

Yeah absolutely no idea how he fell that far, thought he'll get picked up by somebody in the top 20 for sure...Would've picked him up (alongside Doug McDermott), but couldn't get myself more picks so went with Timmy Hardaway and the Kiwi boy

Awesome draft coverage, man! Glad you got your guy Adams

Definitely glad I moved up and got him at #12 (just like IRL for OKC!) Hopefully he has a great rookie season like IRL as well

That's a good draft haul for you. Good stuff!

Cheers man, definitely pleased at my pickups

[unitas9]

Lol "most time spent in the green room"