What Player From 2014 Draft Do You Want?

 Team: Los Angeles Lakers

2014 Prospect: Jabari Parker

Why: Because he is the best player in the draft….

 Team: Los Angeles Lakers

2014 Prospect: Jabari Parker

Why: Because he is the best player in the draft….

 As a Kings fan, I’d love Embiid. The team has two desperate needs: a rim protector and a backup PG. 

If so lucky, the Sacramento 2014 starting line-up would be:

C – Embiid

PF – Cousins

SF – Gay

SG – McLemore

PG – Thomas

Carl Landry, Derrick Williams and Quincy Acy would likely fill the backup frontcourt minutes. (Getting the sense that Jason Thompson will be gone by the trade deadline or summer.)

The backup backcourt is a mess currently and will need to be addressed. Jimmer will absolutely not be a King next season (either traded this year or not re-signed in summer). Thornton is woefully inconsistent, and they’ll trade he and his big contract if possible. Won’t be surprised if Gay continues to play some backup SG, though, so Williams can get more minutes at SF. And unless McCallum progresses rapidly, they’ll be pressing to find a backup PG so that Thomas doesn’t need to play 40 minutes every night.

Cousins and Embiid would be a nightly nightmare for teams to contend against… I can only hope and dream.

 As a Kings fan, I’d love Embiid. The team has two desperate needs: a rim protector and a backup PG. 

If so lucky, the Sacramento 2014 starting line-up would be:

C – Embiid

PF – Cousins

SF – Gay

SG – McLemore

PG – Thomas

Carl Landry, Derrick Williams and Quincy Acy would likely fill the backup frontcourt minutes. (Getting the sense that Jason Thompson will be gone by the trade deadline or summer.)

The backup backcourt is a mess currently and will need to be addressed. Jimmer will absolutely not be a King next season (either traded this year or not re-signed in summer). Thornton is woefully inconsistent, and they’ll trade he and his big contract if possible. Won’t be surprised if Gay continues to play some backup SG, though, so Williams can get more minutes at SF. And unless McCallum progresses rapidly, they’ll be pressing to find a backup PG so that Thomas doesn’t need to play 40 minutes every night.

Cousins and Embiid would be a nightly nightmare for teams to contend against… I can only hope and dream.

Yeah, pretty much any of the top 6 would thrill me to death.

Embiid: Kings need a rim-protector desperately! Cousins can slide down to the 4, and while a lot of PF’s around the league would abuse him on the defensive end, he would have Embiid behind him at least…and he (or Embiid) could return the favor at the other end.

Wiggins: Can he play the 3 at the next level? I’ve heard differing opinions on that. If so, there you go. If not, still take him as McLemore will be a decent player, but is a long way from convincing anyone he’s going to be special. He can find plenty of minutes on the bench if Wiggins is starting at the 2.

Parker: Ummm…duh.

Exum: This guy might end up being the best of the bunch and as much as I love IT, just not convinced you can win with a guy that small getting killed on the defensive end (or screwing everything up as others attempt to help) every night.

Randle: Kind of a defensive nightmare with him & Cousins next to each other, but such a sure-fire thing and huge upgrade over Jason Thompson that we’d be happy to have him if the first 4 are gone.

Smart: I think this guy’s the likeliest bust of the bunch. Not that he won’t be solid, but like McLemore, he’s got a long way to go before he’s special. That being said, if the first 5 are gone, he’d certainly help the team. Or even better, trade down with a team who loves the guy and add an extra pick or two.

Yeah, pretty much any of the top 6 would thrill me to death.

Embiid: Kings need a rim-protector desperately! Cousins can slide down to the 4, and while a lot of PF’s around the league would abuse him on the defensive end, he would have Embiid behind him at least…and he (or Embiid) could return the favor at the other end.

Wiggins: Can he play the 3 at the next level? I’ve heard differing opinions on that. If so, there you go. If not, still take him as McLemore will be a decent player, but is a long way from convincing anyone he’s going to be special. He can find plenty of minutes on the bench if Wiggins is starting at the 2.

Parker: Ummm…duh.

Exum: This guy might end up being the best of the bunch and as much as I love IT, just not convinced you can win with a guy that small getting killed on the defensive end (or screwing everything up as others attempt to help) every night.

Randle: Kind of a defensive nightmare with him & Cousins next to each other, but such a sure-fire thing and huge upgrade over Jason Thompson that we’d be happy to have him if the first 4 are gone.

Smart: I think this guy’s the likeliest bust of the bunch. Not that he won’t be solid, but like McLemore, he’s got a long way to go before he’s special. That being said, if the first 5 are gone, he’d certainly help the team. Or even better, trade down with a team who loves the guy and add an extra pick or two.

Even though I feel different teams SHOULD draft different players, I’d draft Embiid first as an expansion team. 

Even though I feel different teams SHOULD draft different players, I’d draft Embiid first as an expansion team. 

 As a Jazz fan Jabari is obviously who we all want. But man we need to stop winning. 

 As a Jazz fan Jabari is obviously who we all want. But man we need to stop winning. 

 Los Angeles Lakers

I would love to see the Lakers finally get their PG of the future and get Exum, that is assuming they don’t get the first pick.  He would most likely thrive in an up tempo floor spacing NBA game, which the Lakers can provide.  

There is something in me though that thinks that is exactly the type of situation Julius Randle will excel at as well.  

The more I type the more I realize I would be excited for any of the top 6 pretty much… Wiggins, Parker, Randle, Exum, Embiid, Smart.

 Los Angeles Lakers

I would love to see the Lakers finally get their PG of the future and get Exum, that is assuming they don’t get the first pick.  He would most likely thrive in an up tempo floor spacing NBA game, which the Lakers can provide.  

There is something in me though that thinks that is exactly the type of situation Julius Randle will excel at as well.  

The more I type the more I realize I would be excited for any of the top 6 pretty much… Wiggins, Parker, Randle, Exum, Embiid, Smart.

The Sixers potentially have two top 12 picks so I’d want Parker and Vonleh. I think Vonleh is one of the most underrated players in this draft and I’d loved to get him with the Pelicans pick.

C Noel

PF Vonleh

SF Parker

SG Turner

PG MCW

The Sixers potentially have two top 12 picks so I’d want Parker and Vonleh. I think Vonleh is one of the most underrated players in this draft and I’d loved to get him with the Pelicans pick.

C Noel

PF Vonleh

SF Parker

SG Turner

PG MCW

1. Parker

2. Wiggins

3. Randle

4. Exum

5. Embiid

6. Smart

7. LaVine

I think any and all of these players help the Magic in a big way… even if Hennigan doesn’t think they will be better than current players, they still hold major trade value. In some ways, I think Randle might be the best pick for us because he can step in for big baby and make an instant impact. Vucevic, Randle, Harris, Afflalo, Oladipo is definitely a step in the right direction. If we get anything less than a top-5 pick however, I will be pretty disappointed.

1. Parker

2. Wiggins

3. Randle

4. Exum

5. Embiid

6. Smart

7. LaVine

I think any and all of these players help the Magic in a big way… even if Hennigan doesn’t think they will be better than current players, they still hold major trade value. In some ways, I think Randle might be the best pick for us because he can step in for big baby and make an instant impact. Vucevic, Randle, Harris, Afflalo, Oladipo is definitely a step in the right direction. If we get anything less than a top-5 pick however, I will be pretty disappointed.

 I want the Kings to draft Marcus Smart no more time for grabbing guys that they could just add…they need a franchise player.

 I want the Kings to draft Marcus Smart no more time for grabbing guys that they could just add…they need a franchise player.

 Right now the C’s are picking 15 and 20….I would take Kyle Anderson with one of them

 Right now the C’s are picking 15 and 20….I would take Kyle Anderson with one of them

 Pacers

Marcus Smart

Look, don’t get me wrong, George Hill is a solid player.  But the Pacers have superb players at the other four positions, not to mention great backups at the forward and shooting guard positions.  So Parker, Wiggins, and Randle wouldn’t be great options.  I could potentially see Randle as a long term replacment for David West, who’s getting up there, but Marcus Smart fits the Pacers model.  He’s intelligent, he’s gritty, he can play both ways.  He’s actually a little bit similar to Lance Stephenson in his offensive game, although Smart is more of a distributor.  He’s possibly the surest thing in this draft and I think he could start for this Pacers team, or at least give them great minutes when George Hill is not on the floor.  

 Pacers

Marcus Smart

Look, don’t get me wrong, George Hill is a solid player.  But the Pacers have superb players at the other four positions, not to mention great backups at the forward and shooting guard positions.  So Parker, Wiggins, and Randle wouldn’t be great options.  I could potentially see Randle as a long term replacment for David West, who’s getting up there, but Marcus Smart fits the Pacers model.  He’s intelligent, he’s gritty, he can play both ways.  He’s actually a little bit similar to Lance Stephenson in his offensive game, although Smart is more of a distributor.  He’s possibly the surest thing in this draft and I think he could start for this Pacers team, or at least give them great minutes when George Hill is not on the floor.  

Chicago Bulls
Ideal Scenario: Somehow luck out in the lottery once again and bring another former Chicago Simeon star back to the Windy City. It’s looking more and more like Luol Deng is going to be traded and Jabari would be able to fill in for him right from the beginning. It would also be great if the Bobcats managed to get the 11th pick and thus would go to the Bulls. I’d love to see Gary Harris or James Young in a Bulls uniform too.

Realistic Scenario: I decided to use John Hollinger’s playoff odds to determine these picks which would have the Bulls picking 15th and also receiving the Bobcats pick which would be 17th. They’re probably not going to get a guy who can start for them right away with these two picks so I have them taking Doug McDermott at 15 and Willie Cauley-Stein at 17. The Bulls get a shooter who’s NBA ready in McDermott and a nice back-up to Joakim Noah in Cauley-Stein. Cauley-Stein could ultimately be a replacement for Noah too whenever Father Time starts to get the better of Noah.

Chicago Bulls
Ideal Scenario: Somehow luck out in the lottery once again and bring another former Chicago Simeon star back to the Windy City. It’s looking more and more like Luol Deng is going to be traded and Jabari would be able to fill in for him right from the beginning. It would also be great if the Bobcats managed to get the 11th pick and thus would go to the Bulls. I’d love to see Gary Harris or James Young in a Bulls uniform too.

Realistic Scenario: I decided to use John Hollinger’s playoff odds to determine these picks which would have the Bulls picking 15th and also receiving the Bobcats pick which would be 17th. They’re probably not going to get a guy who can start for them right away with these two picks so I have them taking Doug McDermott at 15 and Willie Cauley-Stein at 17. The Bulls get a shooter who’s NBA ready in McDermott and a nice back-up to Joakim Noah in Cauley-Stein. Cauley-Stein could ultimately be a replacement for Noah too whenever Father Time starts to get the better of Noah.

I would love for the sixers to get Julius randle with there first pick and glen robinson III. randle may not be the best freshman in the nation, but I think he is the most dominant from an offensive stand point, and he would be such a miss match against nba 4s. glen robinson III I can see developing into a nice player down the road when he gets more aggressive.

I would love for the sixers to get Julius randle with there first pick and glen robinson III. randle may not be the best freshman in the nation, but I think he is the most dominant from an offensive stand point, and he would be such a miss match against nba 4s. glen robinson III I can see developing into a nice player down the road when he gets more aggressive.

I would be happy if the Thunder got Elfrid Payton…  he will probably be the best player available if he is still there when they draft in the early 20s and he would be nice insurance in case Reggie leaves in a couple years or if Westbrook’s knee issues persist.

I would be happy if the Thunder got Elfrid Payton…  he will probably be the best player available if he is still there when they draft in the early 20s and he would be nice insurance in case Reggie leaves in a couple years or if Westbrook’s knee issues persist.

Player : WCS Reasons : Kobe Bryant is the unquestioned leader of this team, he won’t want to share the ball with a player like Exum. Gasol is not a defensive big man, nore is he willing to do the dirty work and play defense. In comes Willie. A guy as big and as athletic as him would be perfect here in LA. He’d rebound and block shots while put-backing any misses and scoring off of P&Rs.

Player : WCS Reasons : Kobe Bryant is the unquestioned leader of this team, he won’t want to share the ball with a player like Exum. Gasol is not a defensive big man, nore is he willing to do the dirty work and play defense. In comes Willie. A guy as big and as athletic as him would be perfect here in LA. He’d rebound and block shots while put-backing any misses and scoring off of P&Rs.

 I’d love for Adrien Payne to fall to us. Or take an international and stash overseas similar to what Spurs did last season with Livio Jean-Charles, a player I think will eventually come in and be a great role-player for them. 

 I’d love for Adrien Payne to fall to us. Or take an international and stash overseas similar to what Spurs did last season with Livio Jean-Charles, a player I think will eventually come in and be a great role-player for them. 

 Bulls fan.

9th right now. I’m hoping the Knicks and Nets get there shit together enough to get behind us in the draft. I want one of that 7 of Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum/Randle/Smart/Gordon.

 Bulls fan.

9th right now. I’m hoping the Knicks and Nets get there shit together enough to get behind us in the draft. I want one of that 7 of Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum/Randle/Smart/Gordon.

 Team: Kings

Player: Willie Cauley-Stein

For the Kings, this rounds out the team. They have Thomas at point guard, a terrific scorer and emerging facilitator, and two high-level scoring options in Gay and Cousins, and a high-upside 2 guard in McLemore. All they really need is some depth and a defender/rebounder to pair with Cousins in the frontcourt. WCS fits the bill perfectly. He has DPOY potential, and his length and athleticism compliment DeMarcus perfectly.

 Team: Kings

Player: Willie Cauley-Stein

For the Kings, this rounds out the team. They have Thomas at point guard, a terrific scorer and emerging facilitator, and two high-level scoring options in Gay and Cousins, and a high-upside 2 guard in McLemore. All they really need is some depth and a defender/rebounder to pair with Cousins in the frontcourt. WCS fits the bill perfectly. He has DPOY potential, and his length and athleticism compliment DeMarcus perfectly.

I’m a Knicks fan, I would love to have …… a draft pick 

I’m a Knicks fan, I would love to have …… a draft pick 

 Orlando Magic

I would go with Jabari Parker because he projects to be an incredible offensive force and a leader that can make a team better. I would go with Wiggins because of the defense and potential, but I think every team needs an alpha dog and the Magic do not have anybody with that personality yet. 

For the record, I will be ridiculously excited if we land Parker, Wiggins, Embiid, Smart, Randle, or Exum. Considering that we’re hovering around the 3rd-worst record, I’d say odds are looking pretty good that we get a major building block, if not a centerpiece.

 Orlando Magic

I would go with Jabari Parker because he projects to be an incredible offensive force and a leader that can make a team better. I would go with Wiggins because of the defense and potential, but I think every team needs an alpha dog and the Magic do not have anybody with that personality yet. 

For the record, I will be ridiculously excited if we land Parker, Wiggins, Embiid, Smart, Randle, or Exum. Considering that we’re hovering around the 3rd-worst record, I’d say odds are looking pretty good that we get a major building block, if not a centerpiece.