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Sotos14
ChriJollFor this, our fourth annual NBA mock draft, The Mag asked players from each first-round team to be their team’s general manager. Lessons? Anthony Davis — surprise! — our No. 1 pick; Gerald Henderson thinks the Bobcats need more effort; and NBA players aren’t sold on the services of Brad Beal, a consensus top-five pick, who inexplicably fell to the Orlando Magic at No. 19 in our draft. New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith, you’re on the clock …
1. Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky
Selected by: Jason Smith
"Davis is a young athletic player who has an amazing presence on the defensive end," says Hornets forward Smith about the Wildcat frosh, who blocked almost five shots per game. "That’s rare in young players today." (The Hornets were 21st in the NBA in blocks in 2011-12.)
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Kentucky
Selected by: Gerald Henderson
"More than anything, he just plays really hard, and that’s what our team could really use," says Bobcats guard Henderson, the only Charlotte player to start more than 50 games last season. "I wouldn’t say he’s a great ball handler or shooter or rebounder, but he’s got some slashing ability. His effort and passion for the game is what really stands out." (Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 11.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg last season.)
3. Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
Selected by: Chris Singleton
"We feel like he can play the 2 or the 3, and that’s what we need help with," says Singleton. "We know he can shoot, and with the Wizards being more of an open offense, people can’t focus on him; he’ll fit right in with us." (Barnes scored 17.1 ppg and shot 36 percent of 3-pointers.)
4. Andre Drummond, C, UConn
Selected by: Daniel Gibson
"He’s a young, athletic 7-footer with great potential," says Cavs guard Gibson about Drummond, who ranked in the top 30 in both offensive rebound and block percentage. "And, as they say, you just can’t teach height." (Drummond averaged 10 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 2.7 bpg in just over 28 minutes per game.)
5. Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas
Selected by: Isaiah Thomas
"I love his physical style, the way he loves to bang," says Kings rookie guard Thomas. "He’s long and can run really well, which is good because we like to push it." [SAC led the league in possessions per 48 minutes in 2011-12]. "With ‘Big Cous’ [DeMarcus Cousins], that would give us one of the best young front lines in the league." (Robinson was the best defensive rebounder in the nation, with a 30.5 defensive rebound percentage).
6. Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State
Selected by: Nolan Smith
"He’s a winner in every way, a skilled big man with the work ethic to succeed," says Blazers guard Smith. "He’s got a big body to throw around and has great touch and shooting ability to make plays." (Sullinger, who last week was medically red-flagged by NBA doctors, averaged 17.5 ppg and 9.2 rpg last season).
7. Tyler Zeller, F, UNC
Selected by: Stephen Curry
"We need to get bigger up front, and Tyler is somebody who could come in and give us depth," says Warriors guard Stephen Curry. "We like to play an inside/out game, so we need that inside presence to open up our shooters." (In 2011-12, Zeller averaged 16.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg and shot 81 percent from the line.)
8. Kendall Marshall, G, UNC
Selected by: Ed Davis
"Kendall and I played on the same AAU team together," says fellow Tar Heel Davis about Marshall, who averaged 9.8 apg and had the third highest assist rate in the country last year. "He’s a great leader and passes the ball well to the bigs."
9. Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Selected by: Ben Gordon
"People keep telling me about his explosiveness, which is a nice plus for a big like him," says guard Gordon. "He’s a listener, so being with someone like Greg Monroe would be great for him." (Leonard’s line for the season: 13.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg)
10. Austin Rivers, Duke
Selected by: Jason Smith
"Austin Rivers is an exceptional player at his position," says Smith about the Blue Devils freshman, who averaged more than 15 ppg last year. "He has a very high basketball I.Q." (Rivers averaged 15.5 ppg, shooting 43 percent and also averaged 2.3 turnovers a game.)
11. Damian Lillard, G, Weber State
Selected by: Nolan Smith
"The Blazers’ depth chart only has me on it at the PG spot, and Lillard will bring explosiveness to a young back court," Smith says about the Wildcats senior, who averaged 24.5 ppg and shot 41 percent from 3-point range. "He’s aggressive and very athletic."
12. Jeremy Lamb, G, UConn
Selected by: Brandon Jennings
"His future is really bright, and he’ll be able to guard the one, two or three," says Bucks guard Jennings about Lamb, who, at 6-foot-5, has a 6-foot-11 wingspan. "With Monta and me, he’ll fit right in on the wing, running the floor with us."
13. Dion Waiters, G, Syracuse
Selected by: Robin Lopez
"We need a guy who can provide instant offense, a guy who can take the ball in his hands and score on his terms from the perimeter," says Suns center Lopez. "We just didn’t have anyone quite like that coming off the bench this year." [Waiters averaged 12.6/2.3/2.5 last season.]
14. Marquis Teague, G, Kentucky
Selected by: Patrick Patterson
"First and foremost, he’s a Wildcat and a national champion," says fellow former Wildcat and Rockets forward Patterson about Teague, who boasts a 41-inch vertical. "He’s a good ball handler and, most importantly, he’s lightning quick, which is something that will help us in transition."
15. Arnett Moultrie, F, Mississippi State
Selected by: Evan Turner
"Moultrie is a very good passer for an athletic big," says Sixers guard Turner. "He’s got a lot of energy and has a great motor." (Moultrie averaged 16.4 ppg on 55 percent shooting.)
16. Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
Selected by: Patrick Patterson
"Plain and simple: He’s a seven-footer who can defend the rim," Patterson says about the Syracuse sophomore, who had the eighth highest block percentage in the nation last year. "He has room to grow offensively in the NBA, but he’s a quality young big at a position of need for us."
17. Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky
Selected by: Jason Kidd
"We need an athletic big, but I’m going with Jones because he knows how to win," says Mavericks PG Kidd. "And I like that he doesn’t have a position. He’s just a good basketball player who knows how to get it done. (Jones averaged 12.3 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 2011-12.)
18. John Henson, F, UNC
Selected by: Wayne Ellington
"Henson is a good rebounder and will be a good defender and shot blocker," says Wolves guard Wayne Ellington about his Tar Heel comrade, who averaged 13.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game last season. (Editor’s Note: This pick has been traded to the Houston Rockets.)
19. Bradley Beal, G, Florida
Selected by: J.J. Redick
"He’s the best player available, and he could be the shooting guard Magic fans have longed for, someone who can create his own shot," says Magic guard Redick about the Gators freshman, who averaged 14.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg. "All this is moot if he dropped this far because he has a life-threatening injury or a habit of punching his coaches that I don’t know about."
20. Kris Joseph, F, Syracuse
Selected by: Wilson Chandler
"He is long, athletic and can really shoot the ball," says Nuggets forward Chandler about Joseph, who averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.7 rpg. "Also, he fits in defensively with the athletes we have.”
21. Perry Jones III, F, Baylor
Selected by: Avery Bradley
"Jones has a lot of potential," says Celtics guard Avery Bradley about the Bears sophomore. "When you come into the NBA, the main thing is picking it up on defense. If he comes in with that mindset and comes in and plays hard on defense, that usually helps put you on the floor."
22. Tony Wroten Jr., G, Washington
Selected by: Avery Bradley
"We’re both from Seattle," Bradley says about the 6-foot-5 Huskies freshman. "That’s my guy. Tony’s a great passer, and he’s tall for his position at point guard. He can learn a lot of from [Rajon] Rondo." (Wroten averaged 16 ppg, 5 rpg and 3.7 apg last season.)
23. Terrence Ross, G, Washington
Selected by: Jeff Teague
"He flew under the radar because they didn’t make the tournament, but Ross is a good combo wing that I could see being a good fit for us," says Hawks guard Teague. "He can score in different ways, and most of the draft boards I’ve seen have him just outside the lottery, so if he fell to 23, I see us scooping him up."
24. Royce White, F, Iowa State
Selected by: Daniel Gibson
"Royce brings versatility from the wing, which is something we can always use more of," Gibson says of the Cyclones forward who led Iowa State team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. "He handles the ball well, battles on the boards and brings great intensity on offense and defense."
25. Henry Sims, C, Georgetown
Selected by: Tony Allen
"Honestly, I don’t know that much about him, but if you can get size this late in the draft, that’s a good thing," says Grizzlies guard Allen. "I like my man Hamed Haddadi [Memphis’ backup center] if he can get into shape and step things up, but Sims wouldn’t be bad coming off the bench." (Sims averaged 11.6 ppg and six rpg.)
26. Evan Fournier, G, France
Selected by: Tyler Hansbrough
"I like guys with his skillset, and he can provide depth for our team at the 2 and the 3," says Pacers forward Hansbrough. "He’d be nice insurance for George Hill and would give us another versatile scoring option off the bench."
27. D’Aundray Brown, G, Cleveland State
Selected by: Norris Cole
"Brown led the Horizon League in steals this past season and is a great rebounding wing," says Cole, who played with the 6-foot-4 guard at Cleveland State for three years. "His ability to defend multiple positions and score in the open court would fit right into the Heat system."
28. Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic
Selected by: Nick Collison
"I like his length, and he has tremendous upside," says Thunder forward Collison about the 6-foot-7 Satoransky. "It will also give us the ability to keep him overseas."
29. Khris Middleton, F, Texas A&M
Selected by: Kyle Korver
"He will fit in well because he has the reputation of a hard-working, coachable guy who can be effective without needing to dominate the ball,"says Bulls forward Korver about Middleton, who averaged 13.2 ppg, 5 rpg and 2.3 apg.
30. Miles Plumlee, F, Duke
Selected by: Stephen Curry
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