2013 NBA Mock Draft: Otto Porter the #1 Pick Going to the Cavs: The 2013 NBA Draft is just days away, and the Cavaliers haven’t tipped their hat as to what direction they plan to take with the No. 1 pick. Of course, the lack of a clear pecking order for the top prospects probably has a lot to do with the mystery surrounding Cleveland’s pick. In fact, the only thing that seems set in stone for this year’s draft is that every pick seems to be available for trade if the offer is right. With that in mind, I have included potential trade scenarios in this latest mock draft.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Otto Porter, Small Forward, Georgetown
Rumor has it that Cleveland is aggressively shopping the top pick and looking for a quality small forward in return. I don’t expect the Cavaliers to find a trading partner, but they can still get the quality small forward they covet by selecting Porter No. 1 overall. No, he doesn’t have the potential upside of some other players, but he is a versatile, two-way player that is widely considered the safest of the top prospects. Given all the uncertainty in this year’s draft, playing it a bit safe with a player that fills Cleveland’s biggest positional need makes a ton of sense.
2. Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore, Shooting Guard, Kansas
Orlando has assembled an intriguing young frontcourt, and the Magic can begin to do a similar makeover to their backcourt by snagging McLemore. He needs to learn to be a little more assertive on the offensive end, but with his impressive athleticism and smooth perimeter stroke, McLemore has the potential to be an explosive scorer in the NBA.
3. Washington Wizards: Anthony Bennett, Forward, UNLV
Bennett is cursed with a “tweener” body, but he is blessed with a dynamic offensive skillset and powerful athleticism. He can take slower defenders off the dribble, back down smaller defenders in the post and even step out beyond the arc when defenses try to sag off of him. Bennett is a polished, versatile scorer, and he is just what the doctor ordered for a Washington team in need of some offensive firepower in the frontcourt.
4. Charlotte Bobcats: Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky
For a team like Charlotte that needs everything, snagging the best available prospect is a no-brainer, especially when the prospect has as much potential as Noel. Granted, he is recovering from knee surgery and won’t do much to help the Bobcats’ anemic offense, but his shot blocking should add to what is becoming a young, athletic frontcourt.
5. Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, Shooting Guard, Indiana
With his excellent defensive skills and freakish athleticism, Oladipo will be an immediate fix for the Suns’ lack of production at the shooting guard spot. Even if he never develops into a go-to scorer, his ability to stuff the stat sheet, finish at the rim and guard the top perimeter player on the opposing team will allow him to have a successful NBA career.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Alex Len, Center, Maryland
He has been rumored to be an option for Cleveland as the top pick, and New Orleans will gladly scoop up the seven-footer that has a chance to become a nightly double-double threat and solid defensive presence. Not to mention the fact that adding his size and muscle to the Pelicans’ frontcourt will save Anthony Davis from having to beat and bang with bigger post players.
7. Sacramento Kings: Shabazz Muhammad, Small Forward, UCLA
The small forward position has been a bit of a black hole for Sacramento, and John Salmons isn’t the answer. Muhammad has been under the microscope throughout the draft process, but recent workouts have solidified his scoring ability to be a productive scorer in the NBA. The Kings won’t pass on the chance to grab a player with plenty of potential that also addresses a major need.
8. Detroit Pistons: Trey Burke, Point Guard, Michigan
Detroit has an exciting young backcourt in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, and the Pistons just need a floor general to make the offense run. Burke can be that player, and adding him at the point will give a young team an identity on offense and a natural leader. It will also allow Brandon Knight to slide over to the two-guard spot to better utilize his scoring ability.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Shooting Guard, Georgia
Minnesota desperately needs a perimeter-oriented shooting guard that can play alongside Ricky Rubio on the offensive end and help cover up his deficiencies on the defensive end. With his range, length and athleticism, Caldwell-Pope satisfies both needs. His defensive prowess and the fact that he doesn’t need the ball in his hands a lot to be an effective scorer makes him a better fit than C.J. McCollum and other two-guards in this draft.
10. Phoenix Suns (Trade): Cody Zeller, Center, Indiana
Phoenix is in serious rebuilding mode while Portland is looking for immediate results to enhance its chances of keeping LaMarcus Aldridge in town long term. As a result, the Trail Blazers could send to No. 10 pick to the Suns in exchange of small forward Michael Beasley and center Marcin Gortat. Phoenix gets an athletically-gifted big man that could blossom into one of the better offensive centers. Meanwhile, Beasley would provide some scoring punch for a Portland bench that was among the worst in the NBA, and Gortat is a quality player on both ends that could save Aldridge from having to bang around in the post on defense.
11. Philadelphia 76ers: Steven Adams, Center, Pittsburgh
Andrew Bynum’s future is as shaky as the knees that continue to keep him sidelined so snagging a big man is likely Philadelphia’s top priority. Adams is definitely going to need time to develop, but he has the physical tools to eventually become a solid NBA center, especially on the offensive end where he is blessed with a surprising touch on his shot.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: C.J. McCollum, Shooting Guard, Lehigh
The Thunder could certainly afford to gamble on a prospect that would need a few years to develop, but the injury to Russell Westbrook in the playoffs exposed a weakness that the Thunder can address with McCollum. He is an undersized but speedy combo-guard that can shoot the lights out. Whether Oklahoma City wants to use him to provide offense off the bench for the second unit or needs him to give Westbrook a breather on occasion, McCollum’s offensive arsenal will be an asset.
13. Orlando Magic (Trade): Michael Carter-Williams, Point Guard, Syracuse
After snagging Ben McLemore with the No. 2 pick, Orlando can trade back into the lottery to get the point guard they need. Dallas is looking to dump salary to make a run at free agents in 2014, and the expiring contracts of Beno Udrih and Hakim Warrick would likely be all it would take for the Magic to land the No. 13 pick. Carter-Williams jump shot is a work in progress, but with his 6’6” frame and athleticism, he can be an excellent distributor immediately.
14. Utah Jazz: Dennis Schroeder, Point Guard, Germany
Utah’s biggest need is at the point guard spot, and Schroeder’s stock has been on the rise since he showed the ability to command an offense during the various workouts and camps. The Jazz have plenty of quality parts in their frontcourt so Schroeder can develop his own scoring ability while taking on a floor general role in his rookie year.
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