2013 NBA Mock Draft: Projected Top 5 Picks

2013 NBA Mock Draft: Projected Top 5 Picks: Now that the ping pong balls have set the order for the first 14 picks of the 2013 NBA Draft, the teams in the lottery can turn their attention to figuring out the players they want to target in the Jun 27 draft. In some ways, this year’s draft is being viewed as disappointing because of the lack of any obvious No. 1 pick and an overall lack of obvious star power. However, there are a lot of players that have intriguing potential, and there is a good chance that teams picking further down in the first round could end up with an excellent player. Before prospects hold individual workouts and interview with teams, here is an early look at the potential top five picks in his year’s NBA Draft.

1.      Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky

I don’t think this pick is a lock by any means. There is the knee surgery for one, and at 7’0” tall and 206 pounds, Noel is nine inches taller but only six pounds heavier than I am so his body could use a little sculpting. Not to mention the fact that he is probably even rawer than current big man Tristan Thompson on the offensive end. Still, Noel is very athletic for his size and he has elite shot blocking ability. For a team that ranked second last in blocks last year and allowed opponents to shoot a league-high 47.6 percent from the field, Noel’s potential impact on the defensive end fits addresses one of Cleveland’s biggest needs.

2.      Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore, Shooting Guard, Kansas

With Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless and Andrew Nicholson, Orlando actually has a decent collection of young big men. However, the Magic are severely lacking in perimeter firepower, and McLemore provides just that. Yes, he kind of disappeared in the NCAA Tournament and wasn’t always in attack mode, but his range and all-around athleticism give him a chance to be an explosive scorer in the NBA. Even if he takes a while to fully develop his offensive skill set, his 3-point shooting alone will by an asset for Orlando.

3.      Washington Wizards: Anthony Bennett, Forward, UNLV

With John Wall and Bradley Beal, Washington’s backcourt is set for the foreseeable future, but the Wizards desperately need some more scoring out of their big men. Although a bit undersized, Bennett brings an NBA body and an NBA offensive arsenal, and he should be able to provide plenty of scoring immediately. He can score facing the hoop or with his back to the basket, and Bennett can even step out beyond the arc. By adding Bennett, the Wizards will have themselves a nice, young offensive nucleus to build around.

4.      Charlotte Bobcats: Trey Burke, Point Guard, Michigan

The Bobcats can’t score and can’t stop other teams from scoring, and outside of Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, there aren’t really any players on the roster that are worth getting excited about. Meanwhile, Burke has the ability to beat teams as a scorer and as a distributor, and he hit enough big shots at Michigan to show what kind of competitor he is. Burke made his teammates better in college and has the chance to be a special player in the NBA. Adding Burke will also allow Walker to slide over to his original position of shooting guard and give the Bobcats a potentially special backcourt to build around.

5.      Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, Shooting Guard, Indiana

I won’t claim to have a formula for winning games in the NBA, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t involve starting Shannon Brown at shooting guard. Oladipo doesn’t have a polished offensive game in terms of creating his own offense, but he is a heck of an athlete that can finish at the rim or hit open looks from the perimeter. He is also an excellent defender and will stuff the stat sheet with his all-around game. Oladipo is the type of player that will impact the game in a variety of ways while he develops a better offensive skill set.

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