Scouting Report: Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel is the 4th youngest player in the draft class, having just turned 19 in April. He reclassified back to the class of 2012 in order to attend Kentucky a year early and become the next Calipari recruit in line for the number one pick. A torn ACL against Florida in February ended his collegiate career and it will at least delay his NBA career from starting for at least a couple of months into the 2013-14 NBA season.

For some teams, Noel missing most of the NBA season may be intriguing as the see it as an opportunity to score another high draft pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. While only one team will be able to draft Andrew Wiggins, the 2014 NBA Draft is expected to have potential stars located throughout the top 10.

Coming into Kentucky, Noel shouldn't have been expected to replicate Anthony Davis' 2012-13 season. Noel drew obvious comparisons to his predecessor due to his length, elite athleticism, and shot blocking process but he was much more raw on the offensive end. Calling Noel the favorite to be the number one overall pick was realistic, but expecting him to be the same kind of talent Davis was wasn't.

Based on my personal expectations of Noel, I'd say he lived up to his billing in his first and final year in Lexington. In high school, he didn't put up the biggest numbers and seemed preoccupied and disinterested at times. He preferred to play on the outside and handle the ball and didn't always play smart or with energy.

Noel was raw as expected on offense, but he appeared to be nothing but extremely coachable at Kentucky. There was no questioning his energy or his willingness to play inside. He worked on his post game, dove on the floor for loose balls, and became the defensive anchor that he was expected to be. Any questions from Noel's high school days can be attributed to the environment.

Calipari constantly praised his work ethic and character. On the court, he looked like the most mature freshman of the group. His energy was always there and he played his role better than anyone else - making good decisions for the most part. This college season helped erase any of those concerns about him (which may have never been justified in the first place) and for that alone, made the year in Kentucky worth it.

As for his offensive game, it is still extremely raw but you could see him getting better from a game to game basis. He doesn't have strength to hold off defenders in the post and because of this, he had a tendency to rush a lot of his shots. He could get pushed off the ball easily and lose balance in the post and learned quickly that he has to make quick decisions given his current level of strength.

His post game is pretty straight forward now. It consists of a short baby jump hook that he is able to hit with either hand. He almost always faked towards the middle of the court in the post and came back to the baseline to get off his hook shot. Its not very impressive looking, but it was an efficient move and nearly impossible to contest. His range on this shot is very limited however, and he needed to get within 8 to 10 feet of the rim for him to have a shot. That was obviously hard given his lack of strength.

Between his inability to establish post position and his poor free throw shooting, it was very hard for Kentucky to use him as a go-to option on the block - even though he did shoot 59% from the floor. He also came close to having a 1:1 A/TO ratio which is pretty good for a big man, especially a freshman who averaged over 10 points per game.

He's an unselfish player who sees the court well. He isn't able to be a facilitator in the post at the moment because he gets pushed off the blocks to quickly, but can pass the ball when facing the basket. His passing skills date back to his high school days where he would bring the ball up the court at times and gravitate to the perimeter. Those days are gone thankfully, but he's able to find cutters still when he has the ball outside of the paint. Of the draftable big men in this year's draft, Noel only trailed Gorgui Dieng in assists per possession.

Noel's best way to score early on in his career, besides transition and offensive glass points, may be his face up game. Right now, the biggest thing holding him back in that area is the lack of a jumpshot. However, he has an elite first step and is able to drive either way off the dribble. He isn't a great ball handler, but with his quickness and athleticism, he's good enough to put it on the floor once or twice and finish at the rim. He also has good body control at the rim, but his strength hurts him in this area as well. He also has only average touch at the rim and misses some easy bunnies when he isn't able to throw down with a dunk. He shot 71% at the rim, but could have been even better given his physical profile

Defensively is where he will make his biggest impact, as he projects to be a major game changer on that end of the court. Nobody in college basketball averaged a higher combination of blocks and steals per 40 minutes than Noel did. He covered more ground than anyone in college basketball and he was able to do it both vertically and horizontally. He did an excellent job at blocking shots from a secondary level and did so with either hand. He has great instincts when it comes to blocking shots, displayin great timing and anticipation. Noel is blessed with the ability to come over and block a shot at the last minute and doesn't have to cheat to post high block numbers.

Most of his blocks come from helpside defense, as he struggles to hold his position in man to man post defense. He only weighed 206 pounds at the combine in Chicago, although he says he lost weight during the injury. He was above 220lbs while playing at Kentucky and has already added more weight since Chicago just a few weeks ago. By the time he is ready to play next year, I don't think he will have a problem getting up to 230lbs. He still will struggle to hold position inside, but he will at least not be working against the odds as one of the lightest big men ever.

While Noel has great anticipation when it comes to getting blocks and steals, his overall defensive mechanics and awareness need work. He is solid in this area, but relies too much on his athleticism right now.

Noel has a ton of upside, but there is also some injury concerns and risk that come along with picking him. Teams will need to rely on their doctors recommendations, but ACL injuries have been easier to come back from in recent years. At the same time, Noel has very skinny legs and looks like an injury waiting to happen every time he flies into the air or dives onto the floor.

Having the number one pick puts the Cavaliers in a tough spot this year. They could choose to take Noel, but will do so knowing that he could turn into a walking injury and be ridiculed for their selection for years to come. At the same time, there really isn't anyone in the draft that has the same game changing potential that Noel possesses. Passing on him for someone that turns out to simply be just a good starter could create backlash as well.

Given the Cavs roster however, I think they would be smart to consider Otto Porter. The Cavaliers already have a player in build around in Irving and while another star would be great, Porter is the kind of complimentary second or third option that will be guaranteed to help a team win. He also fills a position of need and will make an immediate contribution. Plus the Cavs have recently used a top 5 pick on a power forward who can't shoot and Noel doesn't compliment someone like that much. Noel is more of a power forward currently, himself.

The debate between Porter and Noel is an interesting one and should be looked at with more seriousness. Noel is not the consensus first overall pick in the same way guys like Anthony Davis or even Kyrie Irving was a few years ago. The Cavs can go in another direction at #1 and they seem to be at least considering Porter. They were in love with Porter and would have taken him at #3 if they didn't luck into winning the lottery.

Scouting Report: Allen Crabbe

Allen Crabbe always been a shooter dating back to his high school days. Throughout the years, Crabbe has slowly but surely became a more complete player to the point where he is now one of the most well-rounded offensive players in this years draft.

Crabbe showed his improved all-around offensive game more and more as the season went along. When Pac-12 defenses tried to chase him off the 3-pt line, he finally had an answer this season. He ended up shooting only 33.6% from deep in conference play but still scored over 17 points per game. Between being asked to play 35 minutes per game in conference play and all the attention he received, Crabbe may have not had his legs under him for his jumpers. That didn't stop him and his team from getting hot at the end of the season to advance to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. He found other ways to score and get his teammates involved.

The Golden Bears took after their star player and won games based on their offensive play, not their defense. Even though Mike Montgomery was at the helm, he struggled to get his team to play effective defense and Cal ended up having to play a lot of zone. Getting Crabbe to buy in on the defensive end as always been a question mark and given that respected former NBA coach Mike Montgomery couldn't get him to buy in 100%, it still remains one of his biggest question marks.

Crabbe is certainly an offensive minded player and he sees his scoring being the biggest asset he can bring to a team. There are concerns with his mental toughness. He shows bad body language on the court at times, avoids physical play, and gets noticeably frustrated when things don't go his way. This was evident all season long - up until the last game of the season where Crabbe made some mental errors and proceeded to take it out on the referees. There is also the shoving incident that occurred when he and Coach Montgomery got into an argument on the sideline. Another concern may be the laidback vibe he gives off - the Cali vibe. Scouts will wonder just how much he is willing to compete.

These are the red flags with Crabbe. He may never reach his potential defensively and it will be interesting how he handles the inevitable struggles in the NBA.

However, there are plenty of things to like about Crabbe to get teams considering taking him as high as the late lottery.

His offensive game is excellent and he continues to show improvement each year. This shows that Crabbe is indeed willing to work and he does seem to have a chip on his shoulder to prove doubters wrong.

He started as just a shooter and that remains his biggest strength and what his game centers around. Even though he struggled to shoot the ball in conference play, his shooting at the next level is of little concern. He gets his feet set extremely quick, has unlimited range, and is able to get room for his shot. He's a dynamic shooter who can stay hot for an entire game.

With all the attention he has drawn for his shooting, Crabbe has been able to work on the rest of his game. Even though he slumped a bit shooting towards the end of the year, his confidence in the rest of his game seemed to be at an all time high. He was fine with teams playing him hard at the 3-pt line and took what they would give him. He didn't hesitate to drive the lane.

As a driver, Crabbe isn't a guy that will cross you up and drive past you all the way to the rim in an isolation situation. Much of his game revolves around screens and he uses them very well. He glides around screens with long strides and moves without the ball nonstop. At Cal, they ran a lot of down screens for him which he used effectively to score in the mid-range area. He curled around those screens near the baseline heading towards the foul line and showed off great touch with his floater.

He is very sleek and quick in these situations and the floater is deadly. He can hit the floater with either hand and off one or two feet. He can also stop and pop for a short mid-range jumper. He had a large amount of his offensive come in this area - 43% according to hoop-math.com - and hit a very good 45% of his shots in this area. His mid-range game is something to take note of.

Back to Crabbe as a driver. As I said, he's not the kind of guy who will break you down off the dribble. He does, however, use hesitations and ball fakes well. He also has a quick, long first step and is able to rip through the defender. More often though, Crabbe has a running start coming off an off ball screen when he receives the ball and can turn the corner into the lane that way.

Crabbe prefers to avoid physical contact inside and thats why he often passes the ball or chooses to attempt a floater in the lane. He also isn't super explosive off of one foot or strong with the ball at the rim. He needs to do a better job at staying more compact if he wants to step up his game at the rim in the NBA.

Due to his lack of finishing at the rim though, Crabbe has become an excellent passer. Instead of trying to finish for himself, he does a great job at finding teammates with wrap around passes around the rim or with other types of passes. He's a creative passer and gets a lot of zip on the ball. He seems the court well and does a nice job keeping his head up.

He's especially dangerous coming off of screens because he can handle the ball well with either hand. He isn't ultra crafty with the ball but with his first step and mid-range game, he generally just needs two dribbles to get to his spot on the floor. He is also able to handle it in the open court with either hand and does a nice job pushing the ball after a rebound. He has great top end speed and loves to get out and run.

Crabbe started the break a good amount at Cal because he was a great rebounder for a shooting guard. Crabbe is a lot better jumping off of two feet than one and could be one of the best rebounding 2 guards in the league. He would have gotten even more boards at Cal if he was willing to battle inside and get physical, but he generally relied on strictly his athleticism on the glass - which is very impressive.

Crabbe also has a great frame with wide shoulders that he has slowly began to fill out. You can notice the changes in his body from the beginning of the year up until he was last seen at the Chicago combine. He has the kind of frame that can put on weight, although its very questionable if he will ever use his frame the way he should. Crabbe also has outstanding length with a wingspan at 6'11.5. Those arms should allow him to continue to have a very effective floater game in the NBA and also be a very good defender if he ever chose to dial it in.

Even though I'm not counting on him to ever reach his defensive potential, I still see Crabbe as arguably the best shooting guard prospect after Victor Oladipo and Ben McLemore. The race is between him and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and while Caldwell-Pope may have more potential, Crabbe is the better player right now. Both are two of the most talented scorers in the draft, but Crabbe is so much better when it comes to moving without the basketball. Crabbe also has a better overall skillset.

Still, the questions remain about his mental game and could prevent him from being the third shooting guard off the board. He reminds me some of Klay Thompson, who also had red flags because of his laidback attitude and a marijuana charge. They both are great shooters with a very good feel for the game who improved their ball skills before entering the draft. Klay might have the edge as a shooter and in terms of creating his own shot, but Crabbe appears to have the edge in terms of his physical profile. I'd also argue that Crabbe is a better ball handler than Klay when he left Washington State.

It will be interesting to see where Allen Crabbe ends up on draft night because he is one of those guys who could end up sneaking into the lottery or find himself slipping near the second round. In this draft, I think it will be a mistake to let him slip past 20. 

The Case for Otto Porter

Otto Porter took the road less traveled to Georgetown, by choosing not to participate in AAU basketball during the summers. Instead, Porter played pickup games with his uncles and dad. He got tougher and learned how to play the game against grown men. Porter didn't spend his summer traveling and competing for a higher spot on recruiting rankings - he spent it honing his skills in his small town in Missouri.

He still got noticed by plenty of colleges and chose to play in the nation's capital for the Hoyas. He went to a school that emphasizes team play, passing, and versatility. It proved to be a perfect fit for his style. He's established a reputation as one of the safest draft picks in his class and an upper end role player. But is that all he can be? Most seem to cut off his potential at just being a good starter in the league - the next Tayshaun Prince has been a popular comparison.

Personally, I think Porter's potential is being overlooked. A lot of it has to do with his prep and college situations. He never played in a open system that has allowed him to showcase his skills. Thats what AAU or less structured offenses like Georgetown are for. Georgetown is famous for its slowed down tempo and team play - and has done a good job of hiding talented players in the past. Georgetown was a good fit for Porter in terms of style, but it did hide his potential.

The system at Georgetown did the same with Greg Monroe and even Roy Hibbert in the past. Coming out, they were viewed as solid pros that lacked aggressiveness and athleticism. It proved to be more of a system thing as both have greatly overachieved their draft stock since entering the NBA. Right now, Otto Porter is dealing with the same questions as they were coming out. With Monroe, scouts were able to come around to him having more potential than shown at Georgetown because they were able to look back into his AAU career. With Hibbert, they didn't have that same luxury because he was extremely raw coming out of high school. And for Porter, he didn't even play AAU.

Like Greg Monroe, Otto Porter also lost in the round of 64 in the NCAA tournament. Did that have any implications on Monroe's career? No, because Georgetown's offense isn't an offense that allows you to take over and dominate a game through scoring. Its why they consistently struggle in the NCAA tournament and it has nothing to do with the players - moreso the system.

If you go back and look at game film, there are very little holes in Porter's game - if any. And most will admit that he has a very good mid-range game, is an excellent passer, handles the ball well, and can finish at the rim.

The one major knock on his skillset is his ability to shoot 3-pters. But I already made a case why I dont believe that is legitimate previously:

A lot of people think Otto Porter's shooting is a fluke because only shot 22% from 3-pt range his freshman season. While that is reasonable, people are missing how great Porter was shooting mid-range jumpers his first season. Porter didn't play AAU and the 3-pt ball wasn't stressed to him as much as most kids. Instead, shooting mechanics were a priority and his are very consistent. According to hoop-math.com, Porter shot an outstanding 51% on 2-pt jumpers last season. This season he worked to extend his range back a few feet which resulted him him taking twice as many threes while making 42.2% of them. Porter will have to adjust even farther to the NBA line, but make no mistake that he can shoot the ball. His situation from year one to two is a lot like a young power hitter who didn't hit a lot of homers his first season, but had a lot of doubles. You know the power is there, it was just shown in a different way.

So even with all the questions answered about his skillset, there are still questions about his potential. No, he isn't an elite athlete but he has skills that elite athletes will never be able to obtain. He has a feel for the game that isn't common. And he has plenty of size and length to make up for his "average" athleticism.

I don't even think Porter is that bad of an athlete. He's not a one on one player who will over dribble and attempt to beat you with his quickness. But thats not always a good thing either. Porter beats you in ways you want your players to beat you. He thinks the game. He lets the game come to him and doesn't need the ball to be effective. At the same time, there is nothing in his skillset that says he can't take over a game. He did it at Georgetown against Syracuse through his passing, but he will have freedom to be a more aggressive scorer in the NBA.

Porter may not cross guys up and create his own shots from a traditional perspective, but he had no problem getting to spots and taking guys off the dribble in college. Porter can drive with either hand and understands angles extremely well. He is able to attack the defense through drives like a point guard - he doesn't necessarily get to the rim, but knows how to draw defenses and change speeds. He doesn't force anything with the ball in his hands. And he's a great passer who can drive and kick and make skip and lead passes. His unselfishness is one of his best traits and was magnified by Georgetown's Princeton offense.

But again, don't let that make you believe he can't be a good scorer. Don't make the same mistake scouts made with previous Georgetown players. I'm still looking for a reason why he won't be able to score in the NBA and can't find one.

He's certainly creative and crafty enough to score. Its no secret that Porter is crafty, but imagine him in an offense that allows him to show that. Porter can do many things with the ball, changes directions way too well for a man of his size, and really showed off this ability in transition. You want to see what Porter is capable of? Watch him at Georgetown in transition plays. He had a knack for getting fouled, finding a teammate on the run with a lead pass, crossing someone on the move, or making an acrobatic finish. His body control in these situations is amazing.

With his body control, Porter is able to be a good finisher. No, he isn't the next LeBron James or even Paul George when it comes to finishing at the rim. You won't see him throwing down many powerful dunks at the next level. But he has very good touch and finishes well with either hand. He is also very underrated when it comes to toughness and strength. He has a frame that could stand to add weight, but he is one of the toughest players in the draft. He loves playing inside and boxes out/crashes the offensive glass at all opportunities.

The best part of his offensive game is his mid-range game, something he showed quite often at Georgetown. He ate up the Syracuse zone twice by working the high post area. The mid-range game in college basketball is a dying breed, but Porter still managed to make it effective. Thats a testament to how good his mid-range game is. In the NBA, the mid-range game is so much more important and its scary to think what Porter could do with the much space to dissect a defense. His mid-range game is worlds ahead of most small forwards at this stage.

He is nearly impossible to cover in the mid-range area because he can beat you in multiple ways. The first is with his passing. He was the director of the offense at Georgetown and understands the game so well. He has outstanding vision in the high post, utilizes bounce passes, and can see over the defense. Finding a cutting teammate is always his first thought when getting the ball in the lane.

Porter also is a very polished jump shooter in the high post though. He has a turnaround jumper in the post, a faceup fadeaway jump shot, and a pullup jumper off the dribble. His release is quick and high. He gets his shoulders squared to the basket and gets good elevation through leg power. With his size, his shot is very hard to contest and he makes a very high percentage of these shots. Its why I trust that he can continue to shoot well from beyond the arc as well.

Porter is extremely versatile on the offensive end and understands mismatches for not only himself, but for his teammates as well. In the NBA game, his ability to see and take advantage of these mismatches will be even more valuable.

His ability to play without the ball in his hand will be valuable as well. He can play alongside a poor handling backcourt because he is such a good ball handler and passer for a 3, but he can also play next to ball dominant guys because he does a lot of his work off the ball. He will never be an isolation guy.

Porter works so hard off the ball, he usually gets to the foul line at least once a game simply because he was fouled without the ball in his hands. Whether a defender is trying to battled him in the post, keep him off the boards, or contain him on a screen Porter keeps his defender working. He knows how to come off screens, find soft spots in the defense (again, see Syracuse regular season games), cut to the rim, run the give and go, and get the ball off the rim.

Just because the most comparable player in terms of style may be Tayshaun Prince, it doesn't mean that is where Porter's upside ends. He is more advanced than Prince at this age and has a better frame. There really isnt a player better than Prince that you can compare to Porter in terms of style, but Porter has a clear advantage from a talent and upside perspective. If you compare Porter's sophomore year numbers to Prince in his senior year, Porter has the advantage (make sure you use pace adjusted numbers due to Georgetown's slow pace).

In my opinion, Porter will safely be a top 10 SF in the league. He won't surpass the top guys like LeBron, Melo, KD, Paul George, and say Andrew Wiggins but he will be right behind them. He doesn't have the ability to dominate like any of those guys, but he can help a team win more than any other small forward in the league other than that group.

Thats just him on offense. From a defense perspective, Otto Porter should be very good as well - if not better. The biggest knock on him as a defender is he lacks top notch lateral quickness to stay in front of quicker small forwards. But what he lacks in lateral quickness, he makes up for with his length and anticipation skills. I dont think we will have to worry about him being consistently beat off the dribble by many players, but for those ones that do - Porter does a great job funneling them into the teeth of the defense.

Defense these days is mainly about versatility and Porter should be able to switch on a lot of screens to cover bigger forwards and even some guards. He does a good job keeping his balance against quicker guys and recovering to contest shots. He communicates on defense, knows when it is appropriate to switch or gamble, and provides excellent help defense. He has a very high basketball IQ and it really shows on both ends of the court. Porter also rebounders very well. He boxes out and doesn't hesitate going into a crowd with stronger players.

Otto Porter has as much of a chance to be an all-star at the next level than anyone else in this draft and should be in consideration for the #1 pick. Cleveland was a big fan of Porter when they were projected to pick third in the draft, but things do change a bit at the #1 spot. Noel has to be considered heavily, but if they choose to be weary of his injuries, Porter should be the only other guy they consider. He is a perfect fit next to Kyrie Irving. If he slips past Cleveland, the Wizards will be in prime position to get him at #3 but could look to choose Anthony Bennett over him. If they do, that means Porter could slip to #5 or even farther which would make him a huge steal in this draft. 

Scouting Report: Erik Murphy

Coming out of high school, Erick Murphy was a consensus top 50 recruit. He decided to come to Florida where he spent his first two seasons behind Alex Tyus, Vernon Macklin, Chandler Parsons, and Patric Young but his patience paid off. Unlike many players you see today, Murphy didn't transfer when he saw he wouldn't be able to see consistent playing time. He decided to stick it out, build up his strength, and then he was able to play a big role for the Gators in his final two years. 

It was a good choice for his draft stock as well. Florida's offense has produced many pros like Murphy - skilled offensive players who really have a good feel for the game. Florida runs a very pro-style system with lots of movement and spacing, complete with pick and pop scenarios and an inside-out attack. As a stretch forward, Murphy thrived in the offense.

The best part of Murphy's game and obviously his calling card in the NBA will be his ability to stretch the floor. Murphy has a pure stroke from deep and hit 45.3% of his 3-pt attempts in conference play this season. He's very much a pure shooter, but can continue to work to speed up his release. He had games where he simply was unable to miss. He hit 5 3-pters in a game twice and in addition, had a perfect 10-10 field goal night against Wisconsin, many of them coming on jumpers. Along with shooting above 40% from deep each of his three seasons, Murphy also shot above 75% at the free throw line as well.

In Florida's system, Murphy was able to get plenty of good looks from deep. Their offense does a great job of preparing guys for the pros, forcing players to make reads and react. Its a system with a lot of freedom and spacing, running very much like a NBA offense. Its helped plenty of former Gators transition into the NBA as offensive guys. Brad Beal, Matt Bonner, David Lee, Mike Miller, Al Horford, Chandler Parsons, Udonis Haslem, and other prominent names have been able to come in right away and find a fit on offense. There are plenty of shooters and offensively skilled guys that come out of college each year, but Billy Donovan's guys usually come out of school with an edge over most that carries over to the next level. He's seen a lot of his players overachieve for their draft position.

With Patric Young occupying space down low, Murphy was able to play the stretch forward role he will be asked to play in the NBA. Playing alongside three guards who could also shoot, Florida's offense was extremely dangerous and shared the ball well. Murphy was perhaps the most valuable and versatile part of the attack. Murphy forced big men to come out and play them. If they didn't, he would hit the trail 3 with ease. If they did, Murphy could take them off the dribble.

Murphy isn't very quick off the bounce, but he is a good ball handler and uses his body well. His strength and willingness to play physical is an underrated part of his game that helped him get to where he needed to be with the ball in his hands. He has good balance on his drives and is always under control. Murphy doesn't always seek to get all the way to the rim, but if he can just get to the foul line, he usually finds a way to get up a good shot.

A lot of times, that good shot is a hook shot. And almost always, its with his right hand. Murphy has very good footwork and if he gets to the free throw line, he can post up and create a scoring opportunity. He has counter moves in the post and can fake either way multiple times, but his moves are always intended to finish a shot going over his left shoulder. 

While he has propensity to go right, I think Murphy has more of an ability to go to his left than he has shown. Around the basket, he uses his left hand to finish without a problem. His combination of footwork, touch, ability to use both hands, and added strength has made him a very good finisher at the rim in college. 

In the pros, Murphy doesn't have the length or athleticism to finish consistently inside, but its good to see he has other ways to finish. He's not very quick off the floor and lacks foot speed. His wingspan is short at only 6'10.5, but he has a surprisingly high standing reach at 9 feet. With that kind of physical profile, you can't expect Murphy to be anywhere close to effective at the rim as he was in college.

His little right handed hook also won't be as good. In college, Murphy seeked out contact whenhe shot it by going into defenders bodies. It wasn't as graceful of a hook shot as you'd expect from a guy like Murphy. It was more of his only way to get to the foul line. Murphy never was able to get to the line on straight drives from the perimeter or closer in - the fouls he drew were more of the more physical variety.

Despite improved physical play, Murphy will never be one of those tough rebounders down low who can get easy baskets. His toughness shows that he can play and rebound in the NBA - perhaps better than other stretch four candidates like Ryan Kelly and Grant Jerrett, but nothing more.

Luckily for Murphy, his jump shots are often just as good as layups. And he has the makings of a finesse mid-range game as well, complete with a very smooth turnaround jumper. He knows how to square up, use jab steps, and get the defender to pause just long enough to get the shot off. He also is a good passer, especially from the perimeter where he sees the court very well. He makes quick decisions, keeps the ball moving, and does a good job moving without the ball after he passes it. Being a good passer as a stretch 4 is important because you will be expected to pass from the perimeter like a guard a lot and it also helps free yourself up.

Murphy was a mismatch nightmare in college - able to post up smaller defenders and able to take bigger guys off the dribble. In the NBA, he will still be able to provide mismatch problems to a degree. More importantly, he will be able to spread the floor and consistently hit jumpers. He will fare very well as a pick and pop threat and a guy who fits trail threes. 

Defensively, Murphy will be lucky to be average at best due to his lack of lateral quickness and overall athleticism. He will struggle to stay in front of quicker guys, doesn't have the length to contest shots, and will still be weaker than the scoring post players in the league. Murphy is a decent rebound and displays a very good set of hands.

Overall, Murphy looks like the best stretch forward prospect in the second round. He has competition from Ryan Kelly, Grant Jerrett, Kenny Kadji, and other guys likely to go undrafted, but Murphy seems like the most well-rounded and ready to contribute of the group. I also think he is the best shooter of the group - which is perhaps the most important thing. The Florida pedigree won't hurt his draft stock either. Look for him to go somewhere in the second round and potentially have a Matt Bonner-type career in the right situation. 

Scouting Report: Brandon Davies

At one point in time, Brandon Davies was more known for being Jimmer Fredette's teammate and his violation of BYU's honor code. Playing alongside Jimmer, Davies was an afterthought in scouts minds watching BYU games at the time, but has slowly maneuvered himself into potentially being selected in the 2013 NBA Draft. He's done so through improvement and an increased role - a role that features him as a rare playmaker and go to guy in the post. If a team is looking for the next Draymond Green in this draft, he's the closest thing to him you will find in terms of style of play. He possesses a true post game, toughness, craftiness, high IQ, good footwork, and a strong passing ability.

Since the season has ended, Davies has seen his stock increase with good showings at both Portsmouth and Chicago. He was the MVP of the event in Portsmouth. The previous two MVPs, Jimmy Butler and Kyle O'Quinn both went on to be drafted. At Chicago, he helped himself by showing more of a faceup game and measuring with legitimate power forward size.

Showing well at these events has been big for Davies because his role is certain to change in the NBA. Its unlikely that Davies will ever be featured as a go to player offensively in the post, so he will have to show that his game can transition to more of a face up threat. He will be used more in pick and roll/pop situations and showing that he can knock down the mid-range jumper consistently will be key. Neither are things that he got to do much of at BYU, although he did fare well shooting jumpers from 15 feet. Davies was even able to hit 5 of 14 college 3-pt attempts this year.

Even though he will need to play a different style in the NBA, Davies post game is far from worthless. For one, seeing him in a featured role has also forced him to become a decision maker. In that aspect, Davies has done a great job making decisions from the post.

Davies also shows plenty of patience in the post and handled the double teams he routinely saw with relative ease. He's an excellent passer from the high post and its not him just simply kicking it out to the open man. He founded cutters consistently, adjusted shots in midair to instead pass to a teammate, and developed all sorts of crafty ways to deliver the ball to teammates.

Davies ability to work hard off the ball is also evident through his post game. He constantly worked for deep position inside and sealed off his defender uses that solid base of his. He seeks out contact and is always looking to put his body on someone. His teammates did a great job rewarding him for his hard work by the way of post entry passes. Unlike most teams nowadays, Davies was able to kick the ball back out of the post, reestablish better position, and be confident that he would get the ball back. He is a natural with his back to the basket and really thrived as the focal point of an inside-outside attack.

In terms of post moves, Davies has them too. He uses his pivot foot as well as anyone and his footwork overall is excellent. He's shown off a little "dream shake", numerous up and under moves, a quick face up move off the bounce, and plenty of other moves. When it comes to having a bag of tricks to go to, Brandon Davies is your man in this draft. He definitely has an old school post game.

He does tend to be overly predictable. While he has plenty of flare, he almost always ends up going over his left shoulder. In college, players are more prone to flail at all the style and fall into Davies' trap. In the NBA, the scouting report will eventually catch up to him to the point where he will need to establish more moves going over his right shoulder. He has shown that he can hit shots with his left hand, he just needs to get more comfortable making moves towards that side of the basket.

Another one of Davies moves is a big time pump fake, one that will draw comparisons to Sam Young's back at Pitt. Once again though, it will be far less effective in the NBA due to scouting reports and smarter players. He does his pump fake with only one hand and it should be obvious that he isn't going to shoot out of that position. Its just a reaction thing, but NBA players will know to look for it and be more disciplined on not biting on it.

Still, that is just one of Davies' crafty moves and its a good example of just how creative he is. Its a big part of his game and some of it certainly will translate and help him in the NBA. With all his hesitation moves, he will be able to at least keep shotblockers at bay. Thats big for Davies because he isnt the most explosive player around the rim. With his strength and moves though, he was able to convert 76% of his shots at the rim - a very high number. Davies understands how to attack shotblockers by going right into their body. He also will do a lot of reverse finishes to use the rim to help shield his shot from getting blocked.

Davies is also able to make quick reads in the post and make some deceptively quick moves to the basket off the bounce. He's a solid ball handler from the power forward spot and while he won't blow by a lot of guys, he does know how to use one or two dribbles effectively to get him a better shot. Davies attacked the rim off of one or two dribbles a lot this year.

His transition to the NBA will actually be similar to Cody Zeller's. Davies too was asked to play around the rim and attack a lot, while showing that he struggled to finish against good athletes. They both showed passing skills, high IQs, and flashed the ability to play more of a stretch forward role when they had the chance. Davies isnt as quick as Zeller, but he is tougher and more skilled with his back to the basket.

Davies is certainly a guy that you have to watch his best games and balance them out by watching his worst games. At this best, he looks unstoppable in the post. But Davies wasn't always facing the greatest competition. When he did, you could really see his struggles finishing inside. Davies still scored plenty against top competition, but was inefficient in two games against Baylor and Gonzaga, as well as Iowa State and Notre Dame (to his credit though, Davies was still able to get to the line against these opponents, something he does very well).

He's also a guy that the more you watch him play, the more you appreciate him simply because he shows more and more creativity each game. Whenever you watch Davies, you are bound to see him bust out a new move or make a pass you usually don't see anyone else make.

Defensively, Davies struggled a lot with foul trouble. He plays the game physically on defense as well and is aggressive, but it ends up taking him out of games too much. Way too much for a star player like Davies. Davies, however, also had to deal with playing behind a very weak perimeter defense that forced BYU to switch to zone defense a lot later in the season. Watching Davies in the zone, you can see just how coordinated he is and how well he understands where to be on defense. He is not the quickest guy laterally, but his coordination will help him hang with quicker power forwards in the league. As will his strong frame and 7'2 wingspan.


He came up with a very high amount of steals for a power forward which is indicates that his athleticism may be a bit underrated. While Davies won't be a playmaker or a intimidating presence on defense, he does project as a solid positional defender as long as he keeps his fouls down.

In terms of rebounding, Davies isn't your typical second round steal at PF who puts up huge rebounding numbers. He did exceed 10 rebounds per 40 minutes each of his past three seasons however. He does a good job rebounding in his area and pulls down the ball with power. He's a guy you can trust to come down with the boards he should. He always boxes out and throws his body to his man and is a great team rebounder, who is more focused on just helping a teammate get the rebounder than simply being out to pad his own stats.

Overall, Davies will need to make a transition offensively in the NBA, but it is something he has already shown he will be able to make if his play at Portsmouth and Chicago are any indication. He seems to be a better shooter than the numbers indicate and his craftiness should translate to the pick and roll game as well. He certainly is already does a good job setting hard screens.

While Davies was a star at BYU, he has great qualities of a role player and should have no problem changing roles - just as Draymond Green did this year for the Warriors. He's unselfish, has a high IQ, plays with energy and toughness, knows how to set up his teammates, and is a high character guy by all accounts. He seems to be willing to do whatever his team needs him to do in order to win. At BYU, it was to be the focal point of the offense out of the post. In the NBA, his role will be more confined, but could be just as important to a playoff team. Right now, Brandon Davies is looking like a solid second round steal with the ability to come in and make an impact right away.

Scouting Report: Grant Jerrett

Grant Jerrett was part of Arizona's very talented recruiting class this past season, when they brought in three big men all in the top 15 by RSCI rankings. As expected, playing time was a problem and Jerrett ended up splitting time at power forward with fellow freshman Brandon Ashley. By the end of the year, playing time was still inconsistent for Jerrett and it looked more like Ashley would earn the starting spot heading into next year. With two more talented forwards coming to Tuscon next year (Aaron Gordon and Rondae Jefferson), Jerrett's playing time situation didn't look like it would improve much. So instead of settling for another year of playing 20 minutes a game at the most, Jerrett decided to declare for the NBA Draft.

It is an interesting decision for sure. Generally, if you have to leave your college team because of playing time, that isn't a good sign. But this Arizona Wildcat team is very talented up front and filled with multiple NBA prospects. Ashley, Tarczewski, and incoming forwards Rondae Jefferson and Aaron Gordon may have more upside than Jerrett, but Jerrett has NBA size and a skillset fit for the power forward position.

This year at Arizona, Jerrett was mainly a pick and pop threat. He has an odd looking shot, but a very consistent stroke without any unnecessary movement. He also has a fairly high release point and his jumper looks similar to the Spurs' Matt Bonner. Over half of his shot attempts this season were three point attempts, which should give you a good idea of what kind of player he projects to be as a pro.

He shot 40% from 3-pt range and 82% at the line, both very impressive numbers for a freshman big man. He has a big body that helps him set screens and he does a good job getting himself open when popping out behind the 3-pt line. He doesn't force up any shots and has a very pure, balanced stroke.

As an athlete, Jerrett doesn't have the body you'd expect from a NBA player. He looks very unathletic, uncoordinated, and out of shape. He's a little chubby, has high shoulder, and will never be the most explosive or quickest big on a team. But Jerrett is more athletic than he looks and moves pretty well once you can get past looking at his awkward running style.

The biggest asset he has physically is his size. Even though his frame isn't that of a normal basketball player, he does have a body that can take up space and bang inside. At this point, Jerrett shies away from contact and doesn't have much of a post game, but that can change once he gets stronger. Its obvious that his frame hasn't had any kind of weight training and he gets backed down in the post too easily for a guy his size. His height may never be used to its full capabilities inside, but it will allow him to get his jumper off with ease.

Unsurprisingly, Jerrett was just an average at best finisher at the rim. He didn't show he could finish with contact nor was he very explosive. But he did show good touch around the rim and the ability to move around the baseline without the ball. You have to keep in mind that Jerrett wasn't featured in the offense much this year so there may be some things he is capable of that he just hasn't shown yet.

Still, up to this point there is no notable mid-range game or post game. He shot poorly on his 2-pt jumpers, although they were scarce.

Jerrett does have a fairly good feel for the game though and is able to put the ball on the floor when the defense closes out on him. He is a skilled player who can finish with both hands as well. Compared to Brandon Ashley, Jerrett relies on his size and skills more while Ashley lives more off of athleticism and feel for the game.

In the NBA, Jerrett will be more suited for a team that wants to spread the court and run pick and pop plays. Unlike other stretch 4s, he isn't a guy who can also beat you in transition, so a halfcourt offense is more suited for his needs. His conditioning needs a lot of work as he was seen with his hands on his hips and breathing heavily often at Arizona.

Defensively, Jerrett doesn't have the strength to handle back to the basket guys yet, but did a surprisingly good job getting out and defending the pick and roll in space. His footwork improved throughout the year and he did a good job recovering and picking up block shots. He averaged 2 blocks per 40 minutes which is a testament to his timing and ability to not take himself out of defensive plays. There is also some truth that defenders weren't intimidated by his presence inside.

Overall, Jerrett isn't your typical one and done prospect despite his high ranking out of high school. It was a shock to see him enter the draft and while it may not have been the wisest decision, it is now too late to turn back. Getting an invite to the Chicago combine was a good sign and he was able to show his size and shooting ability there. He was said to be one of the best shooting big men at the event.

When it comes to stretch 4s, I like his upside more than Kenny Kadhi or Ryan Kelly, but teams don't usually look to develop a stretch 4. Teams generally take a stretch 4 with the idea of them contributing to their team sooner than later. For Jerrett, he still needs to gain plenty of experience and get himself in shape before contributing. Thats what makes his draft stock interesting - I don't think a team wants to use a first rounder on a stretch four that will be in the D-League the next two years. Its more likely to see Jerrett go towards the mid to late second round range. His game actually fits Europe well so that could be a good option for him to develop the next couple of years if he believes he has the maturity to play overseas. 

2013 NBA Mock Draft - Post Declaration Deadline/Pre-Lottery

1. Orlando Magic - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
2. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown 
4. Phoenix Suns - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
5. New Orleans Hornets - JR Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
6. Sacramento Kings - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
7. Detroit Pistons - FR Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
8. Washington Wizards - SO Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
9. Minnesota Timberwolves - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
10. Portland Trailblazers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
11. Philadelphia 76ers - JR Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga
12. Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
13. Dallas Mavericks - SO Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
14. Utah Jazz - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
15. Milwaukee Bucks - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, International
16. Boston Celtics - 1994 Dario Saric, F, International
17. Atlanta Hawks - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, International
18. Atlanta Hawks - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
19. Cleveland Cavaliers - 1993 Livio Jean-Charles, F, International
20. Chicago Bulls - JR Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
21. Utah Jazz - 1993 Dennis Schroeder, PG, International
22. Brooklyn Nets - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke
23. Indiana Pacers - SR Erick Green, PG, Virginia Tech
24. New York Knicks - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
25. Los Angeles Clippers - 1994 Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, International
26. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
27. Denver Nuggets - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
28. San Antonio Spurs - SR Mike Muscala, F/C, Bucknell
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas
30. Phoenix Suns - Glen Rice Jr, SF, D-League
31. Cleveland Cavaliers - 1994 Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, International
32. Oklahoma City Thunder - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
33. Cleveland Cavaliers - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, International
34. Houston Rockets - SR Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
35. Philadelphia 76ers - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
36. Sacramento Kings - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
37. Washington Wizards - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
38. Detroit Pistons - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
39. Portland Trailblazers - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
40. Portland Trailblazers - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
41. Memphis Grizzlies - SR Erik Murphy, F, Florida
42. Philadelphia 76ers - SO Shane Larkin, PG, Miami
43. Milwaukee Bucks - JR Tim Hardaway JR, SG, Michigan
44. Dallas Mavericks - 1992 Lucas Noguiera, C, International
45. Portland Trailblazers - FR Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
46. Utah Jazz - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
47. Atlanta Hawks - SR Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
48. Los Angeles Lakers - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
49. Chicago Bulls - SR Brandon Paul, SG, Illinois
50. Atlanta Hawks - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
51. Orlando Magic - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
52. Minnesota Timberwolves - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
53. Indiana Pacers - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
54. Washington Wizards - 1991 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, International
55. Memphis Grizzlies - SR Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
56. Detroit Pistons - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, PG, International
57. Phoenix Suns - SR James Ennis, SF, Long Beach State
58. San Antonio Spurs - SR Robert Covington, SF, Tennessee State
59. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Tony Snell, G/F, New Mexico
60. Memphis Grizzlies - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State

NBA Mock Draft - Post Draft Order Edition

Round 1

1. Orlando Magic - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
2. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
4. Phoenix Suns - JR Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
5. New Orleans Hornets - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
6. Sacramento Kings - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
7. Detroit Pistons - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, International
8. Washington Wizards - SO Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
9. Minnesota Timberwolves - FR Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UNLV
10. Portland Trailblazers - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
11. Philadelphia 76ers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
12. Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
13. Dallas Mavericks - FR Isaiah Austin, PF, Baylor
14. Utah Jazz - SO Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
15. Milwaukee Bucks - JR Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Gonzaga
16. Boston Celtics - 1994 Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, International
17. Atlanta Hawks - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
18. Chicago Bulls - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
19. Atlanta Hawks - SR Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
20. Cleveland Cavaliers - 1992 Rudy Gobert, C, International
21. Utah Jazz - SR Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech
22. Brooklyn Nets - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
23. Indiana Pacers - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
24. New York Knicks - 1993 Dennis Schroeder, PG, International
25. Los Angeles Clippers - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
26. Minnesota Timberwolves - 1994 Dario Saric, F, International
27. Denver Nuggets - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas
28. San Antonio Spurs - 1994 Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, International
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
30. Phoenix Suns - JR Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State

Round 2

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - JR Cory Jefferson, PF, Baylor
2. Oklahoma City Thunder - 1993 Livio Jean-Charles, F, International
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
4. Houston Rockets - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
5. Philadelphia 76ers - JR Tim Hardaway, SG, Michigan
6. Sacramento Kings - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
7. Washington Wizards - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, International
8. Detroit Pistons - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
9. Portland Trailblazers - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
10. Portland Trailblazers - 1992 Lucas Nogueira, C, International
11. Memphis Grizzlies - SR Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
12. Philadelphia 76ers - SR Erik Murphy, F, Florida
13. Milwaukee Bucks - 1991 Glen Rice, SF, NBDL
14. Dallas Mavericks - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
15. Portland Trailblazers - SR Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
16. Utah Jazz - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, G, International
17. Atlanta Hawks - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
18. Los Angeles Lakers - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
19. Chicago Bulls - 1992 Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
20. Atlanta Hawks - 1992 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, International
21. Orlando Magic - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
22. Minnesota Timberwolves - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
23. Indiana Pacers - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
24. Washington Wizards - SR Carrick Felix, SF, Arizona State
25. Memphis Grizzlies - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
26. Los Angeles Clippers - SR Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
27. Phoenix Suns - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
28. San Antonio Spurs - SR Matthew Dellavedova, PG, St. Mary's
29. Minnesota Timberwolves - 1992 Marko Todorovic, C, International
30. Memphis Grizzlies - SO Jarnell Stokes, PF, Memphis

2013 NBA Mock Draft

Updated: 3/8/13

* I only included 30 early entrant canidates from the NCAA. For the most part, there is no science or reasoning to who declares or who stays, but I capped the amount of early entrant guys getting drafted at 30 because thats around the norm these days.

1. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
2. Orlando Magic - FR Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
3. Phoenix Suns - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
4. Sacramento Kings - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
5. Minnesota Timberwolves - FR Shabazz Muhammad, G/F, UCLA
6. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Victor Oladipo, SF, Indiana
7. New Orleans Hornets - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
8. Detroit Pistons - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
9. Washington Wizards - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
10. Philadelphia 76ers - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
11. Oklahoma City Thunder - SO Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
12. Portland Trailblazers - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet
13. Dallas Mavericks - FR Alex Poythress, SF, Kentucky
14. Phoenix Suns - 1994 Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, Filathlitikos
15. Milwaukee Bucks - FR Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan
16. Atlanta Hawks - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke
17. Boston Celtics - FR Isaiah Austin, PF, Baylor
18. Utah Jazz - FR Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse
19. Chicago Bulls - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
20. Utah Jazz - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
21. Brooklyn Nets - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
22. Atlanta Hawks - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
23. Denver Nuggets - JR Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State
24. New York Knicks - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
25. Indiana Pacers - 1994 Dario Saric, F, Cibona Zagreb
26. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, Minnesota
27. Los Angeles Clippers - FR TJ Warren, F, North Carolina State
28. Oklahoma City Thunder - 1994 Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, Boulogne
29. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
30. San Antonio Spurs - SR Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
31. Charlotte Bobcats - JR Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga
32. Orlando Magic - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
33. Phoenix Suns - FR Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
34. Sacramento Kings - JR Patric Young, F/C, Florida
35. Minnesota Timberwolves - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
36. Cleveland Cavaliers - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
37. New Orleans Hornets - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
38. Detroit Pistons - SO LeBryan Nash, SF, Oklahoma State
39. Washington Wizards - SR Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech
40. Philadelphia 76ers - SR Mike Muscala, F/C, Bucknell
41. Oklahoma City Thunder - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
42. Portland Trailblazers - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
43. Dallas Mavericks - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, Truimph Moscow
44. Phoenix Suns - 1992 Leo Westermann, G, Partizan
45. Milwaukee Bucks - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State
46. Atlanta Hawks - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
47. Boston Celtics - SR Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
48. Utah Jazz - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, PG, Lietuvos Rytas
49. Chicago Bulls - SR Rodney Williams, F, Minnesota
50. Utah Jazz - 1991 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, Valencia
51. Brooklyn Nets - SR Zeke Marshall, C, Akron
52. Atlanta Hawks - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
53. Denver Nuggets - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, Barcelona
54. New York Knicks - SR Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
55. Indiana Pacers - SR Kenny Kadji, PF, Miami
56. Minnesota Timberwolves - 1992 Lucas Nogueira, C, Barcelona
57. Los Angeles Clippers - SR Elias Harris, F, Gonzaga
58. Oklahoma City Thunder - 1991 Oleksandr Lypovyy, Donetsk
59. Cleveland Cavaliers - SR Carrick Felix, G/F, Arizona State
60. San Antonio Spurs - SR Isaiah Canaan, G, Murray State

2013 NBA Mock Draft

1. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
2. Washington Wizards - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Cody Zeller, F/C, Indiana
4. Orlando Magic - FR Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
5. New Orleans Hornets - FR Shabazz Muhammad, G/F, UCLA
6. Phoenix Suns - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
7. Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
8. Sacramento Kings - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
9. Detroit Pistons - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
10. Minnesota Timberwolves - SR CJ McCollum, G, Lehigh
11. Philadelphia 76ers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
12. Dallas Mavericks - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet
13. Phoenix Suns (from Lakers) - FR Isaiah Austin, PF, Baylor
14. Charlotte Bobcats (from Minnesota) - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
15. Boston Celtics - FR Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky
16. Atlanta Hawks (from Rockets) - SO Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse
17. Utah Jazz - JR Victor Oladipo, G/F, Indiana
18. Milwaukee Bucks - FR Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan
19. Atlanta Hawks - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke
20. Brooklyn Nets - SO LeBryan Nash, SF, Oklahoma State
21. Indiana Pacers - JR Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga
22. Denver Nuggets - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
23. Chicago Bulls - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
24. Utah Jazz (from Warriors) - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
25. New York Knicks - 1994 Dario Saric, F, Cibona Zagreb
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis) - FR TJ Warren, F, North Carolina State
27. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Miami) - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
28. Los Angeles Clippers - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
30. San Antonio Spurs - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas

31. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Bobcats) - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, Triumph Moscow
32. Washington Wizards - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
33. Cleveland Cavaliers - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
34. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Magic) - JR Patric Young, F/C, Florida
35. Philadelphia 76ers (from Hornets) - JR Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State
36. Phoenix Suns - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
37. Memphis Grizzlies (from Toronto) - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G/F, Georgia
38. Sacramento Kings - SR CJ Wilcox, G/F, Washington
39. Detroit Pistons - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
40. Portland Trailblazers (from Minnesota) - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
41. Philadelphia 76ers - SR Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
42. Dallas Mavericks - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
43. Los Angeles Lakers - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
44. Denver Nuggets (from Portland) - JR Russ Smith, G, Louisville
45. Portland Trailblazers (from Boston) - SR Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
46. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston) - SR Mike Muscala, F/C, Bucknell
47. Utah Jazz - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State
48. Milwaukee Bucks - 1991 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, Valencia
49. Atlanta Hawks - SR Trevor Mbawke, F/C, Minnesota
50. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn) - 1992 Lucas Nogueira, C, Estudiantes
51. Indiana Pacers - FR Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
52. Phoenix Suns (from Denver) - SR Rodney Williams, F, Minnesota
53. Chicago Bulls - JR Tim Hardaway Jr, SG, Michigan
54. Orlando Magic (from Warriors) - 1992 Leo Westermann, PG, Partizan
55. Washington Wizards (from Knicks) - SR Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech
56. Los Angeles Lakers (from Memphis) - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
57. Miami Heat - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, G, Lietuvos Rytas
58. Detroit Pistons (from Clippers) - SR Durand Scott, G, Miami
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Thunder) - 1991 Oleksandr Lypovyy, SF, Donetsk
60. San Antonio Spurs - SR Isaiah Canaan, G, Murray State

Not Considered (Assuming they won't delcare):

Steven Adams
Rasheed Sulaimon
Shannon Scott
Montrezl Harrell
Khem Birch
Willie Cauley-Stein
Semaj Christon
Jarnell Stokes
Brandon Ashley
Allen Crabbe
Cory Jefferson
Gary Harris
Kevin Pangos
Dez Wells
LaQuinton Ross
Kaleb Tarczewski
Branden Dawson
CJ Fair

Top Undrafted:

Ryan Kelly
Laurence Bowers
Mike Moser
Elijah Johnson
Jack Cooley
Reggie Johnson
Pierre Jackson
Kenny Kadji
Sean Kilpatrick
Solomon Hill
James Ennis

2013 NBA Mock Draft

*More early entry candidates are included in this mock because it is simply a guessing game to decide who will or will not declare. Therefore, this draft appears much deeper than it will be come June. Most of these second rounders have a good chance of going late first and there are plenty of undrafted players who will end up being selected in the real draft. Enjoy!*

1. Charlotte Bobcats - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
3. Washington Wizards - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
4. Sacramento Kings - FR Shabazz Muhammad, G/F, UCLA
5. Phoenix Suns -1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet
6. Orlando Magic - FR Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
7. New Orleans Hornets - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
8. Philadelphia 76ers - SR CJ McCollum, G, Lehigh
9. Detroit Pistons - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
10. Toronto Raptors (to Oklahoma City) - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
11. Minnesota Timberwolves - FR Glenn Robinson Jr, SF, Michigan
12. Dallas Mavericks - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
13. Portland Trailblazers (to Charlotte) - SO Cody Zeller, F/C, Indiana
14. Los Angeles Lakers - FR Isaiah Austin, F/C, Baylor
15. Atlanta Hawks - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke
16. Milwaukee Bucks - FR Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky
17. Utah Jazz - FR Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
18. Boston Celtics - SO Tony Mitchell, PF, North Texas
19. Houston Rockets (to Atlanta) - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
20. Chicago Bulls - FR Rasheed Sulaimon, SG, Duke
21. Brooklyn Nets - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina
22. Golden State Warriors (to Utah) - JR Victor Oladipo, G/F, Indiana
23. Indiana Pacers - SR Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
24. New York Knicks - JR Gorgui Dieng, F/C, Louisville
25. Memphis Grizzlies (to Minnesota) - FR TJ Warren, F, North Carolina State
26. Denver Nuggets - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
27. Miami Heat (to Cleveland) - 1994 Dario Saric, F, Cibona Zagreb
28. San Antonio Spurs - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
29. Los Angeles Clippers - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
30. Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

Round 2

1. Charlotte Bobcats (to Oklahoma City) - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
3. Washington Wizards - SO LeBryan Nash, SF, Oklahoma State
4. Sacramento Kings - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, Triumph Moscow
5. Phoenix Suns - JR Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State
6. Orlando Magic (to Cleveland) - JR Patric Young, F/C, Florida
7. New Orleans Hornets (to Philadelphia) - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
8. Philadelphia 76ers - 1991 Nemandja Nedovic, G, Lietuvos Rytas
9. Detroit Pistons - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
10. Toronto Raptors - FR Khem Birch, F/C, UNLV
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (to Portland) - SR Richard Howell, PF, North Carolina State
12. Dallas Mavericks - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
13. Portland Trailblazers (to Denver) - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
14. Los Angeles Lakers - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
15. Atlanta Hawks - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
16. Milwaukee Bucks - SR Mike Muscala, F/C, Bucknell
17. Utah Jazz - 1992 Leo Westermann, G, Partizan
18. Boston Celtics (to Portland) - 1992 Lucas Nogueira, C, Estudiantes
19. Houston Rockets (to Atlanta) - JR Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Gonzaga
20. Chicago Bulls - SR Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
21. Brooklyn Nets (to Minnesota) - JR Russ Smith, G, Louisville
22. Golden State Warriors (to Orlando) - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
23. Indiana Pacers - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
24. New York Knicks (to Washington) - JR Lorenzo Brown, G, North Carolina State
25. Memphis Grizzlies - JR CJ Wilcox, G/F, Washington
26. Denver Nuggets (to Phoenix) - SR Rodney Williams, F, Minnesota
27. Miami Heat - SR Isaiah Canaan, G, Murray State
28. San Antonio Spurs - SR Ed Daniel, F/C, Murray State
29. Los Angeles Clippers - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (to Minnesota) - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, Barcelona

A Mock Draft With Updated Trades and Team Needs!

1. Washington Wizards - SO Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Wizards have their backcourt set with Wall and Beal and need a reliable scorer inside. Chris Singleton has actually been one of their better players this year at the power forward position and Vesely still shows signs inside, so finding a skilled big to compliment them would be a good choice.

2. Detroit Pistons - FR Shabazz Muhammad, SG, UCLA

Pretty easy choice for the Pistons. They need a wing badly and their inside is set with Drummond and Monroe.

3. Sacramento Kings - FR Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State

This may be a reach, but only time will tell as the season pans out. What is evident is the Kings need help on the perimeter and Smart is a the kind of young talent that is mature enough to take a leadership role.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh

Cavs could go in a number of directions with their team, but with Andersen Varejao under contract until at least 2014, they can afford to take a project at center.

5. Toronto Raptors (to Oklahoma CIty) - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky

Look who is picking in the top 5 again, the Thunder! A shooting guard would be ideal here, but they do have Jeremy Lamb who has potential. They could make a bit of a surprise pick ala Westbrook and elect for McLemore, but Noel is a more realistic option at this point. With Perkins underperforming  and Thabeet logging minutes, they could want a new center to groom.

6. Orlando Magic - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, Cholet

With Big Baby, Nicholson, and Al Harrington under contract for the next few years, the Magic have nice potential scoring options at one big man spot. Having a guy to do the small things and finish around the rim would be a nice compliment. If the Magic are still shy about drafting international guys, Poythress could fill the void at the 3.

7. Phoenix Suns - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

The Suns were unable to get a shooting guard last year and still desperately need one. McLemore should rise the draft boards soon enough.

8. New Orleans Hornets - FR Alex Poythress, F, Kentucky

The Hornets really need help scoring, but there aren't many options available around the perimeter. Poythress may not be a great scorer, but will be another player for the Hornets to build around. He will be an instant upgrade of Aminu.

9. Charlotte Bobcats - SO James Michael McAdoo, PF, North Carolina

Usually when the Bobcats take a UNC guy its viewed as a publicity thing, but McAdoo would be great value here. His feel on the offensive end and awareness on defense would pair well with BIyombo and it seems the Cats have found their PG and SF of the future.

10. Portland Trailblazers - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas

I know Portland wants to keep Aldridge at power forward, but they drafted Leonard last year and have to allow him to develop. Mitchell has a huge upside and they can use his athleticism inside. He gives them different look and more importantly, an asset down the road.

11. Utah Jazz - FR Rasheed Sulaimon, G, Duke

I may be a bit ahead on Sulaimon, but its better to be proactive than reactive. I'd rather not mirror other sites nor do I want to throw random names out for shock value. I truly think Sulaimon has potential lottery talent whether he leaves this year or not. The Jazz are going to need some help in the backcourt.

12. Indiana Pacers - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

Pacers need to shake things up and it starts at point guard. Burke is a pure point who can score and also learns quick. He could eventually allow Hill to return to his combo guard role where he is more comfortable.

13. Houston Rockets - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado

Its funny to see the Rockets draft another PF, but it is their least productive position. Maybe if they let one guy run with the spot it would be better, but eventually they have to strike gold. Roberson's athleticism is game changing and he can play the 3 alongside a good scorer like Harden too. Morey should be impressed by his rebounding numbers.

14. Golden State Warriors (to Utah) - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis

Utah on the clock again and still looking for some perimeter help. With Hayward playing a lot of SG, Thomas could potentially be the future starter next to him. He's a big, physical SF - something it seems Utah likes with their fascination of big lineups.

15. Denver Nuggets - SO Alex Len, F/C, Maryland

Koufos is running out of time and Len is one of the better players still left on the board. They need a big that could turn into a back to the basket threat.

16. Atlanta Hawks - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky

Hawks are basically starting from scratch and building around Horford so anyone with talent will do. Goodwin is viewed as a top ten talent by most so this is great value.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (to Miami) - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina

Bullock doesn't have a high ceiling, but as a role player, there aren't many more fit to step in a play a role. Miami just need wing players who can defend, run the court, and shoot 3s and thats exactly what Bullock will do.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (to Phoenix) - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia

They got a game changer at shooting guard in McLemore, but that doesn't mean they cant add a knock down shooter as well. Both players will be needed to sure up the Suns' rotation.

19. Milwaukee Bucks - FR Isaiah Austin, F/C, Baylor

Dont worry Bucks fans, Im sure your pick will be higher than this too. But hey, Austin could still be in the mix if this was in the lottery - he's good value here. Have another skinny player with small bone structure.

20. Chicago Bulls - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh

Word is the Bulls have Bellinelli, Hinrich, and Nate Robinson all playing way too many minutes. Here is some better offense off the bench and a guy that can play some point guard.

21. Dallas Mavericks (to Oklahoma City) - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton

Maybe Doug can add a new element to their team. I figure they have too many projects to take on already.

22. Boston Celtics - JR Mike Moser, F, UNLV

Mike Moser is a really good basketball player and his versatility and productivity would be valued off Boston's bench. I think learning from Paul Pierce would be a big help.

23. Los Angeles Lakers (to Cleveland) - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

They have scorers at the other two perimeter positions so this is a team that Otto Porter could flourish on. I had a hard time finding a good spot for Porter to go, although I like his game. He needs a good fit.

24. Brooklyn Nets - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke

I can picture Plumlee on the Nets for some odd reason. His rebounding and hustle would be much appreciated next to Brook Lopez.

25. San Antonio Spurs - 1994 Dario Saric, F, KK Zagreb

Saric is a draft and stash based on his contract, but with his talent, the Spurs will eventually find a way to use him.

26. Los Angeles Clippers - FR Glen Robinson III, SF, Michigan

Butler and Odom aren't cutting it, Robinson has advanced knowledge for a freshman on how to play and can develop into a real piece for the Clippers.

27. Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Rodney Purvis, SG, North Carolina State

Thunder can now take a chance on a shooting guard. Purvis can get to the rim better than Jeremy Lamb and has a good stroke from deep as well.

28. New York Knicks - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit

The Knicks have managed to scrap together a solid group of older point guards this year, but still need someone who can lead the team and stretch the defense in the future. McCallum has the range and the schooling to be able to run the Knicks down the line.

29. Memphis Grizzlies (to Minnesota) - SR Elijah Johnson, G, Kansas

Johnson would give the Twolves more athleticism and versatility at the guard position as well as a deep threat.

30. Miami Heat (to Phoenix) - FR Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV

Shooter with a big frame that can help spread the floor.