In an old e-mail to a friend, here is exactly how my draft night went down, as I reviewed the first 30 selections of the 2014 NBA Draft on draft day back then. Some of the analysis I hit on, others may be way off the mark. Anyways, it made for a fun night. Here's to old takes.
June 26, 2014:
4:39 p.m.
Still waiting on the Cavs to make a pick….it took them the full five minutes.
Because they don’t know who they’re taking, or if they will make a trade. Tick-tock, Cleveland. We don’t have all day.’
4:40 p.m.
The pick is in. Go shock us, Cleveland.
4:41 p.m.
They picked Andrew Wiggins. I called it. But will they keep him or trade him?
4:43 p.m.
This is a solid pick for the Cavs, assuming they keep him. Wiggins is a very athletic, versatile swingman that is a terrific scorer in transition, has great defensive skills, and has an adequate outside shot. He’s not always assertive on offense and can be mistake prone, but I think he’ll fit David Blatt’s ball movement oriented, team system right away.
(Editor's Note: Months later, the Cleveland Cavaliers would package Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett in a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves that would net them a multi-All-Star big man in Kevin Love. This trade worked very well for Cleveland, and the Cavaliers ended up winning the NBA championship in 2016 with LeBron James and Kyrie irving also later being on the team. For Minnesota, Andrew Wiggins fascinated and frustrated them, as he was a numbers on a bad team player, but was rather inefficient as a scorer for them. He has since been traded to Golden State in a trade involving D'Angelo Russell, and the Warriors have high hopes for Wiggins.)
4:44 pm
They listed foreign born players on ESPN (drafted) from 1985-present, and listed six, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Andrew Bogut, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Bennett, and Andrew Wiggins, but did they really forget about Yao Ming? Did we seriously omit Yao and not Bargnani? Really, did that just happen? Gotta squeeze him in ESPN!
4:46 p.m.
I feel Jabari Parker will go to Milwaukee at 2. He tanked the workout in Cleveland for this purpose.
4:47 p.m.
Called it. Jabari Parker goes to Milwaukee. The Bucks get their scorer, so that they can fully operate the iso-Joe offense for their head coach Larry Drew.
4:48 p.m.
Definitely this is a good pick, but it all depends if Jabari Parker will get himself into shape by the start of the NBA regular season, and if he shows an improvement on the defensive end. He’s a dynamic scorer who excels at making shots in many different ways, and can be a multi-All-Star if he plays to his expected level.
4:49 p.m.
They even compared him to Glenn Robinson! Just like I did on my site! Good job, Jalen Rose!
So far, I got the first two picks right. But I’m not sure if I’ll get the rest of them right. We will see.
(Editor's Note: This turned out to not be a good pick for Milwaukee. Jabari Parker showed some promise as a scorer in the NBA early on, but he has since been injury prone, and has not shown much of an outside shot nor much defense. Parker is currently on the Sacramento Kings, but has not played this year. Joel Embiid had come in with major questions regarding the foot injury he had just before the draft, but Embiid currently has had a much better career than both Wiggins or Parker.)
4:53 p.m.
C’Mon commish (and 76ers, and ESPN), we’re ready to go. Announce the pick already.
The 76ers select Joel Embiid.
This is an adequate pick for Philly, as they take an uber-talented center who has had major injury issues. How he recovers from a stress fracture in his foot will be important, as several notable players that had the same injury were not able to make a full recovery afterwards.
But Embiid definitely has the most upside in the draft, considering he is a terrific low post scorer that possesses outstanding footwork, is an elite rebounder, shot blocker, and defender, and would’ve gone number one if he didn’t get hurt late in the draft process.
Definitely, if anything…Philly has a penchant for taking injured, talented players. Having a lot of picks make you able to roll the dice and not play as safe.
Joel Embiid was rated as a bust by 32% of the people on ESPN. I guess there is a significant divide between the people and front offices. Is he the next Alonzo Mourning or Sam Bowie (or Greg Oden)? You can be the judge of that one. (Or not, but time will tell.)
(Editor's note: 🤣 This turned out to be a FANTASTIC pick by Philly! Also should give credit to then GM Sam Hinkie for showing the patience and by not rushing him back, and "The Process" really helped Philadelphia in the long run. Joel Embiid did miss the first two seasons, but since, he's turned out to be one of the best players of the 2014 NBA Draft and he is a perennial All-Star, along with Nikola Jokic.)
4:59 p.m.
Shocker, but an intriguing one.
Aaron Gordon goes to the Magic at 4. I kind of like the Shawn Marion comparison thrown out there by ESPN. He’s a fill in the blanks sort of combination forward that can do many different things on the floor.
He’s a smart basketball player that plays two ways, is very athletic, and is an underrated player on the court. He’s a great scorer in transition, is a good passer that sees the floor well, will rebound and blocks shots, and is a very sound defensive player that always is in the right spots.
Gordon plays within the team system, but the knocks are can he create off the dribble or make shots consistently in the pros when in a half court system. But this pick is actually still a pretty good one for Orlando, especially if they play an uptempo brand of basketball.
(Editor's Note: It seems that the Orlando Magic made a fairly solid pick in retrospect. Aaron Gordon hasn't made any All-Star teams yet, nor is likely going to, but he's consistently a starter on the Magic, who have been a low-tier playoff team for years. Gordon may not have reached Shawn Marion status, but he's a very athletic forward whose defensive versatility makes him a fairly solid role player in the NBA.)
5:07 p.m.
The Jazz select Dante Exum. Not much of a surprise there. Burke can be more of a combo guard, and Exum can play the Carter-Williams role for Utah.
This is a good pick for Utah. They get a tall, young, athletic point guard that can really attack the basket to get scores, is an adequate playmaker, and is a fairly good defender that can rack up a ton of steals. Think about if Carter-Williams was a better shooter and scorer, was younger, but a slightly worse playmaker. If that’s the case, that’s a really good pick for the Jazz.
5:11 p.m.
Although…Exum did duck playing college basketball, and Bill Simmons raises an interesting point, about not playing for Indiana, like he could have this year or next year. Is he an 18-year old Kobe or Larry Hughes? Time will tell on that one.
(Editor's Note: This pick did not turn out to be a good one for Utah. Dante Exum has been very injury prone, and he's only amounted to being a bench guard when healthy. He hasn't shown the shooting or scoring skills that he appeared to show as a draft prospect, and he hasn't really been nearly the dynamic playmaker as advertised. He's only played 60 or more NBA games twice during his career, and he is now on the Houston Rockets, though he hasn't played yet because he is currently injured.)
5:13 p.m.
Nice pick by Boston. They take Marcus Smart, who very well could be the best pick in the entire draft. But can he and Rondo play and co-exist together? Two guys with shaky jumpers? Hmm….. (Another question is will Rondo even be around them by the start of next season? Kind of wondering how Rajon will fit in there.)
But I love the way Smart plays the game. He’s built like a truck, and consistently gets to the rim. He’s a strong, aggressive driver that can really get to the rim to garner scores, is an adequate playmaker, is a very good rebounding guard, and is a terrific, rangy defender that will bring great ball pressure, and will force many turnovers at the next level. If he improves his jump shot, the sky is the limit for him.
(Editor's Note: This turned out to be a solid pick for Boston. While Marcus Smart hasn't become the scorer or dynamic playmaker that he seemed poised to be in the NBA, he's turned out to be a very good defender, and he is currently one of the best defenders in this league. His strong defense allows him to be a starter on a solid playoff team in the East, and he also made a terrific game-saving block on Norman Powell in Game 7 of the second round to help the Boston Celtics advance to the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals.)
5:18 p.m.
Lakers select Julius Randle. Nice pick!!!
I had him as the best player in the draft at the end of the college basketball season. He’s in my top 3 individually, and he’s a strong inside force, and he is a really good low post scorer and high post scorer off the dribble.
Randle is a warrior on the boards, and likely is one of the best bets to be a double-double player. He was the leader on a loaded NCAA Tournament team that went all the way to the championship game this past season as a freshman, and he could be an All-Star level player for the Lakers.
(Editor's Note: This turned out to be a fairly solid pick. Randle has been playing well individually, as he can certainly score and rebound the basketball, but he's also been on a number of bad teams in the NBA. On the bright side, he is currently playing very well on a mediocre New York Knicks team this year, and he has put up All-Star caliber numbers for them out in the East.)
5:20 p.m.
Noah Vonleh is the only one on my consensus big board top 8 that is still available to the Sacramento Kings. He’d fit them tremendously, and they would likely be unwise if they were not to take him at 8, as there are truly, 8 really good players in this year’s draft that should go in the first 8 picks.
But Doug McDermott would be a leading candidate to be number 9, as he possesses vast shooting and scoring abilities.
5:22 p.m.
If they don’t pick Vonleh here, I’ll be surprised. Let’s see what the Sacramento crowdsourcing came up with.
5:23 p.m.
Nik Stauskas? Really? This is what the crowdsourcing hired internet folks come up with? Well, Sacramento goes all offense on this one.
I mean, he’s a really good shooter that can get scores off the ball, and is a good scorer off the dribble, and is a solid playmaker that has the skills to even run the point, but he is only an above average athlete that doesn’t rebound or defend well. But I do like Stauskas’ confidence, fearlessness, and offensive game.
Jalen Rose raises an interesting point though. What about Ben McLemore? Don’t both have similar games, in that they are both 6-6 outside shooters that love to shoot threes, and can score off the dribble?
I want to like this pick, I feel Vonleh would’ve been the better pick here for Sacramento.
Among people I’ve compared him, I had him compared to J.J. Redick before the draft, but likely will get even more minutes now. Best case scenario, Nik Stauskas could be an Allan Houston type, or perhaps even better, I’m certain Sacramento is hoping they drafted the next Ray Allen. If the latter is the case, then that would have been a really good pick for them. But history suggests, the likelihood of that happening may be unlikely, which makes this sort of a risky pick for the Kings.
(Editor's Note: Neither Noah Vonleh nor Nik Stauskas have really had great careers in the NBA. Of the two, Stauskas was able to string together a couple of decent seasons as a shooter off the bench, but Vonleh failed to live up to expectations, as he ended up getting buried on the bench early on, and he didn't show much of the skills that he seemed to show when he was with the Indiana Hoosiers. Stauskas only was on Sacramento's team for a year, and he may be most known for his time with Philadelphia. Neither of them are in the NBA right now.)
5:29 p.m.
Charlotte gets another good, solid player. They get one of the coveted top 8, Noah Vonleh.
Vonleh is an uber-talented, multi-faceted big man that can score in any which way possible. He has so many dimensions to bring offensively, and may be the most versatile scoring big man in the entire draft. He also is a tremendous rebounder and is a gifted shot blocker that possesses a lot of upside. At this spot in the draft, this is a terrific pick here for the Hornets, and they are getting a player that will complement Jefferson and company greatly.
5:36 p.m.
Good pick by Philly. They draft Elfrid Payton, and they get one of the biggest sleepers in the entire draft.
Payton is a 6-3 point guard that is a very speedy, creative playmaker that has great court vision and can maneuver his way to ring up assists. He is a smart player that can create for himself and his teammates, and can make many plays off the dribble.
He is also a very good rebounding guard and is a solid defender, and can force opponents to commit lots of turnovers. The 76ers may be getting the best passing point guard in the draft, and if he develops his jump shot, Payton and Carter-Williams will team to create a really good tandem in Philly.
5:41 p.m.
(Pause.)
Dinner break! Will be back later.
5:43
Denver takes Doug McDermott. He’s a really gifted, crafty forward that possesses great shooting and low post scoring skills. McDermott can make all kinds of shots, is a good rebounder, but just needs to improve his athleticism level and defense. But this is a very good pick for the Nuggets, and he’ll provide lots of floor spacing for his teammates. Watching ESPN’s highlights of Adam Morrison seems a bit eery though.
5:49 p.m.
McDermott is going to Chicago for 16 and 19. Well, the Bulls get the shooter they need, I guess. I figured they would only keep one rookie among picks in the first round, and they got their guy, McDermott.
I do think McDermott could play Thibs’ defensive system, he’d be like a more fancy Kyle Korver, mixed in with some Tony Snell and Boozer, perhaps.
5:51 pm
No surprise here. Orlando gets a skilled, young player in Dario Saric, and they can wait for him to develop over there. He’s kind of like a European Kyle Anderson, or like Hedo Turkoglu with slightly less three-point shooting.
Saric is a skilled offensive point forward that can pass, handle the ball, and create for others, and is a good rebounder that also can get steals as well. But he won’t come over for two years, so he won’t be able to contribute right away. But once he does, the Magic could get a solid player for their team.
5:55 p.m.
The Wolves keep their promise, and select Zach LaVine.
I had them take Gary Harris in my mock, but wasn’t too enthused about Harris as an overall player. I didn’t see many good games from LaVine, but he is taller, a better athlete, is younger, and generally looks to have a better profile.
He’s a raw, unpolished project, but he is a tall, 6-6 combo guard that can run the point, can shoot or drive the basketball, and is a fairly good defensive player that can make plays on the court. Plus, he’s a terrific athlete who can really excel as a scorer in transition. This is an intriguing, high risk-high reward pick here made by Minnesota.
(Editor's Note: Zach LaVine has since turned himself into a solid NBA player, and he is currently the best player on the Chicago Bulls. He's won 2 NBA Slam Dunk contests, and he has turned himself into being an All-Star caliber player out in the Eastern Conference.)
6:02 p.m.
Orlando gets Elfrid Payton, and trades away Dario Saric. This makes a good pick even better for them. This also makes sense for Philly, as they won’t have two point guards that can’t shoot. I agree with Bill Simmons’ assessment that these picks make much more sense now.
6:03 p.m.
Phoenix drafts T.J. Warren. This is an interesting pick, though there may be better players available here. On one hand, he is an athletic scorer who excels as a scorer in transition and off the dribble, and is a good mid-range shooter that possesses great strength, good speed, and solid finishing ability around the basket. He also is a good rebounder that can get steals to get even more scores on fast breaks.
On the other hand, he struggled with his three-point shot more this season, and his on-ball defense appeared to look suspect at times. But in all, I think this is a pretty good pick for the Suns.
(Editor's Note: T.J. Warren has turned out to be a solid player, but he has especially played well for the Indiana Pacers after being traded to them. He scored 53 points in one game during the Orlando bubble against Philly, and he is a solid player that can score and get buckets on a mid-tier playoff-level team this year.)
6:05 p.m.
On one note, I don’t think Gary Harris has slipped, I think he should go in the teens to 20s actually. So I disagree with Bill Simmons on that notion. He’s a 6-2 shooting guard that didn’t run the point, had short arms and didn’t jump at the combine, and didn’t actually post great rebounding or steals numbers.
Harris is a very athletic shooter that can score in transition, but I’d be a bit weary of the Big 10 hype generated by fans, especially to players that play at Michigan State, as the only good player that they’ve brought to the league in the past five years has been Draymond Green, who has been a steady role player for the Warriors.
(Editor's Note: Gary Harris has been a good, but not a great role player on the Denver Nuggets. He's been able to provide them with some scoring and defense, but still isn't much of a playmaker or rebounder, nor does he do any one thing elite at the NBA level. He's been a fairly good pro at the NBA, if nothing more. Meanwhile, Draymond Green has been stellar for the Golden State Warriors, and he also won a Defensive Player of the Year award, and he's made an All-Star team, and has helped the Warriors to win 3 NBA titles.)
6:10 p.m.
The Atlanta Hawks select….Adreian Payne. Contrary to what I just said, I actually like this pick for Atlanta.
He’s an athletic stretch four that shoots the ball really well. He is an excellent shooter and scorer in the screen game, and really took advantage of Cody Zeller sagging and leaving him open to knock down 3 threes when he was a junior.
He also is a solid rebounder and shot blocker that has a high motor and provides a fairly solid presence inside. Payne will need to improve his low post scoring skills, and must stay healthy, but he is a nice player that will give the Hawks the ability to create mismatches in their favor. He reminds me of more mobile Channing Frye, and this is a solid overall pick by Atlanta.
(Editor's Note: This actually turned out to be a terrible pick for Atlanta. Adreian Payne never really developed a three-point shot in the NBA, even though he had developed into being a solid spot-up shooter in his latter years at Michigan State in college prior to the NBA draft. He didn't shoot, rebound, nor defend well in the NBA, and he was out of the league after playing a few games during the 2017-18 season.)
6:15 p.m.
The NBA selects Isaiah Austin! I love this pick. This is a heartwarming, good-feel decision made by the league, and this is a generous, remarkable gesture that will help the NBA go a long way. I felt for Austin when he was diagnosed with Marfan’s syndrome, and root for him, and it’s good to see his hard work being rewarded.
The 76ers get a 2017 1st Rounder from Orlando in addition to Saric.
6:20 p.m.
The Chicago Bulls select Jusuf Nurkic…presumably for Denver.
This is a solid pick for Denver, as they get a physical center who can score in the low post, rebound, block shots, and defend. He’ll need to show that he can stay out of foul trouble if he wants to start, but other than that, this is a solid, meat and potatoes pick made by the Nuggets.
His dad is 7-1, 400 pounds, and is a riot police officer in Bosnia? Holy crap, Fran Fraschilla, that’s amazing! Just truly amazing. Now we know where he gets his genes from.
6:23 p.m.
Hmm, Rose, Butler, McDermott, Carmelo, and Noah…that’s intriguing. I wonder about McDermott and Carmelo’s lack of defense, but that looks to be quite a powerful offensive attack that the Bulls would be putting forth.
I’d bet Thibodeau would be foaming at the mouth about the prospect of that idea. On one hand, I’d wonder if he’d be creative enough to create a free-flowing offense, but Thibs’ knowledge of the defensive end will at least make Carmelo and McDermott a hair better defensively. That should be interesting.
6:26 p.m.
Good pick made by Boston to select James Young. They get a super skilled left handed player that possesses solid shooting skills, a very good ability to create shots and score off the dribble.
He is also a sound playmaker as well, and can rebound the basketball, but will need to improve defensively. With head coach Brad Stevens, Marcus Smart, and Rajon Rondo (if Rondo does get to stay), Young will likely improve leaps and bounds at that end, and has the talent to be an All-Star level player in the NBA.
(Editor's Note: Considered to be an upside pick, James Young didn't actually put up great shooting percentages at Kentucky. He was an athletic swingman that could knock down some jumpers, but was rather inconsistent, but did play well late in the NCAA Tournament. However, he had trouble getting much run on the Boston Celtics, and he found himself squeezed out of their crowded roster after a few years. Young never really lived up to his potential in the NBA, and he never became the shooter or scorer people thought he'd be, and he ended up out of the NBA after the 2017-18 season.)
6:32 p.m.
The Suns take Tyler Ennis with the 18th pick in the draft. This is a solid pick, as he was a no-doubt top ten pick in the first half of the year before the shooting slump.
Ennis is a reliable, steady playmaker that plays with much more maturity and poise on the court than most freshmen his age. He plays a mistake-free brand of basketball, and is an adequate scorer off the dribble and from beyond the arc.
He also gets steals, despite playing zones in Syracuse’s defense. Ennis will have to clean up his shot selection, but he does have scoring skills, as evidenced by him having monster games against Indiana and California early in the year. It’ll be interesting to see which version of Ennis we’ll see, as the first half version was an amazing prospect that looked to be the definitive top 10 pick, but the second half version was where he struggled. But anyhow, this is a solid pick for Phoenix.
(Editor's Note: Much like the James Young pick, Tyler Ennis had an inconsistent freshman season, and he ended up out of the NBA after a few years. He played well in the non-conference, but he struggled in conference play in 2014. He had above average, but not elite physical tools, but he never really showed much of a jump shot or defense in the NBA. After bouncing around from team to team, Ennis ended up out of the NBA after the 2017-18 season.)
6:36 p.m.
Chicago takes Gary Harris for Denver. The Nuggets get Afflalo out of Fournier, and get another talented two-guard back.
Harris is undersized, but is a very athletic shooting guard that excels at shooting the basketball. He is a young, shot maker that plays with great calmness and poise on the court, and generally shows a commitment to the defensive end.
Harris is a tough, scrappy player that possesses great intangibles, but will need to show that he can play the point and defend NBA wing players. But if he can, then this would be a very good pick for the Nuggets.
6:39 p.m.
Toronto selects Bruno Caboclo? WTF? WHO?
What the hell just happened?
WHAT??????????????????????????
We have now just seen the first major curveball of the 2014 NBA Draft. (No one could have thrown that curveball better than except for a one Adam Wainwright.)
Fortunately, I have researched Caboclo before…but my information doesn’t suggest this to be good.
Caboclo is a 6-9 athlete that didn’t play much in the Brazilian League. He’s 18, and this is a swing for the fences pick. People say he’s Brazilian Kevin Durant, but he’s extremely raw, and I didn’t even project him to be drafted. It was a ballsy move for Caboclo to stay in the draft, and now we know why he did. Toronto coveted him, and got there guy, but this could be a draft and stash pick that may never come over.
With that, I fear that the Raptors have just made a ridiculously, stupid, stupid pick that they could have had at 60. Just make the trade with Miami, and take back an extra first to let them have Napier at 20. That would be far more sensible.
(Editor's Note: Bruno Caboclo hasn't really panned out so far, but it's not for a lack of trying. He had even played a couple of games in the NBA this season before being waived by Houston. The Toronto Raptors had him for 3 1/2 seasons, but he struggled to get playing time for them. He's had one decent NBA season, with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2018-19 season, but since, Caboclo has spent the majority of his time as a fringe NBA player at the end of teams' benches.)
6:51 p.m.
The Thunder select Mitch McGary. While I felt they could have had him at 29, they select a skilled big man that would’ve been drafted in the top 10 last year, and is a mobile center that excels at scoring off of rolls and off the dribble, as he really played well off of Burke as a freshman.
He’s a good rebounder and is adept at getting steals, but must improve his jumper and on-ball defense. This is a fairly good pick for Oklahoma City, as so long as McGary makes a full recovery and continues to make strides in his game.
Meanwhile, the star of the future Triangle Offense for Phil Jackson, Mike Budenholzer, Steve Kerr, or for somebody (Kyle Anderson) has continued to slip in the draft.
Also, Shabazz Napier has slipped, too, despite having the best pedigree in the draft, and despite winning 2 championships, and being the MOP of one.
This draft continues to be interesting.
6:58 p.m.
Grizzlies select Jordan Adams at 22. That’s intriguing, because I had him go at 24 in my last mock draft.
We know he didn’t test well athletically, but he certainly plays like he is one. He is a very good scorer in transition, is a fairly solid scorer in general, and is a solid playmaker and rebounder, and is a good defender that can rack up a ton of steals. Adams had much better statistical rates than Harris across the board, despite not being the better athlete, and his all-around game could help him fit into a role at Memphis.
(Editor's Note: Jordan Adams played just 2 seasons in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies, but injuries and a lack of playing time hindered his chances in this league, and he ended up out of the league after the 2015-16 season.)
7:03 p.m.
The Utah Jazz select Rodney Hood. Alright! I now have picked four correctly in my final mock draft of this year. (Editor's Note: The 4 picks I had correct in the first round: were Andrew Wiggins at 1 to Cleveland, Jabari Parker at 2 to Milwaukee, James Young at 17 to Boston, and Rodney Hood at 23 to Utah.)
Hood is a very good shooter at 6-8, and is a lefty that can also put it on the floor to score off the dribble. He’s a good athlete, but is not a very good defender, and will need to show a much better commitment on that end of the floor. He is a sound playmaker and rebounder, though, and he gives Utah another floor spacer that should help them offensively.
7:06 p.m.
The Charlotte Hornets select Shabazz Napier. Good pick. I had him picked there in my first mock draft before I moved him up to Chicago in my second one.
I really like this pick. He is a very good scoring point guard that excels at shoot the basketball, and is a tough as nails leader that always plays with a chip on his shoulder.
Napier is a winner at every level, and doesn’t have any significant weaknesses, except perhaps the size issue. But he plays much bigger than his listed height, and is a great pick for Charlotte, and the fact that he’ll team up with Kemba Walker again is great for the Hornets’ team chemistry.
7:09 p.m.
Actually, Napier is going to Miami, according to Andy Katz. This is a good pick for Miami, though they do have Norris Cole. Napier and Cole will compete for the backup role. Cole, better have your dukes up. Napier will come after you for a spot in the rotation.
7:15 p.m.
Houston gets Clint Capela. No surprise, because he measures out really well athletically and analytically. He rates well in almost every statistical measure, and Kevin Pelton rated him number 2 among all first round prospects, second to Marcus Smart.
Skill wise, there’s plenty of to like. Capela is an immensely athletic big man that scores efficiently, is a good passer, limits turnovers, and is a very good rebounder and shot blocker when he is on the floor.
But he had a poor Nike Hoops Summit showing, and disappointed when he was matched up against the best high school players in the country. Capela is a high risk, high reward sort of pick, and is a player who at best could develop into perhaps a more skilled Ibaka.
At worst, he could be Donnell Harvey or Johan Petro and be out of the league as quickly as he enters it. But at this spot, Capela is a sensible pick, as he could be a player that could guard Aldridge in the future.
(Editor's Note: Clint Capela turned out to be a terrific pick for the Houston Rockets. He is a solid starting center that specializes in rebounding, blocking shots, and playing solid interior defense. He's helped them make the playoffs, and he is now the starting center for the Atlanta Hawks. Capela may be best known for having shut down Minnesota's star center, Karl Anthony-Towns during the first round of the 2018 NBA playoffs.)
7:20 p.m.
The Nuggets also get a future 2015 2nd.
Miami selects P.J. Hairston 26th overall for Charlotte. Hairston at 26…make that 5 picks that I’ve gotten right. Wiggins, Parker, Young, Hood, and Hairston (if only if I had just left Napier at 24).
This is a solid pick for Charlotte, as he is an athletic swingman that can rebound and shoot the basketball. He has deep range, and also is a very good finisher at the rim.
He is a high motor player when he is on the court, and can get plenty of scores in transition, off put backs, and on off-ball motion plays. He didn’t get a chance to play for North Carolina this past year, and there are questions about his character, but he really excelled in the D-League, and he has a high risk, high upside pick that if he pans out for the Hornets, Hairston could be a solid player akin to Stephen Jackson.
(Editor's Note: Actually, this turned out to be a terrible pick for Charlotte. Propped up by being fed the ball in volume in the G-League, P.J. Hairston really struggled to adapt to a much lesser role off the bench in the NBA. He really struggled with his jump shot in the NBA, and he ended up out of the league after the 2015-16 season. Meanwhile, they also could've drafted Nikola Jokic, Kyle Anderson, or Spencer Dinwiddie, and one pick away at 27, the Phoenix Suns managed to draft...)
7:27 p.m.
The Suns pick Bogdan Bogdanovic. Hmm….
I did review his game, and he is certainly a skilled basketball player. I pegged them to pick a European with their third pick in the first round before switching to an American after looking at ESPN’s final mock draft, though I would’ve picked (Nikola) Jokic had I known they would pick an International player.
He is a primary player on a very good European team, and is an athletic shooter that can pass and handle the basketball, and can score off drives.
Bogdanovic will need to improve his defense and shot selection, but he is a threat to score many points off the bench, and I once rated him to be a late first round talent after reviewing him for the second time a couple months ago. So in all, this is an okay pick. Not great, not horrible, just okay.
(Editor's Note: Both Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic have turned out to be very good players in the NBA. Jokic is an All-Star center, and is one of the league's best and most skilled big men, and he was able to take the 2020 Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a solid role player, as he has excelled as a shooter and scorer off the bench for the Sacramento Kings, and he is now currently playing for the Atlanta Hawks.)
7:33 p.m.
The Clippers select C.J. Wilcox. A U-Dubb guy gets picked. Pretty cool, I guess.
He’s a 6-5, athletic shooter that can knock down threes, is a good scorer off cuts and in transition, and is an active defender that blocks shots well for a player his size. Wilcox will need to shore up his on-ball defense, may have to show that he can play the point, and is a bit undersized for a wing player, but this looks to be a fairly adequate pick here for the Clippers.
Charlotte also gets 55 and a future second in addition to getting Hairston. Another solid move for Rich Cho, as there are plenty of good options that spot to be had. DeAndre Kane, Melvin Ejim, Keith Appling, Scottie Wilbekin, Cameron Bairstow, Lamar Patterson, Roy Devyn Marble, or another talented player are all players I feel that could be available at that spot.
(Editor's Note: C.J. Wilcox never really got much run in the NBA, and he ended up out of the league after three seasons. He had trouble cracking the Clippers' rotation, and he didn't get much run on the Orlando Magic, either. Even fewer people may remember that he was even on the Magic.)
7:40 p.m.
Oklahoma City picks Josh Huestis in the first round. I guess he could be the next Thabo Sefolosha? I thought he was a second round prospect, but this is sort of a shock to me.
Huestis is a very athletic forward that rebounds and defends well, and is the first Portsmouth guy drafted in 2014. He doesn’t shoot the ball very well, and is very inefficient as a scorer, but can excel as a transition scorer, and showed the ability to make threes. While better players like Kyle Anderson, Cleanthony Early, and Spencer Dinwiddie may be available, this is a bold, gutsy pick made here by Presti and company.
Huestis over Kyle Anderson. I’ll be laughing over that one for years.
(Editor's Note: Josh Huestis played just three seasons in the NBA, and 69 of his 76 career games came in his third season during the 2017-18 season. He was slated to be a defensive specialist, but Huestis didn't shoot very well at all, and he was an offensive liability, which pretty much negated the impact he would've had on defense. He ended up out of the NBA after his third season in the league. Kyle Anderson on the other hand, has been a solid role player in the NBA, as he had played well for the Spurs, and he is now on the Memphis Grizzlies.)
7:45 p.m.
If the Spurs don’t pick Kyle Anderson here, then I’ve got a new comp for him. It’s not Boris Diaw, he’s the black Luke Walton.
Hear me out on this one.
Both are really good passers and facilitators, neither are really good athletes, but are 6-8, 6-9 forward types, both are average shooters, and both need to play in the triangle as the point forward to operate and be successful in the NBA.
I also remember really liking Luke Walton, perhaps more so. Think about that.
I do think a team should take him, especially here at 30.
Kyle Anderson is a 6-9 point forward that possesses great passing and playmaking skills, and is a natural at running the point. He is a master commander in a free flowing, ball flowing heavy offense, and is a versatile player that can score off the dribble, and also has shown an improved outside shot.
He’s also a really good rebounder, and is a solid defender that gets many steals as well as plenty of blocks. The only downside is he is an average athlete, and doesn’t look to score as often as the other players. But in an unselfish, ball movement system, he would certainly thrive a la Boris Diaw, and would be a great pick here for the Spurs.
7:47 p.m.
The Spurs take Kyle Anderson. The rich get richer.
I don’t know how the Spurs keep doing it time and time again. They were able to draft Parker, Ginobili, DeJuan Blair, traded to get Kawhi Leonard, and now draft Kyle Anderson. They get the steal of the draft.
They did it again, and get Boris’ future replacement, and they get a player who should’ve gone lottery. The second round will be announced by a guy named Mark Tatum. The first round is over.
The End
#SpursDevilMagic
For those that were wondering about what my final 2014 NBA Mock Draft was, since the old link http://prospectsforthenbadraft.blogspot.com/2014/06/final-2014-nba-mock-draft.html is no longer active:
2014 NBA Mock Draft 1st Round
1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Andrew Wiggins, G-F, Kansas
2. Milwaukee Bucks - Jabari Parker, F, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers - Noah Vonleh, F, Indiana
4. Orlando Magic - Dante Exum, G, Australian Institute of Sport (Australia)
5. Utah Jazz - Julius Randle, F, Kentucky
6. Boston Celtics - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
7. Los Angeles Lakers - Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State
8. Sacramento Kings - Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets - Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
10. Philadelphia 76ers - Nik Stauskas, G, Michigan
11. Denver Nuggets - Jusuf Nurkic, C, Cedevita (Bosnia)
12. Orlando Magic - Adreian Payne, F-C, Michigan State
13. Minnesota Timberwolves - Gary Harris, G, Michigan State
14. Phoenix Suns - Elfrid Payton, G, Louisiana-Lafayette
15. Atlanta Hawks - Kyle Anderson, G-F, UCLA
16. Chicago Bulls - Dario Saric, F, Cibona (Croatia)
17. Boston Celtics - James Young, G-F, Kentucky
18. Phoenix Suns - T.J. Warren, F, NC State
19. Chicago Bulls - Shabazz Napier, G, Connecticut
20. Toronto Raptors - Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Jarnell Stokes, F, Tennessee
22. Memphis Grizzlies - K.J. McDaniels, F, Clemson
23. Utah Jazz - Rodney Hood, G-F, Duke
24. Charlotte Hornets - Jordan Adams, G, UCLA
25. Houston Rockets - Zach LaVine, G, UCLA
26. Miami Heat - P.J. Hairston, G, Texas Legends via UNC (D-League)
27. Phoenix Suns - Clint Capela, F, Chalon (France)
28. Los Angeles Clippers - Cleanthony Early, F, Wichita State
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Glenn Robinson III, G-F, Michigan
30. San Antonio Spurs - Russ Smith, G, Louisville
2014 NBA Mock Draft 2nd Round
31. Milwaukee Bucks - Jerami Grant, F, Syracuse
32. Philadelphia 76ers - Nikola Jokic, C, Mega Vizura (Serbia)* - "first name was incorrectly misspelled as Nemanja"
33. Cleveland Cavaliers - Mitch McGary, F-C, Michigan
34. New York Knicks - C.J. Wilcox, Washington
35. Utah Jazz - DeAndre Daniels, F, Connecticut
36. Milwaukee Bucks - Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Colorado
37. Toronto Raptors - Jordan Clarkson, G, Missouri
38. Detroit Pistons - Joe Harris, G, Virginia
39. Philadelphia 76ers - Thanasis Antetokounmpo, G-F, Delaware 87ers (Greece)
40. Minnesota Timberwolves - Patric Young, F-C, Florida
41. Denver Nuggets - Damien Inglis, F, Roanne (France)
42. Houston Rockets - Walter Tavares, C, Gran Canaria 2014 (Spain)
43. Atlanta Hawks - Nick Johnson, G, Arizona
44. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jordan McRae, G,Tennessee
45. Charlotte Hornets - Markel Brown, G, Oklahoma State
46. Washington Wizards - James Michael McAdoo, F, UNC
47. Philadelphia 76ers - Vasilije Micic, G, Mega Vizura (Serbia)
48. Milwaukee Bucks - Bogdan Bogdanovic, G-F, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
49. Chicago Bulls - Ioannis Papapetrou, F, Olympiakos (Greece)
50. Phoenix Suns - Alessandro Gentile, G-F, Armani Jeans Milano (Italy)
51. New York Knicks - Dwight Powell, F-C, Stanford
52. Philadelphia 76ers - Artem Klimenko, C, Avtodor Saratov (Russia)
53. Minnesota Timberwolves - Michalis Kamperidis, F, Filathlitikos (Greece)
54. Philadelphia 76ers - LaQuinton Ross, G-F, Ohio State
55. Miami Heat - Jahii Carson, G, Arizona State
56. Orlando Magic - Nemanja Dangubic, G, Meza Vizura (Serbia)
57. Indiana Pacers - Melvin Ejim, F, Iowa State
58. San Antonio Spurs - DeAndre Kane, G, Iowa State
59. Toronto Raptors - Lamar Patterson, G-F, Pittsburgh
60. San Antonio Spurs - Cameron Bairstow, F-C, New Mexico
Thank you for reading my old takes of the 2014 NBA Draft....6 years later. I really should have rated Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Clint Capela higher. I rated Noah Vonleh too high, and Nik Stauskas turned out to be pretty much an average NBA player. Zach LaVine turned out really well, while Adreian Payne ended up being a bust. James Young and Jordan Adams didn't pan out, but neither has Bruno Caboclo, so far. Huestis turned out to be a bad pick, and Spencer Dinwiddie should've been a first round pick. The Spurs really did make a good selection in taking Kyle Anderson at 30. As for the international picks I had in the second round of the mock draft, Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic turned out really well, while others have not sniffed the NBA.
Thanks for reading.
