11. Denver Nuggets- Gary Harris, G, Michigan State #14 Fishers, IN
The Nuggets may be getting tired of staying on the treadmill. With reports surfacing that they may be in on the Kevin Love sweepstakes, this team under coach Brian Shaw may look to want to shake things up a bit. While Danilo Gallinari is set to return from a knee injury, the team can’t fully trust that his outside shooting will quickly return to form. With Gary Harris, he can alleviate pressure from Gallinari from having to rush back. Already a good shooter with a great form, Harris is also one of the best defensive guards in this draft, something the defensively inept Nuggets could use desperately.
12. Orlando Magic- Marcus Smart, G, OklahomaState #33 Flower Mound, TX
The biggest surprise is this pick here. Marcus Smart falling is not based on anything he did or didn’t do, but he’s a casualty of Elfrid Payton’s rising stock. If he falls past Boston at 6, he could tumble to the Magic who would do backflips considering they could still select him at #4. While Smart is an inconsistent shooter, advanced metrics peg him as being the best player in this draft. GM Rob Hennigan, being a Spurs disciple, will not let a player with that kind of statistical correlation slip by him twice. While the Magic could still use more outside shooting, a Smart /Oladipo /Harris /Vonleh /Vucevic lineup would be entertaining enough to buy League Pass.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves- Zach LaVine, G, UCLA #14 Bothell, WA
Supposedly this is a promised pick. There may be some truth to it due to the close relationship agent Bill Duffy and Wolves minority owner /President/Head Coach Flip Saunders have. I’d consider LaVine to be the workout warrior of 2014. He has jaw dropping athleticism and the potential to be a good three point shooter, but couldn’t quite put it all together over his freshman season at UCLA. LaVine goes against Flip’s desire for two way players who can help the team win now but the franchise in flux at the moment, perhaps this will be Flip’s attempt to swing for the fences. Adreian Payne and TJ Warren would also be considered if he so chooses a safer pick.
14. Phoenix Suns- Rodney Hood, F, Duke #5 Meridian, MS
With three first rounders and a slew of young depth, the Phoenix Suns can go in any direction with this draft. Here, they select a wing who shot exceptionally well for the Blue Devils (except for the Tournament game vs. Mercer). Rodney Hood isn’t going to be a household name, but for a team that could use another wing in case the Suns were indeed playing over their heads, they could do worse than of the most efficient offensive guards in the country. They have two more chances to stash or fill a need later on.
15. Atlanta Hawks- Dario Saric, F, Croatia #9 Sibenik, Croatia
Two years, two stash picks. For a team that struggled to make the playoffs last year in the Eastern Conference, one would think Atlanta would look for immediate help, but this pick may have been promised to Saric, who signed a 3 year deal with Anadolu Efes. The Hawks are banking on a healthy Al Horford who has missed significant time with a triceps injury. Shopping the pick is also an option, but with someone who possesses the talent Saric has, he may be worth the wait. If they didn’t draft and stash Lucas Nogueira last year, Jusuf Nurkic would be the obvious pick.
16. Chicago Bulls- Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia #23 Tuzla, Bosnia
The Bulls have two selections in this first round (16 and 19) and are actively shopping them. Selecting Nurkic is a good thing for a few reasons. First, if they want to stash him overseas, they can. Second, if he comes over, he’s a major upgrade over Nazr Mohammed at backup C for Joakim Noah who gets banged up very frequently. He also offers a different style than Noah; a low post scorer reminiscent of Nikola Pekovic. Last but not least, he’s an intriguing prospect to dangle in any trade as the Bulls continue to pursue big time free agents this summer.
17. Boston Celtics- T.J. Warren, F, NC State #24 Durham, NC
While I have the Celtics picking a player who may not see the court next season in Joel Embiid, this pick is definitely more conservative in nature. I strongly considered drafting a PG here in case the Celtics decide to trade star PG Rajon Rondo, but Warren has really impressed scouts with his ability to shoot and defend multiple positions. He’s a late bloomer so as a work in progress it remains to be seen if he can overtake incumbent SF Jeff Green to be a starter, but at the very least he makes Green expendable, which could help the C’s get out of his long term contract. Kyle Anderson would be another interesting option here.
18. Phoenix Suns- Adreian Payne, F, Michigan State #5 Dayton, OH
The Suns address depth at the PF spot with this selection by selecting Adreian Payne. A key theme I have here is drafting guys who can play right away and won’t have issues fighting for playing time. With Channing Frye opting out of his contract becoming a free agent, Payne can step right and fill his role. Perhaps he will not have the same ability to knock down threes, but he will keep defenses honest with his outside shooting. His endurance will be major knock on Payne as his lungs are small for a man his size, but as a 23 year old rookie, he’s a coachable player who has thrived in the big moment.
19. Chicago Bulls- Shabazz Napier, G, Connecticut #13 Groton, MA
I almost moved Napier up to the lottery before a last minute change, but it seems barring a Miami Heat trade to move up for the 2014 Most Outstanding Player, this would be a nice fit for Napier. As talented as franchise player Derrick Rose is, the Bulls must have a reliable insurance policy for him in case he gets hurt again. Napier can easily be that guy. While he’s short for a PG and has his inconsistencies as a passer, the Bulls won almost 50 games with D.J. Augustin handling PG duties. Defense isn’t his strong suit, but making him serviceable is not going to be difficult under coach Tom Thibodeau.
20. Toronto Raptors- Tyler Ennis, G, Syracuse #11 Brampton, Ontario, Canada
With both Toronto PG’s Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vazquez hitting free agency, the Raptors opt to hedge their bets here by selecting a PG who hit clutch shot after clutch shot for the Syracuse Orange in his freshman season. It doesn’t hurt that Ennis is from nearby Brampton either. I’d also consider selecting a SF who could replace John Salmons and Landry Fields soon enough, but unlike Lowry or Vazquez, Salmons and Fields are still under contract, so they could wait a bit on filling in the SF void.
