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With a month left until the 2014 NBA Draft, a lot of
projecting where players will be picked at this point is speculative. Teams
will trade, needs will change, and players will slide up and down boards all
the way up until draft day. Most hesitate to speak with certainty regarding
player placement for a draft that is a month away, and everything that is heard
must be taken with a grain of salt. Still, some clear trends can be tracked as
player workouts get underway and individual skill sets come into focus.
A few weeks back, I looked at some potential players that
the Sixers could select with their pick from the Pelicans. At that point it was
not even guaranteed that the Sixers would be receiving a pick from the Pelicans
this year. Since then however, the order of the draft has been determined, the
SIxers secured a pair of picks in the lottery, and as the draft continues to
creep closer tiers of talent have begun to emerge.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Joel Embiid, Andrew
Wiggins, and Jabari Parker are the top talents in the draft, and are likely to
be taken with the top three picks, in some order. Also grouped in with these
top talents is Australian guard Dante Exum, who is in the mix for a top
selection, according to ESPN’s NBA Insider Chad Ford.
Dante Exum is in the mix for No. 1 w/ the Bucks, Magic & Lakers. But he’s gonna have to prove it in workouts
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 20, 2014
Also according to Ford, a second tier has emerged behind the
draft’s four top targets. Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, Kentucky’s Julius Randle,
Arizona’s Aaron Gordon, and Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart comprise that tier as
the players that are likely to be picked as soon as Wiggins, Parker, Embiid,
and Exum are off the board.
After Wiggins, Embiid, Parker & Exum — next tier is Noah Vonleh, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon & Marcus Smart in some order
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 20, 2014
Many current mock drafts (including our own here at
Philly.com) agree with the talent tiers and see Wiggins, Parker, Embiid, Exum,
Vonleh, Randle, Smart, and Gordon serving as the draft’s first eight
selections, in some order. The order remains unknown, but the relative
consensus regarding the top selections gives us a decent idea of who might be available
come the Sixers’ second selection, also known as the pick from the Pelicans.
Let's take a look:
Doug McDermott, SF,
Creighton: Many mocks have the sharp-shooter from Creighton off the board
prior to the tenth pick, but if he
is available, McDermott could be an intriguing option. McDermott was one of the
best scorers in the history of college basketball, and his ability to put the
ball in the basket is valuable at any level. He would automatically bring floor
spacing and a reliable deep threat to a team desperately in need of both, and
he could be a nice addition offensively.
Offense aside however, there are major concerns about McDermott’s
speed and defense, and if his style of play can last in the league. He may be
best suited for a bench role where he is relied upon to come in and provide
some instant offense, and at tenth overall, you have to think that the Sixers
might be searching for a potential starting-caliber player. Considering his
speed (or lack thereof), and seemingly one-dimensional style of play, McDermott
may not be the best fit for the franchise, but he could be a nice addition to
insert offensively, if the Sixers wanted to go that way.
Gary Harris, SG,
Michigan St: Harris is a nice two-way player that could help the Sixers on
both ends of the floor. Harris is a knockdown shooter, and could provide the
Sixers with a legitimate option from the outside. Harris is a solid spot-up
shooter, and could work well alongside Michael Carter-Williams, whose
penetration opens up opportunities for shooters; the team just happened to be
lacking consistent solid shooters last season. In addition to have a sweet
stroke, Harris can put the ball on the ground, and score in transition, which
should be appealing to Brett Brown.
Also appealing to Brett Brown should be Harris’ defensive
ability. Harris was one of the best defensive guards in the country last
season, continuously locking down the opponent’s top guard. His size may be a
bit of a concern in the league however, as he measured only 6’2.5’’ without
shoes at the recent combine. As an off-guard he will often be giving up several
inches on an assignment. Size aside though, Harris has the potential to develop
into a very solid two-way player.
Nike Stauskas, SG,
Michigan: Like McDermott, Stauskas’ value is in his shooting. He is a
deadeye shooter who can spot-up and knock down from almost anywhere. Stauskas
has range and would provide solid spacing for the Sixers. Also like McDermott
however, there are concerns about his speed, and about the ability of his game,
outside of shooting, to translate to the league. If Stauskas is unable to make
improvements, he runs the risk of being a one-dimensional pro, uses strictly
for shooting. With that being said however, Brett Brown is a fan of the
three-point shot (the Sixers shot 22.5 per game last season), and could be
interested in re-stocking some shooters.
James Young, SG,
Kentucky: Young could be a great fit for Philadelphia. Young is a long
lefty who can score in a multitude of ways. He can knock down shots off of the
dribble or off of a spot-up, and he has great range. His shot is smooth, quick,
and effortless, and can occasionally catch people off guard who aren’t ready
for the left release. At 6’6’’, Young has great size for the shooting guard
spot, and has the foundation to develop into a really solid scorer. He is
already decent defensively, and has a lot of time/room to grow in that area.
Young would fit well in the backcourt alongside
Carter-Williams, who would get him open opportunities through his penetration.
Both are similar in size, which would allow them to make switches easily, and
would give them solid size at both starting guard spots.
Dario Saric, F,
Croatia: Saric has been one of the more scrutinized international players
in recent memory as he has worked himself into the lottery conversation. Saric
is an extremely skilled stretch four, who can pass, shoot, and put the ball on
the floor. He displays an amazing level of skill for his size, and he can score
from virtually anywhere on the court. He can play with his back to the basket,
face up a defender, or take it out past the three-point line. An offense could
easily be run through him thanks to his abilities as a facilitator, scorer, and
ball-handler. His size in the frontcourt would provide excellent floor spacing,
as he pulls the opposing big out of the paint.
Quickness and athleticism are the main concerns when it
comes to Saric, as some wonder if his game will lose some luster in the ultra-athletic
NBA. He will also likely need to add some strength to consistently bang with
the other bigs from the four-spot on a nightly basis. Overall, Saric has a
unique skillset unlike any other 2014 draft prospect, and he could potentially
be a very effective NBA player, but it may take some time.
Follow and
contact Michael Kaskey-Blomain on Twitter @therealmikekb
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