Nugglove Mock Draft 1.0

It is that time of the year again when the internet is flooded with everybody trying to predict what 30 different general managers and teams will do in the NBA Draft and here is my futile attempt at a mock draft:

1. Cleveland  Kyrie Irving   6-3 191  Freshman  Point Guard
   In my humble opinion, Irving isn’t the best player in the draft. He should be a good point guard in the NBA, but will have the pressure of making Cleveland fans forget LeBron James. Irving may never make it to the same level as Chris Paul or Derrick Rose, but he could be a notch below that.
2. Minnesota  Derrick Williams  6-9  248   Sophomore  Forward
   Williams  may be the best player in the draft, he has the versatility to play both forward position and the skills to score inside and out. He also can impact the floor on both sides of the ball. However, not sure if the Timberwolves are the best fit for him. They have a plethora of versatile forwards (Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph and Wesley Johnson), but Williams is better than them all except for Love.
3. Utah  Brandon Knight  6-3  177  Freshman  Point Guard
   This is an example of how bad the draft is, in a normal draft Knight may be a flex-top-15 pick, but in this draft he is projected to go in the top five. It is a tough pick for the Jazz, because their biggest needs are on the wings but it is too early to draft a wing with the third pick, unless they fall in love with Kawhi Leonard. Knight could have a great career, one that mirrors a player like Jrue Holliday but it is a pretty big drop off from Irving.
4. Cleveland  Enes Kanter  6-11 259  Freshman  Center/Power Forward
   Kanter has wowed some teams in recent workouts. He has great size and athleticism to go with his basketball IQ. Kanter did lose a year after sitting out his freshman season due to suspension. He is an intriguing prospect and has potential to be another Love with some coaching and years. If he falls to the Cavaliers at four, it would be a great draft for Cleveland.
5. Toronto  Jan Vesely  6-11 230 21 years old  Forward
   Vesely may be the most ready foreign prospect in the draft. At 21, he doesn’t have the potential as other foreign prospects, but is one of the more ready players in the draft. He hustles and is very competitive and is very athletic. He could potentially be another Andrei Kirilenko.
6. Washington  Jonas Valanciunas  6-11 240 19 years old  Center
   Valanciunas has a brutal buyout that may scare a few teams away, but his age, length and heart may make a valuable big man for any team. He has been compared to Andris Biedrins and Joakim Noah.
7. Sacramento  Kemba Walker  6-1 184  Junior  Guard
   Walker may not be a pure point guard, but with his explosiveness and scoring spark he would be valuable as a sixth man in the League. He could develop into another Jason Terry or former King’ Bobby Jackson. Walker is a proven winner and his speed is incredible.
8. Detroit  Kawhi Leonard  6-7 227  Sophomore  Small Forward
   Leonard may have one of the highest ceilings in the draft. At only 19 years old, Leonard has shown the ability to be a lockdown defender and tremendous rebounder at the small forward position. He doesn’t have a great jump shot, but with his attitude and some work he could develop into a Danny Granger-type player.
9. Charlotte Alec Burks  6-6 193  Sophomore  Shooting Guard
   Burks doesn’t give the Bobcats the shooter they need, but he would give them a nice shooting guard that could be a valuable pupil under Michael Jordan. Burks has great basketball IQ and a will to win.
10. Milwaukee Marcus Morris  6-9 230  Junior  Power Forward
    Morris can be a valuable role player for the Bucks at the next level and he could challenge Drew Gooden for minutes. Think of a younger Al Harrington.
11. Golden State  Bismack Biyombo  6-9 243  19 years old  Power Forward
    Somebody will take a gamble on Biyombo, and why not the Warriors. They need an intimidator in the paint and Biyombo – in time – could be that person. Biyombo is gifted with incredible size, but is extremely raw. He could be the next Ben Wallace or the next Malick Badiane.
12. Utah  Tristan Thompson  6-9 227 Freshman  Power Forward
    The Jazz have stated that they want to draft a big and a guard with their two picks. It isn’t out of the question that they draft Jimmer Fredette, but Thompson and Knight would be a nice pair of picks for the rebuilding Jazz.
13. Phoenix  Jimmer Fredette  6-2 196  Senior  Point Guard
    What better place for Fredette to learn than to play behind Steve Nash. The two have nearly identical games, with endless range and great ballhandling skills. Behind Nash, Fredette could develop a long career in the NBA.
14. Houston  Donatas Motiejunas  7 224 21 years old  Power Forward
    The Rockets don’t have a lot of needs in the draft (outside of Center), but Motiejunas could give them a nice project who in time could become a player like Andrea Bargnani.
15. Indiana  Klay Thompson  6-7 206 Junior  Shooting Guard
    Teams have fallen in love with Thompson, but he has potential be a bust in the draft, as well. The Pacers do need a perimeter threat and that is where Thompson helps. But it is hard to guarantee Thompson to provide more than that.
16. Philadelphia  Jordan Hamilton  6-8 228  Junior  Shooting Guard
    Hamilton doesn’t have a lot of potential, but he would be a solid pick at the next level and could give the 76ers a nice role player to help them replace Andre Iguodala
17. New York  Markieff Morris  6-9 241  Junior  Power Forward It’s tough to predict what the Knicks will do. There are reports they will seek perimeter shooting in the draft or a point guard, but they could also go with the best player available. And Morris fits that bill, he isn’t starting material but he can give the Knicks a good post player.
18. Washington  Marshon Brooks  6-5 195  Senior  Shooting Guard
    Brooks could be the steal of the draft, he has a deadly scorer and may not be a No. 1 scorer in the NBA but put him next to John Wall and that could be a dangerous duo for years.
19. Charlotte  Kenneth Faried  6-8 225  Senior  Power Forward
    Faried may be another steal from the draft, one reason why is he knows his role in the NBA. He isn’t there to score, but to rebound and play defense. Jordan seemed really high on him after workouts and probably sees a little Dennis Rodman in Faried.
20. Minnesota  Nicolas Vucevic  7 260  Junior  Power Forward/Center
    Vucevic has impressed teams in recent workouts and is a near lock for the first round. He has great size and could be another Nenad Krstic or Spencer Hawes.
21. Portland  Chris Singleton  6-9 230  Junior  Forward
    Singleton may be the best perimeter defender in the Draft and he would fit in well with the Blazers who have two great perimeter defenders already Nicolas Batum and Gerald Wallace. The Blazers may also decide to go with Tobias Harris here, as well.
22. Denver  Tobias Harris  6-8 223  Freshman  Forward
    George Karl wants to find a smart player in the draft, and Tobias Harris has incredible IQ for his age. He also works hard and is extremely versatile. If he falls to the Nuggets at the 22nd spot it would be a steal for Denver.
23. Houston  Darius Morris  6-5 190  Sophomore  Point Guard
    The Rockets might actually select Morris with the 14th pick, but they would gladly take him with the 23rd. Morris is a below-the-radar player, who isn’t a flashy point guard but makes the smart decisions and has great size for the position.
24. Oklahoma City  Davis Bertans 6-10 211  19 years old  Forward
    The Thunder really don’t have a need in the draft, so why not take a chance on a young German forward and pray he develops into a future Dirk Nowitzki?
25. Boston  Tyler Honeycutt  6-8 187  Sophomore  Shooting Guard
    The Celtics aren’t looking for players to build around this late in the draft, but more of a player that would be a role player and give Boston minutes. Honeycutt could continue the great group of players that have come out of UCLA.
26. Dallas  Justin Harper  6-9 228  Senior  Power Forward
    The Mavericks need to get younger, and while Harper isn’t one of the younger players in the draft, he can help out immediately and spell Nowitzki at times.
27. New Jersey  Reggie Jackson  6-3 208  Junior  Point Guard
    Jackson would be a great backup for Deron Williams and it’s hard to ignore his explosiveness and size. Just think of former Nugget point guard Robert Pack.
28. Chicago  Josh Selby  6-3 195  Freshman  Point Guard
    The Bulls are just looking for help this late in draft and would love to find a shooting guard to put next to Derrick Rose. However, considering how weak this draft is they may be better just getting the best player available and Selby is that.
29. San Antonio  Kyle Singler  6-9 228  Senior  Forward
    Singler is the ideal player for the Spurs. Four year player, who won a NCAA championship. He has great size and can shoot the ball.
30. Chicago  JaJuan Johnson  6-10 220  Senior  Power Forward
    Johnson isn’t more than a role player at the next level, but he has the mentality that Tom Thibedeou likes.