HoopsHype.com Draft 2013 - April 24th 2013

by Aran Smith - Updated: April 24, 2013 - Draft Rumors

1. CHA .
Ben McLemore

Shooting Guard / 6-5 / Kansas / Freshman / 15.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg
The battle for the top pick has become a two-horse race. After Nerlens Noel's season-ending ACL injury, McLemore became the favorite to be the top pick. But with inconsistent play, culminated by a dreadful tourney performance in which he scored 2 points on 0-9 shooting vs. North Carolina, McLemore left the door open for Noel to go first even with the ACL injury. McLemore bounced back with a big final game against Michigan, showing off his feathery touch and athletic gifts. He is not a finished product and scouts will nitpick his level of assertiveness and lack of a fiery personality leading up to the draft. But at the end of the day, he's the guy in this draft with the greatest shot at becoming a superstar. While the feat has not been accomplished (a SG going 1) in 40 years, McLemore is in position to do it. His outside shot is comparable to a perfect golf swing, it's a thing of beauty. Combine that with freakish athleticism and you have a high-level prospect.

Comparison - Ray Allen
Position Ranking - 1st Shooting Guard - $4,436,900*

2. ORL .
Nerlens Noel

Power Forward / 6-11 / Kentucky / Freshman / 10.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 4.4 bpg
On the bright side for Noel in sustaining the ACL injury, he no longer had any more games for scouts to nitpick the deficiencies in his skill set. His value to the Wildcats also became abundantly clear as the team languished without him, falling short of the NCAA tournament, dropping 4 of 8 in his absence. Noel's length, leaping ability and cat-like reflexes make him an extraordinary shot blocker. He shows a willingness to hustle and play hard, which combined with his elite level athleticism is very encouraging. His offensive game, however, is extremely raw and may never be anything more than put back dunks and hook shots. He also needs to get much stronger as his upper body and legs are rail thin. Granted, added weight could ultimately put even more stress on what appear to be fragile knees. The other real concern is that Noel tore the same ACL that he had torn as a sophomore in high school. After coming back faster than doctors had recommended, some wonder if this recent injury was inevitable and whether there could be structural damage making further injuries to the same knee more likely. Regardless, Noel's ability to impact the defensive end puts him in the running for the top overall pick and he should land in the Top 2, despite not being able to fully work out for teams leading up to the draft.

comparison - Larry Sanders
Position Ranking - 1st Power Forward - $3,969,800*

3. CLE .
Otto Porter

Small Forward / 6-8 / Georgetown / Sophomore / 16.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.7 apg
Porter made a very impressive jump from his freshman to sophomore seasons, showing no difficulty in becoming the leader of the team and winning Big East Player of the Year. Otto is about as low risk as it gets in this draft, however his ceiling isn't as great as some of the other top prospects. He's a relentless defender and a pro athlete, but it's unlikely that he will ever be an elite level scorer. He's very thin, but weight/strength shouldn't be an issue at the 3 position. He showed the ability to knock down key shots throughout his short college career. Despite a less than picture perfect jumpshot, he gets results. Porter's consistency and potential makes him a likely top 5 pick in this year's draft.

Comparison - Tayshaun Prince
1st Small Forward - $3,565,000*

4. PHO .
Anthony Bennett

Small Forward / 6-7 / UNLV / Freshman / 16.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg
Despite being 6-foot-7, Bennett's wingspan makes him essentially a 6-foot-9 player and he's got massive shoulders and hands. Bennett wins the award for most vicious dunks in college as he had numerous dunks that reminded fans of Shaquille O'Neal. While he lacks the foot speed to defend on the perimeter, essentially making him a stretch 4. Some scouts have even mentioned him as a potential No. 1 pick, though that's probably a reach, considering he's a tweener and the last 6-foot-9 or under PF to go first was Kenyon Martin. Bennett battled injury problems in high school and appeared to be breaking down some towards the end of the year. How big of an issue teams see his injury concerns being will likely factor into just how high Bennett ends up going.

Comparison - Rodney Rogers
2nd Small Forward - $3,214,200*

5. NOP .
Trey Burke

Point Guard / 6-0 / Michigan / Sophomore / 18.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 6.7 apg
Burke's stock has been on a meteoric rise all season and he used a clutch tournament run to solidify himself as a likely Top 10 pick and possible Top 5. With Marcus Smart returning to Stillwater, Burke has become the favorite to be the top PG selected. His performance against Kansas was legendary, as he refused to allow his team to lose, coming up with all the big plays down the stretch including a game tying 3 in the final seconds. Burke was not only the top PG in the nation this year, he was the best player in the nation. He carried the Wolverines all season with a will to win that was unmatched on the college level. His 6-foot-5 wingspan helps offset his 6-foot frame giving him some additional length to get shots off. While detractors may argue that Burke's attributes will make the transition to the next level difficult, his "immeasurables"; competitiveness, heart and determination are off the charts.

Comparison
Position Ranking - Kemba Walker
1st Point Guard - $2,910,600*

6. SAC .
Alex Len

Center / 7-1 / Maryland / Sophomore / 11.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.1 bpg
Len shows the agility to get up and down the floor, make plays at the rim and the touch to knock down shots from mid range. While some may knock his fluidity and toughness, it's important to remember that bigs normally take the longest to mature. For a 20-year-old who is still adjusting to American culture, being away from Ukraine where he grew up, his sophomore season was excellent. Len is the classic boom-or-bust pick that teams in the mid lottery will be afraid to take as well as not take and miss on.

Comparison - Jonas Valanciunas
1st Center - $2,643,600*

7. DET .
Cody Zeller

Power Forward / 6-11 / Indiana / Sophomore / 16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Zeller's stock took the biggest hit during the tournament as he looked shell shocked in their Sweet Sixteen loss to Syracuse and their 2-3 zone defense. He failed to live up to the preseason hype and much of the time chose to defer instead of taking on the role of the team's star. It obviously has taken a toll on his draft stock and there's question about whether he will even come out this year. Granted, he's still likely a Top 10 pick if he does. Zeller shows the ability to knock down mid-range shots with regularity and runs the floor like a gazelle, which is rare for a 7-footer. Unfortunately his post game did not advance the way many expected and his athleticism and explosiveness, whether due to injury or or unexplained reasons, seemed to disappear for much of his sophomore year.

Comparison - LaMarcus Aldridge
2nd Power Forward - $2,413,300*

8. WAS .
Victor Oladipo

Shooting Guard / 6-4 / Indiana / Junior / 13.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 apg
Oladipo is a late bloomer and draws rave reviews for his demeanor and personality from those who have spent time around him. While he may lack superstar potential, he appears to be the ultimate glue type player as an overachiever who brings boundless energy. His explosiveness is off the charts, particularly off of two feet and his shooting and ball handling have shown surprising improvement. At 6-foot-4, he's undersized, taking his long-term potential down a notch. Some wild comparisons such as Dwyane Wade and even Jordan have been thrown out for Oladipo. But those are unfair for a player who will be a role player, not a star at the next level.

Comparison - Tony Allen
2nd Shooting Guard - $2,210,900*

9. MIN
Shabazz Muhammad

Small Forward / 6-6 / UCLA / Freshman / 17.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg
Shabazz had a rough ending to the season with the report coming out that he's actually 20 instead of 19 as his father had purported. He also struggled in UCLA's tourney loss to Minnesota shooting 6-for-18. But he's still one of the most talented prospects in this year's draft with a killer instinct and high-level scoring ability. He has turned living with Tourette Syndrome into a positive as he plays with a chip on his shoulder exerting a high level of intensity at all times. Detractors point to his less than 1 assist per game, labeling him one dimensional and even a "ball hog", but in a draft devoid of talent, don't expect him to fall very far. His character and abilities on the court could ultimately be undervalued by the time the draft takes place.

Comparison - Nick Young
3rd Small Forward - $2,032,300*

10. POR
Kelly Olynyk

Center / 7-0 / Gonzaga / Junior / 17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Olynyk is another big riser in this year's draft. He was flying way under the radar before this season, having red shirted last year with Robert Sacre as the team's starting center. He was arguably the most dominant big in the country and despite Gonzaga's flame out in the tourney, he was solid. Olynyk lacks great athleticism and quickness, but shows the skill set of a 10-year veteran. His ability to defend the pick-and-roll has led scouts to believe he can make it defensively in the league. He's got a Euro-style game, but many scouts are convinced that his skill level and size will be enough to overcome a lack of sheer athleticism and become a solid NBA post player.

Comparison - Spencer Hawes
2nd Center - $1,930,600*

11. PHI
Giannis Adetokoubo

Small Forward / 6-9 / Filathlitikos (Greece) / 1994 / 9.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.4 apg
Adetokoubo is this year's "International man of mystery". He's got a tremendous basketball body and some wicked highlights on youtube. The problem for him and scouts is that the level of competition that he's played at at is very low, considered by scouts as the equivalent to Div 2-3 college ball. So getting an accurate gauge of his talent and potential is difficult. He'll need to improve upon his shooting, but he's said to be further along than Nicolas Batum at the same age and he's a similar type of athletic specimen. Scouts consider him a potential lottery pick, and insiders describe him as having the "heart of a lion".

Comparison - Nicolas Batum
4th Small Forward - $1,834,100*

12. OKC
CJ McCollum

Point Guard / 6-3 / Lehigh / Senior / 23.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.9 apg
As a likely first rounder in 2012, some questioned McCollum's decision to return to campus despite virtually knocking defending champion Duke out of the NCAA tournament single handedly. This year McCollum was able to establish himself in many scout's minds before going down with a season-ending broken foot. He's got a nasty crossover and ISO game, but questions linger about his ability to play the PG position as well as defend. If he falls very far, he could end up being an excellent value, as teams may be spooked by the unknowns surrounding him.

Comparison - Stephen Curry
2nd Point Guard - $1,742,400*

13. DAL .
Michael Carter-Williams

Point Guard / 6-6 / Syracuse / Sophomore / 11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 7.3 apg
Carter-Williams is a true point guard with tremendous size. At 6-foot-6 he reminds some of the high school version of Shaun Livingston that many became so enamored with before his tragic knee injury. Though not quite the talent, MCW's ability to set teammates up for baskets is special for a player his size. His length, having a near 6-foot-9 wingspan really helps his cause defensively. He has a lot of work to do on his outside shooting and must prove that he can hang with the speed of today's NBA PGs. He would likely pair well with a small 2-guard like Monta Ellis as he would probably be better suited defending shooting guards while running the point. He's got some off court baggage (shop lifting incident) that will need to be addressed in interviews with teams. Plus, the track record for Syracuse products has not been great in recent years. He's another boom or bust pick who could end up a star or not even making it in the league. In a down draft, Carter-Williams has Top 10 potential.

Comparison - Shaun Livingston
3rd Point Guard - $1,655,300*

14. UTA
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Shooting Guard / 6-5 / Georgia / Sophomore / 18.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.8 apg
KCP is an underrated athlete with the ability to get to the rack as well as create and knock down shots on the perimeter. He doesn't blow you away in any one area, but he's a good shooter and scorer. After a freshman season in which he struggled with efficiency, he was able to improve upon his shooting from the floor and beyond the arch. He'll get looks in the late lottery and should find a spot somewhere in the first round.

Comparison - Michael Redd
3rd Shooting Guard - $1,572,600*

15. MIL
Mason Plumlee

Power Forward / 6-11 / Duke / Senior / 17.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.9 apg
Plumlee was one of the surprises in college this year. He added some offensive skills around the basket, and played the year with surprising consistency. He is a better version of his brother Miles who somehow landed in the late first round in 2012. While he's not overly skilled in the post, he is very explosive, runs the floor well and shows a willingness to fight for rebounds and play tough in the paint. In such a weak draft, Plumlee figures to land in the 12-18 range.

Comparison - Yi Jianlian
3rd Power Forward - $1,493,800*

16. BOS.
Rudy Gobert

Center / 7-1 / Cholet (France) / 1992 / 8.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Gobert has struggled to put up consistent numbers in the French League. So the question is whether teams will be willing to look past the lack of productivity and draft him on potential. He has ridiculous length with a reported 7-foot-9 wingspan. He also possesses good shooting touch and appears to have a body that will allow him to add strength and eventually battle in the paint in the NBA. His mobility and athleticism are average by NBA standards and he still needs to get tougher and develop a better feel for the game.

Comparison - Shawn Bradley
3rd Center - $1,419,200*

17. CLE
Dario Saric

Power Forward / 6-10 / Cibona Zagreb (Croatia) / 1994 / 7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg
Saric is an immensely skilled forward who was a point guard in his junior year's but due to his growth spurt has become a forward. He lacks the foot speed to defend on the wing, which means he must continue to put weight on and become a power forward. He has tremendous ballhandling, passing and feel for the game, but whether or not he has the quickness to utilize it is the question. He still has a lot of work to do on his jump shot, but his desire to be great makes him one of the top international prospect for this year's draft, despite some physical limitations.

Comparison - Dejan Bodiroga
4th Power Forward - $1,348,200*

18. ATL
Lucas Nogueira

Power Forward / 7-0 / Estudiantes (Spain) / 1992 / 4.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Nogueira is extremely raw but players with his size and agility are rare. He had a breakout performance at the U18 Copa America tournament in 2010 and some NBA scouts came away saying he had Top 5 pick potential. He lost most of that hype with a dreadful showing at the 2011 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, but this season he's playing in Spain for Estudiantes and regaining momentum. He's raw, but so long and athletic that he appears to be the perfect "stash pick" for a late first round team like Oklahoma City or San Antonio. "Bebe" developed a reputation for being soft and lazy, but this season it's apparent that he's focused and working to get stronger and developing his game. For him, it's just a matter of becoming more aggressive and maintaining his focus. Bebe is a huge wild card for this year's draft and could really begin to catch fire and move up draft boards after an impressive season playing in the world's second best league - the ACB.

Comparison - Samuel Dalembert
5th Power Forward - $1,280,800*

19. CHI
Doug McDermott

Small Forward / 6-7 / Creighton / Junior / 23.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.6 apg
McDermott ended the year second in scoring at 23.1 ppg and is a NPOY candidate. He's not very athletic, but as an elite shooter some scouts envision him in a role similar to a Kyle Korver. McDermott still plays more as a 4 than a 3 and he'll need to transition completely to the SF position to make it in the NBA. The idea of becoming one of college basketball's Top 5-10 all-time scorers (and even an outside shot at becoming second all time to Pete Maravich) plus helping his dad (Creighton coach Greg McDermott) in their first season in the Big Ten could be enough to entice him to return for his senior season.

Comparison - Luke Babbitt
5th Small Forward - $1,223,200*

20. ATL
Tony Mitchell

Power Forward / 6-8 / North Texas / Sophomore / 13.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 0.8 apg
Mitchell struggled to improve upon his freshman season, putting up essentially the same numbers and fell from his lofty preseason projections. He is a unique player as he combines freakish length (7-foot-3 wingspan) and explosiveness. He surprised many by returning to North Texas and was unable to enhance his draft stock. He seems to be convinced that he's a 3, and despite his chiseled physique, apparently does not enjoy battling in the paint.

Comparison - Thomas Robinson
6th Power Forward - $1,174,200*

21. UTA
Steven Adams

Center / 7-0 / Pittsburgh / Freshman / 7.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Adams was a surprise entry as many felt he needed more time in college to develop his feel for the game and post skills. Adams is not a lock for the first round as some question how much he will improve as well as his overall athleticism. He lacks a great feel for the game and will be a long term project, but his size, strength and desire should be enough to grab a spot in the 20s.

Comparison - Robin Lopez
4th Center - $1,127,200*

22. BRO
Gorgui Dieng

Center / 6-10 / Louisville / Junior / 9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg
Dieng is benefiting from Louisville's deep tourney run, showing the ability to consistently knock down mid-range shots. While not a speed burner, he shows good defensive abilities, particularly in blocking shots. Dieng missed a portion of the year with a fractured wrist, but his return coincided with the team's resurgence as he anchors Louisville's interior defense. The strong finish to the year has put him back in late first round discussions.

Comparison - Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje
5th Center - $1,082,200*

23. IND
Dennis Schroeder

Point Guard / 6-2 / Braunschweig (Germany) / 1993 / 11.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.3 apg
Schroeder used a tremendous week in Portland at the Hoop Summit in practices and the game to skyrocket up team's draft boards. He combines elite level quickness with solid decision making. While his season in Germany was just average, he seems to have made real strides recently. His shot was a little inconsistent throughout the week of practices in Portland, but looked very solid in the game. His ability to handle the ball in traffic is impressive. He's got an extra gear that allows him to get by defenders any time he wants to. He also possesses good size at the PG position at 6-2 with a 6-7 wingspan. After a great Hoop Summit performance, Schroeder has jumped up into mid-first round discussions.

Comparison - Darren Collison
4th Point Guard - $1,038,900*

24. NYK
Sergey Karasev

Small Forward / 6-8 / Triumph (Russia) / 1993 / 18.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg
Already has Olympic experience playing for the Russian National team in London. Karasev did not have a great Hoop Summit shooting just 1-6 from distance, (3-10 overall for 7 points) but his outside shooting impressed scouts all week and he's had a breakout season playing in Russia. He lacks great speed and may struggle defensively with slow feet, but he's a decent athlete and shows some ability to get to the basket off the dribble as he did against top defender Rondae Hollis-Jefferson early on in the Hoop Summit. His jump shot, while a bit unorthodox is his biggest strength and should have him in position to grab a first round spot. His English is good, and he seems to have the type of personality that will allow him to adjust to American culture without issue.

Comparison - Danny Green
6th Small Forward - $997,300*

25. MIN
Tim Hardaway Jr.

Shooting Guard / 6-5 / Michigan / Junior / 14.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.4 apg
Hardaway Jr. shows mental toughness and consistent effort at all times. He has a well developed offensive game with good elevation and form on his shot. The big knock on him has always been foot speed as he lacks a great first step to beat opponents off the dribble. He also has a slight frame and appears a little bit frail. He grew up around the game, and that is apparent with his focus and feel. Hardaway lacks great upside and is seen as a likely rotation player, but his toughness and professional approach gives him a chance to grab a late first-round spot.

Comparison - Shandon Anderson
4th Shooting Guard - $957,500*

26. LAC
Erick Green

Point Guard / 6-3 / Virginia Tech / Senior / 25.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
The leading scorer in the country at 25 ppg , Green was forced to shoot a ton as he didn't have much help playing at Virginia Tech. He was not asked to be a distributor, so the question is just how much of a point guard he is. He showed some ability to play the position earlier in his college career, and some scouts are very high on him. He's a bit of a combo guard and lacks ideal size/athleticism if he's forced to play the 2 position.

Comparison - Delonte West
5th Point Guard - $925,700*

27. DEN
Jeff Withey

Center / 7-0 / Kansas / Senior / 13.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.9 bpg
Withey certainly appears to have shot blocking potential for the NBA. The all-time block record holder for the NCAA tourney has seen his game steadily progress as he's become a factor on the offensive end as well. Detractors will point to the fact that it took him so long to make an impact in college and that he's beating up on players 2-3 years younger than himself. With his lack of lateral quickness and overall speed running the floor, is he a dinosaur that came to the game 20 years too late? Or will his shot blocking ability make him a long term future back up in the league?

Comparison - Travis Knight
6th Center - $899,000*

28. SAS
Lorenzo Brown

Point Guard / 6-4 / North Carolina State / Junior / 12.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 7.2 apg
Brown came into the season with high expectations and struggled to live up to them, but had a solid season nonetheless. He has great size at 6-foo-4 and shows solid composure. For some reason he's not able to fully utilize his athleticism in games, possibly because of his lack of strength. His body looks extremely skinny and it would obviously benefit him to add some muscle. Brown is seen as a late first to early second round prospect and despite North Carolina State's struggles, he will benefit from the lack of talent in this year's draft. This is shaping up to be a PG heavy first round.

Comparison - Eric Maynor
6th Point Guard - $893,500*

29. OKC
DeShaun Thomas

Small Forward / 6-7 / Ohio State / Junior / 19.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.3 apg
Thomas doesn't have great athleticism or foot speed. In fact his movements resemble a creaky old NBA veteran who is in his 12th season. But he's such a tremendous scorer that he's getting a lot of first-round buzz from scouts. He was a top player in his class throughout high school and has had a prolific college career. There are legitimate concerns about how well his game will translate as he plays like an undersized, stretch 4, but his ability to get "buckets" and score points can't be overlooked.

Comparison - Ryan Gomes
7th Small Forward - $887,000*

30. PHO
Isaiah Austin

Center / 7-0 / Baylor / Freshman / 13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Austin raised some eyebrows with his outside shooting ability and combination of length and fluidity. His ballhandling is excellent for a 7-footer. While he has some real issues with body strength and maintaining post position, his length and shooting ability are both intriguing to scouts. His lack of trips to the line show that he needs to get stronger and tougher. If a team believes he can add weight to his frame without losing much agility, Austin will have a chance to grab a first round spot.

Comparison - Jonathan Bender
7th Center - $880,600*

Key: (*) Standard salary for players selected with that pick in 2013-14.


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