John Gonzalez's 2013 NBA Mock Draft

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 Nerlens Noel, C, 7-0, 205, Kentucky
There are a lot of big men in this draft, and almost all of them are projects. Noel is the best of the bunch. He’s already an excellent defender and shot blocker, but his offensive game needs work, and he also needs to fill out his frame. Sandwiches. Someone needs to feed that guy lots of sandwiches. There are also questions about how healthy he is after suffering an ACL tear that prematurely ended his year at Kentucky. Despite all that, he’s a solid choice for the Cavs, who can pair him with Kyrie Irving.

 Victor Oladipo, SG, 6-4, 215, Indiana
Saw him play several times this season, including two games in Dayton during the NCAA tournament. Oladipo is solid in transition, he can rebound well for a guard, and he’s already an NBA-ready defender. He also shot 44 percent from distance last year. I’m not sure his three-point range will be that reliable in the pros, but he looks poised to have a long NBA career.


 Otto Porter, SF, 6-9, 200, Georgetown
The Wizards need a big man. It’s possible they gamble and grab Maryland center Alex Len here. Porter is the safer pick, though. He needs to bulk up, but he should be a good compliment to the Wizards' one-two scoring punch of Bradley Beal and John Wall (they should be listed in that order these days, but that’s another topic for another time).


 Anthony Bennett, PF, 6-8, 240, UNLV
The Bobcats, like the Sixers, need pretty much everything. If Oladipo is still on the board, the Bobcats might go that route. But for the purposes of this exercise, and with Oladipo already picked in this mock draft, Bennett is the pick here. Bennett is a safe selection. He has a solid offensive post game, and he’s a big body who can help the Bobcats frontcourt.


 Ben McLemore, SG, 6-5, 190, Kansas
McLemore might be the most talented player in the draft. He’s extremely quick, he can create his own shot, and he’s at his best when he’s going to the basket. McLemore’s jumpshot can be spotty at times, but he’s still young. If he falls this far, it’s hard to imagine the Suns passing on him.


 Alex Len, C, 7-1, 225, Maryland
I know. I know. The Hornets/Pelicans took Anthony Davis last year, so why would they grab another big man? Because Davis –- while listed as a combo forward/center –- is really more of a forward. And also because big men are hard to find. Yes, Len is a project. (His offensive game is so stiff, you sometimes think he’s wearing cinderblocks on his feet instead of sneakers.) But the Pelicans aren’t a win-now team. They’re a win later team. Much later. They can afford to develop someone like Len.

 Trey Burke, PG, 6-1, 190, Michigan
The Kings are a mess. Bad chemistry on the court and too much drama off it. Burke should think about dodging the draft and hiding in Canada. If he doesn’t flee, he’s a good pick for the Kings, even if the Kings aren’t a good pick for him.


 Michael Carter-Williams, PG, 6-5, 185, Syracuse
And thus begins a run of hyphenated names. MCW (which would make an excellent acronym for a pro wrestling company) is big for the position and could create serious matchup problems for smaller guards. He’s extremely athletic, and he shows flashes of brilliance with his passing. That said, he shot under 30 percent from three-point range last year, and he hit just 39.3 percent overall from the field. Not good.


 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 6-6, 205, Georgia
This might be a bit of a gamble for the T-Wolves, but what do they have to lose? Aside from games, but they’ve already lost a ton of those over the years. KCP is serious scoring threat. He hit better than 37 percent from three-point range last season, and he’s got good size for a two-guard. Pairing him with Ricky Rubio could make the T-Wolves' backcourt dynamic and dangerous.


 C.J. McCollum, SG, 6-3, 200, Lehigh
McCollum makes me nervous. Everyone references the big game he had against Duke in 2012, but he spent the majority of his time playing against lower-level competition in the Patriot League. Sean Kane loves McCollum and has had him going to the Sixers in each of our CSNPhilly.com mock drafts. Hopefully the Sixers aren’t put to that decision.


 Cody Zeller, PF, 7-0, 230, Indiana
Not sure the Sixers will stick at 11. They have three picks in this draft, including two of the first 12 in the second round. I could see new president/GM Sam Hinkie starting his reign with some movement on Thursday. But since this is a mock draft and hypothetical trades are the domain of deranged radio callers, we’ll make this simple and install Zeller as the selection here. He’s big, he rebounds well, and he can run the floor. The Sixers need all of those things.


 Shabazz Muhammad, SF, 6-6, 220, UCLA
The Thunder miss James Harden. Shabazz Muhammad is not James Harden. Doesn’t score as well. Doesn’t pass as well. Doesn’t play defense as well. But he has a similar body type, and he fits a need. Square peg, meet round hole.


 Steven Adams, C, 7-0, 255, Pittsburgh
Crazy Mark Cuban does a crazy Mark Cuban thing and grabs Steven Adams, who might be the biggest of the big men projects. The kid has major upside, but he’s incredibly raw. Enjoy Dallas, Steven. Be sure to go to Mia’s on Lemmon for brisket tacos.

 Mason Plumlee, C, 7-0, 238, Duke
Ugh. Trying to predict which Duke player will make it in the pros and which will break up and then flame out in the NBA atmosphere like a tiny asteroid is impossible. I think Plumlee goes bust before he goes boom, but the Jazz need frontcourt help with Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap potentially leaving via free agency.


 Rudy Gobert, C, 7-0, 240, France
He’s a project. Unless you’re a professional scout, you’ve never seen him play in person. What he can and can’t do is uncertain. And he’s French. That’s big-time risk. Have fun in Milwaukee, Rudy. It’s just like Paris. Only different.


 Kelly Olynyk, C, 7-0, 235, Gonzaga
After years as an NBA title contender, the Celtics are rebuilding. Not sure they should rebuild with Olynyk, though. He’s a little soft with his frontcourt play, and his quickness and athleticism remain in question. At least it will be fun to watch Bostonians try to pronounce (and spell) his name.


 Gorgui Dieng, C, 6-11, 240, Louisville
Lots of bigs in this draft. Lots of unproven bigs. That’s Dieng. Really good shot blocker. Solid rebounder. Has a long way to go offensively.


 Dennis Schroeder, PG, 6-2, 170, Germany
He’s been described as a “Tony Parker type.” That would be a boon for the Hawks if it’s true, but it’s probably not since Parker is a perennial All-Star. Tough to measure up to that kind of career. That said, Schroeder is supposed to be an excellent passer.

 Jamaal Franklin, SG, 6-5, 190, San Diego State
The Cavs need a backcourt complement for Irving. Franklin could be it. He’s big and would create matchup problems for smaller guards. But he has a long way to go to polish his offensive game.


 Allen Crabbe, SG, 6-6, 200, California
Nothing flashy here. Just a solid pick, which is pretty much how the Bulls built their entire team with the notable exception of Derrick Rose. Crabbe shot 38 percent from distance at Cal.

 Tony Mitchell, PF, 6-9, 240, North Texas
The Jazz double-down on frontcourt players and grab another big man. Mitchell has offensive skill, but there are doubts about whether that will translate to the NBA level. North Texas, as you might know, isn’t exactly a hoops powerhouse.


 Tim Hardaway, Jr., SG, 6-6, 200, Michigan
Hardaway has a famous name. They like those in New York. They also like guys who can score. He would be a good fit for the Nets and new head coach Jason Kidd.


 Sergey Karasev, SF, 6-7, 200, Russia
Everyone is talking about Karasev. “Everyone” being draft geeks who pay attention to these things. Karasev could go anywhere in the bottom-third of the first round. He’s only 20, but his offensive game is attractive enough for the Pacers to take a shot.

 Shane Larkin, PG, 6-1, 180, Miami
The Knicks need a point guard they can mold and rely on for the future. Larkin is fast and shot 48 percent from the floor. He’s a smaller guard, but on paper he’d be a good addition for the Knicks.


 Archie Goodwin, SG, 6-5, 190, Kentucky
New head coach Doc Rivers has developed several guards/combo players over the years. He’ll try to add Goodwin to that list. Goodwin’s jumper needs a lot of work, but he’ll have the time to develop it in LA with a Clippers team already loaded with talent.

 Lucas Nogueira, C, 7-0, 235, Brazil
The T-Wolves love foreign players. Here’s another to add to the roster. Like so many other bigs in this draft, he has high upside but he’s not very polished or experienced.


 Tony Snell, SG, 6-7, 200, New Mexico
The Nuggets like to run the floor and push the pace. Snell can do that.


 Jeff Withey, C, 7-0, 220, Kansas
Not flashy –- which is exactly the way the Spurs like it. Feels like the kind of guy San Antonio would grab to bolster the frontcourt as it tries to get younger.


 DeShaun Thomas, SF, 6-6, 200, Ohio State
Thomas is a solid shooter. He’s not particularly fast or athletic, and he’s not a great defender, but the Thunder don’t need him to be a star. They just need him to fit in.

 Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, 6-9, 205, Greece
Adetokoubo might go higher than this, but I’m not sold. Don’t count on him contributing right away. Like a lot of the Suns, he’s a project.

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