Sean Kane's 2013 NBA Mock Draft

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 Nerlens Noel, C, 7-0, 205, Kentucky
There has been a lot of recent buzz about Alex Len going to the Cavaliers here, but to me this decision still comes down to Noel and Ben McLemore. With the Cavs drafting Dion Waiters in the top five last year, chances are they're not taking another shooting guard here. Noel is far from a sure thing -- I wasn't impressed with his abbreviated body of work at Kentucky. His offensive game needs a significant amount of polish, but he is an NBA-caliber shot-blocker and defender. Noel will also need to bulk up substantially after losing a good deal of weight while sidelined with an ACL tear suffered in mid-February. But the potential outweighs all the question marks for Cleveland with this pick.

 Ben McLemore, SG, 6-5, 190, Kansas
The Magic could look to land their point guard of the future here in Michigan's Trey Burke, or even roll the dice with Indiana's Victor Oladipo. But in the end, McLemore's talent will be too much for Orlando to pass up. His less-than-stellar pre-draft workouts are a concern but shouldn't scare the Magic away. McLemore is that rare fast-twitch athlete with a pure shooting stroke to match. He excelled last season in Bill Self's structured offense at Kansas, putting up numbers while also showing the capability to play team basketball. His dip in production in Kansas' three NCAA tournament games is a red flag, but I'm of the opinion that was a poorly timed shooting slump as opposed to a natural tendency to shrink under the bright lights.

 Otto Porter, SF, 6-9, 200, Georgetown
The Wizards will pluck an NBA-ready forward out of their own backyard with this pick. Porter is cut from the same cloth as other Georgetown big men (Jeff Green, Roy Hibbert, Greg Monroe) in that he understands the game and has a well-rounded offensive repertoire. His athleticism and unselfishness will play well alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal.

 Anthony Bennett, PF, 6-8, 240, UNLV
Charlotte could go with Burke or Victor Oladipo here, but the need to upgrade its front line is more pressing. The pick comes down to Bennett or Len. Michael Jordan and company can't afford to miss on another top-five pick, and Bennett is more of a sure thing than Len. Bennett displayed a versatile offensive game in his lone collegiate season. He is able to score on the block as well as step out and knock down the perimeter jumper.

 Alex Len, C, 7-1, 225, Maryland
Len shouldn't drop further than this, and the Suns can't pass up on his potential here. Len has that sought-after combination of size and skill and played against high level competition in the ACC. His offensive skills translate nicely to the next level, but the question is whether he will be physical enough for NBA post play. Len will be sidelined for the next three to five months with an ankle injury, but it won't impact his draft status.

 Victor Oladipo, SG, 6-4, 215, Indiana
Oladipo was the breakout star of the college basketball season, and his athleticism will be a nice fit with New Orleans. He's a lot like McLemore in that he's proven he can produce despite not being the focal point of the offense every possession. Oladipo doesn't get enough credit for his outside shooting (44 percent from three last season). On the other hand, he gets too much credit for being a lock-down defender. Temple's Khalif Wyatt dispelled that notion nicely in the NCAA tournament.

 Trey Burke, PG, 6-1, 190, Michigan
The Kings get great value here with Burke, whom I believe is one of the five best players in this draft. Burke is athletic, intelligent and, most importantly, fearless. He helped his draft stock tremendously during Michigan's run to the national championship game. He's got that trait NBA executives look for in point guards -- he gets his teammates involved in the offense while having no trouble scoring himself.

 Michael Carter-Williams, PG, 6-5, 185, Syracuse
Carter-Williams is the definition of a high-risk, high-reward selection. I'm not a big fan of his game. He drifts in and out of games and his shooting numbers are atrocious. Carter-Williams could have used another year of seasoning at Syracuse. But he showcased his big-game ability by stepping up to lead Syracuse to the Final Four, and his size, athleticism and court vision call to mind Rajon Rondo. If he approaches Rondo's level, this will be a great pick for Detroit.

 Cody Zeller, PF, 7-0, 230, Indiana
Everyone has strong opinions on Zeller, and they're mostly negative following a "disappointing" sophomore season. I put "disappointing" in quotes because he averaged better than 16.0 and 8.0 and shot 56 percent for a title contender. But Zeller was tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year after he decided to return to school for his sophomore season and he didn't live up to those expectations. But the bottom line with Zeller is this: He's a legit seven-footer, who has good ball skills and can score. That combination tends to go over well in NBA circles.

With Nikola Pekovic on the free-agent market and Kevin Love's long-term future in Minnesota filled with uncertainty, the Timberwolves would be wise to add to their frontcourt.

 Shabazz Muhammad, SF, 6-6, 220, UCLA
For the record, I wouldn't spend a first-round pick on Muhammad. I think the "selfish" and "unmotivated" labels suit him well. But the Trail Blazers will look at all the players available and decide he's the best fit with their roster. Muhammad is talented -- he was the top-rated prospect coming out of high school a year ago and he put up numbers at UCLA. I just don't think he's a guy you win with in the NBA.

 C.J. McCollum, SG, 6-3, 200, Lehigh
I understand the 76ers need help on the front line, but if McCollum is still on the board, this is a no-brainer for them. That's a big if -- McCollum could go anywhere from 7th to 12th in the first round, and if Sixers GM Sam Hinkie really likes him (as I feel he should), then he may have to move up a few spots to grab him. The Sixers have two of the first 12 picks in the second round -- picks that could be used to move up in the first round.

With apologies to McLemore, McCollum is the best shooter in this draft. The 76ers desperately need someone who can stretch the defense and consistently knock down three-point baskets. McCollum shot over 51 percent from long range before a foot injury in January cost him the rest of his senior year at Lehigh. He can play either guard position, can get to the basket and is an above-average ball-handler and passer.

McCollum has great intangibles, too. He's a high-character guy who will continue to work at his game throughout his career.

The biggest knock on McCollum is the level of competition he played against in the Patriot League. But he would have been a star in any league in the country, as he proved by scoring 30 points to single-handedly beat Duke in the first round of the 2012 NCAA tournament.

 Steven Adams, C, 7-0, 255, Pittsburgh
The Thunder can afford to take a gamble with this pick, and they'll do so with Adams -- an unproven player with loads of potential. The Thunder got bullied around by the Grizzlies in the playoffs and the time has come to replace Kendrick Perkins in the middle. Adams is a skilled big man who brings toughness and aggressiveness to the low block. Given the opportunity to come along at his own pace, Adams could develop into a star and make this pick a steal for Oklahoma City.

 Kelly Olynyk, C, 7-0, 235, Gonzaga
Olynyk's offensive skills will give Dallas a boost immediately. It's his contributions on the other end of the floor that will ultimately determine his level of success in the NBA. Is he physical enough to guard NBA big men? And is he athletic enough to defend smaller forwards on the perimeter? Olynyk was incredibly efficient last year at Gonzaga, but the level of competition he faced in the West Coast Conference is a legitimate question mark.

 Mason Plumlee, C, 7-0, 238, Duke
With Jazz big men Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap set to test the free-agent market, Utah can restock its frontcourt with this pick. Plumlee could team with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter to form one of the top young front lines in the league. Plumlee has all the tools to succeed at the next level -- he's big, strong and athletic. Two years ago, I thought Plumlee was a lock to eventually be a top-10 pick, but he never developed a back-to-the-basket game during his four years at Duke. If he takes his offensive game to the next level, Plumlee will be a 10-year starter in the NBA.

 Dennis Schroeder, PG, 6-2, 170, Germany
The Bucks' backcourt is full of question marks with the uncertain futures of free agents Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings. Taking Schroeder here brings some stability. The Tony Parker comparison is almost too easy given Schroeder's size, skill set, European pedigree and the fact that he enters the NBA as a teenager. He's coming off a strong showing in April's Nike Hoops Summit in Portland, where he scored 18 points and handed out six assists to lead the World team to a win over the United States. Schroeder has tremendous ballhandling skills and court vision, but he needs to improve his shooting stroke to keep defenders honest.

 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, 6-6, 205, Georgia
The Celtics are in the midst of a youth movement and Caldwell-Pope is an intriguing piece. After a mediocre freshman season at Georgia, he burst onto the national scene as a sophomore. He was named the SEC Player of the Year last season after averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and shooting over 37 percent from three-point range. Caldwell-Pope is a poor man's McLemore. He doesn't have the same athletic ability and pure shooting stroke of McLemore, but his skill set is very similar. Caldwell-Pope is a rangy athlete who managed to put up solid numbers for a bad Georgia team.

 Gorgui Dieng, C, 6-11, 240, Louisville
Dieng played a huge role in Louisville's national championship -- he's an outstanding shot blocker and rebounder. He's also made significant strides offensively and should only improve that area of his game in the NBA. He'll slide right into the Hawks' rotation as a rookie.

 Allen Crabbe, SG, 6-6, 200, California
Crabbe enters the draft as a seasoned prospect following three seasons at California, and the Hawks will reap the benefits with this pick. Crabbe showed significant improvement in each of his college seasons, topping out as a junior with averages of 18.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. He has a similar build to McLemore and Caldwell-Pope and is a capable outside shooter. Crabbe shot over 38 percent from long range during his career at California. He was involved in an unfortunate incident in February when he was shoved by his head coach Mike Montgomery during a timeout. Crabbe briefly left the bench area before returning to the game to score 10 points in the final four minutes to lead his team to a win. That incident aside, there aren't any other red flags when it comes to Crabbe's character.

 Rudy Gobert, C, 7-0, 240, France
Gobert is another high-risk, high-reward prospect that should be selected anywhere from 15th to 25th in the first round. Cleveland will take a chance on him here, hoping to add a Zydrunas Illgauskas clone to a frontcourt in need of remodeling.

 Jamaal Franklin, SG, 6-5, 190, San Diego State
The Bulls land a possible running mate for Derrick Rose in the backcourt with this selection. Franklin has the prototypical size NBA executives look for in a shooting guard, and I believe he just scratched the surface of his potential at San Diego State. Franklin will be one of the best value picks from the bottom third of the first round.

 Shane Larkin, PG, 6-1, 180, Miami
Larkin fits the bill as Utah's point guard of the future. He burst onto the national radar last season as a sophomore. He averaged 14.5 points and 4.6 assists and shot just under 48 percent from the field while leading Miami to 29 wins, an ACC regular season and tournament championship and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Larkin was the driving force behind the best season in the history of Miami basketball. The pros and cons with Larkin are clear cut: He is an explosive athlete, but he lacks the prototypical size scouts look for in a NBA point guard. He has strong bloodlines working in his favor -- Larkin's father, Barry, was a Hall of Fame shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds for 19 seasons.

 Tony Mitchell, PF, 6-9, 240, North Texas
Mitchell is as talented offensively as any post player in this draft. It's simply a matter of whether he can get the most out of his ability on a nightly basis at the pro level. This late in the first round, it's worth the gamble for the Nets. Bank on Mitchell being motivated by playing alongside Deron Williams and for new head coach Jason Kidd.

 Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, 6-9, 205, Greece
The Pacers add to their stable of intriguing frontcourt pieces with this pick. Antetokounmpo needs time to mature, and he'll get just that with Paul George, Danny Granger and David West carrying the load for the immediate future in Indiana.

 Tim Hardaway, Jr., SG, 6-6, 200, Michigan
Like Larkin, Hardaway has good bloodlines working in his favor. His father, Tim Sr., was an All-Star point guard for the Warriors in the 1990s. Hardaway Jr. was often overshadowed by Burke at Michigan, but he's a natural scorer. The Knicks get Carmelo Anthony some sorely needed offensive help with this selection.

 Sergey Karasev, SF, 6-7, 200, Russia
Karasev's stock has been on the rise in recent weeks. He returned to Russia and plans to stay there until the draft, leading many to believe that he has received a "promise" from a team that he'll be its first-round pick. Like most international prospects, he's very polished offensively. However, toughness and his defensive ability are the biggest question marks. Karasev doesn't turn 20 until October, so bank on his potential making him a first-round pick.

 Jeff Withey, C, 7-0, 220, Kansas
Withey is flying under the radar leading up to the draft and will be a tremendous value pick for Minnesota here. Withey has a number of factors in his favor -- he's a NBA-caliber shot-blocker (3.9 blocks last season) and has tons of experience thanks to four seasons at Kansas that included a trip to the national championship game in 2012. He's no slouch offensively either -- he averaged 13.7 points as a senior and shot better than 58 percent from the field.

 Archie Goodwin, SG, 6-5, 190, Kentucky
I was disappointed in Goodwin's development -- or lack thereof -- at Kentucky last season. He has the size and skill set of a NBA combo guard (think of another John Calipari product, Tyreke Evans). Goodwin's dismal shooting numbers and below-average workouts have him on the cusp of dropping out of the first round. But he'll fit in well with Denver's fast-paced style of play and could pan out as a steal this late in the first round.

 DeShaun Thomas, SF, 6-6, 200, Ohio State
Chalk another one up for the Spurs, who pluck a solid rotation guy from late in the first round in Thomas. He had a terrific three years at Ohio State, culminating in his junior season when he averaged 19.8 points and just under six rebounds. He is one of the best shooters in the draft and has loads of big-game experience from his college career. As for the negatives, Thomas lacks high-level athleticism and is regarded as a below-average defender.

 Lucas Nogueira, C, 7-0, 235, Brazil
A lot of draft projections have Nogueira going significantly higher than this, but I don't view him as worthy of a mid-first-round selection. He has the size and potential, but he needs substantial work on both ends of the floor.

 Tony Snell, SG, 6-7, 200, New Mexico
The Suns need help almost everywhere on their roster and they'll land a legitimate scoring threat with the last pick of the first round. Snell is a more than capable shooter and has NBA caliber size for a perimeter player.

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