2014 NBA draft: Five players to watch

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Contrary to this year, the 2014 NBA draft is expected to bring a high level of star power that could alter the futures of budding franchises.

In the Sixers' case, the team has its own first-round pick along with a top-five protected selection received from the New Orleans Pelicans in the Jrue Holiday trade.

With that in mind, here's a quick glance at some top-tier talent expected to be available in next year's draft:

Andrew Wiggins - 6-8/205, Small Forward, Kansas, Freshman
Wiggins will be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft barring injury or unforeseen struggles next season at Kansas. He's that rare special talent that comes along once a decade (Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James) that will have teams tripping over themselves in an effort to accumulate as many ping pong balls as possible next year. He isn't the physical freak James was coming out of high school 10 years ago, but he's every bit as skilled. Wiggins' build and skill set call to mind a young Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. He can get to the basket whenever he wants and his jump shot continues to improve.

Wiggins doesn't carry himself like a superstar, something that's interpreted as both a positive and a negative. On one hand, his ego is non-existent -- he allowed just one local reporter and no television cameras into his college announcement. There was no press conference like Bryant, or school logo shaven into his head like Nerlens Noel. On the other hand, some question Wiggins' desire to be great and point to his tendency to be complacent at times on the court.

Julius Randle - 6-9/225, Power Forward, Kentucky, Freshman
Randle is going to be an NBA superstar. He is overshadowed by Wiggins, but Randle may be the most NBA-ready prospect in this class in terms of contributing immediately. He has a pro's body with low block skills to match and is a freak athlete who runs the floor extremely well. He will excel in transition at the next level. Randle's face-up game and mid-range jump shot are outstanding as well. This isn't your typical post player, he has Blake Griffin-type athleticism.

He will be playing with a handful of potential lottery picks next season at Kentucky in Andrew and Aaron Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress. He won't put up the same kind of numbers in college as Wiggins, but that shouldn't diminish Randle's draft stock whatsoever. Expect him to be the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft, and possibly the top pick if Wiggins stumbles at Kansas.

Marcus Smart - 6-4/225, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma State, Sophomore
Smart would have been a top-five pick in the 2013 NBA draft, and given the unpredictability of that class he could have risen all the way to No. 1 like Anthony Bennett did. But he chose to return to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season to refine his game and improve his weaknesses. That decision earned him significant points in my book. I wish more kids would do the same, but you can’t fault them for bolting for NBA riches. Smart is a tremendous athlete and a classic stat-sheet stuffer. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals last season as a freshman.

What does he need to improve? His 3.7 turnovers per game (understandable for a freshman who always had the ball in his hands) and subpar shooting percentages. Smart shot 40 percent from the field and just 29 percent (38 for 131) from three-point range. Defenders will continue to play off him until he proves he can knock down the outside shot with regularity. If that aspect of his game improves, the sky is the limit. Smart is a top-five pick next year.

Andrew Harrison - 6-5/210, Point Guard, Kentucky, Freshman
Harrison is unquestionably the best point guard prospect in the 2014 NBA draft. He would have been the best point guard in this year's draft as well. He has the size, skill and mental make-up to be an elite NBA point guard for the next decade. Harrison teamed up with his twin brother Aaron (another potential 2014 lottery pick who was the top-ranked shooting guard in the 2013 high school class) in high school and they'll do so again at Kentucky. The Harrison twins listed Villanova as one of their final college choices before opting for Kentucky, so I kept a close eye on them throughout their high school careers in Texas.

Andrew has everything you want in a point guard. He makes good decisions, gets into the lane, shoots the ball well and is invested on the defensive end. Above all else, he's a natural leader. Those leadership skills will come into focus next season at Kentucky when he'll effectively be running a NBA team with his brother, Randle, Cauley-Stein and Poythress. Harrison should be a top-five pick next year, and will be a dream come true for a team in need of a point guard.

Doug McDermott - 6-8/225, Small Forward, Creighton, Junior
I like everything about McDermott. He is a great kid and there's nothing he can't do offensively. His size, skills and mid-major pedigree evoke the Larry Bird comparisons. McDermott and Creighton are stepping up in weight class next season, moving from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big East. But I don't expect McDermott's numbers to dip at all. He can score on the block and is an outstanding shooter. Last season as a sophomore, McDermott averaged 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting a staggering 49 percent from three-point range. There are questions about his defense on the next level, but he'll be able to score.

McDermott made headlines this week by forfeiting his scholarship to a teammate that was granted a sixth year of eligibility. Doug's father and Creighton head coach, Doug McDermott Sr., will pay his son's tuition during his junior year. The fact that a frontrunner for national player of the year would make such a gesture tells you all you need to know about McDermott's character. He should be a lottery pick in the 2014 NBA draft, and could be a steal in the 10 to 13 range.

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