Draft Season!!!

Hello Everyone! Its been a long time but I needed a break after the busy College Basketball season and the awesome finish during the NBA's regular season. Hopefully you all have been keeping up with my Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/thedraftfanatic?ref=hl) where I have been staying on top of all the most recent action. Yep that was a shameless plug! Love it…

We are currently knee deep in the playoffs and I have to say its been an amazing post season so far. Virtually every series has been worth watching and hasn't disappointed. While LeBron is doing what he can to lead the Heat to a third straight title, several young men are preparing for the NBA Draft.

The NBA has already hosted the combine, which several potential lottery picks decided to skip. This is becoming a ridiculous trend but I will address that at a later date. For the players we did see, they did not disappoint. Nik Stauskas, Noah Vonleh, Zach LaVine, Doug McDermott, Rodney Hood, Marcus Smart, James Young, Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon and Julius Randle were the potential lottery picks that participated. They all had strong showings cementing their places in the lottery.

The remainder of the potential top picks, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Gary Harris and Jabari Parker decided not to participate. That does not mean any of them won't be taken in the lottery, nor does it mean they are not worth a top pick either. In fact to show he was in just as much shape as those that did show up to the Combine, Andrew Wiggins's agent tweeted a picture of him jumping 44 inches in to the air.

This field appears to be loaded with talent, some of which will be able to contribute right away. Players such as Tyler Ennis, Glen Robinson III, Elfrid Payton, DeAndre Kane, Shabazz Napier, Adreian Payne and Cleanthony Early are among those that should prove valuable as mid to late first round picks. With all of that in mind, lets take a look at my projections based off the current draft order for the lottery.




1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Joel Embiid
2. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker
4. Orlando Magic: Marcus Smart
5. Utah Jazz: Noah Vonleh
6. Boston Celtics: Julius Randle
7. Los Angeles Lakers: Dante Exum
8. Sacramento Kings: Zach LaVine
9. Charlotte Hornets: James Young
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Gary Harris
11. Denver Nuggets: Dario Saric
12. Orlando Magic: Aaron Gordon
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Doug McDermott
14: Phoenix Suns: Nik Stauskas

Now many of these picks could absolutely change based on a few factors. Their names are Greg Monroe, Kevin Love and Pau Gasol. Gasol and Monroe are both free agents that could garner their current teams a pretty hefty return to include Love in the way of a sign/trade. Along with the aforementioned teams as potential suitors in the lottery; the Cavs, Suns and Celtics will likely all attempt to negotiate a deal to bring in the young double/double machine.

Finally lets not forget about the always exciting wild card!!!! There are several veteran players that are either headed towards a final year of their contract or just plain unhappy in their current situation that could be dealt on draft night. Thaddeus Young, OJ Mayo, Josh Smith, Rajon Rondo and Kyrie Irving could all possibly be traded for the right combination of picks/players.

We have a little more than a month before the NBA Draft so I expect much of this speculation to become clearer, but in the mean time let your imagination run wild.