15. Indiana Pacers- PF Marcus Morris (Kansas)
The Pacers need athleticism inside and that’s exactly what Morris gives them. Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts aren’t cutting it at the position. Morris compliments them well.
NBA Comparison: Al Harrington
16. Philadelphia 76ers- C Markieff Morris (Kansas)
Center is by far their biggest need. Morris might not have ideal center size, but he can fit there for the 76ers in the future because of his skill set.
NBA Comparison: Ersan Ilyasova
17. New York Knicks- SG Marshon Brooks (Providence)
Brooks is such a natural fit for what they want to do in terms of run and gun. If he pans out, he gives them a 3rd scoring option and someone who can score in transition and hit the deep shot, two things this team loves.
NBA Comparison: Marcus Thornton
18. Washington Wizards- SF Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
The Wizards went forward with Jan Vesely at 6 and go forward again here with Jordan Hamilton. Vesely can play both forward positions, while Hamilton can play both small forward and some shooting guard if Nick Young leaves as a free agent. In the end, they get two good players with their two first rounders.
NBA Comparison: Brandon Rush
19. Milwaukee Bucks- PF Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania)
Power forward is their weakest position on the depth chart. They moved down to 19 with the intent of getting power forward Markieff Morris. Motiejunas is option #2.
NBA Comparison: Andrei Bargnani
20. Minnesota Timberwolves- SG Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech)
Aside from a true center that can contribute on both ends of the court, a shooting guard who can create his own shot as a slasher is desperately needed. They used Wesley Johnson at shooting guard last year, even though he definitely belongs at small forward. Shumpert is a late riser in this draft process and would give them a potential future starting shooting guard.
NBA Comparison: Arron Afflalo
21. Portland Trailblazers- PG Darius Morris (Michigan)
Morris gives them back court depth and an NBA ready role player and hopefully can evolve into their long term answer at point guard because Andre Miller is not that.
NBA Comparison: Andre Miller
22. Denver Nuggets- PF Kenneth Faried (Morehead State)
Kenyon Martin is a free agent so Faried gives them insurance. The NBA Combine was not kind to Faried who measured in at about 6-6, but there’s no denying this is a great shot blocker and rebounder, despite his size. The way the NBA power forward position has changed in recent years, Faried fits as a power forward in the league well with his hustle and strong defensive play.
NBA Comparison: Bo Outlaw
23. Houston Rockets- C Nikola Vucevic (USC)
The Rockets really seem to like Vucevic, who has good size at 6-10 250, something they really lack in the frontcourt, given that they can’t count on Yao Ming. I mean their starting center was 6-6 last year.
NBA Comparison: Nenad Kristic
24. Oklahoma City Thunder- SF Kyle Singler (Duke)
They have a ton of young talent, but Singler gives them a backup at small forward that they don’t really have and he won’t throw off their chemistry and he’ll be fine taking a backseat role and not playing a lot of minutes. Oklahoma City is rumored to really like him.
NBA Comparison: Mike Dunleavy
25. Boston Celtics- PF JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
Size is their main need, especially since Glen Davis is a free agent and Shaq retired. They really missed Kendrick Perkins after he left and they obviously can’t count on Jermaine O’Neal.
NBA Comparison: Tyrus Thomas
26. Dallas Mavericks- SF Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
Peja Stojakovic, Caron Butler, and DeShawn Stevenson are all free agents on the wings and given that they also need to resign JJ Barea and Tyson Chandler and we’re probably headed for a hard cap, there’s a good chance they can’t resign all three. Harris can take any of their spots in the rotation.
NBA Comparison: Shawne Williams
27. New Jersey Nets- PG Josh Selby (Kansas)
The Nets were one of the worst teams in the league last year and they don’t have a pick this year until #27 nor do they have last year’s #3 overall pick Derrick Favors, after that Deron Williams trade. If they can’t resign him long term, that might be the worst trade ever, but anyway. They need to go for the homerun here. Selby was a much hyped high school recruit, who struggled in his one year at Kansas. Still, he could become a nice 6th man for them and possibly even start at shooting guard next to Deron Williams because Williams is big enough to guard bigger guards. He’s definitely the upside pick here.
NBA Comparison: Jerryd Bayless
28. Chicago Bulls- SG Charles Jenkins (Hofstra)
Charles Jenkins is the closest thing they’re going to get to an impact scorer here at 28. He was 6th in the NCAA in scoring, but falls because of his lack of size. Worst case, he’s a mini microwave bench scorer for them, which they could definitely use, and if he can find his way into the starting lineup, even better.
NBA Comparison: Rodney Stuckey
29. San Antonio Spurs- PF Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro)
The Spurs are desperately trying to move up into the top 7 or so picks to get Jonas Valanciunas, even dangling Tony Parker as a trade chip. The idea with Valanciunas is to get a talented player who is going to fall for reasons other than his talent, namely his contract situation in Lithuania which won’t allow him to come to the states this year. For the Spurs, that’s fine as they don’t need him right away with Tim Duncan still providing quality minutes and they can get his upside down the road when Duncan’s done. Think of Mirotic as Valanciunas lite. He has top 15 talent in many’s opinion, but falls because he can’t come over right away. Plus, I think it’s safe to say that this is the first time two players named “Nikola” have been drafted in the first round in the same year.
NBA Comparison: Jorge Garbajosa
30. Chicago Bulls- SF Jimmy Butler (Marquette)
With two picks in the first round, the Bulls can spend one on some more defense. Jimmy Butler is the type of player who will make Tom Thibodeau’s rotation as a rookie because of his defense, hustle, and character and out of the 30th pick, that’s all you can really ask for.
NBA Comparison: Maurice Evans
Go on to 2nd Round
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