There isn’t a lot of time left for front office personnel and NBA insiders to lower their expectations about this year’s bunch of prospects considering the 2013 NBA Draft is just a few weeks away. The aforementioned experts know that this draft is weak in comparison to 2003 or 2008, but there are good players available well into the 20s every year. People need to stop acting like 2013 is any different.
2013 NBA Mock Draft: Everyone’s best-case scenario
Lots of people are down on the 2013 NBA Draft, but there’s talent to be found anywhere. We consider the best-case scenario for each prospect in this week’s mock draft.
Ronald Martinez
To counteract some of the negativity out there, “Mr. Bright Side” will be giving analysis for this week’s mock draft. Consider it a glass half-full take on 2013.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers -- Nerlens Noel
Humans with 7’4 wingspans shouldn’t be as able to move as fast as Noel. Good luck running pick-and-rolls against him and Tristan Thompson.
(No. 5 on SB Nation Big Board | Scouting Report)
2. Orlando Magic -- Victor Oladipo
Oladipo is an elite athlete with a high motor who plays with a ton of polish. Given how much he improved during his last season in college, it’s hard to put a ceiling on how good he can become at the next level.
3. Washington Wizards -- Otto Porter
Porter is a 6’9 point forward with the versatility to defend three different positions. He’s also a rookie who plays like a 10-year NBA veteran.
4. Charlotte Hornets -- Anthony Bennett
Bennett is the best scorer in the draft and he’s 6’8 and 240 pounds. He’s a definite mismatch problem at the next level.
5. Phoenix Suns -- Ben McLemore
Phoenix can sit back and let an excellent player fall to them. McLemore is an elite athlete and an excellent shooter, nice elements for any team to have -- particularly one with the many needs of the Suns.
6. New Orleans Pelicans -- Alex Len
Len is the best two-way center prospect in several years. He has more offensive potential than Noel, Derrick Favors, Andre Drummond and Jonas Valanciunas and more defensive potential than Greg Monroe and DeMarcus Cousins.
7. Sacramento Kings -- Trey Burke
Burke is a leader on and off the court. He can control the tempo of the game and cut down on some of the foolishness in Sacramento.
8. Detroit Pistons -- Michael Carter-Williams
Drummond, last year’s Pistons pick, was successful as a rookie because he had a size and athletic advantage on the guys guarding him. The same is true for Carter-Williams.
The Draft's biggest mystery
How much do we really know about C.J. McCollum? 9. Minnesota Timberwolves -- C.J. McCollum
McCollum would be the perfect release valve in the Minnesota offense. If he’s the fifth option, that’s a potent lineup.
10. Portland Trail Blazers -- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Caldwell-Pope is a two-way shooting guard who can instantly upgrade Portland’s rotation. If they think the draft can’t help them, they might want to take a second look at their bench.
11. Philadelphia 76ers -- Steven Adams
Adams is huge (7’0, 255 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan) and he can move his feet pretty well. He has also been shooting the ball really well in individual workouts with teams. The potential is there.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder -- Cody Zeller
Think of how many open shots Kendrick Perkins gets in the half-court. Now Imagine if Oklahoma City had a guy who could make shots in that position.
13. Dallas Mavericks -- Giannis Adetokoubo
If Dallas needs a draft-and-stash player here, it might as well get the one with most upside.
Execs at Adidas Eurocamp raving about Giannis Adetokoubo. One said Adetokoubo, a point forward, had "Kevin Durant like ability."
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) June 9, 2013
14. Utah Jazz -- Dennis Schroeder
Utah is building a team similar to Indiana. He could be their George Hill.
15. Milwaukee Bucks -- Shabazz Muhammad
Shabazz was the No. 1 player in his high school class. He averaged 18 points a game as a freshman. If he gets the ball, he will get buckets.
16. Boston Celtics -- Tony Mitchell
Rajon Rondo to Tony Mitchell could be the most vicious alley-oop combination since vintage Jason Kidd to Kenyon Martin.
17. Atlanta Hawks -- Rudy Gobert
A guy with a 7’9 wingspan can have an impact on the game just by standing in front of the rim.
18. Atlanta Hawks -- Reggie Bullock
Bullock is big, athletic and he can shoot. He can help every team in the NBA, not just the Hawks.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers -- Sergey Karasev
Karasev is one of the best shooters in the draft and would make Cleveland a more explosive team.
20. Chicago Bulls -- Gorgui Dieng
Dieng can fill the role Omer Asik had on the Bulls’ second team. The Louisville product gives Chicago another long and athletic big man with a good feel for the game.
21. Utah Jazz -- Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk would allow the Jazz to keep the biggest front-court rotation in the NBA. There aren’t many second units who can handle a 7-footer who can create offense for himself.
22. Brooklyn Nets -- Mason Plumlee
Plumlee is a pretty good rebounder. Not quite as good as Reggie Evans was for the Nets this past season, but the rookie is a lot better in every other facet of the game.
23. Indiana Pacers -- Jamaal Franklin
Franklin is a jack-of-all-trades wing player from San Diego State with a questionable jump shot. Sound familiar in Indiana?
Larkin stands tall
Shane Larkin believes he can succeed despite his lack of size. 24. New York Knicks -- Shane Larkin
Larkin is an explosive scorer who can run the pick-and-roll. The Knicks could use that on their bench.
25. Los Angeles Clippers -- Ricky Ledo
Lance Stephenson’s success is going to make a lot of people double-check on Ledo. The value of getting a player like that this late in the draft is pretty high.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves -- Allen Crabbe
Crabbe would give Minnesota another shooter to add to its rotation. With Crabbe and McCollum getting minutes, three-point shooting would be a team strength.
27. Denver Nuggets -- Glen Rice Jr.
Rice averaged 25 points a game in the D-League playoffs while playing in an uptempo system similar to Denver’s. He was doing that against guys a lot older than him, too.
28. San Antonio Spurs -- Lucas Nogueira
The strengths and weaknesses of his game are fairly similar to Noel’s -- and he’s available at the end of the first round.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder -- Archie Goodwin
Goodwin is still only 18 years old. He’s the perfect candidate for Oklahoma City to stash in the D-League for a year.
30. Phoenix Suns -- Erick Green
Green is a pretty solid value at the end of the first round. At worst, he’s Mario Chalmers, who came off the board early in the second round of the 2008 Draft.
For more coverage, visit SB Nation’s NBA Draft 2013 section.
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