Right Down Euclid Mock Draft: 2013 Edition Picks 21-40
By Zak Kolesar
Jan. 19, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Deshaun Thomas (1) against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2nd half at Jack Breslin Students Events Center. MSU won 59-56. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2013 NBA Draft quickly approaching on June 27, the Right Down Euclid writer coup of Zak Kolesar, Trevor Magnotti, Dan Pilar and Chris Manning will be conducting the first-ever Right Down Euclid NBA Mock Draft. This series, in which the RDE writers will be selecting 15 picks for 15 NBA teams and giving their reason to why they chose that certain player in paragraph format, will span the three Fridays leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft. Starting on June 7, the picks 1-20 will be debuted. Following that, on June 14 picks 21-40 will be posted and on June 21 picks 41-60 will be posted. On June 26, a collaborated post will be put up with all 60 picks and additional analysis. Thanks for following our (what we hope to be) annual RDE Mock Draft, let us know your reactions to our picks in the comment section below and enjoy the Right Down Euclid Mock Draft: 2013 Edition Picks 21-40.
21. Utah Jazz – Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
With Utah’s second pick in the first round, they should look to take a little risk. Saric is 6’10” with shoes and has a 6’10” wingspan to match. He didn’t score a lot overseas, but there’s a reason Draft Express has him rated as the No. 1 prospect in this year’s international pool. The real key here will be who they select with the 14th overall pick. If it’s a point guard as the Right Down Euclid mock draft projects, they can afford to take a player like Saric. But if not, they absolutely will have to look for a point guard here. They have three point guards heading into free agency, and it’s their biggest positional need. But with Larkin in the fold, Saric has to be the pick here. – CM
22. Brooklyn Nets – Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
Brook Lopez has emerged as one of the best centers in the league, which is surprising after all the trade rumors that involved him and Dwight Howard last summer. The Nets are still looking for a coach, which makes it more difficult to mock their draft. But with Andre Blatche and Reggie Evans free agents heading into the summer, this team will need to draft a big man to fill the void. Adams had a short career at Pitt – and I thought he should have stayed in college – but he has potential to be a versatile center. He averaged only seven points and six rebounds at Pitt, but his mobility alone is what makes him an appealing pick. At the combine he showed the most consistent elbow jumper of all centers out there. This would be a smart pick by Brooklyn, but again, nothing is certain without a coach in place. – DP
Mar 24, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Reggie Bullock (35) shoots against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
23. Indiana Pacers – Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, North Carolina
After the Sam Young debacle against Miami, where Gerald Green collapsed so badly in the playoffs that Sam Young was the top bench option on the wing, Indiana needs to solve this with a strong defensive wing. Bullock fits in well here, as he is a solid defensive player and someone who can also hit threes consistently, an area where Indiana really struggled last season. Indiana basically needs to re-vamp their entire bench, and Bullock is a good player to start with, as he would provide a better defensive presence than Sam Young and Gerald Green and could play shooting guard or small forward depending on what Indiana wants to do with Danny Granger next season. If they bring him off the bench or push Lance Stephenson back to the bench and Paul George to shooting guard, Bullock could play either spot and give Indiana an answer to their wing D problems. – TM
24. New York Knicks — Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State
You may be reading this and thinking, “This is a ginormous stretch at No. 24.” Although most mocks have Canaan going in the second round behind a weak crop of point guards, I think that he helps the New York offense by immediately being able to step in for Jason Kidd, who was a big reason why the Knicks made an early exit in this year’s playoffs. The Knicks also need new offensive options to go to when Carmelo Anthony is cold and so he doesn’t have to take 40 shots to get to 30 points. Canaan knows how it is to take on a huge offensive load, as he accounted for nearly 30 percent of his team’s scoring this past season at Murray State. You may be thinking that the Ohio Valley Conference star didn’t go up against nowhere near the caliber of opponent’s that he will be facing at the next level, but we have seen players prove this thought process wrong in the recent past. Look at this year’s Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, who came out of Weber State and was doubted by many in the summer of 2012. The Knicks won’t be getting a proficient distributor in Canaan, but they will be getting an offensive juggernaut who has the tangibles to be great at the next level (nice wing span, great outside shooter). He will fit in well with guys like Steve Novak and J.R. Smith (who has a player option this offseason) and will make up for where Kidd lacked in offensive firepower. He shot over 40 percent from three (48.2 percent as a freshman) in his first three seasons at Murray State, and he is just going to grow as an outside shooter even more in the New York offense. – ZK
25. Los Angeles Clippers — Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan
Judging by the way Hardaway shot in catch and shoot (39.6 percent), pull-up jumper (30.6 percent) and runners and around the rim (46.7 percent) situations this past season, Hardaway is an average to below average shooter who struggled immensely around the rim in his third season with the Wolverines. However, his ability to stretch the floor would fit in perfectly if Chris Paul is the starting point guard in Los Angeles next season. He would compliment a passer like Paul extremely well if he can revert back to what his shooting form was for his first two seasons with Michigan. Not only will his offensive game be able to compliment a player like Paul (again, only if he returns to Los Angeles), but his defensive presence will take added pressure off the other Clipper guards due to his 6-6, 200-pound body frame that allows him to square up well in one-on-one situations. With Vinny Del Negro out as head coach, hopefully we will no longer see those bone-headed lineups that we were used to seeing (especially late in games) from the former coach. Whether a coaching change will mean a player like Hardaway will see some starting time this season is something I don’t know, but as a role player Hardaway would thrive in Los Angeles. – ZK
Mar 14, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) is defended by LSU Tigers guard Malik Morgan (24) during the second round of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
26. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
Minnesota is salivating on draft night if this is the way that things play out. They’ll walk away with a solid post player in KCP, a guard who many have going a lot earlier than 26th. Minnesota has been lacking a quality two-guard for years, and if they land Caldwell-Pope, that’s a perfect fit. KCP is an outstanding perimeter scorer and has a lot of defensive potential, which is exactly what Minnesota is lacking. He needs to improve his decision-making and could end up being incredibly Jordan Crawford-like, but he brings to the table everything that Minnesota needs next to Ricky Rubio; athleticism, three-point shooting, defense and spacing. Honestly, if Minnesota walks away with Zeller and Caldwell-Pope, they will have won draft night. That’s an incredible haul for them. – TM
27. Denver Nuggets — Glen Rice, SF, Rio Grande Valley
This is another team that is currently without a coach. They parted ways with George Karl even though he had a year remaining on his contract. Andre Iguodala is a free agent, and they will look to replace him as best they can. He has good size for a wing player and may be the most NBA ready as far as small forwards or shooting guards are concerned. Rice had problems at Georgia Tech. When he left the program he joined the NBA D-League, and those problems didn’t follow him. He is very versatile offensively and can get after it on defense. Even if Iguodala does resign with the Nuggets, Rice will be a great addition to the bench. – DP
28. San Antonio Spurs — Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil
Nogueira is a long lanky Brazilian prospect that DraftExpress says, at best, could be Marcus Camby. In the late first round that’s really solid value. This pick also makes sense because of the uncertain future of Tiago Splitter. He’s a restricted free agent this summer and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if a team in need a gritty big man slightly overpays for his services and gives him a contract similar to Omer Asik’s. And if he lives, Nogueira could eventually fill that void. Plus, in the near future when the original “Big Three” is no more, Noguiera should be a solid piece in their rebuilding process. – CM
29. Oklahoma City Thunder — Giannas Adetokunbo, SF, Greece
Assuming the Thunder nab a young big with their first pick, this is a selection in which they can really take a player to either a) slowly develop or b) stash away in Europe. Adetokunbo is the one international player in this year’s draft that is likely to stay overseas for another season or two. With the Thunder’s propensity to not play young players right away, this is the right selection assuming he’s still available. At 18, he still can develop in Greece and can continue to grow into his body. He has grown three inches in the last 12 months and could still grow a few more. Once he figures out what position he plays and grows into his body, Adetokunbo could be a key contributor for the Thunder down the road. – CM
30. Phoenix Suns — Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
Withey is a shot blocking machine and will add depth to the Suns’ bench. Phoenix is a team that lacks an identity, and they did the right thing bringing in a new GM and head coach. Withey isn’t anything special on offense, but his mobility is as best as it comes for a seven-footer. Defensively, he makes opponents think twice about driving into the lane, which changes a team’s game plan entirely. He may not be able to score 10-15 points per night, but as far as the last selection of the first round, Phoenix will add a great player for their bench. – DP
31. Cleveland Cavaliers – DeShaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State
I already made this case, but I really like the idea of Thomas in Cleveland. The Cavs could use more bench scoring, and Thomas can definitely do that. Given time in the D-League to develop, I could easily see Thomas coming off the bench in the future, whether that be this season or next. Thomas is definitely worth a flyer with the first pick of the second round. – TM
32. Oklahoma City Thunder – Erick Green, PG/SG, Virginia Tech
With getting a big in Gorgui Dieng with the No. 12 pick, Oklahoma City is in a position to beef up their bench that took a hit with the departure of James Harden via trade last offseason. The Thunder ranked 22nd (29.8 bench points per game) in the 2012-13 campaign, but ranked slightly better at 17th (31.3 bench points per game) in bench PPG. Seeing Russell Westbrook go down, thus losing a main prong of their offensive attack, was bad for the Thunder bench, which just simply couldn’t replicate Westbrook’s production. Green, the leading scorer in PPG last collegiate season, should be available here and would be a great asset to have come off the bench. Green, unlike most of the players ranking near the top of the scoring list last season, belonged to a major conference and often played offense being swarmed by defenders early on in a possession. This forced Green to make quick decisions in his shot selection, but he still shot 47.5 percent from the field. This would be a smart and safe pick for the Thunder to make if Green would still be available at this position come June 27. – ZK
Mar 21, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; South Dakota State Jackrabbits guard Nate Wolters (3) moves the ball on Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke (3) in the second half during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at The Palace. Michigan won 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
33. Cleveland Cavaliers – Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
With the Cavaliers uncertain of who their backup to Kyrie Irving will be, and with their needs in the middle, frontcourt and at the small forward position already filled with their first three picks, I think Wolters would be a great fit to fill the void behind the oft-injured Irving. Some may steer away from a player like Wolters because of his background with a midmajor like South Dakota State, but Wolters is like the midmajor talent as of late that has made the leap to the NBA after being prolific scorers in their collegiate career (look at this season’s Rookie of the Year and you’ll know what I mean). First, in his four-season career, he proved that he was capable of producing against top-level talent despite his flop against Michigan in the tournament this season. 30/3/3 against Alabama (12-13), 28/7/5 against No. 16 New Mexico (12-13), 19/4/4 against three-seeded Baylor (11-12) and 16/11/4 against No. 16 Minnesota (10-11) is just a small sample of his work against big conference teams. This sample shows that Wolters’ production as a top offensive producer in 2012-13 (averaged 22.3 points), a proficient passer (5.8 APG) and ability to attack the boards (5.3 RPG) makes him a useful tool to pick up with their last draft pick and will fill a need without having to go the free agency route so they can focus in on more top-tier players in that area. – ZK
34. Houston Rockets – Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
This is Houston’s only pick of the night, as their first one belongs to Atlanta. Houston’s in an interesting situation because they have a lot of team options and cap flexibility and may even look to move this pick either on draft night or this summer. Since it isn’t set in stone that Houston is returning anyone besides Thomas Robinson and Terrence Jones to their bench, I’d expect Houston to take the best player available. I think Goodwin fits that. He’s got a lot of potential and should be able to develop into a nice two-way player for the Rockets. He has some red flags, like his odd departure from Kentucky, and his shooting ability is questionable, but he’s a great athlete and can finish in transition really nicely. Goodwin is this draft’s Lance Stephenson; a guy who needs the right situation to develop mentally into a good NBA player. I think Houston can be that for him, behind a great player in James Harden. – TM
35. Philadelphia 76ers — Mike Muscala, C, Bucknell
Muscala isn’t a well-known name because he played in the Patriot League, but he was one of the best centers this year in college basketball. He may be the best scoring center in the draft, and this can be a great pick up for the 76ers. If they are able to resign Bynum, then Muscala will play the role as backup center. He is a threat on offense, especially in the post, and will provide scoring in the paint off the bench. He may spend some time in D-League, but Muscala can be a viable backup center. – DP
36. Sacramento Kings — C.J. Leslie, SF/PF. N.C. State
Leslie is one my sleeper picks in this draft. He’s fairly raw, but he’s very athletic and can play situations. For the Kings, this is an interesting pick. He’s not likely to help them right away (and could conceivably spend his first year in the D-League), but in a season or two he could be a bench guy that gives them flexibility with their lineups if he improves his ball handling and outside shooting. And in round two, this is the kind of selection you need to make. – CM
37. Detroit Pistons — Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
Carmichael fills the biggest positional need on the Pistons roster. There is not a starting caliber player on their roster at this position, and I’m not even confident that any currently signed players are even quality role players. Enter Carmichael, who was an outstanding rebounder in college at Illinois State. A year or two playing behind Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva will help him develop, and he could develop into a nice Taj Gibson-esque piece for the Pistons. – CM
May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Rudy Gobert is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
38. Washington Wizards — Rudy Gobert, C, France
I’m just as surprised as anyone that this guy was still on the board. Obviously I have never seen him play, but you can’t deny his physical attributes. He’s over seven feet tall and has a wing span of 7-8. Yes, 7-8. If I were a GM, I would absolutely spend a mid second-round pick on him just to see how he pans out. He won’t play immediately – he’ll likely stays overseas – but he has potential to be one of the best defensive centers in the league. Like Noel, he doesn’t have much of an offensive game other than put-back dunks. But with the large frame he has, you can stick him in the middle of the lane and force teams to score outside of the paint. — DP
39. Portland Trail Blazers – Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico
Continuing to improve the Portland bench, Snell makes sense here as a potential stud 3-and-D guy. He’s a great perimeter scorer who has immense potential as a defender thanks to his impressive physical stature. Snell could supplant Luke Babbitt and Victor Claver on the Blazers bench and can also play some shooting guard. He somewhat lacks assertiveness, but that can be improved as he grows as a player. Portland’s going to be showing up a lot here as we run through the second round, and I think Snell is a nice start to their coming stockpile of prospects. — TM
40. Portland Trail Blazers — Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State
Just like Trevor said, the Portland Trial Blazers bench is looking pretty nice right now with the way they have drafted in this mock thus far. With a player like J.J. Hickson, who consumes a power forward’s body but started as a center for Portland this past season, likely to leave in free agency, one of the best rebounders in the nation is a great pick here since he happens to still be on the board. Iverson averaged 9.8 rebounds on a team that ranked fifth in the NCAA in RPG. I think this pick would round out the Blazers bench quite nicely, and I think Iverson could develop into a dominant force with some work in the D-League. — ZK
Thanks for following along with the second part of the RDE Mock Draft and make sure to check back on the website on June 21 to read about the last 20 picks! Also, comment below to let us know how we did.