How The Top 10 Picks In The 2014 NBA Draft Fit On Their New Teams

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The picture above says it all, last night was one of the most important drafts in the last decade or so and like Bill Simmons says its still a crap shoot. The fact of the matter is that this draft is likely to be the one that produces stars that will help us transition into a new era of basketball. The days of Kobe Bryant, Tin Duncan and LeBron James won’t last forever and with that said guys like Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart and Noah Vonaleh are set to take their rightful place atop the league a few years down the road from now. It was Adam Silvers first draft as commissioner of the league and it sure didn’t lack surprises or excitement. With that said lets breakdown how the top 10 picks of this very deep draft fit in on their NBA teams.

#1- Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Andrew Wiggins joins Austin Carr, Brad Daughtery, Lebron James, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Bennett as the 6th player in Cavs history who has been picked number one overall. This move will either revive basketball in Cleveland or produce a cautionary tale of how good Wiggins could have been had he went somewhere else. Last season the Cavs ranked 16th in points allowed (101.2 per game) and 22nd in offense (98.2 points per game). Simple 1st grade logic tells us that if you allow more points then you score on a per game basis then you’re probably not a good basketball team.

Wiggins gives Cleveland size on the perimeter and the potential to be a franchise changing player. He also gives Kyrie Irving the first player on the roster that might actually be better than him and on that fact alone you have to think Kyrie is excited but he will be ready to take his level of work ethic up a notch knowing that they have a guy this talented on the roster. New head coach David Blatt comes from European basketball with a decorated basketball background and being that the NBA has incorporated some European principles such as the “Stretch 4” and more pick and rolls than ever his ability to enhance Wiggins, Irving and Anthony Bennett in those area’s will play a key role in the success of the franchise over the next few years.

Wiggins will immediately upgrade Cleveland on defense just based off his physical tools, as far as offense he will still need some work which is where his point guard comes into play. Kyrie Irving will have to learn how to execute better in the half court. Last season Kyrie ranked in the 70th percentile in half-court offense and had 29.2% of his offense come out of isolation’s and clearly you saw that it resulted in yet another losing season for the Cavs. Kyrie has now has a weapon on the wings that he can use in transition and half court situations, how he executes and leads will play a huge role in the development of Andrew Wiggins.

My Evaluation Through Song

Cleveland fans are getting a player who has a chance to be a top-5 player in the league down the road and the prospects of that are enough for Cavaliers fans to get excited over the super athletic Canadian kid.

#2- Jabari Parker (Milwaukee Bucks)

If someone told me to make an ESPN 30 for 30 film on the Milwaukee Bucks over the last 5 years it would be titled “Gumby & The No-Names”. Over the last 5 years in Milwaukee they have either been really bad or a fringe playoff team led by the likes of Brandon Jennings who had a gumby haircut during his rookie season. With that said the Bucks are a good franchise who have has their fair share of stars such as Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabarr , Sidney Moncrief and Glenn Robinson. In a market like Milwaukee its very unlikely that you will land a superstar via free agency which makes their pick of Jabari Parker paramount on all levels.

Jabari Parker will bring star power to a Milwaukee franchise that defiantly needs it at this point in time. Fan interest has waiverd as the team has struggled and they have been rumored for relocation on several occasions. Jabari comes to the organization at a time where there is some good young talent like Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Brandon Knight and Khris Middleton. Jabari gives me the impression that he has some alpha-dog in him so I think in time he needs to step up and be the leader for this team.

From a playing standpoint I think Jabari will be an impact player from day 1, he’s already coming in a solid two-way player and an incredibly gifted offensive player. His offensive versatility reminds me of Carmelo Anthony and his craftiness reminds me of Paul Pierce, the Bucks got someone who I firmly believe has the best chance out of everyone to be an all-star during his rookie season. He only averaged 1.2 assists in his only season at Duke but that doesn’t indicate how good of a play maker he will be at the next level, that’s probably the one attribute I feel will surprise people at the next level. Parker claims that he was a Bucks fan saying that he used to watch the 2001 team that made the conference finals. “I was up the street watching them when the Bulls were struggling” said Parker.

SIDE NOTE: Our very own Brian Rzeppa got a chance to interview Jabari Parker back in November (Click here for the TSS exclusive with Jabari Parker)

My Evaluation Through Song

While Jabari is a Chicago native and its not a full-out homecoming its still incredibly close to home as the Midwest is very connected so I found this Kanye West song to be very appropriate for him. He has the chance to make the Bucks a team that gets on national TV multiple times a year.

#3-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

Joel Embiid has received countless comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon and when you look at his footwork you can see exactly why. He’s very mobile for his size, comes in a solid rim protector and can finish in traffic. Now I will go on record now and say that of all the prospects in this draft there isn’t a guy with a high ceiling than Joel Embiid. With that said Philly fans may have to wait a year to see him as he is expected to miss 5-8 months according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

It may take a while before we see Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid play with each other on the same floor but when it happens I think you will see some of the best rim protection in the league. It’s like the Sixers are trying to replicate the “Twin Towers” front court of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson of the early to mid 1980’s. Now in no way will I ever insinuate that they will even be half as good as those guys but in terms of the physical attributes they both bring it reminds me a lot of those guys. Both can play center on any team in the league.

Embiid will fit in well with the Sixers granted that he will be healthy in about a year from now. His mobility and ability to run the floor will serve well in Brett Brown’s uptempo system as the Sixers led the NBA in pace last season with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes. Both Philly big man can run the floor and with Michael Carter-Williams at point guard I don’t think any team in the league has more length then Philly will a few years from now.

Average Point Guard Wingspan: 6’4

Carter-Williams-6’7 Wingspan

Average Power Forward Wingspan: 7’0

Noel- 7’4 Wingspan

Average Center Wingspan:7’2

Embiid-7’5 Wingspan

So as you can see Philadelphia is a few inches above the league average at 3 positions which gives them a lot of defensive potential moving forward. It will be interesting to see how the offensive-minded Brett Brown uses all of that size on the defensive end.

My Evaluation Through Song

This evaluation comes from the 1994 classic “Philadelphia” by Neil Young which was nominated and should have won an academy award over Bruce Springsteen in 1994, but that’s a discussion to have on twitter. This song applies to Joel Embiid because of the title and lyrics like “City of brotherly love, place I call home, don’t turn your back on me”. Embiid has a new home now and while some fans embrace him they can turn on him just as quick if he doesn’t produce.

#4- Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic)

This was one of the biggest surprises of the entire draft, nobody could have predicted the Magic picking Aaron Gordon 4th overall. It pretty much changed the complexion of the whole draft as the board had been changed dramatically. The Magic power forward position last year was a revolving door as Glen Davis, Andrew Nicholson, Kyle O’Quinn and Jason Maxiell started at least 5 games or more at that spot for Orlando. This pick in comparison to whoever the Magic played at power forward position last season is an upgrade especially in the athleticism department.

Many people have likened Gordon to Blake Griffin, both play power forward, both can jump out the gym, both are fun to watch on the fast break and both aren’t polished jump shooters. I get the comparisons and no matter how you look at it Gordon vastly improves the front court depth of the Magic and will be a great addition with Nikola Vucevic. 30% of Gordon’s offense last year came from cuts and put backs along with 19% of his possessions coming in transition. So from the eye test we know Gordon improves the Magic’s transition offense and his numbers tell us that he upgraded the team from an athletic standpoint. Orlando was 21st in fast break points last year at 11.3 points per game, so expect that to go up this year.

Gordon recorded a 39-inch vertical at the NBA combine this year which is 3rd among all center and power forwards all-time. At 18-years old of all the players in the top 10 outside of Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins he has the most upside. He shot 42.2% from the free throw line so in order to avoid the hack-a-Gordon treatment at the next level he needs to become a decent free throw shooter around the 65-70% neighborhood.

My Evaluation Through Song

Back in 2004 Jadakiss questioned the status quo of nearly every social issue relevant at that time. If Aaron Gordon never matures on the offensive end then Orlando fans will ask “Why” just like Jadakiss did back in 2004.

#5- Dante Exum (Utah Jazz)

If you wanted a candidate for most improved backcourt in the NBA next season then your best bet would be in Utah next season. Dante Exum takes his Australian accent to the least Australian place on earth in Utah as he will pair up with 2nd year point guard Trey Burke. Last year the Jazz used Richard Jefferson as their starting shooting guard and while he overachieved statistically they needed a serious upgrade at that spot and they got it in a huge way in Exum.

4-5 years ago I don’t think Exum would have been drafted this high, general managers wouldn’t have figured out what he is as far as position goes and with questions surrounding the competition he played his stock wouldn’t have been as a high back then. With the NBA downsizing over the last few years guys like Exum have become valuable with the ability to play multiple positions and handle the basketball. The Jazz weren’t much for scoring last year as they ranked 29th in points (95 points per game) and 24th in field goal percentage (44.2%). Exum improves the Jazz right away on offense, his size and length will allow him to create some match up problems and get the Jazz to put more points on the board as a whole.

Overall the nucleus of your team is 22 years old or younger. Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, Trey Burke and Derrick Favors are all either barely old enough to legally drink or are a few years from purchasing their first legal Bud Light, Samuel Adams, Amstel Light, Red Stripe or whatever their beer of choice is. For the first time in quite some time the focal points of the Jazz roster is primarily young and can grow together and for the fans in Utah that’s a great thing.

My Evaluation Through Song

If Dante Exum and Trey Burke coexist well and scratch their potential overall then I think this new nucleus of players they are building around will have the fans singing like Anita Baker and it will be a “Sweet Love”…Believe that!

#6-Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)

The Boston Celtics franchise is built on winning, just going into the TD Garden and looking up will validate that for you. They are the league’s winning est franchise with 17 championships. With winning comes an intense amount of passion and toughness so the Celtics went out and got one of toughest players in this draft by taking Marcus Smart 6th overall in the draft. This is one Smart individual (pun intended) and while he could have been a lottery pick last year he decided to stay in school another year and polish his game more and it made him even more ready then he previously was.

The question one must ask when evaluating this pick is can a backcourt of Marcus Smart and Rajon Rondo work out? Well our very own Harvin Bhathal wrote about this back on June 9th before the draft (Read that article by clicking here). I believe that a backcourt between those 2 pitbullish players will be a problem on the defensive end of the floor for many opposing guards across the league. Rondo has already proven he is one of the best defensive guards in basketball, adding Smart’s motor that would just maximize the defensive outlook for the Celtics who were actually above the league average in points allowed as they ranked 13th in the league allowing only 100.7 points per game.

If I had to pick someone in this draft class outside of Jabari Parker to be an all-star as a rookie from the class then this would be my guy right here. I really believe him and Rondo would be a good fit together and could help the Celtics possibly reach the playoffs. While the playoffs in 2015 may seem like a stretch you can’t count them out because the bottom is the East is weak. Plus Marcus Smart isn’t afraid to guard LeBron James and really seems like he lowkey thinks he can and will shut him down.

My Evaluation Through Song

Anyone who goes to or lives in Boston will constantly hear this song and since Marcus Smart is heading to Boston this song seemed appropriate.

#7- Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers)

Julius Randle will be wearing purple and gold for the Lakers in the not to distant future and he is happy about it. Randle is a native of Dallas, Texas and has openly admitted that he grew up a huge fan of Kobe Bryant. While attending a game in middle school he sat court side for a Lakers game in Dallas and annoyed Kobe Bryant until #8 would give him a slap on the hand. “I said I wasn’t washing my hand for a year” stated Randle after his childhood idol finally gave in to his annoying middle schoolish ways.

So what does Randle bring to the Lakers? He brings physicality on the interior which makes him the Lakers most imposing frontcourt player since Andrew Bynum in 2012 when he was an all-star. When you think of Randle I want you to envision something similar to the grittiness of a Zach Randolph in Memphis. 20.9% of his offense comes from post ups and that’s where he will help the Lakers moving forward. If i’m a Laker fan I would expect to see a lot of this kid on the block next season.

So how will he fit in with the Lakers? Well he’s already stated he would rather play against LeBron James rather than with LeBron James, so a desire to be the best is there for the kid and that attribute is something Kobe will like. He only shot 39.3% off his post ups this past season which needs to improve but the talent is there and I think the Lakers got someone to improve interior of the roster.

My Evaluation Through Song

This song’ chorus depicts what Julius Randle will go through when he arrives in Los Angeles “To Live and Die in L.A., it’s the place to be. You’ve got to be there to know it, everybody wanna see“. He knows that LA will be the destination of his rookie season but how he fits with Kobe and the Lakers will shape is outlook on the franchise as the years go by.

#8- Nik Stauskas (Sacramento Kings)

This was among one of the safest picks in the draft in terms of guys who are ready to contribute right away at the NBA level. Nik Stauskas is going to be a good pro in this league as long as the Kings don’t mess with his development. The guy is a dynamite perimeter shooter, high IQ player and will make the Kings a much more heady basketball team next season.

Anyone with a moderate interest in college basketball and a television set most likely knows who Stauskas is to some degree. He was a lights out 3-point shooter last season at 44.2% from beyond the arc. More specifically the Canadian sensation shot 49% off catch and shoot as well as 38% off the dribble in his sophomore season at Michigan. In this day and age you certainly need as much 3-point shooting as possible and Stauskas will for sure improve the Kings in that area who ranked 27th in the NBA shooting 33.3% from the 3-point line and points per game at 17th with 100.5 points per game.

It’s important that the Kings allow themselves to maximize DeMarcus Cousins by stretching the floor and that’s what Stauskas should allow them to do more of. If the Kings can space the floor then Cousins can slowly bully his way into all-star recognition, the best center in the league and to more wins. This pick is crucial because if Stauskas can’t knock down a perimeter jumper at the next level then the Kings are back to square one. I believe that his ability to shoot the basketball will translate well and the floor spacing for the Kings will improve next year.

My Evaluation Through Song

Not a whole lot in this 2009 Craig Morgan country song applies directly to Nik Stauskas, I just think this song is sick! “Lined up behind me like a big parade Of late to work road raged jerks Shoutin’ obscene words flippin’ me the bird” is the line that applies to the former Michigan Wolverine. If he doesn’t turn out well and becomes a bust fans in Sacramento will be shouting obscene words at him from time to time and a few are likely to experience road rage from the continuing saga that is the Kings mediocrity.

#9- Noah Vonleh (Charlotte Hornets)

AT LAST!! We finally get to my team in this article, that’s right for those of you who don’t know I’m a huge Charlotte Hornets fan and I can’t be any happier with our pick at #9. The average wingspan for a power forward in the NBA is 7’0, the average wingspan for a center in the NBA is 7’2. Noah Vonleh comes in above the league average in wingspan at both the power forward and center position by a few inches, his wingspan is 7’4 and the scary part is that he is only 18-years old. Physically he can still grow over the next few years.

When it comes to the Hornets its important they maximize the best player on the roster in Al Jefferson, how do you do that? Well you need to get more talent around him, Big Al had the 6th highest usage percentage in the league at 29.3 %. The less reliant they become on Al the better the team overall becomes. This is where Noah comes in, he has the ability to stretch the floor as he shot 48.5% from the 3-point line and a true shooting percentage of 60.4%. Keep in mind he has some offensive upside but the numbers indicate that he can space the floor and immediately adds to the frontcourt depth of the Hornets.

Also with a power forward that can stretch the floor it will only enhance Kemba Walker’s ability to facilitate the offense as the Vonleh is an offensive upgrade over Josh McRoberts. The Hornets were already a 5th ranked defense with minimal rim protection, Noah Vonleh brings more size and a rim protector to a team that made the playoffs this past season. When do we start hooping? I want to see this guy do work in teal and purple!

My Evaluation Through Song

This was a great value pick to get the him at #9, he was a projected top 6 pick. The pick reminds me of a line from the classic Young Jeezy song “and then what”. “Some say I lucked up I call it perfect timing, I can’t lose the whole cities behind me” is the lyric that reminds me of the Noah Vonleh pick and the situation I feel he’s stepping into. He’s got Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson, Steve Clifford and Patrick Ewing behind him now that’s a good situation.

#10- Elfird Payton (Orlando Magic)

Out of all of the guys in the top 10 Elfird Payton is the least unknown nationally, unless you have an in-depth knowledge of college basketball then odds are you don’t know who he is. He was drafted by the Sixers at #10 and then later traded to the Orlando Magic for Croatian big man Dario Saric. When you look at how Payton will fit into the Orlando Magic you have to believe he will assume the bulk of the ball handling duties and will pair up with Victor Oladipo. He has solid play making ability which bodes well for a team not built with offensive juggernauts.

I like that the Magic now have someone that they can use to get Jameer Nelson out the door, its not 2009 and he’s no longer capable of being a starter so from that standpoint getting Payton was awesome for Orlando. I don’t know a whole lot about the guy and I don’t want to pretend like I do but being that he is still very unknown to me and the masses that makes him a very intriguing prospect.

My Evaluation Through Song

I think the question of “who are you” certainly applies to Elfrid Payton on a national scale, hence the reason why that’s the song that I chose for him.

So there you have it guys, my breakdown on how each top 10 draft pick fits in on their teams. Hope you enjoyed it and if you want to get in contact tweet me @ThatBoyBtaylor