Feb 4, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before the game against the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Last week, we did an NBA mock draft where we simulated one of the possible scenarios that could happen come June when the NBA Draft happens. In that scenario, the Orlando Magic landed the top pick. If you missed that mock draft, or want to look at it again, you can find it here.
In today’s NBA Draft scenario, the Boston Celtics were the lucky ones to grab the number one pick. Last week, I showed all the lottery teams picks. Today, I’m just going to show picks one through seven since that is where the Utah Jazz could possibly land in the draft. In this scenario, most Jazz fans will be disappointed in who jumped us.
1. Boston Celtics – Andrew Wiggins If the Celtics land the top pick, I think it is really a toss up between Wiggins and Joel Embiid. Both players could really help the Celtics next season and Boston needs all the help they can get during their rebuilding stage. However, Wiggins could potentially be a stud in the NBA and it is hard to pass on his potential. Pairing Wiggins up with Rajon Rondo could be a pretty fun thing to watch.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Jabari Parker As I think most other Jazz fans would agree, I hate this. Parker is the player that 90% of Jazz fans want to see in a Jazz uniform next season. However, in my opinion, if he goes to the Sixers or Utah, both teams are a great fit for him. If he does end up falling to the Sixers, matching him up with Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, a healthy Nerlens Noel, and Thaddeous Young, and the Sixers could be starting a pretty solid core for the future.
3. Los Angeles Lakers – Dante Exum This could be the one that Jazz fans hate the most. If the Lakers were to jump us in the lottery, not only would Jazz fans be upset, but people would start to speculate that the lottery benefits the big market teams and Adam Silver could turn into David Stern quickly. Exum, of Australia, has been pretty obvious about his love for Los Angeles and has been to a few Lakers games. Exum could be a good thing for the Lakers to get. With Steve Nash looking like his career is all but wrapped up, and Kobe Bryant coming back from injury, the Lakers could use a guy like Exum to help run the floor. Exum can play both the point guard and shooting guard position, and if the Lakers can start Nash, Exum, Bryant, and re-sign Pau Gasol for next season, it won’t take them long to get back into the mix in the western conference.
4. Milwaukee Bucks – Joel Embiid The big man from Kansas had been rumored to be the obvious number one choice in the draft before he messed up his back and ended up missing the final few games of the season. Now it seems like some teams might be a little bit nervous about him. However, Embiid is still looking like he can be a potential superstar and he will have a chance to improve his odds when the draftees head to the NBA Draft Combine later this month. The Bucks could have a solid mix in the front court if they pair Embiid with Larry Sanders. Sanders was a solid defender before this last season and if he and Embiid can co-exist, the Bucks could cause a lot of headaches for opponents.
5. Orlando Magic – Marcus Smart If the Magic miss out on a top two pick and aren’t able to land Wiggins or Parker, then they will most likely go point guard. They have been rumored to really covet Exum and Marcus Smart and I don’t think the Magic will draft either of them if they were in the top two of the draft. With Exum already gone to the Lakers, the Magic shift their focus to Smart who is a good defensive point guard. He needs to work on his three point shooting, but Smart can get to the lane and score buckets. His pairing with Victor Oladipo won’t be nearly as exciting as the Sixers pairing of MCW and Parker, but Smart could potentially be a great addition if he improves his shooting.
Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Julius Randle (30) celebrates after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
6. Utah Jazz – Julius Randle If the Jazz end up falling down to sixth in this draft and have to draft Randle, I don’t consider this a disappointment by any means. We have talked about how great this freshman class is, but Randle was the only freshman to make any kind of noise in the NCAA tournament. Randle helped the Kentucky Wildcats reach the National Championship game before falling to the UConn Huskies. Randle can get to the basket and finish around the rim. Not only that, the guy is a rebounding machine. To start Randle at the power forward position and Derrick Favors at the center position, then bring Enes Kanter in off the bench could be a really special thing for the Jazz. Not a lot of Jazz fans are on board with this idea, but if the draft plays out this way, I don’t think fans would be disappointed once they seen what could happen next season.
7. Sacramento Kings – Tyler Ennis It’s hard to say really what the Kings will do. They had a pretty decent starting unit last season. They have guys like Ben McLemore who they drafted last season who could be really good in the future. They also have DeMarcus Cousins who if he could keep his head on straight could be incredible. Unless they trade Rudy Gay, who seems to be on the move a lot lately, the Kings could have a good thing going in Sacramento. Tyler Ennis was one of of the best, if not the best, freshman point guard in the country last season. Ennis did a lot of nice things, but later in the season, as Syracuse fell apart, Ennis became kind of inconsistent. The Kings have had a nice thing going with Isiah Thomas, but could use some help off the bench and Ennis could be that help.
There are tons of scenarios to play out, and as I said in the first mock draft we did last week, we will continue to do these up until the draft. What do you guys think? Do you like the pick of Julius Randle to pair up with Favors? Leave a comment below and let us know what you’re thinking.