Draft Day

NBA Draft Recap

The NBA ushered in a new era of basketball as over 60 players have became a part of this private league. The talent was certainly there as teams could find practically anything they needed to take that next step as a franchise. We saw a record seven players drafted by one team in the Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand, there were three teams without a selection, most notably, the Golden State Warriors. Today, I will recap the draft and give my analysis on a few rookies. 

Biggest surprise

Nik Stauskas going to Sacramento at number eight was the biggest surprise because they needed a big man. Noah Vonleh would have made more sense because of his ability to rebound and be a stretch big man next to Demarcus Cousins. Make no mistake, Stauskas is a good player and worthy of a lottery selection, but where are his minutes going to come from? The Kings already have players that are "shot happy" in Rudy Gay, Isaiah Thomas, and Ben McLemore. The Kings organization might be working on a possible trade to free up some minutes for Stauskas so we will just have to wait and see. The fact that they drafted him should indicate how they really feel about McLemore. After all, the 2013 draft was subpar. Anyway, Stauskas gives the Kings another shooter with slashing ability, instant offense, and a lot of swagger. His energy can serve as a way for them to gain momentum in games.

Biggest Jump

Elfrid Payton really gained some traction after he finished his junior season at Louisiana-Lafayette. He is a raw athlete at point guard with good height at 6'3. He struggles with a broken jump shot, but Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook are proof that you can develop a premier athlete's jumper. Now Payton is a good athlete, but he is not on Rose or Westbrook's level. Then again, who is? He was originally drafted at number 10 by Philadelphia, but we now know that he will be playing in Orlando. The reason why he had such a quantum leap was because of his overall upside. I thought he would go late in the lottery or at least somewhere in the first round, but he ultimately made his way to selection 10. Patience will be key with him on offense; however, on defense he is a bulldog and will fit in well next to Victor Oladipo.

Biggest Fall

One of my favorite players in this draft besides the aforementioned Payton is Cleanthony Early. He really flew under the radar in such a weak Missouri Valley Conference, but he was Wichita State's most consistent player. Against Kentucky, Early put on a special performance in a game that might go down as an ESPN Instant Classic. I thought the work he did all season along with his tournament run would have did enough to push him into the first round, but now I stand corrected. I think he fell into a good spot with the New York Knicks only IF Carmelo Anthony does not return to the blue and orange. Early will have to prove that he can play with the same skills he showed against Kentucky on a nightly basis. I think he will because of his array of moves as a slasher and decent shooting ability. His 6'8 frame will help him on the defensive end and he is an underrated athlete.

Most Ready Players

Jabari Parker played at a mature level for a freshman at Duke. He showed an array of moves as he can post defensive players, slashes to the basket, and showed an adequate jump shot. He is ready to step in and be the franchise player the Milwaukee Bucks so desperately need. The problem with Parker may lie with his lateral quickness to defend small forwards as well as his tendency to get complacent with his jumper. Do not be surprised when you see his ball handling ability on display. Doug McDermott is in the best position as a rookie lottery selection as he will not be asked to be the first, second, or third option on the Bulls. He will be asked to come off screens and do what he does best, which is shoot the ball. He can handle the ball and his length will help him on defense. If Mike Dunleavy and Kyle Korver can survive without athleticism, so too can McDermott. Noah Vonleh is also in a good position to succeed right away as a rookie. He can shoot the ball well as a stretch power forward, but can also do the dirty work inside. Playing alongside Al Jefferson will help him become a formidable professional and step in immediately as a starter for the Charlotte Hornets.

Steals

Kyle Anderson will be one of those typical young Spurs players that will disappear for a year or two then burst onto the scene and make you wonder who he is. Gregg Popovich is not too fond of playing rookies right away with the exception of the soft-spoken Kawhi Leonard. Anderson will eventually see the floor when Pop deems it okay. He can eventually be the predecessor to Boris Diaw and help steer the Spurs toward a new era. Anderson has a good feel for the game and does not allow defenders to play at a pace that could make it uncomfortable for him. TJ Warren may end up playing right away for the Suns or elsewhere depending on what Phoenix does this summer. He plays like an old school player as he is not very athletic and chooses to shoot 17 footers instead of three pointers. If he develops a three point shot, Warren can become a dynamic scorer in an already potent Suns offense. Remember, he was the ACC Player of the Year not the number two pick in Parker.

Most interesting Undrafted Rookies

Not everyone can be drafted, but that does not mean undrafted rookies cannot have an impact on a team's success. Travis Bader is an intriguing undrafted rookie because he broke JJ Reddick's record for three point field goals made in a career. Yes, he played against inferior talent at Oakland, but shooting is something that cannot be underestimated. If he learns to play some defense, he may work his way into the league as a designated shooter off the bench. DeAndre Kane had the talent and the productivity to be drafted in the second round, but his biggest downfalls were not having a consistent jumper and being an older player. Kane can be a big addition to a team that signs him because of his maturity and composure at point guard. Also, he has an uncanny ability to rebound well at his position and did I mention he is 6'4? Artem Kilmenko is a 7'1 center from Russia who lacks the athleticism to play in the NBA and is unproven against solid competition. He has great hands, good pick and roll footwork, and can run like a deer, but his lack of verticality is what holds him back. He is certainly worth a roster spot as a project as the payoff can be tremendous.

Biggest takeaway

The biggest takeaway I got from this draft was the overall depth. There were players like Cleanthony Early, Joe Harris, and KJ McDaniels with first round talent, but that is a result of many underclassmen forgoing their final years in college. A lot of these players were taken later or went undrafted, but I think they will have a chance to make a roster and have an impact. In due time, this will go down as one of the historic draft classes with potential stars at the front and back end of this class. The future certainly looks bright for the players, franchises, and the NBA.