by James Finneral
The picks from 11-20 feature some of the absolute best players around the country and even the world. All of these guys have the potential to be big time professional players.
11. Denver Nuggets (via New York): Rodney Hood, SF, Duke: After having his season cut short, Rodney Hood should be a lottery in this year's draft. Although Jabari Parker was the guy at Duke, Hood still shined throughout the year averaging 16 points and 4 rebounds per game. Hood is a very skilled scorer who will be able to shoot efficiently from NBA three point range. He is another guy similar to Parker who can come into the NBA and be productive in his first year as he has the skill set and his body is very close to NBA ready. He is also a guy who has consistently improved especially since his transfer from Mississippi State to Duke. The Nuggets are a decent team, but it is clear that they are lead by the point guard/ power forward duo of Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. Their small forward Wilson Chandler is a solid player, but the Nuggets would definitely consider trading him to grab another pick. If Hood becomes stronger over the offseason he could become a solid bench option who can score or maybe even become a starter for a team contending for a playoff spot.
12. Orlando Magic (via Denver): Kyle Anderson, G-F, UCLA:
When teams play UCLA they are confused as to why the Bruins have a 6'9"kid bringing the ball up. Well after this year many people know that UCLA has Kyle Anderson who is one of the most versatile players in the draft. He is a big guy who can handle the ball and shoot it decently. In the NBA Anderson will most likely move to the small forward and have a decent chance to shine as he can get to the basket with shifty moves. If the Magic are able to get these two picks and snag Embiid first and Anderson second they will be a force to be reckoned with. They would have talent and athleticism at every starting position and would be a contender to reach a solid playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference. As for Anderson it is tough to say whether or not he will start for the Magic or if they will keep Nelson in the lineup and have Oladipo play the small forward. Watch out for the Magic.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton:
This year's player of the year has earned himself a spot on the top twenty picks list. After staying for his senior season McDermott averaged 27 points and 7 rebounds and earning himself a spot on the top five all time scorers in NCAA history. He has a similar style to the great Larry Bird as he can get to the basket, but also has a lethal outside jump shot. It is hard to see him dominating in the NBA, but he could become a very solid bench player who could move into the starting lineup. It would be awesome if he proved everyone wrong and in Minnesota he has a good chance to prove himself once Kevin Love decides to leave. Considering that Corey Brewer has never stayed on a team for more than three seasons, McDermott could have an opportunity to start in his early years. He was the best college basketball player in the country this year and it should be interesting to see what he does in the NBA.
14. Phoenix Suns: Dario Saric, PF, Croatia:
Dario Saric is another one of the lesser known players in this year's draft as he plays in Croatia. When he declared to enter the draft many NBA scouts became extremely interested. At 6'10" he can not only post up, but can also handle the ball and shoot the mid range to three point jumper. He has a skill set that can make him a very useful player in the NBA especially for a team like the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are coming off of a very solid year just coming up short of the playoffs. They have a great guard tandem of the most improved player, Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. The Suns do lack depth in the forward positions with only Miles Plumlee at center, but no other consistent forward. Saric will fit the role of power forward perfectly for Phoenix. It is hard to say how effective he will be as he did not play against the same competition as the other players in this draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks: T.J. Warren, SF, NC State:
This pick could be an issue for the Hawks as the best player available in the draft is shooting guard, Nik Stauskas from Michigan. Unfortunately with Kyle Korver at the two guard the Hawks are in search of the best small forward available and that would be T.J. Warren. Warren had an excellent year at NC State averaging 25 points and 7 rebounds earning his the ACC Player of the Year. He is great at taking it strong to the bucket, but an aspect that could hurt him in the NBA is his outside shooting. Warren's three point percentage is not the greatest thing in the world at 27% last season. Although he struggles there, the potential and upset is great. His body can develop a lot further and if he improves that jump shot he will be deadly from many aspects on the floor. The Atlanta Hawks have shown tenacity and resilience against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. They have a great guard forward duo in Jeff Teague and Paul Milsap. Kyle Korver is a nice option at shooting guard, but they have no definitive small forward. Warren is one of the few players outside the top ten that may be able to start in his rookie season. Although the skill set for the NBA is not there right now, the potential is what will have him drafted inside the top twenty.
16. Chicago Bulls (via Charlotte): Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan:
Any team that can draft Nik Stauskas at sixteen is very lucky. He provides a spark of life from the outside and mid range. Making the transition from college to NBA range will be a walk in the park for Stauskas as he already shoots a good amount of his threes from a couple steps behind the arc. This past year at Michigan he averaged 17 points and shot 44% from three point land. The Bulls have a nice young shooting guard, Jimmy Butler. The Bulls cannot let Stauskas drop a pick further so they should keep Butler and have Stauskas work under him for a few years and eventually maybe play Butler as a small forward and bring Stauskas into the starting lineup. Nik Stauskas is the guy outside the top ten that has the best chance to be productive in the NBA. The Bulls cannot allow Stauskas to fall down to the Celtics or the Suns.
17. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn): Zach LaVine, PG/SG, UCLA:
This pick puts Boston in a difficult place. In a perfect world they would draft Randle or Vonleh then grab Stauskas. With their second pick they need to look for a shooting guard and Zach LaVine is the best available. Although he is great and has incredible potential, it is a significant drop-off between him and Stauskas. LaVine does not pop out on the stat sheet, but when you see him play you will understand why he is held in such high regards. He is an incredible ball handler and has amazing athleticism as he can rise above the defense for emphatic finishes. Much like T.J. Warren, LaVine can develop his body greatly, but for the first few years he will not be able to get much inside the paint. Jordan Crawford is the current shooting guard for the Celtics. He is not very consistent, but if he stays in Boston he will play over LaVine at that spot for at least a few years. This pick by the Celtics is an investment for the future, not for immediate results.
18. Phoenix Suns: Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse:
Jerami Grant is another freak athlete in the draft that has unlimited potential. Playing down low quite a bit at Syracuse this year, Grant will have to make the transition to play out on the wing more. He has great leaping ability and will be an asset to any team in the rebounding department. An area he must improve on to make it big in the NBA is his shooting. Over the season his mid range game improved, but he hardly put up any attempts from three point range. To be a nice small forward in the league you must be able to shoot the ball from the outside. This jump shot will not come easily to Grant as he is used to scoring the majority of his buckets in the paint. Unlike Saric, Phoenix will have to wait a little while for Grant to develop into a pure small forward. They can try and play him at the power forward because of his athleticism, but he will be pretty small compared to most guys. He is such a high pick because of the amazing potential. It will be interesting to follow his career and see what happens.
19. Chicago Bulls: Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse:
Tyler Ennis came into college being overshadowed by the very hyped freshman class. Over the course of the season he proved himself to be one of the premier players and maybe the most clutch player in the entire country. He may not be the most blazing quick player or the strongest player, but his basketball IQ is off the charts. He was the main facilitator for the Orange and really lead the charge in their big streak to start the season. Because of his great play this year his draft stick has risen. In his rookie season he will most likely not rise to the great performance of former Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams. Down the road Ennis could very well be a solid player that starts each night for a team. Although their styles are different it is easy to see Ennis giving the same production as Isaiah Thomas after a few years in the league. With the constant injury struggles to Derrick Rose it would not be unlikely that he changes teams or even retires. D.J. Augustine really stepped up for Chicago this year and could be a nice mentor for Ennis. Ennis is a pure point guard that has the ability to make it big in the NBA.
20. Toronto Raptors: Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State:
Even though Cleanthony Early was not able to lead the Wichita State Shockers to and undefeated championship, he will still be a solid option for many teams in the NBA Draft. He is an athletic forward with an NBA ready body. He looks like a typical small forward in the NBA and can give teams life with his jump shot. Even against tougher competition Early should still be able to make solid drives to the hoop and finish strong at the rim. Terrence Ross is a great athletic player for the Raptors, but he has not been producing on the offensive end. Early should provide a better scoring presence for Toronto. They are a young and athletic team that looked very good this season. The Raptors could be one of the premier teams in the league if they draft Early and he produces for them.
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