NBA Draft Winners: Los Angeles Lakers

by James Finneral 

One of the NBA's most renowned franchises had a difficult campaign in the 2013-2014 season. With future hall of famer Kobe Bryant out for nearly the entire year the Lakers struggled on both ends of the floor. With Kobe's years numbered this Lakers team is pretty much in rebuilding mode. On draft night, the Lakers brought in two players that fit perfectly into the roster they have now.

No. 7: Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky:

Julius Randle was an absolute steal for the Lakers at pick number 7. Many claim he is too short to play power forward in the NBA, but those people do not realize just how much of a force Randle is. Randle is so powerful in the post that he can still easily compete with larger defenders. He is also a great competitor who plays 100% all game long. Randle is relentless on the glass and will really contribute to a team that struggled in the rebounding department last year. Lastly Randle is a lot quicker than most big men and also has a nice handle on the basketball. He can step outside the paint and beat his competition with drives to the basket.

This pick suits the Lakers pretty well because the Lakers never really had a true power forward last year and had to try out many different starting lineups. Adding Randle to the club gives L.A. a nice front-court with Pau Gasol likely staying. Having two guys who go for every rebound will really help out the Lakers not just on the defensive end, but it will also give them second chances on offense. Randle can be a big time NBA player and could be the face of the Lakers when Kobe moves on.

No. 46: Jordan Clarkson, PG, Missouri:   

The Lakers also made nice use of their second pick by drafting Missouri point guard, Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson is a pretty complete guard already. He is a double threat who can pass and score the basketball. He is blazing quick and can easily go by defenders giving himself opportunities to score or pass to a teammate. He has a collection of smooth moves that many players his age do not posses. With a few years of training in the weight room Clarkson can be a very competitive point guard who can pay dividends for the Lakers down the road.

This is a quality pick for the Lakers no matter what they decide for their starting lineup next year. Whether they start Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar, Steve Blake or even Clarkson, he will gain a great amount of knowledge and experience. Starting could help Clarkson get a feel for the league right away, but learning from one of the best point guards to ever play the game in Nash, would not hurt either. Clarkson is nice fit for the Lakers and it is great that they were able to draft him as late as they did.

One of the most storied franchises of all time could either make a quick run for a title, but if not they still have a bright future for sure.

NBA Draft Winners: Charlotte Hornets

by James Finneral

The reincarnated Charlotte Hornets appear to be off to a quick and productive summer in 2014. After acquiring center Al Jefferson last year and making it to the playoffs the Bobcats (Hornets) showed some true potential. This year at the draft they added to their chances of progressing by drafting three strong players who will have an opportunity to play and contribute to this franchise.

No. 9: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana: 

Noah Vonleh quietly had an excellent season at Indiana. He is an excellent power forward with an inside out game that many players his size lack. At 6'9" 240 pounds, Vonleh can get physical with just about anyone down low. What sets him even further apart from other prospects is his outside shooting range. Vonleh can shoot from both mid range and let it fly from beyond the arc.

 He really stood out at the NBA combine where he displayed his strength and also his leaping ability posting a 37 inch max vertical leap. Vonleh is just what the Hornets where looking for, a great player to compliment Jefferson. When these two pair up in the post it will cause absolute mayhem for front courts all across the league. It should be entertaining to see these two snatch every rebound out of the air.

No. 26: P.J. Hairston, SG, Texas Legends:  

After leaving UNC P.J. Hairston joined the NBA Development League. Hairston was a highly profiled prospect coming into the season. Averaging  20 points per game for the Texas Legends helped put his draft value after leaving UNC. Hairston is a tough player and is a lot stronger than most players at his position. Along with brute strength, Hairston has a nice jump shot and should be able to make an easy transition the the NBA arc.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been alright, but he has not quite lived up to expectations. The Hornets hope Hairston can be as productive if not more productive than Gilchrist. They do not necessarily need a stud small forward because of the talent they already have, but they could use a consistent scorer and Hairston could be their guy.

No. 55: Semaj Christon, PG, Xavier: 

Semaj Christon should not be going to the Charlotte Hornets. Not because he is not a good fit, but because he should not have fallen to pick number 55. Christon is a great talent who has the potential to develop into a solid NBA point guard. He is a quality scoring guard already who shoots high percentages from inside and outside the three point arc. He has shown glimpses of being an efficient passer, but this past season it appeared to be score first, pass second for Christon.

Playing with and learning from Hornet's point guard Kemba Walker, Christon could improve greatly in his first couple years. Christon will probably not have the opportunity to start in his first few years with Walker and Gary Neal in the backcourt, but later on there could be a Walker and Christon pairing. Drafting Christon was just the icing on the cake for an already solid draft by the Hornets.

Unlike most teams, you can expect immediate results from the rookies of the Charlotte Hornets and the fans in Charlotte really have something to look forward to.

Top Free Agents in 2014 and Where They Might Land (11-20)

by James Finneral

11. Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies:

Big Zach Randolph is one of the more emotional players in the NBA, but he is also a great power forward. In his past seasons he has been a double- double machine as well as a leader for the Memphis Grizzlies. Randolph and Marc Gasol have caused havoc in the post against many teams. Memphis is going to want to keep that duo together along with their point guard Mike Conley. Despite Randolph swinging on players in playoff games, he is still greatly valued and respected by the Grizzlies organization. Memphis has made it clear that Randolph is a higher priority in the free agency market than power forward Pau Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Grizzlies can re-sign Randolph they will have a solid three player base to be an efficient team, but can they keep up with the younger emerging teams?

12. Pau Gasol, PF, Los Angeles Lakers:

With the Kobe Bryant injury struggles Pau Gasol had to step up and take an even larger role on a severed Laker team. Gasol works for his fill down low like a typical big man. He plays very physically and fights for every rebound. Over his time in L.A., Gasol has become a much greater offensive threat and has developed his mid range jump shot greatly. He still can't quite adjust to three point range yet, but that didn't stop him from averaging 17 points per game. There were rumors of Gasol maybe joining his brother in Memphis, but the Grizzlies seem to want to keep Randolph as their power forward. Gasol said he would enjoy to stay with the Lakers, but would also be interested in joining the Chicago Bulls. Carlos Boozer is already Chicago's power forward and it would be interesting to see who the Bulls would start because both Boozer and Gasol have different strengths. The Bulls seem to have more promise in the future than the Lakers, but do not be surprised if you see Gasol back in purple again.

13. Lance Stephenson, SG, Indiana Pacers:  

The Pacers may have not ended the season on the terms they wanted to, but shooting guard Lance Stephenson showed tremendous growth in his 2013-2014 campaign. Stephenson's ability to use his quickness to drive by athletic defenders is uncommon in this league. His defense is also strong. Stephenson is not afraid to match up against anyone, that includes LeBron James. An issue that the Pacers are having with Stephenson is his on court antics. He knows how to get under guy's skin, but sometimes he takes it too far and gives teams free points off flagrant or technical fouls. Pacers president Larry Bird has been frustrated with Stephenson's attitude during the season, but still claims he wants him back. Pacers star small forward Paul George was unsure if he wanted Stephenson back on the team after their loss to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Lakers are eyeballing many free agents including Stephenson. The Boston Celtics are another team that could sign him especially if they do not trade for Kevin Love. The Pelicans are also interested in him, but there is a long shot of that happening. Stephenson has big time potential and maybe the Pacers just aren't the right fit for him.

14. Rudy Gay, SF, Sacramento Kings:  

Rudy Gay is an excellent scoring small forward who has travelled quite a bit in the past few years going from Memphis to Toronto and finally to the Sacramento Kings. No matter where he is Gay finds a way to be productive and provide strong contributions to each of his clubs. He is a typical small forward at 6'8", 230 pounds. Gay is extremely athletic is very strong enabling him to receive contact and still finish. After a rough season for the Kings it will be interesting to see if Gay will return to Sacramento. Despite the poor record the Kings have a lot of young talent such as DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas. There have not been many rumors flying around about where Gay might land, but the Boston Celtics could be a good destination if they end up losing Jeff Green. The Charlotte Bobcats could be another spot as their small forward, Michael Kidd- Gilchrist has played decent, but could really use a mentor like Rudy Gay to show him how to be an effective offensive threat. Until anything further is released Rudy Gay will most likely be suiting up for the Kings at least for the beginning of the year.

15. Gordon Hayward, SG, Utah Jazz: 

Gordon Hayward showed clear improvement this season for the Jazz. He has showed steady progression from year to year, but this year Hayward stepped up big time and became one of the leaders of this Jazz team. Hayward lead the club in scoring this year with 16 points per game. He also contributed 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal a night as well. Hayward has a decent amount of athleticism and size for his position, but it is his basketball IQ is the main reason why he has become so productive. With Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap gone Hayward is probably the best player on the Jazz and Utah should try and keep him and build around him. There are no rumors going around about Hayward leaving and he is a restricted free agent which means he will most likely end up back with the Jazz unless some issue occurs in the offseason. If his production continues to improve like the past two years Hayward will be a premier shooting guard in the NBA.

16. Isaiah Thomas, PG, Sacramento Kings:

Isaiah Thomas is another player who improved greatly this year and is deserving of a new contract. This year he blossomed into a valuable point guard who can pass, but can also score efficiently. This season Thomas averaged 20 points per game along with 6 assists as well. He is quick and shifty to go with a nice handle. He is a very hard to defend when running the fast break and can create opportunities for his teammates when he gets into the paint. Thomas enjoys the potential of the Sacramento Kings and believes they have the talent to be competitive in the Western Conference. Some potential spots for Thomas include the Dallas Mavericks where he could start over Jose Calderon, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers who have a solid amount of cap space and will probably be in search of a point guard as Steve Nash becomes older and older. The Kings can match any team's offer making it more likely that Thomas will return and try and continue to build this franchise.

17. Paul Pierce, SF, Brooklyn Nets:  

"The Truth" shocked everyone when he left the team he had been with for his entire career. Pierce has been a natural scorer all of his career and seems to be a leader as well. He has a quality jump shot and can also contribute in the rebound department. With few years remaining in the league one would think Pierce would just stay with the team he is on, however it is also a possibility that he could return to Boston. The Celtics would certainly be interested in Pierce especially with the speculation around Jeff Green leaving. Pierce is at the stage of his career that he will be an asset for any club for the next two years and then he may start to really fade away. Is it a possibility we see Paul Pierce in green again?, or will he look for a title in Brooklyn for another year?

18. Marcin Gortat, C, Washington Wizards:  

Marcin Gortat has been a main factor in the marked improvement from the Washington Wizards. At 6'11", 240 pounds Gortat is a force in the post and leads Washington in the rebounding department averaging 9 a night. He is a great defensive player and even scores more than 10 points a game due to his excellent rebounding. Gortat is essential to the Wizards success and they should try very hard to re-sign him. The Mavericks were going to try and sign him, but they are not sure if they will have the cap room to do so. Gortat also seems to enjoy playing for the Wizzards and is trying to recruit some players to come in such as Caron Butler. Having John Wall as his point guard as well is another reason why Gortat is more likely to stay as Wall is a very good passing point guard who feeds him the ball as opposed to shooting it himself. The Wizzards will continue to improve in the next few years and if Gortat remains with them then they have a chance to contend for the Eastern Conference Finals.

19. Evan Turner, SF, Indiana Pacers:

Evan Turner has shown that he can be a quality player in the NBA with his performance for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. For the 76ers he averaged 17 points and 6 rebounds, but things went downhill when he was traded to the Indiana Pacers and had to play behind Paul George. Turner dropped off significantly in both scoring and rebounding. With his short term deal up, Turner could be looking to go elsewhere this summer. On most other teams he could start and be efficient, but with an all star small forward, Turner will not have the chance to start. Turner has to make the decision on whether he would like to have a larger role on a worse team or stay on a quality team like the Pacers who have a shot to go far in the playoffs. If the Chicago Bulls do not land LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony it would be a perfect destination for Turner. He could start on that Bulls team and with the quality players on their roster already they could be contenders in the East. If Turner comes in and Rose can come back the Bulls will be a force that could challenge any team.

20. Nick Young, SF, Los Angeles Lakers:  

Nick young is coming off his best season in the NBA so far and will explore the free agency market as well. Young recently opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has never been a quality passing or rebounding forward, but he certainly knows how to score the basketball. With Kobe out Young was the leading scorer for the deflated Lakers team. He has never been the star of the show wherever he has gone, but he has been moderately productive each year in the league. It is hard to say what the best scenario for Young is. The Lakers have the 7th overall pick in the draft and could potentially bring in a young big man to either replace or play alongside Pau Gasol. Whether or not Young would like to be a part of the Laker franchise is undetermined. Kobe Bryant could lead the Lakers team for one or two more years and Young will have to decide if he believes they have a shot at making a run in the Western Conference.

Top Free Agents in 2014 and Where They Might Land (1-10)

by James Finneral

The 2014 NBA free agent class is one of the best in recent memory. It features many players who will be large assets to teams as well as a couple of players who teams can build their franchise around. Here is our take on the twenty best in this years class.

1. LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat:            

Despite not winning this years Most Valuable Player, LeBron James is still the best basketball player on the face of the earth. He is the most versatile player in the NBA who can play any position on the court. This season James averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists which is an accomplishment he has achieved every year in his career except his rookie season. He can go buy and muscle through just about any defender and is virtually impossible to guard in transition. He has been the center point in the back to back championships for the Miami Heat and had become the face of the franchise. Of course every team in the NBA would love to have LeBron on their team, but only few can be in the chase. Teams that have shown interest and have cleared cap space include the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Heat win another championship there is minimal chance he moves, but other than the Heat the Lakers are the front runners as they have some quality young players and certainly have the dough to sign him. James could bring the Lakers back to their winning ways, but it is hard to see him leaving from Miami.

2. Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks:

Carmelo Anthony is one of the most pure scorers in the NBA. Finishing second in the league in scoring with 27 points a night is not out of the ordinary for Melo. His smooth outside and mid range game also gets defenders to bite on his pump fake giving him easy looks inside. He uses his big body to overpower and back down other players at his position. His rebounding is adds to his value in the league averaging 8 boards a night. Former Laker coaching legend and the current Head of Basketball Operations in New York, Phil Jackson hopes that Anthony will remain a Knick and lead the franchise. The Houston Rockets have showed great interest in Anthony and may be looking for a trade involving Jeremy Lin and Omar Asik. The Chicago Bulls are obviously another option with plenty of space if they do not sign LeBron. Unlike LeBron, Anthony there is a mediocre chance that he leaves New York. It is still likely that he will stay with the Knicks and be their guy, but the Bulls have a quality team with money to offer him and he would still be the best player on the team for the close future. No matter where he lands he should be able to keep up his all star production.

3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat:

Dwyane Wade is still a big time NBA player. Although he has been overshadowed by LeBron, he proved this year that he can still get the job done averaging 19 points 4 rebounds and 4 assists in his 2013-2014 campaign. He is still one of the best shooting guards in the league and has the athleticism to stick with the younger guys coming in. It is hard to believe Wade will end up anywhere other than Miami. He has been the captain of this team and was one of the main contributors in recruiting LeBron and Chris Bosh to join them. There is always an outside chance he goes elsewhere, but that team would need a lot of cap space and the Heat will probably give Wade a nice deal. Most other teams he would go to he would be more effective as an individual player because their is more room for him play well. Wade has proven that he is not a selfish player and will most likely stay in Miami for the remainder of his career.

4. Chris Bosh, PF, Miami Heat:

Chris Bosh gave up his ability to be the number one player on the team when he joined James and Wade in Miami. He has played excellent over his few years as the third guy. Bosh makes nice contributions each night totaling 17 points, 6 rebounds and a block a game this season. He has a great inside out option which is a rarity at the power forward position. He can hurt defenses from anywhere on the floor. With teams game planning for LeBron and Wade, Bosh is left in one on one coverage a lot allowing him to go to work against his opposition. Sometimes the media portrays him as not being important to the Heat's success, but he really was the key factor in many of their great runs in the playoffs. Aside from the Heat the Lakers have shown interest in him. With speculation that Pau Gasol may be sent packing, the Lakers are a legitimate contender for Bosh and would be a nice fit for him. Overall the Big 3 will probably remain together, but if one of them were to leave it would be Bosh.

5. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks:

Dirk Nowitzki proved all of his doubters wrong this year. Many thought he did not have much left in the tank, but Dirk produced one of his more productive seasons in his career. He played his classic Dirk style of basketball averaging nearly 22 points and 6 rebounds per game. Despite this great season Dirk is getting up there in years at 35. He still has a lot to offer a team for another two seasons. He is not as athletic as many power forwards, but his basketball IQ and minty jump shot can still get him a good amount of points. He has been at an athletic disadvantage his entire career, but that has obviously not slowed him down. Much like Wade, Nowitzki will probably stay with the team that he has been with for so many years. He has become the face of the franchise and has been their leading scorer for just about all of his career. Dirk's years may be limited, but he will be a solid performer for the Mavs for at least the next two years.





6. Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors:

Kyle Lowry is a guy who is emerging in this league and could very well become a star within the next few years. He is coming off of his best year so far with 18 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds a night. Lowry is quick and shifty and has developed his jump shot over the year. He has been the leader of this Raptors team as their franchise is on the rise. Lowry definitely showed a large interest in returning to Toronto and Toronto is putting him at the top of their signing list. He fits Toronto perfectly because the Raptors already have nice young talent at just about every position from DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and even Lowry's backup, Greivis Vasquez. If Lowry can stay in this system he will continue to develop and will be mentioned with some of the top point guards in the league. He is one of the more underrated players in the league and must prove that he is worthy of a big contract.

7. Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs:

Tim Duncan has shown that he is worthy of a future spot in the Hall of Fame. He has built up San Antonio into the franchise that they are today. He also seems to have a timeless quality where he is still able to put up solid numbers year after year. This season he showed off that quality by averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks a game. Over the past few years Duncan has lost a step or two, but much like Dirk, he is able to produce because of his through the roof IQ. Duncan will end his career in San Antonio and if he does anywhere else it would be shocking. Duncan has one or two more productive years before his time comes, but he can still be a valuable player to a Spurs team that has been tremendous the past few seasons.

8. Eric Bledsoe, PG, Phoenix Suns:

The Phoenix Suns came onto the scene as a team to be taken seriously this year. One of the roots of their success is when Eric Bledsoe, their newly acquired guard from the Los Angeles Clippers was paired up with Goran Dragic in the backcourt. It was evident that playing behind Chris Paul was beneficial to Bledsoe as he was able to score 17 points grab 5 rebounds and dish out 5 assists per game. Unfortunately his season was reduced when he injured his knee leaving him unable to play for a good portion of the season. He is a huge part of this young Suns organization and will be pivotal in their progress the next few seasons. Bledsoe will most likely be returning to the Suns next year both because he seems to have a desire to play there and other teams with cap room are shooting for Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. The Suns will turn into playoff contenders in the next two years and Bledsoe will be one of the main contributors.

9. Greg Monroe, PF, Detroit Pistons:  

Coming from the Detroit Pistons many people did not get to watch the powerful big man, Greg Monroe go to work. Monrow along with Andre Drummond proved to be one of the most powerful front courts in the NBA. Monroe is coming off his best season averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds. Although he is an asset to the Pistons there is still is a quality chance that he will be leaving Detroit after they signed new head coach Stan Van Gundy. The Bulls and Lakers are contenders to sign Monroe based on their cap space, but a surprising team that could be an option is the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans may not have that much cap space, but having Monroe alongside all star forward Anthony Davis is a very nice thought that could push the Pelicans into playoff contention. Monroe is another young guy that could develop into a premier player in the future.

10. Luol Deng, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers:  

Luol Deng has blossomed into one of the most consistently solid small forwards in the game. He has produced nine seasons consisting of at least 14 points and 5 rebounds. Through his years in Chicago Deng has shown that he performs better when Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is injured. It is very normal for a player's production to go downhill when they are not the number one option on the squad. Taking into consideration that Kyrie Irving is the face of the Cavs franchise they cannot expect 19 points a night from Deng this upcoming year. Also with a number one draft pick coming in and two incredible small forwards at the top of that draft class in Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, Deng may not be an absolute priority to keep around. The Dallas Mavericks hope to sign either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, but that scenario is very unlikely so they might as well try and pursue Deng. The Phoenix Suns could also be a nice fit for Deng as they lack a small forward of Deng's quality and have some draft picks they could trade for him. Deng is a great player and if he moves to a different destination his production could rise.