2014 NBA Mock Draft: First Round Projections

RotoBaller NBA analyst Mitchell Jacobs's 2014 NBA Mock Draft and projected draft picks. A look at 1st round college basketball players to be drafted into the NBA.

NBA Mock Draft First Round Projections: Final Take

On Thursday June 26^th the 2014 NBA draft will be underway in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center.  For the 3^rd time in 4 years the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA lottery and the right to draft the first name off the board on draft night.

Last year the Cavs held the #1 pick and no one had any idea who they were going to take. This year we know it will be either Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins.   There is a lot of debate on who the Cavs should take between the two players, the polished player from Duke or the high-upside “project” from Canada.  It’s a debate that will go on till 7PM on Thursday when the Cavs are on the clock.

But that’s not the only debate or headline for the 2014 NBA Draft.  Kansas freshman Joel Embid was the consensus top pick before it was announced that the 7 foot center would be out 6 months due to offseason foot surgery. With Embid all but out of discussion as the #1 overall pick he could be drafted as high as #3 to the Sixers but wouldn’t fall past the Lakers at #7.

This should be a fun week for the NBA with news breaking (although not shocking), that Carmelo Anthony has opted out of his contract with the New York Knicks.  Carmelo is now a free agent and while it was only a few years ago that it was thought that Carmelo was the Knicks savior, it’s not hard to imagine Anthony in another Jersey next year paired up with another potential superstar.

The Miami Heat is another team with a lot of unknown.  For starters they have 7 players under contract for next season 4 of which had opt out clauses.  Let’s be honest, it’s less about the team and more about LeBron.   Now that LeBron has opted out, does he have a plan to join another player(s) not named Bosh or Wade? Could a sign and trade be in the mix before the draft?

There is a lot of speculation which means nothing except reading material for you and I.  Without further ado, the Rotoballer 2014 NBA Mock Draft Version 2.0.

Mitch's 2014 NBA Mock Draft

 *trade notes came from wikipedia.org

Other Potential First Rounders:

SG- PJ Harrison, UNC; SG- Jordan Adams, UCLA; PF- Adreian Payne, Michigan State; F- Damien Inglis, France; PF- Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee; F- James Michael McAdoo, UNC; SF- Jerami Grant, Cuse; SF- DeAndre Daniels, Uconn; C- Isaiah Austin, Baylor - Out, career ending medical condition

2014 NBA Draft & The Cleveland Cavaliers

(published Mid-May 2014)

In the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery the Cleveland Cavs had two lottery picks.  Their own which had the second most chances at the #1 overall pick and the Los Angeles Clippers's pick which had a 2.8% chance at the #1 overall pick.

The Clippers won the lottery giving the Cleveland Cavaliers the #1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Their own pick netted the 4^th overall.  The outcome of that draft was Kyrie Irving at #1 and Tristan Thompson at #4.  From the 2011 draft class only 1 single player has made an All Star team, Kyrie Irving.

In the 2012 NBA Draft the Cavs took Dion Waiters with the 4^th overall pick which they received in the lottery.

In 2013 the Cavs luck arrived yet again as they finished the season with a 15.6% chance at the first overall pick.  It was not a huge chance and yet again Cleveland landed back at #1 in the NBA Draft.  The selection was Forward Anthony Bennett.  While the jury is still out on that pick, the Cavs were beat up for their selection.

Heading into the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery, the Cavs had just a 1.7% chance at landing a top 3 pick.  And at pick #9 when everyone expected the Cleveland Cavs name to be called, it was the Hornets whose name was called, meaning one thing: the Cavs won a pick in the top 3.  Moments later is was the Cavaliers who, yet again, won the NBA Lottery #1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.  Luck?  Sure but winning the lottery doesn’t mean anything as we have seen in recent drafts.  We have seen players picked in the top 3 not pan out including #2 pick Evan Turner in 2010, #2 pick Hasheem Thabeet in 2009, #2 pick Michael Beasley in 2008, #1 pick Greg Oden in 2007 and #1 pick Andrea Bargnani all who have failed to make an All Star team.

Winning the lottery is one thing, selecting the right player is another and the Cavs have options this year.

Mitch's 2014 NBA Mock Draft

Other Potential 1st Round Picks

SG - PJ Harrison, UNC
SG - Jordan Adams, UCLA
PF - Adreian Payne, Michigan State
PF - Clint Capela, Switzerland
PF - Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee
F - James Michael McAdoo, UNC
SF - Jerami Grant, Cuse
SF - Cleanthony Early, Wichita State
SF - DeAndre Daniels, Uconn