| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 |  | Charlotte | Nerlens Noel | C | Kentucky |
| Everybody needs a big man and Nerlens Noel will battle it out with Cody Zeller over the next year for the title of the best in this class. Noel will need to have a Anthony Davis type of season at Kentucky to be the first overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, but that is quite feasible. | |||||
| 2 |  | Detroit | Shabazz Muhammad | SG/SF | UCLA |
| Detroit seems to be relatively happy with their big men, as they should be after picking up Andre Drummond in the 2012 NBA Draft. Now it is time to get some scoring on the wings. Like Nerlens Noel, Shabazz Muhammad has a lot to prove at UCLA first, but if all goes as planned, he will be a top five pick in 2013. | |||||
| 3 |  | Toronto | Cody Zeller | C | Indiana |
| Toronto stocked up on forwards in the 2012 NBA Draft and this time around they can nab an NBA ready center in Cody Zeller. The Indiana product needs to get stronger in the paint, but another year battling in the Big Ten will certainly help. | |||||
| 4 |  | Washington | Steven Adams | C | Pittsburgh |
| Heading into the 2012 NBA Draft, Washington needed some wings. They picked up plenty. Now they can keep the big men rolling off the board with 7-0 center Steven Adams. Adams is expected to have a big season at Pittsburgh and he already has the bulk to compete in the NBA. | |||||
| 5 |  | New Orleans | James McAdoo | SF/PF | North Carolina |
| The Hornets picked up Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers in the 2012 NBA Draft. James McAdoo is a little under the radar right now, but that will not last too long. He should pick up his game now that he will be asked to do more at North Carolina. | |||||
| 6 |  | Cleveland | Dario Saric | SF | International |
| After some questionable picks in the 2012 NBA Draft, who knows what odd thing Cleveland will do a year from now. They could go ahead and take a chance on the best international player in this class. Dario Saric is an outstanding all-around player who could be great with a more consistent jumper. | |||||
| 7 |  | Brooklyn | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | SG | Georgia |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has not gotten the recognition he deserves since Georgia has struggled of late. He is much like a Jared Cunningham type who will make a bigger name for himself during pre-draft workouts. He will put up some big numbers for UGA too. | |||||
| 8 |  | Sacramento | Kyle Anderson | SF | UCLA |
| Kyle Anderson is another UCLA freshman who could just be around for one season. It could be one heck of a season for UCLA too if Anderson and Shabazz Muhammad live up to their lofty expectations. That would also lead to a couple Bruin freshmen being lottery picks. | |||||
| 9 |  | Utah (from GS) | Alex Poythress | SF/PF | Kentucky |
| It would not be the NBA Draft without at least a couple Kentucky freshmen going in the lottery. Nerlens Noel should be the first off the board, but Alex Poythress, a dynamic 6-8 forward, will not be too far behind. | |||||
| 10 |  | Minnesota | Adonis Thomas | SF | Memphis |
| The top of this class is a little light on guards at the moment. That should change eventually, but for now Minnesota needs a scorer. Thomas came out shooting pretty well in his shortened freshman campaign. That was a little bit of a surprise and he needs to keep shooting well or he will end up labeled as a tweener and drop big time. | |||||
| 11 |  | Phoenix | Isaiah Austin | C | Baylor |
| Phoenix got their point guard in Kendall Marshall during the 2012 draft. This time around they can take advantage of the deep class of centers and pick up Isaiah Austin. The Baylor freshman is a seven-footer with some nice moves. But he needs to surpass the usual freshman 15 to fill in his frame. | |||||
| 12 |  | Milwaukee | Andre Roberson | SF | Colorado |
| Milwaukee's 2012 NBA Draft was pretty average. They will still need some scorers and that is one thing Andre Roberson can do. He has plenty of experience and will once again lead the way for the Buffaloes during the 2012-2013 campaign. | |||||
| 13 | | Utah | Alex Len | C | Maryland |
| Alex Len is often overshadowed, only literally, by other big men coming into the college ranks this fall. Nerlens Noel, Isaiah Austin and Steven Adams all deserve the accolades, but so does Len. He may even have a more impressive collegiate debut season then the rest since the Terps will rely on him heavily as a freshman. | |||||
| 14 |  | Houston | C.J. McCollum | PG | Lehigh |
| The comparisons to Damian Lillard will follow C.J. McCollum for a while. He is a great point guard coming out of a small school. McCollum, like Lillard, is a big time scorer who can handle the ball and run a team. | |||||
| 15 |  | Atlanta | Trevor Mbakwe | PF | Minnesota |
| Atlanta did a great job picking up a couple of shooters during the 2012 NBA Draft. John Jenkins and Mike Scott can make a big difference for the Hawks. Trevor Mbakwe will give them a player who can hang out in the paint and create space for those new shooters. | |||||
| 16 | | Charlotte (from POR) | B.J. Young | PG | Arkansas |
| The Bobcats got a couple small forwards in the 2012 NBA Draft and, in this scenario, get an extra pick in the 2013 draft. After nabbing Nerlens Noel with the first overall pick, it might be time to look for a ball handler who can do some scoring. B.J. Young is a little undersized for a shooting guard, but he can score points and run the show. | |||||
| 17 |  | Philadelphia | Myck Kabongo | PG | Texas |
| If you are looking for a true point guard, look no further than Myck Kabongo. The current Longhorn has a lot to prove at the collegiate level before he will be considered a first round draft pick, but he is full of talent. A good year for Texas could lead to a big payday for Kabongo. | |||||
| 18 |  | New York | Mouphtaou Yarou | PF | Villanova |
| Mouphtaou Yarou may draw some boo's from the MSG crowd, but he is an experienced player who has battled with some of the best big men in the nation. Yarou is a decent scorer, but his best work is done on the glass. | |||||
| 19 |  | Orlando | Tony Mitchell | SF | North Texas |
| The spotlight went away from Tony Mitchell when he left Missouri for North Texas, but he is still a great player. He will again dominate the Sun Belt Conference, but he should also test out very well at the pre-draft workouts. | |||||
| 20 |  | Denver | Brandon Ashley | PF | Arizona |
| Denver had a very good draft in 2012 and can again take a chance on a player who may need some time to develop. Brandon Ashley will need to show some signs of consistency at Arizona to consider entering the 2013 NBA Draft. He needs to add some weight to his 6-8 frame too, but he is a special talent. | |||||
| 21 | | Minnesota (from MEM) | Reggie Bullock | SG | North Carolina |
| Minnesota will have the opportunity to bolster their roster with some young talent in this draft. As things stand, they have four total picks. They took small forward Adonis Thomas earlier in this round and can now add another scorer in Tar Heel Reggie Bullock. | |||||
| 22 |  | Boston | Lorenzo Brown | PG | North Carolina State |
| If North Carolina State has the year many expect, Lorenzo Brown will burst onto the national scene and he will not be the only member of the Wolfpack to be eyeing the first round. The Celtics beefed up their frontcourt in 2012 and now it is time to do the same to the backcourt. | |||||
| 23 |  | Indiana | Isaiah Canaan | PG | Murray State |
| Miles Plumlee? Really? Indiana threw away their 2012 NBA Draft and can now reach for an undersized point guard. Isaiah Canaan is a great college player, but there should be a lot of questions about how well his game translate to the next level. That will not stop somebody from taking him in the first round however. Or they could go for Mason Plumlee. | |||||
| 24 |  | L.A. Clippers | C.J. Aiken | SF/PF | St. Joseph's |
| The Clippers did not have much to work with in the 2012 draft. Yet, now they can add some more young talent. C.J. Aiken is shooting up draft boards right now and another good season from the versatile 6-9 forward could mean he will be long gone by the 24th pick. | |||||
| 25 | | Houston (from DAL) | Otto Porter | SF | Georgetown |
| Otto Porter has not done too much yet during his time at Georgetown, but he is that big, versatile forward type that the NBA loves. He can score, he can rebound, he can block some shots. If his shooting improves, Porter will be a nice pickup. | |||||
| 26 |  | L.A. Lakers | C.J. Wilcox | SG | Washington |
| Depth on the perimeter will likely be what the Lakers are looking for in the 2013 NBA Draft. C.J. Wilcox will have the opportunity to make a big impact for Washington this season and that could allow him to work his way into the first round. | |||||
| 27 |  | San Antonio | C.J. Leslie | SF/PF | North Carolina State |
| This is a value pick right here. C.J. Leslie is a superb athlete who will lead North Carolina State to big things during the 2012-2013 campaign. At least they might be able to compete with some of those other schools in North Carolina. | |||||
| 28 |  | Chicago | Rodney Hood | SF | Other |
| It is quite unlikely that Rodney Hood will enter the 2013 NBA Draft after sitting out the 2012-2013 season following a transfer from Mississippi State. But nonetheless, Hood is eligible and a very talented wing. | |||||
| 29 |  | Oklahoma City | Elijah Johnson | PG/SG | Kansas |
| Oklahoma City made a very smart pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, taking a chance on Perry Jones out of Baylor. Elijah Johnson, at least right now, is also a risky pick. Johnson will have to play a bigger role for Kansas in 2012-2013, so OKC will get a good look at him. | |||||
| 30 | | Cleveland (from MIA) | Jeff Withey | C | Kansas |
| Alright Cleveland only so many people can play shooting guard at one time, so it is time to grab a big man. Jeff Withey came out of nowhere and had a great season in 2011-2012 for the Jayhawks. He will need to have another before he is first round material. | |||||
| Round 2 | |||||
| 31 | | Boston (from CHA) | Jamaal Franklin | SG | San Diego State |
| Boston should just keep swinging at perimeter players and hope they can knock one of them out of the park. | |||||
| 32 | | Detroit | Ian Miller | PG | Florida State |
| Detroit's frontcourt should be in good hands by the time the draft roles around, so the top priority is gaining depth on the perimeter. | |||||
| 33 | | Toronto | LeBryan Nash | SF | Oklahoma State |
| Not long ago LeBryan Nash was a sure fire first rounder. He needs to prove himself at Oklahoma State a little more. If he does, he should be a first rounder. If he doesn't, he should stay in school. | |||||
| 34 | | Washington | Patric Young | PF | Florida |
| Patric Young and Steven Adams could make a potent frontcourt duo for the next decade if Washington is lucky. | |||||
| 35 | | Philadelphia (from NO) | Alec Brown | C | Green Bay |
| Haven't heard of Alec Brown? That's alright. The Green Bay center is listed at 7-1 and will only be a junior. His upside may not be too high, but he can play some minutes for the 76ers right away. | |||||
| 36 | | Cleveland | Augusto Cesar Lima | PF | International |
| Cleveland can keep going big and pick up a fine, versatile big man in Augusto Cesar Lima. | |||||
| 37 | | Minnesota (from BRK) | Brandon Triche | PG | Syracuse |
| It remains to be seen how well Brandon Triche can run the show, but we know he can score. | |||||
| 38 | | Sacramento | Deshaun Thomas | SF | Ohio State |
| It can get crowded on the Ohio State wing, which is why Deshaun Thomas has spent quite a bit of time at the four spot, but the point is, he is too talented to not start. | |||||
| 39 | | Denver (from GS) | Ryan Harrow | PG | Kentucky |
| With not many perceivable needs in Denver, they can take the best player on their board and that could be the next Kentucky point guard. | |||||
| 40 | | Boston (from MIN) | Alessandro Gentile | SF | International |
| If Boston can turn Alessandro Gentile into a mature player and person, they will have just gotten the steal of the draft. | |||||
| 41 | | Phoenix | Elias Harris | SF/PF | Gonzaga |
| Kendall Marshall, Phoenix's 2012 first round draft pick, needs some scorers to pass the ball to. | |||||
| 42 | | Milwaukee | Rudy Gobert | C | International |
| With every passing day, Rudy Gobert gets a little less raw. Even in raw form, he is still a seven-footer with the athletic skills of a wing. | |||||
| 43 | | Utah | Mason Plumlee | PF | Duke |
| If Miles Plumlee went in the first round, Mason should be a lottery pick. It is Mason who is a more balanced player than his brother. | |||||
| 44 | | Atlanta (from HOU) | Zeke Marshall | C | Akron |
| The Hawks do have shooters now and adding more depth up front is not a bad idea. Seven-footer Zeke Marshall is worth a shot. | |||||
| 45 | | Atlanta | Alex Oriakhi | PF | Missouri |
| If Zeke Marshall does not work out, Alex Oriakhi, a former Huskie of Connecticut might do the trick. | |||||
| 46 | | Denver (from POR) | Rodney Williams | SF | Minnesota |
| Denver has made some smart draft picks lately and this would be another one. | |||||
| 47 | | Philadelphia | Drew Crawford | SG | Northwestern |
| John Shurna didn't break the Northwestern draft slump, but Drew Crawford could. | |||||
| 48 | | Washington (from NY) | Aaron Craft | PG | Ohio State |
| Assuming Bradley Beal will spend most of his time off of the ball, Washington can try and grab a point guard. | |||||
| 49 | | Cleveland (from ORL) | Christian Watford | SF | Indiana |
| Christian Watford has enough size to play the four spot when the Cavs want to go small and get up and down the floor. | |||||
| 50 | | L.A. Lakers (from DEN) | Shabazz Napier | PG | Connecticut |
| Shabazz Napier could develop into a fine point guard now that he has to carry the Huskies. | |||||
| 51 |  | Memphis | Aaric Murray | PF | West Virginia |
| Aaric Murray started his collegiate career at La Salle and is now headed to West Virginia. | |||||
| 52 | | Boston | Tim Hardaway, Jr. | SG | Michigan |
| Tim Hardaway is another backcourt scorer that Boston can try and develop into a consistent scorer. | |||||
| 53 | | Indiana | Reggie Johnson | C | Miami (FL) |
| Injuries have slowed Reggie Johnson down, but he is an extremely experienced big man who can play right away. | |||||
| 54 | | L.A. Clippers | Dexter Strickland | PG | North Carolina |
| Any starting point guard from North Carolina is usually at least worth a second round pick. | |||||
| 55 |  | Dallas | Ray McCallum | PG | Detroit |
| Ray McCallum could have played just about anywhere, but opted to play for his father at Detroit. If he was a starting point guard in the Big Ten, more people would be talking about him. | |||||
| 56 | | L.A. Lakers | Andre Dawkins | SG | Duke |
| Andre Dawkins will spend the 2012-2013 campaign watching Duke from the sidelines after running into some trouble. He could just leave after that. | |||||
| 57 | | San Antonio | Leon Radosevic | C | International |
| San Antonio can give Leon Radosevic a year or two to continue developing his game in Europe. | |||||
| 58 | | Chicago | Dwight Powell | PF | Stanford |
| The Bulls do not need much at this point, but another big body in the paint would not hurt. | |||||
| 59 | | Minnesota (from OKC) | Kenny Kadji | PF | Miami (FL) |
| By this time next year we could be talking about Kenny Kadji as a first round prospect. | |||||
| 60 |  | Miami | DeWayne Dedmon | C | USC |
| Miami has to wait a long time to make a pick in this draft, but they can get a good value at the end of the draft. | |||||
Joel Welser 2013 NBA Mock Draft - 29 June 2012
1. Nerlens Noel 2. Shabazz Muhammad 3. Cody Zeller 4. Steve Adams 5. James McAdoo
Fri, 06/29/2012
