NBA Draft
Early Red Flags In The 2014 Draft Class
The 2014 NBA Draft has a lot of star power, but are the early red flags really deterrents to NBA teams?
Before we go too far with this, it’s early in the process and in all draft prospect discussions we tend to over analyze, especially when the talent level is almost equal.
In the projected 2014 NBA Draft class, the talent level between the player that will get drafted number one overall and the player taken five to six picks later is not going to be that different. This is a potentially loaded draft class so picking with the number five pick might not be as radical a drop off as in previous drafts.
With that in mind, that the talent level is pretty equal, there are some red flags worth noting as the focus on tanking for draft picks takes center stage for some NBA franchises.
»In Related: 2014 NBA Mock Draft
#1 – Andrew Wiggins
The big knock on Andrew Wiggins is that he does not go hard all the time. That is a real concern for NBA teams, but when you look at the raw talent that’s there and the fact that Wiggins does not seem overly interested in college basketball unless he’s going up against elite competition, devaluing him too much might be a mistake. When you dig into Wiggins’ advanced numbers, he grades out extremely well in the things that should translate to the NBA. He is exceptional in transition and he is a beast on post-up possessions. He is not much of a spot-up shooter, but how many uber-athletes are coming into the NBA? The scary part about Wiggins is how average he is in isolation plays; that has to be the big red flag for NBA teams. When you consider how good Wiggins can be, he should simply be crushing other players in isolation and he is not. It is really hard not to compare Wiggins to former NBA player Tracy McGrady, because the body of work is so similar. When Wiggins wants to be aggressive he is amazing, but much like McGrady he has shown times at Kansas where he’ll simply let you down. The NBA game might suit Wiggins better and surely as a top level pick a team will build more of what they do around Wiggins, but the flags are there that could knock Wiggins off his long standing perch as the best player in the 2014 Draft class.
»In Related: Andrew Wiggins Profile
#2 – Julius Randle
To say Randle has underwhelmed lately discounts how underwhelming the entire Kentucky team has been. The common phrase used to describe the players around Randle is ‘prima donnas’ and while Randle has some impressive skills that translate to the NBA, it’s hard to understand if his declining production is the product of the team or a wearing down of a truly solid post player. Of all the players in the projected 2014 Draft Class, Randle might be the pure post-threat of the bunch, despite having a very short wingspan for a frontcourt player, but when you dig into his stats he grades out as average almost everywhere. It’s doubtful that NBA teams ding him too much given the overall disappointment of the Kentucky squad, but for a player that could be a top overall pick, he is slowing down and that has to be concerning.
»In Related: Julius Randle Profile
#3 – Jabari Parker
Considered by many to be the frontrunner for the top overall pick (depending on who gets it), Parker has shown some weakness lately that has brought doubts into his candidacy for the top overall pick specifically his shooting from the field and from deep. In terms of all-around skill set Parker might be the best of the bunch in terms of ready for the NBA, but his recent struggles have given his detractors room to talk because he’s struggling against the kind of long, athletic defenders that he’ll see on a nightly basis at the next level. When you dig into his stats, Parker grades out excellent in post-up situations and good to very good almost everywhere else. The lone red flag in Parker’s offensive game is his average rating in spot-up situations. Some of that may be a product of the team and system he plays in, some of that might be how opposing teams are playing him, but as draft stocks gets measured, it seems Parker will need to prove to NBA teams that he can shoot it at the NBA level or that is what his detractors will key in on during the pre-draft process.
»In Related: Jabari Parker Profile
#4 – Marcus Smart
There is a lot to like about Marcus Smart’s game and how it might translate at the NBA level. Smart is having a solid year and more importantly his team is starting to look like the National Championship contender he pledged they’d be when he opted to return for this season. When you dig into Smart’s stats, he grades out well almost everywhere offensively as either very good or excellent in almost all of the major offensive categories. The red flags are how average he’s been in pick-and-roll situations and as a spot-up shooter. The shooting you can discount a little, but a point guard that grades low in pick in-and-roll? To be fair to Smart, that might be more about whom he plays with and the system they run, but when you start dissecting players, he comes off as more of a scoring guard than a playmaker. That might translate in the NBA to a solid career, but it might also put him in the wrong box when it comes to draft night where teams struggle to understand him as a point guard.
»In Related: Marcus Smart Profile
#5 – Joel Embiid
It’s hard to knock how far Embiid has come this year. Most doubted him as a top overall pick candidate coming into the season and now it seems he may have played himself into the top spot on a number of team’s boards. Maybe it is because there was little to no expectations for him this season or because others have come down to earth while Embiid has been much better than expected. When you look at Embiid’s stats, he grades out excellent on cuts to the basket and on offensive rebounds, which are typically putbacks. He also grades out well on post-up plays. The only knock is he’s not overly effective in transition, but how many big guys are? He’s also still raw, but he’s rapidly improving.
»In Related: Joel Embiid Profile
It’s without a doubt that these names will be among the top six to seven called on draft night in June, but to lock any of them in as players without issues avoids the fact that, like most incoming college players, they are far from the complete players some make them out to be. Tempering your expectations on how quickly any of them can alter a franchise would be smart, but keep in mind when there is no talent gap, it’s the nit picking that separates first from fifth.
Mock Drafts
2020 NBA Mock Draft – The Final 60-Pick Mock
What a long and winding road the 20201 NBA Draft has been. While this draft cycle has seen its ups and down, the moment of truth if finally upon us.
What a long and winding road the 20201 NBA Draft has been. While this draft cycle has seen its ups and down, the moment of truth if finally upon us.
Here is a final look at the 2020 Draft, and how it may play out in this final 60-pick Mock Draft of the 20202 NBA Draft process:
Mock Drafts
2020 NBA Mock Draft – First Round – 08/21/2020
The 2020 NBA Draft order is now locked in, however, there are tons of additional questions to be answered in the coming weeks. Here is a look at the first round, in this Basketball Insiders Mock Draft.
To say the 2020 NBA Draft has been chaotic is an understatement, however with last night’s NBA Draft Lottery out of the way, things are starting to at least trend in a positive direction.
That doesn’t mean there are not challenges ahead, namely when the actual NBA Draft will take place.
There is a growing sense that the NBA and the players are going to push back the start of the next cap year, which will likely impact when and how the NBA Draft plays out.
Typically, the Draft is a major transaction window for NBA teams, and with so much unknown surrounding how the salary cap will be set, and when trades and transactions typically consummated around the draft would become official, there is a lot of uncertainty, making the 2020 NBA draft wide open on many fronts.
The hope among teams is that some clarity on all of this will surface in the coming weeks, but for now most teams are operating in uncharted waters.
With all of that in mind, here is a look at the 2020 NBA Draft First round, which will be the first of many weekly Mock Drafts we’ll be dropping all the way up to the draft, whenever that finally gets set.
The Basketball Insiders Annual Consensus Mock Drafts will begin in September, as will full 60-pick mocks starting next week, so stay tuned.
NBA Draft
NBA ANNOUNCES EARLY ENTRY CANDIDATES FOR 2020 NBA DRAFT
The National Basketball Association announced today that 205 players — 163 players from colleges and other educational institutions and 42 international players — have filed as early entry candidates for the 2020 NBA Draft
NEW YORK, April 28, 2020 – The National Basketball Association announced today that 205 players — 163 players from colleges and other educational institutions and 42 international players — have filed as early entry candidates for the 2020 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing 10 days prior to the 2020 NBA Draft.
Following is the list of players from colleges and other educational institutions who have applied for early entry into the 2020 NBA Draft.
EARLY ENTRY CANDIDATES FOR 2020 NBA DRAFT
|
Player |
School |
Height |
Status |
|
Precious Achiuwa |
Memphis |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Milan Acquaah |
California Baptist |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Jordyn Adams |
Austin Peay |
6-3 |
Freshman |
|
Abdul Ado |
Mississippi State |
6-11 |
Junior |
|
Ty-Shon Alexander |
Creighton |
6-4 |
Junior |
|
Timmy Allen |
Utah |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Derrick Alston Jr. |
Boise State |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Cole Anthony |
North Carolina |
6-3 |
Freshman |
|
Joel Ayayi |
Gonzaga |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Brendan Bailey |
Marquette |
6-8 |
Sophomore |
|
Saddiq Bey |
Villanova |
6-8 |
Sophomore |
|
Tyler Bey |
Colorado |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Jermaine Bishop |
Norfolk State |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Jomaru Brown |
Eastern Kentucky |
6-2 |
Sophomore |
|
Marcus Burk |
IUPUI |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Dachon Burke Jr. |
Nebraska |
6-4 |
Junior |
|
Jordan Burns |
Colgate |
6-0 |
Junior |
|
Jared Butler |
Baylor |
6-3 |
Sophomore |
|
Manny Camper |
Siena |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Vernon Carey Jr. |
Duke |
6-10 |
Freshman |
|
Marcus Carr |
Minnesota |
6-2 |
Sophomore |
|
Tamenang Choh |
Brown |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Kofi Cockburn |
Illinois |
7-0 |
Freshman |
|
David Collins |
South Florida |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Zach Cooks |
NJIT |
5-9 |
Junior |
|
Jalen Crutcher |
Dayton |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Ryan Daly |
St. Joseph’s |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Nate Darling |
Delaware |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Darius Days |
LSU |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Dexter Dennis |
Wichita State |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Lamine Diane |
CSUN |
6-7 |
Sophomore |
|
Ayo Dosunmu |
Illinois |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Devon Dotson |
Kansas |
6-2 |
Sophomore |
|
Nojel Eastern |
Purdue |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Anthony Edwards |
Georgia |
6-5 |
Freshman |
|
CJ Elleby |
Washington State |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Mason Faulkner |
Western Carolina |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
LJ Figueroa |
St. John’s |
6-6 |
Junior |
|
Malik Fitts |
St. Mary’s |
6-8 |
Junior |
|
Malachi Flynn |
San Diego State |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Blake Francis |
Richmond |
6-0 |
Junior |
|
Hasahn French |
St. Louis |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
DJ Funderburk |
NC State |
6-10 |
Junior |
|
Both Gach |
Utah |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Alonzo Gaffney |
Ohio State |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Luka Garza |
Iowa |
6-11 |
Junior |
|
Jacob Gilyard |
Richmond |
5-9 |
Junior |
|
Grant Golden |
Richmond |
6-10 |
Junior |
|
Jordan Goodwin |
St. Louis |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Tony Goodwin II |
Redemption Academy (MA) |
6-6 |
Post-Graduate |
|
Jayvon Graves |
Buffalo |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
AJ Green |
Northern Iowa |
6-4 |
Sophomore |
|
Darin Green Jr. |
UCF |
6-4 |
Freshman |
|
Josh Green |
Arizona |
6-6 |
Freshman |
|
Ashton Hagans |
Kentucky |
6-3 |
Sophomore |
|
Tyrese Haliburton |
Iowa State |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Josh Hall |
Moravian Prep (NC) |
6-8 |
Post-Graduate |
|
Rayshaun Hammonds |
Georgia |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Jalen Harris |
Nevada |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Niven Hart |
Fresno State |
6-5 |
Freshman |
|
Aaron Henry |
Michigan State |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Jalen Hill |
UCLA |
6-10 |
Sophomore |
|
Nate Hinton |
Houston |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Jay Huff |
Virginia |
7-1 |
Junior |
|
Elijah Hughes |
Syracuse |
6-6 |
Junior |
|
Feron Hunt |
SMU |
6-8 |
Sophomore |
|
Chance Hunter |
Long Beach State |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
DeJon Jarreau |
Houston |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Damien Jefferson |
Creighton |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Isaiah Joe |
Arkansas |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Dakari Johnson |
Cape Fear CC (NC) |
6-0 |
Freshman |
|
Jalen Johnson |
Louisiana |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Andre Jones |
Nicholls State |
6-4 |
Junior |
|
C.J. Jones |
MTSU |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Herbert Jones |
Alabama |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Mason Jones |
Arkansas |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Tre Jones |
Duke |
6-3 |
Sophomore |
|
Corey Kispert |
Gonzaga |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Kameron Langley |
NC A&T |
6-2 |
Junior |
|
AJ Lawson |
South Carolina |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Saben Lee |
Vanderbilt |
6-2 |
Junior |
|
Kira Lewis Jr. |
Alabama |
6-3 |
Sophomore |
|
Matt Lewis |
James Madison |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Isaiah Livers |
Michigan |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Denzel Mahoney |
Creighton |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Makur Maker |
Pacific Academy (CA) |
7-0 |
Post-Graduate |
|
Sandro Mamukelashvili |
Seton Hall |
6-11 |
Junior |
|
Tre Mann |
Florida |
6-4 |
Freshman |
|
Nico Mannion |
Arizona |
6-3 |
Freshman |
|
Naji Marshall |
Xavier |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Kenyon Martin Jr. |
IMG Academy (FL) |
6-7 |
Post-Graduate |
|
Remy Martin |
Arizona State |
6-0 |
Junior |
|
Tyrese Maxey |
Kentucky |
6-3 |
Freshman |
|
Mac McClung |
Georgetown |
6-2 |
Sophomore |
|
Jaden McDaniels |
Washington |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Isiaha Mike |
SMU |
6-8 |
Junior |
|
Isaiah Miller |
UNCG |
6-0 |
Junior |
|
Matt Mitchell |
San Diego State |
6-6 |
Junior |
|
EJ Montgomery |
Kentucky |
6-10 |
Sophomore |
|
Andrew Nembhard |
Florida |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Aaron Nesmith |
Vanderbilt |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Zeke Nnaji |
Arizona |
6-11 |
Freshman |
|
Obadiah Noel |
Massachusetts-Lowell |
6-4 |
Junior |
|
Jordan Nwora |
Louisville |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Onyeka Okongwu |
USC |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Isaac Okoro |
Auburn |
6-6 |
Freshman |
|
Elijah Olaniyi |
Stony Brook |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Daniel Oturu |
Minnesota |
6-10 |
Sophomore |
|
Reggie Perry |
Mississippi State |
6-10 |
Sophomore |
|
Filip Petrusev |
Gonzaga |
6-11 |
Sophomore |
|
John Petty Jr. |
Alabama |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Nate Pierre-Louis |
Temple |
6-4 |
Junior |
|
Xavier Pinson |
Missouri |
6-2 |
Sophomore |
|
Yves Pons |
Tennessee |
6-6 |
Junior |
|
Immanuel Quickley |
Kentucky |
6-3 |
Sophomore |
|
Darius Quisenberry |
Youngstown State |
6-1 |
Sophomore |
|
Jahmi’us Ramsey |
Texas Tech |
6-4 |
Freshman |
|
Paul Reed Jr. |
DePaul |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Nick Richards |
Kentucky |
6-11 |
Junior |
|
Colbey Ross |
Pepperdine |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Fatts Russell |
Rhode Island |
5-10 |
Junior |
|
Joe Saterfield |
Ranger CC (TX) |
6-4 |
Freshman |
|
Jayden Scrubb |
John A. Logan College (IL) |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Aamir Simms |
Clemson |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Ja’Vonte Smart |
LSU |
6-4 |
Sophomore |
|
Chris Smith |
UCLA |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Collin Smith |
UCF |
6-11 |
Junior |
|
Jalen Smith |
Maryland |
6-10 |
Sophomore |
|
Justin Smith |
Indiana |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Mitchell Smith |
Missouri |
6-10 |
Junior |
|
Stef Smith |
Vermont |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Ben Stanley |
Hampton |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Cassius Stanley |
Duke |
6-6 |
Freshman |
|
Isaiah Stewart |
Washington |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Parker Stewart |
UT-Martin |
6-5 |
Sophomore |
|
Terry Taylor |
Austin Peay |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
MaCio Teague |
Baylor |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Tyrell Terry |
Stanford |
6-1 |
Freshman |
|
Justin Thomas |
Morehead State |
5-11 |
Junior |
|
Ethan Thompson |
Oregon State |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Xavier Tillman Sr. |
Michigan State |
6-8 |
Junior |
|
Jeremiah Tilmon |
Missouri |
6-10 |
Junior |
|
Obi Toppin |
Dayton |
6-9 |
Sophomore |
|
Jordan Tucker |
Butler |
6-7 |
Junior |
|
Devin Vassell |
Florida State |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Alonzo Verge Jr. |
Arizona State |
6-3 |
Junior |
|
Chris Vogt |
Cincinnati |
7-1 |
Junior |
|
CJ Walker |
Ohio State |
6-1 |
Junior |
|
Trendon Watford |
LSU |
6-9 |
Freshman |
|
Ibi Watson |
Dayton |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Nick Weatherspoon |
Mississippi State |
6-2 |
Junior |
|
Kaleb Wesson |
Ohio State |
6-9 |
Junior |
|
Jarrod West |
Marshall |
5-11 |
Junior |
|
Romello White |
Arizona State |
6-8 |
Junior |
|
Kahlil Whitney |
Kentucky |
6-6 |
Freshman |
|
DeAndre Williams |
Evansville |
6-9 |
Sophomore |
|
Emmitt Williams |
LSU |
6-6 |
Sophomore |
|
Keith Williams |
Cincinnati |
6-5 |
Junior |
|
Patrick Williams |
Florida State |
6-8 |
Freshman |
|
James Wiseman |
Memphis |
7-1 |
Freshman |
|
Robert Woodard II |
Mississippi State |
6-7 |
Sophomore |
|
McKinley Wright IV |
Colorado |
6-0 |
Junior |
|
Omer Yurtseven |
Georgetown |
7-0 |
Junior |
The following is the list of international players who have applied for early entry into the 2020 NBA Draft:
|
Player |
Team/Country of Team |
Height |
Status |
|
Berke Atar |
MZT Skopje (Macedonia) |
6-11 |
1999 DOB |
|
Deni Avdija |
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
6-8 |
2001 DOB |
|
Brancou Badio |
Barcelona (Spain) |
6-3 |
1999 DOB |
|
Darko Bajo |
Split (Croatia) |
6-10 |
1999 DOB |
|
Philippe Bayehe |
Roseto (Italy) |
6-9 |
1999 DOB |
|
Marek Blazevic |
Rytas (Lithuania) |
6-10 |
2001 DOB |
|
Adrian Bogucki |
Radom (Poland) |
7-1 |
1999 DOB |
|
Leandro Bolmaro |
Barcelona (Spain) |
6-6 |
2000 DOB |
|
Vinicius Da Silva |
Prat (Spain) |
7-0 |
2001 DOB |
|
Henri Drell |
Pesaro (Italy) |
6-9 |
2000 DOB |
|
Imru Duke |
Zentro Basket (Spain) |
6-8 |
1999 DOB |
|
Michele Ebeling |
Kleb Ferrara (Italy) |
6-9 |
1999 DOB |
|
Paul Eboua |
Pesaro (Italy) |
6-8 |
2000 DOB |
|
Osas Ehigiator |
Fuenlabrada (Spain) |
6-10 |
1999 DOB |
|
Joel Ekamba |
Limoges (France) |
6-5 |
2001 DOB |
|
Selim Fofana |
Neuchatel (Switzerland) |
6-3 |
1999 DOB |
|
Miguel Gonzalez |
Baskonia (Spain) |
6-7 |
1999 DOB |
|
Killian Hayes |
Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) |
6-5 |
2001 DOB |
|
Sehmus Hazer |
Bandirma (Turkey) |
6-3 |
1999 DOB |
|
Rokas Jokubaitis |
Zalgiris (Lithuania) |
6-4 |
2000 DOB |
|
Georgios Kalaitzakis |
Nevezis (Lithuania) |
6-8 |
1999 DOB |
|
Vit Krejci |
Zaragoza (Spain) |
6-8 |
2000 DOB |
|
Arturs Kurucs |
VEF Riga (Latvia) |
6-3 |
2000 DOB |
|
Dut Mabor |
Roseto (Italy) |
7-1 |
2001 DOB |
|
Yam Madar |
Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) |
6-2 |
2000 DOB |
|
Theo Maledon |
ASVEL (France) |
6-4 |
2001 DOB |
|
Karim Mane |
Vanier (Canada) |
6-5 |
2000 DOB |
|
Sergi Martinez |
Barcelona (Spain) |
6-8 |
1999 DOB |
|
Nikola Miskovic |
Mega Bemax (Serbia) |
6-10 |
1999 DOB |
|
Aristide Mouaha |
Roseto (Italy) |
6-3 |
2000 DOB |
|
Caio Pacheco |
Bahia Basket (Argentina) |
6-3 |
1999 DOB |
|
Joel Parra |
Joventut (Spain) |
6-8 |
2000 DOB |
|
Aleksej Pokusevski |
Olympiacos (Greece) |
7-0 |
2001 DOB |
|
Sander Raieste |
Kalev/Cramo (Estonia) |
6-9 |
1999 DOB |
|
Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos |
AEK (Greece) |
6-8 |
2001 DOB |
|
Yigitcan Saybir |
Anadolu Efes (Turkey) |
6-7 |
1999 DOB |
|
Njegos Sikiras |
Fuenlabrada (Spain) |
6-9 |
1999 DOB |
|
Marko Simonovic |
Mega Bemax (Serbia) |
6-11 |
1999 DOB |
|
Mouhamed Thiam |
Nanterre (France) |
6-9 |
2001 DOB |
|
Uros Trifunovic |
Partizan (Serbia) |
6-7 |
2000 DOB |
|
Arnas Velicka |
Prienai (Lithuania) |
6-4 |
1999 DOB |
|
Andrii Voinalovych |
Khimik (Ukraine) |
6-10 |
1999 DOB |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
