Why Every Team Lost the 2013 NBA Draft

Good luck finding success with your respective idiotic franchises. (footbasket.com)

"Down" was the popular word to describe this year's draft class, and rightly so, though most spectators grabbed that tag and refused to acknowledge the depth of talent in the rising rookie class. But because this is the Internet and everything is bad at all times, take a couple moments to dislike every pick by every team in the 2013 NBA Draft. (Don't forget your own favorite! Bash those stupid general managers!)

Atlanta Hawks
General Manager Danny Ferry got Joe Johnson's contract off the books last summer, but his follow-up trick included doing his best David Kahn impression by drafting three point guards and a guy with the last name "Ennis." Did he learn nothing about NBA nicknames from Utah's great Enes Kanter experiment?

Boston Celtics
The Celtics' lone pick in the draft, Brazilian center Lucas Nogueira, didn't even go to college and missed out on important keg stand experience. Pundits doubt he'll be able to learn the necessary balance before the rookie symposium, thus dooming him to a professional career full of taunts such as, "Great dunk. I remember my first beer," followed by knowing winks. It's good that Boston wasn't in need of a center, though, because that allowed Danny Ainge to trade Nogueira to Atlanta.

Brooklyn Nets
"A big white guy from Duke? I gotta have it!" - Mikhail Prokhorov, believing Jay-Z was still invested in the franchise.

Charlotte Bobcats
Michael Jordan runs this team and selected Cody Zeller at No. 4 overall with Bobcats' only pick in the draft. Too easy. Make up your own joke.

Chicago Bulls
Nothing says "gritty defense" like picking a skinny guy with cornrows and an Erik with a "k."

Cleveland Cavaliers
Four picks in a deep draft and the Cavs managed to avoid drafting their point guard of the future. Dumb.

Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban was angling for a cameo in the next Hobbit movie by adding Kelly Olynyk to the roster as a power forward/giant elf tweener, but traded the Canadian after deciding an appearance on Shark Tank was more lucrative.

Denver Nuggets
Rudy Gobert is no Rudy Fernandez. Traded!

Detroit Pistons
Failed to capitalize on the marketing potential of Detroit's massive college basketball standing when they didn't draft Ray McCallum, Jr.

Golden State Warriors
Acquired Nemanja Nedovic from Phoenix in hopes of turning the Serbian shooting guard into the next Anthony Davis, but were disappointed to find out Nedovic does not, in fact, have a uni-brow.

Houston Rockets
Took Isaiah Canaan the year AFTER he had a breakout role in college basketball. Great job, general manager/advanced statistics nerd Daryl Morey.

Indiana Pacers
Colton Iverson was the only player drafted from traditional powerhouse Colorado State and the Pacers traded the Rams big man to Boston. Know your history, kids.

Los Angeles Clippers
Reggie Bullock's last name sounds an awful lot like "bullet." The Clippers overplayed there hand here and revealed their planned name change before even announcing their interest. Next stop: Gilbert Arenas, hand gesture coach.

Los Angeles Lakers
They've had luck with large, bearded white men in the past, so why not take a flyer on an oft-injured, Euro-style forward like Ryan Kelly?

Memphis Grizzlies
If their picks pan out, the Grizzlies will have successfully addressed depth concerns at the shooting guard and small forward positions, but traded away a foreign guy named "Joffrey" during Game of Thrones' highest point of popularity yet. Pop culture fail.

Miami Heat
A franchise that faces constant criticism anyway, the Heat received the Hawks' "Ennis" problem after having no picks of its own during the draft. WAY TO MORTGAGE YOUR FUTURE, DUMMIES!

Milwaukee Bucks
They're either bringing Brandon Jennings back or handing the franchise's keys to an unathletic white guy who choked during his only game on a big stage in college. #NateWolters #Welp

Minnesota Timberwolves
Traded two of their picks and basically all they got was Shabazz Muhammad, he of the great 0.7 assists per game stat. He's also not a numerologist.

New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans
They come out looking pretty good on paper (except for the new name, obviously), but excluded themselves from the ranks of the NBA's en vogue by not adding a player with a knee injury.

New York Knicks
Couldn't convince Jason Kidd to stay so instead they drafted someone who was born during Kidd's freshman year at UCLA. Way to let an all-time great walk away, James Dolan.

Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder could have been the only team running a (lame) vintage comic book promotion based around a player named Archie, until Goodwin got flipped to Phoenix. As always, Suns win.

Orlando Magic
Orlando obviously didn't draft based upon the proper measurements since there were players available with much more nickname upside than George A. Romero Osby and Victor Von Olidoompo.

Philadelphia 76ers
Thanks to fine print in the NBA rule book, they weren't allowed to draft Greg Oden after agreeing to acquire Nerlens Noel from New Orleans. Oden-Noel-Andrew Bynum is the front court the NBA deserves, but not the one it needs right now (bylaw 11.09.4 via David Stern Hates Fun Clause).

Phoenix Suns
Shut up about Phoenix's mess of a professional basketball organization. I like Michael Beasley, okay?

Portland Trail Blazers
Whoa, look in the mirror before you walk out the door, historically-great-for-centers Portland. Your contempt for Jeff Withey is showing.

Sacramento Kings
In a deep draft, the Kings found a way to select one of the weakest point guards available AND a player whose enters the NBA with questions about his assertiveness. Bravo.

San Antonio Spurs
This franchise is one more European player away from being relocated to Marseilles.

Toronto Raptors
The 2013 NBA Draft will henceforth be referred to only as the "Raptors Rudy Gay Consolation Draft."

Utah Jazz
Is Jackie Moon GM-ing this team? Is he also the starting power forward? No one knows with all the f***ing trading you did, Utah. Seriously.

Washington Wizards
The Wiz duped Milwaukee into taking Nate Wolters, but must still rely on John Wall's knee/weight/tattoos to lead them. 

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Friday Roundtable: Biggest Steals And Surprises From The NBA Draft

 

The surprises started early as Cleveland selected Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. (nba.si.com)

BDD's Friday Roundtable is a weekly discussion among a group of our writers on a trending NBA or college basketball topic.

This week's question: What were the biggest steals and biggest surprises of Thursday's NBA Draft?

Alex:
The first surprise came early as the Cavs took Anthony Bennett No. 1 overall, but the biggest surprise was Philadelphia delving head first into rebuilding mode. Adding a second injured center to their roster in Nerlens Noel, the 76ers all but closed the book on their Andrew Bynum experiment and took things a step further by agreeing to trade Jrue Holiday, fresh off his first All-Star appearance and just starting to hit his stride, to the New Orleans Pelicans (who actually look appealing on paper now) in time to hand the franchise keys to Michael Carter-Williams. While MCW has upside to spare, he'll be learning the ropes on a bottom-feeding team that may be making an early play to get Andrew Wiggins in the 2014 draft.

As for biggest steal, I'd look to Detroit. The Pistons selected Petting Siva in the latter half of the second round, but after his career at Louisville, Siva looks like a player who can will his way into making anything happen. I wrote a piece elsewhere in which I borderline-gushed about him this week, hoping to see him paired with a talented big man and provide energy off the bench, if not as a starter. Brandon Knight should be save atop the Pistons' depth chart at point guard, but watching an undersized, athletic player with the speed of Siva work with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond is going to be a thing of beauty.

Kyle:
If you're looking for surprises, the No. 1 pick is a good place to start. Anthony Bennett was thought to go anywhere from No. 1 to No. 8, and coming off an injury with weight problems seemed to be a concern for teams coming in. Apparently not. Cleveland liked him enough to not only draft him, but also keep the pick, as they had earlier mentioned interest in trading the first pick. And it really shouldn't be a surprise, but Charlotte again drew raised eyebrows by drafting Cody Zeller ahead of Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore and Alex Len.

As for steals, Sacramento has to be thrilled that Ben McLemore, who was in the top three of many people's mock drafts, fell to them at No. 7. McLemore should be an athletic, scoring wing player alongside Isaiah Thomas and Tyreke Evans. I also like Portland getting C.J. McCollum to play alongside Damian Lillard in the backcourt. Finally, (I know Alex will agree with me on this) I like Dallas getting Shane Larkin from Atlanta with the No. 18 pick. Dallas wasn't able to get Deron Williams to come back to his hometown last year, and with Darren Collison about to head into free agency, Larkin could be a good scoring point guard for the Mavericks who will need a point guard of the future, especially while trying to land Dwight Howard.

We knew this would be an unpredictable draft coming in, and that theme was carried out throughout the night.

Zach:

The 2013 NBA Draft went how nobody predicted it to go; haywire.  Not a single person correctly predicted the order in which the top 10, not even the top five, selections in the order of which they left the board.  In a time where players like LeBron James, Carmello Anthony and Kyrie Irving appear in the limelight at age 16, yesterday's draft reminded us that even the most elite members of sports journalism and media could indeed, be wrong. 

To me, the whole draft was shocking and surprising.  I'm not an avid college basketball spectator, so my insight came from the great writers here at BDD and other elite basketball minds' predictions and mock-drafts. Nobody saw Anthony Bennett as the No. 1 pick coming. The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the odds, selecting the former UNLV Runnin' Rebel No. 1 overall, to everyone's surprise. 

Cody Zeller seems to be the jaw-dropping, "what the hell are you thinking," pick of this years crop. CBSSports Draft Tracker labeled the Charlotte Bobcats fourth overall pick a D+. I don't mind the pick. I believe Zeller will give the Bobcats consistency at the low-post position until Michael Jordan and staff finds the other variables for a winning equation.  Zeller can shoot the ball well from both away from the basket, and at the free-throw stripe.  He can also get up the floor and score in transition, which makes up for some liabilities on the defensive end.  If Zeller can beef up and get back to the fundamentals in the low-post, both scoring and rebounding, his game could eventually look similar to a Kevin Love type stretch four.

Ben McLemore, who according to ESPN's Jay Bilas was the best player available, was selected at No. 7 to the Sacramento Kings.  Sacramento brings in a versatile scoring threat sure to put fans in the seats, which is something the Kings organization must do after fighting so hard to keep the team in the state capital and new owner Vivek Ranadive feels good about the pick. 

"Basketball Never Stops," is the phrase coined by somebody who understands the NBA.  Just shortly after crowning a Champion, fans of the league were truly spoiled with entertainment last night.  The 2013 NBA Draft may not be remembered by the collection of talent, but, it is certainly a draft that I will never forget. 

 


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Draft Profile: Premier Point Guard Trey Burke

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Trey Burke.

Trey Burke is projected as the first guard off the board in the NBA Draft. (Associated Press)

Position: Point Guard
College: Michigan
DraftExpress Prediction: No. 6 in the first round, No. 6 overall to the New Orleans Pelicans

Synopsis: Burke led a heavily hyped Michigan squad to the national championship game, officially announcing the Wolverines' return to college basketball's highest level. Several times at the end of the regular season, Burke exhibited an intangible that makes coaches and scouts salivate: the clutch gene. Whether it was a making a late shot to clinch a game or send it to overtime or forcing a turnover that took away an opponent's last hope at winning, Burke repeatedly showed his ability to perform on both ends of the court when the atmosphere is at its most tense. This is perhaps just as important as any of his skills with a basketball, especially considering his short stature (5'11.75" without shoes; 6'1.25" with shoes) and lean 187-pound frame.

Burke's skills speak for themselves. He creates like a traditional point guard (7.7 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted), especially excelling at finding teammates in transition with a 4.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the fast break, which is good because his transition scoring is not ideal. However, Burke more than makes up for it in half-court sets, in which he executes well off the dribble and creates his own shot, often preferring to efficiently knock down pull-up jumpers rather than finishing at the rim. That would be an issue for most guards, but Burke is at home in the mid-range, as one of the few areas where his game could stand to improve is behind the arc, where he shot a paltry 38.3 percent as a sophomore, up from 34.8 percent as a freshman.

Burke's ability to score in multiple ways, as well as find shots for teammates all over the court, is complemented by the 1.9 steals per 40 minutes pace adjusted he compiled last season. His quick hands — the masters of his crafty ball-handling and fantastic passing — make Burke a capable ball-hawk on defense, but his size could be a problem when it comes to defending point guards of typical NBA size, who will likely stand several inches taller than him and could either work Burke into post-up situations or use their superior length to put the Michigan product on his heels. Teams have done worse than settling for such a good offensive weapon and forsaking some defense, however.

Quote to note: "On the court, in my opinion, it's totally different. Change of speed with the ball and things like that, I feel like that's a natural strength of mine, honestly. If you watch back at Michigan — even though this is another level — a lot of the times when I got to the rim, it was from change of speed, ball-handling and just craftiness. I feel like I am just as athletic as the guys my size. I don't feel like I'm a super-athlete, like Derrick Rose." - Trey Burke on his comparable athleticism after a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings.

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Draft Profile: Potential No. 1 Pick Nerlens Noel

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Nerlens Noel.

 

Nerlens Noel has the size to be great in the NBA, but how will his recently torn ACL hold up? (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

Position: Center
College: Kentucky
DraftExpress Prediction: No. 1 in the first round, No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Synopsis: He was expected to be an Anthony Davis lookalike in performance and in leading Kentucky to possibly a second-straight NCAA Championship. Nerlens Noel wasn't a dominant as Davis and his Wildcats were wildly disappointing, but Noel still made a name for himself last season, especially on the defensive end. His 4.4 blocks per game put him as one of the best in the country, while also grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game and just generally putting fear into any opponent who thinks of himself as brave enough to drive to the paint on Noel. On the offensive side, his game is certainly not terrible, but it has a long way to go. Noel averaged 10.5 points per game on 59 percent shooting from the field, but he only took less than seven shots per game. He is going to have to be more aggressive on the offensive end.

Then there's the knee. The second Noel flew at the basket against Florida you knew it wasn't good. The torn ACL put him out for the rest of the season and we still don't know what kind of shape the knee is in. The team that drafts Noel will know it may take more time for Noel to get back to his former self, which is asking a team with a very high draft pick, who is bad and one would assume wants to improve right away, to be patient. Noel will still be a top three pick, and potentially the No. 1 pick, mostly based on his size and physical attributes. It's hard to pass up a guy who is nearly 7-feet tall with a 7'4" wingspan and has the athletic ability, especially on defense, that Noel possesses. It will take some time, both for the knee and the growth of his offensive game, but the team that takes Noel is thinking about the future, and he could have a solid future in the NBA.

Quote to note: "We're talking about a No. 1 pick who's a defensive savant, but he can't score and is injured. Offensively, he has a long way to go. He scores off activity level, not skill level. And we can't forget he's hurt. We're not talking about a sprained ankle, you'd be drafting a guy who just tore his ACL. No one said, 'I don't think Greg Oden will pan out.' This is more unusual. For a top draft pick, he raises a lot of questions." - Jay Bilas on Noel via USA Today.

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Draft Profile: Making Baskets With Otto Porter

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Otto Porter.

Otto Porter probably scored on this play. (John McDonnell/Washington Post)

Position: Small Forward
College: Georgetown
DraftExpress Prediction: No. 3 in first round, No. 3 overall to the Washington Wizards

Synopsis: Otto Porter can get into the lane at will and succinctly score when he gets there. Remember Georgetown's late surge during the regular season that locked the Hoyas into an NCAA Tournament selection? Credit Porter's activity on both ends. On the offensive side in particular, Porter's enhanced three-point acumen (from 23 percent as a sophomore to 42 percent last season) added a new dimension to his game that made his entry to the paint that much simpler for him and that much more agonizing for onlooking coaches on the opposing bench. His 16.2 points per game (19.1 per 40 minutes pace adjusted) came from an efficient 48 percent shooting while using 21.7 percent of Georgetown's possessions when on the floor.

Thanks to his size, this scoring ability should translate to NBA courts. Porter's ideal height for a small forward (6'9") could stand to fill out (he's currently 198 pounds), but his length makes him a threat on defense, as well. His 7-foot-plus wingspan helped Porter poke away 2.1 steals per game as a senior. The three-man also nabbed 22.6 percent of his team's defensive rebounds, showing he does more than hit the boards for his own put-backs.

A necessary expansion of Porter's game to make him an all-around better scorer, and thus an all-around better threat, would be the addition of creating his own shot off the dribble. This would make him more dangerous in isolation situations and as part of a pick-and-roll tandem, thus allowing Porter to create more space for his teammates and perhaps see a jump in his assist numbers (2.7 per game last season). For the weight and off-the-bounce skills he currently lacks, though, Porter has shown he can make dramatic jumps in just one offseason. There is no sure-shot lottery pick in this draft, but Porter is one of the only players able to make an immediate impact for whichever team drafts him. 

Quote to note: “It has helped. Obviously, you can get better each and every day. Obviously, we didn't play our best game my last game. I wanted to come from that, to learn from that, and get better.” - Porter on Georgetown's NCAA Tournament loss to No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast, via DraftExpress. 

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Draft Profile: Shabazz Muhammad's Tenuous Stock

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Shabazz Muhammad.

The former No. 1 college recruit has questions to answer before the June 27 draft. (tucsoncitizen.com)

Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward

School: UCLA

DraftExpress Projection: No. 9 in the first round, No. 9 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Synopsis: Shabazz Muhammad came into this past season as the No. 1 recruit in the nation, and will enter the NBA as a lottery pick. However, there are certainly questions about Muhammad as he begins his professional career. While he showed some potent offensive skills, his defense, at times, left something to be desired, and there are questions about his motor and character. The combination of his talent and offensive skill set and his questionable motivation and defensive intensity makes Muhammad one of the more compelling prospects to track in this year’s NBA Draft.

There are plenty of positives about the former No. 1 recruit, mainly on the offensive side. He has the ability to get to the rim and is very good about moving without the ball to get open for his shots. He’s a very aggressive offensive player, averaging 18 points per game at UCLA, and puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses to always know where he was on the court. Muhammad also showed a well above-average jumpshot, knocking down nearly 40 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. DraftExpress also pegs Muhammad as an excellent offensive rebounder, as he consistently crashed the glass effectively for second-chance buckets. A major plus to Muhammed’s offensive game is he takes care of the ball, turning it over less than two times per game. He will need to work on his ball handling at the next level, as he will struggle to get his own shot against NBA-caliber defenders otherwise. Overall, Muhammad has a very polished, all-around offensive game.

Muhammad is not without flaws, however. His defensive performance is largely tied to how involved he is in the offense. When he’s in a rhythm and consistently getting shots to fall, Muhammad’s energy on the defensive side of the court is good. When he misses a few shots or simply goes a couple of possessions without touching the ball, his attention to detail and intensity on the defensive end tend to slip. He also doesn’t generate a lot of turnovers, which will make it interesting to see how he translates to the next level defensively. His athleticism has been called into question as well by those at DraftExpress, so it will be interesting to see how all these factors affect Muhammad’s transition to the NBA. There is also a cloud of drama that has hovered over his head since before he ever put on a UCLA Bruins jersey. Before ever playing in an NCAA game, he had issues with his eligibility. As the season went on, a major story broke about how Muhammad’s age was falsified. Finally, the Bruins of UCLA, led by Muhammad, took a tough first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament, which led to Ben Howland’s firing. All of these factors, combined with the questions about his defense, could lead to Muhammad’s slide in the draft.

Quote to Note: "There was some stuff that I wasn't really comfortable with. It wasn't a really up-tempo style of play, but I really enjoyed playing there... I didn't really get to show a lot of off-the-dribble stuff.” - Muhammad on Ben Howland’s system at UCLA, via CBSSports.com.

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Draft Profile: Tim Hardaway Jr., Doesn't Mind Shooting

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr., was the second-best player on the second-best team in college basketball last year. (annarbor.com)

Position: Shooting Guard
College: Michigan
Draft Express Prediction: No. 25 in the first round, No. 25 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers

Synopsis: The junior son of NBA player Tim Hardaway was the second-best player on a Michigan team that played in the national championship game, but was overshadowed a bit due to the play of point guard Trey Burke. Hardaway Jr., averaged 14.2 points per game last season, second most on the team, while showing impressive athletic ability.

The issue with Hardaway comes with shot selection. It took the guard 12.2 shots to average his 14 points and he only averaged 5.2 makes per game, for a 42.9 percentage from the floor. Hardaway has improved with his percentage off catch-and-shoot opportunities every year of his college career, but he has regressed in pull-up jumpers and runners around the rim.

(draftexpress.com)

Even if Hardaway Jr., takes a few bad shots a game, his confidence in his shot is always high, something that will be a benefit for him in the NBA. At 6'6" and 199 pounds, Hardaway Jr., is a big two-guard with a 37.5-inch vertical who is athletic enough to make plays around the rim for easy baskets. If Hardaway Jr., can improve his shooting, he has the build and athleticism to succeed as a guard in the NBA.

Quote to Note: "He has the pedigree, the positional size and the basketball instincts to play in the NBA for a long time, even as a solid role player. People in the Michigan basketball program have told me that he already handles himself like a 10-year pro" - Fran Frascilla on Hardaway Jr., being the most underrated player in the draft.

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Draft Profile: Pierre Jackson Goes From Juco to the Pros

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Pierre Jackson.

Like many point guards in this draft, Pierre Jackson is small but physical. (USA Today Sports)

Position: Point Guard
College: Baylor
DraftExpress Prediction: No. 2 in the second round, No. 32 overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Synopsis: In just two years in the conference, Pierre Jackson became one of the most decorated active players in the Big 12. Jackson, who earned numerous preseason and all-conference awards, emerged as Baylor's motor and one of the most important junior college transfers in recent history as a junior. Living in the heart of Big 12 country, I can personally attest Jackson is the real deal. It was not often that he encountered a defense he couldn't shred with pinpoint passes and precise, deceptive dribbles, enhanced further by his quickness and athleticism.

Among NBA-size frontcourts, some may worry about Jackson's court vision and finding his way through the trees or, rather, finding his teammates in between them. The 21-year-old fires off 7.8 assists per 40 minutes, pace adjusted, but that column should be the last of scouts' worries. Jackson's strong first step will command respect and his effectiveness in the pick-and-roll will allow him to facilitate and affect the game without scoring himself. His diminutive size will make it tough for Jackson to score baskets inside the paint, but he posted a 40.8 three-point percentage in his first year with the Bears and, although it dipped by nearly five percent as a senior, Jackson has shown a returned efficiency on perimeter jumpers. Not only is he able to create these shots for himself off the dribble, he can also serve as an effective catch-and-shoot performer, making a pairing with a passing big man ideal and two-PG sets possible for whichever team selects him. His scoring prowess is not relegated to behind the three-point arc, however, as he led Baylor with 19.8 points per game as a senior using a mixed bag of tricks.

All that being said, Jackson is nowhere near ready to take a seat at the helm of an NBA squad. He must control his turnovers (3.7 per 40, pace adjusted) and, as an extension, improve his decision-making, particularly in clutch moments when he is prone to forcing shots or moving with impatience. The most glaring hole in Jackson's game coming into pre-draft workouts was his defense and it continues to be an issue, as Jackson himself admits (see below). While at Baylor, he exhibited lackadaisical and sometimes unconcerned defensive play, which will only be magnified once he rises to the professional level of play. His sub-6' size doesn't help in the slightest on this end of the floor, either.

If he stays on the defense-optional path he currently travels, Jackson could be an archetypical bench player, supplying an offensive spark to a second unit teeming with other one-way oriented players. There is an upside to Jackson that, if placed on the right team, could make him a starter before his rookie year expires. It is contingent on the incumbent point guards, yes, but much of it also relies on Jackson's commitment to improving his all-around game.

Quote to Note: "I feel like [lack of size] shouldn't be an issue at all. You know, Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas have proved that throughout this past year. Like I said, I think I can play with the best of them. The taller guards gotta guard us, too. That's all I got to say about that." - Jackson disregarding the negative connotation of being a shorter guard in the NBA.

Bonus Quote(!): "Mediocre. I'm still working on it. Once I get the chance to play against the best, my competitive level is gonna get that much higher. Like I said, I'm still working on it... I'm just enjoying this [combine] process and just trying to get better." - Jackson offering the kind of honesty prospects rarely show during pre-draft interviews. Both quotes via DraftExpress.

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Draft Profile: High-Jumping Ray McCallum, Jr.

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Ray McCallum, Jr.

McCallum, Jr. is a hyper athletic guard from a mid-major conference. (bloguin.com)

Position: Point Guard
College: Detroit
DraftExpress Prediction: No. 17 in the second round, No. 47 overall to the Atlanta Hawks

Synopsis: Fourteen months ago, Ray McCallum, Jr. and his Detroit Titans teammates were darkhorse candidates to pull an NCAA Tournament upset. They had a seemingly favorable matchup against a below-standards Kansas program with a history of struggles against mid-major opponents in the big dance and teams from the Titans' conference, the Horizon League, had strong showings in recent tournament appearances, propelled largely by the success of Butler before it bolted for the Atlantic 10. The Jayhawks dashed Detroit's hopes quickly, winning 65-50 and marching to a national championship game against Kentucky. Facing Kansas, McCallum was about as much of a non-factor as a team's primary player can be, scoring just eight points on 4-15 shooting (including 0-5 from three), failing to get to the free-throw line and compiling a 5-5-3 assists-rebounds-steals line over 37 minutes of playing time.

More than a year later, McCallum improved his numbers in nearly every relevant category and had another season to mature, one in which his Detroit squad missed out on a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth by losing in its conference tournament. A magnificent ball-handler, McCallum managed 4.5 assists per game (4.8 per 40 minutes) during 2012-13 while assuming the role of the Titans' leading scorer, dropping 18.4 ppg (19.8 per 40). He's strongest inside the arc, shooting 47.7 percent from two-point territory compared to only converting 31.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. Regardless of his poor performance from long range, and his sub-par 71.5 percent free throw shooting, McCallum managed to be one of the NCAA's top scorers, finishing the season tied for 33rd among Division I players.

McCallum is capable of scoring and should be able to translate that when he enters pro ranks due to his athleticism. He has a 40" maximum vertical leap that will allow him to elevate at the rim and into the off-the-dribble jump shots he prefers to take. His efficiency will need to improve dramatically to make him a viable scoring option away from the hoop, but McCallum's ability to create his own shot and handle the ball in the open court ensures he will be an asset in the open court for whichever team selects him.

Like fellow point guard prospect Shane Larkin, McCallum is the son of a former professional athlete. The senior McCallum played in the NBA, thus McCallum Jr., should be well aware of the rigors that accompany a life in the Association.

To make his own way, McCallum the younger must make better shot selection when not attacking the paint. His decision-making elsewhere is not a problem, however, as he posted a solid 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio as a junior and turned the ball over on only 12 percent of the possessions he used this season. McCallum is a project, for sure, but his upside makes him worth a second-round pick as McCallum could produce immediately in limited minutes if given the chance.

Quote to Note: "I don't get to play on TV that much and seeing [the other PGs at the combine] play every night on TV while I'm sitting at home fuels my fire inside. [I was] eager to get the opportunity to play against those guys. Now that the chance is finally here, I'm just trying to showcase to everybody that I can play with anyone." - McCallum on the NBA Draft combine leveling the playing field for entrants from small schools, via DraftExpress.

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Draft Profile: Phil Pressey - Offense Initiator

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Phil Pressey.

Phil Pressey has experience leading an efficient offensive attack. (Dak Dillon/US Presswire)

Position: Point Guard
College: Missouri
Current DraftExpress Prediction: No. 21 second round, No. 51 overall to the Utah Jazz

Synopsis: His nickname is Flip. It's not quite as imposing as Pistol, but Phil Pressey is no Pete Maravich, either. He can make impressive passes yet he does not have the same scoring gene as Maravich, making him one of the closest prospects to a pure point guard in this year's NBA draft. Pressey recorded 240 assists in his junior year at Missouri, finishing behind only nine other D-I players in the statistical category, yet he did not crack the top 250 scorers on the NCAA's top level of competition. This is because Pressey was primarily busy advantageously facilitating the talented offensive pieces around him, posting final per-game lines of 11.9 points and 7.1 assists.
 
There will be worries about Pressey's size (5'11" with shoes, 177 lbs), but Hardwood Paroxysm's Kevin Hetrick found that size is often unimportant when it comes to translating a point guard's offensive game into NBA terms. Instead, for an upperclassman such as Pressey, agility is a more revealing statistic. Hetrick's correlation between NBA success and agility tilts in the Mizzou guard's favor. Though he did not rank near the top among players at his position, Pressey's 10.86 measurement is significantly better than the 11.15 combine average for point-men, according to DraftExpress. Coupled with his 3.13-second 3/4 court sprint — Hetrick also found a positive correlation with speed for point guards — Pressey could sneak into the first round or be a steal for a backcourt-needy team in the second round, in which he is likely to slide due to his "advanced" age of 22. 

Quote to note: "A lot of teams know what I'm capable of watching me play over my past three years at the University of Missouri, but what they didn't know is how I can pressure the ball and get into guys." - Pressey on his defense, a less talked about facet of his game, via NBA.com.

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Draft Profile: Small But Athletic Shane Larkin

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. Next up: Shane Larkin.

Shane Larkin may not be 6 feet tall, but he is one of the most athletic players in the draft this year. (washingtonpost.com)

Position: Point Guard
College: Miami
Current DraftExpress Prediction: No. 23 overall, No. 23 to the Indiana Pacers

Synopsis: Shane Larkin's physical qualities are both some of his biggest strengths and weaknesses. Larkin was measured at 5'11.5" with shoes on at the NBA draft combine, which will make him one of the smallest players on the court and could worry some teams. However, Larkin also recorded a 44-inch max vertical, which was the highest of the combine and second highest ever at the combine behind only former Kansas player Kenny Gregory, who had a 45-inch vertical. Larkin paired a high vertical with a great 3/4 court sprint time of 3.08 seconds. Larkin may be small, but he is athletic and that will make up for his lack of height.

On the court, Larkin was an offensive spark for Miami as a sophomore, leading the team with 14.5 points per game and 4.6 assists with eight games scoring more than 20 points. He was also a viable 3-point threat, hitting 40.6 percent of his threes last season. Most importantly, Larkin only turned the ball over an average of 2.3 times per game and he was forcing nearly that same amount by recording two steals per game.

Off the court might be another reason teams will be comfortable taking Larkin. It's well known that Larkin is the son of MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, so Shane has spent his entire life around professional sports. The sport isn't the same, but Shane knows the environment, routine and what is expected from a professional athlete, so one would think the adjustment to professional basketball from an everyday life standpoint will be easier for Larkin than it may be for others.

Quote to note: “I knew I could jump. I knew I was fast. I didn’t think the teams knew how high I could jump, how athletic I was or how much I can bench press. So just being able to show that even though I’m a smaller guy, I can play above the rim and I’m strong enough to battle the big guards is a good thing.” - Shane Larkin on his athletic ability via the Chicago Sun-Times.

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Sadness Wins the No. 1 Pick in the NBA Draft Lottery

This undoctored photo of a projected lottery pick exists.

The NBA's annual draft lottery will be held tonight on national television. The luck of the proud men and women representing each of the Association's least successful franchises will tentatively decide which team picks where through the first 14 spots in the draft. But remember that, no matter who walks away with the No. 1 pick, they will feel the intense burn of shame rising through their body because, well, all these teams sucked this year. Here's why the no one walks away from this a winner:

Orlando Magic (20-62; 25 percent chance): Nothing is quite as magical as 3.5 hours away from the NBA's best team.

Charlotte Horned Bobs (21-61; 19.9 percent): Google thinks this guy is your new mascot/jersey designer.

Cleveland Cavaliers (24-58; 15.6 percent): The Cavs' star player probably isn't named after a Sailor Moon character, but who knows? He could be. I didn't check.

Phoenix Suns (25-57; 11.9 percent): By hook or by crook, owner Robert Sarver will mismanage this franchise to an NBA championship before 2098.

New Orleans Pelicans (27-55; 8.8 percent): Austin Rivers: point guard.

Sacramento Kings (28-54; 6.3 percent): Everything is going right for Sacramento right now. The Kings are destined to win the draft lottery, falling prey to the Maloofs' long-gestating endgame: trading the No. 1 overall pick for the rights to Wisconsin Sentor Herb Kohl's Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for favored residency.

Detroit Pistons (29-53; 3.6 percent): Have fun living in Detroit.

Washington Wizards (29-53; 3.5 percent): Michael Jordan played only 98 fewer minutes for the Wiz in two seasons than John Wall has through three years.

Minnesota Timberwolves (31-51; 1.7 percent): There's an Eastern timber wolf and a Canadian timber wolf. Both species reside in Canada. This is clearly the next franchise to relocate.

Portland Trail Blazers (33-49; 1.1 percent): The Blazers have been a sinking ship since Juwan Howard left, and Damian Lillard is no Juwan.

Philadelphia 76ers (34-48; 0.8 percent): Text Andrew Bynum later and let him know the outcome. He can't watch the lottery because he'll be too busy teaching everyone on the front office's draft board how to bowl.

Toronto Raptors (34-48; 0.8 percent): The Raptor is one of the NBA's best mascots. He's entertaining, energetic and interactive. To wit, he's nothing like the team he represents.

Dallas Mavericks (41-41; 0.6 percent): Myth: reached a .500 record so they could "shave" their beards. Fact: Mark Cuban has had the Mavs training staff give players estrogen in increasing doses to achieve Cuban's dream of creating a team of Brittney Griners.

Utah Jazz (43-39; 0.5 percent): Technically, the Jazz didn't suck. They were a fringe playoff team going into the finals weeks of the regular season. But they reside in the "Beehive State" and when Gordon Hayward realizes this, he's bound to do something inherently nerdy with it.

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Draft Profile: Pass-First Prospect Michael Carter-Williams

In the run-up to the 2013 NBA Draft on June 27, the BDD staff will be profiling several projected lottery picks and other draft entrants. First up: Michael Carter - Williams.

NBA scouts think Michael Carter-Williams' greatest strength is the length of his tongue. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Position: Point Guard 
College: Syracuse
Current DraftExpress Projection: No. 12 first round, No. 12 overall to Oklahoma City Thunder 

Synopsis: Michael Carter-Williams is not Michigan's Trey Burke or Lousiville's Peyton Siva. Those diminutive point guards led their respective teams to the national championship as a follow-through on season-long hype around both programs. Carter-Williams, the lengthy Syracuse pointman, inherited his own history-rich squad as a sophomore after playing just 10 minutes per game as a freshman. Depleted by the holes left by the departures of Fab Melo and the back court duo of Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters, Carter-Williams was tasked with running a team in what usually looks like college basketball's best conference during his program's final year before defecting.

How did it end? Carter-Williams led his team to a fifth place conference finish after a three-way tie atop the Big East before spearheading the Orange's run to the Final Four. C.J. Fair took the scoring reins and led Syracuse in rebounds, but Carter-Williams held his own, executing the offense to the tune of 7.3 assists per game, which landed him fifth amongst all players in the NCAA last season. His 2.15 assist-to-turnover ratio (7.3 apg to 2.4 TO per game) is not great, but is passable for a second-year point guard who experienced limited playing time as a freshman.

What truly separates Carter-Williams from the rest of this year's point guard crop in the draft is his size: he stands nearly 6'6" and weighs 184 pounds. He has the size but lacks the shooting stroke to play shooting guard, but his court vision and wingspan (measured over 6'7" at the pre-draft combine) will make him a challenge for the majority of point guards currently playing in the NBA, let alone smaller opponents. Carter-Williams' battery of ball-handling skills allow him to create his own shots and, with an improvement in his field goal percentage (43.8 from two, 29.2 from three), he could be a full offensive threat on the professional level. The polish Carter-Williams needs to add in that aspect is balanced by his defensive abilities. Though playing in Syracuse's zone defense during college, Carter-Williams proved to have quick feet to jump passing lanes in addition to exercising the patience and deftness needed to nab 111 steals through 40 games, good for fourth in the NCAA.

There's development to be done, which could cause Carter-Williams to fall in the draft in what is already perceived as a weak class. But if a franchise is interested in a project with sizable upside - or the team is confident that the 21-year-old can develop enough to be game-ready by the fall - Carter-Williams is worth a look.

Quote to Note: "That would be nice, but I kind of want to get away and play somewhere else" - Carter-Williams, a native of Hamilton, Mass., on possibly getting drafted by the Boston Celtics. Via the Boston-Herald.

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