Todd Salem 2013 NBA Mock Draft - 22 June 2013

1. Anthony Bennett 2. Alex Len 3. Victor Oladipo 4. Otto Porter 5. Nerlens Noel
Round 1
1Cleveland Cavaliers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesClevelandAnthony BennettPFUNLV
At this point, Nerlens Noel is more red flags than man. The injuries are not even as big a concern as the off-court business. Apparently, agent troubles, bad advice, bad character and everything in between is submarining his stock. Cleveland will look elsewhere and settle on either Alex Len or Bennett, with Bennett getting the edge for his athleticism.
2Orlando Magic 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesOrlandoAlex LenCMaryland
The Magic will be hoping Alex Len does not vault all the way to number one since they could really use a post-up scorer inside. Len is the only man at the top of the draft who fits that bill.
3Washington Wizards 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesWashingtonVictor OladipoSGIndiana
The player with the highest floor in this draft is Oladipo. At worst, he will be a long-time NBA role player set to defend and shoot threes. His ceiling is obviously much more than that but Washington may very well be getting the safest player third overall.
4Charlotte Bobcats 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesCharlotteOtto PorterSFGeorgetown
An all-around talent, Porter will have a lot of pressure on him to be a big-time scorer from day one. In college, he showed the ability to lead a team's offense. It remains to be seen how much of a leap his game can take in this regard though.
5Phoenix Suns 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhoenixNerlens NoelCKentucky
Phoenix stops the Noel plummeting at five. The question marks are plentiful; the upside is also. Not necessarily a team need with so many other holes to fill, the Suns are just taking the best player available here.
6New Orleans Pelicans 2013 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesNew OrleansBen McLemoreSGKansas
The same goes for New Orleans who will pounce on the man who many thought could go as high as second a few weeks back. McLemore's scoring should fit in well with this team. He just needs to prove he can take over games and be more aggressive with the basketball.
7Sacramento Kings 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesSacramentoCody ZellerCIndiana
Thanks to a tremendous combine workout, Zeller has climbed back up to the area where he was projected to go prior to last season. A super athletic big man who can run the floor, finish in traffic will be a nice compliment to DeMarcus Cousins: a slogging big man who runs the floor only when chased.
8Detroit Pistons 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDetroitTrey BurkePGMichigan
With the thought that Brandon Knight is more of a two guard than a point, Trey Burke will have a chance to start here. His size and strength will play a factor in how quickly that comes to fruition. The rest of his game is in pretty good shape otherwise.
9Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMinnesotaKentavious Caldwell-PopeSGGeorgia
Perhaps the best shooter at the top of this draft, Caldwell-Pope fills a big need for the Timberwolves. He should fit in well in the clubhouse too, being used to losing so much at Georgia.
10Portland Trail Blazers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPortlandSteven AdamsCPittsburgh
Adams did not have the best freshman season, making it possible he would have returned to Pitt for his sophomore year. However, as a projected lottery pick, he probably made the right decision. His body is big and ready; his game is not. 
11Philadelphia 76ers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhiladelphiaLucas NogueiraCInternational
Philadelphia might have been targeting Steven Adams here but with him going to Portland, the Sixers will be forced to look overseas for their inside presence. Rudy Gobert was originally thought of as the top international center prospect but with his stock falling, Nogueira has begun to climb.
12Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesOklahoma City (from TOR)C.J. McCollumPGLehigh
OKC will be pleasantly surprised if CJ McCollum falls to them at 12. He is one of the more experienced and polished players in the draft and is a good scoring point guard. The Thunder already have a pretty good scoring point guard but may find reason to play McCollum alongside Russell Westbrook if the fit feels right.
13Dallas Mavericks 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDallasMichael Carter-WilliamsPGSyracuse
Michael Carter-Williams is a giant point guard with good court sense. He possesses many of the tangibles and intangibles a team would look for in a guard. He is wiry and thin, and struggles with his shot though. If the outside shooting concerns weren't there, he would be a top three pick.
14Utah Jazz 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesUtahMason PlumleePFDuke
After missing out on two point guards they might have been targeting, Utah will be forced to look inside instead. Mason Plumlee has less upside than many of the other bigs in this draft. Utah knows what he is good at though: leaping, dunking, running the floor, rebounding and creating havoc near the rim on both offense and defense.
15Milwaukee Bucks 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMilwaukeeShane LarkinPGMiami (FL)
Larkin had an insane sophomore year that essentially forced him to declare for the NBA draft. His stock would never be higher. The Miami guard showed all the skills necessary to excel at the point and proved he could carry a team to boot.
16Boston Celtics 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesBostonReggie BullockSGNorth Carolina
The Boston Celtics are in flux. They need to get younger but also they need a scoring punch. Reggie Bullock may be the best shooter left at this point in the draft and he should help space the floor while defenses continue to lag off of Rajon Rondo.
17Atlanta Hawks NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesAtlantaJamaal FranklinSGSan Diego State
Franklin is not the most polished offensive shooting guard. His scoring is not his strength though. The San Diego State product does pretty much everything else well, and may fill in as a mini version of Josh Smith if the Hawks vet goes elsewhere.
18Atlanta Hawks NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesAtlanta (from HOU)Shabazz MuhammadSG/SFUCLA
With back to back picks and Atlanta taking a defender, hustler, athlete at 17, it makes sense they would target scoring at 18 and Shabazz Muhammad is just that. He may not do anything else well…he may not do anything else period, but the man can score.
19Cleveland Cavaliers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesCleveland (from LAL)Tim Hardaway, Jr.SGMichigan
Tim Hardaway Jr. does not have his dad's crossover or penetration ability. He is a better outside shooter and a bigger body than his old man was though. Teamed with Dion Waiters, Hardaway should provide another threat that teams have to account for, opening up space for Kyrie Irving.
20Chicago Bulls 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesChicagoSergey KarasevSGInternational
Even with the return of Derrick Rose, Chicago should be able to find minutes for Karasev in the backcourt. He is a smart passer with a good court sense who may excel playing at the same time as the superstar.
21Utah Jazz 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesUtah (from GS)Dennis SchroederPGInternational
Utah may feel the need to take Schroeder at 14, fearing he won't last until pick 21. Either way, the Jazz like what the foreign point guard brings to the table. With a hole at the position and a reloading roster of young bigs, it makes sense to want to bring in a young point as well.
22Brooklyn Nets 2013 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesBrooklynGlen Rice, Jr.SGGeorgia Tech
Having played in the D-League this past season, Rice is perhaps the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft. With a number of older vets and an impatient owner, this might be just the type of player the Nets desire. Rice should be able to contribute behind the aging Joe Johnson from day one.
23Indiana Pacers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesIndianaIsaiah CanaanPGMurray State
The Pacers had one glaring hole on their roster in the Eastern Conference Finals: their bench, namely back-up point guard. When George Hill hit the bench, things became very hairy. Isaiah Canaan is an experienced guard who can score and should be an immediate upgrade over the likes of DJ Augustin.
24New York Knicks 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesNew YorkTony SnellSFNew Mexico
The Knicks like athletes and the Knicks like wings. Tony Snell is not the knockdown shooter New York tried to flood their roster with in 2013 but he is a very capable scorer who does loads of other things.
25L.A. Clippers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesL.A. ClippersKelly OlynykCGonzaga
Whether the Clippers trade DeAndre Jordan or not, they are dangerously thin on the inside. The team struggled to find big men to play late in games last season. Olynyk is not a super athlete like Jordan but LA may find him a more desirable alternative nonetheless.
26Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMinnesota (from MEM)Ricardo LedoSGProvidence
Doubling up on shooters hoping to hit on one may not be the most efficient use of two first round picks. However, for a team that is pretty solid when everyone is healthy, nailing one of two dead eye shooters would be a huge boon. 
27Denver Nuggets 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDenverTony MitchellSFNorth Texas
Denver was crowded on the wing last season. This may not be the case anymore, leaving playing time for Tony Mitchell. The forward from North Texas reminds some folks of Denver's Andre Iguodala, right down to the shaky jump shot.
28San Antonio Spurs 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesSan AntonioGiannis AdetokunboSFInternational
San Antonio may strike gold yet again in the international market. There are a lot of questions surrounding Adetokunbo, first of which is how to actually spell his name. But his versatility and court smarts fit in the Spurs' system.
29Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesOklahoma CityRudy GobertCInternational
Originally thought of as a possible lottery pick, for the size-strapped Thunder, Gobert is too good of a value to pass up at this point in the draft. With rumors that Kendrick Perkins may get amnestied, OKC has very little interior presence on offense or defense with the realization that Serge Ibaka is more of a spot up jump shooter.
30Phoenix Suns 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhoenix (from MIA)Allen CrabbeSGCalifornia
If Phoenix has Nerlens Noel fall into their lap at the beginning of the draft, they are playing with house money with this final pick in the first round. Grabbing Crabbe solidifies their backcourt with a shooter capable of generating his own shot as well as open shots for others. Crabbe came on strong at Cal, proving he can have an offense run through him.
Round 2
31Cleveland Cavaliers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesCleveland (from ORL)Ryan KellyPFDuke
31st may be a bit early for Ryan Kelly but with the way the league is going, a long power forward who can knock down threes consistently is so incredibly valuable. 
32Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesOklahoma City (from CHA)Grant JerrettPFArizona
Grant Jarrett never really showed any dominance or much aggressiveness in college. This may stem from the fact that he played just one year at a school brimming with young talent.
33Cleveland Cavaliers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesClevelandGorgui DiengPFLouisville
Dieng is a proven commodity: a player who will be able to block shots, rebound and defend. His upside may be limited; his talent is evident.
34Houston Rockets 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesHouston (from PHX)Alex AbrinesSGInternational
As with many international youngsters, Alex Abrines did not get a ton of playing time this past season. His skills (shooting, ball-handling, jumping) may need some time.
35Philadelphia 76ers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhiladelphia (from NO)Nate WoltersPGSouth Dakota State
Coming from a small school, Nate Wolters has to prove his collegiate level of competition is not an issue. Tremendous outside range is a skill that usually transfers over.
36Sacramento Kings 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesSacramentoAndre RobersonSFColorado
If Kawhi Leonard proved anything in this year's playoffs it's that rebounding from a small forward is such a valuable asset. He continually created mismatches on the boards when opponents went small against the Spurs. Roberson has similar potential.
37Detroit Pistons 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDetroitC.J. LeslieSF/PFNorth Carolina State
Leslie is an immensely talented forward who never quite lived up to expectations personally or on the Wolfpack. He is a good value in the second round though.
38Washington Wizards 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesWashingtonTrevor MbakwePFMinnesota
Coming off of serious injuries and off-court troubles, Trevor Mbakwe's stock is low. He proved though, in his time at Minnesota, that he has some skills that will certainly translate to the next level.
39Portland Trail Blazers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPortland (from MIN)Deshaun ThomasSFOhio State
Bench scoring is an underrated piece of a championship team. Deshaun Thomas has the confidence and the skill set to be a team's main, second unit scoring punch.
40Portland Trail Blazers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPortlandJackie CarmichaelPFIllinois State
As a compliment to the offensive elite LaMarcus Aldridge, Jackie Carmichael is a shot-blocking, leaping, defensive hound. 
41Philadelphia 76ers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhiladelphiaColton IversonCColorado State
After the Andrew Bynum debacle, Philly has to start over on the block. Iverson is a solid post scorer and rebounder but lacks that Bynum upside.
42Memphis Grizzlies 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMemphis (from TOR)Pierre JacksonPGBaylor
Speed, quickness and getting to the rim are traits every team desires from their backup point guard. Jackson has them in spades.
43Milwaukee Bucks 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMilwaukeeRay McCallumPGDetroit
An all-around, efficient, pass-first point guard may be the pleasant change Milwaukee fans have been hoping for after experiencing the Brandon Jennings-Monta Ellis pairing. If McCallum can play alongside Shane Larkin, all the better.
44Dallas Mavericks 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDallasJeff WitheyCKansas
Dallas is used to having defensive game-changers on the inside. Withey was every bit of that in college and should protect the rim well in the NBA.
45Portland Trail Blazers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPortland (from BOS)Carrick FelixSGArizona State
Felix will not stick in the league for long if his shooting and offensive game does not become more consistent. He should get drafted though just based on his defense alone.
46Utah Jazz 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesUtahLorenzo BrownPGNorth Carolina State
Many thought Brown would find himself in the lottery prior to last college season. He and NC State had an awfully disappointing season and here we are. However, Brown may prove to be one of the best bargains in the draft if he goes 46th.
47Atlanta Hawks NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesAtlantaB.J. YoungPGArkansas
If he develops his jump shot and cuts down on mistakes, Young could become a very solid point guard; his ball-handling and penetration skills are already there.
48Atlanta Hawks NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesAtlanta (from HOU)Arsalan KazemiPFOregon
Perhaps a bit small as an NBA power forward, Kazemi will have to rely on his effort and motor as a garbage scorer, rebounder and defender.
49L.A. Lakers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesL.A. LakersMyck KabongoPGTexas
Myck Kabongo is much more famous for off-court issues than anything he's done on it. People were sky high on him coming out of high school. The tune has changed drastically coming out of college as he didn't stay long enough to validate anything.
50Chicago Bulls 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesChicagoMike MuscalaPFBucknell
Some teams may have shied away from Muscala because of his limited upside and lack of elite athleticism. Chicago knows they would be getting a smart and efficient post player though.
51Orlando Magic 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesOrlando (from GS)Marko TodorovicFInternational
Having not played much overseas, Orlando would be taking a risk here that Todorovic can develop into a versatile inside-outside scorer
52Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMinnesota (from BRK)Archie GoodwinSGKentucky
At this point in the draft, Goodwin's value is too hard to pass up. For a player so highly rated out of high school, a mid-second round pick is risk enough that he can improve on his freshman year at Kentucky.
53Indiana Pacers 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesIndianaRichard HowellPFNorth Carolina State
In an ever-changing league where specialization is becoming vital, everyone is aware of Richard Howell's skills and that they should translate well to the NBA.
54Washington Wizards 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesWashington (from NY)Augusto LimaPFInternational
A long, athletic power forward who can run the floor and finish alley-oops from John Wall is a perfectly complimentary piece to a growing team.
55Memphis Grizzlies 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMemphisJames SoutherlandSFSyracuse
A prototypical small forward with a nice outside touch, James Southerland will become important to a team desperate for a deep threat.
56Detroit Pistons 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesDetroit (from LAC)Livio Jean CharlesSFInternational
With solid guard play and a couple good building blocks on the inside, Detroit lacks athletes and finishers on the wing. Livio Jean Charles is both of these things.
57Phoenix Suns 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesPhoenix (from DEN)Phil PresseyPGMissouri
People around the country were flabbergasted and disappointed in Phil Pressey's final year at Missouri. He needs to improve his court sense and decision-making if he hopes to stick in the league.
58San Antonio Spurs 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesSan AntonioErick GreenPGVirginia Tech
Leading the ACC in scoring is nothing to sniff at. Green's court vision and passing is underrated to boot. When San Antonio was forced to play Manu Ginobili at backup point guard during the finals, they wished they had a player like Green to come in.
59Minnesota Timberwolves 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMinnesota (from OKC)DeWayne DedmonCUSC
A big body with athleticism but raw offensive skills is worth a flyer this late in the process.
60Memphis Grizzlies 2012 NBA Mock Draft college basketball player profilesMemphis (from MIA)Brandon PaulSGIllinois
Memphis will look to add another shooter to their roster in the hopes that the black hole of outside scoring that occurred in this year's playoffs does not happen again.