2013 NBA Draft

[Mdog1]

With the way some of the top prospects haven't blown anyone away, I think it's becoming more and more likely that Grant will shock the Cavs fanbase and pick Gobert like I predicted.

edit: not saying it's the right pick... Just that it's such a Grant pick.

If we get the number 1-3 picks, and he picks Gobert then I want him fired. Seriously.

Gobert's got all of the measurables to be great, but my god he is not at his current level of play worthy of a top 10 pick, let alone a top 5.

[ajz20]

Get me Alex Len...end of story.

Are you giving us hints that the organization is high on him? I have Len and Muhmamad 1A and 1b. Len reminds me a Rick Smits Z clone.

[Homestar]

With the way some of the top prospects haven't blown anyone away, I think it's becoming more and more likely that Grant will shock the Cavs fanbase and pick Gobert like I predicted.

edit: not saying it's the right pick... Just that it's such a Grant pick.

That won't be happening. He's averaging 7 & 5... in France.

[Tecumseh]

Rudy Gobert- He has a massive wingspan and is very athletic. Is he the next Alexi Ajinca? Or will become a dominant force? I think people forget how much potential Ajinca had. Gobert's size and athleticism are enough to make a lot of scouts drool. He just screams player that rockets up draft boards once he measures in and works out. Given the Cavs extensive scouting in Europe I'm sure they are looking at this kid. Will they take a swing for the fences? Grant has shown he doesn't do what the pundits predict, so seeing Gobert in a Cavalier uniform is entirely possible.

Alex Len- Perhaps the most polished all around big man prospect. That Kentucky performance was something special. Looks a lot like Zydrunas pre-foot issues meaning he has all the tools to be a franchise center. The Cavs passed on Jonas. Given the chance, I doubt they pass on Len. Len would be a great fit and could pretty much play on the court with any of the Cavs current bigs.

[pr26]

Len would REALLY help our floor spacing, giving Irving and Dion more room to operate.

[adam81king]

My dream draft right now looks like this:
Alex Len 7'1" C Maryland--Is he what Zydrunas should've been pre foot injuries? Certainly looks that way. My only concern is his strength against NBA centers. He can score and rebound.
Tony Mitchell 6'8" SF North Texas--Probably won't be able to draft him, but he's physically imposing as a SF with the mental aspect being the only reason he isn't a superstar.
Nate Wolters 6'4" PG South Dakota State--Should be a solid backup PG. Can help get the 2nd unit the ball where they need it, but can also score on his own.
Joffrey Lauvergne 6'10" PF France--Young version of Andy. Great hustle, awesome rebounding and defense.

Other players I'm keeping an eye on:
Steven Adams 7'0" C Pittsburgh--still think he's the best long term center in college, but don't think he'll come out.
Otto Porter 6'8" SF Georgetown--he's more Tayshaun Prince than anything else. If the Cavaliers get a bona fide post scorer somehow, Porter could be a good fit, not otherwise.
Ben McLemore 6'5" SG Kansas--he's a prototypical SG. He can shoot, has above-average athleticism and good size. He'd be higher if they they didn't spend #4 on Waiters last year.
Isaiah Austin 7'1" PF Baylor--I think he could be good, but he's absolutely a PF in the League. He's got more Byron Mullens in his game than Tyson Chandler. Could he be a better Dirk?
Dario Saric 6'10" SF Croatia--Solid playmaker. Mix of Danilo Galinari and Manu Ginobilli. Not very athletic, but gritty and smart.
Rudy Gobert 7'2" C France--the longest player in basketball. He'll remind of Ryan Hollins until you see his toughness. Still needs to get stronger and more polished on offense, though.

There are others I'm keeping tabs on, but these are the tops on my list right now.

[stoike]

You guys are crazy if you think they (at this point at least) should draft Lynn, let alone Gobert with a top-3 pick. I would be much happier with Noel.

[BimboColesHair]

You guys are crazy if you think they (at this point at least) should draft Lynn, let alone Gobert with a top-3 pick. I would be much happier with Noel.

Who is this "Lynn" you speak of. And if you think Noel has proved himself (in your words "at this point at least") to be a top 3 pick and LEN hasn't, then you're crazy.

[adam81king]

I wouldn't draft Lynn with a top 3 pick either. Mostly because I have no idea who he is, how tall he is, or what position he plays.

Alex Len is all of 7+' with excellent footwork and face-up game, above average athleticism and post moves, a willingness to block shots and rebound and a work ethic to get better at all of those things. As I mentioned, his weakness is his strength to bang down low with NBA centers on a consistent basis. Strength is something that can be acquired, though, so I'm less worried about it with Len. The Cavaliers have no player they can give the ball to in the post that can score on their own. They need that as much as, if not more than, a player that can protect the rim. Len, as it happens, can do both of those things (even if he doesn't have as much natural athleticism to block shots as Noel does).

Rudy Gobert has the size to block shots from the bench. A 7'9" wingspan is ridiculous. A 7'9" wingspan perched on top of a 7'2" frame is even more ridiculous. He's still VERY light in the britches and struggles a bit with offensive moves, but he's shown the ability to contribute and protect the rim in the NBA from day 1. Will he be able to hold his own ground on offense and defense in the NBA? Will be be Tyson Chandler? Will he ever have an offensive game? Will he be Shawn Bradley? Those are questions that need to be answered. I don't think anyone would take him in the top 3 today, but he certainly has the ability to earn it.

[Jack Brickman]

I just hate trying to figure out who I want the team to draft this early in college basketball. As with every year, players will see their stock rise and fall throughout the year, and we won't really know who is looking the best until around when the tournament starts.

[adam81king]

I just hate trying to figure out who I want the team to draft this early in college basketball. As with every year, players will see their stock rise and fall throughout the year, and we won't really know who is looking the best until around when the tournament starts.

Picking guys that only look good when the tournament starts is almost always a bad choice. That's fools gold. If a player gets hot, he'll rise up draft charts (Derrick Williams, anyone?) and if he cools off, he'll drop like a rock. You want to get the guy that has been consistently good, or good for a longer amount of time than just a hot streak. Yes, you want to watch the tournament and see how a player does when he's under pressure, but you can't watch that to base your scouting on without having the rest of the season as well.

[Jack Brickman]

Picking guys that only look good when the tournament starts is almost always a bad choice. That's fools gold. If a player gets hot, he'll rise up draft charts (Derrick Williams, anyone?) and if he cools off, he'll drop like a rock. You want to get the guy that has been consistently good, or good for a longer amount of time than just a hot streak. Yes, you want to watch the tournament and see how a player does when he's under pressure, but you can't watch that to base your scouting on without having the rest of the season as well.

I think you misread my post. I said we'll only know who is who around when the tournament starts, as that is basically the end of the college season. I wasn't referring to guys who did awesome in the tournament, or else I would have said after the tournament.

[MrsCavelette]

Been a while since I've been on here, but I've been eying the following for the past few years:

Alex Len

Doug McDermott (6'8 SF from Creighton) <-----SF version of Varejao in terms of hustle & heart

Dario Saric (draft & stash?)

Nate Wolters (glad another poster mentioned him. Reminds me of Nash @ Santa Clara)

Special Mention: Anthony Bennett (Freshman PF for UNLV. A bit undersized, but reminds me of Z-Bo)

There's NO way Cavs would draft more than 2 rookies in 2013, but just putting my $0.02 in.

[Ruken]

Really want Len and Porter. Solves two big needs for us.

[Goldin Brown]

Updated mock from DraftExpress: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2013/

Lottery

1 Shabazz Muhammad SG
19 years old; 6'6"; 223 lbs.
UCLA, Freshman

2 Nerlens Noel C
18 years old; 6'11"; 216 lbs.
Kentucky, Freshman

3 Cody Zeller C
20 years old; 7'0"; 240 lbs.
Indiana, Sophomore

4 Rudy Gobert PF/C
20 years old; 7'1"; 235 lbs.
Cholet, International

5 Alex Len C
19 years old; 7'1"; 225 lbs.
Maryland, Sophomore

6 Isaiah Austin C
19 years old; 6'11"; 201 lbs.
Baylor, Freshman

7 Alex Poythress SF/PF
19 years old; 6'8"; 239 lbs.
Kentucky, Freshman

8 Archie Goodwin SG
18 years old; 6'5"; 195 lbs.
Kentucky, Freshman

9 Mason Plumlee PF
22 years old; 6'11"; 245 lbs.
Duke, Senior

10 James McAdoo PF
19 years old; 6'9"; 226 lbs.
North Carolina, Sophomore

11 Tony Mitchell PF
20 years old; 6'8"; 235 lbs.
North Texas, Sophomore

12 C.J. McCollum PG/SG
21 years old; 6'3"; 165 lbs.
Lehigh, Senior

13 Otto Porter SF
19 years old; 6'9"; 200 lbs.
Georgetown, Sophomore

14 B.J. Young SG
19 years old; 6'3"; 158 lbs.
Arkansas, Sophomore