2014 NBA Mock Draft, 2.0

Last year's NBA draft class was one of the most lackluster classes in recent memory. Based on the group of draft-eligible prospects this year, however, the 2014 draft class has the potential to develop into one of the greatest ever.

While some in the group may never live up to their potential at the next level, this year's class certainly does not lack hype.

From now until the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 26th, my mock will be updated frequently and we will have other mocks from our other contributors as well.

[Follow our basketball updates on Twitter via @HitTheBoards.]

The NBA Draft lottery will take place on May 20th and that could alter the draft order for the first 14 picks, but the order of the non-lottery picks has already been determined.

If you would like to view other opinions, check out our 2014 NBA mock draft database for more mocks.

Otherwise, here is my updated 2014 NBA Mock Draft:

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1. Milwaukee Bucks - Andrew Wiggins, SG, Kansas

Entering college with lofty and perhaps unfair expectations, Wiggins received as much hype and buzz as any prep phenom since LeBron James. Before arriving in Lawrence, Wiggins was widely viewed as the consensus top prospect in the draft even if he did not occupy that spot throughout the entire college season.

While Duke's Jabari Parker may be more NBA-ready today, no prospect has as much upside as Wiggins. And while his Jayhawks teammate Joel Embiid was viewed as the top prospect in the draft for much of the college season, there are some concerns about the back injury that sidelined him down the stretch.

Exceptionally quick and explosive, Wiggins has great length (6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan) as a two guard with the versatility to play either forward spot as well. In addition, he's an excellent shooter with good range. If there's a knock on Wiggins, however, it's that he's not as aggressive on the offensive end as he should be at times.

2. Philadelphia 76ers - Jabari Parker, SF, Duke

Although the Sixers miss out on the son of former Sixer Mitchell Wiggins, Parker is an outstanding consolation prize. There was initially some uncertainty about whether he would declare or return to Duke, but Parker is the most NBA-ready prospect in this year's draft class.

While Parker lacks the elite athleticism that Wiggins possesses and his defense is a weakness, Parker can take over a game offensively and score in a variety of ways. Parker will be the odds-on favorite to lead all rookies in scoring next season.

3. Orlando Magic - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas

The most important thing with Embiid will be the medical report(s) about his back. Certainly unfair from a comparison standpoint, the name you most often hear is Hakeem Olajuwon when it comes to Embiid, who has only played basketball for about four years.

A very athletic seven-footer, Embiid runs the floor well, can shoot well for his size and has a nice low-post game in addition to being a great rebounder and shot blocker. With Nikola Vucevic already on the roster, Australia's Dante Exum may better fit the team's needs, but I can't see Embiid slipping past this spot (depending on his back, of course).

With a second lottery pick, the Magic can add a point guard like Syracuse's Tyler Ennis (spoiler alert) like I project.

4. Utah Jazz - Dante Exum, PG, Australia

The Australian point guard has outstanding size and length for a point guard with excellent quickness and the ability to get to the rim. While he needs to improve his outside shot, Exum will be the first guard prospect off the board and could even be a top-three pick.

5. Boston Celtics - Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

Averaging a double-double (15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game) this season, Randle is the best player available here. This coast-to-coast dunk for the 6-foot-9 250-pounder shows his unique skill set for his size:



- View my full 2014 NBA mock draft here

For more mock drafts, view our NBA Mock Draft Database here.

2014 NFL Draft: 2014 NFL mock draft - NFL draft big board - NFL mock draft database

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Consensus NBA Power Rankings, Week 22

As Yogi Berra once said, it's been "deja vu all over again" for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Losing to the Bulls on Saturday, the 76ers extended their franchise-worst losing streak to 24 games. The previous club record was set more than 40 years ago when the Sixers lost 20 consecutive games in the 1972-73 season.

Not only are the Sixers tied with the Cavs for the second-longest losing streak in NBA history, but the 2010-11 LeBron James-less Cavs squad set the NBA record of 26 straight losses.

Up next for the Sixers are two difficult road matchups against the Spurs (on Monday) and Rockets (on Thursday). If (or should I say when?) the Sixers lose those two games, they will tie the record.

After that point, they have a couple of winnable (or at least, less difficult) games against the Pistons, Hawks, Bobcats and Celtics. All four of those teams have losing records.

As the Sixers continue to tank lose, the obvious goal is to accumulate more ping-pong balls for the lottery and the opportunity to get a stud like Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker in June's NBA Draft. And since they traded Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans last year, the Sixers have two first-rounders in such a highly-touted draft class this year.

[Related: 2014 NBA Mock Draft - 2014 NBA Mock Draft Database]

With the opportunity to rebuild their roster with a couple of lottery picks this year, the Sixers actually have had success with their two lottery picks last year.

Point guard Michael Carter-Williams could possibly win the NBA Rookie of the Year award this year. And while Nerlens Noel has yet to play this season as he recovers from his torn ACL injury, coach Brett Brown has lofty expectations for Noel as he recently compared him to Chicago's Joakim Noah.

“Every time I see Joakim, I hope I’m seeing what we get in Nerlens,” Brown said (via CSN Chicago). “He’s one of the prime examples that I point to as we try to groom a young player.”

Of course, he's not Noah yet, but as a Sixers fan, I'd be thrilled to see Noel develop into a player that is close to what Noah brings to the Bulls.

- Check out our 2013-14 NBA Power Rankings for Week 22

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2014 NBA Mock Draft, 1.0: Embiid, Wiggins, Parker go 1-2-3

Last year's NBA draft class was one of the most lackluster classes in recent memory. Based on the group of draft-eligible prospects this year, however, the 2014 draft class has the potential to be one of the greatest ever.

While some in the group may never live up to their potential at the next level, this year's class certainly does not lack hype.

Although this is my first mock draft of the year, it will be updated often and all the way until the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 26th.

[Follow our basketball updates on Twitter via @HitTheBoards.]

Until the actual draft order is known, I will use the inverse order of our consensus NBA power rankings for the draft order.

In addition, more of our contributors will provide their take on how the first round will shake out as we get closer to the draft. For now, if you would like to view other opinions, check out our mock draft database for other 2014 NBA mock drafts.

Otherwise, here is my early 2014 NBA Mock Draft:

1. Milwaukee Bucks - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas

With roughly two months left in the regular season, the Bucks are guaranteed to have a losing record as they have already lost 45 games this season. As bad as the Bucks have been, they can use help across the board.

Part of a talented freshmen class for the Jayhawks, it's Embiid — not Andrew Wiggins — that ends up going first overall. There have been reports that Embiid may return to Lawrence for another season, but the big man from Cameroon has as much of a chance to go first overall as any other prospect in the country.

If Embiid stays in school, the good news for the Bucks is the talent at the top of this draft class is so strong that they would get another franchise-changing player in his place.

2. Philadelphia 76ers - Andrew Wiggins, SG, Kansas

Long rumored to be dealt and otherwise scheduled become a free agent after the season, Evan Turner (and Lavoy Allen) was dealt to the Pacers for Danny Granger and a second-round pick. As you can imagine, Granger wasn't thrilled with going from a top contender to a franchise that has the second worst record in the league and has lost 11 games in a row.

To fill the void at shooting guard, the Sixers have the opportunity to add one of the most highly-touted prospects in years. With elite athleticism and an ability to score from anywhere on the court, Wiggins, whose father played for the Sixers in the early 90's, is the type of player that can lift the Sixers out of mediocrity (or worse).

3. Orlando Magic - Jabari Parker, SF, Duke

While he may not have as much upside as the Kansas tandem at the top of this mock, Parker has an excellent all-around (especially offensive) game. In addition, no prospect is as ready to make an immediate impact in his rookie season than Parker at this point.

4. Boston Celtics - Dante Exum, PG, Australia

Regardless of how Rajon Rondo fits into the long-term plans of the Celtics, Exum can play alongside Rondo, who will be in a walk year next season, or eventually replace him. The Australian point guard has outstanding size and length for a point guard with excellent quickness and the ability to get to the rim.

5. Los Angeles Lakers - Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

The Lakers could go in a number of different directions with this pick. After all, only five of the team's current players have contracts for the 2014-15 seasons. In fact, it's just Kobe Bryant and Robert Sacre that are under contract by the Lakers to start the 2015 season.

Averaging a double-double (15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game), Randle is the best player available and can fill the void of free agent-to-be Pau Gasol. This coast-to-coast dunk for the 6-foot-9 250-pounder shows his unique skill set for his size:



6. Sacramento Kings - Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana

With a backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Ben McLemore, the No. 3 overall pick last year, I think the Kings would pass on Marcus Smart and go with Vonleh here. Since Jan. 18th, Vonleh has averaged a double-double (10.78 points and 10.22 rebounds) in addition to 1.33 blocked shots per game.

7. Denver Nuggets (via Knicks) - Aaron Gordon, SF/PF, Arizona

While his offensive game, specifically his jumpshot, leaves a lot to be desired, Gordon has elite athleticism, is an excellent defender and has a high motor.

8. Utah Jazz - Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State

Since returning from his three-game suspension, Smart has averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 steals in his two games played. (Next up is a huge matchup against Kansas on March 1st.)

Obviously, Smart received a ton of negative attention from his incident involving a Texas Tech fan. By all accounts, however, that was an out-of-character reaction from Smart, who is otherwise viewed as a high-character guy.

9. Charlotte Bobcats (via Pistons) - Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse

Granted, Kemba Walker has point guard size and he starts at the point, but he is much more of a scorer than a pass-first type in the traditional mold of a point guard. Poised beyond his years, Ennis has a stellar 3.39-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers and actually has more steals (59) than turnovers (46) this season.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers - Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State

While the NBA trade deadline has come and gone, shooting guard Dion Waiters is still on the roster but there have been plenty of rumors about the team wanting to move him partly due to his relationship with Kyrie Irving. Drafting a two guard like Harris will only intensify those rumors from draft day through the trade deadline next season.

- See my full first-round projection here

[Note: All updates will be made to the link above all the way up to June 26th.]

For more mock drafts, view our NBA Mock Draft Database here.

2014 NFL Draft: My 2014 NFL mock draft - our NFL draft big board - our NFL mock draft database

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