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.

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Consensus NBA Power Rankings, Week 15

With Super Bowl XLVIII (already under way) tonight, the NBA had only one game on its slate today.

In a game featured two teams that now have a combined 29-69 record, the Celtics hosted (and beat) the Magic this afternoon.

One of the plays in the game that is definitely worth seeing again is Jeff Green's block on Arron Afflalo and you can see that play here:



Here are the NBA's top 10 "clutch shots" of January, which includes Orlando's Glen Davis at No. 10:



With shots also by Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Paul George, it was Toronto's Patrick Patterson that had the month's top clutch shot.

- See our 2013-14 NBA Power Rankings for Week 15 here

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Tobias Harris scores a career-high 27 points

Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris scored a career-high 27 points and had a double-double off the bench in tonight's loss to the Rockets.  Harris had 10 rebounds as well.

It was his fourth game with the Magic and he now has scored in double-digits in all four of those games and is averaging 20 points per contest.

With the Bucks, Harris was averaging only 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

In addition to averaging 20 points per game with the Magic so far, Harris is also averaging 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per game.  Even more amazing, Harris is shooting nearly 70 percent from the field (32-of-46).

If Harris is available in your league (and he's only owned in 24 percent of Yahoo! leagues), he's worth adding in all league formats now.

Nikola Vucevic sets career high with 29 rebounds

In tonight's overtime loss to the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic had a career night.

Vucevic scored 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting and grabbed a career-high 29 rebounds including 11 offensive boards.

No player has had more rebounds in a game this season.  In fact, the next closest was Minnesota's Kevin Love with 24 rebounds.

It was his 13th double-double of the season and his first-ever 20-20 game.

If that weren't enough, he had three steals, two blocked shots and two assists as well.

Entering tonight's game, Vucevic was averaging 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

NBA Consensus Power Rankings, Week 11

This is one of the best sports weeks of the year!

With March Madness set to start on Thursday (play-in games on Tuesday), the NFL free-agency period begins Tuesday and the NBA's trade deadline is Thursday.

This week's roundtable question will focus on the NBA trade deadline.

Before we get to that, this week's NBA Consensus Power Rankings have the same top four teams in the same order as last week: Miami, Oklahoma City, Chicago and San Antonio. However, the Lakers have replaced the Clippers as the top team in L.A. and as a top-five team in our power rankings.

At the bottom, there is no change to the bottom four teams: Charlotte, Washington, New Orleans and Toronto (although the Wizards and Hornets were tied at 28 last week).

For a second week in a row, the Knicks were big droppers. From Week 9 to 10, they were tied with the Blazers for the largest week-to-week drop. From last week to this week, the Knicks had the second-biggest drop. Just two weeks ago, the Knicks were the 12th-ranked team in our rankings and are now 18th.

That's Linsane.

Here are some more stats about this week's NBA Consensus Power Rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Boston Celtics (+3.25)
- Biggest drop from last week: Dallas Mavericks (-3.25)
- Team with widest difference between high and low ranker: Boston Celtics (6)

[See our full NBA Consensus Power Rankings.]

Each week, we respond to one roundtable question and here's this week's question: Will the Magic trade Dwight Howard before the trade deadline on March 15th?

John (follow on Twitter): All year I have believed Dwight Howard was going to be traded, and that it was only a matter of time. Of course, as we get closer to the trade deadline, I'm now changing my tune on the matter. It appears that Orlando feels that they have enough talent to make a legitimate run in the East, and that they still have hopes to re-sign Howard after the season. Howard's own mother voiced her opinion, that Orlando was the best place for him. I'm fairly certain that the Lakers and a few other teams may make a run at him, but they may also feel that they can get him after the season without giving up the high price tag that would obviously come along with trading for him. So overall, I believe Howard will stay put in Orlando, at least for the rest of the season.

Kevin (follow on Twitter): With the trade deadline fast approaching but coming a few weeks later than last year due to the shortened season, that also means that teams will have the services of any player(s) acquired for less time than they typically would. Of course, any team that trades for Howard will only pull the trigger provided they can agree to a long-term deal with him since his contract is up at the end of the season. I think the favorite to pull off a deal would be the New Jersey (soon-to-be Brooklyn) Nets, but I think they wait until the season ends to try to woo Howard and pair him up with Deron Williams.

Dan (follow on Twitter): The Magic will not trade Howard this year, as most teams have been trying to steal him for bargain basement prices. The Magic have a few contracts coming out their books this year, and they can pay the most for Howard next year as well. I believe the Magic will make a serious run at resigning Howard this year, as they cannot get fair market value for him right now.

To see where all 30 teams fall in our power rankings going through Week 11, click here.

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Jordan Farmar gets third double-double in past four games

New Jersey's Jordan Farmar scored 15 points and dished out 16 assists in tonight's loss to Orlando.

In the past four games that Deron Williams has missed, Farmar has made the most of his opportunity.

During that span, Farmar has averaged 37 minutes per game and has three double-doubles. He is averaging 12.3 points, 11.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in those four games.

Per Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record, Williams will also miss Saturday's game against Atlanta. After Saturday, the Nets play the Rockets on Tuesday and the Knicks on Wednesday.

At a minimum, it seems likely that Farmar is in store for at least one more big game.

Triple-Double for Hedo Turkoglu

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu had his first triple-double since he was dealt back to the Magic.

Turkoglu finished with ten points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in last night's win over the Warriors.

“I’m glad I finally did something to help this team win,” said Turkoglu, who has been steady in nearly every game since his return to the Magic. “When I have the ball in my hands, I’m able to do the things I’m good at. My strength is to be the guy who is a facilitator, get my shot or find one for my teammates.”

It was the third triple-double of his career.

Turkoglu averaged 16.5 points per game in his last full season with the Magic (2008-09).

Since then, he's averaged only 11.3 points per game with the Raptors last year and 9.5 points per game with the Suns earlier this season.

In eight games with the Magic, he's averaging 12.5 points per game in addition to 6.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists (both of which would be his highest average) per game.