2013 NBA Mock Draft

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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2013 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
2013 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2

2014 NBA Mock Draft
2012 NBA Mock Draft
2011 NBA Mock Draft
2010 NBA Mock Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
Updated: June 27, 2013.

Team needs and outstanding trades have been taken into account with this mock draft.

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Kentucky, 7-0, Fr.
    It’s draft day and there is still a ton of uncertainty surround the first-overall pick. Nerlens Noel seems to be the favorite. Alex Len is in play as well as Otto Porter and Anthony Bennett. A trade is also very much a possibility. In other words, this mock could be ruined after one pick. Oh, joy.

    I have had Porter in this spot since the ping-pong balls were revealed and still maintain he is the best fit in Cleveland, but I’m caving in on my stubbornness since Noel seems to be the the favorite at this point.

    Make sure to check out our Live 2013 NBA Draft Grades, posted minutes after each pick this evening.


  2. Orlando Magic: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana, 6-4, Jr.
    The re-building Magic could use improved talent all across the board and are reportedly very high on Victor Oladipo. I am a big fan of Oladipo’s potential at the next level on the right team and he would be a nice piece for Orlando’s re-building effort.


  3. Washington Wizards: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown, 6-8, Soph.
    With their backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal set for the foreseeable future, the Wizards pass on the available guards and turn their attention to improving their frontcourt play. Otto Porter provides a do-it-all small forward who doesn’t need to score to be effective. Anthony Bennett would make sense here as well since Washington needs a power forward.




  4. Charlotte Hornets: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas, 6-5, Fr.
    The Hornets are in a position to see which top prospect falls to them and in this scenario, it is Ben McLemore. He could end up being the best player in the 2013 NBA Draft and just as easily might be a bust due to a lack of a killer instinct. McLemore fits a need for Charlotte though since neither Ben Gordon nor Gerald Henderson are long-term solutions at the two.


  5. Phoenix Suns: Alex Len, C, Maryland, 7-1, Soph.
    Ideally, the Suns need help on the wing and probably hoping McLemore or Oladipo falls to them here. With both shooting guards off the board, Phoenix turns to Alex Len, who would be the long-term center since Marcin Gortat is entering the final year of his contract.


  6. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan, 6-1, Soph.
    This is another toss-up pick and could go in a number of directions. Even though Greivis Vasquez had a breakout season, Trey Burke is the pick by default here since the Pelicans don’t need a power forward like Anthony Bennett since they already have Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson or another shooting guard since they already have Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers.


  7. Sacramento Kings: C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh, 6-3, Sr.
    With a new front office, the Kings are another team that could go in a number of directions, which is ironic since the team didn’t really had any direction at all under its former owners. In this situation, it would be hard for Sacramento to pass up a talent like Anthony Bennett especially since Patrick Patterson is their only real power forward. However, the Kings are supposedly very high on C.J. McCollum, so I’m making him the pick.




  8. Detroit Pistons: Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV, 6-8, Fr.
    With a young frontcourt of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond intact, the best fit for Detroit would here would be improving its backcourt. The size and length of Michael Carter-Williams makes him a solid fit, but Bennett is a great value at No. 8, and the Pistons have been successful in snagging the one guy in the draft the past few years who slides.


  9. Minnesota TimberWolves: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia, 6-5, Soph.
    The Timberwolves have been searching for a true shooting guard, but could also use some depth at center since Nikola Pekovic is a restricted free agent. Caldwell-Pope has ideal size for the two guard spot and can stroke it from the outside.


  10. Portland Trail Blazers: Sergey Karasev, SF, Russia, 6-7, 1993
    The Trail Blazers bench was AWFUL last year so they need depth all across the board and likely take the best non-point guard available. There are a lot of teams hot on the Russian sharpshooter, and he would, right away, become the best reserve on Portland’s roster. A physical big man like Steven Adams is in play here as well.


  11. Philadelphia 76ers: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana, 7-0, Soph.
    Though I think Cody Zeller is a massively overrated NBA prospect due to a lack of physicality, but the 76ers could use some size inside. That would also make Steven Adams a serious possibility for Philadelphia.




  12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh, 7-0, Fr.
    This is a luxury pick for the Thunder, so the team can take a chance on a player with higher upside and allow him time to develop. There are some intriguing big men options out there, but Steven Adams seems to have the most steam going into Thursday.


  13. Dallas Mavericks: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse, 6-6, Soph.
    Rumors have been swirling that the Mavericks want to deal this pick to save cap space for a potential run at Dwight Howard or Chris Paul. If Dallas hangs on to it, a foreign player like Sergey Karasev would be the ideal get but he is off the board. Instead, the Mavericks turn to Michael Carter-Williams since they need depth at guard. One of the other foreign guys would also be in play as a draft-and-stash option.


  14. Utah Jazz: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany, 6-2, 1993
    With a pair of first-round selections, the Jazz will certainly address its need for frontcourt depth with one pick and a point guard with another. There are a ton players in the mix here, but Schroeder gets the nod since there should be several quality bigs available at No. 21.


  15. Milwaukee Bucks: Shane Larkin, PG, Miami, 5-11, Soph.
    With Brandon Jennings a restricted free agent, Monta Ellis opting out of the final year of his contract, and J.J. Redick an unrestricted free agent, the Bucks will be looking for backcourt depth. If Milwaukee prefers a shooting guard, there are several players who would be a bit of a reach at this point.

    Make sure to check out our Live 2013 NBA Draft Grades, posted minutes after each pick this evening.



  16. Go to 2013 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.



    Go to 2013 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2



    Go to 2014 NBA Mock Draft
    Go to 2012 NBA Mock Draft




Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]




2015 NBA Mock Draft

2016 NBA Mock Draft

2014 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG





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