A 2014 Lottery Draft List, March Edition
By Mike Garcia
3. Jabari Parker
Mar 8, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) shoots against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jabari Parker is the safest choice in the draft. He’s the only one that has shown polish on the offensive end. Interior play, slashing to the basket, and perimeter jumpshooting have all been put on display. NCAA teams struggle to contain him, and he is rarely off of his 20 point per game pace. More importantly, he is unselfish and opts to find the open man, despite being such a dominant scorer. The offense is not out of sync when he touches the basketball. His versatility, high IQ play, and NBA ready size make him a great prospect. More information can be found here and here.
2. Dante Exum
Alas, the player who hired Kobe Bryant’s agent Rob Pelinka and trainer Tim Grover, is trying to get his way into a Los Angeles Laker uniform. The 6’6″ point guard is a creative offensive player with triple threat skills, very good athletic abilities, and great defensive tools. Right now, he’s working on his jumpshooting and his strength. He looks up to Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose as role models. His head is in the game and he’s getting ready for the draft. While there are many skeptics about his NBA abilities, notable people in the media, especially Fran Fraschilla, think highly of his game. Other NBA scouts have said he could be the #1 pick. More information can be found here, here, and here.
1. Andrew Wiggins
Mar 5, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Andrew Wiggins (22) dunks the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Dejan Kravic (11) in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports1
Andrew Wiggins finally put his athletic abilities and tools on the floor. His game against West Virginia was so good, I wrote about it twice. He has NBA-elite level athleticism, excellent size at the small forward spot, a surprising motor on defense, and aggression towards the hoop. It can be said that his aggression had been waning from game-to-game, but it’s clear he has no issues playing alongside other star players on his own team. He understands how talented his team is and what needs to be done to win games. Most of that is relying on Embiid to dominate in the paint. But, when he’s gone, Wiggins steps up. More information can be found about him here, here, and here.