With 60 picks having come and gone, former Big East stars James Southerland and Vander Blue headline a talented class of undrafted free agents trying to make it in the NBA. Tampa Bay Times/PHOTO CREDITS

Undrafted NBA Free Agents: The Top Player at Each Position

          After one of the most hectic drafts in recent memory, a slew of undrafted NBA talent remains in the free agent market. With players like C.J. Leslie (New York Knicks) and Phil Pressey (Boston Celtics) already signing with teams, additional prospects could be on the move soon. Whether it’s just a short stint on the summer league roster or a real life NBA contract, teams will surely be locking up the top undrafted free agents within the next week. Let’s take a look at the top undrafted free agent at each position.

Point Guard: Myck Kabongo, Texas

Others to note: B.J. Young, Arkansas; Matthew Dellavedova, St. Mary’s; D.J. Cooper, Ohio

According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, Kabongo will play for the Miami Heat’s summer league team.

            The sole reason Kabongo went undrafted was due to the number of point guards taken in the draft. Originally hailing from Canada, the former Texas point guard was not viewed as a true international prospect in the draft. He is a quick point guard who has potential to be dominant in the drive-and-kick game. Kabongo has great court vision and is a high energy player, and at the very least will be an energetic spark off the bench.

However, Kabongo’s game lacks a consistent jump shot, as he shot under 30 percent from three-point range this past season. If he ever develops an NBA-caliber jump shot, the former high school star could develop into an NBA starter.

 

Shooting Guard: Vander Blue, Marquette

Others to note: Michael Snaer, Florida State; Brandon Paul, Illinois; Khalif Wyatt, Temple; Seth Curry, Duke

            According to Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal, Blue will play for the Houston Rockets in the Orlando summer league and the Memphis Grizzlies in the Las Vegas summer league.  

Vander Blue. First off, he has a great name. However, he fell out of the top sixty picks for a reason. As a tweener between the point and shooting guard positions, Blue does not have a true position going into the NBA. Blue’s not proven to be the best point guard in the past, as he averaged more turnovers than assists last season. Also, he will need to improve his jump shot, as he shot 30 percent from behind the arc.

Even with his sometimes lackluster offensive skills, Blue projects to be an elite defender at the NBA level. His athleticism allows him to pressure defenders and ball hawk on the defensive end, and elite defenders are always a hot commodity in the NBA. However, Blue’s chances of making an NBA roster are less than anyone listed in this article. Blue may be regretting his decision to declare for the draft.

 

Small Forward: James Southerland, Syracuse

Others to note: Robert Covington, Tennessee State; Travis Releford, Kansas; Adonis Thomas, Memphis; Will Clyburn, Iowa State; D.J. Stephens, Memphis

            According to Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, Southerland will play for the Philadelphia 76ers in the Orlando summer league and the Golden State Warriors in the Las Vegas summer league.

            Going into the draft night, it was almost a lock for sharpshooter James Southerland to be drafted by some team. Almost. Sixty picks later and the Syracuse big man was picked up by no one. However, don’t expect his career to end here.

            As an athletic outside shooter, Southerland will get a chance to prove his stuff and compete for an NBA roster. His role is already defined, as he is a great shooter from beyond the arc, shooting 40 percent from three-point range next year. He may need to improve other parts of his game, but his shooting stroke alone will get him looks from around the league.

 

Power Forward: Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

Others to note: Jackie Charmichael, Illinois State; Kenny Kadji, Miami; Richard Howell, NC State; Christian Watford, Indiana; Jamelle Hagins, Deleware

            As of now, nothing has been reported regarding Mbakwe’s inclusion on some team’s summer league roster. This is a bit surprising to me, as Mbakwe may be the top talent out of the undrafted free agent pool.

            With an extremely athletically-gifted body, Mbakwe is a force in the lane. He has huge hands to go along with a 7’4” wingspan. To go along with his physical skills is his dominance on the boards, which allowed him to dominate players all season for Minnesota. However, at just 6’8”, NBA teams may worry that his size will put him at a disadvantage against larger NBA power forwards. Regardless, Mbakwe should find a place on someone’s summer league team and ultimately compete for a final roster spot.

 

Center: Zeke Marshall, Akron

Others to note: Dewayne Dedmon, USC; Brandon Davies, BYU; Jack Cooley, Notre Dame

            Zeke Marshall will play for the Philadelphia 76ers in the Orlando summer league.

            To many insiders around the league it was a surprise that Akron big man Zeke Marshall went undrafted on Thursday night. As difficult as it is to find skilled big men who can defend, Marshall must not have made the cut on team’s big boards. He is a great shot blocker at that skill will definitely translate to the NBA.

            Marshall has all the tools to succeed in the NBA, and will certainly be given a chance to show his skills for some team. The Los Angeles Lakers have already expressed interest in the big man’s services. I would expect the Miami Heat to get involved as well.

 

With both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul set to hit free agency this summer, who are the other top free agents that NBA front office executives will be chasing when the clock strikes midnight Monday? Christian Peterson Getty Images/PHOTO CREDITS

NBA Free Agency: Ranking the Top 10 Players at Each Position

          The 2013 NBA free agency period begins Monday at midnight Eastern Standard Time, and NBA front office executives will surely be working hard in the early hours of the morning. To get you prepared for the ensuing madness and, of course, the next Dwight Howard saga, I’ve got a breakdown of the top 10 free agents at every position.

Point Guards

1.    Chris Paul, 28 years old, unrestricted

CP3 is without a doubt the best point guard in the world. If it weren’t for the ongoing Dwight Howard saga, Paul would be the most prized possession in this year’s class. However, the trade for coach Doc Rivers makes it unlikely for Paul to leave Los Angeles.

2.    Brandon Jennings, 23 years old, restricted

Jennings has all the talent to be an elite point guard in the NBA, but his questionable mental attitude may hold him back. He wishes to leave Milwaukee and be in the spot light for a big market team. Milwaukee may hold him back, but will also look for possible sign-and-trade options.

3.    Jeff Teague, 25 years old, restricted

After selecting German point guard Dennis Schroeder in Thursday’s draft, Teague’s future in Atlanta may be done. The team is attempting to free cap space for Dwight Howard, and that will be impossible to do if they match a big offer sheet for Teague.

4.    Jarrett Jack, 29 years old, unrestricted

Jack quietly had a tremendous season for the Golden State Warriors, as he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He is a strong scorer and has playoff experience. The only question is whether or not he can excel off the bench again, or would prefer a starting role.

5.    Nate Robinson, 29 years old, unrestricted

After a breakout performance in the playoffs, Robinson turned a one-year minimum into what will most likely be a very lucrative opportunity. He showed tremendous ability to score the ball and great toughness.

6.    Darren Collison, 25 years old, restricted

Over the past two seasons, Collison has been with two different teams and lost his starting job both times. The young point guard will look to rebound in a different city. Should get a chance to run the show, but may have to settle for bench role after a couple of down seasons.

7.    Jose Calderon, 31 years old, unrestricted

Calderon is one of the best shooting point guards in the league, and excels in taking care of the ball. His age and questionable defense will most likely push him into a backup role next season.

8.    Beno Udrih, 30 years old, unrestricted

Udrih is one of those under-the-radar types of players who has made a solid NBA career out of opportunities off the bench. A contender can trust him to run the second unit while the starters are on the sidelines.

9.    Mo Williams, 30 years old, unrestricted

Mo’s opportunity to run the point in Utah is done, as Trey Burke will now lead the team in Salt Lake City. William’s style has always been defined as a shoot first point guard, which will be intriguing for many teams looking for a scorer off the bench.

10. C.J. Watson, 29 years old, player option

Watson has been one of the most consistent backup point guards over the past two seasons. Look for a contender to invest in his services.

Others to note: Devin Harris (unrestricted), Patrick Beverly (unrestricted), Rodrigue Beaubois (restricted)

Shooting Guards

1.    Monta Ellis, 27 years old, early termination option

Ellis has consistently been in the conversation for best scoring shooting guard in the league over the past couple of years. However, after opting out of his contract in Milwaukee, look for a team to pick up Ellis as the second or third scoring option.

2.    Tyreke Evans, 23 years old, restricted

No one really knows what Sacramento wants to do with Evans. Although, after stealing Ben McLemore in the draft, it looks like Evans may find a new home this offseason. After a historic rookie season, Tyreke can still be an elite NBA player if he ever improves his jump shot.

3.    J.R. Smith, 27 years old, player option

After bringing home the Sixth Man of the Year hardware, Smith is in for a hefty payday this summer. He will look to stay in the Big Apple, but a larger contract may lure him elsewhere.

4.    Manu Ginobili, 35 years old, unrestricted

Ginobili just wrapped up one of his worst seasons in the NBA. He can still provide ample scoring off the bench, and will do it at a cheap price tag. It will be interesting to see how San Antonio handles the situation.

5.    Kevin Martin, 30 years old, unrestricted

Re-signing with OKC is Martin’s number one choice. He’s a proven scorer who can score efficiently from all areas. If Martin leaves, then Oklahoma City has essentially lost everything from the James Harden trade.

6.    J.J. Reddick, 29 years old, unrestricted

Reddick does not want to return to Milwaukee under any circumstances. Look for a contender or up-and-coming team to secure the former Duke sharpshooter to roam the perimeter and knock down threes.

7.    O.J. Mayo, 25 years old, player option

After a hot start in Dallas, it looked like Mayo was finally going to live up to his hype that had him selected number three overall. However, a poor second half has O.J. Mayo in the same spot he was a year ago.

8.    Tony Allen, 31 years old, unrestricted

Allen is one of the NBA’s best and most proven perimeter defenders. After a solid postseason run with Memphis, expect Allen to get looks from a number of different teams around the league.

9.    Nick Young, 28 years old, unrestricted

Nick Young loves to shoot the basketball. As long as he gets picked up by a team where he can do just that, he’ll be happy.

10. Gerald Henderson, 25 years old, restricted

Any team interested in Henderson will have to overpay him to prevent the Bobcats from matching. However, his defensive abilities and improved shooting could be of use off the bench.

Others to note: Gary Neal (restricted), Randy Foye (unrestricted)

Small Forwards:

1.    Andre Iguodala, 29 years old, early termination option

Iggy is taking a huge risk by opting out of a contract that would pay him just over $16 million next season. He is still one of the elite defenders in the NBA and will get a hefty paycheck from some team. But will he return to Denver?

2.    Andrei Kirilenko, 32 years old, player option

At this point, it’s unclear as to what Kirilenko will do with his player option for next season. He is one of the most proven role players in the league.

3.    Corey Brewer, 27 years old, unrestricted

Brewer may be a steal in free agency for whichever team picks him up. The former Florida star has great defensive intangibles and is an athletic specimen.

4.    Kyle Korver, 32 years old, unrestricted

No matter his age, Kyle Korver will always find a spot on a NBA roster because of his three point shot. Look for a contender in need of three point shooting, like the Indiana Pacers, to pick him up.

5.    Chase Budinger, 25 years old, unrestricted

Due to injuries, Budinger did not get a chance to show his stuff much this past season. Look for Minnesota to make re-signing Budinger a priority.

6.    Mike Dunleavy Jr., 32 years old, unrestricted

Dunleavy has excelled in a role off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks in the past couple of seasons. Like Korver, he is a valuable shooter who many teams will be interested in signing.

7.    Al-Farouq Aminu, 22 years old, unrestricted

Great slashing forward, but one can only hope Aminu will one day develop a consistent NBA-caliber jump shot.

8.    Dorell Wright, 27 years old, unrestricted

Wright is still a premier three point threat in the Association. Look for him to be treated the same as Korver this offseason.

9.    Martell Webster, 26 years old, unrestricted

Webster had a nice year shooting the ball for the Washington Wizards and will be picked up as a role player for some team other than Washington.

10. Carlos Delfino, 30 years old, unrestricted

Delfino is perhaps one of the most underrated players in the league. The man can score the ball and do a lot of other things right. Look for him to secure a solid bench role somewhere in the league.

Others to note: Matt Barnes (unrestricted), Fransisco Garcia (unrestricted), Wesley Johnson (unrestricted)

Power Forwards

1.    David West, 32 years old, unrestricted

He may be getting old, but West has proven his worth by helping Indiana push the Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. He will most likely re-sign with the Pacers, but you never know these days.

2.    Josh Smith, 27 years old, unrestricted

Smith will be at the top of every team’s list this summer, depending on their financial situation. If he can get rid of some of his bad tendencies, like settling for jump shots, Josh Smith is an all-star caliber player.

3.    Paul Millsap, 28 years old, unrestricted

Millsap is one of the big questions heading into the free agency. The Jazz are unsure if they want him back in their lineup. Regardless, a big enough offer steals Millsap from Utah.

4.    J.J. Hickson, 24 years old, unrestricted

After posting great numbers in Portland last season, Hickson will happily explore the free agency market. His contract may get a little inflated, as his numbers don’t show his lack of defensive ability.

5.    Carl Landry, 29 years old, player option

The Warriors signed Landry for cheap last season, but that will not be the same scenario this time around. Look for Landry to land a big offer and expect the Warriors to let Landry leave town to save some money.

6.    Jason Maxiell, 30 years old, unrestricted

For teams looking for a strong and tough big man, Maxiell is their guy. Although a little undersized, his determination helps him bang bodies with the best of them.

7.    Elton Brand, 34 years old, unrestricted

Even at 34, Brand can still be a solid big man option in a rotation. He has a developed post repertoire and can score through contact.

8.    Tyler Hansbrough, 27 years old, restricted

As of now, it looks like Indiana will be tentative to match any offer Hansbrough accepts that it out of their price range. With a depleted bench, the Pacers may need to take him back for cheap as a last resort option.

9.    Chris Copeland, 29 years old, restricted

It will be interesting to see how New York deals with Copeland. With the team over the salary cap, it will be interested to see how much of a hit they are willing to take in luxury cap department.

10. Antawn Jamison, 37 years old, unrestricted

At 37 years old, Jamison is getting up there in the age department. However, the old man can still ball. Look for a team in need of scoring off the bench to sign Jamison and give him a limited role in the second unit. 

Others to note: DeJuan Blair (Unrestricted), Andray Blatche (unrestricted)

Centers

1.    Dwight Howard, 27 years old, unrestricted

Grab a bag of popcorn and a cold drink, because this summer has all the makings for another Dwight Howard blockbuster saga, except this one isn’t likely headed back to Hollywood. The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks are all front runners for the big man’s services.  

2.    Andrew Bynum, 25 years old, unrestricted

With Nerlens Noel now on the roster and Philadelphia looking like they will be in full tank mode for next year’s draft, Bynum will not be back in the city of brotherly love. So which team wants this guy? He’s a top center in the league but has dealt with injuries and off the court issues.

3.    Al Jefferson, 28 years old, unrestricted

It’s unclear whether or not Big Al will return to Utah. But whichever team ends up with the veteran big man will be getting one of the best post scorers and rebounders in the league.

4.    Nikola Pekovic, 27 years old, restricted

It will take a sizable overpayment to pry Pekovic away from the Timberwolves. How much are teams willing to pay for one of the league’s emerging talents in the post?

5.    Tiago Splitter, 28 years old, restricted

Very active and mobile big man who finishes around the rim. It will be interesting to see how far San Antonio is willing to go to match an offer sheet.

6.    Marreese Speights, 25 years old, player option

Speights is a solid rebounder and is not afraid to knock down an open mid-range jumper. Look for a couple of contenders to be interested in signing the former Florida big man.

7.    Timofey Mozgov, 26 years old, restricted

A good rim defender and a nice big body to have off of the bench. Just hope Blake Griffin isn’t around...

8.    Zaza Pachulia, 29 years old, unrestricted

When healthy, Pachulia is one of the league’s best rebounders off the bench. He reminds me of the role Jeff Foster played in latter stages of his career. Zaza will be a nice backup center acquisition.

9.    Byron Mullens, 24 years old, restricted

Mullens had a solid year down in Charlotte for a dreadful Bobcats team. He has matured into almost a stretch four type of player, as the former Ohio State star can now knock down threes with ease.

10. Greg Oden, 25 years old, unrestricted

Oden is supposedly looking to get back in the NBA after the former number one pick to time off due to injuries. The Miami Heat have been rumored to be strongly interested in the Oden’s services.

Others to note: Chris Kaman (unrestricted), Chris Anderson (unrestricted), Samuel Dalembert (unrestricted)

After selecting former UNLV star Anthony Bennett with the first pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers set the stage for one of the most  unpredictable and entertaining drafts in recent memory. USA Today/PHOTO CREDITS

2013 NBA Draft: Biggest Winners and Losers

            The 2013 NBA Draft may have been the most confusing, exciting and unpredictable draft in quite a while, and it made for an entertaining night. The Cavaliers began the night by delivering a shocker, selecting Anthony Bennett at number one overall. Nerlens Noel dropped to the Pelicans at number six, when most people had him going no later than number four. After the Pelicans’ selection, a flurry of trades had players switching teams like it was nothing. There were plenty of reaches (Solomon Hill) and free falls (Jamaal Franklin and Tony Mitchell) and an incredible surge of international talent. NBA general managers were in high gear Thursday night, but only time will tell who truly made the right choices on draft day 2013.

Winners: New Orleans Pelicans

Draft Activity: Selected Nerlens Noel 6^th overall, Selected Nate Wolters 38^th overall, Selected Pierre Jackson 42^nd overall, Trade rights to Nerlens Noel and a 2014 top-five protected pick to Philadelphia for Jrue Holiday and the 42^nd pick

            The new-look team in New Orleans is undoubtedly the biggest winner from last night’s draft. After Nerlens Noel’s fall from number one, the Pelicans jumped on the former Kentucky star and selected him with the sixth pick. At first it looked like the team intended on pairing Noel with last year’s number one pick, Anthony Davis. However, New Orleans flipped Noel to Philadelphia for all-star point guard Jrue Holiday and a second round pick. The pick New Orleans gives up next year is top-five protected, meaning that if the pick is within the 1-5 range, they will retain the pick. Overall, it was great night for the Pelicans. The team gets their franchise point guard in Jrue Holiday in exchange for a player coming off a season-ending knee injury. A combination of Holiday, Eric Gordon, and Anthony Davis (And don’t forget Ryan Anderson) will be scary.

Losers: Detroit Pistons

Draft Activity: Selected Kentavius Caldwell-Pope 8^th overall, Selected Tony Mitchell 37^th overall, Selected Peyton Siva 56^th overall

Going in to the draft, it was known around the league that the Pistons were targeting two things, a point guard and a wing shooter. The Pistons got there shooter in former Georgia wing Kentavius Caldwell-Pope at eighth overall. However, with Trey Burke still on the board, Detroit’s pick is questionable. After drafting Brandon Knight as a point guard in 2011, the team moved Knight into the starting shooting guard role this past season. Now, it looks like Knight is headed back to the point. With Jose Calderon an unrestricted free agent and Knight’s point guard abilities in question, the point guard situation in Detroit is as hazy as it was heading in to the draft. No knock on Kentavius, as I think he fits in well with the Pistons, he just did not fit their most immediate need, considering the number one point guard was still on the board. On a bright note, Tony Mitchell and Peyton Siva were both great value picks in the second round. Expect both players to contribute immediately.

Winners: Utah Jazz

Draft Activity: Trade the 14^th (Shabazz Muhammad)and 21^st (Gorgui Dieng) picks to Minnesota for the rights to the 9^th pick (Trey Burke), Selected Rudy Gobert 27^th overall, Selected Erick Green 46^th overall

            Trey Burke and the Utah Jazz...a match made in Heaven. Utah needed a point guard badly going into the draft it was largely considered they would select either Shane Larkin or Dennis Shroeder with the 14^th pick. However, after Trey Burke’s fall to Minnesota at number 9, Jazz took the opportunity and traded for their point guard of the future. Burke will be given the reigns immediately in Utah, and the potential starting lineup (Burke, Burks, Hayward, Favors, Kanter) is young and energetic again. Also, with big men Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap likely on the outs, they made a great pick by adding frontcourt depth with French big man Rudy Gobert. Former ACC Player of the Year Erick Green was not too bad of a value pick at 46^th overall either.

Losers: Boston Celtics

Draft Activity: Selected Kelly Olynyk 13^th overall, Traded Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn for Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks, and 3 first round picks (2014, 2016, 2018). The trade will not be complete until July 10^th.

            The Boston Celtics effectively ended the Big Three era in Boston by agreeing to trade Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. This is a horrible trade for Boston and simply does not make sense for their team. Danny Ainge took the idea of rebuilding and ran with it, even though the Celtics were maybe one piece away (Al Jefferson) from competing at the top of the Eastern Conference. Now, the Celtics are in a horrible state. The lone bright spot is point guard Rajon Rondo, who may also be dealt in the coming weeks. Unless the future first round picks turn into something special, this trade looks horrible for Boston. Also, it was upsetting to see how easily Boston got rid of Paul Pierce, who has been the face of the franchise for the last fifteen years. It’ll be weird to see Pierce in anything other than green and white.

Winners: Portland Trail Blazers

Draft Activity: Selected C.J. McCollum 10^th overall, Selected Jeff Withey 39^th overall, Selected Grant Jerrett 40^th overall, Selected Marko Todorovic 45^th overall, Traded for the 31^st pick Allen Crabbe

 

The Portland Trail Blazers had a heck of a night on Thursday. After rumors circulated that C.J. McCollum was going to Detroit (8^th) or Minnesota (9^th), Portland selected the former Lehigh standout with the 10^th pick. McCollum is a pure scorer and perhaps the most underrated player in this year’s class. The Trail Blazers can add McCollum to the backcourt of Damian Lillard and have two former mid-major studs. Lillard and McCollum are the future of the backcourt in Portland and will be one of the best young tandems in the NBA. In the second round, Portland made some value picks, in selected big men Jeff Withey and Grant Jerrett. Withey is a great shot blocker and will help push along the development of Meyers Leonard. Also, receiving Allen Crabbe may turn out to be one of the steals of the night. As one of the best shooters in this year’s class, Crabbe somehow fell to the Cavaliers at 31, and quickly traded him to Portland. The Trail Blazers will have young and versatile wings to choose from with Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and now Crabbe all under contract.

Losers: Philadelphia 76ers

Draft Activity: Selected Michael Carter-Williams 11^th overall, Traded Jrue Holiday and the 42^nd pick to New Orleans for the rights to Nerlens Noel and a 2014 top-five protected pick, Traded the 35^th pick (Glen Rice Jr.) to Washington

Philadelphia is in full rebuild mode after Thursday. The 76ers are taking a chance on the boom or bust potential of Nerlens Noel after trading all-star point guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans for the former Kentucky star. After trading for Noel, Philadelphia selected their point guard of the future in Michael Carter-Williams with the 11^th pick. To me, there is just too much riding on potential at this point. Noel is coming off a season-ending knee injury and may never be the player he was before. And even at that, Noel has close to no offense skills and will need to put on weight to play in the NBA. As for Carter-Williams, he is a very gifted passer but struggles to score and is turnover prone. As for the pick, it will most likely be in the 6-10 range next year, which will probably give Philadelphia two picks in the top ten of a very loaded draft class. However, I cannot believe the Sixers were so ready to deal Holiday. He was an all-star this season and is one of the best up-and-coming point guards in the league. And plus, he’s TWENTY-THREE YEARS OLD, why not build around him? This deal would’ve benefited the Sixers much more if Evan Turner was heading the trade rather than Holiday. At this point, this trade has to be a bad move for Philadelphia, but that could change over the next year or so. If Noel shows similar skills once he comes back and Philadelphia ends up with two picks next year in the top six or seven, this move was brilliant. But for now, Philly may be the most dreadful team in the NBA.

Winners: Orlando Magic

Draft Activity: Selected Victor Oladipo 4^th overall, Selected Romero Osby with the 51^st pick

            A year removed from trading Dwight Howard, the Magic’s future is looking bright, as the team has amassed many young assets to build around. Still in full rebuilding mode though, many NBA scouts thought the Magic would draft former Kansas star Ben McLemore second overall. But instead, Orlando passed on McLemore to draft Indiana standout Victor Oladipo. Oldadipo is a great fit for a young Magic team. He’ll bring a winning mentality and strong work ethic to Orlando. I fully expect Oladipo to mature into one of the better players from this year’s class. If the Magic decide to deal Arron Afflalo to the Clippers, they could have a tremendously promising young team of Oladipo, Eric Bledsoe, Tobias Harris, and Nicola Vucevic.

Losers: Indiana Pacers

Draft Activity: Selected Solomon Hill 23^rd overall, Selected Colton Iverson 53^rd overall, Trade the rights to Colton Iverson to Boston for cash

            My beloved Indiana Pacers are on here because, well, they’re my beloved Indiana Pacers. After reaching for Miles Plumlee last year with the 26^th pick, Larry Bird does it again by selecting Solomon Hill with the 23^rd pick! As a jack of all trades, master of none type of player, Hill does a lot of things right. He has good basketball intangibles, can score the ball, rebound well, and is a solid defender. Solomon Hill is a good NBA prospect, as he flew up many team’s big boards leading up to the draft. While Solomon Hill can do a lot of things well, he will struggle to provide scoring off the bench, which was Indiana’s main focus heading into the draft. Hill will get minutes in the second unit, which really shows how horrid the Pacers’ bench is becoming. The Pacers definitely reached here. With players like Tim Hardaway Jr., Allen Crabbe, Jamaal Franklin, and Reggie Bullock still on the board, this was a poor pick. If Indiana was so keen on selecting Hill, they should’ve at least traded back into the second round. But now Indiana fans are given yet another reach pick, and I went to bed the second year in a row wondering why? Just why? Well, at least he’s better than Sam Young.

Winners: Minnesota Timberwolves

Draft Activity: Selected Trey Burke 9^th overall, Selected Andre Roberson 26^th overall, Selected Lorenzo Brown 52^nd overall, Traded the rights to Trey Burke to Utah for the 14^th pick (Shabazz Muhammad) and the 21^st pick (Gorgui Dieng), traded the 26^th pick to Oklahoma City for the 59^th pick and cash, Selected Bojan Dubljevic 59^th overall

In selecting Trey Burke with the ninth pick, Minnesota was certainly using the 2013 national player of the year as trade bait. The Utah Jazz took the bait and sent the 14^th and 21^st picks to Minnesota. This trade is nothing but a win-win for both sides. Utah receives their franchise point guard and Minnesota kills two birds with one stone. Shabazz Muhammad will come in and play shooting guard, which is currently occupied by Luke Ridnour, while Dieng will work in with the big men. I absolutely love both of these picks for the Timberwolves. Muhammad will have a chance to showcase his true talent/potential by competing for the starting role. Dieng may be the answer at center if Nikola Pekovic decides to leave in free agency. Star player Kevin Love can aid in the offensive maturation of Dieng on the block. Minnesota is loading its roster with young players, who will hopefully, for Minnesota’s sake, reach their maximum potential over the next couple of years.

Winners: Washington Wizards

Draft Activity: Selected Otto Porter Jr. 3^rd overall, Acquired the 35^th pick (Glen Rice Jr.) from Philadelphia, Traded the 38^th pick (Nate Wolters) to New Orleans, Selected Arsalan Kazemi 54^th overall

           In selecting Otto Porter Jr. with the third pick in the draft, Washington has created a young big three on the perimeter in John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Porter. Coming into the draft, Porter was definitely the most NBA prospect. I think a lot of people undervalued his stock due to his low ceiling. Regardless, he will contribute scoring immediately for Washington and will be a dark horse candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. Trading for Glen Rice Jr. was also a wise decision from the Wizards’ front office. The former D-League star will score off the bench and could possibly become one of the NBA’s best sixth men in a couple of years. Overall, the Wizards made great value selections and are quietly building an intimidating young core in the nation’s capital.