NBA 2014 Mock Draft [First Round Only]

While much of the talk about this year's class has been about the freshman star-power at the top, this class's depth is ridiculous as there are at least 20 lottery-caliber players. Here's how I feel the first round would pan out if the draft were today.

1. Milwaukee Bucks - Jabari Parker, Duke, SF, Fr.
While I strongly believe that Joel Embiid is the best prospect in the field, Parker offers the best combination of contributing from day one and long-term potential. For Milwaukee's delusional front-office who actually believe's that this is a playoff-caliber team, this is the right pick. While Parker really needs to get in better shape for the pros, there's no denying his NBA-ready skill set as a scorer and rebounder. He projects as a Melo/Paul Pierce hybrid with sneaky athleticism.

Wiggins [22] and Embiid [21] together at Kansas

2. Orlando Magic - Joel Embiid, Kansas, C, Fr.
Embiid is a once in a generation talent. He's a 7-footer who runs the floor like a gazelle. His footwork is impeccable [an example of his footwork: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Irvvb7Y4-w ]. Especially for a guy who's only been playing organized basketball since the age of 16. He's still a bit raw and might need a year or two before making a huge impact, but make no mistake, he's as good as it gets.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, SF, Fr.
Although he's failed to live up to the [highly unfair] hype that surrounded him out of high school, Wiggins has been great for the Jayhawks. He's become the best finisher in college hoops and perhaps the best rebounding wing in the NCAA as well. He can heat up like a microwave, knocking down jumper after jumper when he's hot. Just imagine a Wiggins-Carter Williams fast-break. That would strike fear into the hearts of every opposing defense.

4. Boston Celtics - Dante Exum, Australia, PG/SG, HS Sr.
Exum would be a perfect fit for Boston. At 6'6, he has the size to guard wings and point-guards. He can break down a defense like Russell Westbrook, dish it to his teammates like Penny Hardaway, and shut down opposing players like Michael Carter-Williams. While he needs to level out and play more consistently, and the opposition is terrible at best, his skill-set is fit for the NBA. He can play with Rondo at the 2, or succeed him at the 1.

5. Sacramento Kings - Noah Vonleh, Indiana, PF, Fr.
While I'm sure the Lakers would've loved to snag Vonleh with the next pick, Sacramento scoops him up and it's a great fit. He's an absolute beast on the boards, averaging 9 per game. He has a good post game for his age, he can hit shots from deep, and with his height [6'10] and massive arms [7'4 wingspan]; Vonleh wreaks havoc on defense. HE compares well to Chris Bosh. Pairing him up with DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento would have a deadly frontcourt.

6.  Los Angeles Lakers - Marcus Smart, Oklahoma St., PG/SG, So.
Congratulations Marcus Smart, you're the first non-freshman [or high-schooler] in the draft. Sooner or later, the Lakers will have to start planning for life after Kobe. Smart is a pretty nice way to start. He's a fierce competitor, a shutdown defender, and has a serious knack for making teammates look better [even Swaggy P]. He's in the right place at the right time and is a really savy player who plays with unparalleled drive and determination. He'll play his heart out every night and LA fans will love that about him.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers - Julius Randle, Kentucky, PF, Fr.
While his offensive numbers have cooled off after a monstrous start, Randle attacks the glass like no other. He's the best rebounder in the country with less than 30 collegiate games under his belt. Randle needs to be a bit less reckless with the ball inside because he turns the ball over a ton. His offensive game is a little raw and he'll never be a defensive anchor, but he's a grown man on the boards.

8. Utah Jazz - Doug McDermmot, Creighton, SF/PF, Sr.
Utah needs someone to put the ball through the hoop. Doug McDermott is the nation's leading scorer. Seems like a good fit. Unfortunately for the Jazz, they're not terrible enough to really land a transcendent talent so for now, getting a first-class role player makes a bunch of sense. Doug McDermott is really good at making shots. He's shooting 50% from the floor, 43% from three, and averaging 25 points a game. The Jazz need a shotmaker. They have their PG of the future and their 2 big men. If they land McDermott then all they're missing is another wing and you're looking at a solid team.

9. Denver Nuggets [via NY] - Gary Harris, Michigan St., SG, So.
The Nuggets are currently starting Randy Foye at the 2. That's just not going to cut it. Gary Harris is a solid all-around player who's really aggressive attacking the rim. He's a guy that you just know is going to produce as a starter. He may never make an All-NBA team, but he'll show up on the court every game and produce solid numbers.

10. Charlotte Bobcats - Zach LaVine, UCLA, PG/SG, Fr.
The Bobcats need a spark plug 6th man off the bench to change the tempo of the game and pump the crowd as well as the rest of the team. LaVine fits that mold perfectly. He's 6'5 with insane athleticism [ proof of that athleticism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdtQLPdbQ64 ] and a great stroke from behind the arc [shooting around 45% from three].

11. Philadelphia 76ers [via N.O.] - Aaron Gordon, Arizona, PF/SF, Fr.
Assuming they trade Evan Turner or give away in free agency, wouldn't it be a refreshing change of pace to go from a ball-dominant SF who isn't much of a defender to a super athletic role player who scores without having his number called, rebounds like a maniac, an inside-outside versatile defender and an excellent passer? I sure think so. Well that's Aaron Gordon for you. He may not be a star like analysts originally thought, but he's going to be a hell-of-a role player that any team would love to have.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves - Rodney Hood, Duke, SF, So.
What's the one thing on offense that has always held Minnesota back from being the playoff contenders they should be? 3 point shooting.Well, Rodney Hood is about as good as it gets in this year's class. Hood is shooting about .450 from three on 16.9 points per game. With a sneaky off the dribble game, Hood is a really underrated player.

13. Orlando Magic [via Denver] - Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, PG, Fr.
If the Magic walk away from draft night with Embiid and Tyler Ennis, they'll be the biggest winners of the draft. Ennis won't blow you away with his physical traits, but he always makes the right plays at the right times at the right speeds. He hardly ever turns the ball over, he's an excellent passer and he's an underrated finisher at the rim

14. Memphis Grizzlies - Dario Saric, Croatia, SF/PF, 20 years old [playing for Croatia's national team]
The Grizzlies need a little bit of everything, especially offense. Saric is no. 3 in the Croatian league in scoring per game, no. 1 in rebounding, and no. 2 in steals. He's a swiss army knife who can do it all. He can put it on the floor, shoot it, defend, and rebound at 6'10. He's reminiscent of Boris Diaw when he came into the league.

15. Chicago Bulls [via Charlotte] - James Young, Kentucky, SG/SF, Fr.
James Young is as athletic as it gets. He can get to the rim and finish with ease. Or he can shoot it from behind the arc with his sweet stroke. He's also an instinctive defensive player. He's fun to watch, and even more fun to root for.

16. Atlanta Hawks [via Brooklyn] - Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, C, So.
Willie Cauley Stein blocks shots, rebounds, runs in transition, and catches lobs. He doesn't do anything else, but he's really good a those three things. He can potentially develop into a DeAndre Jordan type of player.

Aaron Gordon [11] and Nick Johnson [13] box out Jabari Parker

17. Chicago Bulls - Nick Johnson, Arizona, PG/SG, Jr.
Johnson is lightning quick, has insane hops, and a deadly 3 point stroke. Think of him as a slightly less talented version of Zach LaVine, but with a much higher basketball IQ. Chicago neeeds a spark plug in their backcourt. Badly. Johnson fits the bill.

18. Phoenix Suns - Jerami Grant, Syracuse, SF/PF, So.
Grant has killer athleticism and is a highlight reel just waiting to happen. He draws tons of fouls [Draws one foul every 5 minutes of game action, 6 times a game]. He has a solid mid-range stroke.. With his long arms [7'2 wingspan] he's a nasty defender. He has yet to hit a 3 pointer this season yet, which is what's preventing him from reaching the lottery.

19. Boston Celtics [via Atlanta] - Nik Stauskas, Michigan, SG, So.
Stauskas has quietly become one of the
most complete offensive players in the NCAA. He hits a ton of threes, penetrates, finishes, and dishes the ball. I see him as a Gordon Hayward clone after he adapts to the NBA landscape.

20. Toronto Raptors - Vasilije Micic, Serbia, PG, 20 years old
Micic compares to Jose Calderon. Not many people know about him so I'll just let his mix-tape do the talking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9lhU8nQ2Hw

21. Oklahoma City Thunder [via Dallas] - Montrezl Harrell, Louisville, PF, So.
Montrezl Harrell has been racking up double doubles as of late. He has insane hops and rebounds/blocks with the best of them. He's a bit of a project, but OKC can wait.

22. Utah Jazz [via Golden State] Glenn Robinson III, Michigan, SF, So.
While consistency has plagued Robinson throughout his short collegiate career; he's been really effective as a spot-up shooter, slasher, and defender. I'd like to see him attack the rim more aggressively, but he can carve out a niche as an athletic 3, rim, and D guy.

23. Phoenix Suns - P.J. Hairston, Texas Legends [D-League], SG/SF
Who's ready for the steal of the draft? P.J. Hairston looks an awful lot like Paul Pierce [or at the very least, Klay Thompson] as a 3 and D specialist. Who would've ever thought that being kicked off of the North Carolina team would've boosted his draft stock? UNC never ran the offense through him like the Legends are. He scored 22 points and got 6 steals in his D-League debut. He followed that up by dropping 40 in his second appearance. Now if he could just stay out of trouble...

24. Houston Rockets - Adrian Payne, Michigan St., PF, Sr.
Injuries have caused his stock to drop but Adrian Payne is an offensive beast who can score in the paint, behind the arc, and everywhere in between.He's a matchup nightmare. He's not a great defender but he's a great piece for Houston's second unit and eventually perhaps their starting lineup.

25. Los Angeles Clippers - Chris Walker, Florida, PF, Fr.
Can a team ever have enough athletic big men? When Chris Paul is your point guard, no. Walker is 6'10 and runs the court like a well-oiled machine. He's shown promise in high school, but he's not ready from a skill-point. His physical tools are, though.

26. Charlotte Bobcats [via Portland] - Spencer Dinwiddle, Colorado, SG, So.
Once viewed as a fringe lottery pick, Dinwiddle tore his ACL. Even if his quickness never returns, he's still a high IQ guard who shoots well and doesn't turn the ball over.

Kyle Anderson the 6'9 PG from UCLA

27. Miami Heat - Kyle Anderson, UCLA, SF/PG, So.
Here's my favorite prospect in the draft. The 6'9 PG is seemingly flirting with a triple double every night. He rebounds well, penetrates, steals the ball, oh and he's a 6'9 point guard. I really hope this guy gets a shot in the league, his skill set is amazingly diverse.

28. San Antonio Spurs - Sam Dekker, Wisconsin, SF, So.
He's extremely smart on the court, shoots well, and can make plays without the ball. Sound familiar? That's because I just described every player on the Spurs. Perfect fit.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - C.J. Wilcox, Washington, SG, Sr.
He drains threes. He's making 3 per game at a 44% clip. Drains.

30. Phoenix Suns [via Indiana] - Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, PG/SG, Sr.
He's a 6'1 point guard who averages nearly 18-5-5 on 43% shooting from three. How does a 6'1 PG pull down 5 boards per game in only 30 minutes per game? Michael Carter Williams [6'6] pulls down 5 per game, in 48 minutes. This guy should be a first round pick.