Since the Draft lottery was last night, there have been many scenarios of where each player will be drafted and which team they will play for next season.
DraftExpress.com has broken down the lottery picks and Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter is mentioned in picks 2-8.
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Here is the breakdown:
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[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#2- Minnesota Timberwolves[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [B][I][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Derrick-Williams-5811/”]Derrick Williams[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Knight-5140/”]Brandon Knight[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jonas-Valanciunas-5622/”]Jonas Valanciunas[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]There are a couple of different ways to look at this if you’re a Timberwolves fan. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]On one hand, things could have been much worse, as the team only moved down one spot instead of three, and is still in the top two in what is widely thought of as a two player draft. On the other hand, Williams plays the same position as their top two scorers, creating some serious overlap that will need to be resolved eventually. This adds further uncertainty to a team that is already in flux—in-between coaches and point guards—a situation that is far from ideal considering the team’s record last season. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]At this point, there are a lot of unanswered questions still left to explore. Their front office indicates to us that they’ll be very active in trade discussions this summer. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#3- Utah Jazz[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jan-Vesely-1402/”]Jan Vesely[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/”]Bismack Biyombo[/URL], [I][B][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Knight-5140/”]Brandon Knight[/URL][/B][/I], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kemba-Walker-5152/”]Kemba Walker[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]This is where the draft really starts seemingly, as soon as the consensus top two picks are off the board. The discrepancy between the prospects perceived to be the 3rd and 10th best talents is about as small as we can remember in our eight years covering the draft, which will make for a busy and interesting lead-up on Utah’s part as they try to sift through all their options and figure out what would be the most effective move to make here.[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]For now, we’re going with Knight, as he fills a major need for the team in the backcourt, and can also play alongside incumbent point guard [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Devin-Harris-2746/”]Devin Harris[/URL] without any major problems. As the youngest player in the draft, he has plenty of upside to grow into, and shouldn’t have any issue living in Salt Lake City based on what we’ve learned about him.[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]Vesely (who the team liked very much according to sources when they were slated to pick 6th), Walker and others will also likely get strong consideration. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#4- Cleveland Cavaliers[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL], [B][I][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jonas-Valanciunas-5622/”]Jonas Valanciunas[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/”]Bismack Biyombo[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kawhi-Leonard-5821/”]Kawhi Leonard[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jan-Vesely-1402/”]Jan Vesely[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]With their point guard of the future in the fold, the Cavs can now move on to addressing one of their other many needs. Their frontcourt would be a good place to start. An athletic pick and roll finisher like Valanciunas would pair up very well with [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kyrie-Irving-5735/”]Kyrie Irving[/URL], but the likes of Kanter, Biyombo, Leonard and Vesely will also surely get long looks as the talent gap between any of these prospects is not huge. The Cavs will also likely field offers for this pick.[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#5- Toronto Raptors[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [B][I][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kemba-Walker-5152/”]Kemba Walker[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Knight-5140/”]Brandon Knight[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/”]Bismack Biyombo[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL] [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]While the Raptors did fall two spots to the 3rd overall pick, they should still be able to come away with one of the coveted guard prospects—[URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Knight-5140/”]Brandon Knight[/URL] or [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kemba-Walker-5152/”]Kemba Walker[/URL], due to the fact that Cleveland and Minnesota surely will look in a different direction after picking Irving and Williams 1-2. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]Drafting a floor general is surely the next step in Toronto’s rebuilding process, especially when evaluating the alternatives that are on the board. When it’s all said and done, Toronto may end up with the same player at #5 that they would have taken at #3, just at a lower slot on the rookie salary scale. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#6- Washington Wizards[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [B][I][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jan-Vesely-1402/”]Jan Vesely[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/”]Bismack Biyombo[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kawhi-Leonard-5821/”]Kawhi Leonard[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]The Wizards have to be disappointed by falling two spots to 6th overall, but still have a comparable group of prospects to choose from at this point. Vesely and Leonard would give them more athleticism and toughness on the wing, while Biyombo and Kanter would be frontcourt upgrades. Surely the team will go through an extended evaluation process before making their final decision, but Vesely is rumored to be the early favorite. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#7- Sacramento Kings[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B] [B][I][URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bismack-Biyombo-5902/”]Bismack Biyombo[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Donatas-Motiejunas-1300/”]Donatas Motiejunas[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marcus-Morris-5178/”]Marcus Morris[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]Sacramento’s fall from five to seven is a bit more painful considering it likely takes them out of the mix for upgrading their backcourt situation, which clearly seems to be their biggest need at the moment. There are still some solid frontcourt prospects available, though, particularly Biyombo, who seems like a perfect fit alongside De[URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marcus-Cousin-6337/”]Marcus Cousin[/URL]s, where his offensive limitations wouldn’t look quite as glaring.[/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]#8- Detroit Pistons [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000][B]Will Consider:[/B][B][I] [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL][/I][/B], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Donatas-Motiejunas-1300/”]Donatas Motiejunas[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marcus-Morris-5178/”]Marcus Morris[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Alec-Burks-5819/”]Alec Burks[/URL], [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kawhi-Leonard-5821/”]Kawhi Leonard[/URL][/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]The Pistons have plenty of needs, and it’s doubtful whether they’ll be able to solve them all in one night. Not in this draft class, and not after sliding down one spot to the #8 pick. There are question marks about whether [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Rodney-Stuckey-1015/”]Rodney Stuckey[/URL] is their point guard of the future, better suited at the 2, or would even be most effective coming off the bench. Rip Hamilton and [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tayshaun-Prince-3997/”]Tayshaun Prince[/URL] may not be here long term. And while the team has invested a great deal of money in power forwards [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Charlie-Villanueva-60/”]Charlie Villanueva[/URL] and [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jason-Maxiell-419/”]Jason Maxiell[/URL], the position is anything but fortified judging by the results of last season. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]At this point, the team may have to take a long look at [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Enes-Kanter-5168/”]Enes Kanter[/URL], even if it may be difficult to play him together with starting center [URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Greg-Monroe-1109/”]Greg Monroe[/URL], whose heavy feet make him ill-suited to guard perimeter oriented power forwards. Kanter is a poor match in Utah, Toronto and Sacramento with their current starting centers, and is scaring off already-skeptical teams with his unwillingness to work out competitively for any team. Nevertheless, NBA teams need size and toughness inside the paint, and the Pistons were too weak of a team, in too weak of a draft to pick solely on need. [/COLOR][/LEFT]
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[URL=”http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Post-NBA-Draft-Lottery-Analysis-The-Implications-3706″]Complete Article[/URL]
