We are less than 12 hours away from learning who will be taken first overall in the 2014 NBA Entry Draft. While draft pundits, including myself, see the top two picks coming down to either Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker there is still some talk about Cleveland taking Dante Exum here. One has to think that this is nothing more than a smokescreen in hopes of illiciting a desperate trade offer for the top pick as it still seems to be a foregone conclusion that Cleveland keeps this prized pick.
Milwaukee is keeping fairly quite as draft day approaches as they will be happy to take the leftovers from Wiggins or Parker. They might prefer one to the other but they are keeping mum on those desires.
Philadelphia on the other hand is making all kinds of noise with their third and tenth overall picks. Rumours persist that the 76ers are trying to move both up in the draft and back in the draft. They surely want Wiggins or Parker and they probably feel that they could take the injured Joel Embiid with a pick after Orlando's fourth selection. They might find an interested trade partner as many teams are high on Exum which would then force Orlando to rethink their draft board.
Embiid's situation is an intriguing one as no one is doubting his talent and ability to be an impact player in the Association; however team must weigh out the injury risk. Embiid is likely going to have his name called somewhere between the third and seventh pick. A general manager will gamble on Embiid and there could be some trade movement in order for teams to take a gamble of their own here. One thing is for sure he won't slip past the Los Angeles Lakers at the seven spot.
A name that keeps coming when these anonymously quoted sources talk about talent is Julius Randle. Randle projects to be a solid prospect and if it weren't for Noah Vonleh he could be in discussion as a top five pick. He still could crack the top five but only if the Utah Jazz likes him more than Vonleh. If he slips past Utah, look for the Boston Celtics to take him with the sixth pick, but if this truly the case I'd look for the C's to try and move back a couple slots, possibly finding a trade partner in the Lakers for that fifth pick.
Also rumoured to be in play here at the fifth overall spot is Aaron Gordon as his team workouts went very well by all accounts. Gordon says that his best workout was for the Celtics but that doesn't mean that the Celtics felt the same way. Gordon is definitely in the mix along with Vonleh and Randle here. The Jazz could also be in on Gordon which could very well make Vonleh available to the Lakers at the seven spot.
The Phoenix Suns are making some noise and have been inquiring about getting into the top ten come draft day. The Suns are likely hesitant to offer big dollars to Eric Bledsoe and they could try and package him in hopes of getting a decent pick. Sacramento has been advertising their pick as being available from day one; however, as of now nothing appears imminent on that front. This will change once the draft board stays to take shape. Teams are reluctant to put a price on the eighth overall pick until they know what they can get with that pick.
Zach Lavine continues to rise up the draft board as his athleticism is too much of a draw for some teams. For a kid who played a single year of college ball and didn't even start for UCLA, he is makin the most out of this opportunity. Lavine has gone from a bottom third of the first round prospect to a potential lottery pick over the past four weeks.
The Miami Heat are supposedly trying to move up in the draft as well as thy might be eyeing Shabazz Napier. Miami is trying to package their own pick along with Norris Cole for a mid round pick that should bet them Napier.
One thing is for sure, outside of the top two picks in this draft anything could happen in terms of how prospects are valued by teams and trades that will come in. This draft is setting up to be an entertaining evening that could be fraught with misdirection and surprises. Stay tuned to eDraft as we blog live draft updates on picks and trades as they come in.