Chad Ford Early 2014 Mock Draft

If any team wants to really have a shot at Wiggins they need to be in the top 9 worst record. I say he ends up somewhere in the East Conference. Philadelphia or Boston come to mind. But who cares Rockets are Championship material ready to win a championship.

 

Never understood why every single Ford roster gets posted on CF. His mocks tend to be some of the worst out of all the well-known ones.

 

Exum needs to go to college to avoid the wiggins draft so he can go pick 1 in the draft in 2015..
Aus reppin

 

Going number 2 or 3 at worse is not a bad thing. Plus the kid is special so no need to wait an extra year. Off topic the 2015 or 2016 NBA drafts don't look nothing special that is why most of the bad teams are tanking.... When the college season is done I still think this draft will be ridiculous strong in the 1st rd. Then you might see a steep drop off in the 2nd rf with decent upperclass college players or raw prospects.

 

Crap on Chandler, who helped us get Dwight, and who fits in well with what Morey's building, just so we can move up and select a player....of about Chandler's abilities.

Because no team EVER, EVER gives up a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, unless it's for an established All Star talent.

 

I would snag James Young or Andrew Harrison. I think it's important we get a young scoring SG with potential to learn from Harden.

 

McDermott

 

I want Marcus Smart.. But not happening. But (based on the current mocks which means nothing) we could pick up Dukes Rodney Hood who seems to show a great deal of potential.

 

If they were still allowing players go straight to the NBA after high school do you think Wiggins would come out?

 

For those complaining about Ford's inaccurate mocks, I think they're worth more just for the reads we get on the players. ESPN and other sites provide some good writeups, even if the actual order of where the players are drafted is all over the map.

 

Yes. why would an 18 year old kid turn down Millions of dollars even if for 2-3 years? Chances are that kid wouldnt get another opportunity at that kind of money again

 

LOL of course the mock draft has the jazz taking doug mcdermott, the kkk wouldn't have it any other way.

 

It makes you wonder how good the Jazz would be if they didn't have to draft white guys as often as possible. I almost feel bad for them. Almost

 

Jazz have been going a different direction with more black players. They actually have a nice young tanking core of: Trey Burk, Alex Burks, Favors, Kanter, Hayward and a top 5 draft pick.

 

I like Chandler and do not want to move him,but if someone drops down unexpectedly,I could see Morey doing that.

 

anyone that has espn insider sub can they repost this artcile
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9715151/projecting-2014-2015-first-rounders?addata=2009_insdr_mod_nba_xxx_xxx

 

[rQUOTEr]One of the trickiest parts of Insider's Future Power Rankings, which were posted Monday, is evaluating the worth of each team's draft picks. How much better is a lottery pick than a pick later in the round? How does that compare to teams with multiple picks? Statistical projections can help answer these questions.

As part of putting together my FPR votes, I simulated each of the next two seasons 1,000 times and applied the lottery weightings to determine how often teams could expect to have various picks. I also applied the various protections on picks that have been traded to attempt to assign them as accurately as possible. The last step was multiplying everything by the average value of each draft pick in terms of WARP based on historical performance.

The final result were these rankings, which indicate how much value each team can expect to get from its 2014 and 2015 picks during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. That last part is key -- 2014 picks are more important to these rankings than 2015 picks since they will play two years (and have the opportunity to improve) within the three-year scope of the Future Power Rankings. Also note that these ratings are not adjusted for the projected strength of the 2014 draft class, which could make next year's top picks even more valuable than they appear.

1. Phoenix Suns (13.0 WARP from draft picks)

The Suns have amassed more first-round picks than any other team in the league. In all likelihood they will have three first-round picks next year (Indiana and Minnesota owe them future first-rounders) and two in 2015 (when they get a pick from the Los Angeles Lakers via the Steve Nash trade). Of course, the most valuable of all are Phoenix's own. SCHOENE projects the Suns as the league's worst team in the tougher Western Conference, and estimates they head into the lottery in the No. 1 spot more than 60 percent of the time. While that doesn't guarantee the No. 1 selection (the Suns land that an estimated 22 percent of the time), it would mean getting one of the four top prospects in 2014's deep draft. Phoenix figures to spend one more season near the top of the lottery, and could have two 2015 lottery picks depending on how the Lakers fare in free agency next summer.

2. Philadelphia 76ers (8.7 WARP from draft picks)

Conventional wisdom -- and the ESPN Summer Forecast -- say the Sixers are the favorites to finish with the NBA's worst record this season and have the best chance at next June's No. 1 pick. SCHOENE is slightly more optimistic about their 2013-14 chances, but almost entirely because last year's team was solid defensively, which is unlikely to carry over. So the gap between Philadelphia and Phoenix isn't as large as the numbers indicate. The Sixers also have a possible lottery pick coming from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Jrue Holiday trade (most likely to be late in the lottery) and could add more picks by renting out their cap space to teams looking to shed payroll before the trade deadline.

3. Orlando Magic (8.6 WARP from draft picks)

SCHOENE projects the Magic with the league's second-worst record next season, which translates into a 17.1 percent chance of landing the top pick. Orlando slips slightly behind Philadelphia because its other first-round pick next June -- the lesser of those belonging to Denver and New York, via the Dwight Howard trade -- is unlikely to fall in the lottery.

4. Boston Celtics (8.1 WARP from draft picks)

The Celtics rank this high largely on the strength of their own picks over the next two seasons. Depending on what happens with Rajon Rondo (both in terms of his rehabilitation and a possible trade), Boston's best chance at a top pick seems to be 2015, when only the Suns and the Sacramento Kings are projected as more likely to land the No. 1 overall pick. The Celtics also have extra first-round picks next year (the worse of those belonging to Atlanta and Brooklyn) and 2015 (from the L.A. Clippers), but both should fall in the late 20s. The more valuable Boston asset is the Nets' unprotected 2016 first-round pick, which falls outside the scope of these rankings.

5. Utah Jazz (7.1 WARP from draft picks)

With a solid young core in place, the Jazz are unlikely to factor into the mix for the league's worst record, but should still land a top-10 selection this season. Utah also holds Golden State's unprotected first-round pick this season, which has plenty of upside if the Warriors suffer injuries that cause them to fall short of expectations.

6. Sacramento Kings (7.0 WARP from draft picks)

Sacramento is the top team that holds only its own first-round picks. In fact, the Kings' first-rounder is their only pick of any kind next season. Still, they should find themselves picking in the lottery again the next two years. Sacramento still owes Cleveland a protected pick (top-12 in 2014, top-10 in 2015), but the projections only show the Kings losing it 2.7 percent of the time.

7. Charlotte Bobcats (6.8 WARP from draft picks)

After drafting Cody Zeller and signing Al Jefferson, the Bobcats might start their move up a year too early. SCHOENE doesn't see Charlotte as a major threat for a top-three pick (just 16.3 percent of the time) and there's even a chance the Bobcats could lose their pick to the Chicago Bulls (it's top-10 protected). Charlotte could get picks from both Detroit (top-8 protected and likely to convey) and Portland (top-12 protected and right on the bubble) to join Phoenix with three first-rounders this year.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (6.0 WARP from draft picks)

Thanks primarily to this summer's J.J. Redick sign-and-trade, the Bucks have stockpiled five second-round picks over the next two seasons. Still, most of this value comes from Milwaukee's own first-rounders, likely to fall in the lottery.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (5.1 WARP from draft picks)

Cleveland leads the league in picks it's not likely to see for a while. In theory, the Cavaliers could have four 2015 first-round picks (their own plus protected picks from Memphis, Miami and Sacramento), but only the Heat pick is likely to change hands.

10. Toronto Raptors (4.2 WARP from draft picks)

The Raptors have an extra second-round pick this year (originally belonging to Oklahoma City) from the Andrea Bargnani trade. They'll also get a first-round pick from the deal, but not until 2016.

11. Denver Nuggets (3.9 WARP from draft picks)

As a leftover from the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Nuggets have the right to swap picks with the Knicks this season. While that might not mean anything should New York finish with the better record, the estimated value of getting the better of the two picks is about the same as the value of a late first-rounder.

12. Washington Wizards (3.7 WARP from draft picks)

After five years in the lottery picking no worse than sixth, the Wizards are likely to have their least valuable selection since 2008.

13. Los Angeles Lakers (3.7 WARP from draft picks)

This value is strictly from next year's first-round pick, which is likely to fall in the lottery, since the Lakers have already traded their 2015 first-rounder and don't have their second-round pick next year. Still, this could be a rare opportunity for a team that has picked in the lottery just twice (1994, 2005) since taking James Worthy No. 1 overall in 1982.

14. Dallas Mavericks (3.6 WARP from draft picks)

The Mavericks owe a top-20 protected pick, now belonging to Oklahoma City, from the Lamar Odom trade, but we project a 16.6 percent chance of losing it this season.

15. Atlanta Hawks (3.2 WARP from draft picks)

As part of the Joe Johnson trade, the Hawks have the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets each of the next two drafts. That probably won't mean much next year, since Brooklyn is likely to finish higher in the East standings, but it's handy in case the Nets' age catches up to them in 2014-15.

16. Chicago Bulls (3.0 WARP from draft picks)

We estimate an 85 percent chance of the Bulls getting the pick Charlotte owes them from the Tyrus Thomas trade in either 2014 or 2015 (more likely the latter). Chicago is hoping it keeps rolling over until 2016, when the pick becomes completely unprotected.

17. Memphis Grizzlies (1.9 WARP from draft picks)

There's a big gap between Chicago and Memphis, which reflects the difference between playoff teams with extra picks and those hoping just to keep their own. As part of last year's payroll-shedding deal, the Grizzlies owe Cleveland their 2015 first-round pick -- but only if it falls between Nos. 6 and 14. We estimate that happening 56.5 percent of the time, which is probably too pessimistic about Memphis falling off as Zach Randolph ages.

18. Portland Trail Blazers (1.8 WARP from draft picks)

Some factors can't be quantified, and teams' efforts to keep their protected picks fall into that category. We estimate a 65.4 percent chance of the Blazers sending their first-round pick to the Charlotte Bobcats from the Gerald Wallace trade and a 29.6 percent chance of the worst-case scenario -- losing the pick (top-12 protected) and missing the playoffs. In reality, if Portland is eliminated from postseason contention the team will probably do its best to finish in the top 12 of the draft.

19. Houston Rockets (1.7 WARP from draft picks)

The Rockets have both of their own first-round picks, plus extra second-rounders from New York (2014) and either Denver or Minnesota (2015). Still, they finish this low because those selections are unlikely to be very good after the arrival of Dwight Howard.

20. Oklahoma City Thunder (1.6 WARP from draft picks)

The selection of Steven Adams in June was probably the last lottery pick Oklahoma City will make for several years. The Thunder's own picks don't figure to be anywhere close to the lotto, and Oklahoma City only gets a first-round pick from Dallas if it falls outside the top 20.

21. New York Knicks (1.6 WARP from draft picks)

The Knicks have a habit of trading first-round picks they aren't required to keep by rules preventing teams from trading future first-rounders in consecutive drafts, so they have just two of their next four (2015 and 2017).

22. Miami Heat (1.4 WARP from draft picks)

Expect Miami to pick somewhere in the late 20s or 30th overall again this season. The Heat could pick earlier in 2015 if the Philadelphia rebuild comes together earlier than expected; the 76ers owe Miami a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Arnett Moultrie trade. If Philadelphia misses the playoffs each of the next two seasons, however, the Heat only get a second-rounder from the deal.

23. San Antonio Spurs (1.1 WARP from draft picks)

Because they're likely to come late in the first round, the Spurs rate worst of any team with all its own picks over the next two drafts.

24. Los Angeles Clippers (1.0 WARP from draft picks)

The Clippers have their first-round pick this year, but gave up an unprotected 2015 selection to the Celtics in exchange for Doc Rivers.

25. Golden State Warriors (0.8 WARP from draft picks)

Over the next two drafts, the Warriors have only a single pick -- their own, in 2015 -- after trading next year's first-rounder to Utah to shed payroll.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (0.5 WARP from draft picks)

There's a tiny chance the Pelicans keep next year's first-round pick, which is top-five protected. We estimate that happening 2.8 percent of the time.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (0.5 WARP from draft picks)

The Timberwolves' pick is top-13 protected this year, which means they're hoping to lose it by returning to the playoffs.

28. Indiana Pacers (0.5 WARP from draft picks)

Indiana put lottery protection on the first-round pick it sent the Suns in the Luis Scola deal, which almost certainly won't matter.

29. Brooklyn Nets (0.4 WARP from draft picks)

Not only have the Nets traded their 2014 first-round pick to Boston, they're stuck with the worse of their own pick and Atlanta's in 2015. And that's the only pick Brooklyn has until the 2016 second round.

30. Detroit Pistons (0.3 WARP from draft picks)

Part of the incentive for Detroit loading up with Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith this summer is that the Pistons owe Charlotte a top-eight protected pick this year. Since Detroit was likely to lose the pick anyway, may as well make it as bad as possible. After the upgrades, SCHOENE doesn't see any chance of the Pistons keeping their pick.[/rQUOTEr]

 

Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans and New York - not good enough to contend for home court advantage in the playoffs (in New Orleans case, not even a likely playoff team), and among the bottom 10 in future draft rankings.

 

New York isn't good enough to even contend for the HC advantage?