The NBA Draft is a crucial element of the offseason for many reasons.
First, it allows teams to draft young players with upside, give them a small rookie contract and hope they turn out to be the next superstar. This is a very big part of the rebuilding aspect of a franchise and also is a message to veteran players that there are hundreds of college students out there just waiting to take their jobs.
Second, it is a good way to bring back hometown superstars like in Miami’s case, LeBron James. He is a huge fan of former UCONN point guard Shabazz Napier. He even sent out tweets stating that he was the best point guard in the draft. Now that the Miami Heat was able to obtain him through a draft proposed trade, there is much less reason for James to leave Miami.
Lastly it is a very good chance to get a needed role players – scorer, defender, big man, shooter, etc..
With all this said, everyone is looking for the diamond in the rough to fall far enough to call them a steal. The following ten players did just that.
[new page = 10. Julius Randle, PF, Los Angeles Lakers, 7th overall]
College Team: Kentucky
Heading into the 2014 NCAA season Julius Randle was one of the top prospects along with Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. He was also projected to go top three in the draft but most teams didn’t see much upside to his game. With that said he is one of the most NBA ready prospects in the draft and will come in day one to make a difference. He was still a lottery pick but should have gone top five giving the Lakers a great piece at number seven.
[new page = 9. Spencer Dinwiddie, PG, Detroit Pistons, 38th overall]
College Team: Colorado
Dinwiddie is a player that constantly has a chip on his shoulder. He plays the game believing that he is the best and that kind of heart has translated to the court. His downfall came when he tore his ACL in January of 2014. It is still a gamble picking a player coming off an injury such as an ACL tear but if he can come back 100% the Pistons just got a really good point guard in the second round.
[new page = 8. Cleanthony Early, SF, New York Knicks, 34th overall]
College Team: Wichita State
Early in my opinion should have been a first round draftee. He has the heart to succeed and the skill to go along with it. This was the optimal pick for the Knicks because it kind of showed that Phil Jackson has had a plan all along. He will fit well into their offense especially if Carmelo Anthony leaves. This was a steal because he should’ve been a pick in the early 20s.
[new page = 7. Tyler Ennis, PG, Phoenix Suns, 18th overall]
College Team: Syracuse
During his one season at Syracuse Ennis showed that he is the most mature point guard in the draft. He simply knows what to do with the ball and stays very composed in late game situations. He is famous for making a few deep buzzer beating shots. He is a steal at 18 because a few teams with point guard needs passed up on him in the top ten.
[new page = 6. Shabazz Napier, PG, Miami Heat, 24th overall]
College Team: UCONN
Napier is coming off of two national championships however he was only a true part of the team for the win in 2014. He is small but knows how to handle the basketball and can create his own shot. He can’t body someone up but on defense he can be like a gnat. He was drafted by the Hornets but they traded his rights to the Heat. He will be a good fit with LeBron James and could have been drafted another ten picks earlier.
[new page = 5. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers, 3rd overall]
College Team: Kansas
Embiid would have been the first pick overall if he had not broken his foot. He is an absolute freak athlete. Big, strong and smart pretty much sum up his game. He can protect the rim and play the pick and roll very effectively. He is a steal simply because he broke his foot and fell to the 76ers at three.
[new page = 4. Kyle Anderson, PF, San Antonio Spurs, 30th overall]
College Team: UCLA
With the last pick in the first round the San Antonio Spurs managed to draft the perfect replacement for Boris Diaw. He isn’t the biggest power forward but he has a very big basketball IQ. He can defend and make moves to pass by defenders with ease. With that said he isn’t very quick and is susceptible to having ball handler blow by him. He also could be one of the best passers in this draft. He is a steal simply because he was the perfect fit for the Spurs and he managed to fall to the 30 spot.
[new page = 3. Rodney Hood, SG, Utah Jazz, 23rd overall]
College Team: Duke
Rodney Hood was getting a lot of notoriety early in the season and he could be the best shooter in the draft. Early on he was projected as a lottery pick but began to fall down the list slowly and steadily. He is a pick and pop type of shooter and can drive to the rack when he gets the chance. With a quick release the Jazz have just added another Gordon Heyward to their team of shooters. He should have gone in the top 20 and the Jazz should consider themselves lucky.
[new page = 2. James Young, SG, Boston Celtics, 17th overall]
With the No. 17 pick in the 2014 #NBADraft, the @celtics select James Young. pic.twitter.com/UpRMIIsXiH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 27, 2014
Image via Twitter from ESPNNBA
College Team: Kentucky
James Young is a scorer. He knows how to put the ball in the hoop. He drives to the rack with ease and when you don’t expect it he can make a quick jump shot. It was a surprise that he fell past the top 15 but it could have something to do with playing for a star-studded Kentucky team. If he played with any other program his statistics surely would have been much higher.
[new page = 1. Gary Harris, SG, Denver Nuggets, 19th overall]
College Team: Michigan State
I thought Gary Harris should have gone in the top 10. Unlike his Michigan enemy Nik Stauskas, he is able to defend and finish at the hoop much easier. Stauskas was a higher prospect because of his height and versatility on the floor but Harris is overall the better player. He is a very good defender and can shoot the lights out. He was the biggest steal of the draft going to the Chicago Bulls at 19 who have traded his rights to the Denver Nuggets.