FanPost

2014 Draft Re-Do

An LA Times writer posted an article today with a re-do of the controversial (in Philadelphia) 2014 draft. Here are his picks:

1) Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota, SF/SG

2) Elfrid Payton, Orlando, PG

3) Jabari Parker, Milwaukee, SF

4) Julius Randle, Lakers, PF

5) Marcus Smart, Boston, PG

6) Jordan Clarkson, Lakers, PG/SG

7) Rodney Hood, Utah, SG

8) Gary Harris, Denver, SG

9) Zach LaVine, Minnesota, SG/PG

10) Aaron Gordon, Orlando, PF

11) T.J. Warren, Phoenix, SF

12) Jusuf Nurkic, Denver, C

13) Clint Capela, Houston, C/PF

14) Doug McDermott, Chicago, SF

Notable dropouts, with original draft position: Embiid (3); Dante Exum (5); Nik Stauskas (8), Noah Vonleh (9), Dario Saric (12).

If you agree with this list, the Lakers killed it with Randle and Clarkson and the Sixers absolutely blew it, getting stuck with Embiid, Staukas, Saric and allowing the steal of the draft, Elfrith Payton, to slip through their hands. Let's take a closer look.

Randle, in his second season, is averaging 11 pts (on 44% shooting) and 8 rebounds per game and a slightly below average 14.4 PER. If he improves that shooting % he has the upside to be an average, but undersized, PF with no 3PT range and no ability to cover a SF. Gee, that sounds like a top of the lottery pick to me. Clarkson probably was the steal of the draft, but why did the Lakers add Lou Williams and DeAngelo Russell to a back court that already had Kobe and Swaggy?

Apparently Embiid and Saric were drop-outs for not playing (in the NBA), regardless of long-term upside. Saric was playing against pretty good competition, while Parker and Randle missed most of their first seasons. I would still pick Embiid 3rd and Saric 12th. Had the Sixers taken Smart or Payton, it would have filled the gaping hole at PG the Sixers have this season. However in return for taking a PG who can't shoot (again) the Sixers would probably have a much lower chance at Ben Simmons and the Lakers upcoming pick.

The Sixers had better amunition in 2014 and the Lakers had better ammunition in 2015. I would take the Sixers 2014 (#3 Embiid ,#10 Saric plus Sixers 2017 first round pick, 32 KJ McDaniels, 39 Jerami Grant) and 2015 drafts (#3 Okafor, #37 Holmes) over the Lakers 2014 (#7 Randle, #46 Clarkson) and 2015 drafts (#2 Russell, #27 Larry Nance jr.) in a heartbeat.

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