I barely watch college basketball. I watch any Michigan State game I can catch, and parts of the tournament. So I think it's fair to say that I honestly know very little about many of the players who are likely to go in the lottery. T...
I barely watch college basketball. I watch any Michigan State game I can catch, and parts of the tournament. So I think it's fair to say that I honestly know very little about many of the players who are likely to go in the lottery. The one player projected to go in the lottery that I've seen play the most would be Trey Burke, whom I barely watched more than Victor Oladipo. However, I'm going to try and determine how the Lottery will end up going. Due to lack of knowledge of college players, I won't dare go any further than that.
Pick
Team
2013-14 Roster
Avail. Cap
Other Picks
#1
Cavaliers
10 (PG - 1, SG - 3, SF - 2, PF - 2, C - 2)
$25,405,880
#19, #31, #33
#2
Magic
12 (PG - 1, SG - 3, SF - 3, PF - 4, C - 1)
$4,203,343
#51
#3
Wizards
10 (PG - 1, SG - 2, SF - 3, PF - 2, C - 2)
$604,296
#37, #54
#4
Bobcats
10 (PG - 2, SG - 3, SF - 1, PF - 2, C - 2)
$17,579,673
N/A
#5
Suns
13 (PG - 4, SG - 2, SF - 1, PF - 4, C - 2)
$4,630,860
#30, #57
#6
Pelicans
10 (PG - 2, SG - 2, SF - 2, PF - 3, C - 1)
$23,042,668
N/A
#7
Kings
12 (PG - 4, SG - 1, SF - 2, PF - 4, C - 1)
$17,292,356
#36
#8
Pistons
10 (PG - 2, SG - 1, SF - 2, PF - 3, C - 2)
$22,827,280
#38, #56
#9
Wolves
10 (PG - 4, SG - 1, SF - 1, PF - 3, C - 1)
$10,863,418
#26, #52, #59
#10
Blazers
10 (PG - 2, SG - 3, SF - 2, PF - 2, C - 1)
$10,854,862
#39, #40, #45
#11
76ers
8 (PG - 1, SG - 1, SF - 2, PF - 1, C - 3)
$11,806,643
#35, #42
#12
Thunder
10 (PG - 2, SG - 3, SF - 1, PF - 2, C - 2)
-$8,119,439
#29, #32
#13
Mavericks
8 (PG - 2, SG - 3, SF - 2, PF - 1, C - 0)
$16,583,651
#44
#14
Jazz
7 (PG - 1, SG - 2, SF - 1, PF - 2, C - 1)
$32,303,191
#21, #46
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers - Nerlens Noel
I don't feel the need to do in depth analysis on this pick for a few reasons. Though the Cavs only have one PG returning, they could easily get a backup with their other three picks or cap space. They're not likely to take an SG due to having Waiters and 2 other SG. I don't believe there are any SF or PF that warrant the top pick that would drastically help the Cavs. Also, the Cavs have Anderson Varejao which provides them a lot of leeway.Varejao will give Noel the time he needs to fully heal and time as a backup when he comes back. And then the following year, Varejao becomes a huge trade chip or even simply released depending on Noel's progress. The Cavs have a team option on Varejao in 2014-15 and he's slated to make $9.8M. The free agent market that following year will be much more enticing than this years and they could likely go after a better SF/PF by releasing Varejao. But if they wanted to, they could use his expiring contract for a trade. Noel is the perfect pick for Cleveland.
#2 Orlando Magic - Trey Burke
Again, I don't think there is need for in depth analysis on this one as I honestly can't see them picking anyone else due to their roster structure and cap limitations. It really hurt them that they didn't get the #1 overall pick as they have only one true center on the team. Jameer Nelson is 31 and has probably hit his peak. Afflalo is 27, Lamb 21 and Moore 24, so I don't think McLemore or Oladipo is an option for them. When you also consider how Vucevic is only 22, I don't think they're going to spring for Alex Len or Cody Zeller with the second pick.
Trade Possibility
I wonder if they'd be willing to trade the #2 pick and Afflalo to the Pistons for Knight and the #8 pick. This way they could take Len or Zeller with a lower pick, receive a "point guard", and free a little bit of cap space (nearly $5M). Yes, I understand that this trade seems like highway robbery, but they may be willing to "tank" another season and go after Andrew Wiggins. Trey Burke won't get this team to the playoffs alone.
#3 Washington Wizards - Otto Porter
Wow, the Wizards are in quite a bind. They don't have any cap room really, they need a backup PG unless Beal is able to handle thos