The 2013 NBA Draft class is being called the weakest group of prospects in the past decade. There isn't a clear-cut No. 1 pick, and almost every scout has a differing opinion on just about every prospect.With that being said, the bad NBA teams will have to make due with what they have, so here are my top 11 NBA Draft prospects for the June's draft.
Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
Trey Burke is the only player in this year’s draft class that I’m confident will turn into a good pro. ESPN has Nerlens Noel as their top prospect, but how can you have confidence in a guy with no post moves and is coming off an ACL tear?Burke has a complete offensive package. He can shoot, he can get to the rim and he’s a great passer and decision-maker with the ball. He makes up for his lack of athleticism with a superior feel for the game.
Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
If we were going off pure skill-set alone, Anthony Bennett would be a lock for the first overall pick. He can do it all. Bennett has power and finesse moves in the post, a solid mid-range jump shot and he can even hit threes.The only knock on Bennett is that he’s a little short for the power forward position at 6-8, but he has the skill and strength to be a very good NBA player.
Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
Otto Porter can do a little bit of everything. He is a good defender and an elite rebounder for his position. And the best part about Porter is that he is just beginning to reach his offensive potential.He has raised his three-point shooting percentage to 42-percent this year, when last year he shot 23-percent. Porter will never be a number one scoring option in the NBA, but could be a very good number two or three on a good team.
Shabazz Muhammad, SG, UCLA
Shabazz Muhammad’s stock has fallen recently due to a concern about his character, but let’s not forget that this guy can really score the basketball. He’s averaged 17.9 points per game and shooting 44-percent from the floor and 38-percent from three.It’s extremely rare to see a freshman who can score so efficiently from anywhere on the floor. Muhammad has the size to become a solid defender, too; he just has to commit to that end of the floor.
Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
Ben McLemore is the best shooter in this class, hands down. His offensive arsenal doesn’t end there, though. He can also get into the paint and is sneakily a very good athlete. McLemore tends to disappear late in games, though, which raises a bit of a red flag in my mind.Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
Michael Carter-Williams has more potential than just about every other player in this class. Not many players are 6-6, have long arms, have great court vision and play the point guard position. For MCW to be successful, he needs to develop a solid jump shot. If he can, he’ll be very good in the NBA.Alex Len, C, Maryland
There were some games this year where Alex Len dominated. There were other games this year where he was practically non-existent. Len has great size and touch around the basket, but he needs to be more assertive on the floor, because when he demands the basketball, good things happen.Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky
Even in his short college career, Nerlens Noel proved that he was a very good rebounder and shot blocker, two things that translate well to the NBA. With that being said, his offensive game is light-years away from NBA level.Could he develop a decent post game? Maybe, but worst case is that Noel turns into a solid rotation player and a very good defender and rebounder.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s offensive game is very well rounder. He can shoot, he is an unbelievable athlete and is a very underrated passer. The one big knock on him is that he doesn’t have an in-between game.Caldwell-Pope can shoot three's and get to the rim, but can’t pull up and hit a mid-range jumper yet. That’s the only thing missing in his offensive game.
Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
Victor Oladipo is the one of the best defenders in college basketball. He is a freak athlete. He also has an unbelievable motor and plays the game extremely hard. He is the kind of player every coach wants on his team. With all that being said, I can’t see him turning into a superstar at the next level.Oladipo used his athleticism to get shots off in college. He won’t have that athletic advantage over his defenders in the NBA. He doesn’t have a go-to move, and he struggles to shoot if his feet aren’t set. I think he is going to have a hard time adapting to the NBA. He’ll be a decent role player, but I can’t see him turning into anything special.
Gorgui Deng, C, Louisville
In most draft classes, Gorgui Dieng wouldn’t be considered a top prospect, but he is this year because the class is so weak. Regardless, Dieng could offer a lot to an NBA team off the bench.While he will never be a real offensive weapon, he can be a great backup big that will block shots and rebound. On top of that, Dieng is also a pretty good passer from the high post.
