2014 Top NBA Prospects Pt. 1

Top 2014 NBA Lottery Prospects 

How many times have you typed in "NBA MOCK DRAFT 2014" this year, clicked on a result and said, "this makes no fuckin sense!" ? We here at Dirty Picks respect the effort it takes to come up with a full on mock draft; mainly because it takes a shit ton of time and research. However, you can not convince me that coming up with a half-decent top 10 is some Herculean task that most people would never attempt. If your top 10 mock only compares people to current All-Stars or Hall of Fame greats, you've fucked up. If your mock doesn't consider playing style and personnel fit, you've let the people down. We have taken the guess work out of drafting this year and are giving you, what we believe, is a an extremely honest and accurate take on 2014's top NBA Draft prospects. As you'll see, this is not a mock, but more of a ranking system, based on fit and overall talent level. Some of these guys are stars, some are just solid role players. The most important thing is, you know exactly what you are getting. We've also attached an NBA 2K rating to each incoming rookie to give an overall idea of where each player is coming in to the NBA. Here are the bottom 5:

10. Aaron Gordon—  Arizona — F

What Bob says: Aaron Gordon is athletic as fuck. Because of his length and incredible athleticism he will not only make Jay Bilas hard, but he could become one of the premier defensive players in the NBA. He gets rebounds using his jumping skills and arms that are longer than fuck. Raw isn't even fair to call him on the offensive end, retarded is actually a closer description. The only points he gets are off of oops, putbacks, and wide open dunks. His jump shot and free throw shooting are borderline atrocious, and this will definitely be a primary concern for GM's looking to draft him. With the right coaching though he has the potential to become at least a competent NBA scorer, but his defense will be his calling card. He could serve as a lockdown defender for a title winning team, think Tayshaun Prince on the Bulls or Kawhi Leonard for the Spurs. Defense will get him in the league, his potential on offense could make him a star.

What BJ says: I don't think Aaron Gordon is very good. He shouldn't go top 10, nor should anyone expect him to be great in the NBA. He can be a good role player, or a shitty version of Shawn Marion. He's only on here because Bob didn't want to put Gary Harris on the list. Everybody loves a tweener that can't score, rebound well or guard at an elite level! That being said, if he goes to a team that doesn't need his scoring, he COULD turn into the next coming of Marion.

Risk Meter: 7 Thabeets. If he doesn't learn to do something on offense, he's going to suck.

Player comparison: Best case: Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko. Worst case: Wes Johnson

Worst fit: 

Best fit: Dallas. Great coach, great organization, old Shawn Marion. Phoenix and Denver as well, because of their style of play.

NBA2K Rating: 65-69

9. Doug McDermott —  Creighton — F

What Bob says: "McDouble is already capable of being a quality NBA 3 point shooter. Very quick release allows him to get his shot off with little to no space from defenders. Also possesses an underrated post game that allows him to take advantage of smaller defenders. Can get "hot" and put up a bunch of points in a hurry. Not a very good athlete, and will be someone that opposing players abandon their game plan so that they can take him one on one. Decent rebounder for his size and limited athleticism. Positions himself well and uses his body to create great rebounding opportunities. Definitely won't be a star at the NBA level, but on the right team he could be an absolutely essential piece to a title contender. His ability to shoot from deep will keep him on a roster for years to come."

What BJ says: "Let's make on thing perfectly clear: Doug McDermott is probably not an NBA starter. He is not going to be a star player. He is a role player. Now that we have that out of the way...So, why should a lottery team take a guy that's not going to be a star? Because you know exactly what you're getting with McDermott! He's going to play the wing, be a liability on defense and need a lot of screens and ball movement to get around. It's sad that we have to compare all white guys to other white guys, but he really does remind me of Kyle Korver. Except maybe a little more polished than Korver. So if you're sitting there with the 7th-15th pick in the draft, just take a look at that 2003 lottery. Korver was taken in the second round. In the lottery ALONE there are 6 guys who haven't been the NBA for years! Take the guy that is going to have a solid NBA career, not some asshole that can jump super high.

Risk Meter: 5 Thabeets. There's a chance McDermott is so far below average defensively and in other offensive areas that he just flames out after 2 seasons. If Steve Novak and Matt Bonner can get contracts, McDermott should be able to as well.

Player comparison: Best case: Kyle Korver. Worst case: Luke Jackson, Joe Alexander.

Best fit: Chicago, Boston, Philly. These three coaches know how to use screens and ball movement to get shooters open. That's exactly what McDermott does best, so he needs to land with a  smart coach.

Worst fit: LAL, Milwaukee, Sacramento. These teams do not understand spacing or ball movement. Even if Steve Nash comes back, Lakers remember having Troy Murphy and Jason Kapono. No open looks.

NBA2K Rating: 67-69

8. Tyler Ennis —  Syracuse — PG

What Bob says: "Freshmen point guard who was not on a lot of NBA radars until midway through the college season. Does not possess outstanding or even above average athleticism or physical intangibles of say a Marcus Smart, but makes up for it with an incredibly high basketball IQ (last two minutes of the Dayton game not considered). Controls the game, tempos and makes smart passes consistently while rarely turning the ball over. Not fast, but quick and consistently gets to his spot on the court. Has a nifty package of floaters and push/scoop shots when he does get in the lane. Very impressive poise/confidence for an 18 year old freshmen especially during their brief run in the NCAA tournament because of the confidence he has in his game. Never looked like the moment was too big for him and didn't seem intimidated at all by the position he was in. Needs to develop an outside shooting/midrange game, currently he can hit the shot and his jumper does look smooth, but NBA defenses will test it out until he proves he can consistently knock it down. Once again he will never be an above average athlete at the NBA level, and this could lead him to consistently getting destroyed by quality NBA point guards, but there have been a lot of points who were terrible on defense and still had a positive impact on the game (Steve Nash won two MVP's!!). If he gets drafted by the right team/coaching staff he could immediately come in and average 6-8 assists a game and start at point guard. "

What BJ says: "I wasn't very high on Ennis throughout most of the season, but he really started to catch my eye by doing a few little things. As Mr. Catz mentioned, he is very poised. He's not like a Johnny Flynn or an Austin Rivers who has little to no idea of what's going on around him. His court awareness and leaderships skills are going to make him a good player in this league. He also has a nice frame for a PG and I could see him becoming a strong guy that can bully smaller guards. He'll probably never be a D-Rose, Westbrook, Lillard type player, but he could definitely be a championship PG."

Risk Meter: Six Thabeets. Ennis doesn't have anything that jumps out at you. Which isn't good. He can't shoot, he's not explosive, he doesn't have a mean handle. He could just be a bench player forever.

Player comparison: Best case: Ramon Sessions, Andre Miller. Worst case: Kendall Marshall.

Best fit: Orlando, Dallas. There would not be a ton of pressure on Ennis here and he could take over for an aging, borderline useless guard in Jameer Nelson. There's a solid core of young guys here that Ennis could grow with. Dallas could use a PG of the future and playing with Dirk and in a great organization could get Ennis going faster than expected.

Worst fit: Milwaukee, Utah, Boston, Sacramento. Anywhere that already has a point guard or needs more scoring. Ennis can't be the guy that comes in and has to score.

NBA2K Rating: 70-71

7. Adreian Payne —  Michigan St. — PF

What Bob says: "Starting out his career at Michigan State, Payne did not look anything like an NBA player, now he's one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft. This season, Payne looked like a quintessential stretch 4 that is all the rage right now in the NBA. Being a four year player, he should be able to step in and contribute right away. His performance in the NCAA tournament was especially eye-opening and probably moved his draft position up three or four spots. He consistently looked like the best player on the floor and showed that he can knock down the 3 with consistency. Uses his length and athleticism to make plays on the defensive end and cleaning the glass. Won't be an elite rebounder, but should be able to pull down 6-8 boards a game consistently because of his size. Lately in games he's been settling for threes too often instead of trying to take his man off the dribble or exploiting smaller matchups in the post. Doesn't show enough consistency on the defensive end that makes you think he is gonna be considered a stopper, but he shouldn't be a liability either. If he proves that he can come in and knock down the 3 with consistency he should be a very strong role player for the right team."

What BJ says: "There are multiple reasons to like Payne. He has great size, strength and speed. That will always translate in the NBA, but the fact that he can put it all together into one, coordinated body of work is what is going to make him valuable. Payne can stretch the floor, but he will bang with big guys down low and punish smaller guys. The only thing to worry about is his assertiveness. If he continues to polish that low post game and improves his rebounding, he will be a very nice piece on a good team."

Risk Meter: 4 Thabeets. In any case he will be one of the Morris Twins. His size, IQ and his awareness of his own strengths and weaknesses will keep him in an NBA rotation.

Player comparison: Best Case: Markieff Morris; Worst Case: Patrick Patterson

Worst fit: Orlando Magic, New Orleans Pellies. Neither of these teams need another stretch 4.

Best fit: The Bobcats. We know Michael Jordan loves prominent college guys! He could be great with Kemba off the pick and roll.

NBA2K Rating: 71-74

6. Marcus Smart — OK St. — PG

What Bob says: "Taller combo guard that contributes in multiple categories consistently. Disrupts passing lanes and hounds smaller guards into forcing the issue or turning the ball over. He is also a fantastic rebounder for the point guard position. Stayed an extra year in college so he should be able to adjust to the NBA game faster than some of his counterparts. Solid passer, is able to consistently get by his defender and then finds the open man for an easy dunk or corner three. His assist numbers should only improve at the NBA level due to the talent that will be surrounding him (unless he ends up a Buck! zing!!). The biggest question mark right now is whether he is going to be able to improve his outside shooting to be considered a threat from distance. Athleticism is not as great as some of the other combo guards in league such as Eric Bledsoe or Wesley Matthews, but he can hold his own. Could really blossom into a star on the right team and at the very least should be a solid backup point guard due to his passing and defensive skills."

What BJ says: "Smart reminds me of this new hybrid breed of point guard now in the league. On one hand we have distributors like Rondo, CP3 and Rubio. On the other, there are scoring guards like Westbrook, Rose and Irving. Then there's guys like Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Lowry and Patrick Beverly. These dudes are just raw energy, aggressive on both end DAWGS. They can come in off the bench and spark your second unit, or frustrate a starting point guard with their defense and physicality. Smart is going to be well-built for being a rookie, and that will work to his advantage. I see his career playing out a little more like fellow college standout Kemba Walker, but I think he has more potential on the offensive end. "

Player comparison: Best Case: Eric Bledsoe. Worst Case: Jarret Jack.

Risk Meter: 4 Thabeets. Even if you aren't getting a starting point guard, you're getting a combo guard off the bench that can score and defend.

Best fit: New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers. Smart has obviously been through a few things this year. He's going to come out pretty polished media wise and I think he will be ready for the bright lights; specifically LA or NY. Both teams need a PG of the future and Smart not only brings the skills, the toughness and the mental readiness, but a passion for the game.

Worst fit: Milwaukee. Sacramento. If one of these teams decides they need to "bring in some competition" it's only going to be awkward. Smart needs to go to a team and be the guy from day 1.

NBA2K Rating: 71-73

Bob's Barely 18 Pickz!

NCAA Men's Basketball

Cuse (+2.5) at Pitt (WINNER!)
  The trendy pick in college basketball right now is to go with the home, underdog team against the obvious favorite (just ask my fellow writer Sugar). Conference games are always tough, especially when they come on the road. Tonight though, look for the youngest player on the court to carry Syracuse to a victory and buck the recent upset trend. Tyler Ennis doesn't get the hype that some of his fellow (overrated) freshmen class peers do. He might just end up being the best prospect coming out of this freshmen class not named Jabari Parker (see below). His game is very similar to fellow alum Michael Carter-Williams who is seeing a lot of success currently at the NBA. While Ennis may not have the crazy athleticism or physical size (6'2 180) of some of the other prospects, what he does have is game. He plays under control and contributes across the board (11 ppg, 3.4 reb and 5.5 assists). Of course it helps to have a seasoned scorer playing next to you on the wing in CJ Fair, but Ennis has been surprisingly good this year and don't be surprised if he ends up going in the top ten after the season. All that being said look for the young guns to stabilize Syracuse on the road against the upset minded Panthers and cover the (+2.5) spread.

Duke (-2.5) at North Carolina (Postponed)
The greatest rivalry in sports. No other rivalry even comes close; unless to want to argue Yankees/Red Sox, but seriously fuck baseball! Looking at North Carolina's record already this season explains why one might take them to get the upset. With wins coming over Michigan State (overrated), Louisville, and Kentucky; this NC team knows how to win big games especially at home. The difference tonight will be the play of Jabari "Utah Jazz Savior" Parker. Arguably the number one pick come this spring, depending on how the lottery shakes out, Jabari has been playing extremely well of late. Dropping 29-16 in his last game against Boston College, look for Jabari to continue his hot streak and bring his brand of Mormon salvation to the heathens of Chapel Hill. I will keep the Jabari pro prediction for another article, but expect him to come out firing and keep the upset minded Tarheels at bay with his best performance of the season. Blue Devils win by 7 and Jabari goes for 31 and 14.

Tuesday Picks

Sugar’s Topless Tuesday Picks (to win that money back)

Men's College Basketball

Florida (-2) vs Tennessee

The trending belief among sports writers is that Florida is the best team in the nation.  Like Wiggins from behind the arc, Tennessee just isn’t good enough.  On January 25^th Florida dismantled Tennessee 67-41.  Expect tonight to be no different as Florida continues to be perfect in SEC play.

Sugar's Pick: Florida(-2) (WINNER!)

San Diego State University (-3.5)  vs Wyoming

I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes, Wyoming has a basketball team.  Tonight they take on SDSU.  The Aztecs have been near perfect this year with their only loss being to Arizona back in November.  They have wins over Creighton, Marquette, Washington, and Kansas.  Let’s be real here folks, a team that beat Kansas and Creighton is not about to have a close game with the likes of Wyoming.  You can count on the Aztecs winning by a solid 8+ points tonight.

Sugar's Pick: SDSU(-3.5)   (L)

Streak for The Cash

Streaky Streakers

Yesterday: 2-3

So our picks yesterday sucked more than Andrew Wiggins' jump shot. No worries, we're moving on and you are too! Here's Tuesday's picks:

First pick: Men's Cross-Country Skiing (Sprint Free Finals): Which country will the gold medal winner represent? (WINNER!)

Choice 1: Norway or Sweden

Choice 2: Any other country 

Are other countries even allowed to be in this event? Just take the two favorites like yesterday morning and you will be just fine.

Second pick: English Premier League: What will be the match result? (L)

Choice 1: Chelsea win by 2+ goals

Choice 2: West Bromwich win, draw or lose by 1

Streak is trying to trick you hear. They give you 3 options and you have no idea what a West Bromwich is, so you were probably going to take them! Wrong! Chelsea is ROLLIN right now. This will be an arse whoopin. Take Chelsea.

Third pick: NCB (#3 Florida @ Tennessee): Who will win this matchup? (WINNER)

Choice 1: Florida

Choice 2: Tennessee

This game might be closer than you'd think. Don't worry, Florida is awesome and they have 3 or 4 guys that can all score. This might be their year and a big win for all the streakers out there should wake up the rest of the nation. Take Florida and sweat this win out like Glen Davis in the Sahara.

And that's it! The rest of the games suck! If we feel like risking a little more and squeezing another pick in tomorrow, we will let you know. Until next time...

Sugar's Game Changer

Men's College Basketball

Iowa State (-1.5) vs West Virginia (L)

This is a done deal.  This pick has the potential to break Vegas.  ISU (-1.5) is 4-1 in their last 5 games;  with wins against Kansas State (ranked 22 at the time), Oklahoma (23 at the time), Oklahoma State (19 at the time), and TCU.  Their only loss was a road game to the Kansas Jayhawks (6 at the time).  ISU forward Melvin Ejim is coming off a 48 point performance against TCU.  Yeah, 48 fuckin’ points. Don’t waste your time looking for any of the pussies on West Virginia putting up those kinds of numbers, you can’t find em.  Clearly, Iowa State (-1.5) is a safe investment and will most likely win by 7+ points.

Ben’s Pick: Iowa State (-1.5) 

How to Win Streak for the Cash

  It's been a solid two days and we have not mentioned America's past time! Not once! That's right, it's time to talk about ESPN's Streak for the Cash. It's like Jeopardy for people who aren't virgins; Gambling for people who eat Lunchables 3 times a day! It's the most American contest out there, and we'll be damned if we let some other assholes give you a solid L5 before we do!

  So what is an ideal day in the life of a modern Streaker? Well, it starts with a solid night of preparation! Make sure you text all your bros to determine what the best pick is for the next morning. It doesn't matter if you are on a W16, you HAVE to make a pick on the first event of the day. After that first pick hits, the streak is on. Now you will have 2-4 early afternoon choices. These will range from shitty tennis matches to soccer games in the middle of some God forsaken war zone. Just take a soccer match that has "Win or Draw" because, face it, no one knows shit about PK Daåkkénsteinener or who their famed striker Il Dávidovic is. Besides, as American's we know most soccer games end 0-0 anyways, right?

  Now you've got something going! Try to slide in a quick hitter for the afternoon. Something like "Paul George will dick slap under/over 8 people in the first half." That way, you're not sitting around for 3 hours waiting for a game to end. Grab the dick slaps and move on to your last pick of the night!

It's all a big cycle. With today's picks, you will have no problem beating the hell out of all the wannabe ESPN research analysts out there and hopping on your horse the next morning for 4-5 more.

Streak for the Cash, February 10, 2014

First pick: Men's Speed Skating (500m): Who will win the Gold Medal? (WINNER)

Choice 1: Mo Tae-Bum (KOR) or Michael Mulder (NED)

Choice 2: Any other competitor 

Look, we don't know the first thing about speed skating and that's fine. What we do know is, this is the Olympics, and generally, there are always 1-3 competitors that are far beyond the rest of the field. We also know that there will be a giant pile up, blood everywhere and lots of tears. So take the guy whose name sounds like a delicious drink and the very plain white man! W1

Second pick: Greek Super League (L)

Choice 1: Panionios Win or Draw

Choice 2: Aris Salonika

Assuming the speed skating is done in 4 hours, it's time to move on to the Greek Super League! That's right, this isn't that pussy ass Greek Mediocre at Best League, you're rollin with the big dawgs now! As usual, take the win and the draw, crank one out and come back when you have the W2 (unless you actually watch the Greek Super League...then please do enjoy the game)

Third pick: English Championship (L)
Choice 1: Athletic Bilbao Win 
Choice 2: Celta Vigo Win or Draw

You're betting against the Hobbit, but you know the drill, Win or Draw. Take Celta.

Fourth pick: NCB (Miami (FL) @ Florida State): How many players will score 5 or More points in the 1st Half? (Winner)
Choice 1: 6 or fewer
Choice 2: 7 or more

These two squads aren't exactly run & gun, get buckets all day erry day teams. 4 guys on the floor average double figures in points (all under 15). Take 6 or fewer and don't bother watching this boring ass game.

Final pick: NCB: Kansas @ Kansas St. (L)
Choice 1: Kansas

Choice 2: Kansas St.

Take the team that has the lottery picks. This will be a good game, but with Marvin Williams 2.0 (Wiggins) and first round bust Joel Embiid leading the way for Kansas, this one should be easy.

There you have it! A W5 to start your week. Remember, if you win the cash, you have to take us all to Vegas.