The NBA playoffs are in full swing, but the NBA draft is right around the corner for the teams that are already eliminated. Let's take a look at the teams drafting in the lottery.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
This pick will come down to who is coaching the Cavaliers and what's their stance on LeBron James. If the Cavs are going all in on James -- should he opt to become a free agent next month -- then Embiid will be the pick, but if they want to cover all their bases they will pick Andrew Wiggins.
2. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas
Gain confidence and develop a killer instinct should be at the top of Wiggins' to-do list for the 2014-15 season as he only showed flashes of brilliance at Kansas. Wiggins is the top prospect in the draft and the Bucks now have a way to sell tickets.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
The draft's most NBA-ready player is going to a team that has two top-10 picks. The 76ers will draft which of the big three falls to them and Parker will likely be the guy. If all three were on the board I would assume Wiggins is the pick.
4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, G, Australia
Jameer Nelson is in a contract year so the Magic will be looking for a replacment. Exum is the mystery of the draft as many of the teams haven’t seen him play in more than a year. This shouldn’t scare the Magic away.
5. Utah Jazz: Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona
Gordon compares to Andrei Kirilenko so it seems only right that he will end up in Utah. The Jazz need a ton of depth and it starts with getting a high-quality athlete in Gordo,n who is also soaring up draft boards.
6. Boston Celtics: Julius Randle, F, Kentucky
The Celtics need to improve its starting lineup. Randle is a big physical presence whose style will mesh well with what the Celtics have on the roster already.
7. Los Angeles Lakers: Marcus Smart, G, Oklahoma State
The Lakers get a point guard of the future in Smart and he will benefit from a year behind Steve Nash. The Lakers start their rebuilding process in the right place.
8. Sacramento Kings: Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
Saric is a tall, versatile offensive player who will not come to the NBA right away. The pick is definitely worth it, but the Kings need to be patient.
9. Charlotte Hornets (via Detroit Pistons): Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
Vonleh is a rising star due to the combine and his workouts. He could go much higher, but right now the Hornets get a steal.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via New Orleans Pelicans): James Young, SG, Kentucky
The 76ers big men have the potential to be a pair of the best in the league. Now Philadelphia needs to get a solid guard to pair with rookie of the year, Michael Carter-Williams.
11. Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris, G, Michigan State
Harris can step right in and proveide much needed scoring off the bench. The Nuggets get a sixth man presence in Harris, until he develops into a starter.
12. Orlando Magic (via New York Knicks): Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
Magic go best available player and they get the top player on the board in McDermott. The Magic get much better this draft with a pair of first-round picks.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jusuf Nurkic, Croatia Cedevita Zagreb
A big body and a little bit of a reach, but the Timberwolves get a huge presence at center. Nurkic is a bit of a project, but Minnesota has time before it can compete.
14. Phoenix Suns: Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
The first of the Suns’ three first-round picks goes to a player who can score on the wing and add to the team's young nucleus of players.
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