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2014 NBA Draft speculation

By Bernie D'Amato

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Nov 12, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) drives against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) and forward Perry Ellis (34) in the second half at United Center. Kansas won 94-83. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) drives against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) and forward Perry Ellis (34) in the second half at United Center. Kansas won 94-83. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

ESPN NBA insider, Chris Broussard, tweeted he would take Jabari Parker over Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle after last night’s doubleheader of college basketball awesomeness.

Parker exhibited a lethal combination of shooting and driving ability in Duke’s hard fought loss to Kansas.  He finished the game with 27 points and hit four of seven from beyond the arc.  Besides Parker’s range, he also has great hands, highlighted by two steals and a one-handed ally-oop dunk.

After Parker, Randle is the second most NBA ready because of his size as a 6’ 9” 250 lb forward.  Randle was a force in the paint against the Spartans scoring 27 points with 13 rebounds.  In the second half, Randle helped the Wildcats claw their way back by eliminating a thirteen point deficit.  The Spartans were able to outlast the Wildcats 78-74, but Randle showed he has the type of physicality that will help him succeed at the next level.

Wiggins may have been slightly outshined by Parker’s range and Randle’s physicality, but he scored six points in the final 1:33 to help Kansas secure the victory in a close game.  Wiggins finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds in only 25 minutes of play.  NBA teams will be most impressed with Wiggins’ athleticism, which enables him to make plenty of easy baskets at the rim.

Parker, Randle, and Wiggins highlight a tremendous freshman class.  Their order in the draft may have more to do with the type of player a team is looking for rather than who is best overall.  My guess is Wiggins, Randle, then Parker.  NBA teams love transition offense and Wiggins’ athleticism works perfectly in an uptempo style of play.  Randle is a great low post player and will provide a ton of high percentage shots meaning he has less of a chance of going cold.  Parker has the potential to become the best NBA player of the big three because of his pure scoring ability, so it is crazy to think he might go third in the draft.

I’ll do a midseason update to try and provide more clarity to the upcoming draft, but for now, enjoy college basketball, it is going to be a great season.

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