NBA Draft Rumors: T.J. Warren on the rise
Former North Carolina State Wolfpack forward T.J. Warren may be the best scorer in the 2014 NBA Draft (although former Creighton Blue Jays’ forward Doug McDermott obviously can make a case).
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Warren once looked like a fringe first round prospect, but that is no longer the case. Warren could wind up going higher than many initially believed, reports Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.
"Initially, he was being projected as a late-first round pick – an attractive prospect for a win-now team like the Houston Rockets, Miami HEAT or Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, you’re starting to see Warren projected to go just outside of the lottery, with teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns being mentioned as possible landing spots for Warren.One executive whose team is picking in the late-20s recently told me that they would select Warren in a heartbeat if he fell to them, but that there’s “no way” he’ll be available when they’re on the clock.Warren is one of the best scorers in the draft, as last season he averaged 24.9 points and led the nation in field goals made (342). He was also one of the most efficient players in the country, finishing with a 31.3 PER that was the second-highest among the draft’s top 100 prospects (behind only Doug McDermott)."
Warren, ranked as the 16th-best prospect by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, went for 24.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.1 assists per game. He shot 52.5% from the field, 26.7% from three and 69.0% from the free throw line. He measured in at 6’8.25 and 220 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’10.25.