Re-Drafting the 2013 NBA Draft

player. 170. <p><strong>Original pick: Cody Zeller</strong></p> <p>I’m still “in” on Nerlens Noel.</p> <p>It may feel as if Noel has been in the lives of NBA fans for a long time, and that’s because he has. The former Kentucky standout was once considered to be a “lock” number one overall pick, but Noel suffered a major knee injury in college, which pushed him down on the draft board. In addition, that ailment also cost the big man a full season of NBA play, and even when he has been on the floor, it isn’t as if the masses are flocking to watch the Sixers play right now.</p> <p>With that on the table, Noel remains an awesome prospect.</p> <p>The athletic big man turned 22 years old in April and he just finished a season in which he averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game in 29.3 minutes. While those defensive numbers probably overstate his overall impact on that end, Noel is a big-time defensive prospect given his length and explosiveness, and he made nice strides in converting 52% of his field goal attempts in his second NBA season.</p> <p>Though he has been miscast as a power forward in Philly, we’ll assume that the Hornets would play Noel at his true position of center, and as a rangy rim protector, his value couldn’t be higher in today’s playing style.</p>. C. Kentucky. Nerlens Noel. 4