In this next installment I put the JPPI to the test to evaluate the first round picks of the 2014 NBA Draft. Keep in mind I am looking for a player’s value so I will be using their college/Euroleague stats with their new salaries. If you have not read my first post I encourage you to take a look at it because it is more in depth as to what makes players rise and drop down the list. Without wasting any more time let’s get started.
30. Dario Saric, SF 12th pick, Philadelphia 76ers (JPPI: 0)
Saric signed a contract with Anadolu Efes and will not be able to play for the 76ers for at least 2 years.
29. Dante Exum, PG 5th pick, Utah Jazz (JPPI: 141.659)
· Decent ball safety
· Poor rebounder
· Poor shooting all-around
Overall the Jazz jumped a little too high to get this Aussie.
28. Tyler Ennis, PG 18th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 178.993)
· Loose with the ball
· Does not have hustle stats
· Okay shooting
I was not overly impressed with the guards in this group and Ennis has to prove he was worth taking over a big man.
27. James Young, SG 17th pick, Boston Celtics (JPPI: 185.201)
· Okay shooting
· Okay rebounding
· Needs to pass the ball a little better
Another guard with sub-par stats. In a big man heavy draft, I think the Celtics missed with this one.
26. Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG 27th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 194.024)
· Less than average shooting
· Decent rebounder
· Makes up for turnovers with steals
Phoenix got two guys in this draft in the bottom 5 of this list. I really think they could have done better with these picks but maybe they thought they had a shot with Bosh, Melo, or James…
25. Zach LaVine, SG 13th pick, Minnesota Timberwolves (JPPI: 201.526)
· Decent shooting
· Below average rebounder
· Gets after ball handlers on defense
13th may have been a little high for LaVine but the Timberwolves are pretty much mediocre in every aspect so it doesn’t surprise me.
24. Andrew Wiggins, PG 1st pick, Cleveland Cavaliers (JPPI: 204.690)
· Scored points…but took a lot of ill-advised shots
· Good rebounder
· Decent stealer
In my opinion Wiggins would have been better off staying in college and trying to rectify his less than good NCAA tournament. He just is not worth first pick money and will most likely be shopped to the Timberwolves for Love, adding to the meritocracy that is Minnesota.
23. Josh Huesitis, SF 29th pick, Oklahoma City Thunder (JPPI: 204.804)
· Decent shooter, can stretch the floor
· Good rebounder
· Turns the ball over too much
Huesitis can be effective but is not efficient. To be a good value you have to be efficient. 29th might have been about right for him but OKC might have been able to trade back a bit and get him.
22. Aaron Gordon, SF 4th pick, Orlando Magic (JPPI: 207.842)
· Great shooting from the field
· Worse-than-Shaq free throw shooting
· Good rebounder
Hack-a-Gordon might be a real thing in the NBA in the upcoming years. Is free throw shooting is simply painful. 4th pick is extremely high for a guy who does not even go 1/2 free throw shooting…ouch!
21. Marcus Smart, PG 6th pick, Boston Celtics (JPPI: 210.215)
· Great rebounder for a PG
· Quick hands
· Low turnover numbers
As long as Jeff Orr does not come to the games Smart should be okay. Smart really needs to shoot the ball a little better and expand his range. Again he might have been picked a little high.
20. Nik Stauskas, SG 8th pick, Sacramento Kings (JPPI: 212.159)
· Great shooter
· Can’t spell rebounding
· Did I say he was a shooter?
He shoots the ball well… not much else.
19. Gary Harris, SG 19th pick, Denver Nuggets (JPPI: 212.437)
· Decent shooter
· Okay rebounder
· More steals than turnovers
Not a bad pick, I think there was better out there but it was okay. Harris needs to improve his game but he is in a good position to do so.
18. Rodney Hood, SF 23rd pick, Utah Jazz (JPPI: 213.034)
· Good shooter
· Okay rebounder, more of a guard
· He was the 23rd pick
Really could not have gone any earlier. I think his skills are better suited for a SG but we will see where the Jazz choose to play him.
17. Julius Randle, PF 7th pick, Los Angeles Lakers (JPPI: 216.614)
· Good inside shooter
· Great rebounder
· Good team fit
Pau Gasol is no longer a Laker so they needed a PF. To me a score of 220 is pretty solid so 216 is not that bad, especially for a top 10 pick. He is not my favorite PF of the group but he might surprise.
16. Shabazz Napier, PG 24th pick, Miami Heat (JPPI: 217.553)
· He wins
· He’s not Mario Chalmers
· He shoots and rebounds well
LeBron James’ favorite player in the draft, until he was unfollowed by the guy who won a championship in 2014, actually deserves to be this high on the list. Some say he fell down the board, but I think the Heat got great value for where they got him, and it helps to not be Mario Chalmers.
15. Bruno Caboclo, SF 20th pick, Toronto Raptors (JPPI: 218.061)
· Very good shooting SF
· Rebounds like a 5’ point guard
· Needs to shoot more
He did not shoot very much at his former home and the Raptors probably do not expect him to take shots away from Lowry and the boys but he can shoot. Good value here with the 20th pick, but he might not pan out like the Raptors hope.
14. Jabari Parker, SF 2nd pick, Milwaukee Bucks (JPPI: 219.836)
· Good shooter
· Great rebounder
· Good steal numbers for a SF
Solid value for a 2nd pick. Nothing flashy but the guy can play. He definitely has hustle points, but unfortunately for him he got drafted by the team most people leave off while trying to name all the NBA teams.
13. CJ Wilcox, SG 28th pick, Los Angeles Clippers (JPPI: 220.319)
· Good Shooter
· Blocks shots from the SG position
· Safe with the ball
Great 28th pick value here with Wilcox. The Clippers need a solid SG and here you go. Great pick.
12. PJ Hairston, SG 26th pick, Charlotte Hornets (JPPI: 221.935)
· Good shooter
· Hustle points
· He is a thief (on the court)
I really like this one, this guy is not only safe with the ball but he is aggressive on defense and on the boards. The Hornets need Hairston to come in and hustle around making plays, something I am confident he can do.
11. Elfrid Payton, PG 10th pick, Orlando Magic (JPPI: 222.134)
· Great shooter inside the arc
· Good rebounder
· Steals the ball effectively
The 10th pick comes in at 11, that’s a really good value and they were able to go out and get their guy.
10. TJ Warren, SF 14th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 227.515)
· Inside shooting efficiency
· Good rebounder
· Safe with the ball
Redemption, sweet redemption. The Suns made up for their earlier picks with a solid 14th pick. This is all about value because he is a very efficient player.
9. Kyle Anderson, SF 30th pick, San Antonio Spurs (JPPI: 229.874)
· Amazing shooter from inside and deep
· Great rebounder
· Good number of steals
Remember that he was passed on 29 times. In my opinion the best SF in the draft and he goes to the champs. Even if you consider Douggie McBuckets a SF, I think this guy brings something special to the court.
8. Adreian Payne, PF 15th pick, Atlanta Hawks (JPPI: 232.948)
· Great shooter with ability to stretch the floor
· Great rebounder
· Shot blocker
He joins an up and coming Hawks team that has the capability to make waves in the East. This was a great value pick and he is a multi-dimensional player.
7. Doug McDermott, PF 11th pick, Chicago Bulls (JPPI: 235.472)
· We all know he can shoot
· Good rebounder, undersized for a PF
· Blocked shots are not his game
Don’t pay too much attention to the blocked shots stat, it is simply not his style. McBuckets scores points, the Bulls don’t, and it does not take an expert to realize this is a good fit. And surprisingly good value.
6. Noah Vonleh, PF 9th pick, Charlotte Hornets (JPPI: 239.086)
· Can stretch the floor with the three
· Good shot selection
· Great rebounder
My favorite PF on the list because he can stretch the floor. He can also play defense, blocking a good number of shots. Vonleh has a fan and I hope he produces.
5. Jusuf Nurkic, C 16th pick, Denver Nuggets (JPPI: 241.792)
· Great rebounding
· Great inside shooting
· Blocks shots
Great value, there really is not much else to say. The Nuggets got great value in the second half of the first round.
4. Jordan Adams, PG 22nd pick, Memphis Grizzlies (JPPI: 246.686)
· Good shooter
· Good rebounding PG
· Best steal numbers of the bunch
His steal numbers and low pick really brought him up the list. Everything else was pretty average except for rebounding which was high for a PG.
3. Mitch McGary, C 21st pick, Oklahoma City Thunder (JPPI: 251.627)
· Inside shooting extraordinaire
· Quick hands and safe with the ball
· Rebounding monster
My favorite center on the list and he is a basketball purist. He takes the shots he can make and rebounds better than anyone else. This guy stole the ball really well for anyone but especially for a center. Considering he is safe with the ball, this is a great pick. McGary might be my favorite player on this list.
2. Clint Capela, C 25th pick, Houston Rockets (JPPI: 268.072)
· Amazing inside shooter (65.9%)
· Amazing rebounder
· Not a good free-throw shooter
My second favorite center, his low free-throw shooting and McGary’s stealing ability push McGary over him in my opinion. The thing is, McGary was picked ahead of Capela which makes Capela a really good value.
1. Joel Embiid, C 3rd pick, Philadelphia 76ers (JPPI: 268.453)
· Amazing inside shooter (62%)
· Amazing rebounder
· Great Blocker
I really think Embiid can play PF so the ball will end up in his hands more. Honestly Embiid should have been the number 1 pick because he is a superstar…if healthy.
NBA Rookie Value Team
Starting Five
PG Jordan Adams
SG Kyle Anderson
SF Noah Vonleh
PF Joel Embiid
C Mitch McGary
Sixth Man
C Clint Capela
Wow, there were so many good big men. In the end I decided to boot PJ Hairston from the SG position, which was a very hard decision, and move Kyle Anderson into the guard role. Anderson would be a big SG but he has range and makes good choices. Noah Vonleh is 6’9”, which is not too short for a PF but he could be a big SF who shoots the ball very well and has the ability to stretch the floor. Joel Embiid is the best player of the class so he had to be on the team. I’m going to let the 7 footer play PF on my rookie value team because he is a good shooter and has some range. Mitch McGary is just a beast of a big man. He’s on the shorter side at 6’10” but obviously it’s not a problem looking at his numbers. My sixth man is a PF/C, Clint Capela. He does not stretch the floor but he would be good to give those big boys a break. This team would be a rebounding machine and would have an average height of about 6’9”. All I can say is the other team better not miss.
30. Dario Saric, SF 12th pick, Philadelphia 76ers (JPPI: 0)
Saric signed a contract with Anadolu Efes and will not be able to play for the 76ers for at least 2 years.
29. Dante Exum, PG 5th pick, Utah Jazz (JPPI: 141.659)
· Decent ball safety
· Poor rebounder
· Poor shooting all-around
Overall the Jazz jumped a little too high to get this Aussie.
28. Tyler Ennis, PG 18th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 178.993)
· Loose with the ball
· Does not have hustle stats
· Okay shooting
I was not overly impressed with the guards in this group and Ennis has to prove he was worth taking over a big man.
27. James Young, SG 17th pick, Boston Celtics (JPPI: 185.201)
· Okay shooting
· Okay rebounding
· Needs to pass the ball a little better
Another guard with sub-par stats. In a big man heavy draft, I think the Celtics missed with this one.
26. Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG 27th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 194.024)
· Less than average shooting
· Decent rebounder
· Makes up for turnovers with steals
Phoenix got two guys in this draft in the bottom 5 of this list. I really think they could have done better with these picks but maybe they thought they had a shot with Bosh, Melo, or James…
25. Zach LaVine, SG 13th pick, Minnesota Timberwolves (JPPI: 201.526)
· Decent shooting
· Below average rebounder
· Gets after ball handlers on defense
13th may have been a little high for LaVine but the Timberwolves are pretty much mediocre in every aspect so it doesn’t surprise me.
24. Andrew Wiggins, PG 1st pick, Cleveland Cavaliers (JPPI: 204.690)
· Scored points…but took a lot of ill-advised shots
· Good rebounder
· Decent stealer
In my opinion Wiggins would have been better off staying in college and trying to rectify his less than good NCAA tournament. He just is not worth first pick money and will most likely be shopped to the Timberwolves for Love, adding to the meritocracy that is Minnesota.
23. Josh Huesitis, SF 29th pick, Oklahoma City Thunder (JPPI: 204.804)
· Decent shooter, can stretch the floor
· Good rebounder
· Turns the ball over too much
Huesitis can be effective but is not efficient. To be a good value you have to be efficient. 29th might have been about right for him but OKC might have been able to trade back a bit and get him.
22. Aaron Gordon, SF 4th pick, Orlando Magic (JPPI: 207.842)
· Great shooting from the field
· Worse-than-Shaq free throw shooting
· Good rebounder
Hack-a-Gordon might be a real thing in the NBA in the upcoming years. Is free throw shooting is simply painful. 4th pick is extremely high for a guy who does not even go 1/2 free throw shooting…ouch!
21. Marcus Smart, PG 6th pick, Boston Celtics (JPPI: 210.215)
· Great rebounder for a PG
· Quick hands
· Low turnover numbers
As long as Jeff Orr does not come to the games Smart should be okay. Smart really needs to shoot the ball a little better and expand his range. Again he might have been picked a little high.
20. Nik Stauskas, SG 8th pick, Sacramento Kings (JPPI: 212.159)
· Great shooter
· Can’t spell rebounding
· Did I say he was a shooter?
He shoots the ball well… not much else.
19. Gary Harris, SG 19th pick, Denver Nuggets (JPPI: 212.437)
· Decent shooter
· Okay rebounder
· More steals than turnovers
Not a bad pick, I think there was better out there but it was okay. Harris needs to improve his game but he is in a good position to do so.
18. Rodney Hood, SF 23rd pick, Utah Jazz (JPPI: 213.034)
· Good shooter
· Okay rebounder, more of a guard
· He was the 23rd pick
Really could not have gone any earlier. I think his skills are better suited for a SG but we will see where the Jazz choose to play him.
17. Julius Randle, PF 7th pick, Los Angeles Lakers (JPPI: 216.614)
· Good inside shooter
· Great rebounder
· Good team fit
Pau Gasol is no longer a Laker so they needed a PF. To me a score of 220 is pretty solid so 216 is not that bad, especially for a top 10 pick. He is not my favorite PF of the group but he might surprise.
16. Shabazz Napier, PG 24th pick, Miami Heat (JPPI: 217.553)
· He wins
· He’s not Mario Chalmers
· He shoots and rebounds well
LeBron James’ favorite player in the draft, until he was unfollowed by the guy who won a championship in 2014, actually deserves to be this high on the list. Some say he fell down the board, but I think the Heat got great value for where they got him, and it helps to not be Mario Chalmers.
15. Bruno Caboclo, SF 20th pick, Toronto Raptors (JPPI: 218.061)
· Very good shooting SF
· Rebounds like a 5’ point guard
· Needs to shoot more
He did not shoot very much at his former home and the Raptors probably do not expect him to take shots away from Lowry and the boys but he can shoot. Good value here with the 20th pick, but he might not pan out like the Raptors hope.
14. Jabari Parker, SF 2nd pick, Milwaukee Bucks (JPPI: 219.836)
· Good shooter
· Great rebounder
· Good steal numbers for a SF
Solid value for a 2nd pick. Nothing flashy but the guy can play. He definitely has hustle points, but unfortunately for him he got drafted by the team most people leave off while trying to name all the NBA teams.
13. CJ Wilcox, SG 28th pick, Los Angeles Clippers (JPPI: 220.319)
· Good Shooter
· Blocks shots from the SG position
· Safe with the ball
Great 28th pick value here with Wilcox. The Clippers need a solid SG and here you go. Great pick.
12. PJ Hairston, SG 26th pick, Charlotte Hornets (JPPI: 221.935)
· Good shooter
· Hustle points
· He is a thief (on the court)
I really like this one, this guy is not only safe with the ball but he is aggressive on defense and on the boards. The Hornets need Hairston to come in and hustle around making plays, something I am confident he can do.
11. Elfrid Payton, PG 10th pick, Orlando Magic (JPPI: 222.134)
· Great shooter inside the arc
· Good rebounder
· Steals the ball effectively
The 10th pick comes in at 11, that’s a really good value and they were able to go out and get their guy.
10. TJ Warren, SF 14th pick, Phoenix Suns (JPPI: 227.515)
· Inside shooting efficiency
· Good rebounder
· Safe with the ball
Redemption, sweet redemption. The Suns made up for their earlier picks with a solid 14th pick. This is all about value because he is a very efficient player.
9. Kyle Anderson, SF 30th pick, San Antonio Spurs (JPPI: 229.874)
· Amazing shooter from inside and deep
· Great rebounder
· Good number of steals
Remember that he was passed on 29 times. In my opinion the best SF in the draft and he goes to the champs. Even if you consider Douggie McBuckets a SF, I think this guy brings something special to the court.
8. Adreian Payne, PF 15th pick, Atlanta Hawks (JPPI: 232.948)
· Great shooter with ability to stretch the floor
· Great rebounder
· Shot blocker
He joins an up and coming Hawks team that has the capability to make waves in the East. This was a great value pick and he is a multi-dimensional player.
7. Doug McDermott, PF 11th pick, Chicago Bulls (JPPI: 235.472)
· We all know he can shoot
· Good rebounder, undersized for a PF
· Blocked shots are not his game
Don’t pay too much attention to the blocked shots stat, it is simply not his style. McBuckets scores points, the Bulls don’t, and it does not take an expert to realize this is a good fit. And surprisingly good value.
6. Noah Vonleh, PF 9th pick, Charlotte Hornets (JPPI: 239.086)
· Can stretch the floor with the three
· Good shot selection
· Great rebounder
My favorite PF on the list because he can stretch the floor. He can also play defense, blocking a good number of shots. Vonleh has a fan and I hope he produces.
5. Jusuf Nurkic, C 16th pick, Denver Nuggets (JPPI: 241.792)
· Great rebounding
· Great inside shooting
· Blocks shots
Great value, there really is not much else to say. The Nuggets got great value in the second half of the first round.
4. Jordan Adams, PG 22nd pick, Memphis Grizzlies (JPPI: 246.686)
· Good shooter
· Good rebounding PG
· Best steal numbers of the bunch
His steal numbers and low pick really brought him up the list. Everything else was pretty average except for rebounding which was high for a PG.
3. Mitch McGary, C 21st pick, Oklahoma City Thunder (JPPI: 251.627)
· Inside shooting extraordinaire
· Quick hands and safe with the ball
· Rebounding monster
My favorite center on the list and he is a basketball purist. He takes the shots he can make and rebounds better than anyone else. This guy stole the ball really well for anyone but especially for a center. Considering he is safe with the ball, this is a great pick. McGary might be my favorite player on this list.
2. Clint Capela, C 25th pick, Houston Rockets (JPPI: 268.072)
· Amazing inside shooter (65.9%)
· Amazing rebounder
· Not a good free-throw shooter
My second favorite center, his low free-throw shooting and McGary’s stealing ability push McGary over him in my opinion. The thing is, McGary was picked ahead of Capela which makes Capela a really good value.
1. Joel Embiid, C 3rd pick, Philadelphia 76ers (JPPI: 268.453)
· Amazing inside shooter (62%)
· Amazing rebounder
· Great Blocker
I really think Embiid can play PF so the ball will end up in his hands more. Honestly Embiid should have been the number 1 pick because he is a superstar…if healthy.
NBA Rookie Value Team
Starting Five
PG Jordan Adams
SG Kyle Anderson
SF Noah Vonleh
PF Joel Embiid
C Mitch McGary
Sixth Man
C Clint Capela
Wow, there were so many good big men. In the end I decided to boot PJ Hairston from the SG position, which was a very hard decision, and move Kyle Anderson into the guard role. Anderson would be a big SG but he has range and makes good choices. Noah Vonleh is 6’9”, which is not too short for a PF but he could be a big SF who shoots the ball very well and has the ability to stretch the floor. Joel Embiid is the best player of the class so he had to be on the team. I’m going to let the 7 footer play PF on my rookie value team because he is a good shooter and has some range. Mitch McGary is just a beast of a big man. He’s on the shorter side at 6’10” but obviously it’s not a problem looking at his numbers. My sixth man is a PF/C, Clint Capela. He does not stretch the floor but he would be good to give those big boys a break. This team would be a rebounding machine and would have an average height of about 6’9”. All I can say is the other team better not miss.