Mock Draft Madness
By Josh Horton
Mar 20, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) answers a question during the press conference the day before the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
It’s that time of the offseason where the NBA draft order is completely set and the mock drafts are immediately updated. As expected, some ex-WCC players are represented on those lists.
Kelly Olynyk
Chad Ford: 23rd
Draft Express: 12th
NBAdraft.net: 11th
Jeff Goodman (CBS Sports): 12th
Matt Moore (CBS Sports): 16th
Fox Sports.com: 11th
Imagine Kelly Olynyk playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. That is what both Jeff Goodman and Draftexpress.com believe will happen. They are predicting Olynyk will be picked by the Thunder as the 12th pick in the first round. The Thunder get that pick from the Raptors per a trade. NBAdraft.net and Fox Sports both have Olynyk going to the Sixers at number 11, Matt Moore from CBS Sports has him going 16th to the Celtics, and Chad Ford has Olynyk slipping to 23rd overall being snatched by the Pacers.
Ford has Olynyk unusually low compared to all of the other draft analysts. This is what he had to say to justify this:
"The Pacers are in danger of losing David West this summer. While Olynyk is no West, he’s a very skilled four who can create his shot off the dribble and score in the post. He’s a great value here after slipping a bit with a so-so performance at the draft combine."
Brandon Davies
Chad Ford: Not drafted (1st round only)
Draft Express: Not drafted
NBAdraft.net: 52nd
Jeff Goodman (CBS Sports): 56th
Matt Moore (CBS Sports): 57th
Fox Sports.com: Not drafted (1st round only)
The mock drafts that predict only the first round do not give Brandon Davies justice because he is expected to go in the late second round. Of the four drafts that mock both the first and second rounds, Davies is projected to be drafted in three of them. After a stellar performance in the Portsmouth Invitational, Davies earned an invite to the NBA draft combine in Chicago and a ton of attention from NBA scouts and general managers. The chances of Davies being drafted at this point seems pretty high.
Matthew Dellavedova
Chad Ford: Not drafted (1st round only)
Draft Express: Not drafted
NBAdraft.net: Not drafted
Jeff Goodman (CBS Sports): 58th
Matt Moore (CBS Sports): Not drafted
Fox Sports.com: Not drafted (1st round only)
Jeff Goodman is the only one who has faith in the 6’4″ former Saint Mary’s point guard. Goodman predicts that Dellavedova will go 58th overall to the San Antonio Spurs, teaming up with his former Saint Mary’s backcourt mate and Australian National team teammate Patty Mills. That would be quite the reunion.
It still baffles me that NBA draft analysts write off Dellavedova time and time again, because the guy can flat out play. He may lack the prototypical speed and agility, but he can play point guard with the best of them.
My Projections:
Olynyk: 12th to OKC
Davies: 49th to Chicago
Dellavedova: 58th to Spurs