Honorable Mentions
This was somewhat of a long process in terms of trimming down the list to just five. With a fairly weak and fluid draft class this year and a number of variable affecting potential outcomes, there were plenty of names who came to mind when compiling the list. Here are the honorable mentions.
PG Kris Dunn, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dunn clearly has the skill to produce as high level. He’s an elite floor general with exceptional vision and crafty ball handling that allows him to get into the teeth of the defense with ease. He’s a bit turnover prone at times, but understands how to run the show and has improved his all-around scoring in the process. He’s an elite defensive prospect for the one spot as well, standing at 6-3 with excellent lateral quickness and a solid build. The only thing holding him back here is Ricky Rubio, who will likely overshadow him as the starting point guard for the time being and act as the team’s main playmaker.
C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid has the potential to be the best player from the 2014 Draft class, but likely won’t have the opportunity to gun for this award next season for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is the Sixers’ glut of big men in the frontcourt. A preseason trade seems unlikely at this point, and having both Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel still on the roster alongside Simmons and Dario Saric will bog down the minutes he’s able to play. In addition, he’ll likely have some rust to shake off considering he hasn’t played competitive basketball in two years, and certainly nothing at the NBA level of competition.
PF Domantas Sabonis, Oklahoma City Thunder
Sabonis is in an interesting situation now with Kevin Durant making his way to Golden State. The Thunder are somewhat thin at the four spot and lack big man depth outside of Adams and Kanter with Serge Ibaka in Orlando. Mitch McGary has done nothing to reassure his standing with the team either, and Nick Collison is rapidly aging. Outside of Westbrook, there’s a good chance some of Orlando’s younger guys will have a chance to produce. Sabonis is an intelligent player on the low block who knows how to utilize his body to his utmost advantage and is extremely energetic on both ends of the floor. A sleeper pick, indeed, he barely missed the cut.
SG Buddy Hield, New Orleans Pelicans
Hield will get his shots as an off-ball scorer accompanying Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis on the floor, but I’m just worried he won’t be able to get into the same type of rhythm we saw him in with Oklahoma. He’s somebody who needs to have the offense run through him in some capacity to operate as anything more than a spot-up shooter, which I’m not sure he’ll get in NOLA. With that said, he’s a lights out shooter and a hard, hard worker. Don’t entirely count him out just yet.
SF DeAndre Bembry, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are lacking on the wing right now, with Kyle Korver showing his age and Kent Bazemore being their only ultra-reliable option. Bembry is a skilled playmaker at 6-8 who can run the offense in pick-and-roll situations and shoot the three ball with excellent effectiveness This is a Hawks team that likes the move the ball, and a Bembry-Dwight Howard give-and-go game could be highly effective come next season. He has all the skills to produce at a high level as a very Hawks-esque type of talent, and overlooking him could be a mistake.
Others: Dario Saric (PHI), Taurean Prince (ATL), Dragan Bender (PHX), Henry Ellenson (DET)
Next: 5. LeVert