Essential The Official ESPN Insider Thread (ESPN+)

[Skooby]

D GRADES

Dallas Cowboys
Grade: D

Key signings: DT Henry Melton, DE Jeremy Mincey, QB Brandon Weeden

Key subtractions: DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Miles Austin, DT Jason Hatcher

Getting Melton on a one-year deal carrying little risk to the team provided at least some light during a dark offseason for the cap-strapped Cowboys. However, there are some rumblings that Melton could be a bit behind schedule in his rehab. Overall, the Cowboys lost more than they gained. Releasing Ware would have made more sense in retrospect if the team could have re-signed him to a more reasonable deal. Instead, the Cowboys watched their most accomplish pass-rusher bolt for Denver while Hatcher, their leading sacker in 2013, signed with Washington.

We could applaud the Cowboys for showing welcome restraint in player valuation, but the reality is that Dallas was hamstrung.

"I lump Carolina and Dallas into a similar category because they're so strapped under the cap that there is little they could do, but the critical difference is that the current Carolina regime is picking up the pieces from Marty Hurney, while the Cowboys are dealing with self-inflicted cap woes," Yates said.

The Cowboys have continually bought flexibility in the short term by pushing cap charges into the future. It caught up to them during this free-agent signing period when the team ran out of contracts to revisit.

"It's amazing how many bad deals they have done over the years," Riddikk said.


Buffalo Bills
Grade: D

Key signings: G Chris Williams, LB Brandon Spikes, CB Corey Graham, LB Keith Rivers, TE Scott Chandler

Key subtractions: FS Jairus Byrd, QB Kevin Kolb

The Bills lost their best young player (Byrd) and paid a relative premium for players such as Williams, who has not been a consistent performer. They also continue to operate without a viable veteran quarterback behind EJ Manuel while other teams scrambled to sign the few available candidates.

"The quarterback situation is very much a question mark for me," Riddikk said. "The No. 2 quarterback is a top-30 position on a 53-man roster. Last year, they start the year with Manuel and an undrafted rookie. I do not know how you do that. Kolb never worked out. Tarvaris Jackson is out of there. They went from him to Kevin to Jeff Tuel to Thad Lewis. Getting the profile right for the No. 2 quarterback is key -- Chicago last year is the best example -- and Buffalo hasn't done it."

The Bills could be in a situation where they need to overpay for a shot at landing even middle-tier free agents. Is that any excuse?

"I think the Bills will get hammered a bit for perceived overpays on Graham and Williams, but both players fill holes," Yates said. "The Bills need four cornerbacks in the AFC East. Graham, Stephon Gilmore, Nickell Robey and Leodis McKelvin give them a nice start. Rivers can still play in space, too, so I liked that signing."

 

[Skooby]

F GRADES

Oakland Raiders
Grade: F

Key signings: QB Matt Schaub (trade), LT Donald Penn, OLB LaMarr Woodley, S Charles Woodson, RB Darren McFadden, DE Justin Tuck, DE Antonio Smith, WR James Jones, CB Tarell Brown, G Kevin Boothe, T Austin Howard

Key subtractions: LT Jared Veldheer, DE Lamarr Houston, CB Tracy Porter, CB Mike Jenkins, DT Vance Walker, RB Rashad Jennings

The Raiders rallied to improve their roster after an embarrassing start to free agency that featured their botched attempt to sign Saffold to an overpriced contract. Unfortunately for Oakland, the moves did not set up the team for long-term success. The first 12 players Oakland added or re-signed averaged 30.5 years old, the highest figure in the league. Yes, the Raiders needed to spend money, but why chase declining players when two of their own building blocks -- Veldheer and Houston -- were headed out the door the minute free agency opened? Perhaps most importantly, the manner in which the Raiders navigated the process only reinforced their image as an organization without a direction.

"I really, honestly don't understand it," Polian said. He was not the only one.

"They will posture it as bringing in leadership to change the culture, but the guys they signed are not going to change culture," Riddikk said. "Most of the guys who went there had nowhere else to go. I liked the Woodson re-sign. That is true leadership. Charles truly cares about the Raiders. But in a year when you need to spend cash and had cap room to get it done with Veldheer and Houston, why wouldn't you get it done? Even if you didn't like them much, it sends a better message than what you are doing now. Not only are you chasing with older free agents who don't want to come there anyway, but your draft picks aren't panning out."
It’s been a rough offseason for the Silver and Black.

 

[954UAlreadyknow]

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@Skooby Can you get that one for me too?

 

[GreatestLaker]

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[Skooby]

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@Skooby Can you get that one for me too?

Tourney's top risers, fallers
March Madness is back, baby, and the most exciting event in sports is delivering.
NBA scouts and GMs tend to minimize the influence a great tournament can have on a player's stock. Yes, NBA talent evaluators never judge a player based off one or two games. But the tournament is some players' final chance to show off, and last impressions can be, well, lasting.
NBA scouts and GMs were all over the country last week watching the NCAA tournament. Some prospects shined. Others struggled mightily.
Here's the latest feedback from NBA GMs on a number of top prospects.
Also, be sure to check out our updated Top 100 and our updated Lottery Mock Draft.

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas Jayhawks
Wiggins is the No. 1 ranked player on our Big Board, but he played nothing like it in a devastating loss to Stanford on Sunday. Wiggins scored just four points and took just six shots from the field -- amplifying criticism that he is too passive and lacks the aggressiveness to be a star in the NBA. Wiggins' disappearance was troubling. Stanford played great defense, but he should have tried to force the issue more.
Will it affect his draft stock? Before that game, Wiggins was averaging nearly 28 points per game in his past four and his defense against Stanford helped keep the Jayhawks in the contest. Virtually every scout and GM I spoke with had him, even after the game, ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 prospect on their board. The passive play may dampen the enthusiasm a bit, but unless Joel Embiid comes in with an absolutely clean bill of health, Wiggins is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick.

Jabari Parker, Duke Blue Devils
Parker's disappointing finish to the season was even more shocking than Wiggins'. While Parker's game wasn't nearly as passive -- he went 4-for-14 from the field -- most NBA scouts see him as more NBA ready and were shocked at how much he struggled to score and defend against Mercer in Duke's opening-round loss. The defensive issues, especially, are troubling. Parker has been getting dinged by NBA scouts all season for this. But when Coach K had to sub him out on defense toward the end of the game, I think it exposed just what a liability he had become.
Again, these criticisms don't really damage Parker's draft stock too much. Every scout and GM I spoke with had him ranked in their top four. However only a couple had him No. 1. The game is played at both ends of the floor, and more GMs seem to be sensitive to the fact Parker will have some real struggles defensively at the next level.

The Kentucky kids Just when it seemed like the freshman revolution of college basketball was going to fall completely flat, the much-maligned Kentucky kids went out and beat the only undefeated team in the country -- Wichita State. And all of them played well. Julius Randle was a standout with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. That followed a 19-point, 15-rebound performance against Kansas State. Randle's stock had been sliding in recent weeks, but his strong play in the tournament so far has helped remind scouts of why they loved him early.
James Young overcame a shaky opening round against Kansas State to play a big role in the win over the Shockers. He had 13 points, 8 rebounds and was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. When Young is hitting his 3-pointers, UK becomes very dangerous and he looks the part of a lottery pick.
The Harrison twins both played big roles, too. Aaron Harrison is averaging 18.5 points per game in the tournament and shooting better than 50 percent from beyond the 3-point line. His brother, Andrew Harrison, outplayed one of the top point guards in the country, Fred VanVleet, scoring 20 points with three assists for Kentucky. He also has 12 turnovers in the tournament, which means not everything is well, but when the Harrison twins play with the confidence they showed against the Shockers, they start to look more viable as first-round picks. I have both of them still in the early second round, but if Kentucky can win a few more games and they play well, they'll move back into the first. NBA scouts want to like them.
Willie Cauley-Stein is the other UK player who deserves mention here. He's scored only six points in the tournament so far, but he has five blocks and 10 rebounds. While he looks miles away offensively, he's so fluid and athletic and such a terrific rim protector that some teams will take a serious look at him late in the lottery to mid-first round.

Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona Wildcats
The two freshmen for Arizona also had some big moments this weekend. Gordon absolutely terrorized Weber State and Gonzaga, filling up the box score in each game. He had five blocks against Weber State and four steals versus Gonzaga and just as importantly, he's gone 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. No one believes he's a shooter, but a dominant performance in the tournament has scouts buzzing about all the intangibles he brings to the table.
Hollis-Jefferson has also been a favorite of scouts despite not putting up big numbers this season. However, he had two breakout games this weekend, scoring 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field in 22 minutes versus Weber State and following it up with a career-high 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks versus Gonzaga. Here, for the first time this season, Hollis-Jefferson was doing more than just relying on potential. He was playing at a lottery-pick level.
While most scouts believe he will return to school for his sophomore year, if he does declare for the draft, expect him to go somewhere in the mid-to-late first round. He's a jump shot away from being a true difference-maker on both ends of the floor.

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse Orange
Ennis has been lauded all season for his steadiness as a rookie point guard, but that sheen has begun to wear a little bit thin over the course of the past month as Syracuse has struggled. Ennis was the best thing Syracuse had going for it in an opening-round loss to Dayton, but his 7-for-21 shooting from the field and 0-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc wasn't what NBA teams were hoping for. Ennis' struggles to finish at the rim, combined with just so-so shooting numbers from the perimeter, worry scouts a bit. However, he's still projected as a late lottery pick on most draft boards.

 

[Skooby]

Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Smart began the season ranked as the No. 2 point guard prospect in the country (behind Australia's Dante Exum) and despite a very up-and-down season, he remains there after his sophomore season came to an end at the hands of Gonzaga. Smart has been playing much better since his suspension, and against Gonzaga he had one of his better games of the season, scoring 23 points, grabbing 13 boards, dishing out seven assists and collecting six steals. That's a pretty complete box score and Smart competed as fiercely as ever.
With that said, his six turnovers and 1-for-5 shooting from 3-point range continue to highlight the two areas that are major concerns -- his jump shot and his penchant for trying to do too much. Some NBA teams love him. Others aren't so sure. But he still looks like a safe bet to go somewhere between No. 6 and No. 10 on draft night.

Doug McDermott, Creighton Bluejays
McDermott might be the best pure scorer in college basketball, and showed it with a 30-point, 12-rebound performance against Louisiana-Lafayette. However, against a long, athletic Baylor team, his stock fell back down to earth.
McDermott recorded his third-lowest output of the season (15 points) in a blowout loss to the Bears. McDermott struggled to get good looks all game and may have given us a glance at what he'd face from more athletic teams in the NBA. Nevertheless, he, too, looks like a lock to fall somewhere in the No. 10-to-No. 20 range.

Rodney Hood, Duke Blue Devils
Hood has been a remarkably consistent performer all season, but he struggled mightily against Mercer, scoring a season-low six points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field. His season-high five assists made up for some of his offensive woes, but it wasn't a pretty outing for Hood. Teams aren't really looking for more than 3-point shooting from Hood, so he should be fine. But it was a tough way to end his career. Look for him to go in the No. 10-to-No. 20 range, as well.

Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and Branden Dawson, Michigan State Spartans
Payne had one of the two or three best performances of the tourney on Thursday, scoring a career-high 41 points on 10-for-15 shooting (including 4-for-5 from 3-point range) versus Delaware. For NBA teams that were still struggling to get on his bandwagon, this was a seminal moment and drew praise from just about everyone. If he was two years younger, he'd be a top-8 pick in this draft. But at 23, teams sort of expect that you'll be dominating younger talent. His draft range looks to be No. 13 to No. 20 right now.
Harris was solid in the win over Delaware on Thursday and even better against Harvard on Saturday, scoring 18 points and dishing out five assists for the Spartans.
Dawson also had his best game of the season on Saturday, pouring in 26 points on 12-for-15 shooting with nine rebounds for the Spartans. He has an NBA body, flaunts athleticism and he can be a tenacious defender when he wants to be. Scouts have seen him as a borderline first-round pick for several years and a continued strong performance in the tourney could make him a lock.

T.J. Warren, North Carolina State Wolfpack
Warren continued to prove that he's one of the best scorers in college basketball with a combined 43 points in the opening two rounds against Xavier and Saint Louis. Unfortunately, everyone in the NBA already knows he can score. The issue for Warren is his lack of a credible 3-point jump shot (he's missed his last 13 from long range) and a less-than-stellar athletic profile. His stock has been rising the past few months, but there's a ceiling there somewhere in the mid-to-late first round.

Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker, Wichita State Shockers
No one did more to help their draft stock this weekend than Early. Often pegged as a tweener by NBA scouts, he had two terrific performances against Cal Poly (23 points and seven rebounds) and Kentucky (31 points and seven rebounds) this weekend. Early's 3-point shot has been failing with much more regularity lately (he was 7-for-14 from the perimeter in the tourney), making him a much more viable candidate as an NBA small forward.
He's already 22 years old, but I had a number of both scouts and GMs claim he had moved from the second round into the mid-first round with that performance against the athletes of Kentucky. His lack of great competition clearly had hindered his stock this season, but one game against UK seems to have resurrected it.
Baker also showed off his shooting chops against UK, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. His defense was borderline terrible, but many NBA scouts think he can be an effective point guard at the next level thanks to his ballhandling skills and shooting touch. Baker is a definite sleeper for the late first round if he declares.

Zach LaVine, UCLA Bruins
LaVine continues to disappoint. There's no question he has the physical tools to be a pro, but his production has been way off lately. He scored a combined three points against both Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin and hasn't made a 3-pointer (his specialty) in the past four games. NBA teams are crossing their fingers that he stays in school at least one more year. He has a future as a pro, but he's so far away right now.

Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Payton was patiently waiting for his moment on the big stage and put up a very solid game against Creighton. He had 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks for the Ragin' Cajuns. He lacks a solid outside jump shot and he can sometimes struggle around the rim, but his length, athleticism, speed and ability to get to the basket make him a unique point guard prospect. He's a likely first-round pick if he declares.

Cory Jefferson, Baylor Bears
Jefferson has been a beast for Baylor this season. He was great attacking the rim against both Nebraska and Creighton and ended up with a combined 30 points in two big wins for the Bears. When he plays well, the Bears are a tough team to beat. His age works against him likely cracking the first round, but he's becoming more and more of a second-round lock.

 

[Skooby]

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State Cyclones
Everyone keeps asking me why Kane isn't ranked higher on our Board (currently at No. 53 on the top 100). He's a big, physical, aggressive point guard who keeps coming up big in huge games. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists against UNC (along with 7 turnovers) and a solid 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists against North Carolina Central.
The issue for Kane is age. He'll turn 25 in June. He's roughly six months younger than Derrick Rose, who has already been in the league for six seasons. That's why. Can you imagine what a healthy Rose would do in the NCAA tourney now? Scouts discount what you do if you're that old playing against 18- and 19-year-olds. Of course you are supposed to dominate. That doesn't mean Kane won't get looks by NBA teams. He can really play, but they take his big games with a grain of salt.

Aaron Craft, Ohio State Buckeyes
Craft isn't your traditional NBA point guard by almost any standard. But his toughness and defense have led many NBA scouts to contend that he'll find a way to make and stick on a team. He's a likely second-round pick to undrafted, but so many scouts admire the way he plays that someone will give him a chance.

Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee Volunteers
Stokes may be an undersized center, but he's been a beast on the boards in the tournament, averaging 15 rebounds per game in his first three games. You can't ignore that. The fact he's still just 20 years old also really helps his stock. He probably doesn't crack the first round, but if he declares, he's going to get a lot of looks in the second.

 

[Skooby]

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Easier rebuild: Knicks or Lakers?

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are both charter NBA franchises, operate in the top two media markets, compete with crosstown rivals with lesser histories but better current teams. They are also both about to miss the playoffs in the same season for only the fourth time in NBA history.

Last week, they linked themselves yet again when the Knicks brought on Phil Jackson as president of basketball operations. It is the second significant recent swing and miss by the Lakers, who lost Dwight Howard last offseason.

And even as Jackson's arrival is hailed by some as a coup for the Knicks, the revolving door of leadership in New York (Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald, Steve Mills, now Jackson) certainly does not convey an image of stability. While the current parallels are clear, as we look forward, which one has an easier road to relevance?

Here's an asset inventory and analysis of both franchises along with an examination of which is better equipped to retool.


1. Pick inventory

Draft picks are a valuable way to add subsidized talent, as well as a placemarker that can be used in trades to acquire established talent. Both of these franchises have exploited their draft picks to the point of exhaustion.

In 2012, the Lakers engaged in two deals that depleted their pick reserves. Both moves backfired.

They traded two firsts and two seconds for Steve Nash, who has missed 60 percent of his games with the Lakers, including all but 11 this season. They also traded a first and a second for Howard, who walked away in free agency less than 12 months later. The Lakers already fulfilled one first-rounder and one second-rounder to Phoenix last June, but still owe:

• A 2014 unprotected second-round pick to Milwaukee (via Phoenix). This is especially damaging as the Lakers' second-round pick figures to be among first 10 selections in the round. That's late first-round talent without the guaranteed salary or scale restrictions of a first-rounder.

• A 2015 first-rounder (top-five protected) to Phoenix. If it isn't conveyed in 2015, the protection drops to top three in 2016 and 2017, until becoming wholly unprotected in 2018.

• A 2015 second-rounder (top-40 protected) to Orlando. There's an inherent danger of not owning a single pick in the 2015 draft.

• A first-round pick (top-five protected) to Orlando two years after the Lakers fulfill their obligation to Phoenix (see Stepien rule.)

If it isn't conveyed in that first available draft because of the protection, then it rolls over to another top-five protected year, after which it becomes wholly unprotected.

As bad as that is, the Knicks have them beat:

• Unprotected 2014 first-rounder to Denver
• Unprotected 2016 first-rounder to Toronto (after pick swap with Denver)
• Unprotected second-round picks in 2014, 2015 and 2017
• Top-37 protected second-round pick in 2016
Verdict:

The Lakers are better equipped, remarkably. Although you could argue the Knicks got their superstar (Carmelo Anthony), it's not hard to see they've left themselves extremely exposed. Additionally, if for some reason the Lakers haven't sent their first-round pick to Phoenix by 2017, their obligation to Orlando turns into two second-rounders. That could be an incredibly valuable detail should the Lakers' rebuild last longer than anticipated.


2. Existing personnel

Thanks to a head-scratching, two-year, $48 million extension to Kobe Bryant, the Lakers have some name-brand -- albeit empty -- recognition on the roster. The only other players under contract beyond this season are Nash, Robert Sacre and possibly Nick Young, who owns a player option. They'll also presumably have the services of their 2014 first-round pick, who's looking more like a top-five selection.

The Knicks have Anthony, who at 29 is in the prime of his career. He can opt out after this season, but the expectation for now is that the combination of earning potential and the prospect of playing within the context of Jackson's vision will be more enticing than any other prospect on the horizon. Beyond Anthony, Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. are both young contributors on affordable deals, while Tyson Chandler, Andrea Bargnani and Amar'e Stoudemire will all be entering 2014-15 with expiring deals and varying levels of serviceability.
Verdict:

In Anthony, the Knicks have the sole bona fide superstar, and it's not hard to imagine the Triangle helping him achieve a higher level of achievement. While not All-Star caliber, Shumpert and Hardaway provide some reason for optimism for the future roster. Los Angeles simply offers little hope based on what's currently on the roster.


3. Financial flexibility

Both of these franchises are luxury-tax payers. For the Lakers, that light at the end of the tunnel comes July 1, when their committed salaries amount to just about $37 million. That number could have been even lower if not for Bryant's extension. The contract doesn't protect the team from catastrophe (partial guarantees, team option, etc.), and offers no assurances he'll be able to perform at an All-Star level or even appear in a majority of games. They can stretch waive Nash (reducing his cap hit to about $3.2 million) but still have painted themselves into a corner.

Meanwhile, New York's respite comes only after the 2014-15 season, when the contracts of Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith and Hardaway Jr. (presumably Anthony and/or Shumpert extension) will be the only contracts moving forward. Those guaranteed deals don't quite give them the flexibility L.A. will enjoy in 2014-15, but if Anthony re-signs, he's a much more viable centerpiece to build around than Bryant at this stage in their careers.

Verdict: The Lakers have the edge because they become more flexible much sooner than New York.


4. Management

This is most significant, because all the resources in the world won't assure anything if the guy calling the shots can't be trusted to make the right decisions. In Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers have one of the shrewdest and most respected basketball minds, who has a ton of experience in talent evaluation and dealmaking. His biggest weakness? He answers to Jim Buss, whose heavy-handed management approach has alienated some, and who has made several questionable decisions in his brief tenure.

The Knicks will be led by Jackson, a man with great vision and leadership, but little experience in the day-to-day responsibilities of running a team on the management side. He'll have to rely on subordinates to feed him information, and in some cases make some of the smaller decisions that might not require his immediate attention. For the moment, he has total control over basketball operations, with owner Jim Dolan publicly stating his lack of basketball expertise and ceding all decision-making to Jackson.
Verdict:

Gathering his staff might be the most important personnel moves Jackson makes. Kupchak is the superior executive, but the discord within the Buss family, not to mention the fallout from losing Jackson and the omnipresent specter of Bryant's influence, all make for too many chefs in the kitchen. Jackson's singular voice gives the Knicks a slight advantage.


5. Overall outlook

In an extremely fluid NBA, this answer can change rapidly, but the slightest of edges goes to New York. The Knicks fall significantly short in pick inventory, and are less flexible, but they have more existing talent in the cupboard and we can't just assume the Lakers can fill the talent void in short order.

More important, the Knicks now have a clear focus and guiding philosophy dictated from leadership that the Lakers just don't exhibit now, and ironically, allowed to simply walk away.

 

[Exit9NJturnpike]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10601364/2014-nfl-draft-khalil-mack-goes-no-1-mel-kiper-mock-draft-30

Kiper or McShay's latest mock draft @Skooby

 

[Skooby]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10601364/2014-nfl-draft-khalil-mack-goes-no-1-mel-kiper-mock-draft-30

Kiper or McShay's latest mock draft @Skooby

It's not looking right on my work PC. I'll post it when I get home breh.

 

[Jplaya2023]

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[Skooby]

Can you all see these?

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10601364/2014-nfl-draft-khalil-mack-goes-no-1-mel-kiper-mock-draft-30

Kiper or McShay's latest mock draft @Skooby

Kiper Mock Draft

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10688139/sizing-western-conference-playoff-race-nba

http://www.htmlpublish.com/newTestD...1698be9f87af/Kiper_ 2014 NFL Mock Draft 3.pdf
West playoff race

 

[954UAlreadyknow]

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http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/page/InOut-2014/2014-nba-draft-list
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10673233/nba-how-indiana-pacers-lost-their-way

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[muzikfrk75]

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@Skooby

During a news conference on Monday afternoon, Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins announced his intention to enter the 2014 NBA draft. Wiggins isn't a lock for the No. 1 pick overall, but it's very likely he'll go in the top 3. To help readers get to know top NBA draft prospects, Insider offers a 360-degree look at many of them in a scouting report featuring three expert perspectives: Kevin Pelton (analytics), Amin Elhassan (scouting) and Chad Ford (NBA front offices).

Andrew Wiggins | 6-8, 200 POUNDS | SHOOTING GUARD | FRESHMAN

Chad Ford's Top 100: No. 1
Strengths: Athleticism, defense | Weaknesses: Assist%
WARP projection: 1.5 (23rd among Top 100)
Comparables: Luol Deng (98.2), Tobias Harris (97.5), Maurice Harkless (96.6),Quincy Miller (96.2)

The analytics perspective

Kevin Pelton: As discussed when Chad Ford and I debated Wiggins' NBA potential, his relatively pedestrian advanced statistics don't match his reputation. Wiggins' translated college statistics don't put him in the top 25 percent of NBA-bound wings in any of the nine core skills I evaluate for strengths and weaknesses. At this point, individual defense -- which doesn't show up in the box score -- is probably Wiggins' best skill. That's valuable, but not the stuff of superstardom.

The interesting question is how different Wiggins' impact will be in the NBA game. An open floor will help him take more advantage of his athleticism around the basket. At the same time, he's unlikely to get as many of the transition opportunities that fueled his production at Kansas. According to Synergy Sports, Wiggins shot 62.0 percent in transition as compared to just 41.4 percent in half-court sets.

The scouting perspective

Amin Elhassan: Wiggins is a prototypical wing athlete, combining grace and power in a long, lithe body. He jumps well off either one or two feet, but he has much better explosion off two feet. He's got excellent body control and is able to slither and adjust midair to avoid contact. He can finish with either hand but overwhelmingly wants to go right; he can't go left for more than a beat before coming back right or pulling up for the jumper. His handles in general are a little high and loose, so he's not really adept at creating off the dribble if it doesn't come against a hard closeout from the defender. He comes very wide off screens; that attention to detail isn't quite there. He's active on the offensive glass; he'll follow his misses and make the defense pay.

Defensively, he's much more engaged on the ball than he is off it. He uses his length to give himself a cushion, but he's laterally quick enough to play closer if necessary. An underwhelming rebounder considering his physical gifts, Wiggins is a good shot-blocker (perhaps too much for his own good; he'll get beat by his man to recover for the block). He has decent awareness off the ball.

Wiggins' success at the next level will come down to skill development, as he has the physical tools but needs to get sharper. His rough-around-the-edges skill set is holding his potential back.

The NBA front office perspective

Chad Ford: Wiggins began the summer as the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. Once the season actually started, competition from Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid changed the consensus status. But other than a brief stint when Embiid ascended to the No. 1 spot, Wiggins has been there the entire time.

While scouts and GMs wring their hands over the fact Wiggins isn't a complete player yet (his jump shot and handle both still need work) and have fretted over his lack of aggressiveness (especially at the beginning of the season), there's a general consensus that has been out there since the beginning that he's still the best long-term prospect in the draft.

He has elite size and elite athletic abilities for his position. He's already a lock-down defender. He's a hard worker and a great teammate. He already possesses a ton of NBA tools and won't have to face zone defenses every night, which should open up the game for him. If he keeps working on his game and stays healthy, there's no reason he can't become a Paul George-like player in the NBA.

While he's not a lock to go No. 1 -- the Jazz, for instance, have Parker ranked ahead of Wiggins -- there is no way Wiggins falls out of the top 3.

 

[Skooby]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/page/InOut-2014/2014-nba-draft-list
@Skooby

Who's in, who's out of 2014 draft?

This is the time of year when college players begin to declare their intentions for the NBA draft.

For the most part, information received this time of year is fairly unreliable. Many players say they're staying in school, only to change their minds after the season and once agents get into their ears.

The general rule is that if a player is projected as a lottery pick, that player's chances of declaring for the draft are very high.

There are always exceptions. Last year, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart decided to return to school despite being ranked No. 2 on our Big Board. In 2012, Indiana's Cody Zeller and North Carolina's James Michael McAdoo both returned to school despite being projected as lottery picks. In 2011, North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and Baylor's Perry Jones all passed on being top-10 picks to return for another season of college hoops.

But the usual rule of thumb is that if a player is projected as a lottery pick -- they're declaring. And you can see why. With the exception of Zeller, every single person on this list watched their draft stock dip, and in some cases plummet, by staying in school another season.

College underclassmen and international players who don't turn 22 this year have until April 27 to declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft. However, under the NCAA's deadline, underclassmen who want to retain their college eligibility have until April 16 to withdraw from the draft.

Before the 2011 season, the NCAA followed the NBA's guidelines that gave underclassmen until mid-June to decide. The NBA will retain their June 16 withdrawal date, but for any college players who want to keep their eligibility, April 16 is the new date.

This rule dramatically reduces the ability of college underclassmen to determine their draft stock. The deadline takes place before the NBA's deadline to declare. NBA teams are prohibited from working out, or having contact with, players before the league releases an official list of underclassmen declaring for the draft -- usually two to three days after the deadline. Last year, 46 college players and 31 international players declared as early-entry candidates. Only 18 of them withdrew from the draft -- down dramatically from previous years when 50 or more underclassmen would return to school.

Who's in and who's out this year? Insider spoke with a number of NBA executives, scouts, player agents and individuals close to players making the decision to come up with this list.

We'll update the list during the next six weeks.

IN THE DRAFT
Players who officially have declared for the 2014 NBA draft
(* - to preserve eligibility, player has not hired an agent)

Kyle Anderson, F, So., UCLA
One of the unique players in college basketball, Anderson is an old-school, 6-foot-9 point forward with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He has an incredible basketball IQ and sees the game as well as anyone in the college game.

However, his nickname is Slo Mo for a reason. He doesn't have much in the way of NBA quickness, speed or explosion. Instead, he uses angles and length to get where he wants. The fact that he's a good rebounder and has dramatically improved his jump shot has helped his draft stock this year. But many scouts still have serious questions about whom he'll be able to guard at the next level and whether an NBA coach would really use his greatest strength as a point forward. That means his draft stock projection ranges from lottery pick to second-round pick, depending on whom you talk to. I'm not sure there's a player with a wider draft range this year.

Semaj Christon, PG, So., Xavier
Christon is quick and athletic, but is he a point guard? That's the question NBA scouts are debating. If he is, he's going to get a lot of looks in the second half of the first round based on his athletic profile. If he's more of a 2-guard, he's undersized and an inconsistent shooter who falls into the second round. Workouts will be key.

Jordan Clarkson, G, Jr., Missouri
Clarkson is an athletic combo guard who finally got on the NBA radar after transferring from Tulsa to Missouri this season. He began the season red hot and was mentioned by many scouts as a possible first-round pick before cooling off considerably in the second half of the season after finding out his father was diagnosed with cancer. NBA scouts love his size and athletic ability, but his jump shot is a big question mark and not everyone is convinced he's really a point guard. He's on the first-round bubble right now, and is currently projected between Nos. 25-45. Workouts will be key for him.

Tyler Ennis, PG, Fr., Syracuse
Ennis was, perhaps, the steadiest freshman in the country this year -- a rare feat for a freshman point guard playing in the ACC. He has a perfect blend of scoring-mindedness and court vision, and almost always makes the right play.

His weaknesses lie primarily with his physical profile; he isn't the quickest or most explosive guard and doesn't have elite size. He also could improve his jump shot and ability to finish at the rim. So while he's considered a very good prospect who should be able to get minutes right away, he's ranked somewhere in the 8-to-14 range.

Zach LaVine, G, Fr., UCLA
LaVine began the season as a potential second-round pick, but a hot start drew attention from NBA scouts and he quickly became a potential lottery pick. However, he slowed down significantly as the season progressed into Pac-12 play, and his draft stock has fallen because of it. Scouts question how ready he is for the NBA.

Still, scouts love his combination of elite size and athleticism for his position, plus the deep range on his jumper. So expect his stock to rise again now that he's in the draft. He should look great in workouts and will add strength. Given his high ceiling and age (19), teams might gamble on him as high as the late lottery. Look for his range to be somewhere between 10-25.

LaQuinton Ross, F, Jr., Ohio State
Ross has the size, athleticism and shooting ability to be a terrific 3 in the NBA. When he gets it going, he can score from anywhere on the floor. However, his lack of defensive intensity combined with his tendency to disappear in games give some scouts pause. Look for him to go somewhere between picks No. 25 and 40.

JaKarr Sampson, F, So., St. John's
Sampson has the physical tools NBA scouts look for in a wing -- he's long, explosive and runs the floor well -- but he's still stuck as a tweener at the next level. He has no real jump shot to speak of, especially from beyond the arc, but lacks the physical tools to really play at the four. He has no business declaring for the draft right now, and is a borderline second-round prospect.

Noah Vonleh, PF, Fr., Indiana
Vonleh was an elite high school prospect, but most scouts believed he was a prospect that would take a few years to develop. However Vonleh was excellent from the get-go. Not only does he have great size and mobility for his position, but he also can rebound and step out beyond the three-point line. Most scouts have him ranked as the second-best power forward prospect in the draft and a Top 10 pick. However, a small handful now have him ranked ahead of Julius Randle as the No. 1 power forward in the draft.

T.J. Warren, F, So., North Carolina State
Warren has been one of the hottest risers on draft boards the past six weeks. While scouts have generally seen him as a late-first-round prospect because of his lack of anything resembling a jump shot and just so-so athleticism, Warren's ability to find ways to score, especially with floaters and around the basket, has been truly impressive. He's an elite scorer with some major weaknesses, but more and more scouts are now looking at him in the late lottery to mid-first-round range.