NBA lottery mock draft

Anthony Davis

1. New Orleans- Anthony Davis (Kentucky, PF)
A no brainer.  Davis is unanimously considered the top prospect in the draft.  Davis is a defensive game changer and a tremendous shot blocker who can cover lots of ground.  Offensively he is a work in progress, but possesses excellent hands, runs the floor very well,  and uses his athleticism to finish at the rim.
2. Charlotte Bobcats- Thomas Robinson (Kansas, PF)
If Charlotte keeps the pick they will select Robinson, who will be effective from day one.  Robinson is the most NBA ready player in the draft and will immediately rebound and score in the paint for the Bobcats who are desperate for talent.
3. Washington Wizards- Bradley Beal (Florida, SG)
The Wizards greatest need is for outside shooting, which luckily for them is Beal's forte.  Beal's silky smooth shooting-stroke will alleviate defensive pressure on John Wall, and the two complement each other very well.  Beal is also a tremendous rebounder for a guard, and uses his pump fake to get to the rim.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky, SF)
Kidd-Gilchrist is the most relentless player in the draft and plays as hard as anybody.  He is a winner, a defensive stopper, and was the leader of the Kentucky Wildcats national championship team.  His slashing ability will allow reigning rookie of the year Kyrie Irving to flourish.
5. Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes (North Carolina, SF)
General Manager Geoff Petrie is trying to trade down in the draft, possibly with the Houston Rockets who covet Andre Drummond.  If the Kings keep the pick, they will select Barnes an ultra athletic scorer with a very high basketball IQ.  Barnes has an excellent mid range game, and is a great shooter.
6. Portland Trailblazers- Damian Lilliard (Weber State, PG)

Andre Drummond

Portland desperately needs a point guard receiving poor play from Raymond Felton who is a free agent.  The Trailblazers have reportedly fallen in love with Lilliard who is a dynamic scorer and unselfish passer.  Lilliard is a tremendous athlete, great shooter and makes excellent decisions in pick and roll situations.
7. Golden State Warriors- Andre Drummond (UConn, C)
Golden State can't pass on Drummond, who has the potential to make multiple all-star appearances, or join Kwame Brown as an NBA bust.  No player in this draft carries the risk and reward of Drummond, whose 7 foot, 280 pound athletic body was made for the game of basketball.  Drummond was very inconsistent in his one year at UConn and many question his desire.
8. Toronto Raptors- Dion Waiters (Syracuse, SG)
With big man Jonas Valanciunus, Toronto's lottery pick last year, joining the team this year, the Raptor's greatest area of need is at shooting guard in order to move Demar Derozan over to his natural position of small forward.  Waiters, Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers are all possibilities, however, Waiters strength and ability to drive to the basket and finish will make him the selection.  At Syracuse Waiters served as the Orange's 6th man, providing instant offense which the Raptors hope he is able to do for them at the next level.
9.  Detroit Pistons- John Henson (North Carolina, PF)
General manager Joe Dumars is hoping that Drummond falls to them.  In the likely scenario that he does not, the Pistons will  scoop up Henson who will give the team an athletic shot blocking presence in the paint to pair with Greg Monroe.  Henson needs to add weight to his frame, but has the potential to be an impact defender in the NBA.
10. New Orleans- Austin Rivers (Duke, SG)

Austin Rivers

General Manager Dell Demps and Head Coach Monty Williams were former teammates of Rivers' father Doc, and having known Austin since he was 4.  Rivers is an exceptional offensive talent, is very difficult to defend in isolation and is exceptional at splitting double teams.  Many expect Rivers to clash with his coaches in the NBA because of his supreme confidence in his abilities as a basketball player.
11. Portland Trailblazers- Tyler Zeller (North Carolina, C)
The Trailblazers who will have already drafted Lilliard, will look to pair him with a big man.  Zeller is one of the most NBA ready players in the draft and runs the floor exceptionally well for a 7 footer.  He is ready to come into the league and contribute immediately.
12. Houston Rockets- Jeremy Lamb (UConn, SG)
It is very possible that Houston, which has been busy wheeling and dealing in the hopes of acquiring a franchise big man, will not have this pick when the draft rolls around.  Lamb is one of the most talented scorers in the draft and has an effective jump shot.  Lamb struggled with consistency and failed to assert himself as a leader on a Uconn team that was desperate for one.  Lamb did play a huge role in the team's run to the national championship in 2011.
13. Phoenix Suns- Terrence Ross (Washington, SG)
Phoenix will likely begin a rebuilding process, with the departure of Steve Nash probable.  Ross would be an excellent addition for the Suns who are looking to add scoring power to their team.  Ross has a good outside shot, and plays an effective mid range game.  He could be one of the top wings to emerge from this draft when it is all said and done.
14. Milwaukee Bucks- Meyers Leonard (Illinois, C)
The Bucks need a big man to replace Andrew Bogut, who the team traded to Golden State for Monta Ellis at the trade deadline.  Leonard is not at all NBA ready, but with his excellent size and strength he has the potential to develop into a quality big man.

Washington Wizards Draft Preview

The Washington Wizards were rewarded with the 3rd overall pick in this year's NBA draft following yet another terrible season in which they finished with the 2nd worst record in the league.  The Wizards  have made two major trades dating back to last season's trading deadline.  In the first trade the team, eager to no longer be the laughingstock of the league, dealt young knuckleheads Nick Young and Javale Mcgee and received a borderline all-star big man in Nene.  The Wizards were much improved following the trade, which brought the team a much needed veteran presence, and ended the season on a 6 game winning streak.  A few days ago the Wizards further reinvented the team's identity when they shipped out Rashard Lewis and his massive expiring contract for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.  Okafor is a very intelligent, high character player who, along with Ariza, will provide the Wizards with the defensive ability that the team has sorely lacked.

These trades signal that the Wizards have decided that after spending several years acquiring young talent and attempting to build through the draft, the team needed veteran leadership and is now ready to make a playoff push.  With that in mind, the Wizards pick in this draft will in all likelihood be the team's last high lottery pick in a while, making it crucial that the team draft a quality contributor.

Bradley Beal

The Wizards' most dire need is at shooting guard, which is why most NBA analysts believe that the Wizards should draft Bradley Beal the freshman out of Florida.  Beal is an excellent three point shooter,  making him a prime candidate to fill one of the Wizards' greatest weaknesses which is outside shooting.   Beal's shooting ability would provide point guard John Wall with help offensively and spread the floor for him.  Wall, who the Wizards selected first overall in 2010, possesses elite quickness, is a terror in transition and can get to the basket as well as anyone, however his perimeter shooting is subpar.  Beal would complement Wall extremely well and alleviate the constant defensive pressure that the point guard has been under throughout his tenure in Washington.  In addition to being a lights out shooter, Beal is extremely effective at using a pump fake to get to the rim, where he can finish thanks to his athleticism.  Beal rebounds at an elite level for a guard, and is very solid defensively.  Beal is an all around contributor and is universally considered a humble, high character kid who fits in with the team's newfound identity.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

There are rumors circulating that the Charlotte Bobcats, who have the 2nd pick in the draft, may trade their pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers who hope to acquire Beal and pair him with Kyrie Irving, the reigning rookie of the year.  If this scenario were to unfold, the Wizards would be left with several options to choose from.  The Wizards could draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist the freshman small forward from Kentucky, where he won the national championship.  Kidd-Gilchrist is the most relentless player in the draft, plays harder than anyone, is a true leader and most importantly a winner.  His intangibles are off the chart, as is his athletic ability.  Kidd-Gilchrist is as good a defender as anyone in the draft, and can use his length and tenacity to cover any position from point guard to power forward.  In transition he and Wall would make a fearsome duo, as good as any in the league.  Kidd-Gilchrist's biggest weakness is his outside shooting, which is coincidentally the Wizards' greatest area of need.  Kidd-Gilchrist has an awkward hitch in his shot caused by holding the ball for too long, however, with his unparalleled work ethic, he should be able to improve it substantially in the next few years.

Harrison Barnes

Another option for the Wizards is Harrison Barnes, the sophomore small forward out of North Carolina.  Barnes is one of the most athletic players in the draft, and his greatest strength is his shooting ability.  Barnes has an excellent mid-range game and could help spread the floor for the Wizards.  If drafted by the Wizards, the team would likely try to convert Barnes to shooting guard, something that Barnes, a natural small forward, has described as "an adjustment".  Barnes came into UNC as one of the most hyped collegiate players of all time, and while he had a very good college career, not living up to the immense expectations has caused the public's perception of Barnes to sour.

Thomas Robinson

Thomas Robinson out of Kansas is yet another option for the Wizards.  A native of D.C., Robinson is a player capable of stepping in immediately and providing the Wizards with rebounding, interior scoring and athleticism.  Robinson, who tragically lost his mother and grandparents in a car accident, is one of the feel good stories of the draft and very easy to root for.  The Wizards' trades make Robinson unlikely to be drafted by the team, however, he is considered one of the top prospects in the draft and therefore a possibility.

All four players are widely considered high character players with excellent work ethics, and will likely be key contributors to the team if drafted.