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After countless trades and 20 of the first round picks changing teams we have arrived at draft day.
The trade activity in this year's community mock draft was insane. Less then an hour into the process, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to the Orlando Magic for #4 and #12. With Kyrie's future situation for Cleveland in doubt, the Cavs was ready to move him in order to rebuild with 3 picks in the top 12. The Magic got the point guard they wanted and is clearly looking to win now.
If you thought that was a blockbuster, Kevin Love moved quickly as well. He was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers for Blake Griffin and #28. The Timberwolves, still looking to win now, were never going to get a better offer than this for Love. They had to accept.
Moving on, Klay Thompson was traded, but as you can see, not to the Timberwolves for Love. Instead, Thompson, along with Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights were sent to the Charlotte Hornets for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gerald Henderson, and #9. The Warriors were clearly not ready to sign the soon to be restricted free agent Thompson, and the allure of moving not only into the first round, but the top 10 of the draft was too much to resist.
If you're looking for minor moves then you have come to the wrong place. A move involving 5 players between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies was centered around a swap of DeAndre Jordan and Marc Gasol. The addition of JJ Redick was too much for the Grizzlies to pass up on despite the fantastic play of Gasol the past few seasons.
In a couple of minor moves, the Celtics acquired Nik Pekovic and Shabazz Muhammad, but more importantly got rid of Jeff Green's contract along with last year's first round pick Kelly Olynyk and #17. The Oklahoma City Thunder were not pleased with the development of Jeremy Lamb, and instead looked to another highly touted shooting guard Ben McLemore. Lamb and #21 were sent to the Kings for McLemore. The Clippers swapped scorers with the Timberwolves in sending Jamal Crawford and #22 to the Timberwolves for Kevin Martin and #28.
Another one of the highly rumored trade pieces Aaron Afflalo moved. Afflalo, Jameer Nelson, and Kyle O' Quinn were sent to the Chicago Bulls for Carlos Boozer and #16. The Bulls now have a lineup looking to challenge for the Eastern Conference title while the Magic pick up another draft pick and the cap relief Boozer will bring in 2015.
The Clippers picked up a much needed backup big, as Jared Sullinger moved to the Clippers for Reggie Bullock and #28. The Phoenix Suns moved up in the draft, sending Marcus Morris, #14, and #18 to the Boston Celtics for Vitor Faverani and #6.
In a three way roster blow up, the Boston Celtics received David West, the Brooklyn Nets received Roy Hibbert, Chris Copeland and #18, and the Indiana Pacers received Brook Lopez Brandon Bass, and Keith Bogans.
The Phoenix Suns decided to blow up their bench and that #6 pick they received earlier in exchange for a superstar. The Suns sent Gerald Green, Markieff Morris, Ish Smith, Dionte Christmas, Alex Len, and #6 to the Portland Trailblazers for LaMarcus Aldridge and Will Barton. With Aldridge becoming an FA in 2015, the amount of bench talent and two top 6 picks was too much to pass up for the Trailblazers.
Another rumored name on the move was traded and this time it was Rajon Rondo. Rondo was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Celtics also included #28.
In another three way deal, Jrue Holiday Austin Rivers, Luke Babbitt, and the rights to Pierre Jackson were on the way to LA for the Lakers. The Miami Heat would receive the shot blocking of Jeff Withey and dime dishing of Kendall Marshall, while the New Orleans Pelicans got the expiring contract of Steve Nash, Marshon Brooks, the rights to James Ennis, and the #7 pick from LA.
In what might have been the most intriguing trade of the process, the Trailblazers continued to wipe out their 54 win team by sending Damian Lillard, Dorell Wright, Joel Freeland, and Victor Claver to the Denver Nuggers for Ty Lawson, Timofey Mozgov, and #11. The Blazers have now dealt their 2 All-Stars from last season while acquiring lottery picks.
In a trade to perhaps revitalize his career, Deron Williams was on the way to Houston. The Nets traded Williams, Marquis Teague, and #18 for Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, Pat Beverley, and #25.
As if the Trailblazers hadn't moved enough off their roster, they continued. This time it was Wesley Matthews and Thomas Robinson on their way to the Golden State Warriors for Gerald Henderson, Nemanja Nedovic, and #9. Obviously, the allure of this draft was too much for Portland to not take part in.
KCP moved again, this time to Utah with #14 in exchange for Alec Burks and #23.
The Spurs apparently were not satisfied with the postseason form of Marco Belinelli, as along with pick #30, he moved to the Charlotte Hornets for Brendan Haywood and #24.
Jamal Crawford hopefully didn't buy a house yet in Minnesota, as he was moved to Atlanta for Lou Williams and #15.
The Trailblazers, now sitting with three picks in the top 11 of the draft, apparently were not satisfied with the rebuild, as they moved Ty Lawson, CJ McCollum, and #11 to the Indiana Pacers for Paul George and CJ Watson. The Pacers and Trailblazers have now both in a quite nuclear fashion, blown up their contending teams for a new look.
Eric Gordon and his 65 year old knees were sent to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the cap filler of Jason Terry, Derrick Williams and Travis Outlaw. The teams also swapped picks, as the Pelicans received pick #21 from the Kings while the Kings got back #26.
While Kevin Love and Chris Paul were starting to feel each other out on the court, the Clippers had other ideas. They moved Love and Willie Green to the Trailblazers for Markieff Morris, Timofey Mozgov, Gerald Henderson, and #6. So to recap the recap, the Trailblazers dealt their stars for lottery picks, and then dealt those lottery picks for other stars. I tell ya what, there's nothing quite like the community mock draft!
Two more minor moves happened, as the Pacers improved their bench by acquiring Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, and #24 from the Spurs. In exchange, the Spurs received Luis Scola, Solomon Hill, Donald Sloan, Ian Mahinmi, and #11.
The Spurs would not be done yet, as they got themselves into a three team trade. In that three team trade, the Spurs would receive Gerald Green and #17, the Timberwolves would acquire Ian Mahinmi and #9, while the Trailblazers would receive JJ Barea, #11, and #15.
In the second instance of a superstar being acquired and being dealt again, the Suns sent LaMarcus Aldridge and Vitor Faverani to the Kings for Rudy Gay, Jeremy Lamb, #8, and #26.
The Pelicans elected to pick up an extra first rounder, sending Alexis Ajinca, #7, and #21 to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for #8, #26, and #27.
Wrapping it up, Monta Ellis is on his way to Portland, as the Trailblazers traded Alex Len and #15 to Dallas for the shooting guard. This puts the Mavericks into the first round.
A reminder of some of the rules and the additional ones that will take place today.
- The trade deadline is 6PM PST
Due to the likelihood of us having to cover for some selections and the ease to go through the comments to find the selections, we are going to be quite busy and will not have time to go through any more trades. I think it's fair to say that everyone has had enough time to get their deals in anyway. Please keep your trade discussions to the original post as this one will be saved for the draft.
- You will have 5 minutes to make your selection
To make this selection, you will put your selection in the HEADLINE of an original comment.
-The timer for the first pick starts exactly at 7PM
No commissioner speech or anything. It's go time. The timer for the next pick starts directly after the pick has been posted. With that in mind, it would be wise to keep yourself consistently updated with the new comments and use the handy Z key function.
- If you will not be here for your selection you can email me (kellanolson@gmail.com) a big board of who you rank at your draft position. Remember, rank the big board based on your position. If you are picking 26th, it does not matter if you rank Wiggins over Parker.
- If the selection is not made in 5 minutes and there is no big board the selection will be made by us. With all the trades that have happened, it's going to take us a minute or two to assess a roster. Please be patient with us. We will be sure to notify you all when a team has run out of time via the comments and will make the selection when it is warranted.
- Keep up with the Draft in the Comments
- I plan on updating the post pick by pick, but please do not solely rely on this. This once again ties back to keeping up with the comments.
- All of the teams that have a big board sent will be labeled as such in the post to avoid confusion
That does it for all the rules and such. I want to thank Geoff and Sreekar for helping me out with this process and all of you for making this as active as possible. Here is the draft order.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Andrew Wiggins, SG, Kansas
2. Milwaukee Bucks- Jabari Parker, SF, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers- Dante Exum, PG, Australia
4. Cleveland Cavailers (via Orlando) - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas
5. Utah Jazz- Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
6. Los Angeles Clippers (from POR via PHX and BOS)- Aaron Gordon, SF, Arizona
7. Phoenix Suns (via NO from LAL)- Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State
8. New Orleans Pelicans (via PHX from SAC)- Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (via POR from GSW and Charlotte)- Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
10. Philadelphia 76ers- Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton
11. Portland Trailblazers (via SAS from IND,POR, and DEN)- Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana
12. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Orlando)- Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
13. Minnesota Timberwolves- Kyle Anderson, PF, UCLA
14. Utah Jazz (via BOS from PHX)- Zach LaVine, PG, UCLA
15. Dallas Mavericks (via POR from MIN and ATL)- Rodney Hood, SG, Duke
16. Orlando Magic (via CHI)- Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland
17. San Antonio Spurs (via MIN from BOS)- Dario Saric, PF, Croatia
18. Houston Rockets (from BKN via BOS and PHX) - Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia
19. Chicago Bulls- Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
20. Toronto Raptors- KJ McDaniels, SF, Clemson
21. Phoenix Suns (via NO from SAC and OKC)- TJ Warren, SF, North Carolina State
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (from LAC via MEM)- Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse
23. Boston Celtics (via Utah)- James Young, SF, Kentucky
24. Indiana Pacers (via SAS from CHA)- Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee
25. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)- DeAndre Daniels, SF, UConn
26. New Orleans Pelicans (via PHX from SAC. NO, LAL, and MIA)- Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State
27. New Orleans Pelicans (via PHX)- Damien Inglis, SF, France
28. Detroit Pistons (from BOS via LAC, MIN and LAC)- PJ Hairston, SG, North Carolina
29. Oklahoma City Thunder- Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan
30. Charlotte Hornets (via SAS)- Cory Jefferson, PF, Baylor