The NBA Draft:
June 23rd (today!) in Newark, N.J.
5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time
TV: ESPN, ESPN-3
Watch tonight’s draft live and stay right here at Denver Stiffs. Andrew Feinstein and Nate Timmons will both be at the Pepsi Center, along with plenty of members of the local Denver media, bringing you Stiffs some inside coverage of the draft as it happens. They’ll be live blogging right here as the picks are made (be sure to keep refreshing this page for updates from Nate and Andrew).
Will the Nuggets be able to move up from No. 22 or will Masai Ujiri and Company stand pat and take the best available player? We’ll find out soon what all is going to happen as rumors have been flying around the interwebs all day long with various trade talk involving current players and draft picks …
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5:20 p.m.: Nate, Eagerly awaiting the start of this draft. Rumors floating that Denver and Portland may have a deal.
5:35 p.m. the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock.
Recaps of Picks brought to you by: Nate Timmons
1.) Cleveland Cavaliers select: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
Somewhat of a no-brainer here. Does he have a lot of Chris Paul in him or a little Chris Paul at point guard? We'll soon find out …
5:40 p.m., the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the clock.
2.) Minnesota Timberwolves select: Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Arizona
How will he pair with Kevin Love and, gulp, Darko Milicic? Should be fun to see him run with Ricky Rubio. A very good three point shooter in college, shouldn't have much trouble adjusting. An Antawn Jamison type guy…
5:46 p.m., the Utah Jazz are on the clock.
3.) Utah Jazz select: Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
Our first surprise pick, a little, as the Jazz pass up Brandon Knight in favor of the big man. Guy loves to crash the boards and gives the Jazz a scary looking front-line with Derrick Favors. Welcome back to competition Mr. Kanter…
5:52 the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock – again!
4.) Cleveland Cavaliers select: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
The real first surprise pick. Jonas Valanciunas was rumored here, but since he will be overseas next season the Cavs might have felt pressure to get a guy who can help them next season. Kid can ball, Thompson gives the Cavs the ability to trade J.J. Hickson…
5:59 p.m. the Toronto Raptors are now on the clock … Brandon Knight here???
5.) Toronto Raptors select: Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania
Another surprise pick here … he wont be in Toronto next season (most likely) and the Raptors needed a point guard. Interesting pick – some have said Valanciunas is too soft. Toronto should be the favorites to bring home the worst record next season…
6:05 p.m. the Washington Wizards are now on the clock …
6.) Washington Wizards select: Jan Vesely, PF, Czech Republic
Chad Ford pegged this one right – a junkyard type guy with tremendous athleticism (according to YouTube anyway). With JaVale McGee and Vesely the Wiz have a lot of high flyers to pair with John Wall. Can the Wizards play any defense?
6:08 p.m. the Charlotte Bobcats are now on the clock (via a trade with the Sacramento Kings)…
7.) Sacramento Kings (for the Charlotte Bobcats) select: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo
Chris Tomasson informs us that Biyombo is from the other Congo – not the one Serge Ibaka is from. Not a lot of offense, but great athleticism, rebounding, and perhaps shot blocking. Andrew is wondering if he's Thabeet or Mutombo – I'm thinking he could be Ben Wallace.
6:13 p.m. the Detroit Pistons are now on the clock…
8.) Detroit Pistons select: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
Knight finally comes off the board after being passed over by both the Jazz and Raptors. Some think Knight could be better than Irving eventually, but he could also have trouble handling the point guard spot. He had some big games in the tournament and showed a lot of guts, a good value pick by Detroit – but Rodney Stuckey has to be upset.
6:19 p.m. the Charlotte Bobcats are on the clock … again!
9.) Charlotte Bobcats select: Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut
Andrew's quote, "Why have one undersized guard when you can have two?" D.J. Augustin again has some competition for the point guard duties. We thought Klay Thompson or Alec Burks would be a nice pick here since the Bobcats need scoring, but they chose more depth…
6:24 the Milwaukee Bucks are now on the clock (drafting for the Kings here) is it Jimmer time???…
10.) Milwaukee Bucks (for the Kings) select: Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU
The Jazz without Jimmer? Bill Simmons has said he doesn't want to live in that NBA World. Tyreke Evans can now move to the shooting guard spot, but can Jimmer be the facilitator the Kings need? Great range, he's athletic, and got to the free throw line in college.
6:31 p.m. the Golden State Warriors are now on the clock…
11.) Golden State Warriors select: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State
Another shooter goes to the Warriors. This has to mean Monta Ellis' days in G.S. are nearing an end. Another father/son NBA combo with Klay and father Mychal Thompson. He's a big shooting guard and could play the small forward spot when the Warriors are running and gunning.
6:37 p.m. the Utah Jazz are on the clock … again!
12.) Utah Jazz select: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
Although Colorado fans will be unhappy with this pick, it's a smart one by the Jazz. Their front-court is STACKED and they needed a shooting guard. Questions will face him on his shooting abilities, but he can get to the rim and when he's inspired can play a little defense too. A dependable scorer in college – should give the Jazz a nice guard to play alongside Devin Harris.
6:42 p.m. the Phoenix Suns are now on the clock…
13.) Phoenix Suns select: Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas
The Suns indeed take another twin here – was Robin Lopez (thought to be the lesser of the Lopez twins) and again take what some consider to be the lesser of the twins in Markieff. Phoenix had a big need at power forward and can play some nice defense and will finish the pick-and-rolls nicely from Steve Nash. Marcin Gortat and Morris is a nice starting combo – Robin Lopez could be available…
6:49 p.m. the Houston Rockets are now on the clock…
14.) Houston Rockets select: Marcus Morris, SF/PF, Kansas
Is this the first back-to-back twin draft pairing? (Tomasson informs us it is not). Marcus is the more offensive brother – meaning he can score, but had very comparable stats to his brother while at Kansas. The Rockets have an absolute log-jam of players on their team … will they be making some trades once business is back in the NBA? Nice value for Marcus here – no question.
6:57 p.m. the Indiana Pacers are now on the clock…
15.) Indiana Pacers select: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State
A great value pick here. Danny Granger might not be long for the Pacers … or maybe Leonard could be trade bait? He had a great season at San Diego State and took his team into the tournament – where they didn't find as much success as he probably would have liked. I hear he has gigantic hands, so maybe can do something special in the dunk contest? He is not a great shooter, but will do a lot of work inside the paint, where the Pacers will gladly take his services.
7:03 p.m. the Philadelphia 76ers are now on the clock…
16.) Philadelphia 76ers select: Nikola Vucevic, C, USC
76ers add that big body they needed. Spencer Hawes can't be too happy with that – sitting here with Jeremy of Roundball Mining Company – thanks for the assist on name there.
7:08 p.m. the New York Knicks are on the clock…
17.) New York Knicks select: Iman Shumpert, SF, Georgia Tech
A surprise pick here, a great defender with a raw offensive game. Sort of a weird pick as Landry Fields is manning the two-guard spot for the Knicks. Shumpert was on the Nuggets' radar – so we can cross him off the list for Denver. The Knicks just added a bench player.
7:15 p.m. Washington Wizards are now on the clock…
**The Pacers are dealing Kawhi Leonard to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill**
18.) Washington Wizards select: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
Great pick by the Wizards – a defensive ace with some surprising offensive game. I was hoping he'd be on the board when the Nuggets selected, but knew it was a total long shot. Gives the Wizards a tough defender who can guard multiple positions.
7:19 p.m. the Charlotte Bobcats are now on the clock (drafting for the Milwaukee Bucks)…
19.) Charlotte Bobcats (for the Bucks) select: Tobias Harris, SF, Tennessee
The man rumored to be going to the Nuggets is now off the board. Mr. Versatile can play small forward and a little power forward – at just 18 years-old he'll have room to grow into the starter in Milwaukee.
7:24 p.m. the Minnesota Timberwolves are now on the clock…
20.) Minnesota Timberwolves select: Donatas Motiejunas, PF, Lithuania
A guy that might have also been on the Nuggets' radar. He'll likely stay over in Europe for a season or two and is a perimeter based guy. The good news … the Nuggets will have either Kenneth Faried or Jordan Hamilton on the board at #22.
7:31 p.m. the Portland Trail Blazers are now on the clock…
21.) Portland Trail Blazers select: Nolan Smith, PG, Duke
WOWZA!!! I didn't see that one coming. Smith is a bit of a reach here, but he's a heady player.
The Nuggets will now have their pick between Faried and Hamilton – pretty good news for Masai Ujiri. Who is it going to be Nuggets fans?
**Nuggets made a trade, Marc Spears and Andy Katz talking Blazers/Nuggets talking swapping players – not picks?**
7:37 p.m. the Denver Nuggets are now on the clock … might be drafting for Portland here.
22.) Denver Nuggets select: Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State
The draft hometown kid from Newark, NJ goes to the Nuggets! A rebounding machine and a hustling player that the fans will fall in love with. Played in Denver during the tournament and beat Louisville. Hoping he's more of a player than Dennis Rodman – meaning I hope his offense comes around. A hard-working player that will be hungry to learn and succeed in the NBA. Really really hoping the Nuggets don't move him to Portland if the Raymond Felton deal goes through (to the Blazers for Andre Miller). So confusing right now…
7:45 p.m. the Houston Rockets are now on the clock.
***We are hearing here that Faried will NOT BE TRADED BY THE NUGGETS.***
23.) Houston Rockets select: Nikola Mirotic, SF, Serbia
I know nothing about this guy. Really slacked off on guys not #22 or lower …
***Nuggets should be getting 26th pick from Dallas as part of Felton deal***
7:51 p.m. the Oklahoma City Thunder are now on the clock…
24.) Oklahoma City Thunder select: Reggie Jackson, PG, Boston College
The Colorado Springs kid goes to a very good team. He's a high-scoring guard, sort of like … um … Russell Westbrook. An interesting pick as the Thunder get more guard scoring. Eric Maynor should be on the move.
7:54 p.m. the Boston Celtics are now on the clock…
25.) Boston Celtics select: MarShon Brooks, SG, Providence
John Hollinger really dismissed Brooks' stats in college because of the fast paced play at Providence and the fact he played like 36 minutes per game (out of 40 min). Good pick I think because the kid can score.
8:00 p.m. the Dallas Mavericks are now on the clock…(this is being rumored to be the Nuggets' pick as part of the Felton deal).
26.) Dallas Mavericks select: Jordan Hamilton, SF/PF, Texas
Saw on Twitter that an executive called Hamilton "toxic" – the guy likes to shoot it and can really fill it up. He needs to show an improved shot selection, but is a nice prospect and GREAT VALUE at #26 … and he might be a Denver Nugget.
8:05 p.m. the New Jersey Nets are now on the clock…
27.) New Jersey Nets select: JuJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue
DRAFT PURDUE POWER FORWARD!!!! Rockridge … the Nets were listening!
8:08 p.m. the Chicago Bulls are now on the clock…
***Boston and New Jersey swapping MarShon Brooks for JuJuan Johnson. DRAFT PPF!!***
28.) Chicago Bulls select: Norris Cole, SG, Cleveland State University
Sadly, I have no idea who this guy is – hear he was second round material. Chad Ford loves him. He's heading to the Timberwolves as part of an earlier trade.
8:14 p.m. the San Antonio Spurs are now on the clock…
29.) San Antonio Spurs select: Cory Joseph, PG, Texas
30.) Chicago Bulls select: Jimmy Butler, SG, Marquette
Great pick by the Bulls, really like Butler's game.
We are now awaiting a press conference with George Karl and Masai Ujiri and perhaps a conference call with a draft pick or two…
