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Before the 2014 NBA Draft, many experts and fans like myself were salivating over the fact that this draft was considered a trailblazing one as the prospects were supposed to lay the foundation for the NBA's future. The two top prospects, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, were considered once-in-a-generation talents coming into the league. The rest of the talent pool was intriguing and had the potential to make their marks in the association. The 2014 looked to live up to the hype.
The hype was short-lived nine years later.
As I did with the blog on the 2017 NFL Draft, I will go through each pick when they where selected and tell you how their career is going through this point. This could get interesting.
One. CLEVELAND- ANDREW WIGGINS F/G, KANSAS
The Cavaliers selected the next big thing in Wiggins. Experts talked about how he was going to change the game with his athletic ability and his tenacious drive to the basket. Cleveland may have picked the player to succeed LeBron James.
Then, LeBron James surprised everyone by signing back with Cleveland. So, Wiggins could team up with LeBron and Kyrie Irving. This could be epic, as the kids say.
Then, the Cavaliers went to the win-now route and traded him and the last year's #1 overall pick and future what if, Anthony Bennett, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Lowe. Now, Wiggins would be the go-to guy in the Twin Cities.
THE VERDICT: Andrew Wiggins hasn't been able to be the next big thing. Many question his work ethic and desire to be great. He's had a solid career and is the highest scoring Canadian in NBA history, so that's nice. He is still 27, so there is room for improvement. Wiggins has to be that person willing to push himself to become great. He did improve last season, becoming an All-Star and a NBA champion with the Warriors.
2. MILWAUKEE- JABARI PARKER F, DUKE
After Wiggins, Parker was the most heralded prospect in the country. The Simeon High School legend spent his only season at Duke fine tuning his skills. The Bucks had the worst record in the league, but ended up with the #2 pick and Parker. He would become a building block with Giannis and Khris Middleton.
THE VERDICT: This is a sad tale. Due to knee injuries and inconsistency, Parker has become an afterthought and not the building block everyone envisioned. At 27, his career could be salvaged, but its highly unlikely.
3. PHILADELPHIA- JOEL EMBIID F/C, KANSAS
The Sixers were in the middle of "The Process" when they secured a "project" in Cameroon native Joel Embiid. Scouts labeled him as injury prone and was sitting out his rookie season due to a foot problem. He could be a franchise player or another lost cause of "The Process."
THE VERDICT: Embiid has become the franchise player that the Sixers needed. Being able to embrace "The Process", Embiid became one of Philadelphia's most beloved athletes and one of the most dominating big men in the NBA.
4. ORLANDO- AARON GORDON F, ARIZONA
The Magic were going through a rebuilding phase, which has been ongoing to this day. (More on them at a later date) They chose Gordon with the fourth pick to help this team develop for a bright future......
THE VERDICT: Gordon has constructed a solid career in the NBA. He also should have been a two-time Slam Dunk Champion. He is currently with the Denver Nuggets after signing a fat extension.
5. UTAH- DANTE EXUM G, AUSTRALIA
The biggest mystery in this draft was Exum. He had the potential to be good, but no one really knew about him, instead from highlights playing against the USA. His Foot Locker commercials before the draft were ironic.
THE VERDICT: His journey in the NBA hasn't been pleasant. With injuries and inconsistency, Exum is now in his native Australia on a short-term deal.
6. BOSTON- MARCUS SMART G, OKLAHOMA STATE
Marcus Smart was a talented, yet volatile player at Oklahoma State. His draft stock wasn't affected by that as the Celtics took him with the sixth pick.
THE VERDICT: Since coming into the league, Smart has matured to become a key contributor for the Celtics. He has even shown loyalty for the organization by signing extensions to stay with the team.
7. LA LAKERS- JULIUS RANDLE F, KENTUCKY
The Lakers decided to embrace the rebuild movement and select the Kentucky forward to start it.
THE VERDICT: Randle has found a home in NYC and is playing his best basketball, winning the Most Improved Player award in 2020-2021 and securing a max contract with the Knicks.
8. SACRAMENTO- NIK STAUSKAS G, MICHIGAN
The Kings decided to draft a player who had three-point prowess and scoring ability in the lane.
THE VERDICT: This didn't work out for Sacramento and now, Stauskas is out of the league. Also, they drafted someone who played the same position as Stauskas the year before in Ben McLemore. SMH.
9. CHARLOTTE- NOAH VONLEH F, INDIANA
The Hornets wanted an athletic big man who they can develop. They thought Vonleh would be that prospect.
THE VERDICT: Vonleh didn't develop as Charlotte wanted, and like Stauskas, is out of the league.
10. PHILADELPHIA- ELFRID PAYTON G, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (Traded to Orlando)
Philly drafted Payton, then traded him to the Magic. Orlando was building a roster for the immediate future.
THE VERDICT: Payton just sort of hung around in his career. He was solid, but his ceiling was limited.
ELEVEN. DENVER- DOUG MCDERMOTT F, CREIGHTON (Traded to Chicago)
The Bulls traded up to select the most lethal shooter in college and banking on McDermott to help them to playoff success.
THE VERDICT: Like in college, McDermott has become a very dependable shooter in the league, now with the San Antonio Spurs.
12. ORLANDO- DARIO SARIC F, CROATIA (Traded to Philadelphia)
The Sixers received Saric in the Elfrid Payton trade and had to wait two years for him to arrive in the NBA.
THE VERDICT: Saric has had a decent career. He tore his ACL during the Finals and his presence was missed as the Phoenix Suns failed the capture the NBA championship in 2011. He is now with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
13. MINNESOTA- ZACH LAVINE G, UCLA
The Timberwolves drafted LaVine, who had an X-rated response, and he would team up with Andrew Wiggins to help Minnesota in their bright future.
THE VERDICT: Traded to Chicago for Jimmy Butler, LaVine has become one of the league's most potent scorers. He is also a two-time Slam Dunk Champion and competed with Aaron Gordon to produce one of the most exciting final rounds in Slam Dunk contest history.
14. PHOENIX- TJ WARREN F, NC STATE
The Suns drafted the sophomore to add to a young, but hungry ballclub.
THE VERDICT: Warren has had a solid career as a key role player. So much so, that yours truly named our Role Player of the Year after him (The TJ Warren Award). In a funny twist, after playing for Indiana and Brooklyn, he is back with the Suns due to the Kevin Durant trade.
15. ATLANTA- ADREIAN PAYNE F, MICHIGAN STATE
Payne was a bruiser at MSU and the Hawks hoped his bruising style could translate in the big league.
THE VERDICT: It really didn't as Payne only lasted four seasons in the NBA. Sadly, on May 9, 2022, Payne was shot and killed in Orlando, Florida. He was 31.
16. CHICAGO- JUSUF NURKIC C, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (Traded to Denver)
Nurkic went to Denver in the Doug McDermott trade and was going to be a building block for the Nuggets frontcourt.
THE VERDICT: Traded to Portland in 2017, Nurkic has been a rock to the Trailblazer frontcourt and franchise.
Don't worry, Nuggets fans. That second round pick seems promising.
17. BOSTON- JAMES YOUNG G, KENTUCKY
In a selection which caused Bill Simmons to pump his fist and Celtic fans to rejoice, Young and Marcus Smart would be Boston's backcourt of the future.
THE VERDICT: That hype probably cursed him as Young didn't amount to anything.
Side note: Bill Simmons also decided to pick a fight with new Clippers coach Doc Rivers for some reason.
18. PHOENIX- TYLER ENNIS G, SYRACUSE
The Suns tabbed Ennis as the point guard which they wanted to develop, despite his lack of size.
THE VERDICT: Unfortunately, that lack of size limited Ennis in the NBA.
19. CHICAGO- GARY HARRIS G, MICHIGAN STATE (Traded to Denver)
Denver received Harris from Chicago to add to an already youthful, but focused group.
THE VERDICT: Harris was improving to become a key member of the Nuggets. Then, his production faded quickly in one of the most baffling dropoff in recent history. He is trying to regain his touch again with the Magic.
20. TORONTO- BRUNO CABOCLO F, BRAZIL
The Raptors drafted the raw, but talented Brazilian to be a project prospect.
THE VERDICT: This project was busted as Bruno played only 102 games in seven seasons.
21. OKLAHOMA CITY- MITCH MCGARY F, MICHIGAN
The Thunder had McGary as a potential role player for the team.
THE VERDICT: Classic case of good in college, but below average NBA player.
22. MEMPHIS- JORDAN ADAMS G, UCLA
The Grizzlies added Adams to blend into the Grit N' Grind culture.
THE VERDICT: He should have stayed another year in college for more seasoning.
23. UTAH- RODNEY HOOD F,
The Jazz drafted sharpshooting Rodney Hood to help in that category.
THE VERDICT: Umm, he was on a Cavalier Finals team. That's good.
24. CHARLOTTE- SHABAZZ NAPIER G, CONNECTICUT (Traded to Miami)
The Heat snagged a National Title winning point guard to bring that winning culture to Miami.
THE VERDICT: Same situation like Mitch McGary. Great in college, but below average in the league.
25. HOUSTON- CLINT CAPELA C, SWITZERLAND
The Rockets drafted a project in Capela to team up with Dwight Howard in Houston's frontcourt.
THE VERDICT: Capela has emerged as the most underrated defensive specialists in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.
26. MIAMI- P.J. HAIRSTON G, D-LEAGUE (Traded to Charlotte)
This pick made history as Hairston was the first player to be drafted from the D-League after his suspension from North Carolina.
THE VERDICT: Unfortunately, that was the only milestone Hairston had in the NBA.
27. PHOENIX- BOGDAN BOGDANOVIC G, SERBIA
The Suns drafted Bogdanovic and had to wait till his contract overseas expired to take his talents to the Valley of the Sun.
THE VERDICT: Bogie is a quality player off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks.
28. LA CLIPPERS- CJ WILCOX G, WASHINGTON
The Clip Joint (Hahaha) selected Wilcox to help CP3 and Blake Griffin for years to come.
THE VERDICT: Nope, just CP3 and Blake Griffin running the show.
29. OKLAHOMA CITY- JOSH HUESTIS F, STANFORD
The Thunder added more frontcourt help with the selection of Huestis.
THE VERDICT: He didn't help at all. Wow, OKC whiffed on both first-round picks.
And finally, 30. SAN ANTONIO- KYLE ANDERSON F, UCLA
The champions added a lanky, yet athletic forward in Anderson.
THE VERDICT: Anderson has carved out a fine career and is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate for Minnesota.
The 2014 NBA draft was a hype machine that didn't really work as it was supposed to. The generational talents didn't change the game as advertised, but some emerged as key contributors for their franchises.
-Andrew Wiggins went to Golden State, and has his career back on track with his first All-Star selection and his first NBA championship last season. This led to a contract extension during the off-season.
-Aaron Gordon was traded to Denver at the deadline a couple of seasons ago and has become a key contributor to a Nuggets team who owns the best record in the Western Conference as of this writing.
Marcus Smart is a Defensive Player of the Year winner and Julius Randle is a Most Improved Player award recipient and cornerstone of a Knicks franchise that needed that prime player. Zach LaVine is an All-Star caliber player.
Then, the stories of Jabari Parker and Dante Exum are sad and if they didn't have injury issues, who knows what might have been?
The second round of this draft produced some solid players. Names like Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dwight Powell, Jerami Grant and Jordan Clarkson were all second rounders. Clarkson was the Sixth Man of the Year recipient in 2020-2021.
Other than Embiid, there was one pick that altered the atmosphere of the NBA. #41 to the Denver Nuggets. It was a selection so under the radar that it was announced during a Taco Bell commercial. This selection altered the Nuggets' franchise and the entire league.
The pick: Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The NBA draft has its surprises sometimes.
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