What if Noel and MCW were on the board tonight?

With the 1st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select, Nerlens Noel center University of Kentucky….wait what? What if Nerlens Noel and MCW had decided to stay at their respective schools for their sophomore seasons and they were available in tonight’s draft? When do you think they would go and which team’s hat would they be placing on their heads?

Well last week before Joel Embiid decided to get hurt, it was looking more and more like a definite thing that the Cavs would use their first overall pick on the center. Things would really get interesting if Noel was actually in this year’s draft. Noel would most likely be in consideration for the number one pick with Embiid’s injury, especially since Cleveland is looking for a big man. If not Embiid, they would snatch Noel as a nice consolation prize. That would then presumably leave Parker to the Bucks and Wiggins ending up in Philadelphia (Pleeeasssseee). Remember that Wiggins would then be on a team where he is the one and only building block, unlike the situation that presents itself tonight. If the Sixers do end up with Wiggins tonight, then they will have a core for years to come with Noel and MCW.

With Noel off the board its time to look at MCW. The depth of point guards in this draft far exceeds that at the center position, which presents a little bit more of a tricky situation for Carter-Williams. Players such as Marcus Smart, Zach LaVine, Elfrid Payton, and Dante Exum have all been projected to go in the lottery. MCW went 11th overall last year in what many call as one of the worst drafts ever. So what does that say for MCW?

Well for starters, Dante Exum who many say is MCW’s twin, is slated to go in the top 5. Both are 6-6, pretty much share the same frame and neither can shoot effectively. You have to think if the Magic are considering Exum at 4, they would also be pondering Carter-Williams. The fact that Exum is foreign might give Carter-Williams the slight edge here as well as the fact that they would have actually been able to see how Carter-Williams faired against the top talents in the draft. Exum on the other hand faces Australian talent on a daily basis. If the Magic passed on MCW, I think either Sacramento or Los Angeles would pull the trigger.

Here is my mock if Noel and MCW were actually in tonight’s draft:

1. Nerlens Noel-Cavaliers

2. Jabari Parker-Bucks

3. Andrew Wiggins-Sixers

4. Dante Exum-Magic

5. Noah Vonleh-Jazz

6. Joel Embiid-Celtics

7. Marcus Smart-Lakers

8. Michael Carter-Williams-Kings

9. Doug McDermott-Hornets

10. Julius Randle-Sixers

Without Noel and MCW:

1. Andrew Wiggins-Cavaliers

2. Jabari Parker-Bucks

3. Dante Exum-Sixers

4. Noah Vonleh-Magic

5. Aaron Gordon-Jazz

6. Joel Embiid-Celtics

7. Zach LaVine-Lakers

8. Marcus Smart-Kings

9. Doug McDermott-Hornets

10. Julius Randle-Sixers