NBA Mock Draft- Picks 1-5

The NBA Draft is a month away, June 27th, and now that the lottery process (very confusing) has been completed, I will be doing my first ever Mock Draft in any sport. So, here we go!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

For the 2nd time in 3 years, Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) sent his son to the draft lottery and his good-luck charm claimed the Number 1 overall pick. After securing their franchise player, Kyrie Irving, this draft seems much different than 2 years ago. This draft presents, in my eyes, only one immediate superstar. Ben McLemore out of Kansas I think will have the most immediate impact, yet for the Cavs he doesn't fit their needs. With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters in the backcourt, the Cavaliers really need a wing that can space the floor with shooting but then playing lock down defense on the other end, this is why I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick will select Georgetown's Otto Porter.

2. Orlando Magic 

The Magic actually owned the best chances at owning the number 1 pick but much like their season, they lost it to the Cavs. But fortunately for the Magic, I don't think Porter would have been their guy anyways. The Magic don't have much anywhere but they are mostly lacking a point guard. With Jameer Nelson way past his prime, the Magic are going to select the top Point Guard in the draft, Trey Burke from Michigan. This is a scary pick in my mind. I love Burke, as a Michigan fan, but his draft stock has sky-rocketed purely because of a tournament run. This may or may not be a fair judge on Burke but this is a high-risk high-reward pick for the Magic. For an analogy, imagine if Joe Flacco's pass hadn't sailed over Rahim Moore's head in the AFC Divisional round. Does Flacco really get the $20 Million he earned after claiming a World Championship? No one knows, just like no one knows where Burke would have been drafted if he doesn't hit a 30 footer to tie the game against Kansas in the tournament. Just saying.


3. Washington Wizards 

The Wizards have a similar backcourt to the Cavaliers, in that they possess John Wall and Bradley Beal, two very strong guards. Also like the Cavs, they lack that wing player that is an integral part to the team. From my studying, I feel that the Wiz are leaning towards Antony Bennett. He's a 4 man out of UNLV currently recovering from injury. This is a perfect fit for both players but I feel that at number 3, Kentucky big man, Nerlens Noel, might be too good to pass up. So my prediction for Washington will be, if they don't trade back a few spots to grab Bennett, they'll settle for Noel. And when I say settle, I'm saying they'll gladly select the player with the biggest upside in the draft.

4. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats were not the main laughing stock of the NBA this season which is an improvement from the year before but holding the #4 pick usually means they didn't have a great season. I'll keep this prediction short and sweet. The Bobcats have Kemba Walker and Kidd-Gilchrist, need a 2 man. Ben McLemore is a 2 man. Perfect fit, no brainer, biggest superstar in the draft, book it. The Bobcats franchise will be ecstatic if McLemore falls to them at #4.





5. Phoenix Suns 

With the final prediction of my first Mock Draft, the Phoenix Suns have a lot of options. They could really use a player at any position which is why I think they'll take the best player remaining on the board in Victor Oladipo out of Indiana. While Oladipo may be a 3 year project, the least he'll do in his rookie season is lock down your top guard and bring highlight plays. The Suns actually are in the worst position out of any of these top 5 teams amazingly but I think Oladipo can help the healing process.

Attention D.C. Sports Area- I'm Sorry

In spirits of my Washington Capitals falling in the most of embarrassing ways last night, I want to write an article to preach my condolences for the fans of our Nation's Capital.

October 13th, 2012

The Washington Nationals had shut down their ace Stephen Strasburg for the season. Not to mention he has not returned to form but yet the Nats still held the top pitching staff-Starters through Bullpen- in the MLB. With Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the 9th in a winner-take-all Game 5, Nats' manager Davey Johnson called on Drew Storen (Recorded 43 saves during the season) to send the Nats to the NLCS. After winning a triple digit 100 games and holding the Number 1 seed in the National League, the Nationals allowed 4 runs in the top of the 9th and fell to the defending champs, the Saint Louis Cardinals.

January 6th, 2013

After trading their future for what hoped to be their future, the Washington Redskins and Rookie of the Year, Robert Griffin III, jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. As Washington saw their lead escape them, things got even worse for the Washington D.C. diehards. MarShawn Lynch scampered in for a 27 yard touchdown but worse was to come. On the Redskins ensuing possession, that Redskins' future buckled, literally, in front of them. Griffin, on some terrible playing surface, tore his ACL and is still questionable for next year. It comes without saying that the Redskins fell and the D.C. fan's nightmare continued. (Not to mention their cross-town rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, captured the Super Bowl title.)

March 22nd, 2013

Otto Porter, Big East Player of the Year, and his Georgetown Hoyas held the number 2 seed in the ever so famous March Madness tournament. Heading into their matchup with Florida Gulf Coast a David (15 seed) had taken down a Goliath (2) a mere 6 times total. But unfortunately for the most supported University in the greater D.C. area, the Hoyas became the 7th. While the FGCU Eagles became a lovable team and great underdog, the Hoyas have fallen to a double digit seed in the first round of the tournament 5 times out of the last 6 years. A truly harsh run for the District of Columbia.

May 13th, 2013

The run ends here, for now. To cap off the worst 9 months thinkable for a major sports town, last night my Washington Capitals fell 5 to NOTHING in a Game 7 game against the New York Rangers. Let's break down the series. The Capitals led 2-0 meaning that they would have to lose 4 out of their next 5 to not advance to the Conference Semis. Next we thought we had seen the revival of Alexander Ovechkin with his league leading 31 goals in a lockout-shortened season. Rather, we saw the Ovechkin from the recent past who posted his lone goal in Game 1 of the series. Finally, the Caps didn't even manage to put a puck in the net in the final 2 games of the Best of 7. The Capitals in fact tried to break the hearts of D.C. fans everywhere.

Now I understand that the city of Cleveland hasn't had a Championship in too many years to count but I think the D.C. fans have endured an absurd amount of disappointment in these short 9 months. Not to mention that they have an awful Wizard's team. Regardless of that, the D.C. fan's have experienced slow and painful heartbreak as well as a rip of the heart. So all I want to say is Sorry. Sorry to the fans that represent our Nation's Capital and next time you see a Nationals, Redskins, Hoyas, or Capitals fan, tell them you're there for them.

LeBron James- Are We Witnessing Greatness?

LeBron James-Are We Witnessing Greatness? 

If you haven't heard, LeBron James claimed his 4th MVP in the last 5 years officially Sunday afternoon. James averaged 27 ppg, 8 rebounds a game, and topped that off with 7 assists per contest. LeBron led Miami to the number 1 overall seed in the East, was obviously the key component of their 27 game win streak, and guided the Heat to a 1st round sweep over the Milwaukee Bucks. That's just a short statistical recap of James' unbelievable MVP season which is far from over.

James received 122 of the 123 1st place votes. Not really sure who had anyone else in the top spot...
Anyways, with James winning his 4th Most Valuable Player trophy in the past half-decade, the question must be asked is he the greatest or will he be the greatest?

Me personally, have never cared for LeBron after his shenanigans in leaving Cleveland but as a sports fan I would be doing a disservice to not at least respect him. LeBron James does not belong in the sport of Basketball. He is a physical specimen that the game has never seen before and quite possibly might never see again. He can guard your Point Guard one possession, than battle down low with your 7 footer the next. He can take the inbounds and run your offense one possession, than take you down into the post the next. He's a 6 foot 8, 250 pound machine which is why as sports fans we must appreciate what we have.

James in Cleveland had no supporting cast which is why he had to score 40 points a night for them to compete. Now that he has the talent around him like Jordan had we can see that he can truly do it all. He's the most powerful dunker in the league but can also hit the deep 3. The reason I'm writing this post tonight is to understand what we truly have in LeBron James. In your lifetime, you will never see another player like this which is why I think it's important to appreciate his greatness.

Now the most ridiculous part about LeBron James. How high is his ceiling? As I predict, the Heat will cruise, yes cruise, to their 2nd straight title with Bron Bron casually leading the way. But the crazy thing is, will he get better. Like most players in their prime, they gradually get better and it's a scary thought to think that Mr. James could be a more dominating force than he already is.

With all this being said, and we much more could be, I think their are still many but very possible goals for LeBron to reach before he is declared the Greatest of All Time.

Win a Title without another Star player (Dwyane Wade)- I understand that MJ won it with Pippen and Shaq with Kobe, but because of the way he left, the critics will never let that go until he does it himself.

Compete in the Dunk Contest- One of Jordan's most iconic moments is his Free Throw line dunk in the Dunk Contest. All LeBron has to do is show up and he'll win.

Hit the Big Shot in the Big Game- This final task would seal the deal for me. Michael Jordan's most famous moment is sinking a game winner in Game 6 of his last Finals with the Bulls. LeBron's whole career has been down played because he has been missing the "clutch factor". While James seems to be finding his confidence late in games, he still needs that Iconic Moment to be the best to ever play the game.