NBA Mock Draft: Edition 3

1. Cleveland Cavaliers Joel Embiid, C

Despite having just a 1.7% chance of winning the lottery, the Cavs landed the top spot for the third time in four years. They could go anywhere here, but they really need a big man and Embiid is by far the best big man in this talented draft.

2. Milwaukee Bucks Andrew Wiggins, G/F

The Bucks may have missed out on the top spot, but they could get quite the consolation prize in Wiggins. His scoring potential and crazy athleticism should be fun to watch playing alongside Greek forward Giannis Adentokounmpo.

3. Philadelphia Sixers Jabari Parker, F

Marcus Smart

No player in this draft presents the matchup problems Parker can give opponents. He is long and athletic with shooting touch from everywhere on the court. Philly would be making a huge mistake if they don't draft him here.

4. Orlando Magic Dante Exum, PG

The need for the Magic coming into this draft is clear: a point guard. Exum, a gifted Australian, with a 6'6" body and elite playmaking ability, should be the smart move.

5. Utah Jazz Noah Vonleh, F/C

Other than Derrick Favors, no big man on this Utah roster has proven that they deserve to be starters on an NBA roster. Vonleh's size and fit with the Jazz make him the selection over Julius Randle here.
6. Boston Celtics Marcus Smart, PG
The Celtics are reportedly shopping Rajon Rondo around which doesn't surprise anyone. They will need a point guard for the future if they do indeed deal away Rondo and with his scoring ability and NBA size, Smart is the best available point guard here.
7. Los Angeles Lakers Julius Randle, PF
Inconsistency plagued Randle throughout his time with Kentucky but when he is on his game, he looks absolutely fantastic. His athleticism and versatility will definitely help an aging and not very deep Lakers' frontcourt.
8. Sacramento Kings Aaron Gordon, F

It is very likely the Kings might want to deal this pick away but if they keep it, Gordon should be top on their boards. The crazy athlete from Arizona really helped his stock with an impressive combine and the Kings could really use him to play both forward positions.
9. Charlotte Hornets Doug McDermott, F
Although Cody Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Al Jefferson are talented, the Hornets frontcourt is pretty limited, they don't have very much floor-spacers or versatility. McDermott won't wow anyone with his psychical gifts but he is a gifted shooter who can hurt you in a lot of different ways.
10. Philadelphia Sixers Zach LaVine, G
After already landing Jabari, the Sixers should look for another backcourt piece with their second lottery pick. LaVine, who is blowing away scouts with his tremendous athleticism, still has a long way to go, but the raw tools are there.
11. Denver Nuggets Gary Harris, SG
Even with their up-tempo, high-octane offensive attack, the Nuggets still need shooters to win games. They will need to address that here with the No. 11 pick, and Harris is a fantastic shooter with experience and toughness.
12. Orlando Magic Dario Saric, F
A major issue for the Magic these past two seasons has been the lack of depth in the frontcourt. Saric is a talented Croatian forward with the ability to do a number of good things. He is a gifted rebounder with great size and is improved as a defender. Give him some time, and he could be a steal here for Orlando.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves Nik Stauskas, G/F
Much like a lot of other teams in the late lottery, the T-Wolves are looking for depth and shooting. Stauskas can provide both along with versatility as he can play both guard and an undersized small forward.
14. Phoenix Suns Kyle Anderson, G/F
Anderson reminds you of Magic Johnson in a way: the 6'9" guard has fantastic ball handling skills and is great on dribble penetration. He may be a slight stretch here but the Suns would love his size and they can afford to stretch on a prospect or two, considering how many picks they have in this draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks James Young, SG
The Hawks are a pretty good three-point shooting team but that doesn't mean they wouldn't like to add another player who is dangerous from downtown. Young is a dangerous three-point bomber who can attack defenses in a variety of ways, he will inject some youth to this backcourt.
16. Chicago Bulls Tyler Ennis, PG
Unlike a lot of prospects in this draft, Ennis isn't crazy athletic or a deadly three-point shooter or very versatile. What he does offer is smarts, solid scoring punch and a player that be basically a second coach from the get go. Tom Thibodeau would love to have this hard-worker coming off the bench.
17. Boston Celtics Rodney Hood, G/F
With their second first-round pick, the Celtics should look to snatch up a wing scorer in Hood, who can do so many different things well. Hood is a gifted slasher who can work wonders as a rebounder and at the very least will give you a lot of solid minutes.
18. Phoenix Suns Jerami Grant, F
It is likely Grant could drop further than here but even if they do bring in Anderson, the Suns will need another forward in this draft. There are a number of options here, but Grant has tremendous upside even though he is very raw at the moment.
19. Chicago Bulls T.J. Warren, F
The Bulls are a great defensive team but they really need the scoring punch Warren would provide. He is an athletic forward with major upside and it isn't like he is a bad defender, he can make big plays on both ends of the court.
20. Toronto Raptors Elfrid Payton, PG
Throughout much of the season, the Raptors looked like they were going to deal away Kyle Lowry. They kept him, but he could easily ditch this summer in free agency along with Greivis Vasquez. Even if both stay the Raptors could still use a point guard and Payton is the best available here.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder P.J. Hairston, SG
The shooting guard position could be up for grabs this next year if Thabo Sefolosha decides to leave the Thunder in free agency. Hairston would be an upgrade as he has the potential to be a very dangerous scorer who can give OKC what they lacked since they dealt away James Harden.
22. Memphis Grizzlies Clint Capela, F/C
The Grizzlies' frontcourt is pretty solid at the moment but gaining some depth and a future replacement for the aging Zach Randolph wouldn't be a bad idea. Capela, a Swiss forward/center, is a crazy athlete with NBA size (6'11") and the potential to really grow on the offensive end.
23. Utah Jazz K.J. McDaniels, G/F
This past season, the Jazz were so weak on the wing they started Richard Jefferson, who is somehow still in the league. They need a young wing scorer and Clemson star K.J. McDaniels is the answer, he can attack in a variety of ways.
24. Charlotte Hornets Shabazz Napier, PG
Outside of Kemba Walker, Charlotte's backcourt is pretty weak and it will need some new young pieces added to it this offseason. Napier is undersized to play shooting guard but he could be a very serviceable backup to Kemba and has the potential to really grow into a feared shooter.
25. Houston Rockets Glenn Robinson, F
If Robinson does drop all the way down here, it will be very tough for Houston to not select the Michigan star. They could use some more scorers in their frontcourt and Robinson is a versatile player who could easily grow into a second or third offensive option on this team.
26. Miami Heat Jordan Clarkson, G
Ray Allen has hit some big shots in his short time with the Heat, but his time in the NBA may come to an end this summer. Even if it doesn't the Heat still need a long-term scorer added on to their roster and Clarkson is an ideal fit. He is slightly raw and more decisions are pretty common for him but the psychical gifts are there for him to grow into an impact player.
27. Phoenix Suns Adreian Payne, F/C
Payne is easily one of the best big men in this draft but how he fits into rosters may drop him down here. If he is available, the Suns should leap on him to provide another frontcourt piece for the future. He still needs to get stronger and injuries are a slight concern but he could be a steal here.
28. Los Angeles Clippers Semaj Christon, PG
The Clippers just need depth, whether it be in the frontcourt or backcourt. Christon is an ideal selection here, an Xavier star with a high ceiling but still developing as a point guard. Learning behind Chris Paul will certainly help.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder Jusuf Nurkic, C
As of right now, the Thunder frontcourt and roster is pretty congested and attempting to develop a first-round pick on it might be difficult. Nurkic, a Bosnian center, will likely spend a couple more years overseas before he makes the jump to the NBA. He will be able to grow as a player and at the worst, Oklahoma City can get a big man that can block shots.
30. San Antonio Spurs Cleanthony Early, F
San Antonio does an incredible job of developing late draft picks and Early could be next. The Wichita State forward would actually fit pretty well for these team. He will rebound, play hard and is a tough player and the Spurs have to think about life after Tim Duncan. Early could be the start.


 

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 23. Texas A&M Aggies

Trey Williams

23. Texas A&M Aggies

Coach: Kevin Sumlin (3rd year)
2013-2014 Record: 9-4 (4-4 SEC)
Schedule:
August 28th @ South Carolina
September 6th vs. Lamar
September 13th vs. Rice
September 20th @ SMU
September 27th vs. Arkansas
October 4th @ Mississippi State
October 11th vs. Ole Miss
October 18th @ Alabama
November 1st vs. Louisiana-Monroe
November 8th @ Auburn
November 15th vs. Missouri
November 27th vs. LSU

Despite having one of the nation's most explosive and high-scoring offenses, the Aggies took a step back in their second year inside the SEC because of one thing: one of the worst defenses in the history of the SEC. The unit was undersized and inexperienced and was a big reason why the Aggies fell to both Auburn and Alabama, two games they had a shot at. Although Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans both left early for the NFL, Kevin Sumlin has the Aggies on a roll, and the team should once again be in the hunt in the SEC West.

Backfield: The inevitable time came when Johnny Manziel made the jump to the next level and the Aggies suffered another loss when presumed starter, Matt Joeckel, transferred to TCU. Now, the battle is down between two quarterbacks, Kenny Hill and Kyle Allen, to fill the big shoes Manziel left in College Station. Hill, a sophomore, saw some action last year and seems to fit the offense very well; he is a spread offense style QB who can make plays with his huge arm and legs. Allen, a true freshman, is the top incoming quarterback recruit in the nation and has the potential to really develop into a star. Allen isn't slow, but he doesn't lack the explosiveness that Hill does and he hasn't seen one snap against a proven SEC defense. Both played pretty well this spring but it appears to be a dead heat between them and Sumlin may not decide until deep into fall camp. Texas A&M will rely more on the run game this year than last, especially with the talent returning in the backfield. Junior Tra Carson is a bruising back who showed a lot of promise last season, scoring 7 touchdowns. Trey Williams is an explosive playmaker who is the perfect complement to Carson. Expect Oklahoma transfer Brandon Williams to also make some plays; the former five-star recruit was dubbed the next Adrian Peterson when he first showed up for the Sooners.

Receivers: No receiver inside the SEC was as important to his team as Mike Evans was to the Aggies, with the possible exception of Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews. Evans used his long, athletic frame to haul in 69 receptions for 1,394 yards, averaging 20.2 yards every reception. With him making plays for Tampa Bay now, Sumlin and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital will need senior Malcome Kennedy to step up in a big way. Kennedy isn't the big play threat that Evans was, but he is a reliable option in the intermediate passing game. Redshirt freshman Ricky Seals-Jones is ready for a breakout 2014-2015. The 6'5" playmaker can do damage in so many different ways and he will take over for Evans as the team's deep ball threat. Speedy junior Sabian Holmes is also back for Texas A&M along with incoming true freshman Speedy Noil. Noil is exactly what his name describes, a speedy game-changing receiver. Senior Cameron Clear is relatively limited as a receiver but he has the chance to be a security blanket for however starts for the Aggies. Clear could prove to be a big option in the red zone, using his 6'6" body to burrow through defenders.

Offensive Line: Texas A&M won't gain a reputation for a team that produces a ton of talent in the trenches, but for the second straight year they had an offensive linemen drafted in the Top 10 of the draft. Jake Matthews has a big-time linemen who had great versatility and was the anchor to the line last season. Senior Cedric Ogbuehi could be the next Aggie linemen to be a big NFL prospect, he will likely spend his time at left tackle this next season. Along with Ogbuehi, senior Jarvis Harrison is also back, he should also play on the left side at guard. Jake's brother, Mike enters his junior season and he will start at center. Junior Joseph Cheek gives the offensive line even more size and experience. With four starters back and a ton of experience, the O-Line could be the best in Texas A&M history and quite possibly the best in the SEC and the nation. It could even surpass the great offensive lines "Johnny Football" ran behind that included Luke Joeckel and Matthews. This unit will be pivotal in helping whoever starts at quarterback, they won't have much success if opponents are in their face all the time.

Defensive Line: If the defense is going to improve at all, getting pressure on the quarterback will be paramount. Also, a greater emphasis must be placed on rush defense, as the Aggies were 110th in rushing yards allowed per game in 2013. Senior end Gavin Stansbury is ready to make a bigger impact after he had a solid last season, reeling in 3 sacks and 47 tackles. On the other end, expect junior Julien Obioha also to make a larger impact. Both aren't necessarily the biggest or fastest defenders on the field but they find ways to make an impact and they have high motors. They should be taking the bulk of the defensive snaps but expect incoming end Myles Garrett to see some opportunities as well. Garrett is one of the most talented players to ever sign with Texas A&M and he already has prototypical NFL size. He is a relentless monster who can pile up sacks; his senior year of high school he recorded 20.5 sacks. At the tackle spots, expect sophomore Isaiah Golden to improve dramatically and also expect to see freshman Zaycoven Henderson make some plays. At the moment, the front seven is average (pretty weak for SEC standards) but the future is definitely bright. Garrett has the chance to be the next Jadeveon Clowney and another freshman end, Qualen Cunningham could be a future stud in College Station.

Linebackers: Perhaps the major reason why the defense was so bad last year in every important category was the linebacker corps, where Sumlin relied heavily on three true freshman. Sophomore Darian Claiborne played very well for a freshman thrust into a starting role; he recorded 89 total tackles and 7 tackles for loss. With more games under his belt expect even bigger things from Claiborne who could quickly grow into one of the nation's best linebackers. Senior Donnie Baggs had a pretty disappointing 2013 but he should see improvement. Baggs had 30 tackles, but didn't make the impact many people were expecting of him. He moves very well and can make big plays but lacks the overall consistent play to play ability he needs. The likely third starting linebacker will be sophomore Jordan Mastrogiovanni, a player with great size and a relentless motor. He might not put up the numbers that Claiborne may, but he has major upside and could be able to put some pressure on opponents.

Deshazor Everett

Secondary: This appears to be the strength of this team as nearly every important contributor returns in the defensive backfield. That includes two seniors, Deshazor Everett and Howard Matthews, who both had strong last seasons. Everett, a ball hawk at cornerback, had 73 tackles and two interceptions in 2013 and should even build on it more. He has always been a great athlete but he has become stronger and won't get pushed around anymore; he could really have a good season. Matthews is the team's top returning tackler after racking up 90 tackles, while also compiling 3 interceptions and returning one of those picks for a touchdown. Matthews, who should likely start at strong safety, has great versatility, he can make plays in so many different ways. He is a pretty solid coverage player but his strength lies in his ability to blitz and get into the backfield and disrupt opponents. Senior Floyd Raven is back at the free safety spot after he had a decent 2013. He doesn't have any notable strengths but his experience should be important and he can contribute at times. Junior De'Vante Harris returns and will most likely be the starter at the other cornerback spot. Harris is a little bit undersized and he still isn't that strong of a tackler but he should show some significant improvement after a pretty weak last season.

Special Teams: This appears to be another one of the Aggies' strengths as both kicker Josh Lambo and punter Drew Kaser return. Kaser had a great 2013 and could be a Ray Guy candidate entering his junior year. Lambo meanwhile, emerged into quite a reliable option and showed real promise; he won the game for Texas A&M when he connected on a field goal to beat Ole Miss. The Aggies have a number of dangerous returners including Trey Williams, a speedster.

Now matter who the starter is at quarterback they should have enough talent surrounding them to keep the Aggies very competitive inside the SEC. If the defense improves with more experience and some more playmakers (Garrett) this team could definitely still be a title threat. It is a transition year, and a brutal schedule that will kick off with South Carolina will certainly test Texas A&M. But, the future is very bright and this is a team that could still surprise people.

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 24. Iowa Hawkeyes

Jake Rudock

24. Iowa Hawkeyes 

Coach: Kirk Ferentz (16th year)
2013-2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3 Big Ten)
Schedule:
August 30th vs. Northern Iowa
September 6th vs. Ball State
September 13th vs. Iowa State
September 20th @ Pittsburgh
September 27th @ Purdue
October 11th vs. Indiana
October 18th @ Maryland
November 1st vs. Northwestern
November 8th @ Minnesota
November 15th @ Illinois
November 22nd vs. Wisconsin
November 28th vs. Nebraska

Entering the 2013 season the pressure was on for Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa was coming off a rough 2012 in which they went 4-8 and things didn't look much brighter, losing a number of key contributors from that team for 2013. Yet, lead by powerful junior back Mark Weisman and sophomore first-year starter Jake Rudock, the Hawkeyes were a pleasant surprise, winning 8 games and going 5-3. Weisman is back along with the bulk of these Hawkeyes as they hope to make a run in the Big Ten.

Backfield: After earning the starting QB job over the more experienced Cody Sokol, Rudock would go on to throw for 18 touchdowns with 13 interceptions, compiling 2,383 yards along the way. He has a mind for the game but he was pretty tentative last year and rarely looked for the big play. He should feel more comfortable as starter now and he has the playmakers surrounding him to really see improvement throughout multiple parts of his game this year. Iowa won't chuck the ball around the field too often, but they would love to see him make seem great, deep throws. An Air Force transfer, senior Mark Weisman resembles a fullback but is as gifted as a running back. He definitely fits the mold of your stereotypical Iowa football player; a guy that will pin his ears back and run you over. He ran for 975 yards last year with eight touchdowns. He is an extremely powerful back but he has pretty good speed in the open field and has great vision. Ferentz and the Iowa offense should also lean on junior Jordan Canzeri, a 5'9" explosive athlete, who is the lightning to Weisman's thunder. He ran for 481 yards last season, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Senior Damon Bullock is a proven playmaker who is another option for Iowa on the rush attack.

Kevonte Martin-Manley

Receivers: Even though he saw regression in receptions and yards from the 2012 to 2013 season, senior receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley will be Rudock's top option in the passing game. Martin-Manley had 388 yards last year, while reeling in five touchdowns. He has explosiveness and soft hands but he still is improving as a route runner. Sophomore Matt VandeBerg only had eight receptions last season, accounting for just 59 yards. With the losses in this unit, the Hawkeyes are expecting a much bigger year for him. He isn't a very big receiver but he also has good hands and he should be able to make the most of his opportunities. Junior Jacob Hillyer will also need to step up to help Rudock and the Hawkeyes. Hillyer was a little more productive in 2013-2014, recording 11 catches for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has good size, standing at 6'4" and he is a very good open field playmaker. At the tight end spot, the Hawkeyes will look for senior Ray Hamilton to make occasional plays. Hamilton will be leaned on more heavily as a blocker for Weisman and the ground attack, but he can catch pretty well and he could pose as a big receiving threat in the red zone. Weisman and the rest of the Iowa backfield will also have to help out Rudock coming out of the backfield, making plays in the passing game. Rudock will certainly miss tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, who is now in the NFL and had six touchdowns last year for the Hawkeyes.

Offensive Line: Quietly, Iowa left tackle Brandon Scherff has developed into one of the best linemen in the Big Ten and most likely a first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. The 6'5" senior has the versatility to move along the line, but his most natural slot is definitely left tackle, where he will go along way in helping protect Rudock. He obviously has great size, with a high motor and he loves to battle in the trenches. If there is one obvious weakness in his game is that he moves very poorly (worse than a lot of 300+ pounders) and he will miss assignments. He still should be on the hunt for numerous trophies, as he said this offseason. On the other side of the line, the Hawkeyes should lean on the ability of another senior, right tackle Andrew Donnal. Donnal is also massive and is an important piece to the puzzle of Iowa's zone-blocking scheme. Also on the right side of the line, junior Jordan Walsh should also play a big role in leading the way for the Hawkeyes' backs, he is an excellent run-blocker. Overall, Iowa's O-Line is very deep and experienced and should do what they normally do; help these backs push forward and punch the ball right at the opposing defense.

Defensive Line: The Hawkeyes will present opposing offenses this season with a 4-3 look on the defensive front and will hope that their line can play a big role in stopping the run. Senior defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat will have to be a major contributor up the middle this year for the Hawkeyes. Trinca-Pasat was fantastic in 2012, recording 40 tackles but injuries and the talent ahead of him meant he saw very little to none of the field in 2013. Joining Trinca-Pasat up the middle will be another senior, Carl Davis, another fierce linemen. Davis is more of a pass rusher than Trinca-Pasat, he had 1.5 sacks last season, while also racking up 42 tackles. Both have incredible instincts and their size enables them to bully smaller blockers. The exterior of the defensive line is not as strong but is still in capable, experienced hands. Mike Hardy should be the main force at defensive end, a 6'5" senior with a quick first step and a nose for the football. The Wisconsin native had 34 tackles last year and 1.5 sacks but could be up for bigger numbers, especially in sacks, this season. Junior Riley McMinn should also compete for playing time, possibly starting at the other defensive end position. McMinn is 6'7" with a long wingspan and should disrupt quarterbacks by using his big frame to get in their passing lanes.

Linebackers: This is the glaring weakness for this Iowa team as the Hawkeyes must replace three starting linebackers. James Morris, Anthony Hitchens and Christian Kirksey all graduated this past season and their experience will be greatly missed, they were really the heart and soul of this defense as well. Although they will be missed, Ferentz and staff are not to down, as they have some intriguing players ready to fill in. Senior Quinton Alston will most likely be the starter at middle linebacker, after seeing little opportunities behind Morris and others in his time in Iowa City. Alston has just 23 tackles over three years with Iowa, but you can see the potential he has; he moves incredibly quick with speed and he does have the athletic tools to be a pretty good coverage linebacker. Perhaps the player who could break out the most on this defense (especially the linebacker corps) is sophomore Reggie Spearman, who will see time at outside linebacker. Spearman is an incredibly gifted athlete, blessed with fantastic instincts, great speed off the edge and he is a tenacious tackler. In order to supplement their losses, Iowa brought in a number of linebackers in this year's recruiting class, including three-star Jameer Outsey, a small but hard-working outside linebacker three-star Aaron Mends, a product from Kansas City, who should spend more of his time as an inside 'backer.

Secondary: Even though this unit is also relatively inexperienced, defensive coordinator Phil Parker should still expect it to be strong because it is Iowa, and they always have guys ready to jump in and contribute. Likely starting at the cornerback spots will be two sophomores, Maurice Fleming and Desmond King. King put together a strong 2013, recording 69 tackles and two fumble recoveries. He has an extremely high motor and even just being a sophomore, already has developed coverage skills. The safety positions are in good hands with two experienced playmakers likely starting there. Senior John Lowdermilk is a hard-hitter with a high football IQ; the 6'2" safety had a break out 2013 season as well and ended up 78 tackles and 1 interception. Starting alongside of him will be junior Jordan Lomax, who has looked strong when healthy and given the playing time. Lomax is smaller than Lowdermilk but nobody questions his toughness; he has great range and is gifted with the athleticism to make big plays. Depth should not be much of an issue here as the Hawkeyes also will bring senior safety Nico Law and junior cornerback Sean Draper.

Special Teams: Martin-Manley will not only look to make plays in the passing game, he will also hope to make plays fielding punts. The junior, Canzeri will also look to make an impact on special teams; he will most likely field kicks for Ferentz and staff. At the kicker slot, Ferentz will have to rely on former walk-on Marshall Koehn, a local product entering his junior season. Koehn has made just one extra point in his career with Iowa to this point, and will have to prove he can beat out tiny senior Alden Haffar for the job.

Ferentz had a surprising 2013 but now has to prove he can continue that success with the same core group of players. The offense should be much improved with the returns of Rudock, Weisman and Martin-Manley but the defense must show it can stop opponents without their three most important players, Morris, Kirksey and Hitchens. Though, it is the schedule that shows the most promise as the Hawkeyes will avoid Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State, a major reason why Iowa should certainly be in the hunt for a Rose Bowl berth.

NBA Mock Draft: Edition 2 (Combine Edition)

1. Milwaukee Bucks Andrew Wiggins, G/F Combine Results: Did Not Attend

It has certainly been awhile since Milwaukee has had a player with the special tools of Wiggins. His vertical is off the charts, and he could be absolutely lethal in transition.

Jabari Parker

2. Philadelphia Sixers Jabari Parker, F Combine Results: Did Not Attend

Offensively, Philadelphia really lacks much versatility and an offensive weapon outside of Michael Carter-Williams. Parker is a little bit of a tweener, we have no clue what position he'll play at the next level, but he still has good size and an already polished offensive game.
3. Orlando Magic Dante Exum, PG Combine Results: Measured 6'6" with shoes, 6'9.5" wingspan

An impressive showing at the combine should further convince the Magic this is the right move. Exum had great size and tremendous athleticism; imagine him in that Orlando backcourt with Victor Oladipo for years to come.

4. Utah Jazz Joel Embiid, C Combine Results: Did Not Attend
Injury concerns could drop Embiid to down here and if he does, Utah cannot pass him up. He has the physical tools to develop into a fantastic center, although he still needs to get stronger, he is by far the best center in this year's draft.
5. Boston Celtics Noah Vonleh, F/C Combine Results: Measured 7'4" wingspan, hands measured 11.75 inches, second-largest in NBA Combine History
Vonleh has an extremely high ceiling, he is 6'9" with a massive 7'4" wingspan which he can use to swat shots in the paint. He still is limited offensively but he has the height and athleticism to really develop into an all-around prospect.
6. Los Angeles Lakers Julius Randle, PF Combine Results: Measured 6'9" with shoes, weighed 249.7 pounds
Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers' frontcourt is only getting older and they desperately need a player like Randle, who will fit in perfectly in Los Angeles. He has the offensive versatility to be very dangerous and he already has NBA size.
7. Sacremento Kings Marcus Smart, PG Combine Results: Measured 6'3", 8'3" standing reach
Although his stock decreased heavily in his final year in Stillwater, Smart is still one of the best point guards available. He has great size (6'3" with shoes, 6'2" without) and can do it all; already a gifted defender, he can make plays on both ends of the floor.
8. Detroit Pistons Aaron Gordon, F Combine Results: 32.5 standing vertical, 6'11.75" wingspan
Few players were as impressive at the combine as Gordon who showcased super athleticism. He measured a 32.5 standing vertical (higher than Blake Griffin or Chris Bosh) and 39 inch vertical. Even though Detroit's frontcourt is filled, Greg Monroe could soon be gone and Gordon can play a number of positions.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers Doug McDermott, F Combine Results: Measured 6'7", weighed 218 pounds
Neither Kyrie Irving nor Dion Waiters are shooters making it very important that the Cavs draft a floor spacer. McDermott is already a great shooter who can take big men out of the paint and open up lanes for Irving and Waiters.
10. Philadelphia Sixers Zach LaVine, G Combine Results: 41.5 inch vertical, 6'8" wingspan
LaVine showcased his freakish athleticism at the combine, measuring a 41.5 inch vertical, that he claimed he messed up on. He is a tweener at the moment, he doesn't fit in at point or shooting guard but he could be a depth guy until he develops an all-around game, which may take a couple years.
11. Denver Nuggets James Young, G/F Combine Results: 7'0" wingspan, 8'8" standing reach
What the Nuggets really need is a great wing shooter which they lacked this past season with Andre Iguodala gone and Danilo Gallinari injured. Although he is inconsistent at times, Young is a superb shooter with NBA size and is an underrated defender who moves very well.
12. Orlando Magic Dario Saric, F Combine Results: Did Not Attend
With Exum already on the board, the Magic should add another International prospect in Saric, a versatile forward from Croatia. He has great size, measuring at 6'10" and he is already a gifted rebounder with the athleticism to turn into a great NBA player.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves Gary Harris, SG Combine Results: 6'4.5" with shoes, weighed 204.8 pounds
Other than Kevin Love and the aging Kevin Martin, the Timberwolves really lack proven shooters. Harris was average at the combine but he has proven himself as a leader, playmaker and a great three-point shooter.
14. Phoenix Suns Nik Stauskas, G/F Combine Results: 8'6" standing reach, weighed 207 pounds
The Suns' backcourt was great last season as Goran Dragic, Gerald Green and a number of others had career years. They can't actually think those people can keep that going and Stauskas will help. He has great size for an NBA shooting guard and his three-point shot is absolutely lethal.
15. Atlanta Hawks Tyler Ennis, PG Combine Results: 6'1" without shoes, 6'7.25" wingspan
Shooting the three-point ball was Atlanta's main source of any offense. Even with Jeff Teague, Atlanta could really use Ennis' leadership and smarts. He also is just clutch; not only did he hit that huge buzzer-beater to stun Pitt, but he hit a lot of huge shots last year for Syracuse.
16. Chicago Bulls Rodney Hood, G/F Combine Results: 6'8.50" with shoes, weighed 208.2 pounds
Chicago knows they are the best defensive team in the NBA but they need more depth and versatility on the offensive end. Hood has good size for whatever he plays and he could fit into the Bulls' defense because he rotates well and can block shots.
17. Boston Celtics Kyle Anderson, G/F Combine Results: 7'2" wingspan, 8'11" standing reach
Versatility is galore in this draft and Anderson is yet another prospect that can give his team a lot to work with. Anderson can play basically every position except center and his large size and great ball handling should definitely help the Celtics. Him and Vonleh would certainly give Boston two great players to work with for years to come.
18. Phoenix Suns T.J. Warren, F Combine Results: 6'10" wingspan, 8'8" standing reach
With them addressing one of their needs on the wing in the sharpshooting Stauskas, Phoenix should look for more help with the elite-scoring Warren. Warren can play both forward spots and can score in a number of different ways; on the drive and he has proven he has a dangerous mid range game.
19. Chicago Bulls Elfrid Payton, PG Combine Results: 6'3.75" with shoes, 6'8" wingspan
Even if Derrick Rose comes back and manages to stay healthy, Chicago will need a backup point guard. Payton is a Louisiana-Lafayette stud who has great size and tremendous athleticism, he will be a great understudy to Rose.
20. Toronto Raptors Jerami Grant, F Combine Results: Weighs 214 pounds, 7'2.75" wingspan
Grant has been dropping down boards, especially after an average combine performance. Other than being a pretty impressive athlete, he doesn't really have any major strengths. He is a little bit small for a power forward but he also isn't a prototypical small forward. Toronto needs some forward help though and Grant is an option.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder P.J. Hairston, G Combine Results: 6'9" wingspan, weighs 228 pounds
Ever since they dealt James Harden to the Rockets, the Thunder have lacked scoring at the shooting guard position. Hairston was a prolific scorer in his short time with UNC and has been fantastic in the D-League since being dismissed from North Carolina. He has excellent size and the ability to score from everywhere on the court.
22. Memphis Grizzlies Shabazz Napier, PG Combine Results: 5'11" without shoes, weighs 175.2 pounds
Quietly, Mike Conley has developed into one of the best point guards in the league but Memphis would like to help him with giving some depth around him. Napier might to small to play the two guard but he would be an excellent complement to Conley in the Memphis backcourt.
23. Utah Jazz Jordan Adams, G Combine Results: 6'10" wingspan, 8'6" standing reach
Adams is fantastic in his time with UCLA doing it all for the Bruins. He is an efficient shooter but his great size can make him a threat on the dribble. He should fit in perfectly in Utah, who really needs some backcourt help.
24. Charlotte Bobcats K.J. McDaniels, G/F Combine Results: 6'6" with shoes, weighs 195.6 pounds
Although McDaniels may be a stretch here, especially after a weak combine showing. But, he was fantastic this past season for Clemson and Charlotte would love his versatility.
25. Houston Rockets Glenn Robinson, F Combine Results: 6'10" wingspan, 6'5.50" without shoes
Even though he looked uncomfortable being the go-to scorer at times for the Michigan Wolverines, Robinson still proved himself as a scorer. He has the size to play a number of different positions and his athleticism could help him change games; he is the best player available here for Houston.
26. Miami Heat Markel Brown, G/F Combine Results: 43.5 vertical, 8'4" standing reach
The pure athleticism of Brown was on display during the combine, he measured a 43.5 max vertical, tied for the highest at the combine. Miami could really use another athlete in their backcourt; Brown can also do more than just pull off crazy dunks, he has a solid all-around game.
27. Phoenix Suns Cleanthony Early, F Combine Results: 6'6" without shoes, weighs 209.4 pounds
With their third pick of the first round, Phoenix should work on their frontcourt. Although he may be a bit undersized for an NBA forward, Early will outplay others because of his work ethic and strength.
28. Los Angeles Clippers Semaj Christon, PG Combine Results: 6'1.50" without shoes, weighs 186 pounds
Backcourt depth is a real need for the Clippers and they have a number of options here. Xavier product Semaj Christon should be the smart choice. He is a little bit small but he is a great ball handler with real scoring potential.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder Jusuf Nurkic, C Combine Results: Did Not Attend
Nurkic is a massive Bosnian center with the potential to grow into a monster on both ends of the court. He should get the opportunity to develop into something before being thrust into major minutes because of how stacked this Oklahoma City Thunder roster is.
30. San Antonio Spurs Adreian Payne, F/C Combine Results: 7'4" wingspan, 9'1" standing reach
Already more polished than most big men in this draft, Payne could really grow into quite the player if he learns under Tim Duncan and the rest of this experienced team. He is a crazy athlete who could turn into quite the player in a few years.
 

College Football Preview 2014-2015: 25. Florida Gators

25. Florida Gators

Kelvin Taylor

Coach: Will Muschamp (4th year)
2013-2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5 SEC)
Schedule:
August 30th vs. Idaho
September 6th vs. Eastern Michigan
September 13th vs. Kentucky
September 20th @ Alabama
October 4th @ Tennessee
October 11th vs. LSU
October 18th vs. Missouri
November 1st vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville)
November 8th @ Vanderbilt
November 15th vs. South Carolina
November 22nd vs. Eastern Kentucky
November 29th @ Florida State

Florida fans will desperately try to put the 2013-2014 season behind them. The Gators were wrecked by injuries and limped to a 4-8 mark, that included a 3-5 SEC posting and a stunning loss at home to FCS foe Georgia Southern. Will Muschamp returns a big core from last year and will hope that his team can stay healthy this year. Although the Gators suffered some major losses on defense they should still compete in the SEC despite a brutal schedule.

Backfield: Last year was supposed to be a breakout year for Jeff Driskel. After an up-and-down sophomore season, Driskel's arm looked stronger and his mechanics looked more polished before breaking his leg against Tennessee, costing him the year. Driskel had a nice spring game and seems to be more comfortable in the Florida offense and seems to be adjusting to new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper's scheme. Driskel, now technically a junior, has always been dangerous with his legs but the rest of his quarterback skills are still sloppy. He has an awkward release and he lacks consistent accuracy and the ability to make deep throws. Tyler Murphy transferred after the year, opening up the backup spot to Skylar Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg was thrust into the QB role late last year and he struggled mightily in his three games. He still has a very high ceiling and has the mind of a quarterback. If Driskel struggles, expect Muschamp to give Mornhinweg, a redshirt sophomore, plenty of opportunities. Florida's offense has struggled mightily the last couple years an the passing game is still an issue but their multitude of backs will help a lot. Sophomore back Kelvin Taylor showed flashes of brilliance last year, rushing for 508 yards and four touchdowns. Also back is Matt Jones, who was a solid contributor when healthy last season and Mack Brown, the leading returning rusher.

Receivers: In order for any offensive success the Gators need some offensive balance and they need some receivers to step up around Driskel. Senior Quinton Dunbar is the obvious answer, he had 40 receptions last year and will hope for a breakout senior year. He has good speed and is a pretty good route runner but drops have been an issue throughout his time in Gainesville. Senior tight end Clay Burton is a solid option in the passing game that will be important because he helps move the chains. He has great size, standing at 6'4" and always find ways to get some open space; he doesn't possess fantastic hands but he is serviceable. Sophomore Ahmad Fulwood is ready to make a difference after putting up solid statistics his freshman season and expect a healthy Andre Debose to be a factor as a senior. Four-star commit, Moral Stephens will be counted on to come in right away and make a difference; the product from Perry, Florida has good hands and has explosiveness. Florida will also count on Taylor and Brown to make plays as receivers coming out of the backfield, they were both solid in 2013.

Offensive Line: Although they suffer a couple losses along the offensive line, Florida should still have a strong unit that includes junior tackle D.J. Humphries and senior Max Garcia. Garcia, a transfer from Maryland, was great last year for the Gators. Garcia is versatile, he should see time at both left tackle and left guard and has the athleticism and size to play both slots. Humphries could be a little bit injury concern but he is a hard-worker on the line who should show significant signs of improvement entering his junior year. The Gators will rely on four-star offensive tackle David Sharpe, a product from Jacksonville. The 6'6", nearly 300 pound tackle moves pretty well for his size and has a very high ceiling, he could be quite the player for Florida in a couple of years. Senior tackle Trenton Brown should start above him. Brown is even bigger, towering over people at 6'8". He has great awareness and knowledge of defenses and he is experienced, he has saw a ton of great SEC defenses.

Dante Fowler

Defensive Line: Perhaps the strongest part of this Gators team will be their front seven, especially their defensive line. Their most important returning linemen will be junior Dante Fowler, who had an All-SEC 2013 after recording 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Fowler will see time at defensive end and also at the "BUCK" position, a hybrid end/linebacker spot. He has great pass rushing instincts and is quick off the edge with the ability to move sideline to sideline. Also back up front will be run-stuffing defensive tackle Leon Orr, who appeared in 12 games last year and started eight. Sophomore Alex McCalister showed flashes of being a future star last year and could be very productive, spending a lot of time at defensive end. The Gators will show a lot of depth across their line as Brooklyn product Thomas Holley should see snaps at defensive tackle and junior Jonathan Bullard can do a number of things on the defensive front. Bullard had flashes of being a stud as well, including a strong showing against Kentucky, when he recorded 1.5 sacks.

Linebackers: This linebacker unit is very experienced and nearly every important contributor is back including junior Antonio Morrison. Morrison's start to 2013 was shaky; he was arrested for barking at a police dog, but he ended up starting seven games and had 56 tackles in that span. He will spend most of his time at middle linebacker, he has good range and burst, as he can rush the holes in their defensive line and stop the back from getting openings. Senior Neiron Ball was a solid producer last season for Florida and will be counted on to step up even more. Ball is a versatile linebacker who can disrupt backfields even if he doesn't get much sacks (only 1 in his career so far). On the weakside, Muschamp should lean on another senior, Michael Taylor, who had somewhat of a breakout 2013. Taylor had 62 tackles last year, 3.5 of them being tackles for loss. He has fantastic instincts and reads offenses extremely well. The Gators will expect some help from guys like sophomore Alex Anzalone and sophomore Jeremi Powell. Anzalone battled through a number of injuries in his true freshman year last year and played mainly just special teams, but should see the snaps this year to be effective. Powell was pretty productive last season before a season-ending injury on October 19th against Missouri.

Secondary: As good as guys like Christian Hackenberg for Penn State and Carl Lawson for Auburn were, no true freshman meant more to his team than Vernon Hargreaves. The superbly athletic sophomore had 3 interceptions, 38 tackles and 11 pass breakups last year on his way to earning All-American honors. With Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson and Cody Riggs out of the picture, Hargreaves will be even more important to Florida. He has the ability to play anywhere in the defensive backfield and his top flight athleticism and coverage skills make it very difficult to get anything past him. Senior Jabari Gorman played in all 12 games for the Gators last season and should be counted more this year. He is a hard hitter with the experience and knowledge to make a ton of plays in the back. Sophomore Marcus Maye should start at the other safety spot after a decent redshirt freshman year with the Gators. He recorded 16 tackles and he has pretty good size for a safety, making him a threat to also do something while he is blitzing. Muschamp got a late recruiting surprise when five-star cornerback Jalen Tabor flipped his commitment from Arizona to Florida. Tabor has excellent coverage skills and is a hard-worker in the back and could beat out others to land the other cornerback spot, alongside Hargreaves.

Special Teams: Purifoy was a very important piece to this team's puzzle; not only did he play both cornerback and some receiver, he was their best returner. His absence will leave a big gap on this Gators team. Sophomore kicker Austin Hardin is back along with punters Kyle Christy, a senior, and sophomore Johnny Townsend.

Once more, Florida is hoping that a new offensive coordinator will help rejuvenate a terrible offense and take less pressure of their defense. Driskel has looked good in action this spring and Kelvin Taylor has the potential to have a big year if he becomes their feature back. Other than Florida State, the Gators have a pretty favorable non-conference schedule meaning improvement over last year's mark looks pretty certain, no matter how difficult the SEC slate is. But, unless significant progress is shown, this could well be Muschamp's last year in Gainesville.

Winners and Losers of 2014 NFL Draft

Justin Gilbert, Cleveland

Winner: Cleveland Browns

What the Browns did on Thursday night was fantastic. Already armed with two first-round selections (received one from Indianapolis in Trent Richardson deal) they traded down to the No. 9 pick and received Buffalo's 2015 first-rounder. Unless Johnny Manziel can orchestrate an extremely quick turnover in Cleveland, that pick will certainly help speed up the rebuilding process. They acquired the 8 pick from Minnesota and used it on a guy they really liked in cornerback Justin Gilert. Joe Haden is fantastic at one cornerback slot but the other one was a major weakness, but Gilbert will fix that. Later they landed Johnny Manziel to help lead their offense and surrounded him with Nevada tackle Joel Bitonio and Towson back Terrance West. This young team may not be very competitive but they will certainly be fun to watch in 2014. 

Loser: Detroit Lions

After yet another inconsistent year from Matthew Stafford, the Lions made it clear their goal this offseason plans were to surround him with more targets. They signed Seattle playmaker Golden Tate and then resigned receiving tight end Brandon Pettigrew. It was clear they were  likely to select another impact receiver but Eric Ebron with their 10th pick? The UNC tight end certainly was a Top-15 caliber player but picking him up, months after investing a ton of money in Pettigrew was not smart at all. They then selected Kyle Van Noy in Round 2 and center Travis Swanson in the third round. Both address top needs but the rest of Detroit's selections were rather questionable and didn't really fit their needs.

Winner: Wide Receivers
Going into this draft, we knew one clear thing: Jadeveon Clowney was the sure-fire top pick for Houston and that the receiving class was one of the best in recent memory. The first receiver taken in this year's draft was Sammy Watkins off to Buffalo. The draft continued when Tampa selected Aggie star Mike Evans with the seventh selection and the Giants gave Eli Manning another option in the passing game when they picked up LSU product Odell Beckham. Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin (Carolina) and Brandin Cooks (New Orleans) also were selected in Round 1, making it five receivers within those first 32 picks. This class was very talented but also very deep; seven were selected in the second round and then eight would go combined in Rounds 3 and 4. The NFL has definitely turned into a pass-first league and teams are obviously making it a priority to surround their quarterbacks with worthy receiving options.

Loser: Running backs
Yes, the NFL has turned into a passing league and it is very evident on the draft board. This year's draft had the lowest selection for the first running back taken in NFL Draft history. Bishop Sankey, a talent from Washington, was selected with the 54th pick to the Tennessee Titans, who hope they can rejuvenate a rushing offense that has been below-average ever since Chris Johnson had his 2,000 yard season. Jeremy Hill followed to Cincinnati the pick behind Sankey, and Ohio State stud Carlos Hyde went 57th to the Niners. In all, the 2014 class will most certainly not be remembered for it's running backs and even the players selected in the second round shouldn't make huge impacts right away like in previous seasons.

Winner: Houston Texans
Well this is pretty obvious why the Texans are huge winners. They contemplated dealing away the No. 1 pick but instead decided to use it on Jadeveon Clowney, one of the best defensive prospects in the history of the NFL. Clowney will line up on the opposite side of J.J Watt, already one of the best pass rushers in the league, to give Houston one dominant pass rush and defense as a whole. Along with Clowney, Houston also managed to reel in Louis Nix to fill a need at defensive tackle and they got a steal with the first pick on the second round in UCLA guard Xavier Su'a-Filo. They didn't get their franchise quarterback this draft, unless they think Tom Savage (Round 4 pick) is that guy. But, rumors are swirling they might land Ryan Mallett, and whoever takes over the QB job will have enough to work with.

Loser: Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns have been struggled on the field the past couple seasons and they have now started struggling on the boards. No Texas player was drafted this year, the first time that has happened since 1937. A crazy stat: Lindenwood University, a small University previously on the NAIA rank, had more players drafted in the 2014 Draft, then the famous Longhorns. Charlie Strong clearly has his work cut out for him, trying to build Texas into the powerhouse program they once were under Mack Brown. He certainly built Louisville into quite the program; they had three players selected in the first round including safety Calvin Pryor, defensive linemen Marcus Smith and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Postseason Success is a Long Time Coming for the Blazers

Damian Lilliard

Damian Lilliard's miraculous three-point buzzer beater to down the Houston Rockets in Game 7 didn't make Portland fans completely forget, but it certainly did help. Throughout the history of the franchise, Blazers' fans have seen an amazingly abundant amount of NBA Draft busts and struggles in the postseason. Now, led by budding superstar Lilliard, who won last season's Rookie of the Year award, the Blazers won their first playoff series since 2000 and will get a chance to down the No. 1 seeded San Antonio Spurs. Portland has suffered long enough, and they finally have shot to win it all this season. Taking a long look back now, it is amazing how they have gotten back to the postseason and back to relevance.

No franchise has been wrecked by injuries quite like the Trail Blazers. There are loads of examples of players losing their careers to injury, but perhaps the most infamous may be Sam Bowie, who has been labeled by many as the biggest NBA Draft of all time. The 7'1" center from Kentucky had injury concerns coming into the draft, but the Blazers (after missing out on Hakeem Olajuwon, who would go No.1 to the Rockets and have a Hall of Fame career) still felt he warranted the first overall selection. Bowie played just 139 games over five seasons with Portland, equating to just under 28 games per season. To make things worse, Michael Jordan was the No. 3 pick of that draft and we all know what happened there. Years later, the Blazers wanted to add a big man to their roster to lead their franchise. Ohio State star Greg Oden was the obvious choice, he was called a once-in-a-generation by a number of scouts. Knee injuries cost him his career with Portland even though he was great in the little court time he managed to see. To make things even worse, much like Bowie, Oden was selected over a superstar as the Blazers selected him over Kevin Durant, who will most likely win MVP this year and for years to come. Along with these two, Portland has also missed on Brandon Roy who was fantastic for his first couple years in the league, before knee injuries ruined his career and LaRue Martin, the first pick in 1972 who was selected over Hall of Famer Julius Erving.

Those draft misses are what made Lilliard's trey ball so sweet. Lilliard was a stud at Weber State, a strong program in the Big Sky that is located in Ogden, Utah. Lilliard was an elite-caliber scorer throughout his career with the Wildcats and Portland hoped he could give them the scoring punch they desperately lacked after a rough 2011 season. They selected Lilliard with the sixth pick, a pretty bold move considering many people wondered how his scoring and playmaking would translate to the next level. Lilliard's career started with a bang, he joined Isaiah Thomas and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to have 20 points and 10 assists in their NBA debut. He went on to win the 2012-2013 Rookie of the Year and followed it up this year with an All-Star appearance this year. Along with Lilliard, the Blazers have built this postseason team around a number of other successful draft picks. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge has developed into one of the best big men in the NBA and had a fantastic series against Houston. Nicolas Batum has developed into one of the more explosive swingmen in the NBA after Portland drafted him with the 25th pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.

After years of struggles, it is great to see Portland competitive again and in the hunt for the Finals, filled with a team of budding stars like Aldridge and Lilliard. San Antonio is a fantastic team; they have a ton of depth and still have the core three players who have won them so many games and titles in Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli. But, Portland will give them a competitive series for sure, even if they are very inexperienced still in big games. Even if they don't win the Finals this year, the excitement has been restored in Portland and the future is as bright as ever.

Who Should the Lakers Hire for Their Head Coaching Vacancy?

UConn coach Kevin Ollie

It hasn't been a very fun time for Lakers' fans these past two seasons. Injuries have wracked franchise stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. An aging roster struggled to make the playoffs last year even with Dwight Howard on the roster, before they were dominated by San Antonio. A 55 loss campaign this year for the Lakers was enough for LA to say goodbye to Mike D'Antoni after his first full season. Kobe will be back next year but who will and should take over D'Antoni's role in Los Angeles? Since it is the Lakers, plenty of big names are associated with the vacancy, but this hire needs to be smart and one that will pay off in the future.

Last offseason, Boston dipped into the college ranks when the hired former Butler head coach Brad Stevens to lead their team through their new rebuilding stage. Stevens was a pretty surprising signing by the Celtics, considering Butler doesn't churn out big name coaches very often. Los Angeles could follow in a similar way as two big-name college head coaches have been associated with the Lakers' job opening. After winning his first national title in his just his second year on the job with the UConn Huskies, Kevin Ollie has quickly turned into one of the biggest names in the basketball industry. Ollie is just 41 years old at the moment, and his enthusiasm and vast knowledge of the game has helped him do good things with UConn. Throughout his short tenure with UConn, Ollie has incorporated a number of NBA elements into the collegiate game that have worked nicely for the Huskies and he is great at making quick adjustments, something the NBA game requires and something that not a lot of college head coaches have. Along with Ollie, a popular college name thrown around with the Lakers' job recently is Kentucky's John Calipari. After turning around Memphis, Calipari has come to Kentucky and turned a storied program back into a powerhouse, helped by dozens of stud recruits, who could go on to the NBA. Calipari, unlike Ollie, has already seen coaching experience at the NBA level, spending 1996-1998 with the New Jersey Nets. Things weren't a complete disaster; he did win 43 games in the 1997-1998 and made the playoffs before being ousted in the first round. What he has done at Memphis, UMass and Kentucky is extremely impressive, he has taken a team full of 19-year-olds into 3 Final Four appearances in five seasons with the Wildcats. He seems to enjoy the collegiate coaching experience; the recruiting side of things and coaching up young men. He has had a lot of great teams with a very fast-paced offense and his stock is obviously sky-high but the Lakers job might not be a great fit, they didn't respond very well to D'Antoni's fast-paced offense while he was there.

If Los Angeles doesn't want to go the college route, there are still a number of good coaches that they could hire. George Karl is one-year removed from his time with Denver, he managed to do a great job there even in a small market but I don't know how he would fit in LA. Kurt Rambis and Byron Scott have done a great job throughout their coaching careers and Jeff Van Gundy is also going to get his players to work hard. Perhaps the most intriguing name that Los Angeles could look seriously at is former Laker point guard Derek Fisher. Brooklyn made a pretty surprising move last year when they hired Jason Kidd as their head coach, just a short time after his New York Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs. It was very surprising, as the Nets spent a ton of money on vets like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko then hired an inexperienced coach to lead them. Fisher would be very much the same type of hire; it would be his first head coaching gig but he was basically a coach on the court over his time as a player.

Los Angeles Lakers' fans are dreaming of a future that includes names like LeBron, Carmelo, Kevin Love and Kobe all teaming up to form a team that makes the Heat's Big Three look downright average. That might not be very realistic, but it is a given they will make some moves this offseason, any team would after a season full of defensive collapses and injuries. Whoever they hire, it will have to be approved by Kobe, who didn't seem at all happy to be playing under D'Antoni. Although he is aging, the "Black Mamba" is still the face of the franchise and should be looking for one final championship run. Ideally, Los Angeles needs a young coach who can lead them into an uncertain future once Kobe is gone.

We haven't quite seen how the Stevens' hire has worked out for Boston, they haven't had the roster to help him have any success. And, although their season was full of struggles, Kidd has done a pretty solid job with Brooklyn. Ollie would be a much safer pick than Calipari in my mind, because he has played in the NBA and he is a clear players' coach. Fisher might be a little risky of a hire but he is already a fan favorite in LA and management already likes him. I'm a huge George Karl fan, but I just don't see him as a good fit in Los Angeles and I wonder if he even feels like he should come back to coaching. The Lakers will feel pressured to make a huge hire but they need to be smart and take their time with this hire and they shouldn't feel like hiring a less-established name is a bad thing. Ollie would not be a bad hire in my mind, but they can't go very wrong with a veteran coach like Karl, Rambis or Scott (maybe even Bulls' coach Tom Thibodeau, though that seems unlikely) but they need to be patient and help him by building a younger, more capable roster.