Shots in the dark: My 2013 NBA Mock Draft

8. Detroit Pistons: Victor Olapido

Olapido has great body for a shooting guard and made drastic improvements last season for a strong Indiana team. Defence is his calling card, but there are questions about his ability on the offensive end that might see him drop to eighth in the draft. I don’t see him dropping any further though.

Anthony Bennett

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Shabazz Muhammed

The definite high-risk/high-reward player of the draft. Shabazz could be the biggest star of this draft class or could fizzle out to become a career backup. For the Wolves, who have a core of Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, Pekovic, and Kirilenko, adding a shooting guard is the most glaring positional need. The Wolves will pray for health first, and then hope that all works out with their gamble on Shabazz.

10. Portland Trailblazers: Steven Adams

He’s big and he’s from New Zealand. Perhaps point guards Michael Carter-Williams and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are better talents, but Portland already have the reigning rookie of the year in their position and could go for Adams to bolster their size.

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Michael Carter-Williams

Carter-Williams has good ability to score around the rim but is known to be quite inefficient. The low-scoring 76ers could pick him as a source of off-the-bench offense for their team.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (Via Raptors): Cody Zeller

There are questions about Zeller’s ability as a potential star, of course, but no questions about his ability to become a smaller piece in a well-functioning team. Maybe there are other players in this draft with greater upside, but Zeller is perhaps a more complete prospect and could bring his brand of leadership to Thunder’s frontcourt, which looked in dire straits in the post-season after weak performances by Kendrick Perkins.

Cody Zeller

13. Dallas Mavericks: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Mavericks are going to need some help in the backcourt very soon, with the possible departures of Darren Collison and OJ Mayo. Point Guard Caldwell-Pope could be the answer for this team to start getting younger as Dirk ages.

14. Utah Jazz: Shane Larkin

For any other team, I would’ve probably predicted Kelly Olynyk at this point, but Utah are more than stacked at the big man position, with Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap starting and Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter coming off the bench. This is a team that needs perimeter talents. At this point, Miami’s point guard Shane Larkin might be the best option available.