DraftExpress is the leading source for awesome NBA Mock Drafts on the web; ESPN's Chad Ford is right there, but has a lot of his work by the four-letter's Insider paywall. So bloggers? We love DraftExpress. And DX has put out its pre-lottery mock draft, the first of the season taking into account team needs.
There's no question Toronto needs guards, and that Walker is either the second- or third-best guard in the draft. (Kyrie Irving is almost unquestioned at the top, and Brandon Knight is next in line behind or in front of Walker.) This is a big man draft, but the Raptors start shooter-and-nothing-else Andrea Bargnani at center, and hope to have banger Ed Davis at power forward going forward.
That, mixed with Toronto's severe need for a young point guard, could definitely make Kemba the choice. But keep in mind that as we get closer and closer to the draft in late June, the more big men rise and undersized guards fall. We're past the era of the unproven, you-can't-teach-7-foot big men going No. 1 overall. But there is an institutional bias toward size over skill, and Walker is 100 percent skill over size. Don't count out a raw big man -- especially, in Toronto's case, a European big man like Jonas Valanciunas or Donatas Motiejunas or Enes Kanter -- showing just enough touch to squelch concerns and overtake Walker.
Other highlights from DX's mock:
* Bismack Biyombo at No. 7. This is real. This is happening.
* Jimmer Fredette sliding to No. 20. Past the Jazz ... twice!
* Jeremy Tyler makes the second round.
There's no question Toronto needs guards, and that Walker is either the second- or third-best guard in the draft. (Kyrie Irving is almost unquestioned at the top, and Brandon Knight is next in line behind or in front of Walker.) This is a big man draft, but the Raptors start shooter-and-nothing-else Andrea Bargnani at center, and hope to have banger Ed Davis at power forward going forward.
Other highlights from DX's mock:
* Bismack Biyombo at No. 7. This is real. This is happening.
* Jimmer Fredette sliding to No. 20. Past the Jazz ... twice!
* Jeremy Tyler makes the second round.
