Is Andrew Wiggins still the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft?
Wiggins certainly was good Tuesday night, when the Windy City was rocking for the State Farm Champions Classic. But so were Jabari Parker and Julius Randle, who may have closed the gap on Wiggins.
The event pitted Kentucky vs. Michigan State and Duke vs. Kansas – traditional powers from major conferences meeting on the hardwood in an early season measuring stick. But while many fans were entertained by the games and teams, the underlying story was the 2014 NBA draft as Wiggins, Parker and Randle – the top three players on my Big Board – were on the court.
Every NBA team had multiple scouts and executives in attendance including Sam Presti, Danny Ainge and Kevin Pritchard, among others. Even a who’s who of super agents and basketball insiders were in attendance, including Rob Pelinka, Rich Paul and Worldwide Wes.
Look no further than the loaded rosters of all four teams to understand why this event generated such attention. Kentucky alone might have seven future first-round picks on its current roster while Kansas could have three top-10 picks.
Make no mistake: All three prospects can stake a claim to being the first overall pick. With the draft more than seven months away, things are hardly settled. But here are some observations and intelliegence I gathered.
It’s a three-way race to be the first pick
Duke’s Jabari Parker – the Jabari Parker who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated – returned to have an overwhelming first half 19 points and six rebounds.
Parker, who has slimmed down from his senior season of high school, was more explosive and quicker to attack. Most importantly for Coach K and the Cameron Crazies, Parker looked the part of a leader. Mature beyond his years, Parker draws comparisons to Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and Grant Hill.
As many of you know from reading my content here or on Twitter, I am a huge fan of Julius Randle’s game. Randle is a man-child, and his second-half performance against a veteran-laden Michigan State team shows why he has a legitimate chance to be the first pick.
The 6-9 forward runs like a gazelle and can finish with as thunderous a dunk as any player in the NBA. The biggest flaw Randle displayed in Chicago was ball protection as he had eight turnovers. Fortunately, those turnovers are easily fixable; as Randle works more on his post and counter moves he should turn the ball over less.
If Randle is not the first pick, he will be arguably the best consolation prize in NBA draft history as his relentless motor combined with his athletic abilities makes him a special prospect.
Among the three prospects, only Andrew Wiggins emerged victorious, leading Kansas to a 93-84 win over Duke. Wiggins struggled somewhat in the first half due to foul trouble but scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half. Most impressively, he shot 60 percent and grabbed eight rebounds in just 25 minutes.
Wiggins showed the athleticism and potential that have had scouts raving for several years. Seeing Wiggins in Chicago, he has improved as a shooter, including an impressive step-back jumper late in the game. As the prospect on the top, Wiggins will have to absorb the best shots from Randle and Parker all season. So far, he has.