Joe Kotoch’s Mock Draft 3.0: Embiid now No. 1 to Cavs

9. Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton, 6’8″, 230 lbs

McDermott was one of the most exciting players in college basketball the last few years, and his ability to score will surely lead to a lot of teams paying close attention to him during workouts. The major question mark with McDermott is whether he is starting-caliber wing in the NBA or more of a reserve or specialist due to lack of athleticism. Playing against the lower level competition that he did will make his workouts even more important. McDermott measured in a shade under 6-7 and lacks the length that teams crave from their wings, but there is no denying his ability to score. Charlotte needs scoring from the perimeter to play off Al Jefferson, and McDermott would be a good fit.

10. Dario Saric, SF, Croatia, 6’10”, 225 lbs

Saric is a skilled perimeter player with great length and enticing abilities to handle and facilitate an offense. Only 20 and with at least another year overseas, Saric is a draft-and-stash candidate and could be a great investment for a team missing out on one of the top eight players. Saric could be an intriguing prospect for a lottery team looking to break the bank in free agency and not wanting to have a rookie deal on the salary cap this season. Saric is the top European prospect in this draft and a lock to be in the lottery. With Nerlens Noel and whichever rookie the 76ers take at No. 3, there is almost no chance Philadelphia brings in a third lottery pick as a rookie. Saric is a talented offensive player and could be a nice addition in a year or two.

(RELATED: A CLOSER LOOK AT DARIO SARIC AND JUSUF NURCIC FROM ISRAELI JOURNALIST/COACH AJ MITNICK)

11. Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State, 6’3″, 210 lbs

Smooth and aggressive are two of the first words many around the NBA use to describe Harris. In two seasons in East Lansing, Harris showed he is a capable scorer that can attack the rim and defend but needs to improve as a shooter. Harris’ stock suffered a bit at the combine when he measured in at a shade under 6-3. While a bit short for your prototypical shooting guard, Harris is a prospect to watch during predraft workouts as I am told he is a strong competitor and very polished off the court as well. Denver is on the verge of returning to the playoffs and will want a player that can provide them with the instant contribution that other rookies cannot.

12. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia, 6’11”, 280 lbs

Nurkic’s combination of size and skill at just 19 has teams watching closely. He must improve his conditioning but is a prime candidate to crack the lottery as teams get to see him up close. One executive I spoke to said Nurkic is the most polished center prospect in the draft, which says everything you need to know about this position and the type of prospects in this draft cycle. The Magic could follow up their pick at No. 4 with a draft-and-stash player like Nurkic. With Nikola Vucevic in Orlando, the Magic could potentially bring over Nurkic and develop him behind their talented center.

13. Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan, 6’6″, 190 lbs

Stauskas surprised many with his athleticism while at Michigan, but his true calling card is shooting – and that is what has most GMs intrigued. With the ability to score from anywhere on the court and range well beyond the 3-point line, Stauskas, is a safe pick in the lottery because at the very worst he is a 3-point specialist but has the length and athleticism to develop into a borderline starting shooting guard. Word around Chicago is Stauskas was a top interview for teams and that he could solidify himself in the late lottery with strong workouts. With Kevin Love’s status in the air, it is hard to guess what direction the Timberwolves will go. But adding a shooter like Stauskas would be a nice complement to the current roster.

14. Zach LaVine, SG, UCLA, 6’5″, 185 lbs

LaVine had a nice freshman campaign and looked like a reliable 3-point shooter with good athleticism for the Bruins despite being a reserve most of the season. Any team selecting LaVine is taking a chance on his upside as he must improve his strength to handle the wear and tear of the NBA. In Chicago, LaVine showed the type of length that teams need on the wing with a great shooting touch. Still LaVine is going to need time to develop, and the D-League might be a great option for him. This could turn into a nice selection for the Suns at this point in the draft. Armed with three first-round picks the Suns will be aggressive in exploring deals but there is already a lot of talk about the Suns and LaVine.

(RELATED: THREE FIRST-ROUND PROSPECTS FROM UCLA POSE RIDDLE TO GMs)

15. Rodney Hood, SF, Duke, 6’8″, 215 lbs

More than one NBA scout has told me how much they love Hood and his game. It’s hard not to agree when watching tape of Hood, because you see a smooth scoring wing with excellent length and a great stroke. While Hood will probably not become an All-Star, plenty of teams need a player with his skills on the offensive end who can simply catch and shoot. Buzz has been growing since Duke’s season ended that Hood is moving up boards and could be a late lottery pick. According to sources, Hood is a top target of Chicago, which is armed with two first-round picks. Hood can step right and contribute for a team like the Hawks.

16. James Young, SF, Kentucky, 6’7″, 205 lbs

A lot of the scouts I’ve spoken to have a high regard for James Young and believe that while not a great shooter, yet, he will be in time as he has a great stroke. During Kentucky’s impressive NCAA Tournament run, a lot of players stepped up, but Young might have been the player to shoulder most of the load. Young is a smooth athlete that can score by attacking the rim or stepping out beyond the arc. Chicago will be looking to add perimeter scoring with one of their two first-rounders. With two picks in the top-20 the Bulls can be flexible but I hear they want to add shooting and a big. The Bulls, according to sources, are enamored with Duke SF Rodney Hood.