With the 2014 NBA draft merely a few hours away, teams are gearing up for all of their possible choices as the clock is winding down. In what should be one of the stronger drafts in recent years, despite being significantly weaker than the famous 1984, 1996 and 2003 drafts, there is a very strong crop of international prospects going into the draft.
This year there are three prospects who could be picked in the lottery (Dante Exum, Dario Saric, Jusuf Nurkic), another four who could be picked in the first round (Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Vasilije Micic, Walter Tavares), and at least eight players who could be picked in the second round. While many of these players may not make an impact for several years (if at all), their immediate and future career paths will be decided in Brooklyn tonight.
Lottery Candidates
Dante Exum, PG, Australia, 6’6″, 185 lbs
Draft Range: 1-4
Exum is one of the least known commodities among NBA personnel since he essentially hasn’t played high level basketball in almost a year and has limited his workouts, declining today to do a last-minute one for the Cavs. Drafting Exum is swinging for the fences, since its questionable how NBA-ready he is, but there is little doubt he has the body and makeup to be an elite NBA guard.
The Bucks have shown they are willing to swing for the fences, drafting Giannis Antetokoumpo last season, and it would not be surprising if they opted to take a shot on Exum. Seeing as Exum is one of the few that can be considered the best long-term prospect in the draft, don’t expect him to fall past Orlando with the 4th pick. It should be noted the Lakers have shown interest in Exum from the get go, and an 11th hour deal to secure him should not be ruled out.
Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia, 6’11”, 280 lbs
Draft Range: 10-19
An efficient center with lots of room for improvement, Nurkic is a player who will need a year or two before he can be a real contributor in the NBA. Whether his development occurs in Europe or the NBA has yet to be determined, but look for a team with multiple first-round picks that can afford to be patient with him to give him a look.
Philly is an option with the 10th pick, but look for him to fall no further than Chicago with the 19th pick.
Dario Saric, SF, Croatia, 6’10”, 225 lbs
Draft Range: 10-17
After signing a large 2 + 1 contract (3 years with an option for a final year) with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes, it appears Saric is at least two 
years away from coming to the NBA. Since he would be bound by the rookie scale for first-round draft picks in his third season, it is more likely Saric will not come to the NBA until the ’17-’18 season.
Before signing the contract, Saric was one of the sleepers of the lottery after having a breakout season. However, the long wait likely eliminates any chance Saric had at being a top 10 pick, but it would be hard to see him fall past Chicago at 16th or Boston at 17th.
Late First Round Candidates
Clint Capela, PF, Switzerland, 6’11”, 220 lbs
Draft Range: 13-30
It’s tough to get a read on where Capela will end up. As a long-term prospect, Capela has the look of a stud power forward in the making. However, where he is drafted depends on what chips may fall on draft night.
He could be an option for the T’Wolves as a long-term solution at the 4 with Kevin Love on the way out. If he isn’t snatched up by the Wolves, look for Toronto (20th pick), OKC (21st and 29th) or San Antonio (30th) to grab him.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG, Serbia, 6’6″, 205 lbs
Draft Range: 27-35
One of the most NBA ready European players in this draft, Bogdanovic has the flexibility to come to the NBA right away, and is likely ready to contribute in a bench role. He could sneak into the first round with Phoenix at 27, OKC at 29 or the Euro-friendly Spurs at 30th. Bogdanovic is likely crossing his fingers to make it to the 2nd round where he will not be bound by the rookie scale if he decided to return to Europe for another season or two.
Vasilije Micic, PG, Serbia, 6’4″, 203 lbs
Draft Range: 29-40
A heady PG with size, Micic will find a place in the NBA since he is a good fit next to the plethora of undersized scoring guards throughout the league. He is a very similar prospect to Nemandja Nedovic who snuck into the first round last year with Golden State, and Micic could be considered by both OKC and San Antonio at the end of the first round. Look for Micic to likely be one of the first off the board in the second round.
Walter Tavares, C, Capre Verde/Spain, 7’3″, C, 265 lbs
Draft Range: 23-42
A 7 foot Eurostash candidate, Tavares is all over teams draft boards. Some teams view him as a legit starting center down the road, while most teams feel he is too raw to get a picture on what his true potential can be.
Utah (23rd), Houston (25th) and Phoenix (27th) could give him a look in the first round, but look for Tavares to likely get his name called in the second round, where he probably belongs.
The Second Rounders
Alessandro Gentile, G/F, Italy, 6’7″, 230 lbs
Draft Range: 31-50
Probably the most underrated of this year’s European crop due to a perceived lack of upside. Gentile probably won’t even be fully focused on the draft, as his EA7 Armani Milan will be playing Game 7 of the Italian Championship on Friday.
Gentile likely comes into play at the start of the 2nd round, but New York at 34 seems like the best fit. With ‘Melo having one foot out the door, Gentile gives the Knicks a gamer to come in and replace some of his minutes, while getting some of the same favorable push from the New York crowd that fellow Italian Danilo Gallinari received in his time with the Knicks.
Nikola Jokic, C, Serbia, 6’10”, C, 255 lbs
Draft Range: 35-60
Probably entered the draft a year too early, Jokic still has a pretty good shot at getting drafted after his club in Serbia, Mega Vizura, agreeing not to cause problems if Jokic tries to bolt right away to the NBA. With size and potential, Jokic surely will find a place in the 2nd round.
Artem Klimenko, C, Russia, 7’0″, 240 lbs
Draft Range: 40-60
Another more unknown prospect, there have been talks that Klimenko has impressed in the pre-draft process. Having played in the 2nd division in Russia, he is a little more of an unknown commodity, but he has been on the board in the first round in some mock drafts.
Damien Inglis, PF, France, 6’8″, 240 lbs
Draft Range: 42-50
With an NBA body and some 3PT shooting ability, Ingles is a very interesting prospect for a 2nd rounder. While he could be viewed as a Eurostash candidate, he probably is better off learning stateside on the bench of an NBA team with frequent trips to the D-League. Houston (42nd) and Atlanta (43rd) are potential destinations for him, but he has too much potential to slip into the 50’s.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, SF, Greece, 6’5″, 205 lbs
Draft Range: 31-60
The younger brother of the Bucks lottery pick from last year, Thanasis will be picked somewhere in the 2nd round after spending the past year in the D-League. The Bucks could take him with either the 31st, 36th or 48th picks, and pair him with his brother. Either way its likely the other Antetokounmpo will be on an NBA roster next season.
Bubble Second Rounders
Ojars Silins, SF/PF, Latvia, 6’7″, 210 lbs
Draft Range: 45-undrafted
A sharpshooting forward who had a great year in both the Italian league and the Eurochallenge, Silins could get some looks at the end of the draft as a Eurostash prospect.
Ioannis Papapetrou, SF/PF, Greece, 6’9″, 225 lbs
Draft Range: 50-undrafted
A tough Greek forward who will play in Greece the next few years, is a surefire Eurostash player. He is not NBA ready right now, but a team could look to secure his rights at the end of the draft with the belief that he can elevate his game with a few more years at the top level in Europe.
Nemanja Dangubic, SG/SF, Serbia, 6’8″, 195 lbs
Draft Range: 50-undrafted
The third player of Mega Vizura in this draft. Dangubic has a small chance to hear his name called in the final portion of the draft. He has excellent size for a wing prospect, at nearly 6’8” but he is far away from being an NBA ready player right now. He is a low-risk/high reward for a team at the end of the draft whose preferred targets are off the board.
AJ Mitnick is an American living in Israel and working as an assistant coach for Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israeli Basketball Super League. A graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick is in his third season with Maccabi Rishon, where they have made the Israeli League Final Four, and have twice made the Final Four of the Israeli State Cup . Follow him on Twitter.