Cheap Seats: Steal of the 2014 NBA Draft?

Who was the biggest steal of the 2014 NBA Draft? Basketball Insiders’ interns Cody Taylor, John Zitzler and Jesse Blancarte give their thoughts in this week’s edition of Cheap Seats:

Cleanthony Early

The New York Knicks didn’t have a single draft pick in the weeks leading up to the 2014 NBA Draft, but Knicks president Phil Jackson executed a trade with the Dallas Mavericks just one day prior to the draft to acquire Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert, Wayne Ellington and two second-round picks. Even though the Knicks didn’t have a first-rounder, it certainly seems that they landed a first-round talent in Cleanthony Early. The Wichita State product was selected at No. 34, but was projected as a first-round player for much of the pre-draft process. When the Knicks went on the clock on Thursday night, they selected the 23-year-old small forward, who may end up being this draft’s diamond in the rough.

Adding Early to the roster was perhaps one of the biggest steals of the draft due largely in part because he was projected by many mock drafts as a late first-round selection, and was even projected to go as high as No. 24 by Basketball Insiders’ own Yannis Koutroupis. Early is a player who will likely be able to step in immediately and contribute given his ability to create his own shot and score from beyond three-point range. In 35 games during his last season at Wichita State, Early averaged 16.3 points on 48.7 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, as well as six rebounds per game.

His ability to score could become extremely valuable should the Knicks lose Carmelo Anthony in free agency. Having Early on the team without Anthony would enable the Knicks to replace part of the 27.4 points per game Anthony averaged last season. Coming in at 6’7, Early also has the physical tools to become a star defender given his 6’10 wingspan and above-average athleticism. The fans on hand at Barclays Center in Brooklyn cheered the pick when it was made, providing perhaps the biggest sign that the Knicks hit a home run on draft night.

Maybe the most impressive part of the draft was the fact that the Knicks were able to land not just one, but two draft picks. The running joke after the Knicks acquired the picks from Dallas was that the idea of the Knicks acquiring draft picks in recent years was just unheard of. Handcuffed by the large contracts of Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler before he was traded, the Knicks managed to get younger with the trade and change the landscape of the team.

Of course, the biggest change to the team could come should Anthony leave in free agency after opting out of his contract last week. However, should Anthony return, the Knicks could already be in a much better position than last season despite just finishing the draft. The Knicks would have veterans in Anthony, Calderon, Stoudemire and J.R Smith, with younger players in Early, the Knicks’ second draft pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert. It is said that Shumpert has already started training for next season, practicing twice a day, learning the triangle offense and reading all of Jackson’s books to prepare for the season. It seems like the Knicks may be having one of the best offseasons already, and it just started.

– Cody Taylor

Kyle Anderson

At this point, it’s almost safe to assume that whoever the San Antonio Spurs pick will be developed into a useful player down the road. The organization has done a fantastic job evaluating talent in both free agency and the draft, finding guys that will fit into the team’s system and franchise’s culture. Credit general manager R.C. Buford and head coach Gregg Popovich, who have done a great job working together hand in hand finding players that can come in and help the team.

In 2007, the Spurs chose Tiago Splitter with 27th pick in the first round. Splitter and the Spurs were patient with his development and adjustment to the NBA after being an accomplished player in Europe, and both sides were rewarded for their patience as this year Splitter played a key role on their championship team. Then, there is Kawhi Leonard, who was acquired during the 2011 draft for George Hill and has blossomed into a star and Finals MVP. Not to mention, key guys like Tony Parker (28th pick) and Manu Ginobili (57th pick) were both selected later in the draft. The Spurs’ ability to find value outside of the lottery has been a big factor in their success. Similarly, in free agency the Spurs been able to turn castaways into contributors with regularity, with guys like Danny Green and Patty Mills, both signed to cheap free-agent deals after toiling away the on Cavaliers and Blazers respectively, becoming crucial players on this year’s championship team.

In the draft on Thursday, the Spurs had the 30th pick and selected Kyle Anderson, a versatile forward out of UCLA. Anderson, nicknamed Slow-Mo for his deliberate pace as well as his lack of quickness and agility, is one of most unique players in this year’s draft class. While he may not be the most athletic player in the world, Anderson makes up for it with a special feel for the game. He was able to keep opposing defenders off balance with a good hesitation move and used his length to finish around the rim in college. He did a little bit of everything at UCLA – a team that certainly wasn’t lacking talent and produced three first-round picks this year – averaging 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Anderson led the Pac-12 in total assists and total rebounds. He became the focal point of Steve Alford’s attack in just his second year with the program. For a guy his size, Anderson possesses an impressive assortment of skills – he has a solid handle, excellent passing skills and impressive rebounding ability. He made strides as a shooter and was a much more efficient scorer during his sophomore season. His field goal percentage went up from 41.6 percent to 48 percent and even more impressive his three-point percentage was up from 21.1 percent to 48.3 percent from his freshman to sophomore season.

Anderson, like every player in the draft, is certainly not a finished product yet. His most glaring weakness is his lack of athleticism, which will be even more magnified at the next level. However, his versatility and ability to play multiple positions as a point forward should allow him to succeed, and having Popovich helping him maximize his potential will certainly help him. There are questions regarding his remarkable improvement as a shooter, as some wonder if he will be able to continue to knock down shots at or near the rate he did as a sophomore after struggling from the perimeter as a freshman. Also, defensively, his lack of athleticism may be a challenge so it will be important for Anderson to be fundamentally sound when matched up against players who have an edge in athleticism, as most will.

Anderson and the Spurs seem like a perfect marriage, with his skills and their system. Landing him at No. 30 may prove to be steal for a team that has shown one of the best eye’s for talent over the last decade. Anderson has already been compared Boris Diaw with their similar ability to do a variety of things. It’s not hard to picture Anderson playing a very similar role to Diaw in the Spurs’ system. His ability to pass the ball will be a great fit in an offense that relies heavily on ball movement. The Spurs have to be ecstatic that they were able land such a talented guy who should mesh with organization seamlessly. In a few years, don’t be surprised if Anderson is playing a major role as the team transitions into a new era.

– John Zitzler

T.J. Warren

With the 14th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected T.J. Warren from North Carolina State. Last season, Warren contributed 24.9 points (third in the nation), 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. He was the ACC Player of the Year and named a second team All-American by the Associated Press and the Sporting News.

Warren is 6’8, has a 6’10 wingspan and weighs 220 lbs. He is not a great athlete, but he knows how to effectively utilize the athleticism he does have. With his size and skill-set, Warren can play both forward positions, which can create mismatches for opponents, especially in an up-tempo offense such as the Suns’.

Warren’s best attribute right now is his ability to score the ball. He is a very fluid, smooth player who has great scoring touch around the rim (where he shot 70 percent last season). With Eric Bledsoe (if retained) and Goran Dragic alongside him, Warren should have plenty of opportunities to attack the rim in transition, which is a big part of his game.

“Their style fits my game pretty well,” Warren said after being picked by Phoenix. “Transition and fastbreak, that’s my game. I like to get up and down and run.”

In addition, Warren is good at moving without the ball, and cutting to the basket. This part of his game also works well within the Suns’ offensive system, which is based on a heavy dose of pick-and-rolls and weak-side movement.

While Warren is a tough cover from mid-range and at the rim, he is a poor shooter from three-point range (26.7 percent), which is something he will need to address moving forward. His shooting mechanics are not bad, so with proper coaching Warren should be able to develop into a solid threat from beyond-the-arc. Though Warren won’t be knocking down a ton of three-pointers in his first season with the Suns, head coach Jeff Hornacek believes he will still be able to contribute.

“He’s such a great scorer, he’s not going to have to rely on the three-point shot,” Hornacek said. “He’ll be able to move without the ball and catch it on the move. When he moves he’s very slick, and he knows when to get the ball up or take an extra dribble and take it up. He has a great feel for the game offensively.”

Warren’s best performances last season came in back-to-back games, scoring 41 points against Pittsburgh and 42 points against Boston College. These games highlighted Warren at his best, especially the game against Boston College. In that game, Warren went 14-of-23 from the field, 14-of-17 from free throw line and also grabbed 13 rebounds. He did not attempt any three pointers, and instead did his damage in transition, off backdoor cuts and with midrange floaters.

While Warren is a talented offensive player, his defensive skills need some work. He is not great at guarding opposing players in isolation, but he is a solid team defender. He also plays passing lanes well, evidenced by his 1.8 steals per game. In addition, Warren showed improved defensive skills in his workout for the Suns prior to the draft. After Warren’s workout, Hornacek said: “The question for him wasn’t the scoring part, it was the defense. I thought he did a great job defensively. Getting his hand on the ball, he was better than I anticipated from watching tape.” The ability to play the passing lanes will be especially important in Phoenix, where the team is always looking to create transition opportunities.

While some may argue that Warren was drafted in a position that is representative of where he stands in comparison to his peers, it is not unreasonable to think he could end up being one of the top players to emerge from this draft years down the line. Keep in mind that opposing defenses geared up to stop Warren, which led to him taking a lot of tough, contested shots. Warren will be on a team that could feature Bledsoe, Dragic, Gerald Green, Channing Frye, the Morris twins and other talented players. This should keep defenses from loading up on him like they did in college. Add to this the possibility that Warren could become a three-point shooter down the line, and you start to see how effective of a player he could be as a pro, especially with a team like the Suns that will utilize and maximize his talents.

Players like Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid will likely be the top players to come out of this draft, yet there is room for Warren to establish himself as a steal at 14 in hindsight. Players like Nik Stauskas, Noah Vonleh, Elfrid Payton, Dario Saric and Zach LaVine have great potential, but they are not locks to be great players several years from now. Warren has that same great potential, but his ability to score is almost certain to translate to the NBA.

Warren may not be the best player to come out of this draft, but several years from now, we will wonder how he was not picked higher. Credit the Suns for recognizing what he can do, and not overly criticizing him for what he currently cannot do. Suns general manager Ryan McDonough is assembling an impressive core of young players in Phoenix, and in Warren he got the steal of the draft.

– Jesse Blancarte