[tps_header]Utah’s Wright good pick for Dallas at No. 21[/tps_header]
[tps_title]Nos. 25 to 21[/tps_title]
No. 25 Memphis Grizzlies
Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
Memphis is hoping Looney can last this long in the first round. It will be a steal for the Grizzlies inasmuch as Looney is a versatile, athletic frontcourt player they need. Looney is a quick defender who stays in front of who he is guarding. He can defend up to four positions because of his lateral quickness. Guards have a difficult time getting around him. Offensively, Looney (6’9” and 222 pounds) showed a deft shooting touch from the perimeter at UCLA. He will only get better after leaving the Bruins following his freshman season.
No. 24 Cleveland Cavaliers
Justin Anderson, SG/SF, Virginia
Anderson is one of the finest athletes in the draft which should help the Cavaliers mostly on defense if they select him at this spot. He has good size at 6’6” and 230 with a 6’11” wingspan. He had one of the best shuttle-run times at the NBA scouting combine, where he was recorded with a remarkable vertical leap of 43 inches. Some scouts compare him to Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio. Cleveland will be in need of a player like him with the possibility of Mike Miller, Shawn Marion and James Jones moving on because of free agency.
No. 23 Portland Trail Blazers
Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
Some draft prognosticators have Lyles (6’10” and 240 pounds) going as high as No. 8 to Detroit. Lyles slips this far in this projection because prospects who play different positions before him fit the needs for other teams. Lyles would be a steal for Portland at this spot, especially if the Trail Blazers are unable to hold on to free agent LaMarcus Aldridge. Lyles was a role player at Kentucky averaging 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds but will play significant minutes in the NBA because of his impressive feel for the game and affective mid-range jumper.
No. 22 Chicago Bulls
Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
With Jimmy Butler as a restricted free agent and Mike Dunleavy an unrestricted free agent, the Bulls will look for help on the wing. Vaughn, 6’5” and 200, is a raw talent who left after an injury-marred freshman season at UNLV. He projects to be a scorer in the NBA as he matures and adjusts to the pro game. New coach Fred Hoiberg can rely on Vaughn to add scoring off the bench as a replacement for Butler if the Bulls can’t resign him.
No. 21 Dallas Mavericks
Delon Wright, PG, Utah
The Mavericks need reinforcement at the point guard position with Rajon Rondo reportedly moving on after a tumultuous year in Dallas after the team acquired him from Boston. The attentive and gifted Wright is a coach’s dream, especially compared to Rondo, whose spats with Dallas coach Rick Carlisle were well-documented. Wright, at 6’5” and 180 pounds, has good size at point guard to see over defenders. He is a tremendous shooter (making 54 percent of his two-point attempts last year with the Utes) and is tenacious on defense. He can also play quality minutes from the start as one of the few college seniors in the draft.
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