Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, June 26, 2014
It's almost time for the NBA draft, and I wanted to get creative and ask Big Ten fans where they want their favorite Big Ten players to land. The consensus is that Indiana's Noah Vonleh, Michigan's Nik Stauskas, and Michigan State's Gary Harris and Adreian Payne are all first-round locks. Michigan's Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III could also be first-round selections. But where will these former Big Ten stars call home?
Here is a look at the responses we got, as well as where several NBA experts have thesm landing.
This should be fun.
Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana
Chad Ford, @chadfordinsider, ESPN: No. 4 overall, Orlando Magic – "Vonleh has intrigued them ever since having a stellar workout. His ability to stretch the floor and his ability to protect the rim make him a very good fit next to Vucevic. I think Vonleh has the edge, but it's very close."
@BTN_Indiana @IndianaMBB Even though he didn't play with @VicOladipo at IU, it would be cool to see them play together.
— Paul Roberts (@MisterRoberts) June 26, 2014
***
Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan
Marc Spears, @SpearsNBAYahoo, Yahoo Sports: No. 14 overall, Phoenix Suns – "Stauskas is regarded as the draft's best shooter. The Suns have been linked to Stauskas since draft talk began heating up."
https://twitter.com/jnord12/status/482255715856183296
***
Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
Chris Mannix, @ChrisMannixSI, Sports Illustrated: No. 11 overall, Denver Nuggets – "Harris is undersized but a rugged defender who struggled from the perimeter last season. If he can rediscover the shooting stroke from his freshman season, he could be a steal."
https://twitter.com/Buffy619/status/482245560414396416
***
Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State
Sean Deveney, @SeanDeveney, Sporting News: No. 14 overall, Phoenix Suns – "Payne is a four-year player, and that no doubt hurts him in the draft. But he is a polished shooter and an ideal stretch-4. He suits the Suns? style perfectly. Rodney Hood is the other big possibility here."
https://twitter.com/LTJ19/status/482247936047198210
***
Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan
Phil Ervin, @PhilErvin, Fox Sports: No. 20 overall, Toronto Raptors – "In a draft class riper at the center position, McGary could me more of a high second-round possibility. But because it's not, and because Jonas Valanciunas can't play 48 minutes per game, McGary makes sense at 20 for Toronto."
https://twitter.com/jpisare/status/482256731775700992
***
Glenn Robinson III, SF, Michigan
Gary Parrish, @GaryParrishCBS, CBS Sports: No. 39 overall, Philadelphia 76ers – "Robinson is another Michigan player whose NBA stock dropped in his first season without Burke. There's probably a connection there."
@BTN_Michigan @BigTenNetwork @umichbball @NStauskas11 @mitchmcgary4 @GRIII @DetroitPistons @DetroitPistons and @DetroitPistons ?????
— peter oliver (@thepeteroliver) June 26, 2014
OTHER POTENTIAL NBA DRAFT PICKS
Roy Devyn Marble, SG, Iowa
LaQuinton Ross, SF, Ohio State
Aaron Craft, PG, Ohio State
Keith Appling, PG, Michigan State
Austin Hollins, SG, Minnesota
Will Sheehey, SG, Indiana
Tim Frazier, PG, Penn State