Image via Complex Original
The picks are in, and the 2014 NBA Draft is behind us. With one of the most-hyped draft classes in years finally in the books, NBA 2K fans should be excited about getting their hands on some of these players. Some will have enough polish to play right away, while others are still raw recruits that you can mold into the next superstar.
Whether they landed on your favorite team or you like to draft your own fantasy rosters, which potential impact rookies will stand out the most in NBA 2K15?
* It should be noted that Joel Embiid, arguably the best prospect in this draft class, is expected to miss upwards of eight months. As much as he deserves to be on this list, it’s hard to imagine the No. 3 overall pick playing in his rookie season or having any sort of impact for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Aaron Gordon
Position: PF
School: Arizona
Height: 6-9
Weight: 220 lbs.
Aaron Gordon is one of the most gifted athletes in the 2014 draft class, and while he could certainly afford to bulk up, he'll be a ready contributor from the get-go. To say that he plays with high energy would be an understatement, and while he has a lot of room for growth, his high IQ and intangibles should lead to at least a solid career in the NBA. Offensively, Gordon is extremely raw. He doesn't really have much of a post game, and there's little reason to be confident in his jumper. However, Gordon should be able to get a lot of easy points when you combine his 39-inch vertical with his ability to smartly move without the ball. He'll be an easy target for alley-oops, and he's the type of player that could generate a lot of extra possessions and points off of put-backs. On the other side of the ball, Gordon exhibits a lot of promise on defense. Not so much in the way of shot blocking, but he'll be able to pound the glass and guard multiple positions.
Dante Exum
Position: PG/SG
School: N/A
Height: 6-6
Weight: 196 lbs.
Even with all of the hype surrounding Australian phenom Dante Exum, there are still plenty of questions surrounding his game. Exum oozes potential, but he'll need some time to develop. Most importantly, figuring out if he's capable of being a full-time lead guard or a combo guard at the two will need to be answered. While there are many aspects of his game that he needs to polish, he should be fun to play with regardless. With his size and speed, he'll make for a matchup nightmare. He's great at getting to the rim, and he'll be able to create opportunities for others if the defense collapses. Exum is big enough to post up smaller guards, and he'll be doing most of his damage near the hoop as his shot needs some work.
Adreian Payne
Position: PF
School: Michigan State
Height: 6-10
Weight: 239 lbs.
Adreian Payne is a stretch four that should be able to step in for the Atlanta Hawks and contribute right away. With a reported 38-inch vertical, this athletic freak can jump out of the gym. However, he's far more than just a dunker. Payne has a reliable jumper with NBA three-point range, and he's a versatile scorer with a tough, solid post game. Payne will need to bulk up and get stronger, and he certainly won't be topping any defensive awards. But he has a polished enough game to get significant minutes from the start.
Doug McDermott
Position: SF
School: Creighton
Height: 6-8
Weight: 220 lbs.
Doug McDermott is already an elite shooter with deep NBA three-point range, and he'll be dropping buckets from behind the arc right out of the gate. Whether he's creating his own shot or coming off of a screen, sleep on McDermott at your own peril. McBuckets is a tweener, as he's not quick enough to handle small forwards or big enough to bang down low with power forwards. He's likely to be a defensive liability in the NBA, but even so, with his scoring ability, he will create his fair share of mismatches on offense.
Gary Harris
Position: SG
School: Michigan State
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205 lbs.
The Denver Nuggets should consider themselves lucky that Gary Harris fell into their laps with the No. 19 pick. Long considered to be a lottery pick, Harris fell out of the top 14 picks on draft day. He may not have the prototypical size teams typically look for in a shooting guard, but he'll be entering the league as one of the more polished two-way prospects. Harris has a well-rounded offensive game: he can shoot from pretty much anywhere on the floor, attack the basket, move effectively without the ball, and create opportunities for his teammates. And while he runs the risk of being overpowered by bigger guards on defense, he can hold his own against most. He has sound technique and instincts on defense, and he'll rarely, if ever, be a liability.
Noah Vonleh
Position: PF
School: Indiana
Height: 6-10
Weight: 247 lbs.
Noah Vonleh is extremely versatile on offense: he possesses the mobility to get up and down the floor, the strength and soft touch to be a good low-post scorer, and the range to stroke it from deep. He's also capable of putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the rim, which only expands his offensive repertoire. Vonleh is already a great rebounder, and as he adds on some more weight to his frame, he'll only get better. With his length, he can potentially develop into a strong defender capable of changing shots at the rim.
Marcus Smart
Position: PG/SG
School: Oklahoma State
Height: 6-3
Weight: 227 lbs.
Boston Celtics fans should be excited about landing Marcus Smart. For those of you that like athletic, attacking guards in the mold of Russell Westbrook, Smart is your man. His sub-par shooting will hold him back offensively, but he's able to do so much in other areas of the game that his impact will still be felt even with his shooting limitations. As a combo guard, it remains to be seen whether Smart is able to develop into a full-time NBA point guard. But he's a playmaker that possesses great court vision, and with his ability to overpower smaller guards and penetrate into the lane, he'll be able to create plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates. Smart is also a hard-nosed defender with a knack for picking pockets. He's got the length, strength and instincts to be one of the better two-way players in this draft class.
Andrew Wiggins
Position: SG/SF
School: Kansas
Height: 6-8
Weight: 200 lbs.
Athletically, Andrew Wiggins is on another level. The freak athlete out of Kansas reportedly has a 44-inch vertical, and he has all the tools to be a perennial All-Star in the NBA. The Cavaliers made the right choice taking him No. 1 overall, as he has arguably the highest ceiling of all the prospects. Already a strong on-ball defender, Wiggins has elite-level defensive potential. With his length, quickness and instincts, he'll quickly be locking up perimeter players. However, offense is another story. He doesn't have a consistently reliable shot, but he does show enough potential to improve drastically as a shooter. His ball-handling also leaves a lot to be desired, but if he can put it all together and really round out his offensive game, he'll be dominating on both sides of the ball in no time.
Julius Randle
Position: PF
School: Kentucky
Height: 6-9
Weight: 250 lbs.
Julius Randle has a somewhat limited ceiling at the next level, but he has the size and skillset to be able to help a team in need right away. On a depleted roster like the Lakers, Randle has a legitimate shot at competing for rookie of the year. With his strength, Randle will find his fair share of opponents to bully in the low post. However, he'll find it a lot tougher to score in the NBA than he did while at Kentucky. He does possess a solid mid-range shot, which will certainly help to stretch defenses and get him on the scoreboard. Randle is as tough as they come, and he has a high motor. He'll be relentlessly crashing the boards on both sides of the ball, creating plenty of extra possessions along the way. But you'll be counting on him to make the biggest impact on offense and not defense.
Jabari Parker
Position: SF
School: Duke
Height: 6-9
Weight: 241 lbs.
Jabari Parker takes the crown as the most NBA-ready player ready to make an impact at the pro level, and he should immediately be getting heavy minutes as a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks. The small forward out of Duke already has a polished offensive repertoire, and he should have little trouble leading all rookies in scoring. In fact, it would be surprising if he averages less than 18 points per game in his first year. At 6-9 and 241 lbs., Parker is going to an imposing force on offense. In the post, he has the size to overpower smaller defenders and the speed to maneuver around bigger players. He has a nice shot with deep enough range to allow him to score from pretty much anywhere on the floor. From the triple-threat position, he can take defenders off the dribble, pull back for a step-back jumper, or put the ball on the floor and create for others. Parker is a smart playmaker with a great feel for the game, and don't be surprised if he's contending for a scoring title in a few years. There's a reason he consistently gets compared to Carmelo Anthony, and he's going to be lighting up the scoreboard from day one.