NBA Draft 2014 Order Rumors: Andrew Wiggins Still Favored To Be No. 1 Over Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker recently declared for the 2014 NBA Draft, officially ushering the debate on who should be the first overall pick in this year's rookie selection.
A recent ESPN Insider report indicated that most of the 30 NBA executives will pick Parker first, but draft expert Chad Ford is still convinced that Kansas Jayhawks star Andrew Wiggins will end up being picked No. 1 in the draft.
Ford said that Wiggins, who averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his lone season at Kansas, has superior size for his playing position and superb athletic abilities, which makes him a better prospect than Parker.
"I think it's going to be Wiggins. I think having elite size for position and elite athletic abilities give you an advantage at the pro level. Parker has neither," Ford said.
Parker, who posted 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game with the Duke Blue Devils last season, looks more NBA-ready at this point because of his current skill set, but Ford pointed out that Wiggins will quickly become a better player in the NBA.
"While Parker's skill set is much more advanced than Wiggins, there isn't anything in Wiggins' game that can't be fixed in a few years. Parker isn't going to grow or become an elite athlete like Wiggins. That's why you take him No. 1," Ford wrote.
Ford also noted, though, that Parker could end up shaking new NBA commissioner Adam Silver's hand first in the June draft depending on the team, which will end up getting the first overall pick.
If the Utah Jazz end up winning in the lottery, Ford is convinced that the team will pick Parker over Wiggins because their front office executives are looking for immediate results in the near future.
"There would be a ton of pressure in Utah for them to take Parker and given the teams' trajectory (they really don't need more raw young players). Parker's ability to play right away and have an impact make sense for them. I think they are, far and away, the team most likely to take Parker No. 1," Ford noted.
The lottery is scheduled on May 20, while the highly anticipated 2014 NBA Draft will be on June 26 in New York City.
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