NBA Mock Draft Pick #30 -- Tony Mitchell, Forward, North Texas
We have a trade to announce:
The Phoenix Suns trade #30 and Kendall Marshall to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Knight and #37.
SB Nation's Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys explains the pick:
One of the most intriguing prospects in the country after a stellar freshman campaign, Mitchell struggled in every aspect of his game last year. So what do you believe? Did he regress or was it something else?
I'm inclined to chalk it up to an immature player (he lost a season of eligibility to academic issues) dealing poorly with a coaching change. That is, in and of itself, a genuine concern, but Mitchell has also shown that he can be a top five talent. Given the available options, I'll give him a mulligan, but he's the biggest boom or bust pick in the draft.
SB Nation's Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys explains the trade:
C.J. McCollum makes Brandon Knight obsolete. Let's be honest, moving him for a legitimate point guard who was a lottery pick last year is about as much value as the Pistons can hope to get out of him. Marshall did not show much for the Suns last year, but he also didn't have much of a chance. But there's reason for hope that he could be the offensive wizard that he was for North Carolina: in games he played more than 20 minutes, he shot 43% (including 38% from three) and put up 6.4 assists per game with 2.2 turnovers per game (a 2.9 assist/turnover ratio).
SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun explains the trade:
The Suns need a second playmaker who can create his own shot and set up others while sharing the court with the Goran Dragic. Brandon Knight, still only 21 after two seasons in the NBA, is improving as a shooter and has the potential to be a solid defender. He can play the two or the one, allowing the Suns to have an attacking shot creator on the floor at all times.
SB Nation Scouting Report: Tony Mitchell
More: Full NBA Draft Coverage
Updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft Board:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: NERLENS NOEL
2. Orlando Magic BEN MCLEMORE
3. Washington Wizards OTTO PORTER
4. Charlotte Hornets ALEX LEN
5. Phoenix Suns VICTOR OLADIPO
6. New Orleans Pelicans TREY BURKE
7. Sacramento Kings ANTHONY BENNETT (for Philly)
8. Detroit Pistons C.J. MCCOLLUM
9. Minnesota Timberwolves KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE
10. Portland Trail Blazers RUDY GOBERT (For Phoenix)
11. Philadelphia 76ers MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS (For Sacramento)
12. Oklahoma City Thunder CODY ZELLER
13. Dallas Mavericks SHABAZZ MUHAMMAD
14. Utah Jazz DENNIS SCHROEDER
15. Milwaukee Bucks SHANE LARKIN
16. Boston Celtics GORGUI DIENG
17. Atlanta Hawks GIANNIS ADETOKUNBO
18. Atlanta Hawks MASON PLUMLEE
19. Cleveland Cavaliers SERGEY KARASEV
20. Chicago Bulls (for Phoenix) JAMAAL FRANKLIN
21. Utah Jazz KELLY OLYNYK
22. Brooklyn Nets (for Orlando) ERICK GREEN
23. Indiana Pacers REGGIE BULLOCK
24. New York Knicks ALLEN CRABBE
25. Los Angeles Clippers (For Sacramento) MIKE MUSCALA
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (for Utah) STEVEN ADAMS
27. Denver Nuggets NATE WOLTERS
28. San Antonio Spurs LUCAS NOGUEIRA
29. Oklahoma City Thunder TONY SNELL
30. Phoenix Suns (for Detroit) TONY MITCHELL