NBA All Canadian Mock Draft

1. Andrew Wiggins

An obvious choice. Easily the best Canadian prospect entering this year’s draft and potentially the best out of all this year’s draftees. An extremely gifted athlete and defensive asset with superstar potential, Wiggins is definitely the first Canadian picked off the board come draft day.

2. Nik Stauskas

Not as obvious a choice as Wiggins, but with teams always welcome to adding a shooting and not many teams in dire need of a point guard, Stauskas gets the edge over Ennis. Stauskas is an exceptional shooter who is sure to go in this draft’s lottery. He also sports great height (6’6) and has improved a great deal in each of his last three summers, going from a not highly thought of high schooler to a potential NBA impact player.

3. Tyler Ennis

Finding himself a close third in the Canadian Mock Draft is no discredit to Ennis. An exceptional point guard, Ennis showed during his time at Syracuse that he can lead a team like the best of them. Owning one of the best assist-to-turnovers ratio in all of the NCAA, Ennis led Syracuse on a 26 game win streak to begin his freshman season. A mature point guard at a young age, do not expect Ennis’ name to still be on the board after the lottery picks have been selected.

4. Melvin Ejim

Melvin Ejim is coming off a very successful senior season in the NCAA. He was named his conference’s player of the year and leading the Iowa State Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament in his final college year. A tremendous rebounder and underrated shooter, Ejim definitely has the tools necessary for him to stick in the NBA. The potential to be a star? Most likely not, but Ejim did flash some of his potential in an insane 48 point and 18 rebound performance during conference play. Sometime during the late first-mid second round should be when Ejim’s name will be read aloud at the NBA Draft.

5. Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell has all the necessities to play a frontcourt position in the NBA, and then some. Standing 6’11 he measured in as the third tallest player at the NBA combine and possessing a solid post game with a great shooting stroke for a big man, Powell shouldn’t find it very hard to fit in on a team. Being able to play both the 4 and 5 spots at any time will be a huge selling point for him leading up to the draft. Expect Powell’s name to be announced during the second round of the draft.

6. Jordan Bachynski

At 24 years of age, Bachynski is one of the oldest players who has entered his name in this year’s draft. But he’s not letting that fact scare away NBA front offices. Bachynski will offer an immediate impact type of game to whoever decides to draft him, complete with a post-game and tremendous rebounding, as well as shot blocking abilities. Bachynski should see his name come off the board during the second round of the draft.

7. Khem Birch

Khem Birch has two elite skills that he can offer to any NBA lineup: rebounding and shot-blocking. Besides that, Birch is more of an undersized front court player who can finish around the rim with his athleticism. It’s not known whether that skillset will result in him getting drafted this year but if he does, expect it to be in the late second round. If not? He will be sure to get many summer league and training camp invites and will have a shot to play his way onto a team.

8. Sim Bhullar

Sim Bhullar is huge. He stands over 7’5. As an elite rebounder, shot blocker, and rim-converter in college, we will see if any team thinks that his skills will translate well to the NBA where the level of competition is obviously much higher. If Bhullar does get drafted it will be in the second round and most likely near the end of the draft. Raptors maybe?

 

This is the best Canadian NBA Draft Class of all time. With 8 potential draft picks in 2014, Canadian basketball is certainly on the rise.

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