Center Alex Len.
In front of former Terrapins men’s basketball center Alex Len’s likely selection as a lottery pick in tonight’s NBA draft, men’s basketball columnist Daniel Gallen previews Len’s possible landing spots. While there are rumors the Cleveland Cavaliers are planning on taking the 7-foot-1 Ukrainian with the first overall pick, not everything goes to plan, so here is a quick and brief overview of the lottery teams.
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick: No. 1
2012-13 record: 24-58
Last playoff appearance: 2009-10
Key players: G Kyrie Irving, G Dion Waiters, C Anderson Varejao
Fit: Len would combine right away with center Anderson Varejao to give the Cavaliers — who are picking No. 1 in the draft for the second time in three years — a tough inside presence. Varejao, who missed all but 25 games with injury last season, is one of the NBA’s best rebounders, and Len would provide another inside presence to free up budding star point guard Kyrie Irving.
Team: Orlando Magic
Pick: No. 2
2012-13 record: 20-62
Last playoff appearance: 2011-12
Key players: G Jameer Nelson, F Tobias Harris, C Nikola Vucevic
Fit: The Magic lost some identity when it shipped insubordinate center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers last year. Sure, center Nikola Vucevic averaged a double-double last season (13.1 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game), but Orlando could use a dominant inside force — like Len displayed against Kentucky and Duke — to free up outside scorers Tobias Harris and Arron Afflalo.
Team: Washington Wizards
Pick: No. 3
2012-13 record: 29-53
Last playoff appearance: 2007-08
Key players: G John Wall, G Bradley Beal
Fit: The Wizards trotted out a front court featuring Emeka Okafor, Nene Hilario, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin at times in 2012-13, so the addition of Len would be an immediate upgrade, and he could see playing time immediately. Guard John Wall emerged as a burgeoning superstar in the second half of the season, and if there’s one thing Len lacked in College Park, it was consistent guard play. Despite the local connection, Wizards fan might be wary of Len. Washington took European forward Jan Vesely with the sixth pick in 2011, and he’s 3.6 points in 108 career games.
Team: Charlotte Bobcats
Pick: No. 4
2012-13 record: 21-61
Last playoff appearance: 2009-10
Key players: G Kemba Walker, F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, G Gerald Henderson
Fit: Len would provide an immediate boost for the NBA’s newest franchise, especially on the defensive end. The Bobcats had the second-worst scoring defense last season, allowing 102.7 points per game. Charlotte, though, doesn’t have the best history of drafting well — just three of 11 first-round picks in the franchise’s eight year history still remain with the team.
Team: Phoenix Suns
Pick: No. 5
2012-13 record: 25-57
Last playoff appearance: 2009-10
Key players: G Goran Dragic, C Marcin Gortat
Fit: The list of Phoenix’s top three scorers last season doesn’t exactly read like the most familiar list ever: Goran Dragic, Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat. With the team’s best player an outside threat in Dragic, it opens the door for Len to see major minutes inside alongside forward Markieff Morris and Gortat, a center.
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Pick: No. 6
2012-13 record: 27-55
Last playoff appearance: 2010-11
Key players: G Greivis Vasquez, G Eric Gordon, F Ryan Anderson, F Anthony Davis
Fit: Len could easily provide a presence for the newly rebranded Pelicans right away. Former Terp great Greivis Vasquez emerged as an elite caliber point guard last season while former first overall pick Anthony Davis flashed immense talent despite frequent foul trouble. Pairing Len and Davis inside, a steady with Vasquez at the point and scoring from guard Eric Gordon, the Pelicans could become a dangerous team quickly.
Team: Sacramento Kings
Pick: No. 7
2012-13 record: 28-54
Last playoff appearance: 2005-06
Key players: C DeMarcus Cousins, G Tyreke Evans, G Isaiah Thomas
Fit: Though center DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings in scoring (17.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.9 points per game) he clashed with coaching and management, and his name has been floated in trade rumors this offseason. The absence of Cousins would clear a role for Len on the team with the second longest active playoff drought in the league with the lowest attendeance.
Team: Detroit Pistons
Pick: No. 8
2012-13 record: 29-53
Last playoff appearance: 2008-09
Key players: C Greg Monroe, G Brandon Knight
Fit: After reaching at least the Eastern Conference Finals six straight times from 2002-03 through 2007-08, the Pistons have fallen on hard times. The Pistons’ most significant highlight of this past season was perhaps Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan posterizing guard Brandon Knight. Either way, the Pistons already have two lottery pick centers on their roster in Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, so Len doesn’t seem to have a place in Detroit.
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Pick: No. 9
2012-13 record: 31-51
Last playoff appearance: 2003-04
Key players: F Kevin Love, G Ricky Rubio
Fit: The Timberwolves’ top four scorers last season — Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko and Derrick Williams — were all forwards or centers, so Minnesota’s front court seems to be taken care of. Minnesota does boast point guard Ricky Rubio, though, a playmaker on the outside who seems to be almost back from a serious knee injury.
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Pick: No. 10
2012-13 record: 33-49
Last playoff appearance: 2010-11
Key players: F LaMarcus Aldridge, G Damian Lillard
Fit: A combination of Len and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge would provide a solid inside presence for playmaking guard Damian Lillard, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and shooters Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. But the Trail Blazers used a lottery pick on Illinois center Meyers Leonard last year, and Portland seems content on developing him.
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Pick: No. 11
2012-13 record: 34-48
Last playoff appearance: 2011-12
Key players: G Jrue Holiday, G Thaddeus Young
Fit: Former lottery pick Evan Turner hasn’t developed into the superstar many in Philadelphia were expecting (13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game), and the team could use another big man to pair with Spencer Hawes. And anyway, the 76ers played uber-bust Kwame Brown in 22 games in 2012-13, which means they could use pretty much any help they can get in the front court.
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Pick: No. 12
2012-13 record: 60-22
Last playoff appearance: 2012-13
Key players: F Kevin Durant, G Russell Westbrook, F Serge Ibaka
Fit: The Thunder are obviously the best fit if Len wants to be successful right away. After all, the Thunder were a Russell Westbrook knee injury from being a serious contender to dethrone the Miami Heat as NBA champions. There are openings for Len, too. Kendrick Perkins (4.2 points, 6.0 rebounds per game) saw most of the starts at center, and his backup is underwhelming veteran Nick Collison.
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Pick: No. 13
2012-13 record: 41-41
Last playoff appearance: 2011-12
Key players: F Dirk Nowitzki, G O.J. Mayo
Fit: With four of its top scorers at least 30 years old, the Mavericks are looking to get younger, and quickly. Plus, those four players are all forwards or centers, meaning Len could slide right in and contribute — if he falls this far.
Team: Utah Jazz
Pick: No. 14
2012-13: 43-39
Last playoff appearance: 2011-12
Key players: C Al Jefferson, F Paul Millsap
Fit: Between frontcourt players Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, the Jazz already have considerable depth with little room for Len. It would be quite the upset if he were to fall this far, too.
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