2014 NBA Draft — LLMpedia

2014 NBA Draft
source
Name	2014 NBA Draft
Sport	Basketball
Date	June 26, 2014
Location	Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York City
League	National Basketball Association
First	Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Overall	60

Contents

2014 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2014, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, where teams in the National Basketball Association selected amateur Basketball players from college, overseas, and high school backgrounds. The event featured high-profile prospects and generated significant attention from franchises such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Toronto Raptors, with league figures including Adam Silver, David Stern, and executives like Masai Ujiri and Rich Cho shaping the selections. The draft produced several future starters and role players who would impact teams such as the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics.

Background and draft prospects

Leading into the draft, scouts evaluated prospects from programs including University of Kentucky, University of Kansas, Duke University, University of Maryland, and University of Florida, as well as international clubs like FC Barcelona Bàsquet, Real Madrid Baloncesto, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahçe, and Olympiacos. Top names on boards included Andrew Wiggins (from University of Kansas), Jabari Parker (Duke University), Joel Embiid (University of Kansas), Julius Randle (University of Kentucky), and Aaron Gordon (University of Arizona), with comparisons drawn to veterans such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki. Front offices weighed team needs against upside, referencing player development pipelines exemplified by the San Antonio Spurs and draft strategies used historically by the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. International scouting reports cited performance in competitions like the FIBA World Championship and the EuroLeague while analysts from outlets such as ESPN, The Athletic, and Sports Illustrated published mock drafts and player grades.

At the NBA Draft Combine, prospects underwent measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, and interviews with representatives from franchises including New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Medical evaluations focused on histories involving injuries to players linked to institutions such as University of Kansas and University of South Carolina, while workouts were held at arenas like the Madison Square Garden practice facility and gym complexes associated with Nike and Adidas. Agents such as Rich Paul and Leon Rose coordinated pro-day sessions with college coaches including John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Self, Rick Pitino, and Tom Izzo. Media coverage from CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, and Yahoo Sports amplified prospects' pre-draft interviews and tailored team visits for franchises like Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers.

The draft featured 60 picks across two rounds, with the first overall pick used by the Cleveland Cavaliers to select Andrew Wiggins, a prospect from University of Kansas, while subsequent selections included Jabari Parker (second to the Milwaukee Bucks), Joel Embiid (third to the Philadelphia 76ers), and Dante Exum (fifth to the Utah Jazz). Teams executed trades involving franchises such as the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings to move up or accrue assets, echoing past transactions by executives like Danny Ainge, R.C. Buford, and Daryl Morey. Notable draftees included players connected to collegiate programs like University of Louisville, Syracuse University, University of Arizona, University of California, Los Angeles, and international clubs including Baskonia and Partizan Belgrade. Broadcast teams featuring commentators from TNT (TV network), ABC (TV network), and ESPN called the selections, while analysts referenced historical comparisons to players such as Scottie Pippen, Grant Hill, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Several players who went undrafted in the two-round event later signed with NBA G League affiliates, summer-league rosters, or overseas clubs, eventually contributing to teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets. Undrafted names trained with organizations coached by figures such as Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers, Erik Spoelstra, and Frank Vogel and earned contracts that echoed undrafted success stories like Ben Wallace, Fred VanVleet, and Udonis Haslem. International circuits including the Liga ACB, Turkish Basketball Super League, and Greek Basket League provided development platforms for these players while agents negotiated two-way contracts modeled after NBA two-way contracts instituted by the National Basketball Players Association and the NBA Board of Governors.

In the years following the draft, selections influenced championship contention and roster construction for franchises such as the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat. Players developed under coaching staffs led by Steve Kerr, Tyronn Lue, Nick Nurse, Gregg Popovich, and Erik Spoelstra, altering salary-cap strategies influenced by the Collective Bargaining Agreement and trades executed by front offices like those of Daryl Morey and Masai Ujiri. Injuries and medical histories, including those that affected draft positions and playing time, were compared to cases like Rudy Gobert and Kawhi Leonard, while international transfers and G League assignments mirrored career paths of Patrick Beverley and Danny Green. The draft's long-term legacies were assessed in relation to franchise rebuilds such as the Philadelphia 76ers' The Process, the Milwaukee Bucks' drafting strategies, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' championship-era roster moves.

Category:National Basketball Association draft seasons