Hoops Habit
Fansided

Winners Of The 2014 NBA Draft – Analytics Edition

By Mika Honkasalo

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the crowd before the start of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the crowd before the start of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next

Houston Rockets

Draft Picks:

Clint Capela 25th -> Projected third (!) by consensus model

Nick Johnson 42nd -> Projected 61st by consensus model

Clint Capela is one of the more interesting players in the draft. He’s still only 20 years old, 6’11” with a massive 7’4″ wingspan and an absolute monster of an athlete. Just take a look his DraftExpress video at 1:20:

Look at him run! Reminds me of a young and raw Serge Ibaka. His great block rate and superb ability to finish at the rim (more than 71 percent in Euro Cup, which has a very high level of competition) make him a great analytical prospect.

Capela is as raw as it gets but don’t forget what Ibaka looked like before he had any discernible NBA skills. Ibaka went 24th in the 2008 NBA draft and now he’s a monster on defense and improving on offense; Capela has that same upside and can already put the ball on the floor and attack the rim with ferocity.

The Rockets are likely to try and stash him for a year or two to keep their cap flexibility, but in any case getting a guy who projects as the third best player in this draft at pick No. 25 is no joke, even if he doesn’t fully pan out.