BTBP Mock NBA Draft: Editor’s Edition

Dec 2, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Myles Turner (center) shoots a free throw against the Texas-Arlington Mavericks during the second half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Texas beat Texas-Arlington 63-53. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

What The Experts Say:

"Turner is a tantalizing talent. He’s long, blocks shots and has three-point potential. He’s a stretch-five prospect. He’s also a superior defender with excellent timing, scouts say. – Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated"

What The Player Says:

"I’m a competitor, and I know what I am capable of, on and off the court. I have the mentality to be one of the best, and the willingness to work for it. – Myles Turner"

What BTBP Says:

There’s nothing that sets a franchise moving in the right direction quicker than a top class big man, and that’s exactly what Turner projects to be.

He may get forgotten about due to the other high caliber big men likely to get drafted ahead of him, but there’s no reason to sleep on the former Longhorn’s potential.

ESPN’s Chad Ford makes a strong case for Turner as sky high reward pick:

"On pure talent, he’s a top-five pick. He’s a little more raw than a number of other players on the board, but if he hits his ceiling, he’ll have the unique ability to play both the 4 and the 5, stretch the floor and be an elite rim protector."

The Pacers already have a superstar in Paul George, but with David West ageing, and Roy Hibbert often lumbering, their roster (and particularly their frontcourt) is in a real state of flux.

Upside and Motor’s Austin Peters makes the case for why Turner could be the remedy for all of their problems.

"The Pacers appear to be leaning towards moving on from Roy Hibbert, which opens up a huge void in the middle of their stifling defense. If they indeed decide to turn themselves into a more fast paced team, Turner is the ideal prospect for the Pacers. Myles is the prototypical big man that teams in the league covet. He is a face up, pick and pop center who can also protect the rim at an elite clip on the other end."

Next: With The Twelfth Pick Of The NBA Draft The Utah Jazz Select...