2013 NBA Draft preview: My top guys, my busts

 Well, this is fun.

In the handful of years that I've closely followed the NBA, I can't remember the order of picks being so murky within 24 hours of showtime.

Cleveland hasn't made any indications about whom they'll take with the No. 1 pick. Or even if they'll keep the pick (they already failed to land Kevin Love through a trade, reportedly). Apparently, they're torn between two injured big men — Nerlens Noel (Achiles, out until at least December) and Alex Len (stress fracture, out four months).

Injured big men!! Exciting!!

Well, no.

Bottom line: Any smart team won't risk a high pick on either guy. Plus, there's the fact that Noel's a 209-pound center (!!). I think Len might be a decent pro, but he's not a No. 1 pick and he won't have the most successful career of guys in this draft.

As a basketball junkie and someone who watched a ton of college hoops (including every Michigan game), let me make the case for my top prospects:

1) Trey Burke, Michigan
The Chris Paul comparison is legitimate. Burke is the same size, has a longer wingspan, is a great shooter, a solid defender, and was the best pick-and-roll player in the nation last year. The pick-and-roll is kind of important in the NBA. But his intangibles are just as important. From closely following his two years at Michigan, I know that he's a fierce competitor, a guy who won't let his team lose, a leader, and a player who lives with a chip on his shoulder. Burke will write down the guys drafted ahead of him and make sure he outperforms them on the court and in the weight room, where he'll continue to get stronger to mold himself after the point guard he compares himself to most.

2) Victor Oladipo, Indiana
If you don't know about Oladipo's athleticism, just watch his missed dunk against Michigan in February. It was the most epic missed dunk of all time. We know this: Oladipo will bring a swagger and immense competitiveness to his team. He'll also play great defense. I can't wait to see him getting in Dwyane Wade's grill. He could become a really good pro if he can become consistent offensively (something he struggled with late this past season).

3) Otto Porter, Georgetown
They're calling him the complete package, but I wonder about the soft-spoken forward. For instance, if he ends up on a bad team (say, Orlando), how much will he assert himself offensively? In this way, he's probably a bit similar to Kawhi Leonard, who's been blessed with a great situation in San Antonio and thrived there as his role has grown. We do know this: Porter won't cause any drama, will play hard on both ends, and will work hard to get better. That's saying something.

4) C.J. McCollum, Lehigh
I LOVE McCollum. Yes, he played in the Patriot League. As a frequent visitor to Bender Arena on American's campus, I can attest to how awful the league is. But then there's the gem game McCollum had against Duke in that epic 2012 NCAA Tournament upset. And there's the greatest Grantland NBA Draft Interview of them all, in which McCollum was spewing NBA knowledge on Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose. The guy knows the game, he knows players' tendencies, and he's got swagger. I would love to have him on my team. Um, Pistons...

OK, bust time...

1) Ben McLemore, Kansas
Listen, McLemore is a good kid. But he's not smart, and he's going to be in over his head in this league. This is a kid who disappeared from games as a freshman on a team of upperclassmen. In the NBA, he'll be on a team with players 2, 3, 6, 8, 13 years older than him! Obviously, he's very talented and has a pure shot, but unless he ends up on a San Antonio or Miami with veteran mentors (not happening), he's going to struggle adjusting to NBA life.

2) Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse
The guy can't shoot. The guy turned the ball over, as a tall point guard, on over 20 of his offensive possessions. And some consider him a better point guard prospect than Burke? Preposterous! Height can only take you so far. And although he has 5 inches on Burke, his wingspan is only 2 inches longer.

3) Shabazz Muhammed
Stay away from Shabazz. Period. Here's a guy who could have cleared the air before draft night, admitting he made mistakes during his freshman year (and only year) at UCLA. Instead, he doesn't seem to understand he was in the wrong (and never corrected his father's age scam). He's also one-dimensional — just a scorer. Spending a lottery pick on a low-character guy who doesn't prioritize defense and rebounding is foolish

A few others I like
1) Shane Larkin, Miami: Excelled as PG in one of the top leagues. Great pick-and-roll player.
2) Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan: Yes, I'm biased. But NBA strong, picture-perfect shot, good rebounder.
3) Gorgui Dieng, Louisville: National champion. Great shot blocker. Will be very solid role guy.

Tomorrow night will be unpredictable from start to finish. And no books will be written on most of these guys for a few years. There's no superstar here, either. But that won't diminish the excitement or the drama of the night.

And don't sleep on Burke. Just ask anyone who played Michigan this year.