As expected, UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad became the first player with ties to Southern California picked in the 2013 NBA Draft. The small forward was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 14, the final pick in a lottery littered with surprises.
Minnesota acquired the 14th pick when they traded Trey Burke, whom they selected with the ninth pick, to Utah for picks No. 14 and 21. Speaking to the Twin Cities media after the draft, Timberwolves president Flip Saunders said that by the time the team picked Muhammad, it was on the fourth scenario it envisioned coming into the draft.
"I know it's not a very popular pick with Shabazz," Saunders said after the pick. "I was very critical of him when he came in."
Muhammad was not present at the draft when his name was called, and he said on a conference call with the Timberwolves media corps later in the night that he was at his hotel with his agent when his name was called. He got his obligatory handshake with commissioner David Stern later in the first round when he arrived at the Barclay's Center.
Minnesota was in need of a wing player with some size, which they got in Muhammad, and Saunders said the 20-year-old could play either shooting guard or small forward in coach Rick Adelman's system. Although he fit the bill of the Timberwolves' needs, Muhammad did not come without reservations from his future team after red flags about his incorrect age and attitude issues arose throughout the spring.
One other Los Angeles-area player was selected in the first round, Solomon Hill, who went to the Pacers at No. 23. Hill, a forward, attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles before playing for four years at Arizona.
Allen Crabbe, a shooting guard who attended Price High School in Los Angeles, was selected 31st by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland traded him immediately to Portland.
Portland then selected Jeff Withey, a San Diego native who played center at Arizona and Kansas, with the 39th pick. Portland held the 40th pick, as well, which it used on Arizona's Grant Jerrett, who attended Lutheran High School in Chino Hills.
With the 41st pick, the Grizzlies selected Jamaal Franklin, a shooting guard who attended San Diego State.
Nine picks later, Atlanta selected James Ennis, a native of Ventura. Ennis played small forward at Long Beach State.
