NBA Mock Draft 2013: Shane Larkin (ESPN), Shabazz Muhammad (DX) projected to Bucks

It's that time of year again. ESPN and Draft Express both released new 2013 NBA mock drafts, and there is still some divergence on how the Milwaukee Bucks will use the No. 15 pick. Shane Larkin and Shabazz Muhammad are the prospects projected to the Bucks, but some interesting curve balls emerged in Chad Ford's update.

We broke recently down the lottery-level talent (including Muhammad) in Part 1 and Part 2 of our NBA Draft preview podcast series, and Larkin played a prominent role in Part 3, along with Jamaal Franklin, Sergey Karasev, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Erick Green. Here is Part 3 of our podcast preview:

NBA Draft Preview Podcast, Part 3

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Now on to the mock drafts.

ESPN Mock 6.0 (Insider)

In the latest scenario crafted by Chad Ford, KCP (No. 9 to Minnesota), Michael Carter-Williams (No. 10 to Portland) and Sergey Karasev (No. 13 to Dallas) were snatched up before the Bucks selected. They had their choice between Shane Larkin, Dennis Schroeder, Shabazz Muhammad, Jamaal Franklin and Tony Mitchell, and they picked the shortest player in the bunch. Here's what Ford had to say:

If the draft plays out this way, the Bucks are looking at three names -- Larkin, Dennis Schroeder or Glen Rice Jr., who's coming in for a second workout on Tuesday. It's hard to say which way the Bucks are leaning, but it looks as if Larkin has the slight edge.

The odd part here is that Ford leaves Rice Jr. on the board until the No. 34 pick (to Houston), so I have no idea why he's mentioned in that trio. He did work out a second time for the Bucks on Tuesday, but at the time of his first workout the team had yet to hire Larry Drew, so it's hard for me to read that situation as a clear sign they love him. Here's the real question Bucks fans: Would you be happy with the Larkin pick under these circumstances?

If you're still scratching your head, here's another thing to think about. Ford created a second-round mock as well, and he projected the Bucks to select another point guard -- 6'5 Lorenzo Brown from N.C. State -- at No. 43 overall. Why the Bucks would take two backup-level point guards is beyond me, but it is worth noting that Pierre Jackson (No. 33 to Cleveland), Rice (No. 34 to Houston), Archie Goodwin (No. 37 to Detroit), Erick Green (No. 38 to Washington) and Andre Roberson (No. 41 to Memphis) were already off the board.

Draft Express Mock

The fine folks at Draft Express also updated their mock draft on Tuesday, and the Bucks selected Shabazz Muhammad in their new scenario. KCP (No. 9 to Minnesota) and Michael Carter-Williams (No. 13 to Dallas) were off the board, while Larkin, Muhammad, Karasev, Schroeder and Franklin were all available.

In the second round, Ricky Ledo, Tony Snell, Glen Rice Jr., Erick Green, Nate Wolters, Archie Goodwin and Lorenzo Brown are all off the board by the time pick No. 43 rolls around, so the Bucks take center Colton Iverson over players like Ray McCallum, Phil Pressey and Myck Kabongo.