The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

^^^

Still defense is more important, especially rim protection.


Don't even see how it's an argument.
 
awwsome said:
He's restricted, if they wanna keep him they'll keep him.

He and Oladipo will both continue to get better shooting.

An elite rim protector can change your franchise, you can't say the same about a knockdown shooter on the wing, they'll still be horrible on defense.


They didn't struggle scoring, even with spacing issues, so no, Mario isn't a need.


They need defense.
Click to expand...

Like P said, they were bad on both ends of the floor.

If someone throws more money at Harris then they would like to pay then he could be gone. They'll likely match IMO, but who knows.

Unsure whether WCS head is even in basketball, and the issues with Vucevic guarding 3s :x. It could work out but it's not a slam dunk by any measure
 
I think WCS is a smart and safe choice, they need a rim protector and he could be that guy... but just because they have Tobias Harris, doesn't mean they have no need for a guy like Mario. Tobias Harris isn't a franchise cornerstone, he's a solid young guy, but his per 36 was pretty similar from this year to last... except he shot better from 3. He'll get better, I'm sure, but I'm not expecting some major leap  from him where you have no need to look elsewhere for talent. 

I'm not the eternal optimist like you, the Magic still have a lot of work to do. Rim protection is important so WCS is a good choice, but I hope they're not saying  "No need for a talented guy like Mario, we have Tobias Harris"
 
I mean if yall wanna start Dedmon and Channing Frye next to Vuc be and draft a wing who isn't going to start be my guest.

I just don't think the team gets better with Mario and no rim protection.

Not like there are guys on the market either.
 
Fraschilla:
Russell, Grant, Towns primed to make immediate NBA impact

Even rarer than a sighting of Big Foot is that of a rookie making major contributions during the NBA playoffs. While some rookies are fortunate to play early in their careers, the vast majority are not ready to compete in a meaningful NBA game for a couple of seasons.

High draft picks are obviously taken by poor teams and usually have to play immediately. Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins and Milwaukee's Jabari Parker, prior to tearing his ACL, are prime examples. Other times, rookies surprise because of their talent, maturity and a particular strength that gets them on the court, even for top franchises. The most impressive rookie on a quality team this season was a rookie in name only: the Bulls' 24-year-old Nikola Mirotic, who prior to coming to the NBA had already spent six seasons playing at the highest level in Europe.

Which prospects in the 2015 draft class could make an immediate impact next season? Here are a three players well-positioned to get off to a fast start to their NBA careers:

D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Why he will contribute right away: Immediate playing time

I am expecting Russell to get off to a fast start to his NBA career even though he will play the first half of his rookie season as a teenager. In his only season at Ohio State, he showed that he not only possessed great skills, but also maturity and confidence well beyond his age.

Although he has not physically matured yet and there will be a learning curve for Russell as a point guard at the league's most dynamic position, he is likely to be put on the floor immediately and be allowed to grow into the position. By my count, there are at least five teams who will pick in the early part of the lottery that desperately need a point guard.

Point guards are used to having the ball in their hands and are not as reliant on their teammates for them to have success, so it may be easier for Russell to have an immediate impact. And because the NBA is officiated more closely with less contact on the perimeter than in college, strength is not the factor that it is in the low post.

The recent history of high draft picks who play the point guard position shows a high level of success early in their careers. Here are the rookie-year numbers of some of the NBA's best:

View media item 1515193
Given that Russell had the same level of college success of most of the players on this list -- and that, like them, he can score and pass at such a high level -- I am expecting a fast start to his NBA career.

Jerian Grant, Notre Dame

Why he will contribute right away: Experience and maturity

Unlike Russell, who will be one of the youngest players taken in the first round, Jerian Grant is an "old man" by draft standards (he turns 23 in October). While some teams may in turn view him as a player with a low ceiling, others will interpret his four-year career at Notre Dame capped by All-American honors as a positive.

Because of the likelihood that Grant will be drafted in the middle of the first round and possibly by a playoff team, his combination of position size, experience and maturity could fit nicely with a team needing a young player who could step in quickly as a rotation player. I expect him to get off to a fast start as a rookie.

Grant will join a number of NBA players whose fathers have played in the league and, while it is only anecdotal evidence, I believe having an understanding of the "family business" will also make his adjustment as a rookie easier.

On the court, he'll arrive in the league as one of its best passing rookies who already excels at an NBA staple: the screen-and-roll game. Because of his size and high basketball I.Q., he can stretch a defense with his ability to find teammates open on the opposite side of a defensive coverage.

Although Grant was also a prolific scorer this past season, his outside shooting will need to improve to prevent opposing defenses from "shrinking the floor" on his team. His minutes will rise once he proves he is not a liability in this regard.

Grant is ultimately a safe selection because of his value as an offensive facilitator, his maturity and his intelligence. A fast start for him is finding a spot in a good team's rotation.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

Why he will contribute right away: Five-tool player

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to determine that a player likely selected in the first three picks will get off to a fast start to his NBA career, though players like Derrick Williams, Hasheem Thabeet and Michael Beasley could be classified as "busts."

I expect the 6-foot-11 Towns to start strong as an NBA rookie in part because he played his best basketball at the end of the season and rapidly improved. Keep in mind that he did not have a game with double-figure field-goal attempts until Feb. 3. That changed down the stretch of Kentucky's season.

In Towns' last five games, all in the NCAA tournament, he played 23 minutes per game and averaged 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 63 percent. And although he was part of Kentucky's season-long platoon system, he evolved into a major offensive weapon for the Wildcats.

Towns' freshman season per-40-minute numbers were remarkably similar to those of former Kentucky player and rising NBA star Anthony Davis, and just behind fellow former Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins.

View media item 1515195
The 19-year-old freshman with a 7-foot-3 wingspan may not be as advanced as Davis, who was the consensus national player of the year. But he is the basketball equivalent of a five-tool player, with a nice combination of skill, size, athleticism, youth and a "give-a-damn meter" that runs high. These are all reasons why his NBA success should come early in his pro career.
Click to expand...
http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/in...hony-towns-players-ready-start-fast-nba-draft
 
DaComeUP said:
Like P said, they were bad on both ends of the floor.

If someone throws more money at Harris then they would like to pay then he could be gone. They'll likely match IMO, but who knows.

Unsure whether WCS head is even in basketball, and the issues with Vucevic guarding 3s :x. It could work out but it's not a slam dunk by any measure
Click to expand...

WCS has the same mind frame as Oden, which is that they don't 100% love basketball. Ball isn't life for WCS so anyone looking to draft him needs to know that he's fully committed and wants to be great. Otherwise, he's gonna collect checks and invest in his fashion fetish.
 
I assume they try to move waiters, lamb and pj3 (or at least I would)

I would start morrow.. then you add Roberson to that bench group
 
^^^^^

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

No reason why Morrow isn't starting.


Morrow/KD/Ibaka. :x

Shooting the lights out from 3 and mid range.
 
MY GOD, Waiters is under contract next year 
roll.gif


God dammit I didn't think the trade could end up any worse. Trading for this loser in the first place was a fireable offense 
 
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JohnnyRedStorm said:
drafting him in the top 5 should have u banned from the league
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11256516-large.jpg

So even as Waiters' name stayed out of the mainstream news, as the days passed he was in the Cavs' internal headlines. Coach Byron Scott had fallen in love with Waiters' ability after watching plenty of film. As far as Scott was concerned, getting the 6-foot-4 shooting guard would be hitting a jackpot.
Click to expand...
http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2012/story/_/id/8111377/2012-nba-draft-cleveland-cavaliers-scenes

:rofl:

Please do not let Byron give input into the Lakers draft process.
 
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Lottery team draft fixes: Magic, Kings, Pistons and Hornets

Kevin Pelton: During the next few weeks, we'll take a look at the biggest need I identified for each team in my Roster Reload series, and how those teams might be able to fill it in the draft. Having already covered the bottom four teams, today we take a look at the teams entering the lottery fifth through eighth: the Magic, Kings, Pistons and Hornets.

5. Orlando Magic

Pelton: I went with shooting here. The Magic have loaded up on good athletes like Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton the past two drafts, but at the expense of shooting. Orlando hoped to get that from Channing Frye, but the veteran free agent was something of a disappointment in his first season with the Magic.

Chad Ford:I think shooting and rim protection are the two areas where I see the most need. Obviously, if the Magic get the No. 1 pick, I love Karl-Anthony Towns here because he does both so well. I think D'Angelo Russell's shooting would be welcome, though there might be a logjam at guard if they take him. Assuming they pick around No. 5, Willie Cauley-Stein is an obvious choice because of his defensive and rim-protection abilities, but I don't see how you can draft him after taking Aaron Gordon last year. So two other names interest me: Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner. Both are essentially higher-upside versions of Channing Frye with the added benefit of being rim-protectors. I have Porzingis ranked ahead of Turner, and the Latvian would be my choice, but Turner would be very intriguing as well.

Pelton: I think we're going to hear Justise Winslow a lot if Orlando ends up outside the top four. Winslow's athleticism is intriguing with the Magic's guards, but despite his 41.8 percent 3-point shooting at Duke, he doesn't project as a good outside shooter. He made just 64.9 percent of his free throws.

6. Sacramento Kings

Pelton: After the Kings finished 28th in defensive rating following coach George Karl's arrival at the All-Star break, I identified defensive commitment as the team's biggest need. You could include better defenders, too. DeMarcus Cousins made strides defensively this past season and Ben McLemore has shown some defensive presence on the wing, but it's hard to find other above-average defenders on the roster.

Ford: To me there is a clear choice for the Kings if they get the No. 1 pick: Karl-Anthony Towns. Pair him with Cousins and you have a monstrous front line. And Towns' ability to protect the rim would be huge for them. There's another no-brainer if the Kings get the No. 2 or No. 3 pick: Emmanuel Mudiay. He brings athleticism, size, toughness and fits a clear need as a long-term point guard. They blew it last year when they passed on Elfrid Payton. I doubt they'd blow it again. And I believe there is a clear pick for them at No. 6: Willie Cauley-Stein. If defense is the priority, he's the best defender in the draft and should be a terrific fit next to Cousins. Their draft board, assuming they don't make major trades, is one of the clearest for me.

Pelton: I'm a little more skeptical of how Cauley-Stein fits with Cousins. Cousins gets as many post-up touches as anyone in the league, and defenses would be able to play off Cauley-Stein to give help. I think Porzingis and Turner make sense here, too.

7. Detroit Pistons

Pelton: With the likelihood they re-sign Reggie Jackson to play with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the backcourt, plus Andre Drummond in the middle, it's pretty clear the Pistons' biggest need is at the forward positions. Greg Monroe is an unrestricted free agent, and after trading Kyle Singler midseason, Detroit got little production from the aging small forward duo of Caron Butler (whose contract is non-guaranteed) and Tayshaun Prince (also unrestricted).

Ford: I think it's safe to say that if Monroe gets a huge offer elsewhere, he's gone. But that's still a big question mark. If they get the No. 1 pick, again I think Towns is the clear choice here and makes letting Monroe walk easy. What a crazy front line the Pistons would have. I think D'Angelo Russell is also interesting for them because of his ability to stretch the floor. If they are picking around seventh, I could see them grabbing one of the top two wings in the draft: Duke's Winslow or Croatia's Mario Hezonja. I love both of them and they are neck and neck on our Big Board. They're both great athletes, play with toughness and energy, and shot the ball well from 3-point range this season. Both would be great picks for the Pistons and I'm not quite ready to choose between the two. But if I had to pick today, I'd go Winslow.

Pelton: I'm a little more convinced than you that Monroe won't be back. As a result, I'd also consider Turner, who might ultimately be a great fit for Stan Van Gundy's offense. The wings probably make the most sense, however.

8. Charlotte Hornets

Pelton: It's another case where the obvious answer is shooting. The Hornets ranked 26th in 3-pointers and shot a league-low 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. Charlotte wings Gerald Henderson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Lance Stephenson are all poor outside shooters, forcing the Hornets to get 3s from elsewhere on the roster.

Ford: Yes, 3s are the need. While I think they'd have no choice but to go ahead and grab Towns as their center of the future if they get the No. 1 pick, after that, shooting becomes a priority. Russell would be a huge, huge get if they landed at No. 2 or No. 3. He'd be perfect next to Kemba Walker in their backcourt. If the Hornets draft eighth, Winslow and Hezonja are the targets. If they're both off the board, Kansas' Kelly Oubre is next in line. All three shoot it better from 3 than any player the Hornets currently have. I wonder if they'll be tempted by a more pure shooter like Devin Booker or R.J. Hunter? Overall, I think Winslow, Hezonja and Oubre are the better long-term prospects. If I had to rank those three for Charlotte, I'd put Hezonja first, Winslow second and Oubre third.

Pelton: This feels a little high for Booker or Hunter. Perhaps the Hornets could try to find a way to move down a little bit. More likely, though, your list will mirror theirs.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...lutions-magic-kings-pistons-hornets-nba-draft
 
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