The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

Why couldn't Henzonja have changed his name to Trill...

I hope Riley's people had a few back alley talks with him while they were in Barcelona,

Sucks that he is going to have to pay all that money to get a buyout
 
Why couldn't Henzonja have changed his name to Trill...

I hope Riley's people had a few back alley talks with him while they were in Barcelona,


Sucks that he is going to have to pay all that money to get a buyout

Pat Riley has a long documented aversion to europeans so don't get your hopes too high.
 
I know 
laugh.gif
, Stan has seemed not to like international players either but I think he is changing tithes a little

No way Henzonja lasts til' the tenth anyway
 
Only European player I remember on the Heat was Stephania in the post-Mourning/pre-Wade years. :lol:
 
10 sharpshooters to watch in the 2015 NBA Draft

Stephen Curry is the 2015 NBA MVP, but he had doubters when he first entered the league. Scouts said he had limited upside due to his "average first step." There were questions about whether he could play point guard after being off the ball often at a small school like Davidson.

But what Curry could do better than everyone else was simple: He could shoot the damn ball. More importantly, he could shoot the damn ball at an elite level out of a myriad of different play types. His shooting versatility set him apart from the pack as a young prospect and it still does to this day as the leader of the league's premiere team.

The 2015 NBA Draft doesn't necessarily have the next Curry, Kyle Korver or Ray Allen in it, but it does have a plethora of three-point sharpshooters. Here are 10 perimeter players that could translate their skills to the next level:

Projected First Rounders

D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Russell says that he models his game after Curry and Manu Ginobili, which is abundantly clear when he punishes defenders by pulling up out of the pick and roll and knocking down triples. Russell's long wingspan makes his shot is impossible to contest. Better yet, with sensational passing instincts, defenders must be conscious of all his lethal weapons. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to score, since he can drain shots off the catch and off screens.

The team that drafts Russell will have a field day drawing up plays for him.

Mario Hezonja, Croatia

The Croatian wing is one of the best all-around scorers in the draft, and his smooth jumper is his meal ticket to a long career in the NBA. Hezonja has perfect mechanics, a quick release, fluid body control and consistent footwork both off the dribble and the catch. Hezonja is known to take wild shots at times, but that confidence will serve him well in pressure situations.

R.J. Hunter, Georgia State

Why does a player that shot 30 percent from three-point range make this list? Because he had defenders draped over him on nearly every shot he took last season. Hunter is a pure shooter with effortless mechanics and unlimited range, so opponents focused all of their defensive attention on him to limit his looks.

But with the spread floor of the NBA and a supporting cast of actual pros instead of mid-major talent, Hunter will only be a secondary threat. If Hunter falls onto the lap of a playoff team, don't be surprised if he's incorporated into the offense immediately, especially off screens, where he excels at creating space.

Devin Booker, Kentucky

Booker is an advanced shooter, but was held back by streakiness throughout his freshman campaign. Still, he shot over 40 percent and displayed the stroke that makes him such an intriguing prospect. Booker has beautiful fundamentals on catch-and-shoots, but what sets him apart from many young players is his ability to launch without his feet set. He does an exceptional job of elevating and then balancing himself mid-air, and he should be able to translate that skill beyond the NBA's three-point arc.

Kelly Oubre, Kansas

Oubre is years away from honing his shooting skills, but the building blocks are there. With a long wingspan and a high release, Oubre could someday take advantage of his soft touch. But at Kansas, he went through long, streaky spells caused by inconsistent mechanics. He has yet to show any ability to hit threes off screens or off the dribble, which will limit his ability to immediately effect a team.

The tools are there, but he isn't yet in the same class as some of the others on this list.

Second-round sleepers

Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington

Harvey fits the mold of a spark plug off the bench, though he could be much more than that if he improves his shot selection and point guard instincts. He thrives with the ball in his hands and features an ankle-breaking step-back jumper, but he shines off the catch and off screens. While he faced weak competition in his collegiate career, he still shot over 44 percent from three against teams ranked in the top 100 in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.com. Productive pre-draft workouts could push Harvey into the first round.

Anthony Brown, Stanford

Brown has smooth mechanics and is rarely bothered by a hand in his face. He knows how to create space for himself off the ball, both through screens and in space. But Brown is not good pulling up off the dribble and doesn't project as more than a one-dimensional spot-up shooter.

Joseph Young, Oregon

Young is excellent out of all play types, but is particularly a threat after timeouts. Oregon frequently used him off screens and in secondary pick and roll actions to spring him loose. If he sticks in the NBA, he'll need to improve his passing and defense, but he's worth a flyer late in the draft for his shooting versatility.

Rashad Vaughn, UNLV

Vaughan had horrific shot selection during his incomplete season at UNLV, but he still sank triples with a high degree of difficulty, especially out of isolations. Considering his smooth mechanics and pristine footwork, he could develop into a highly efficient shooter in a role that keeps him on a tight leash.

Michael Frazier, Florida

Frazier was one of the best shooters in the country as an underclassman, but saw his percentages dip as a junior. Despite that, he still projects as superb shooter at the pro-level, whether that's in the NBA or overseas. Frazier has mature instincts relocating off-ball to find openings and he knows how to use screens to elude his defender.
http://www.sbnation.com/2015/5/8/8563829/nba-draft-2015-rankings-shooters-dangelo-russell
 
I'm honestly Dakari is playing. I guess he is firmly in the second round at this moment.

Anyways, here's the list of reps for teams at the draft lottery (so far):

Kings - Vlade Divac
Heat - Alonzo Mourning
Lakers - Byron Scott
Thunder - Russell Westbrook
 
2015 NBA Combine Invite List and Analysis

The NBA officially released the list of players invited to their annual Draft Combine, to be held in Chicago next week from May 12-17th.

The players' schedule reads as follow (edited for privacy reasons)

Tuesday, May 12
11:00 AM until completion. Arrivals, media circuit and medical intake (interviews and photo shoot at hotel)

Wednesday, May 13
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Testing (anthropometric & a portion of the medical testing)
2:00 PM – 7:25 PM Interviews with teams (hotel)
Throughout the day Medical testing for select players (Hospital)

Thursday, May 14
9:00 AM – 11:50 AM Interviews with teams (hotel)
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM On-court session – five-on-five games, shooting drills, strength and agility testing
Throughout the day Medical testing for select players (Hospital)

Friday, May 15
8:30 AM – 11:55 AM Interviews with teams (hotel)
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM On-court session – five-on-five games, shooting drills, strength and agility testing
Throughout the day Medical testing for select players (Hospital)

Saturday, May 16
7:00 AM until completion Medical testing (Hospital)

Sunday, May 17
9:00 AM until completion Medical evaluations with Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers (hospital)

Participants

Underclassmen
D'Angelo Russell Ohio State
Justise Winslow Duke
Willie Cauley-Stein Kentucky
Stanley Johnson Arizona
Myles Turner Texas
Kelly Oubre Kansas
Sam Dekker Wisconsin
Devin Booker Kentucky
Bobby Portis Arkansas
Trey Lyles Kentucky
Kevon Looney UCLA
Tyus Jones Duke
Cameron Payne Murray State
Montrezl Harrell Louisville
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Arizona
Christian Wood UNLV
R.J. Hunter Georgia State
Jarell Martin LSU
Cliff Alexander Kansas
Justin Anderson Virginia
Rashad Vaughn UNLV
Dakari Johnson Kentucky
Chris McCullough Syracuse
--
George Lucas Pinheiros
Robert Upshaw Washington
Terry Rozier Louisville
Michael Qualls Arkansas
J.P. Tokoto North Carolina
Mouhammadou Jaiteh Nanterre
Andrew Harrison Kentucky
Tyler Harvey Eastern Washington
Jordan Mickey LSU
Olivier Hanlan Boston College
Michael Frazier Florida
Aaron Harrison Kentucky
Vince Hunter UTEP
Chris Walker Florida
Brandon Ashley Arizona
Terran Petteway Nebraska

NCAA Seniors
Frank Kaminsky Wisconsin
Jerian Grant Notre Dame
Delon Wright Utah
--
Anthony Brown Stanford
Norman Powell UCLA
Aaron White Iowa
Rakeem Christmas Syracuse
Alan Williams UC Santa Barbara
Joseph Young Oregon
Jonathan Holmes Texas
Richaun Holmes Bowling Green
Keifer Sykes Wisc. Green Bay
Branden Dawson Michigan State
Treveon Graham VCU
Dez Wells Maryland
Larry Nance Wyoming
Quinn Cook Duke
TaShawn Thomas Oklahoma
Marcus Thornton William and Mary
Corey Hawkins UC Davis
Pat Connaughton Notre Dame
Chasson Randle Stanford
Ryan Boatright UConn

Notes

The final tally for Combine invites ended up being 62, which is a comparable number to what we've seen in the past few years.

You'll notice much higher figures from 2005-2008, which is the period the NBA held branded this event as their “Pre-Draft Camp” as opposed to the “NBA Combine,” starting in 2009.

39 of the 62 Invites this year were “Early-Entry” candidates, as a large number of seniors, many of whom declined to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, were passed over in favor of younger players.

How many of the players above will actually play competitive five on five, and how many will only do drills, or less (nothing) remains to be seen. We put the cutoff on our lists above and below the “--“, which seems to indicate where things are at the moment.

It is a safe bet to say that any player currently projected as a first round pick will opt to do as little as possible unless they feel they stand something to gain from drill or another, the athletic testing component, or measurements. Until the NBA finds a way to “force” players to compete in one setting or another, this will continue to be a part of the equation during the Combine, which unfortunately dominates public and private conversations all week.

What will be very interesting to see is what happens if players who have already committed to playing five on five opt to pull out at the last minute, for example due to an injury, real or imagined. Will the NBA take a hard line stance and elect to send them home, without medical testing, conducting interviews with teams, or doing athletic testing and measurements? Things could quickly spiral out of hand by the second day, which is something to keep an eye on.

Notable Players Who Declined Invites
Karl Towns Kentucky
Jahlil Okafor Duke
Emmanuel Mudiay Guangdong

The disturbing trend of top prospects electing to completely skip the NBA Combine altogether began in 2013, when Anthony Bennett, the eventual #1 pick in the draft, did not show up in Chicago after undergoing shoulder surgery less than ten days prior.

The following year, top prospects Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid took things to another level in deciding not to attend, under the advice of their agents.

While no official explanation was given, the general reasoning was that these players have nothing to gain by coming to Chicago and can only hurt their stock by submitting themselves to measurements, athletic testing, interviews and especially the NBA physical examination, which has uncovered a litany of issues in the past that has caused prospects to slip in the draft.

NBA agents, who mostly enter the picture very late in the game and only have very limited options at their disposal in terms of putting their stamp on the draft process, seem to be trending towards erring on the side of caution to an extreme degree now. This is simply their way of attempting to control every morsel of information that is dispersed to teams, particularly ones without high draft picks who are on a “need to know” basis in their view. They know they regardless hold all the cards, as no GM will seemingly dare call their bluff and skip on one of the draft's prized prospects due to a lack of info or control.

This issue has been exacerbated by the NBA moving the date of the Combine to mid-May, prior to the draft lottery, which adds a significant element of unknown to the week. Agents would much prefer to know which teams are drafting in which slot before they decide who to let their players interview with for example.

Notable Players Who Were Forced to Decline
Mario Hezonja Barcelona
Kristaps Porzingis Sevilla

The ACB regular season doesn't end until May 24th, which precludes both players from attending even if they felt like they had anything to gain by putting themselves in front of teams in such a strange and unfamiliar environment. While Porzingis' season will be done with the regular season, Hezonja's Barcelona team is in third place and thus is expected to make a long run in the Spanish playoffs.

The ACB semifinals lasted until June 15th last year, while the finals extended all the way to June 26th. Hezonja may be able to make it to the NBA Draft Green Room, where he is certain to be invited, but it will certainly be a close call if he'll be able to conduct any workouts (unlikely), interviews or submit for a physical.

Porzingis on the other hand will be making his way to the States towards the end of May and is expected to be in attendance for his agency's (ASM Sports) Pro Day in Las Vegas on June 12th. Expect every NBA team to send numerous scouts and high level executives, particularly those drafting in the lottery.

Other European prospects whose teams will still be competing in international competition for the forseeable future:

Timothe Luwawu Antibes
Aleksandar Vezenkov Aris
Nikola Milutinov Partizan
Guillermo Hernangomez Sevilla
Cedi Osman Anadolu Efes
Arturas Gudaitis Zalgiris
Nedim Buza KK Spars
Moussa Diagne Fuenlabrada
Marc Garcia Manresa
Alpha Kaba Pau Orthez
Paul Zipser Bayern Muenchen
Daniel Diez San Sebastian
Lucas Dias Pinheiros
Andzejs Pasecniks VEF Riga
Rade Zagorac Mega Leks
Simone Fontecchio Virtus Bologna
Adin Vrabac Trier
Nikola Radicevic Sevilla
Kevin Harley Poitiers
Dimitris Agravanis Olympiakos
Wael Arakji Al-Riyadi Beirut
Nenad Miljenovic Mega Vizura
Mateusz Ponitka Oostende

Notable Players Who Were Not Invited

It's difficult to pinpoint a single underclassman “early-entry” candidate who had a real case to be invited to Chicago, but did not get in. On the other hand, the list of NCAA seniors who may be feeling snubbed is long and noteworthy, featuring some of the most recognizable names in the college game this past season:

Josh Richardson Tennessee
T.J. McConnell Arizona
Darrun Hilliard Villanova
Darion Atkins Virginia
Cady Lalanne Massachusetts
D.J. Newbill Penn State
Sam Thompson Ohio State
Shannon Scott Ohio State
Wesley Saunders Harvard
Joshua Smith Georgetown
Juwan Staten West Virginia
Julian Washburn UTEP
Kevin Pangos Gonzaga
LeBryan Nash Oklahoma State
Derrick Marks Boise State
Briante Weber VCU
Jarvis Summers Mississippi
Andre Hollins Minnesota
Seth Tuttle Northern Iowa
Rayvonte Rice Illinois
Will Cummings Temple
Corey Walden Eastern Kentucky
Gabe Olaseni Iowa
Royce O'Neale Baylor
Nnana Egwu Illinois
David Kravish Cal

From the list above, exactly half elected to participate at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Hillard, Washburn, Newbill, Atkins, Lalanne, Saunders most notably), while half elected not to. It's difficult to say at this stage whether attending or not attending the PIT would have made any real difference. A huge amount of ink is dropped each year about the debate around the NCAA's Early-Entry rules and how unfair they are—which they certainly are (international prospects can be in the NBA Draft up to three times, while collegiate only get one real shot). But some type of discussion should be had about the NCAA seniors who seemingly get the short end of the stick every year in the NBA Draft evaluation process. They are damned if they go to Portsmouth, and damned if they don't. These players deserve a chance to compete against the other top prospects in the draft, and it's unfortunate that they are shut out year after year due to a numbers game.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2015-NBA-Combine-Invite-List-and-Analysis-4952/
 
Damn...I remember thinking LeBryan Nash was going to be the truth coming out of high school. Now the dude can't even get invited to the 62 man combine.
 
Scouting exec dissects Knicks’ draft options: Sleeper top pick?

Ryan Blake, the NBA’s scouting consultant, still feels it is too early to pinpoint a consensus top five for the June 25 draft.

But he doesn’t think Knicks president Phil Jackson can go wrong at his spot. As second seed in the May 19 draft lottery, the Knicks have locked up no worse than a top-five pick — with a 19.9 percent chance of winning the top overall spot, and the opportunity to select between centers Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky) and Jahlil Okafor (Duke), the team’s two chief targets. Jackson has hinted multiple times the two-way Towns is for now his No. 1 choice.

The Chicago draft combine begins Wednesday and will give Jackson a chance to interview the two centers and three other members of the Big 5 — point guards D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State), Emmanuel Mudiay (Guangdong) and late-comer, swingman Justise Winslow (Duke). They are each entering the draft following “freshman’’ seasons. (Mudiay spent his year out of high school in China).

The Big 5 won’t participate in the 5-on-5 games in Chitown but could do the “skills and drills’’ segment and take physicals.

“It sounds weird but it’s still kind of early,’’ said Blake, who runs the seniors-only Portsmouth Invitational draft camp staged last month. “You’ll find this [a] deep draft. You might find other players in that top group.’’

Blake mentioned Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein and Wisconsin’s senior center Frank Kaminsky, the college player of the year who had a terrific Final Four. Blake said Kaminsky is “a coach’s dream,” will be a good NBA player, but personnel men look for “franchise players” in the top five. The Wisconsin senior doesn’t qualify.

“It’s an extraordinary group and different,’’ Blake said of the Big 5. “These guys are used to sharing the wealth — players who are skilled, not selfish and versatile. It’s not just scoring or defense.’’

Blake said because of Okafor’s poor last impression at the Final Four, workouts could prove vital as he gets a chance to get into “great shape.” Blake said he feels Towns still is a project offensively.

Blake’s darkhorse for No. 1 pick is Russell, whose basketball IQ is off the charts in his estimation.

Now that the NBA released its early-entry candidates, Blake, whose late father Marty was one of the league’s scouting pioneers, breaks down the Big 5.

Blake’s Take:

D’Angelo Russell (G, Ohio State)

Blake: You like his size and athleticism — but I don’t mean just speed and quickness — it’s his mindset athleticism that’s a skill set he has that’s so high for such a young age. This guy can make a difference on a team real early. He’s best running the point and is a smooth operator. He can make plays for himself and others and can step up and take over a game. But he’s got an elite brain, sees the floor and angles. You don’t see that from kids at such a young age. You saw him mature and believe in himself. That’s important. He’s not cocky, just believes in himself. He’s like a Mike Conley, Jason Kidd, and a Steve Nash, the way he holds his dribble, and I like the way in a pick-and-roll he gets inside for a floater. He’s got a good assist-to-turnover ratio. The game looks slow to him, so in the speedier NBA, he’ll still be comfortable.

Emmanuel Mudiay (G, Guangdong, China)

Blake: When you leave high school to play professionally, you take a risk. Brandon Jennings left and played in Italy and fell to 10. Problem is, you have to enter the next draft under rules, so it’s a risk if you get injured or don’t get playing time. And playing in China, it’s not so easy to see a person live. He got hurt in December and was out a long time and lost a lot of game education, game toughness. He’s a good player with great size for a combo guard. Definitely can run both guard spots, attacks the rim with a crafty handle, quickness and a good boardman for his size and a great motor. He came back from the long layoff with 24 points and eight boards in the CBA semifinals. It will be interesting to see if the agent controls his workouts and doesn’t go against college guards. He’s not a great free-throw shooter. It’s risk-reward with him because he’s got a huge upside.

Jahlil Okafor (C, Duke)

Blake: I do think that any workouts are important, and he can be an example of a guy getting in great shape during this period and get into Olympic conditioning. In Okafor, you’re always reminded of what you see last and was in consistent foul trouble. But the thing about him, it’s his offense when looking at New York and how he fits into the second-worst offense in the NBA. He has that arsenal of versatility, to move in the paint, with that great footwork and a good passer out of the high and low post. He’s got that jump hook in the middle of the lane and recognizes angles. He’s not a great free-throw shooter, but he has that touch around the basket and from mid-range. He’s not going to be great player because he can leap out of a building or is extremely quick. I look at players like Okafor and Russell who do so much more that exceeds athleticism. You’d like to see him in better condition to become a better defender and rebounder. It’s important to have that juice on the offensive end, but if you can’t do that on the defensive end, he won’t find that playing time. He has to prove that by coming in great condition for workouts.

Justise Winslow (F, Duke)

Blake: He had a great tournament. Good size with toughness and great track record as a winner. He’s a great pieces guy, young, 19 years old. His upside is big and is another guy with a lot of confidence. Guys like DeMarre Carroll, 6-6, you don’t want him guarding power forwards. He’s got to be at small forward to defend the 3 spots. He’s got the aptitude of knowing schemes and being that good defender on the pick-and-roll. He can light it up from deep and get to the basket, but not a great free-throw shooter. He’s a good playmaker. He’s well-rounded. He’s proven he can share the wealth . He doesn’t have to be the go-to guy but can be when needed.

Karl-Anthony Towns (F/C, Kentucky)

Blake: Rarely see a guy in one year have that development. Offensively he’s still raw. He’s got soft touch with a little range. He’s a skilled big man who can block, rebound, defend. That’s going to be noted first. His offensive game will come around because the guy has a good touch. He had to play center and in the post and only got 21 minutes per game because of Kentucky’s platoon system . He’s got good lateral quickness and can be a stretch 4, but we don’t know how he’ll do outside because he only did it in high school. He’s got a 7-4 wingspan, a 9-5 reach. He can be a physical player, but he is very coachable. So you look at that size and say, yeah, there’s a huge upside there. I would say he’s a project offensively and he’ll have his learning curve but has offensive skills. The Knicks have to decide what fits into their triangle and culture. Not an easy decision.
http://nypost.com/2015/05/09/nba-scouting-exec-dissects-knicks-draft-options/
 
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