The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[jjs07]

Bro...I forgot Isiah was running the show for the WNBA team. Zeke is the teflon don to Dolan.

He's gonna end up being Knicks prez, not before long.

Dude has to know where the bodies are buried, unbelievable what he's gotten away with.

I just don't get it

Yikes...U think he'll do that?

Year 1 was

What exactly was he suppose to do in Year 1? Realistically speaking. This summer is his true test, if Knicks strike out BIG this summer, complete failure.

Going to be an interesting offseason for the Knicks. Haven't had cap space since NY Undercover was on Fox. I wonder what the plan is for Phil?

 

[ballinsam23]

Embiid and filler for #2....who says no?

 

[pmatic]

Even though I think Embiid was the best prospect from last year's draft and have confidence in him, no way. The Lakers aren't rolling that dice given how the last three years have gone health wise.

 

[tomdiginson]

[q

Embiid and filler for #2....who says no?

Why would they do all that though if they don't need to. Mudiay and Russel will fall to 3.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Bro...I forgot Isiah was running the show for the WNBA team. Zeke is the teflon don to Dolan.

He's gonna end up being Knicks prez, not before long.

Dude has to know where the bodies are buried, unbelievable what he's gotten away with.

I just don't get it

Yikes...U think he'll do that?

Year 1 was

What exactly was he suppose to do in Year 1? Realistically speaking. This summer is his true test, if Knicks strike out BIG this summer, complete failure.

Going to be an interesting offseason for the Knicks. Haven't had cap space since NY Undercover was on Fox. I wonder what the plan is for Phil?

there's better free agent options next year. i won't be upset if we save some powder for then. rather sit on the money than spend it foolishly.

 

[pmatic]

Towns, Russell top NBA Draft Big Board by the Numbers 2.0

With the order for the 2015 NBA draft set after Tuesday's lottery, it's a good time to revisit what the numbers have to say about this year's top prospects. In February, I released a preliminary big board of the top 30 prospects in terms of the wins above replacement player (WARP) they're projected to average over their first five NBA seasons. (For more details on the method, see this explanation.)

Since then, we've learned who will be in this year's draft, some of the numbers have changed and I've introduced a consensus projection for WARP incorporating where players rank on my colleague Chad Ford's Big Board as an estimate of how scouts view them. I'm using the consensus projection to rank my updated top 30 with notes on how players would rank going strictly by their statistical projection.

At the end, check out a table of all of Ford's Top 100 prospects who have projections.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky

Consensus: 4.0 WARP | Big Board: 1 | WARP: 3

Towns ranks third in projected WARP (3.0), but the gap is small and his spot atop Ford's Big Board carries heavy weight. As a result, Towns is comfortably No. 1 by consensus. It's hard to find a real concern in Towns' statistics. He's average or better for a center across the board, and his rim protection is elite.


2. D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State

Consensus: 3.7 WARP | Big Board: 3 | WARP: 1

Russell is tops with 3.3 projected WARP, which ranks ninth among one-and-done players in my database. Of the three top freshman prospects, he rated best by my metric on a per-minute basis in college and also is the youngest by a small margin. As a result, his potential is on par with the centers generally rated ahead of him.

3. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Sevilla

Consensus: 3.4 WARP | Big Board: 5 | WARP: 2

When I ranked players in February, Porzingis was seventh on the board. Since then, I've readjusted translations from the Spanish ACB to the NBA, taking into account the successful performance of former Spanish star Nikola Mirotic this season. As a result, Porzingis leaped all the way to second in projected WARP (3.3), nearly even with Russell. With those translations, he rates as nearly NBA average this season in both the ACB and the international EuroCup competition at an age just a few months older than the average college freshman. That provides statistical backing for the handful of teams that have Porzingis in the top three of their board, as Ford has reported.

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guangdong

Consensus: 3.1 WARP | Big Board: 4 | WARP: 7

Back in February, Mudiay was missing from this list. I worked out Chinese CBA-to-NBA translations in March when Ford and I debated his game. While the sample size is small (Mudiay played fewer than 400 minutes due to injury), his performance in China confirmed Mudiay as a top-five pick.

5. Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

Consensus: 3.0 WARP | Big Board: 2 | WARP: 17

Recall from February that Okafor ranked a surprising 14th in projected WARP (2.0) because his high 2-point percentage was regressed heavily to the mean by a system designed to detect fluky performance. While Okafor's shooting accuracy didn't fade, other areas of his game did, and he would rank outside the top five prospects by WARP even if not for the regression factor. Consider this spot something of a compromise. Okafor is far too talented to rank any lower than fifth, but statistically the other top prospects might be safer choices because Okafor's shooting percentage has to be elite for him to be a star.

6. Myles Turner, F/C, Texas

Consensus: 2.6 WARP | Big Board: 9 | WARP: 8

Turner is the last prospect to rank in the top 10 both on Ford's Big Board and in terms of projected WARP (2.6), which has traditionally been a strong indicator of NBA success. His block and defensive rebound percentages were similar to Towns, and Turner brings a valuable stretch element at the offensive end.

7. Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin

Consensus: 2.4 WARP | Big Board: 14 | WARP: 5

While age has historically been an important factor in draft prospects' potential, consider Kaminsky exhibit A that seniors can rate well, too. His 2.7 WARP projection is the best for a senior since Draymond Green (2. and Jae Crowder (2.7) in 2012.

8. Tyus Jones, PG, Duke

Consensus: 2.3 WARP | Big Board: 20 | WARP: 4

Jones ranks fourth in projected WARP (2., but his ranking on Ford's Big Board pushes him down. Scouts have good reason to question Jones' combination of small stature and non-elite athleticism, but he demonstrated en route to a national championship his strong skills and leadership. If Jones can hang with bigger foes, he'll be a steal.

9. Mario Hezonja, SG, FC Barcelona

Consensus: 2.2 WARP | Big Board: 7 | WARP: 22

Hezonja's 1.9 projected WARP certainly isn't bad, but he is on the low side for a possible top-10 pick. In particular, the concern in his translated stats is his ability to get to the free throw line. Playing a small role on a strong Barcelona team, Hezonja has attempted just six foul shots in 457 ACB minutes. His free throw rate was much better in Euroleague play.

10. Justise Winslow, SF, Duke

Consensus: 2.2 WARP | Big Board: 6 | WARP: 27

Before the national championship game, Ford and I looked in great detail at why Winslow's season-long numbers don't match the impact he had for the Blue Devils during their title run. Still, factoring in scouting consensus puts Winslow on par with Hezonja as the best wing in the draft.

11. R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State

Consensus: 2.2 WARP | Big Board: 21 | WARP: 6

Kentucky's Devin Booker has stolen Hunter's shine as the best prospect among the shooting specialists in this draft. While Booker was far more accurate last season, projections that factor in all three seasons Hunter played at Georgia State suggest he'll eventually be the better NBA 3-point shooter because of his superior free throw percentage.

12. Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

Consensus: 2.2 WARP | Big Board: 11 | WARP: 11

Payne is not far from being a top-10 player by both projected WARP (2.2, 11th) and scouting consensus, making him a strong late-lottery choice.

13. Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona

Consensus: 2.2 WARP | Big Board: 10 | WARP: 14

The group of small forwards likely to go between No. 10 and No. 20 (also including Sam Dekker and Kelly Oubre Jr.) all rate similarly in terms of projected WARP, but Johnson's advantage on Ford's Big Board gives him the edge.

14. Delon Wright, G, Utah

Consensus: 2.0 WARP | Big Board: 26 | WARP: 9

Nobody in the draft has a better rookie projection than Wright, whose versatile game puts him ahead of Kaminsky. Because Wright already is 23, his long-term WARP projection (2.6) is less effusive, though still good enough to put him in the top 10 statistically. Fit is important for Wright, who is most valuable with the ball in his hands, but his defense and rebounding give him a chance to be a steal.

15. Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin

Consensus: 2.0 WARP | Big Board: 15 | WARP: 10

Of the aforementioned group of mid-round small forwards, Dekker has the best WARP projection (2.2) because he projects as a more efficient scorer than Johnson and Oubre.

16. Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas

Consensus: 2.0 WARP | Big Board: 16 | WARP: 12

One of the safest bets in the teens, Portis ranks 12th in terms of projected WARP (2.1).

17. Kelly Oubre Jr., Kansas, SF

Consensus: 1.7 WARP | Big Board: 18 | WARP: 23

Oubre has a lower WARP projection (1. than the wings he's being compared to in this part of the draft, though the difference is hardly dramatic.

18. Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

Consensus: 1.6 WARP | Big Board: 8 | WARP: 35

Using consensus projections helps Cauley-Stein, who rates as a second-round pick by projected WARP (1.1). No box-score metric will sufficiently credit Cauley-Stein for his defensive versatility, but his middling defensive rebounding makes comparisons to dominating rebounders like DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandleris a bit of a stretch.

19. Kevon Looney, F, UCLA

Consensus: 1.6 WARP | Big Board: 19 | WARP: 25

When Looney was projected in the top 10, his WARP projection (1. didn't match that lofty ranking. Now that Looney has slid, he's one of a handful of players who ranks in the same spot by consensus as on Ford's Big Board.

20. Christian Wood, UNLV, PF

Consensus: 1.6 WARP | Big Board: 25 | WARP: 21

Wood compares favorably to Looney. He projects as a slightly better rebounder, to block shots more than twice as frequently and shoot a higher percentage from 2-point range. Because Looney is younger, their WARP projections are similar but still give Wood (1.9) the edge.

21. Cedi Osman, SG, Anadolu Efes

Consensus: 1.5 WARP | Big Board: 33 | WARP: 19

At 19, Osman played an important role for Anadolu Efes in the Euroleague. He's a good rebounder for a guard and has major potential if he starts knocking down the 3. Expect him to go early in the second round as a draft-and-stash prospect.

22. Michael Frazier II, SG, Florida

Consensus: 1.5 WARP | Big Board: 36 | WARP: 15

The formula I've developed to project NBA 3-point percentage using college 3-point percentage, 3-point attempts and free throw percentage pegs Frazier as the best shooter in the draft and projects him to make 41 percent of his 3s. His game isn't as well-rounded as Hunter's, but that kind of shooting would make Frazier excellent value in the early second round.

23. Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

Consensus: 1.4 WARP | Big Board: 13 | WARP: 33

Of the three NCAA sharpshooters in this year's draft, Booker is likely to go first but ranks third even adjusting for his draft status. In part, Booker doesn't project quite as well as a shooter based on my model because his shooting numbers at Kentucky (41 percent from 3, 83 percent from the line) were very good but not great. More problematic, though, are Booker's defensive stats. He had just two blocks all season, and his steal rate (1.3 percent) was extremely poor for a college guard. Booker was also a non-factor on the defensive glass. Even if Booker develops into an elite shooter, his defensive limitations could force him into a reserve role like Anthony Morrow.

24. Alan Williams, PF, UC Santa Barbara

Consensus: 1.3 WARP | Big Board: 48 | WARP: 16

Williams is the classic undersized big man who was productive at the collegiate level. His steal rate suggests he has the quickness needed to transition to defending power forwards in the NBA, and his rebound and block percentages are outstanding.

25. Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse

Consensus: 1.2 WARP | Big Board: 29 | WARP: 29

McCullough's performance at Syracuse before he tore his ACL doesn't suggest he's close to ready to contribute in the NBA. His steal and block rates were both strong, however, suggesting long-term potential.

26. Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky

Consensus: 1.2 WARP | Big Board: 12 | WARP: 47

Of the players in the top 30 by consensus, Lyles has the lowest WARP projection (0.9, 47th). Teams will have to determine how much of that non-production had to do with playing out of position at Kentucky.

27. Marc Garcia, SG, Manresa

Consensus: 1.2 WARP | Big Board: 74 | WARP: 13

The promising Garcia played regular minutes in the ACB this season before his 19th birthday. While he's struggled as a shooter, making 29 percent of his 3-point attempts and just 26 percent of his shots inside the arc, his other numbers were respectable, suggesting he could be valuable if and when his shooting comes around. Something similar was true of former teammate Alex Abrines, drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder early in the 2013 second round, who quickly developed into one of Europe's top young players.

28. Guillermo Hernangomez, C, Sevilla/ACB

Consensus: 1.2 WARP | Big Board: 45 | WARP: 24

While Garcia's projection is all about potential, Hernangomez has been productive as a below-the-rim big man in the ACB, averaging 10.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game. Only Kentucky's Dakari Johnson has a better projected offensive rebound percentage.

29. Richaun Holmes, PF, Bowling Green

Consensus: 1.1 WARP | Big Board: 43 | WARP: 26

Holmes' late rise up draft boards after a strong performance at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is backed up by his performance at Bowling Green. Holmes ranks fourth in the draft by projected block percentage.

30. Briante Weber, G, VCU

Consensus: 1.1 WARP | Big Board: 75 | WARP: 18

Weber's projected steal percentage (4.6 percent) is off the charts; nobody in my college database has a projection better than 3.2 percent (Russ Smith). Alas, Weber's hopes of going in the second round were probably dashed by the torn ACL that ended his college career in January.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...elton-statistical-big-board-20-nba-2015-draft

 

[br0keballer]

[q
Why would they do all that though if they don't need to. Mudiay and Russel will fall to 3.

Basically saying if Sixers wanna swap big men and still get Russell. Unless Sixers know more about embiid Heath I wouldn't be shocked.

Embiid, Noel, Russell

Or
KAT, Noel, Russell

I want no parts of okafor especially if you pair him
With Noel.

 

[itshlittt]

every year we hear prospects moving but every year theyre wrong. its Towns then Okafor then Mudiay then Russell

 

[dacomeup]

I'm like those #BBB dudes on cis

I hate those dudes

 

[pmatic]

The Only Game In Towns

When the Minnesota Timberwolves pick first overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns’ name should be called.

At this time a year ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves were shopping Kevin Love and beginning yet another rebuilding project of indeterminate length. Even before giving up one of the best players in the NBA, Minnesota already had the longest playoff drought in the league. They turned Love into Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 and the Rookie of the Year, but they still had to suffer through a miserable season, as waves of injuries to their remaining veterans forced them to play skeleton units comprised of inexperienced players with little chance of winning games on a nightly basis. That’s how a team goes 16–66 and racks up the most ping-pong balls headed into the lottery.

They wouldn’t take any of it back now, though, after becoming the first team with the worst record in the NBA to win the lottery in over a decade. GM/coach Flip Saunders will have options at No. 1, but it’s hard to see a scenario where he doesn’t end up going with Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns and Jahlil Okafor spent most of the season in a tight race for the top spot on most draft boards, but Towns began to pull away in the final months, as he assumed a bigger role in Kentucky’s offense and helped lead the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season. While you can make a statistical case for either of the freshmen big men, Towns’ ability to protect the rim and spread the floor is the perfect fit with the young core the Timberwolves have in place. They will consider the top-ranked perimeter players — guys like D’Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Justice Winslow — but Towns to Minnesota makes too much sense not to happen.

When projecting their games to the next level, the biggest advantage Towns has over Okafor is on defense. That’s the main concern of the Timberwolves, who had a defensive rating of 112.2 last season, dead last in the NBA. Towns was the anchor for one of the best defenses in recent NCAA history; with Willie Cauley-Stein spending a lot of time chasing smaller players around the perimeter, it was Towns’ job to defend the low post and shut down the paint. Okafor isn’t nearly as athletic and he’s more of an offensive-minded player at this point in his career, which you can see in their defensive numbers.

Towns has all the tools to be a high-level defensive player. At 7 feet, 250 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he has the size to hold his ground in the low post, the quickness to move his feet and defend on the perimeter, and the length and athleticism to play well above the rim and clear the defensive glass. You can see his activity in these GIFs — he’s flying around the court and generally making things extremely difficult on everyone he’s going up against. Despite giving up 25-plus pounds to Okafor, Towns is the more effective rebounder, one of the areas of the game where you see the difference in athleticism between the two.

Where Okafor has the edge over Towns is on offense, especially in the post, as he is one of the most accomplished back-to-the-basket scorers to come into the NBA in a long time. His efficiency numbers were off the charts at Duke, although that was an almost ideal situation for him, being surrounded by four players who could shoot 3s and open up the floor. Towns’ offensive numbers weren’t quite as high, but he wasn’t playing in nearly as much space at Kentucky, or with perimeter players who could make plays like Winslow, Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook. He also was the more versatile scorer, getting points in more ways than Okafor, who was only effective in the paint.

What makes Towns such a fascinating prospect is that he’s the rare big man who can protect the rim while also being able to step out of the paint and open up driving lanes to the rim. Most rim protectors are like DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler, guys you don’t have to guard more than 3 feet away from the basket. While Okafor has the ball-handling and passing ability to run offense out of the high post, he’s not a good jump shooter and the defense can collapse in the paint when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands.

You can also see the difference in their games in a graph of their free-throw percentage and block percentage numbers in comparison to the starting centers in the NBA. Towns is in the top right while Okafor is in the bottom left, even though blocks are much easier to get at the NCAA level.

The decision for the Timberwolves becomes even easier when you look at the rest of their roster. Okafor replicates some of what Nikola Pekovic already does at center, and there’s no way you could play those two floor-bound, non-shooting Goliaths together in the modern NBA. Towns can start his career playing as a power forward next to Pekovic, and he can slide down to center as he gets older, especially since Pek’s medical future is so cloudy. Playing Towns at center also allows Minnesota to utilize all their young players on the perimeter — guys who want to get out and run, not hold the ball, enter it into the low post and play station-to-station basketball.

I’ve been focusing on the big men because Minnesota already has one of the most exciting young perimeter trios in the league with Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins, so there’s no reason to bring in someone who will just take the ball out of their hands. Rubio signed a $55 million extension last summer and is the current face of the franchise. Wiggins is the future face of the franchise. LaVine had an up-and-down rookie season and is most known for winning the Dunk Contest, but he showed flashes of greatness as the year went on. All three guys should be improved by playing with a big man who can get out and run, have their back on defense, and spread the floor for them on offense.

Maybe the most exciting part about the future in Minnesota is how well all their young pieces fit together. They should be one of the most fun teams in the NBA next season, with Rubio leading the break, LaVine and Wiggins on the wings and Towns right behind them. They will still be a really young team that will make a lot of mistakes and struggle to execute in the half-court, but that won’t matter when they are running and gunning at every opportunity, taking advantage of their young legs and putting out a highlight reel every night. Towns has the athleticism to run with those guys and he can even lead the break himself. When you see a 7-footer who can dribble, move and finish like this in the open court, it’s hard not to get excited.

Even the young players in Minnesota who aren’t as well regarded fit in well with the core they are putting together. They gave up a future No. 1 pick for Adreian Payne, another shotblocker who can knock down perimeter jumpers and open up driving lanes for the basket. Playing with Towns as a small-ball ccenter should also be the best chance for Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, to resurrect his career. There are questions about both players, particularly Bennett, but this is a guy who would still be a senior in college next season if he hadn’t declared for the draft as a freshman. There’s no reason to write off a guy with his pedigree when he’s still significantly younger than a lot of players in this draft.

They also have the option of pairing Towns with Gorgui Dieng, another defensive-minded big man with a mid-range jumper. That doesn’t even count Shabazz Muhammad, another perimeter player who can stretch the floor and run the break, and who started to come into his own in his second season in the league

A quartet of Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins and Towns with either Bennett, Payne or Muhammad gives you a plus athlete at every position, three guards who can slash to the lane, and two big men who can step out and attack close-outs with the dribble and finish at the rim. If you close your eyes and project a few years down the road, they could have more than a passing resemblance to the wing-heavy Golden State Warriors.

The biggest decision GM Flip Saunders (and ownership) may have to make is whether head coach Flip Saunders remains in that role.

Over the last few seasons, former Minnesota VP of Basketball Operations Fred Hoiberg, now the head coach at Iowa State, has become one of the most buzzed-about young coaches in the game. What makes Hoiberg such an attractive coaching candidate is the modern offense he runs at Ames, spreading the floor with five shooters, keeping the ball moving and creating good looks out of the flow of the offense without needing a lot of set plays.

Karl Towns is the perfect fit for this kind of offense. Regardless of whether or not Hoiberg ends up coming to replace Saunders, the Timberwolves will want a guy running that type of five-out, spread pick-and-roll going forward. Towns barely ever got to run the pick-and-roll at Kentucky. Playing in a two-man game with Rubio should get him plenty of easy looks around the basket.

If Saunders does give up the head coaching position, it will be one of the most sought-after jobs in the NBA. The chance to coach guys with the talent of Towns or Wiggins doesn’t come around very often, much less both of them at the same time. Minnesota would have the No. 1 overall pick in the last three drafts, and they would be playing those guys with one of the best passers and floor generals in the league in Ricky Rubio. Towns also is a very good passer, and he will have better options to find from the post than he did at Kentucky.

If there’s a concern about Towns, it’s that he’s a young guy who isn’t always locked into the game mentally and who can be too eager to make things happen, which is why he spent a lot of time in foul trouble as a freshman. That’s the other thing about Towns to Minnesota — there’s no better person to teach a young big than Kevin Garnett.

You never want to compare a young player to a future Hall of Famer, but when a 7-footer is an elite athlete with a fundamentally sound game who can slide between the 4 and 5, it’s hard not to make the comparison. Towns is going to have Garnett in his ear every day, teaching him how to play on both sides of the ball, how to be a professional on and off the court, and showing him what it takes in terms of work ethic and intensity to be one of the best players in the NBA.

The sky is the limit for how good Karl Towns can be, and Minnesota is the perfect situation for him. If the Timberwolves draft Towns at No. 1, they will be a team to watch for a long time to come.

 

[rook]

[q
Why would they do all that though if they don't need to. Mudiay and Russel will fall to 3.

Basically saying if Sixers wanna swap big men and still get Russell. Unless Sixers know more about embiid Heath I wouldn't be shocked.

Embiid, Noel, Russell

Or
KAT, Noel, Russell

I want no parts of okafor especially if you pair him
With Noel.

Why wouldn't you want Jahlil paired with Nerlens? Lol wtf

 

[nick.]

Sixers gonna take Mudiay, which leaves the Knicks with DLo

 

[awwsome]

Hope the Knicks say **** it and draft Super Mario.

 

[rck3sactown]

how is KAT's verticallity tho

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Hope the Knicks say **** it and draft Super Mario.

I'm kind of on board with that, why the **** not, things never work out for us anyway!

 

[ballinsam23]

Hope the Knicks say **** it and draft Super Mario.

If it was guaranteed that he's coming this season I wouldnt mind tbh

 

[br0keballer]

Why wouldn't you want Jahlil paired with Nerlens? Lol wtf

How are you gonna stretch the court with those two? Neither has a consistent 14-16 footer yet. Plus Noel paired with kat or embiid will b a nightmare defensively for the opposing teams. Just my opinion

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

 
how is KAT's verticallity tho

Not a freak jumper/leaper (although his numbers are pretty solid) but he's pretty agile and I feel like he gets baseline to baseline exceptionally fast

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/5/20/8624123/karl-towns-scouting-report-nba-draft-2015

 

[victor page]

If it was guaranteed that he's coming this season I wouldnt mind tbh

I haven't read anywhere that there's even a slight chance he wouldn't come over.

 

[eyedea]

No way the lakers don't take a big

 

[nick.]

this speculation for the next month is gonna kill me

 

[keel252]

Sixers gonna take Mudiay, which leaves the Knicks with DLo

cant lie part of me wants to see him with Melo.

 

[pmatic]

Jeff Goodman's mock lottery draft, NBA executives poll

With the draft order finally determined, it's time to look at who each of the teams that participated in the NBA draft lottery should pick.

For this exercise, I've gone through and offered my pick for each spot. Then, I consulted with five high-ranking NBA executives to see what they thought of my picks -- and what they might do differently:

All comments are from current NBA executives who wished to remain anonymous

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, C

Minnesota Timberwolves
College: Kentucky | 6-foot-11, 250 pounds

Analysis: Towns has the length up front the Wolves need and can do far more away from the basket than he showed this past season at Kentucky. Towns blocked shots and scored in the paint, but he's also able to step away from the basket and make shots. While Jahlil Okafor is a back-to-the-basket guy, Towns is far more versatile and would also upgrade Minnesota's defense. Not to mention that Okafor and Nikola Pekovic wouldn't work well on the court together.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Towns (5)

"The Wolves have to take him because he can impact the game on both ends of the floor."

"He makes more sense than Okafor, although it's not an easy call."

2. Jahlil Okafor, C

Los Angeles Lakers
College: Duke | 6-foot-11, 275 pounds

Analysis: The Lakers are celebrating after getting the second overall pick. Now Kobe Bryant has a ready-made big man who can help draw some attention in the post. Okafor is skilled and can impact an NBA game immediately with his size, skill and high basketball IQ. With a healthy Bryant, and after adding both Julius Randle and Okafor up front, the Lakers could be back in the playoffs next season.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Okafor (5)

"He's too good not to take. I know the fit might be a question, but they can't pass on Okafor."

"Their bigs [stink]. I don't see how they could take a guard. This is an easy one."

3. Emmanuel Mudiay, PG

Philadelphia 76ers
College: China | 6-foot-5, 196 pounds

Analysis: It'll be a difficult choice for Sam Hinkie between the top two point guards: D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay. Russell has tremendous court vision, but Mudiay is the new-age point guard -- he's big, strong and athletic. Russell is the superior shooter and passer, but Mudiay has the higher upside -- and would be fun to watch with Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel up front.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Mudiay (3), D'Angelo Russell (2)

"Mudiay is a wild card. It's going to come down to who they like more. For me, I'd go with Russell. I'm more familiar with him and really like him because he can do everything."

"I think they wind up taking Russell, even though I think most teams would take Mudiay here. We'd take Mudiay -- but I think they go with Russell."

4. D'Angelo Russell, PG

New York Knicks
College: Ohio State | 6-foot-5, 176 pounds

Analysis: Phil Jackson and the Knicks are still licking their wounds after falling to No. 4, but Russell will make them feel better. He has such a tremendous feel for the game, and while just an above-average athlete, he finds a way to score in a variety of ways while also possessing tremendous court vision and passing ability. Carmelo Anthony will love him.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Russell (4), Kristaps Porzingis (1)

"I'd take Porzingis, but I'm also not in New York -- where they will probably get crucified for taking him."

"Russell makes the most sense for New York, and I think he works well in the triangle."

5. Kristaps Porzingis, PF

Orlando Magic
College: Latvia | 6-foot-11, 220 pounds

Analysis: The Magic will likely choose between athletic wing Justise Winslow and the skilled 7-foot-1 Porzingis. General manager Rob Henningan already has a bunch of athletes who aren't considered great shooters (Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo). He could use a guy who can make shots, and Porzingis has as much upside as anyone in this draft. He's 19, can score from deep and is also a good athlete.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Porzingis (2), Justise Winslow (2), Willie Cauley-Stein (1)

"It makes the most sense to take Cauley-Stein. You can play him and (Nikola) Vucevic together."

"I think you're right with Porzingis, especially for what they need. Justise Winslow isn't a great shooter, and I don't know how you add another perimeter non-shooter."

6. Frank Kaminsky, C

Sacramento Kings
College: Wisconsin | 7-foot, 234 pounds

Analysis: I know it's dangerous to draft for need, but the Kings sorely need a power forward who has the skill to play alongside DeMarcus Cousins. Kaminsky can do just that, as he's a guy who can stretch the defense with his ability to make shots from beyond the arc. This might be higher than most have Kaminsky, but the guy has made huge strides throughout his college career and with the right system, he can be an effective NBA player.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Willie Cauley-Stein (3), Winslow (2)

"I think it's high for Kaminsky, but they need stability. Look at what he did last season, and it's not crazy by any means. Personally, I'd go with Cauley-Stein here. He'd help make up for DeMarcus Cousins' defensive deficiencies."

"No. I don't think so with Kaminsky here. It sounds too high to me. It's too early. The name will intrigue and Vlade [Divac] will love his skill -- in theory. But I don't see it."

7. Justise Winslow, SF

Denver Nuggets
College: Duke | 6-foot-6, 222 pounds

Analysis: The Nuggets need a young wing, and while Winslow isn't a knock-down shooter, he did wind up shooting 42 percent from 3 as a freshman at Duke. He'll also give Denver toughness and a lock-down defender.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Winslow (4), Mario Hezonja (1)

"You've got to take Winslow. That's a freakin' steal."

"Denver takes him in a heartbeat if he is still there at No. 7."

8. Mario Hezonja, SF

Detroit Pistons
College: Croatia | 6-foot-7, 200 pounds

Analysis: The Pistons will build around Andre Drummond, and the question remains whether Stan Van Gundy will keep Reggie Jackson and go with a small backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Jackson -- or move Jennings. Detroit will likely need someone to replace Greg Monroe, and the Pistons also need a wing with size. The easy pick here is Hezonja -- who is athletic and can also shoot it.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Hezonja (2) Stanley Johnson (2), Cauley-Stein (1)

"They need size at the wing spot. I think it comes down to Hezonja or Stanley Johnson."

"Hezonja is talented enough to be a top five or six pick. He shoots it well, he's really athletic, can handle and creates shots for himself. This would be a good get for Detroit."

9. Willie Cauley-Stein, C

Charlotte Hornets
College: Kentucky | 7-foot, 240 pounds

Analysis: The Hornets also could use a wing who can shoot, but if Hezonja is off the board they might have no choice but to upgrade their perimeter defense. Al Jefferson is subpar on the defensive end, and WCS gives Charlotte a shot-blocker who can run the floor. He's a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Cauley-Stein (3), Kelly Oubre (1), Devin Booker (1)

"If Hezonja isn't there, I'd go with Cauley-Stein. He has one skill that translates. Defense."

"Charlotte could use Cauley-Stein, but I think they need a shooter even more. Booker is the best pure shooter in the draft."

10. Sam Dekker, SF

Miami Heat
College: Wisconsin | 6-foot-9, 230 pounds

Analysis: The Heat need fresh, young legs -- and Dekker provides them with that and also a guy who has proven that he isn't afraid of the moment. He's a long, athletic small forward who could eventually replace Loul Deng. Dekker's perimeter shot needs to become more consistent, but he showed he can make them in the NCAA tourney.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Myles Turner (2), Dekker (1), Kelly Oubre (1), Stanley Johnson (1)

"I like Dekker's upside -- and I think he fits in Miami. They have Hassan Whiteside and Chris Bosh, but he can play with either of those guys."

"This is a tough call, and I think it's where the draft starts to drop a bit. I'd grab the best player available if I were the Heat, and I think it's going to be Oubre."

11. Myles Turner, PF

Indiana Pacers
College: Texas | 7-foot, 240 pounds

Analysis: The Pacers need an upgrade along the front line, and Turner's a guy -- when he gains more strength in his lower body -- who would give Indiana someone who can step out and make shots and also someone who can provide a presence on the defensive end.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Myles Turner (2), Cameron Payne (2), Trey Lyles (1)

"David West is getting older, and Roy Hibbert is a shell of himself. The Pacers need to go big, and Turner is a good choice."

"Indiana needs a lot, and I could see them trying to upgrade at the point guard position. Cameron Payne is the best point guard on the board."

12. Stanley Johnson, SF

Utah Jazz
College: Arizona | 6-foot-7, 237 pounds

Analysis: It's tough to determine the biggest need for the Jazz. They have a front line of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Alec Burks and Rodney Hood are solid wings, and it's still unclear whether the point guard duo of Dante Exum and Trey Burke will be enough to get Utah to the next level. Johnson is a power wing who struggled at times as a freshman but could be a huge piece in the future.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Kelly Oubre (2), Stanley Johnson (1), Cameron Payne (1), Trey Lyles (1)

"Oubre has huge upside. The sky's the limit for this kid. He didn't have a great year, but his talent is undeniable. That's who I'd go with here."

"I think Utah swings at Turner if he's around because he is a shooting big, but I could see them going with Stanley here -- if he's still on the board."

13. Kelly Oubre, SF

Phoenix Suns
College: Kansas | 6-foot-7, 204 pounds

Analysis: The Suns need an upgrade at the 3 (see: Marcus Morris), and while Oubre is a work in progress, he has high upside. Oubre struggled out of the gates at Kansas as a freshman but made improvements. If he can become a consistent shooter, he could be a high-level guy in the NBA.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Kelly Oubre (3), Jerian Grant (1), Bobby Portis (1)

"The Suns need size in the backcourt. They have [Eric] Bledsoe and Brandon Knight. Those two are tiny. Adding Jerian Grant would be huge. They need a guard with some size."

14. Jerian Grant, PG

Oklahoma City Thunder
College: Notre Dame | 6-5, 185 pounds

Analysis: OKC doesn't necessarily need anything besides health, and the Thunder should return just about everyone from this season's squad. Grant is a guy who can play both backcourt spots if needed -- and could be an upgrade at the 2-guard spot.

Pick from our NBA executives survey: Devin Booker (2), Jerian Grant (2), Justin Anderson (1)

"Grant fits them, and he can play with Russell Westbrook really well."

"Booker is the best on the board. Plus, they could use another shooter."

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/in...-lottery-nba-executives-survey-2015-nba-draft

 

[rck3sactown]

 

6. Frank Kaminsky, C

Sacramento Kings
College: Wisconsin | 7-foot, 234 pounds

I would seriously consider jumping off a bridge if this happens.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Every mock or projection has a different draft order. This is glorious tbh, makes it a lot funner 

Let's see who has the balls to take Porzingis and if the Kings took Frank over WCS... I mean I get it but that would also take some guts

Russell v Mudiay heating up

The Euro's draft positions heating up