The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[henz0]

delete

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

We already know the top guys, give me the sleepers

 

[victor page]

I don't know if he counts as a sleeper or not but I think Jerian Grant can play on the next level. If the Wizards keep their 1st round pick this year he's certainly someone I'd want them to target. Better point guard instincts than people give him credit for and he has the size/athleticism that you crave in a point these days.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

I like Grant too as a late first rounder, I'm pretty sure he'll go in the first

Kevon Looney.. I see this kid all over the top 10 on different websites, somehow I've never watched UCLA a single time this season. Who is this kid

 

[frshstunna]

Hasn't he played like 10 games and then shut it down overseas?

He got hurt then his team signed like Telfair or will Bynum or something to take this spot...think in China you can only have 1 or 2 imports playing at a time ...it's understandable that some ppl sleep on him right now with him being out there n some of the players ballin here in college that you can see all the time...still wish he was on showcase at smu but he getting money tho

 

[jumpman cbt2]

Wiggins getting traded to the Knicks/Lakers?

why would Minnesota want to trade away a rising star? They better build a team around him as they don't have a real go-to-guy
to carry this team as they already traded KLOVE for Wiggins.

 

[pmatic]

Ford:

Chad Ford Mock Draft 3.0

We are at the unofficial halfway point of the NBA season. As players stumble back from the weeklong vacation known as the All-Star break, we have the clearest picture yet of which teams will be contenders for the NBA title, and which will be contenders for the No. 1 pick.
We also are getting a clearer picture of who the top players in the draft are. Our Big Board has been pretty stable. The top five have been especially firm, with just one addition (D'Angelo Russell) since the start of the college basketball season, and we've had the same guys ranked 5 through 12 for several months, as well.

The mock draft is different, however. In a mock draft, we don't tell you where a player should go, but rather what each team in the draft will likely do with its pick. Obviously, at this point, the order of the teams selecting is not set in stone. The draft order will inevitably change, as will the order of the players. Once the NCAA tournament begins, followed by draft camps and workouts, we'll have an even better feel for each player's pro prospects.

Nevertheless, it's time for our third full mock draft of 2015. It's our best stab at a full first-round mock draft (assuming every eligible prospect who has yet to state his intentions declares for the draft), after taking into account team needs. If you want to see what the Mock would look like if your favorite team won the lottery, check out our Lottery Mock Draft machine..

1. New York Knicks - Jahlil Okafor

The Knicks are in bad shape. Very bad shape. They don't have one player on their roster right now, other than Carmelo Anthony, who appears to be a future building block. They need another star, and they need him now. The Knicks also haven't had an All-Star-caliber center since Patrick Ewing. Currently, they don't even have a legit starter at the position. Okafor would be perfect for them. His ability to draw a double-team in the paint and potentially average 20 and 10 every night would give them a viable scoring option besides Anthony jacking up jumpers. If they can use the rest of their roughly $25 million in cap space this summer to add a wing and a young point guard, the Knicks' future will start getting brighter immediately.

2. Minnesota T'Wolves - Karl-Anthony Towns

Andrew Wiggins wins MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge. Zach LaVine wins the Slam Dunk Contest. Ricky Rubio, Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng all have bright futures. The Wolves have several other interesting young players such as Anthony Bennett, Adreian Payne and Glenn Robinson III. And don't forget that vets such as Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin should have terrific trade value before the trade deadline, and into the summer. Of the teams at the top of the draft, only the Jazz have an equal stockpile of young talent and assets. I can make a case that Flip Saunders should be in the running for Executive of the Year.

The Wolves are going to be a very dangerous team in a couple of years, and adding Towns to the mix would make them even richer in talent. While D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay could also be great options for them, Towns' ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor would make him a valuable weapon in Saunders' arsenal, and would give the Wolves elite size at every position on the floor. The fact that Towns has been playing great of late only adds to the appeal of him going No. 2.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - D'Angelo Russell

The Sixers stink at tanking. For the second straight season, they've fielded the worst roster, on paper, in the NBA. And for a second straight season, they aren't the worst team in the NBA. Once again, teams that went into the season trying to win, like the Knicks and Wolves, have "bested" them. In this case, I don't think it's such a bad outcome for Philadelphia. The Sixers have a wealth of riches on their front line with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric (when he comes over from Europe). What the team needs is someone in the backcourt who can really shoot. Russell is that guy, and he would be a perfect fit next to Michael Carter-Williams in Philly.

Of the guys at the top of the draft, Russell is far and away the best fit for the Sixers. If Embiid can get healthy and live up to his potential, Noel and MCW continue to develop, Saric comes over and continues his strong play from Europe, and Russell comes in as a dominant backcourt scorer in the mold of James Harden, suddenly the Sixers' future starts to look much brighter.

4. Los Angeles Lakers - Emmanuel Mudiay

With Kobe Bryant out for the rest of the season, it's looking more and more likely that the Lakers will be keeping their lottery pick this year (they must send it to the Suns if it lands from 6-30). Yes, there's still a chance the lottery balls could bounce the wrong way and the Lakers have to give up the pick (17 percent to be exact) but the odds are now clearly in L.A.'s favor. The other good news for Lakers fans is that there are now four (possibly five, depending on how you feel about Kristaps Porzingis) legit talents at the top of the draft. Landing Mudiay would be an especially strong get for the Lakers, who have a major need at point guard. While Mudiay's season in China was cut short by an ankle injury, his combination of size, elite athleticism and raw power is reminiscent of a young Derrick Rose. He may take a little longer to adjust to the NBA after nearly a yearlong hiatus, but the combo of Mudiay and Julius Randle at least would give the Lakers a strong foundation to start to build around in the post-Kobe era.

5. Orlando Magic - Kristaps Porzingis

The Magic were disappointed in their poor start this season, and Jacque Vaughn was the first casualty in the Magic's rebuilding process. The team has young talent at every position -- Elfrid Payton at the point, Victor Oladipo at the 2, Aaron Gordon at the 3/4, Tobias Harris at the 3/4, and Nikola Vucevic at the 5. Adding Porzingis to the mix would give them an athletic big man who can protect the rim and stretch the floor with his jumper. Think of a more athletic version of Bulls rookie Nikola Mirotic. Porzingis would be a very good fit in Orlando, and some scouts believe his upside could make him an All-Star someday.

6. Sacramento Kings - Willie Cauley-Stein

The Kings continue to be a major mess. With the exception of DeMarcus Cousins, who has played at an All-Star level all season, the team doesn't have another powerful bright spot on the roster at the moment. There is talent -- Ben McLemore still has lots of potential, and some are still high on Nik Stauskas, though his fit in Sacramento is a bit questionable and he's therefore on the trade block. The rest of the roster is solid -- Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, Jason Thompson -- but none of those players will lead the Kings to the playoffs anytime soon.

New coach George Karl is a positive addition and will make a major impact on the culture of the team right away. What the team needs now is some defensive talent to balance out a roster filled with players who can score. The Kings especially need rim protection, and Cauley-Stein projects as one of the top, if not the top, big-man defender in the draft. He not only blocks shots but also is so athletic that he can guard three other positions on the floor. He's an unusual dude, but the talent is undeniable. The lack of offensive polish will scare some teams off, but in the case of the Kings, it's probably a good thing. He'll know his role and stick to it.

7. Utah Jazz - Kevon Looney

The Jazz, like the Timberwolves, are loaded with young talent right now. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors have played well enough this season to get All-Star consideration. Dante Exum and Rudy Gobert both have very bright futures. And the Jazz have several other young players, including Alec Burks, Trey Burke and (if they don't trade him) Enes Kanter. So the Jazz don't have any major needs that have to be addressed, freeing them up to draft the best player still on the board. Right now that's Looney, a long, versatile forward who can play the 3 and 4. He's the only freshman in the country averaging a double-double this season. I've been using Lamar Odom as a comp for him, but my colleague Kevin Pelton says Looney's statistical profile is more reminiscent of Kawhi Leonard.

8. Denver Nuggets - Myles Turner

The Nuggets have very average talent in a very competitive Western Conference, which leaves them on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried remain keepers -- though not untouchable, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe -- and the Nuggets are high on the future of rookies Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris. But everyone else on the team is pretty expendable at this point. Turner, a long, athletic stretch 4 who also can protect the rim, has had a very uneven season. At times he has looked like a top-five pick, at other times he's disappeared. The Nuggets can afford to swing for the fences with Turner and hope he turns into a LaMarcus Aldridge-type in the NBA.

9. Detroit Pistons - Stanley Johnson

The Pistons have the building blocks of a nice young team. Andre Drummond could be a superstar. Greg Monroe is having a strong season. Brandon Jennings was too before an injury sidelined him for the season. And the team is still hopeful Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will turn into something. Their biggest hole is at the small forward position, and Johnson looks like a good fit there. Stan Van Gundy will want a player who can contribute right away, and Johnson is blessed with a NBA body, toughness and a motor that won't stop. The Pistons need some winners on their roster, and Johnson has won at every level. Mario Hezonja and Kelly Oubre both might have more upside, but for a team that wants to make a move for the playoffs next season, Johnson is the guy.

10. Indiana Pacers - Mario Hezonja

The loss of Paul George torpedoes the Pacers' chances of making a run at the playoffs this year (unless, that is, he comes back in time for the Pacers to make a late run for the 8th seed), but it does position them to add a nice young player to the mix for next season. The team really needs an athletic, sweet-shooting wing to pair with Paul George. Hezonja is both. He is an explosive leaper, an aggressive scorer and has been shooting the ball well this year in Euroleague play.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...-Draft-&ex_cid=InsiderTwitter_Ford_mockdraft3

Taking requests.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Not quite as high on Stan (yet, it could change) as others around here but I'm nervous that Chad Ford agrees with me 

Once again, Kevon Looney shows up. Someone school me on this kid

 

[dacomeup]

Saw Looney a few times. Really high potential kid in the 3/4 mode, I think that he fills out and is more of a 4. He can put the ball on the floor and he's stepped out and knocked down 3s in the fews times that I've seen him. Really long and athletic, and has a decent feel for the game. 

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Not quite as high on Stan (yet, it could change) as others around here but I'm nervous that Chad Ford agrees with me 

Once again, Kevon Looney shows up. Someone school me on this kid

well not chad ford, the mock drafts are him polling GM's/scouts, the big board is what he thinks.

 

[dacomeup]

One thought about Ford's mock draft, Rich Homie Jefferson at 27 is way too low IMO. He's a mid-round talent. 

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

well not chad ford, the mock drafts are him polling GM's/scouts, the big board is what he thinks.

Ah, I see.

RHJ going to really have to make his way defensively, but I do like his prospects of being able to guard either big or small opponents 

 

[pmatic]

I need RHJ in a Lakers jersey. Him and Towns would be the best case scenario in my eyes.

 

[bigmike23]

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

Walk him the ball under the hoop.

 

[T0INE]

NBA Draft thread huh?

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

 
NBA Draft thread huh?

This got me

Repped

Anyway, how hungry do you guys think WCS is? I feel like the question I have on him is how much better does he want to get 

 

[finallyfamous]

All we gotta do is get into the lotto and we got that #1 pick on lock

Gotta get someones pick.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

All we gotta do is get into the lotto and we got that #1 pick on lock

Gotta get someones pick.

Lol!

 

[finallyfamous]

The draft thread during the lottery last year was hilarious

 

[finallyfamous]

Ford has my boy DR in the top 3?

 

[User 15002]

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

If he goes to a team like Sac with a big man who is able to pass and step out to hit the jumper good things happening.

LOL. Started making this reply before I saw who posted it.

 

[victor page]

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

The same thing you do with any big man that is an elite athlete and active around the rim on every possession.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

Tyson Chandler, Dandre Jordan, Andre Drummond seem to be doing pretty well catching lobs after rolling hard on high screen and rolls. You surround them with shooters and you have a dangerous offence.

 

[bigmike23]

 

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

The same thing you do with any big man that is an elite athlete and active around the rim on every possession.

that's fine just hope nobody expecting anything different

 

what the hell you going to do with WCS on offense in the NBA?

Tyson Chandler, Dandre Jordan, Andre Drummond seem to be doing pretty well catching lobs after rolling hard on high screen and rolls. You surround them with shooters and you have a dangerous offence.

I think Drummond can become better on offense then Jordan, Chandler and WSC will ever be. but you think WCS can be elite on defense in the NBA like those 3?