The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[ballinsam23]

If the Wolves take Okafor the rest of the lottery selections will round nicely into focus. The Lakers can add Towns to pair with Julius Randle and maybe even rescue Rajon Rondo to stage a Kentucky-led revival. The 76ers would then have their pick of lead guards between D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay to team up with Sam Hinkie's stash of bigs. The Knicks would do whatever it is the Knicks do.

DEAD

 

[pmatic]

Mannix:

2015 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Projecting the first round with lottery order set

The big winner from this year's NBA draft lottery? The Minnesota Timberwolves, who will add a third No. 1 overall pick to their roster. A close second were the Los Angeles Lakers, who will have a chance to add a franchise player to succeed Kobe Bryant.

The big loser? The New York Knicks, who after mailing in the second half of the season and finishing with the NBA’s second-worst record will pick fourth overall. That’s what the franchise gets for sending GM Steve Mills, not Phil Jackson, to the lottery.

Without further ado, let's get to my Mock Draft 2.0. Here are my first-round projections now now that the lottery is set.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves - Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota—which secured the first pick for the first time in franchise history, and became the first team since 2004 to win the lottery with the best odds—will have its pick of top big men. Towns, a polished post player who also thrives at the free-throw line, has the early edge. The chance to send Towns to Kevin Garnett College for a year has to be appealing to the Timberwolves, too.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - Jahlil Okafor

Somewhere, Kobe Bryant is smiling. In Okafor, the Lakers get an NBA-ready center who can score in the post and should be a strong complement to returning power forward Julius Randle. Okafor won’t transform the Lakers intotitle contenders, but Randle coupled with a free agent signing—hello, Rajon Rondo—could help the Lakers compete for a playoff spot next year.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - Emmanuel Mudiay

Here’s where the draft gets a little murky. The Sixers need a playmaker; two potential elite ones are on the board. Mudiay is unknown—he spent an injury riddled season in China—but he is an explosive point guard cut out of the mold of Russell Westbrook. Expect Philadelphia to go back and forth on Mudiay and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell.

4. New York Knicks - D'Angelo Russell

Steve Mills' face said it all. Fourth? The Knicks GM certainly expected better after his team effectively tanked the second half of the season. Still, grabbing Russell, a gifted playmaker, is far from a consolation prize. Russell reads defenses like a five-year veteran and thrives in transition. Can he learn—and excel—in the triangle? That’s a more difficult question.

5. Orlando Magic - Kristaps Porzingis

Comparisons coming out of Porzingis’s camp are lofty: Kevin Garnett. Porzingis isn’t as skilled of a post player as KG, but he is a legitimate stretch four, athletic with a fluid shooting stroke. Porzingis will need a year to bulk up but he has enormous perimeter big potential.

6. Sacramento Kings - Frank Kaminsky

Too high for Kaminsky? First you have to identify what his major flaws are. Kaminsky is a smooth shooting big who can score off the dribble and from beyond the three-point line. The Kings have a gaping hole at power forward, and Kaminsky could complement DeMarcus Cousins nicely. There are issues defensively, but few better scoring options for George Karl’s offense.

7. Denver Nuggets - Justise Winslow

Here’s what we know about the Nuggets: They want to play fast again. Here is what we know about Winslow: He is excellent in transition. Winslow’s size could be an issue, but a strong NCAA tournament run with Duke opened eyes and revealed a more complete game. That will help Denver, which needs a few more complete players.

8. Detroit Pistons - Stanley Johnson

Detroit has a sizeable hole at small forward and Johnson, a defensive-minded swingman who has evoked comparisons—at least physically—to Metta World Peace, looks like a nice fit. Johnson needs polish offensively but he made 37.1% of his three’s last season, far better than many scouts predicted. Myles Turner is a candidate here, too.

9. Charlotte Hornets - Devin Booker

One of the bigger surprises of the combine was Booker; not because of how he played (he didn’t) but executives' opinion of him. Several execs identified Booker as the best shooting prospect in the draft. The Hornets—last in three-point shooting last season—need a perimeter threat to take pressure off of Al Jefferson.

10. Miami Heat - Myles Turner

Turner is a tantalizing talent. He’s long, blocks shots and has three-point potential. He’s a stretch-five prospect. He’s also a superior defender with excellent timing, scouts say. His agent attempted to quell fears about his awkward gait at the combine by putting Turner through a battery of tests beforehand. If sold, teams might jump at the chance to grab a player with such high potential.

11. Indiana Pacers - Mario Hezonja

Larry Bird telling Willie Cauley-Stein he was a $100 million player was one of two things: A smokescreen—why would the Pacers jump at a defensive minded center—or (another) message to Roy Hibbert to opt. A pick closer to reality is Hezonja, a sweet shooting two-guard who could emerge as a starter next season.

12. Utah Jazz - Trey Lyles

After years of having a surplus of bigs, Utah needs help there. Lyles isn’t as advanced offensively as his UK teammate, Towns, but he is a solid face-up power forward who has shown flashes of a decent perimeter game. If the Jazz prefer a more NBA-ready forward, another Lyles teammate, Willie Cauley-Stein, is a candidate here, too.

13. Phoenix Suns - Willie Cauley-Stein

The Suns would love an offensive-oriented big to fall to them here. Cauley-Stein is limited offensively, but he is a versatile defender who can help solve the Suns' rebounding problems. And he is the most NBA-ready big man in the draft.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder - Cameron Payne

There was a measurable buzz around Payne at the draft combine in Chicago, with executives seeing a natural playmaker who blends scoring and distributing well. Payne is a little undersized, but the Thunder can patiently develop what could be a quality backup to Russell Westbrook.

15. Atlanta Hawks - Bobby Portis

Portis’s greatest strength: He competes like crazy. Executives love his relentless motor, which complements a diverse skill set. Portis is terrific in transition and is a strong floor-spacing big man prospect. The Hawks also love perimeter shooting big men.

16. Boston Celtics - Sam Dekker

Some intriguing freshmen on the board here—Kevon Looney, Kelly Oubre—that could appeal to Celtics GM Danny Ainge. For now, pencil in Dekker, who tested extremely well athletically at the combine and, more importantly, shot well from three-point range. Dekker has an NBA body that executives love.

17. Milwaukee Bucks - R.J. Hunter

A postseason appearance accelerated Milwaukee’s youth movement, but there are still holes. The Bucks need a pivot, though drafting a five here would be a stretch. Expect Milwaukee to grab a swingman like Hunter, one of the draft’s best shooters, a nice fit to develop behind Khris Middleton.

18. Houston Rockets - Kelly Oubre

Oubre is raw and struggled last season in the role of Andrew Wiggins' replacement. But he has tremendous physical tools and a shooting stroke scouts like a lot. In time, Oubre could develop into an elite defender. Oubre is likely destined for the D-League next season, but the Rockets have enough depth to wait for him to develop.

19. Washington Wizards - Kevon Looney

Nene is 32 years old and entering the final year of his contract. Looney isn’t ready to play yet—the word “project” was attached to him by several executives at the combine—but he has tremendous physical tools and is a rugged rebounding prospect. Looney could be a nice long-term investment in D.C.

20. Toronto Raptors - Tyus Jones

Jones was among the most impressive players in interviews at the combine, showing uncanny polish, a demeanor that mirrors Jones’s play on the floor. The Raptors targeted a point guard in the first round last season—Phoenix grabbed Tyler Ennis before they could—and will do the same this year.

21. Dallas Mavericks - Montrezl Harrell

The Mavs need a point guard, and Utah’s Delon Wright is a candidate here. But Harrell—a high motor scorer/rebounder with an NBA body—could be tough to pass up for a team that will eventually need to start thinking of life after Dirk Nowtizki.

22. Chicago Bulls - Christian Wood

The rapidly developing Wood is a bit of a risk here—Justin Anderson or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, two defensive-minded players, are safer picks—but the Bulls need frontcourt offense and Wood has terrific inside-out potential. He won’t play much in his first year, maybe two, but he has an enormous upside.

23. Portland Trailblazers - Rashad Vaughn

With Wesley Matthews future uncertain and Aaron Afflalo headed to free agency, Vaughn, a solid scorer for the Rebels last season with a diverse offensive skill set, is a solid choice.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

The Cavs add a defensive-minded wing as insurance in case Iman Shumpert becomes too pricey to bring back.

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Jerian Grant

It’s tough to get a read on Grant’s stock. He’s polished and isn’t shot on confidence. But he’s older (22) and teams don’t know if he’s a true point guard. He could go anywhere between 15-25. If he’s on the low end, Memphis will happily scoop him up and plug Grant into its backcourt rotation.

26. San Antonio Spurs - Jordan Mickey

Mickey was one of the stars of the combine, impressing scouts during five-on-five's with his defense and scoring around the paint. He's not a shooter, but a banger that could work his way into the mix of an aging front court. Chris McCullough and Cliff Alexander could be in the mix here as well.

27. Los Angeles Lakers - Delon Wright

If the Lakers draft Okafor, the next biggest hole is at point guard. Enter Wright, a big, savvy playmaker who plays unselfishly and could provide L.A. with minutes next season. He’s an excellent defender, which the Lakers could badly use in the backcourt.

28. Boston Celtics - Aleksandar Vezenkov

Keep an eye on Vezenkov. International scouts like him, often citing his jump shot and skills in transition as strengths. This is a luxury pick for Boston; the Celtics could stash a quality European prospect with a nice upside for a year or two. Syracuse's Chris McCullough is a strong candidate here, too.

29. Brooklyn Nets - Chris McCullough

An ACL injury in January crippled McCullough’s stock. Pre-injury, McCullough was an athletic, shot-blocking forward with a nice looking shooting stroke. If he lives up to his potential, he could be a steal here.

30. Golden State Warriors - Jarrell Martin

An athletic combination forward who can face up and attack the basket? For a Warriors team that could have decisions to make on Draymond Green and David Lee this summer, Martin could provided needed depth.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/05/20/nb...owns-jahlil-okafor-timberwolves-lakers-knicks

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

That was an alternative mock 

It's going to be a long wait 

 

[awwsome]

Embiid, Noel and Russell is going to be awesome.

They got some nice spare parts in Grant and Covington too.

Yes yes yes

The shooting/length/youth in a Russell/Cov/Grant/Noel/Embiid lineup. :x


Hinkie still has to have a lot of things go right but there is hope on the horizon.

 

[pmatic]

Could Towns/Dieng possibly work? Towns is a shooter but didn't get to display it at Kentucky

I would still try to see what I could get for Rubio... try my hardest to get anything for Pek 

Dieng has the Dirk fadeaway in his arsenal.

The duo would take their lumps on defense because Towns doesn't have a strong base to guard centers (yet) and neither does Dieng. Towns could be assigned to power forwards because Dieng can't keep up with most of them, but that would negate Towns' shot blocking some.

 

[awwsome]

Wonder who the Hornets take. Pretty sure it will be between Mario, Booker or Stanley.

If he makes it to 9 I'm taking Mario and running.

 

[awwsome]

Having a pick is great for NY even it isn't in the top 2.

Sad that even that is a new thing for them.

 

[NickFolarin]

 

Wonder who the Hornets take. Pretty sure it will be between Mario, Booker or Stanley.

If he makes it to 9 I'm taking Mario and running.

Idk what it is, but I see Stanley Johnson being a star in the league

 

[ballinsam23]

They need shooting badly. With MKG already there I dont know if i take Stanley.

Kaminsky is gonna fall into the Pistons lap. Pairing him with Drummond is ideal imo.

 

[awwsome]

Idk what it is, but I see Stanley Johnson being a star in the league

I like Stanley too, hard not to like a kid who's 6'8 240 at 18, has won on every level and improved his flaws year and year out.


But Mario has superstar potential IMO, elite athleticism, shooting stroke and can create his own shot?

Plus dude has been a pro for a long time and playing against way better competition than anybody in this draft coming out of college.

 

[krazy88s]

Chris McCullough?

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

They need shooting badly. With MKG already there I dont know if i take Stanley.

Kaminsky is gonna fall into the Pistons lap. Pairing him with Drummond is ideal imo.

Who's gonna take the risk on Porzinguis 

 

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Booker is not getting drafted ahead of Mario. Some of these mocks man.

Zinger goes to the Kings if my guess.

 

[awwsome]

Booker is not getting drafted ahead of Mario. Some of these mocks man.

Zinger goes to the Kings if my guess.

Yea I was like huh?

 

[ballinsam23]

They need shooting badly. With MKG already there I dont know if i take Stanley.

Kaminsky is gonna fall into the Pistons lap. Pairing him with Drummond is ideal imo.

Who's gonna take the risk on Porzinguis   

I'm gonna go with the Nuggets

 

[jjs07]

With all the questions surrounding the triangle, wouldn't it be easier to ditch that offensive philosophy and go with something else? Why is Jackson adamant about running it with this group of guys?

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

With all the questions surrounding the triangle, wouldn't it be easier to ditch that offensive philosophy and go with something else? Why is Jackson adamant about running it with this group of guys?

I feel like Melo has the damn near perfect skill set to lead the way in the triangle. I just don't know if it's too late for Melo to unlearn some of the drawbacks in his decision making and mindset

However I agree with you in that possibly going in another direction should at least be an option

I mean, Mudiay in the traingle... I just don't know about that... if that's the most conducive game plan

 

[awwsome]

With all the questions surrounding the triangle, wouldn't it be easier to ditch that offensive philosophy and go with something else? Why is Jackson adamant about running it with this group of guys?

He's the classic combination of an overpaid old guy living off his past success.

Who's going to tell him to change? Dolan?


He's got his own minion coaching for him.

 

[Hahahaha]

Phil already said there's a good chance they might leave the triangle alone next season.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Phil already said there's a good chance they might leave the triangle alone next season.

If they take Mudiay, that would be the best move

Let Mudiay cook and do what he does best

 

[addict4sneakers]

Knicks ran a lot of pick and roll at the end of the season.

 

[pmatic]

Karl-Anthony Towns is the ideal modern NBA big man

After landing in the top two of the 2015 NBA Draft, either Minnesota Timberwolves or Los Angeles Lakers fans are going to welcome Karl-Anthony Towns with open arms. The Kentucky freshman is a perfect fit regardless of the situation he's drafted into and could be a 10-time all-star due to his incredible two-way potential. There is even an outside chance he becomes a transcendent player.

Most years we quarrel over the top players, but there is no debate in 2015. Towns is that talented. The Wolves, interestingly, might actually prefer Jahlil Okafor with the first pick, according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, but they should take Towns. Okafor is a great prospect in his own right, but Towns is a better one.

Here's a detailed analysis of what Wolves or Lakers fans should expect from Towns:

Towns will be a versatile offensive threat

The conversation about Towns' potential on offense usually begins and ends with his post scoring, but that does the rest of his skills a disservice. It may even end up being a secondary tool once he reaches his prime, but let's begin there anyway.

At 7'0 in shoes, Towns is proficient from the block. His go-to move is a hook shot over either shoulder. It was effective, since at 250-pounds he was larger than most college big men, but it was also predictable. Savvy defenders caught onto it and he initially turned the ball over at a high rate. Towards the end of the year, Towns began using a drop step as a counter move when the hook wasn't there.

Towns displays sound footwork and he finishes with his soft touch in the clip above. Advanced moves like this will slowly be added to his arsenal, which will be necessary for him to maximize his efficiency from the block. But he's so long that he can virtually toss the ball into the rim regardless of the move, so teams will have to focus their attention on him. And when they do ask their guards to dig down, Towns has the vision to find open shooters and deliver accurate passes.

But championships aren't won down low anymore. Towns has arrived at the brink of a new era of basketball, where mobile big men are beginning to take over the league. He's perfect for this new style.

College teams rarely use the pick-and-roll like NBA teams would due to the prominence of zone defenses. But with good footwork and impeccable body control for a player of his size, Towns displayed his elite potential in the rare instances he received the opportunity.

Towns could be a menacing rim runner, rumbling down the lane in the spread pick-and-roll while surrounded by a competent ball handler and three shooters. Wolves fans should drool at the thought of Ricky Rubio dropping dimes to him with Andrew Wiggins and Kevin Martin spotting up from outside.

With his natural feel for the game, he's able to glide to the rim or dunk over the top. This production should also carry over when he receives the ball in transition and via off-ball dive cuts. But considering his dexterity for rolling off screens, defenses may overplay him to prevent at-rim chances, which would open the door for him to pop for mid-range or three-point attempts.

Towns wasn't able to shoot the ball often at Kentucky due to the team's stacked roster, but he did hit 81.3 percent from the line and grew up playing on the perimeter. That's why he was able to pull off that Paul Pierce-like step-back jumper against LSU. The raw tools for a great jumper are there, but fans can't expect Towns to come in right away and shoot the lights out. He must extend his range and develop consistent footwork.

There are times when Towns has an elongated step as he catches the ball, which gives defenders time to close out on him. This wasn't always a problem in college, since he could just put the ball on the floor and drive, but he'll need to speed up his shooting motion -- whether it's with a quicker one-two step or a "hop" that's used by many top shooters now -- against longer defenders in the pros.

Regardless, the Lakers are desperate for perimeter shooting, which Towns can provide if the Timberwolves pass on him. This is especially important playing alongside Julius Randle, who didn't display much potential as a shooter in his freshman year at Kentucky.

Towns also has a nonstop motor that he uses on the offensive boards. Since he's so long, he can sky over defenders to snatch or get a finger on rebound chances. And when he does pull it down, he has a quick jump that lets him pogo stick up for dunks or layups.

Towns will be a great defender down the line

Defense sets Towns apart from Jahlil Okafor. Towns is the cookie monster of shot blocking. He's hungry for blocks and will stop at nothing to swat the ball away. As a freshman, he averaged over four blocks per 40 minutes pace adjusted, which ranks third of all prospects.

This is another reason why he's an ideal fit for the Lakers, because Randle doesn't project as an effective rim protector. In order to magnify each player's strengths, the Lakers must find a shot blocker to pair with Randle, and Towns provides that. But there is also no question that Towns is versatile enough to play next to any of the Wolves' big men.

What's most impressive about Towns' rim protection is his timing and extension. Even though he only has a 29-inch standing vertical, he's able to highpoint the ball due to his long 7'3 wingspan and lightning-quick leap. How fast a shot blocker elevates sometimes matters more than how high he actually jumps. As long as Towns maintains this same level of intensity throughout his career, he'll develop into a great rim protector.

He isn't without his warts, of course. He lacks discipline and consistently bites for pump fakes, which got him into major foul trouble. Even though his appetite for blocks makes an overall positive impact, it also hurt him when he tried to block shots out of his zone, leaving his own man open for offensive rebound chances. Towns also gets overaggressive on the post, which contributed to his foul issues.

But these aren't long-term issues. He has a wide frame, long arms and plays forcefully, so it should only take some seasoning to stop him from reaching and getting called for careless fouls. Learning from the NBA's defensive sage, Kevin Garnett, will do a lot of good for Towns.

Towns should make an instant impact with his pick-and-roll defense. Though he lacks experience, he displayed excellent mobility as a perimeter defender.

Most NBA teams force pick and rolls to the sideline and/or have their big men hang in the paint. Towns can do that, but he can also execute a more aggressive scheme. In the clip above. Towns showed that he can move his feet and recover to the roll man to force a jump ball.

Kentucky switched frequently on defense and Towns showed that he has the lateral quickness to stay glued to smaller, quicker players. Watch him D up against one of the swiftest guards in the nation in Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson.

That's the type of lateral quickness we've come to expect from Willie Cauley-Stein, not Towns. Jackson is a top 2016 draft prospect, so for Towns to stick to his hip on the drive and then make a strong closeout on the step-back three bodes well for his ability to play high-end pick-and-roll defense and curtail mismatches.

Timberwolves and Lakers fans may view Towns as their franchise savior, but they must have patience. Towns might develop into a stud, but he's still only 19 years old and has to develop to reach that level. His weaknesses are easily correctable, but they take time to fix.

But what fans can do is get excited for the process of building a winner. Towns gets them much closer to their hopes of winning a championship than anyone else in this draft.

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

Link provides some videos/gifs to showcase Towns' talent.

 

[pmatic]

Knicks ran a lot of pick and roll at the end of the season.

And to Phil's credit, he does run pick and roll. At least he did with Kobe-Shaq and Kobe-Pau.

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

And to Phil's credit, he does run pick and roll. At least he did with Kobe-Shaq and Kobe-Pau.

True true

 

[awwsome]

Knicks ran a lot of pick and roll at the end of the season.

They had no choice, hopefully dude realizes that system only works with HOF talent not when you have Langston Galloway, Lou Amundson and Alexy Shved playing 30 minutes a night.