What the 2015 NBA Draft meant for each lottery team
By Bryan Gibberman
Here is a look at how the lottery played out in the 2015 NBA Draft team by team.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns
What does it mean?
The T’Wolves have one of the more interesting young cores in the NBA. Towns brings some necessary spacing from one of the big positions because of the somewhat weird construct of Minnesota’s roster. They have two wings in Shabazz Muhammad and Andrew Wiggins who posted up plus 20% of their possessions according to Sport VU last season and point guard Ricky Rubio isn’t a natural jump shooter. He’s also likely to play next to Gorgui Dieng or Nikola Pekovic as the other big meaning Towns ability to step out is going to be extremely important. Minnesota isn’t going to compete for a playoff spot this year, but you see a sensible group of players that can grow together. Going forward with Towns and Wiggins as your top two is a great starting point for a franchise.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell
What does it mean?
It didn’t take long for things to get wacky. Noise started coming out earlier in the day Los Angeles was going to go with Russell, but for pretty much throughout the entire process it sounded like big Jahlil Okafor was going to be the guy. I love the Russell pick for the Lakers partly because I wasn’t a huge fan of going forward with a Okafor/Julius Randle combo at the four and five. Russell has just as much upside and should fit well with Randle forming a devastating lefty duo. It’s going to be up to Kobe Bryant (and head coach Byron Scott) to let the two young-ins thrive and work through mistakes this season. I see no reason Jordan Clarkson and Russell can’t get run together in a versatile, attack heavy backcourt.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Duke center Jahlil Okafor
What does it mean?
I don’t have a freaking clue. The 76ers last four first round picks have been Okafor, Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Dario Sarcic. Unless trades are in the work it sure seems like Sam Hinkie is still in the asset accumulation phase and no where near starting to construct a roster that fits together. At least the Sixers, unlike last year, will see immediate returns from Okafor. While head coach Brett Brown will have to get creative on offense, Noel should be able to help cover up the Duke star’s flaws on D. At some point Philly will need to find some high level guards to make the game easier for their bigs.
4. New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis out of Latvia
What does it mean?
Knicks general manager Phil Jackson avoided going for a lesser upside, quick fix. That in itself is a good sign for the future of the Knicks. I have no idea whether Porzingis will turn out to be good or not, but there was a level of sensibility to the pick even though there were guys I would have taken over him. Trey Lyles or Frank Kaminsky would have been disasters, this made sense. I wanted New York to get more shot creation at this point, but when they were able to turn Tim Hardaway Jr. into Jerian Grant later on that need was addressed. It ended up being a positive night for New York.
5. Orlando Magic: Barcelona’s Mario Hezonja
What does it mean?
Hezonja was my favorite player in this draft. There’s a difference between who I think is the best (Towns) and my favorite. The kid is just fun to watch play basketball and should fit right in with what the Magic need — shooting. Once he’s ready to contribute on a regular basis he adds a natural outside touch neither the slashing Victor Oladipo or Elfrid Payton have. A lineup of Nikola Vucevic, Channing Frye, Hezonja, Oladipo and Payton is a well-balanced group. How they do on the other end is another question, but with Scott Skiles now in place as the head coach an expectation to scheme around flaws on that end isn’t unrealistic.
6. Sacramento Kings: Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein
What does it mean?
If the Kings can get around whatever sort of mess George Karl has created they have an awesome front court duo in Cauley-Stein and DeMarcus Cousins. It’s similar to the Noel and Okafor pairing for Philly, but on massive amounts of steroids. If you can get Cousins locked in defensively plus Cauley-Stein’s ability my freaking lord. If Sacramento can get Nik Stauskas to play with more confidence and do some of the shot creation stuff he did at Michigan that would help boost the Kings offense. It’s hard to really know what to think of Sacramento until they get their controversy straightened out.
7. Denver Nuggets: Emmanuel Mudiay out of China
What does it mean?
The exit of point guard Ty Lawson? This is probably something that comes to fruition eventually — the question is how long? Denver has a nice group of young players in Mudiay, Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic. Unless a major deal is made it’d be nice to see those three get big time run this upcoming season. What happens with Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried is also an unknown. As long as new head coach Michael Malone continues to play at a fast pace this should be a place for Mudiay to thrive.
8. Detroit Pistons: Arizona wing Stanley Johnson
What does it mean?
I’d say after the Lakers going with Russell this was the second biggest surprise of the lottery. With how it played out it seemed pretty obvious Duke’s Justise Winslow would go here, but Stan Van Gundy went in a different direction. Depending on what Detroit does in free agency it’s very possible he steps in at day one and starts at small forward. His size and strength will also allow him to play some small ball four. Johnson should be an excellent fit in what the Pistons want to do.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky
What does it mean?
Kaminsky gets a bit of a bad rap because of your typical stereotypes and that’s somewhat unfair. He has a versatile offensive game with the ability to knock down jumpers, get into the lane off the bounce and post up. He’s a better athlete than most give him credit for. I would have rather seen the Hornets go with Booker in this spot, but adding another shooting big is a quality fit next to Al Jefferson. Charlotte continued to add more shooting to the roster this summer.
10. Miami Heat: Duke wing Justise Winslow
What does it mean?
This is just not fair that Pat Riley gets to catch a break like this. I was shocked Winslow fell this far. I’d guess Miami is rooting for Luol Deng to opt out and then the Heat can slide their first-round pick right into the starting small forward position. A group of Hassan Whiteside, Chris Bosh, Winslow, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic is a pretty awesome five. Now we find out if they can get Wade and Dragic back into the fold to make it happen.
11. Indiana Pacers: Texas center Myles Turner
What does it mean?
The Pacers went with one of the more higher upside picks in the lottery. Turner also has some of the bigger bust potential, but at 11 it was definitely worth the risk. This helps Indiana continue their transformation to a more modern offensive team with Turner’s ability to stretch the floor. He’s a beast on the defensive glass and can protect the rim. It sounds like Hibbert, who opted into the final year of his contract, could be on the move. With Paul George (health permitting) being only 25 the Pacers have time to let Turner develop and still maximize their star’s prime.
12. Utah Jazz: Kentucky power forward Trey Lyles
What does it mean?
The Jazz were a tough one to peg because there wasn’t really anything they needed. Lyles joins a core of Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. This is one of the teams that has a chance to take either the Blazers or Mavericks spot in the Western Conference playoffs depending on how free agency plays out. I’m not sure how much Lyles contributes this year, but he has ability, especially if he is able to extend the range on his jump shot.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kentucky shooting guard Devin Booker
What does it mean?
Another Kentucky player off the board! This is one of my favorite picks in the lottery. Phoenix filled a need with Booker’s shooting ability and he has the upside to grow into more at only 18 years old. They once again have a log jam at guard with Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Archie Goodwin and likely Brandon Knight in the mix. Booker can play next to both Bledsoe and Knight. It might make sense to move on from Goodwin and see what you can get for him.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Murray State Cameron Payne
What does it mean?
The Thunder typically bring along their rookies slow, but they’re now run by Billy Donovan instead of Scott Brooks. If Payne does get to play right away he can run the second unit because of his playmaking and passing ability plus slide in next to Russell Westbrook with his ability to knock down catch and shoot jumpers. Payne skill set made sense for the Thunder because he can play with a variety of styles of players.
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