Daily Dose: A Look Ahead
There aren’t a lot of storylines around the NBA with the world anxiously waiting for Game 1 of the NBA finals between the Warriors and Cavaliers on Thursday, so I’ve been able to spend some extensive time looking ahead to the NBA Draft on June 25. Mock drafts are probably my favorite thing to do, and I will likely make several changes over the next few weeks as teams continue to evaluate these prospects. I won’t dive into the fantasy value of these players just yet because that depends mostly on where they land, and this list was basically made in regards to each team’s needs. I also have some notes on the status of Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving towards the end of the article, as well as some notes on Kevin Love.
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1. Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky - I think Jahlil Okafor is going to be a very good NBA player, but Towns has tantalizing upside and has already proved that he can be a force on the defensive end. Despite playing just 21.1 minutes per game at Kentucky, he still managed to average 10.3 points, 6.7 boards, 1.1 assists and 2.2 blocks while shooting an impressive 81.3 percent from the line. Nikola Pekovic can’t seem to stay healthy, so the Wolves would be thrilled to let Towns anchor their frontcourt for years to come.
2. Lakers: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke - The Lakers will probably take a long look at D’Angelo Russell here, but they desperately need a big and Okafor makes too much sense for them. Okafor lived up to the hype at Duke with averages of 17.3 points, 8.6 boards and 1.4 blocks, and he was easily the most dominant low-post scorer in the nation. There are some question marks on the defensive end, but at just 19 years old he will have plenty of time to develop.
3. 76ers: D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State - Russell isn’t the most athletic player and his defense leaves a lot to be desired, but he is easily my favorite player in the draft. He has a smooth offensive game and plays with a lot of flare, and I think he has all the tools to become a superstar in the NBA. Russell can shoot with the best of them, is a very crafty passer, and he also showed a solid knack for rebounding at Ohio State. His averages of 19.3 points, 5.7 boards, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.7 3-pointers per game is intriguing enough, but he could have a sizable role right out of the gate with Philly desperate for a reliable playmaker.
4. Knicks: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky - Phil Jackson probably isn’t going to be interested in a long rebuilding process and Carmelo Anthony isn’t getting any younger, so selecting Stein would allow the Knicks to bolster their frontcourt right away. Stein is an athletic defender who can alter shots at the rim and effectively defend the pick-and-roll, and even though his offensive game is very limited, he improved dramatically in each of his three seasons at Kentucky.
5. Magic: Justise Winslow, SF, Duke - The Magic could have a pressing need at small forward if they decide to move on from Tobias Harris, and Winslow would fit right in with Orlando’s athletic roster. Winslow is an elite defender and is one of the top athletes in the draft, and he is going to be a monster in the open court. He averaged 12.6 points, 6.5 boards, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.2 3-pointers in his lone season at Duke.
6. Kings: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China- Mudiay is the mystery man of the draft after spending a year in China, but his size and athleticism at the point guard spot is intriguing. He doesn’t have a reliable jump shot, but he showed an elite ability to attack the rim in China. Darren Collison played well before suffering a season-ending hip injury, but I’m not convinced that the Kings view him as the long-term solution. Mudiay could be the answer.
7. Nuggets: Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Spain - If you haven’t been able to catch a glimpse at Hezonja yet, then you don’t know what you are missing. Hezonja is a 6’8” wing with unreal athleticism, and he is also a very capable shooter and can handle the ball. The Nuggets aren’t quite ready to compete in the loaded Western Conference, so they will be able to bring Hezonja along slowly.
8. Pistons: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Spain - Greg Monroe is probably going to leave in free agency, and while small forward is probably the most glaring need for Detroit, Porzingis is too talented to pass on. Porzingis is a 7-foot-1 stretch four who can knock down 3-pointers, but he will need to fill out his thin frame and his rebounding needs a lot of work. He averaged 10.4 points and 4.6 boards in 50 appearances for Sevilla, and the Pistons probably wouldn’t expect him to contribute right away.
9. Hornets: Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona - Charlotte needs some shooting desperately, and while Devin Booker is an option here, Johnson was able to connect on 37.1 percent of his 3-pointers at Arizona. Johnson is built like a tank and would be able to contribute right away, and he would give the Hornets another reason to get rid of Lance Stephenson. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist showed some improvement last season and will likely be the starting small forward once again, but Johnson is versatile enough to play some shooting guard. Johnson posted averages of 13.8 points, 6.5 boards, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 3-pointers in 28.4 minutes per game.
10. Heat: Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas - The Heat need some depth on the wings with Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade struggling to stay on the floor, so it makes a lot of sense for them to take a chance on Oubre. He is still pretty raw and didn’t make a lot of noise at Kansas, but his athleticism and 3-point shooting (35.8 percent) makes him an interesting gamble. He averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 boards, 1.1 steals and 0.9 3-pointers in 21.1 minutes per game, but he has plenty of potential at just 19 years old.
11. Pacers: Myles Turner, C, Texas - Indiana is running out of patience with Roy Hibbert, and next season could be his last as a Pacer. Turner is a 7’0” center who can block shots and hit the mid-range jumpshot, but he still has a lot to learn before he can make a real impact in the NBA. He wasn't featured too heavily at Texas and saw just 22.2 minutes per game, but his averages of 10.1 points, 6.5 boards and 2.6 blocks are impressive.
12. Jazz: Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Wisconsin - The Jazz improved tremendously after the All-Star break and they have an exciting young core to build around, but they could definitely use a scoring punch off the bench. Kaminsky has already said that he views himself as a stretch four in the NBA, and he could give the Jazz another weapon from beyond the arc. Kaminsky is ready to contribute right away, and the Jazz could be gearing up for a playoff push during the 2015-16 season.
13. Suns: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky - Booker is the youngest player in the draft at just 18 years old and is arguably the best shooter, so I think that Phoenix takes the best player available here. Brandon Knight will be locked in as the starting shooting guard if he returns in restricted free agency, but Booker could bolster the Suns’ second unit with his 3-point shooting. He averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 boards, 1.1 assists and 1.5 3-pointers in 21.5 minutes per game for the Wildcats.
14. Thunder: Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State - I didn’t initially have Payne going this high, but he reportedly has a draft promise from the Thunder. OKC could use some depth behind Russell Westbrook, and Payne has enough talent to carve out a spot in the rotation this season. Payne averaged 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, 3.8 boards, 1.8 steals and 2.5 3-pointers per game during his sophomore season.
News and Notes:
Kevin Love (shoulder) believes that he will be ready to start the 2015-16 season, and he said that he “expects” to be a Cavalier despite interest from teams such as the Lakers, Celtics and Rockets. On a side note, Love nearly suffered a setback when a teammate bumped into him during the Cavaliers’ celebration after defeating the Hawks, and he said that he felt a “shooting pain” throughout his body and that he felt dizzy. To be clear, it was just a minor scare and his recovery will continue as normal with a re-evaluation scheduled about six weeks from today.
Klay Thompson (concussion) is fully expected to be ready in time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, and head coach Steve Kerr and assistant Ron Adams confirmed this report on Sunday. Thompson isn’t having any headaches and was spotted at an Athletics game on Sunday, so it’s safe to say that he is progressing.
Kyrie Irving (knee) was limited at practice on Sunday, and head coach David Blatt said that the guard wasn’t quite himself yet. Irving is obviously going to play in Game 1, but he is going to have a tough time staying in front of Stephen Curry if he isn’t 100 percent. There should be another update on his status after practice on Monday, so keep checking Rotoworld’s injury report.
Julius Randle believes that his leg is now 100 percent, and he also made it clear that his surgically-repaired foot is no longer an issue. Randle is on track to play at the Las Vegas Summer League and was recently cleared for full contact at practice, so the Lakers have to be excited about the future with Randle coming back and the fact that they hold the No.2 pick in the draft. If Randle looks healthy over the summer, I don’t see why he wouldn’t claim the starting power forward spot next season.
