NBA Mock Draft 2015: The First Round
By Osman Baig
Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
1- Minnesota Timberwolves
Pick – Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
DJ’s Analysis – One of two stud big men in this draft, but Towns doesn’t have the gaping fundamental holes in his game that Jahlil Okafor does.
Okafor will probably get out the gate quicker, but Towns has the higher ceiling – he didn’t always jump out at you in Kentucky’s Voltron frontcourt, but he has terrific two-way potential.
Pairing a future beast like Towns with Andrew Wiggins could be the start of something really special in Minnesota (unless Flip Saunders screws it all up, which he almost undoubtedly will. STILL A LITTLE BITTER HERE, GUYS.)
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) shoots during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men
2- Los Angeles Lakers
Pick – Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Nithin’s Analysis: The Lakers would have loved to get their defensive anchor for years in Towns but will have to settle for Okafor and his recently minted national championship ring.
He is the more polished product of the two and his low post offense is probably already at an elite level in the NBA. I really worry about his foot speed to defend the pick and roll and his abhorrent free throw shooting, which has been a skillset on full display (for the wrong reasons) this playoffs.
Either way, the Lakers will have a formidable front line between Okafor and Julius Randle and will probably be good enough next year to make that pick they will send Philadelphia late in the lottery.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
3- Philadelphia 76ers
Pick – Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Congo
Oz’s Analysis: The point guard who many in Philadelphia knew nothing about prior to the lottery is the 76ers selection at number 3 overall.
For a team that has spent high lottery picks the last two season on players who did not suit up in their rookie seasons, drafting a lesser know player shouldn’t make them blink an eye.
Mudiay has been compared to John Wall in the pre-draft process and you can see the comparison. That’s not to take anything away from D’Angelo Russell who likely is also under strong consideration with Philadelphia, but the tiebreaker is the defensive potential.
For a team that seems to be on a rise on the defensive end of the floor, putting Mudiay on the floor with Nerlens Noel and can be the start of something special defensively and that’s not even factoring in Joel Embiid.
It’s interesting to also note that Larry Brown, the ex-76ers Head Coach has been very high on Mudiay, and called the potential fit with defense-oriented Brett Brown a “home run”.
4- New York Knicks
Pick – D’Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
DJ’s Analysis – The Knicks are so insanely hopeless at every position that there are a ton of different picks that make sense here.
One could easily see them taking Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein or even go maximum hubris with someone like Kristaps Porzingis – but this is a point guard league, and D’Angelo Russell is the best point guard on the board.
Russell is still a major work in progress on the defensive end, but offensively you simply will not find a point guard with his talent and skill. His shooting ability is stunning for a point guard his age, and he’s already a human highlight reel on the pass.
D’Angelo Russell is far from a finished product, but he’s ready right now to put up some nice stat-lines in the NBA.
5- Orlando Magic
Pick – Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
Nithin’s Analysis: The Magic have their fair share of athletes, from Victor Oladipo to Aaron Gordon, so I shied away from nabbing Justice Winslow or Willie Cauley-Stein.
Instead I see them taking a skilled big man who can shoot from deep and also protect the rim. These two traits are perfect compliments to Nikola Vucevic, who is wonderful at many things on the basketball court but can do neither of those things.
Porzingis is a bit of an unknown but scouts say had he played college basketball in the United States, he’d be in the conversation for the #1 pick. The Magic still don’t have an identity or a star but now with a new regime in place under Scott Skiles, they’ll need someone down low who can establish a tone for a defensive-minded ball club.
Think of this pick as a younger, better version of their free agent acquisition last summer, Channing Frye.
Next: Picks 6-10