NBA Mock Draft 2015: Complete First Round, Trades and Analysis
By Ben Mehic
Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
11) Indiana Pacers (Oz): Devin Booker (Traded to Miami)
Booker: Devin Booker could help the Indiana Pacers, but Larry Bird is rumored to be infatuated with Willie Cauley-Stein out of Kentucky.
Bird seems to understand that the Pacers need to move away from their model of slow it down, big man oriented basketball. Why take a big, then? Willie Cauley-Stein isn’t a traditional big with his ability to protect the rim and run the floor and could be the spark the Pacers needs to kickstart this change in philosophy.
The price of a protected number 1 is a lot to move up and get a player picked just one spot earlier but if this team is intent on changing who they are, they have dive in, and not just put their feet in the water.
Trade: Heat receive Booker + 2016 1st round pick (lottery protected) from Pacers for Cauley-Stein
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
12) Utah Jazz (DJ): Kelly Oubre
I’ve written this before, but I see Kelly Oubre as the second coming of Air Canada Mickael Pietrus.
Oubre’s athleticism and 3-and-D potential really plays in well with what’s being built out in Utah, and he can slot right into a position of need. Utah’s in a great position: they’re probably going to be really good next year, but their record was just bad enough that they can still get a lottery pick and grab a guy like Oubre.
Utah will be in the playoff chase next year, and I’d bet on a core of Hayward-Gobert-Favors-Exum-Oubre going forward to produce some fun basketball up in Mormon Country.
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) celebrates after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 71-64 in the 2015 NCAA Men
13) Phoenix Suns (Ben): Sam Dekker
Of all the projected lottery picks, Sam Dekker has the most potential to fall in this year’s NBA Draft.
Wisconsin’s run during the NCAA Tournament boosted Dekker’s stock, but it might be coming back down to reality. Although he does have the size to play both forward spots, he lacks a skill that separates him from the rest of the wing players.
I’m not sure Dekker is even better than Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Justin Anderson, who are both projected to go in the 20’s. However, with Gerald Green entering unrestricted free agency, the Suns could use some wing depth.
He’d also benefit from playing in an up-tempo offense. If he’s available at 13, the Suns should take Dekker.
Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
14) Oklahoma City Thunder (John): Myles Turner
I was wavering between drafting a potential backup point guard for Russell Westbrook or a backup big to come off the bench to replace Serge Ibaka and/or Enes Kanter. Because of Nick Collison being in the OKC bigs rotation, I went with the latter.
Myles Turner came into the University of Texas with much fanfare. He was long, mobile and could also shoot and handle the rock for a big guy. Another big reason that OKC could take a chance on him is his youth. Turner only turned 19 back in March, so he still has a chance to gain some valuable experience and to fill out even more.
While his youth is a plus, it could also be a con in a crucial season where new OKC head coach Billy Donovon feels that they want to contend for the championship (and possibly keep Kevin Durant around) and have no time for a rookie learning curve. Which means, he could end up buried on the bench like a few other OKC young guns (Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones to name a few).
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) reacts after a basket against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men
15) Atlanta Hawks (Ben): Frank Kaminsky
Frank the Tank was the best player available, and although I don’t anticipate him falling to this spot, he’d be a terrific fit in Atalnta.
The Hawks have embraced spacing more than any other team in the league not called the Golden State Warriors and Kaminsky would benefit greatly from playing in their system. Paul Millsap is entering unrestricted free agency and might leave Atlanta this summer. If that happens, Kaminsky will have the opportunity to get some playing time.
Kaminsky is capable of playing the center position as well, so he’d give Coach Bud some more versatility. If nothing else, the Hawks would be a lot cooler with Frank on their squad.
Next: Picks 16-20 including a Wizards trade