Washington Wizards NBA Draft 2015 Reactions: Biggest Surprise, Biggest Steal, More
By Ben Mehic
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Who was the biggest draft steal?
John: I could go with Kevon Looney to the Golden State Warriors with the last pick of the first round because Looney even just a week ago was projected to go lottery or right outside the lottery. A few hardcore Washington Wizards fans (Ben, you’re included in this group) were convinced that he would be drafted by the Wizards.
However, my pick is: Justise Winslow going to the Miami Heat with the 10th pick.
Everything about this guy screams superstar and (cliché phrase coming) in a few years, he could be the best player from this draft.
I was really shocked when even the pick before the Heat, the Charlotte Hornets, passed on him because of their need for a 2 guard after dealing enigma Lance Stephenson and steady Gerald Henderson. Plus, Winslow staying in the state of North Carolina after his one year successful apprenticeship at Duke could have brought tickets sales out the roof for the Hornets.
With Miami currently dealing with contract situations with Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic AND Luol Deng, Winslow will have plenty of opportunities to come in and play a lot of minutes right away
David: Definitely Justise Winslow, who might have been a top 3 pick in another draft, but ended up falling right into Pat Riley’s hands with the 10th pick. But since I already discussed Winslow, let me give an honorable mention to Montrezl Harrell, a raging pitbull of a man, universally considered an early-20s selection who ended up slipping to the Houston Rockets in the second round.
I’ll toss another honorable mention to my boy Niko Milutinov, Baby Gortat, a future starting center that the Spurs snagged with the 26th overall pick. Lastly, as an unrepentant Syracuse homer and Boeheim disciple, an honorable mention goes to Chris McCullough, a forgotten man going into the draft, who went 29th to the Brooklyn Nets.
McCullough is an athletic, promising big man who probably should have stayed in college for another season – he likely would have been a lottery pick had he not torn his ACL midway through the season. Good piece of business for Brooklyn.
Ben: The obvious answer would be Justise Winslow, but I’m going to say Kevon Looney.
The Warriors are a perfect fit for the former Bruin since they won’t need him to contribute this upcoming NBA season. Looney, 19, will have the opportunity to learn from the best coaching staff in the league while practicing with the reigning MVP. He’s not going to come in and crack the rotation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he someone ends up doing so with David Lee on his way out.
I wasn’t very high on Looney before the draft, but at 30 he’s an absolute steal. The Warriors got a long, athletic, versatile forward. Because that’s exactly what they needed. Another player that will help them crack 65 wins again… *sigh*
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