The Ideal Star Pairing for Every Top 2015 NBA Draft Prospect
There are few things that electrify NBA fans more than dynamic duos.
The basketball world can't get enough of explosive tandems like Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland or the Splash Brothers in Golden State. Their combined powers are captivating, and they feed off each other so potently.
With a strong crop of talent arriving in the 2015 draft, we constructed ideal star pairings for each top prospect.
Which lottery-team star would be most dangerous alongside Jahlil Okafor? Which NBA studs would best fuel prodigies like Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell?
We set out to find the best fits, linking these youngsters up with big names like Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins and Kobe Bryant.
This is not a mock draft, but we paired current draft prospects with stars they have a realistic chance of landing with based on the lottery projections. We did not use any NBA team/star more than once.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins
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I haven't done the math, but I'm pretty sure Towns' and Andrew Wiggins' combined wingspans stretch across the entire state of Minnesota.
In all seriousness, these youngsters could give opponents fits in every phase of the game. With Wiggins occupying a ton of attention from defenses, Kentucky's talented forward could have a picnic in the post or feast off pick-and-pop sets.
Wiggins can also benefit immensely from Towns, because Towns is a great passer for a big man and will always look for him in the open floor. And as a nice bonus, both players would reap the benefit of running the break with Ricky Rubio.
On defense, this duo has the potential to feed off each other and drastically change the Timberwolves' identity. Flip Saunders' crew would transform from a collective sieve into a team that can compete and get stops.
Towns and Wiggins roomed together at the 2013 Nike Hoops Summit and got along swimmingly. Why not make a career of it?
D'Angelo Russell and Joel Embiid
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Neither player has logged an NBA minute, so excuse me for getting ahead of myself. But you can't deny that this would be a lethal tandem.
In case your memory has waned, Joel Embiid was one of the most highly coveted big-man prospects of this era. His pre-draft foot injury dampened some of the hype and certainly makes his career cloudier, but it doesn't change how talented he is.
A full-strength Embiid would be the ideal lottery partner for Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell. He's a great target to work with, and he would anchor the post and give Russell room to operate on the perimeter.
Russell might be even more helpful to Embiid. The current Philadelphia 76ers cast lacks dynamic guard play and adequate shooting, and Russell would supply both. CBS Sports draft scribe Sam Vecenie explained Russell's value to the big fella:
"Russell is a big lead guard that excels in operating in the pick-and-roll to find open looks for his teammates (read: Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid)...A perfect fit that should help them space the floor more."
Emmanuel Mudiay and Kobe Bryant
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Someone like Joel Embiid or DeMarcus Cousins would be a great partner for Emmanuel Mudiay, but we already used Embiid, and Sac-Town won't likely land in the youngster's draft range.
Therefore, we paired him up with Kobe Bryant to form a robust backcourt for the Los Angeles Lakers. LA already has a talented forward in Julius Randle, so Mudiay could be a great fit with Bryant and co. The future Hall of Famer is past his prime, but he can help out the young playmaker in so many ways.
This pairing goes far beyond how they gel on the court.
Mudiay is entering the NBA via an unconventional route, as he opted to sidestep the NCAA scene and play in China for a year. Kobe wasn't a college man either, as he jumped to the Association from high school. He can identify with the youngster's learning curve, adjustments and desire to be a star.
On the court, the two can form a deadly one-two punch. Kobe will help stretch the floor for Mudiay's slashing and creativity, and he will also take over as facilitator during key sequences.
Meanwhile, Mudiay's playmaking talent will help compensate for Kobe's decreased explosiveness with the ball. He will also provide the backcourt with fresh legs on defense; he's able to check both guard positions with his agility and size.
Jahlil Okafor and Carmelo Anthony
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Duke's Jahlil Okafor is an imposing individual specimen, but he's even better when his Blue Devil teammates stretch the floor with shooting and attack the basket.
If he landed alongside Carmelo Anthony on the New York Knicks, he could thrive in the triangle offense.
Okafor would serve as a terrific low-post anchor and high-post pivot man. 'Melo could work with him in a 2-man game or stretch the defense when operating on the other side of the floor. Opposing defenses would have to make some ugly compromises, because you can't effectively double-team both guys. The pick-and-roll opportunities are also intriguing.
There's no doubt 'Melo would take the big fella under his wing.
"I like him,” Anthony told Fred Kerber of the New York Post in January after watching Okafor in person. “He’s got a great feel for the game and a great touch. He’s a big body for sure down there, he’s a load."
This doesn't figure to be the strongest defensive pairing; there's no way to sugarcoat it. But they would certainly do well on the glass, and their offensive firepower would be relentless.
Stanley Johnson and Victor Oladipo
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Arizona's Stanley Johnson would pair well with almost any lottery star, but he would work extremely well in Orlando.
With Victor Oladipo at the 2 and Elfrid Payton at the point, Johnson wouldn't be overburdened as a ball-dominant savior. Rather, he would be able to slide into a key role and give the offense an off-ball weapon while he focuses on defense.
The Magic have several terrific building blocks in place, and Johnson would be a great addition to bolster their wing depth. It would also be a great fit because Orlando might lose Tobias Harris in free agency this summer. Johnson and Oladipo would form one of the most dangerous two-way wing duos in the league.
Oladipo is really coming into his own as a star in the Eastern Conference, averaging 21.6 points and 5.0 assists per game in March thus far. His drive to excel on both ends would help fuel Johnson, and the two could out-duel almost any other combination of wings thrown at them.
In a league that increasingly values athleticism and versatility, this tandem would expedite the Magic's return to relevance.
Kristaps Porzingis and DeMarcus Cousins
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Without any can't-miss guards left to choose from, Kristaps Porzingis' ideal star partner would be Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
Not only would Cousins supply the grunt work near the basket, he could also empower the Latvian gunner to be a stronger player in the rebounding and low-post departments.
In Sac-Town's half-court offense, Boogie frequently demands double-teams. Porzingis would love to work off that kind of interior star, as he'd undoubtedly see copious outside shots and weak-side lob opportunities.
The rewards go both ways. Cousins would also see a little more single coverage because some opponents will want to stick to Porzingis on the perimeter. After all, the European teenager is shooting 45.9 percent from distance in Eurocup play.
I don't think there's anyone in Sacramento or Latvia who wouldn't like to see this marriage happen.
Mario Hezonja and Andre Drummond
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You want explosiveness? Then feast your eyes on the inside-outside combo of Mario Hezonja and Andre Drummond.
In addition to their individual talents complementing each other for the Detroit Pistons, the Croatian star and rim-rocking center would form a treacherous pick-and-roll team. Hezonja has developed as a dangerous playmaker on the wing for Barcelona, but he's never had a target like Drummond.
When they're not busy collaborating, they can frustrate defenses with a mix of finesse and power and play off each other.
Hezonja has become an absolute sniper in Spanish League play, hitting 42 percent of his triples and threatening to score in bunches during any given game. Meanwhile, Drummond can clean up everything around the rim for him and make opponents pay if they stray from the weak side.
If the Pistons are able to put these two athletes on the floor together, they would instantly become one of the Eastern Conference's most electrifying squads.
Justise Winslow and Ty Lawson
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Justise Winslow has plenty of defensive range, above-the-rim tools and outside shooting potential. What he doesn't have is advanced ball-handling creativity and the ability to hurt defenses with the in-between game.
Denver Nuggets point man Ty Lawson might be the ideal match for him.
Lawson's knack for breaking down foes and finding creases in the mid-range area would work nicely alongside Winslow's playing style. The Duke small forward can space the floor and attack seams explosively once his playmakers have shifted the defense.
On the other side of the court, Lawson and Denver's guards/wings could use some extra juice defensively. Winslow hasn't blown us away on defense this year, but he's got the best defensive rating (94.7) on his team and has the goods to grow into a stopper.
This pairing isn't the most dazzling on our list, but it would definitely revitalize the Nuggets.
Willie Cauley-Stein and Isaiah Thomas
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It's always compelling when a diminutive, lightning-quick guard teams up with a goliath center.
Isaiah Thomas has produced a boatload of offense for the Shamrocks, to the tune of 21.4 points and 5.4 assists per game. He could cook up some nice opportunities for Willie Cauley-Stein. Kentucky's big man is a strong, ultra-athletic target in the pick-and-roll, and IT could turn him into an Atlantic Division monster.
Much like the rest of our pairings, the benefits are mutual.
Thomas and co. need some insurance behind them on defense, a rim protector who can give them some teeth. The Wildcat center can step in and put an electric fence around the hoop, using his mobility and size to disrupt attackers. During his three-year career at Kentucky, he's averaged 3.7 blocks per 40 minutes.
Don't sleep on this intriguing combination of speed and size.
Myles Turner and Gordon Hayward
10 of 10
Despite Utah's disappointing guard play, the Jazz have been able to get a lot out of their big men.
Gordon Hayward deserves much of the credit, because he's a gifted creator compared to most swingmen. He's averaging 4.3 assists per 36 minutes while posting a 21.9 assist percentage. The star 3-man does a great job of finding his frontcourt comrades and keeping them involved.
He could do wonders for Texas center Myles Turner. The freshman's perimeter shooting is promising, but his interior work on offense is largely underwhelming. Hayward can help him find favorable scoring chances all over the floor, including a healthy dose of close-range buckets.
Turner's shooting touch and shot-blocking would help Utah immensely. Quin Snyder could pair him with paint-oriented players Rudy Gobert or Derrick Favors on offense, and he would help fortify Hayward and co. defensively when Gobert is on the bench.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats come from Sports-Reference.com/CBB and Basketball-Reference.com.
Follow Dan O'Brien on Twitter for more NBA draft coverage: @DanielO_BR
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