NBA Mock Draft 2015: Round 1 Projections and Most Underrated Prospects
The word “underrated” is thrown around a lot these days.
Sometimes it’s used to describe someone or something non-mainstream, like an underground rapper, and at others someone or something nobody knows about.
But on the basketball court, let’s keep it simple: An “underrated” player is one who doesn’t get the respect he deserves. It happens all the time in hoops.
A kid at the park might be underrated because he wears goggles or old shoes. A high school standout might be underrated because he lacks athleticism. A Naismith Player of the Year might be underrated because he’s a tall goofy dude.
Again—all the time.
Most players wisely use that disrespect as a form of motivation. And while some never get their props, a lot of guys—like the ones we're going to talk about—wind up embarrassing all their doubters.
Mock Draft
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | D'Angelo Russell |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Kristaps Porzingis |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Stanley Johnson |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Frank Kaminsky |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kelly Oubre |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Sam Dekker |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jerian Grant |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Nets) | Devin Booker |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Trey Lyles |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Kevon Looney |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Tyus Jones |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Cameron Payne |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Montrezl Harrell |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | R.J. Hunter |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Jarrell Martin |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Delon Wright |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Cliff Alexander |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets) | Justin Anderson |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Clippers) | George Lucas |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) | Robert Upshaw |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Timothe Luwawu |
Underrated Prospects
Frank Kaminsky
What does Frank Kaminsky have to do for some respect around here?
The 7-foot star from Wisconsin can do it all: score on the block, drain jumpers and threes, rebound, defend, block shots, pass and, perhaps most importantly, win.
He’s taken home every award there is to win and made every All-American First Team under the sun. And yet, somehow, Frank the Tank is projected by Draft Express to go 10th this year.
Are there really nine better players than Kaminsky?
You could make the argument that freshmen studs, like the first five projected picks, have higher ceilings because of their youth. Pro teams can mold them at a younger age, they say.
But 10th?
The one reasonable knock on Kaminsky is his build. His lankiness worked just fine in college, but he’ll get snapped in half at the pro level. He 100 percent needs to bulk up.
But that’s doable. Look at what Anthony Davis (an admittedly much better and younger athlete) did in such a short time period with pro trainers:
Kaminsky will probably never jump out of the gym, but Maxwell Ogden of Sheridan Hoops makes a valid point:
With players like fellow Badger Sam Dekker, Kelly Oubre and Devin Booker projected just a few paces behind Kaminsky, it’s not hard to picture the big man falling on draft night.
And if he does, some unbelievably lucky team will strike gold.
This is a 7-footer capable of handling the rock and shooting like a guard. Yes, he’ll give up pounds to nearly every opponent he faces—but how many 7-footers want to come guard him around the three-point line?
None. And that's why Kaminsky will cause all kinds of matchup problems at the next level.
He won’t be underrated for long.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Ah, the old man.
The eldest key member of Kentucky’s nearly historic team, junior Willie Cauley-Stein’s draft stock has been overshadowed by that of some of his younger, flashier teammates.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a consensus top-two pick, and rightfully so. But Cauley-Stein has been grouped in with Devin Booker, Dakari Johnson, Trey Lyles and Andrew and Aaron Harrison, when in reality, the tatted-up high-flyer deserves to be in a class of his own.
Cauley-Stein won’t dazzle anyone with his offensive game, but he’s as elite a defender as there is. And that will absolutely translate to the next level.
ESPN’s Chad Ford pointed to a key play at the end of Kentucky’s March 28 nail-biter against Notre Dame:
SB Nation’s Kevin O’Connor dove in even further:
"John Calipari has used his bouncy big man as a defensive stopper by having him harass the opponent's best player, regardless of their position. The 21-year-old has the lateral quickness to defend at least three positions in the NBA, though he can defend all five in college while wearing a blindfold. Big men should not be able to stay with NBA-quality guards like Grant. ...
As more NBA teams switch pick and rolls and off-ball screens, many head coaches will feel comfortable allowing Cauley-Stein to defend the perimeter. Most big men get exposed if they're away from the paint. Cauley-Stein won't be, offering his NBA team unique versatility.
"
Think of what happens when defenses switch on a pick-and-roll. What do Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and every other PG do? They dance around, embarrass the big giraffe and get by with cat-quick ease.
Cauley-Stein may be enormous, but he’s more of a mountain lion than a giraffe. He can guard anyone. Synergy Sports backed up that claim with a monumental stat:
“…In perimeter isolation situations.”
That "gulp" you just heard was a cumulative reaction from all NBA point guards. Let’s see CP3 or Curry try to toy with WCS next season.
As of right now, we think this year’s Kentucky team will be remembered for nearly going undefeated and churning out a bunch of pros, most notably Towns.
But 10, 15 years from now, there’s a chance we could look back and remember that almost-perfect team for producing the best defender in the NBA: Willie Cauley-Stein.
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