NBA Draft 2015: Predicting Biggest Winners in 1st-Round Mock Draft
The NBA draft is unique among the major sports in this country. Since rosters are much smaller in basketball than they are in football and baseball, some teams use free agency as a shortcut to build a team instead of going through the process of developing players.
However, spending big money over the summer doesn't always guarantee success. The Los Angeles Lakers tried to build a superteam in 2004 with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. They did get to the NBA Finals but fell short of the ultimate goal when the Detroit Pistons knocked them off.
That would be the last moment in the fading sunset for that particular group. Malone retired, Payton was traded to Boston in the offseason, and the volatile relationship between O'Neal and Bryant led the Lakers to deal the superstar center to Miami.
Some teams are unable to play the free-agent game because players have all the power. They aren't going to a situation simply for the most money if there's no chance to win. LeBron James may have gone back to Cleveland anyway, but the presence of a then-22-year-old Kyrie Irving certainly helped the Cavaliers' cause.
This year's draft features many teams that are hoping to find a foundation piece to get them over the top, but some need it more than others. Here's an updated mock draft and a prediction of the clubs that will be smiling wide after June 25.
| Pos. | Team | Pick |
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) | Tyler Harvey, G, Easter Washington |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
Frank Kaminsky to Phoenix Suns at No. 13
Being the best college basketball player in the country does carry a certain level of cache. Frank Kaminsky took home virtually every major individual honor at Wisconsin last season, but his NBA future hasn't been so clear.
There's little doubt some team will take the 2015 Naismith Player of the Year winner in the first round. Whether he goes in the lottery is another story.
ESPN's Chad Ford currently has Kaminsky right on the edge as the No. 13 player on his latest big board, though he also notes that there are "a handful of teams that have him ranked in the top 10." That's contrasted by Ford noting other teams believe the star center peaked at Wisconsin.
With the draft still weeks away, Kaminsky remains a borderline lottery selection in this mock. He ends up in a spot with Phoenix that doesn't need him to be a star right away because there's quality depth on the roster already, albeit at different positions.
Derek Bodner of USA Today painted a more positive picture for Kaminsky, calling him "one of the more polished and skilled big men in this draft."
The Suns didn't lack for scoring last season, averaging 102.4 points per game, per ESPN, so Kaminsky doesn't seem to fill an immediate need. Yet once the first four players are off the board, there's no clearly defined game-changing talent in the draft.
Teams should simply look to take the best available player once that first tier is gone. Kaminsky at No. 13 feels like the right pick. There are questions about his defense and ability to get better in the NBA, but there are worse things to have on a roster than a 7-footer who can shoot and isn't afraid to attack the basket.
Dallas Mavericks Find a PG
The Dallas Mavericks' dream scenario quickly turned into a nightmare. Acquiring Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics was supposed to solve the franchise's point guard woes, but it ended in the most unusual fashion.
The controversial former All-Star and team decided to part ways following a Game 2 loss against Houston in the Western Conference playoffs but initially tried to cover it up under the guise of a back injury, per ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon.
This year's crop of free agents isn't flush with impact point guard talent. Goran Dragic looks like the best of a weak bunch but has said he hopes to remain in Miami, per the Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman. Brandon Knight, Reggie Jackson and Patrick Beverley will be restricted free agents. That leaves Rondo and Jeremy Lin as the best available unrestricted options.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is smart enough to know odds are against finding a superstar point guard with the 21st overall pick, but a quality talent such as Tyus Jones can certainly fill the biggest hole on this roster.
Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress did note that he expects Jones to be a quality backup in the NBA, though he acknowledged the Duke star proved a lot of analysts wrong with his performance:
There isn't anything that immediately stands out about Jones. He's listed at 6'1" and 170 pounds and only shot 41.7 percent from the floor as a freshman, but there are two things he does that give him a great chance to succeed: pass and draw fouls.
In the NCAA tournament, Jones missed two of 24 free-throw attempts and had 20 assists with just eight turnovers in leading Duke to the championship. His overall shooting percentage wasn't great in his only season with the Blue Devils, but his 37.9 percent from three-point range suggests there's more in the tank.
Dallas' window to win with this current team led by Dirk Nowitzki doesn't figure to last much longer, so Cuban has to strike while the iron is hot. Jones is the best option for this team where it is picking and gives it an option who at the very least won't be worse than Rondo was down the stretch.
R.J. Hunter Finds a Perfect Home
R.J. Hunter and Georgia State were one of the best stories in the NCAA tournament. The junior guard decided to go out on a high note, giving up his final year of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Now, the focus will shift to Hunter's game and how it translates to the next level. The good news is his ability to shoot will give teams a reason to take a chance on him.
Interestingly, despite hitting the game-winning shot against Baylor in the tournament, Hunter had his worst shooting season in 2014-15. The 21-year-old shot 39.5 percent from the floor and 30.5 percent from beyond the arc, down from 44.4 and 39.5 percent as a sophomore.
Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com did find a reason for Hunter's decreased production that an NBA team can work with after getting him into its program:
"Simply put, Hunter took more shots this season from a greater distance, and also seemed to rush a few more shots than last year. His two-season rate of 1.04 points-per-shot on uncontested looks is disconcerting for a player that is considered a potentially elite shooter, but it's mostly because the uncontested looks that he took were from eight-to-10 feet beyond the 3-point line.
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Despite a 6'5" frame, given Hunter's smaller stature at 185 pounds, he's not going to overpower many NBA defenders. That means his best immediate role in the NBA will be as a J.J. Redick-type, constantly moving to find an open shot where he can catch and shoot.
Of all the spots Hunter can realistically end up, Cleveland immediately stands out. The Cavaliers have two of the most explosive athletes in the NBA with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, but they can stand to get more shooting depth in the backcourt.
Hunter won't be asked to create on his own with the duo of James and Irving able to open up everything for their teammates. It's the best situation for the Georgia State star to make his presence felt immediately and hide his limitations.
Note: Stats and measurables via ESPN.com.
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