NBA Draft Combine 2015: Schedule, TV Info and Prospects to Watch
The NBA Draft Combine doesn’t receive the over-the-top attention that its football counterpart does, but it is more relevant to what fans will see on the court in the coming years.
After all, measuring a player’s 40-yard dash time or broad jump skills in basketball shorts with no pads on is only so applicable to the football field. The measurables at the NBA scouting combine directly translate to on-court performance, and scouts don’t have to guess how a prospect’s speed would differ with pads and equipment.
What’s more, there is actual live scrimmaging at the basketball combine, which will give participants and scouts a better idea of where everyone stands in comparison to the rest of the draft class.
Sports Illustrated NBA passed along a list of every participant at the combine, while Chad Ford of ESPN pointed out who will play in the five-on-five scrimmages:
Here is a look at the schedule, as well as a few prospects to watch at the combine.
Schedule
Remaining Dates: May 15-17
Where: Chicago
TV: NBA TV, ESPN (on-court)
Players to Watch
D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
D’Angelo Russell has the opportunity to make a loud statement at the combine because Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay are not participating. Those three players represent Russell’s biggest competition for the designation of the No. 1 pick in the draft, and a formidable performance from the Ohio State product could close any gap between him and the big men.
Russell believes he will thrive wherever he ends up, via Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors:
Russell’s unique skill set should impress at the combine. He is a smooth passer, can hit from well beyond the three-point line, has the versatility to play either guard position and is one of the best ball-handlers in the entire 2015 class.
All it will take at the combine is one or two impressive passes during drills or a hot streak during shooting displays to turn the heads of scouts everywhere. The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers will likely both be paying close attention because either could land the No. 1 pick in the draft or take Russell in the top five.
Russell would pair nicely with big men Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, but the prospect of bringing him to Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and any potential free-agent signee is also intriguing. Russell has the opportunity to make a mark at the combine before he potentially hears his name as a top-three pick in the draft.
Towns, Okafor and Mudiay cannot say the same.
Frank Kaminsky, F, Wisconsin
Perhaps no other player in the 2015 draft class has more momentum than Frank Kaminsky after he led the Wisconsin Badgers to the national championship game.
His draft stock skyrocketed this season while he averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and he is a matchup nightmare every time he takes the court. That will likely shine through during combine drills, especially compared to his fellow big men.
Kaminsky isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he runs the floor and boasts impressive mobility for his size. He is an offensive force because of the variety of ways he can hurt the defense with his ball-handling skills, shooting ability and soft touch on the low blocks with his back to the basket.
The ability to score from anywhere, including three-point range, is an invaluable skill at any position, but it is especially important for big men. He will pull opponents’ rim-protectors away from the paint, beat slower defenders off the dribble and hit open teammates on cuts to the basket.
An impressive combine will be just the next step during Kaminsky’s ascension up the draft boards.
Justise Winslow, F, Duke
Russell isn’t the only potential No. 1 pick who has a chance to make an impact while Okafor, Mudiay and Towns skip the combine.
Like Kaminsky, Justise Winslow saw his draft stock skyrocket this season with a notable tournament run. The Duke Blue Devils won the national championship, and Winslow was their best defender all season long.
With his athleticism and strength, Winslow can guard quicker small forwards or shooting guards and deal with bigger power forwards all in the same game. Winslow will also help on the glass on both ends of the floor. Don’t be surprised when he is defending the opponent’s best player in crunch time as soon as his rookie season.
That versatility is critical in today’s NBA, and it will allow his coach to mix and match lineup combinations.
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress discussed why Winslow is so effective on the defensive side:
"Very few power forwards overpower him inside the paint, while he's quick and agile enough to stay in front of guards on the perimeter, giving him tremendous versatility on this end of the floor. His footwork and lateral movement is outstanding for a player his age, as he's always in a stance, displays tremendous focus and awareness, and is incredibly tough, physical and competitive. While he's tremendous one on one, he's even better as a team defender, doing an outstanding job of making the right rotations and helping out his teammates, digging down on the post, closing out on shooters, and finding ways to make plays off the ball, averaging 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per-40 minutes.
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While Winslow’s defense jumps out on film, scouts will not overlook his offense either. He can shoot the three, attack off the dribble with an explosive first step and finish at the rim through contact.
Winslow will likely be a top-five pick and has the skill set necessary to contend for Rookie of the Year next season.
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