5 NBA Teams Looking to Create New Identities with the Draft

Though there are many ways to build an NBA juggernaut, the most economical is through the draft. Rookie contracts are (relatively) inexpensive, and the team that drafts a player is allowed to pay that player more for his second and third contract. 

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from the franchise's first title since 1975. The Dubs traded for center Andrew Bogut and added defensive stalwart Andre Iguodala in free agency. But Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green were all drafted and developed in Oakland. 

Curry, who turned 27 in March, is the oldest by two years. With smart management and a rapidly rising salary cap, it's safe to assume Golden State will challenge for the NBA crown for years to come. 

So which teams have the best shot at changing their identity and culture with the help of the 2015 NBA draft? Let's find out.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

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No four-year-olds from Long Beach have seen the Lakers hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Poor kids. 

As constructed, the Lakers are a franchise in disarray. Their best player last season was a rookie second-round pick from Missouri named Jordan Clarkson. Kobe Bryant played in just 41 games over the course of the last two seasons. Julius Randle, their first-round pick from a year ago, played 14 minutes before breaking his leg. The team won 21 games and finished last in the Pacific Division for the second straight season. 

Arguably the most successful basketball franchise in league history, the Lakers have rarely built through the draft. They've been able to woo talented big men throughout the years via trade and free agency. This year could be the same, as the Lakers have been in the conversation around potential trade destinations for second-team All-NBA center DeMarcus Cousins. It would take a hefty package that includes the second overall pick, but ESPN Insider Chad Ford's sources wonders if the Kings might be interested in a DeMarcus mega-deal.

If they don't make a trade, Los Angeles will likely have to decide between Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell and Latvia's Kristaps Porzingis. For decades, the Lakers have thrived on the wings of dominant NBA centers. They will have a hard time passing on Okafor, who has impeccable footwork, size and court vision.

He does not defend well, and none of the top teams in the NBA have traditional back-down big men. But Okafor will command double teams and can successfully pass out of them. If he lives up to the hype, Randle comes back healthy, and Kobe Bryant doesn't try to take every shot, the Lakers just might climb out of the NBA cellar. 

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

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The T-wolves haven't made the playoffs since 2004. They struggle to hold onto star players (see Love, Kevin) past their second contract. They won less than 20 percent of their games last season.

But...

They have rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins and dunking phenom Zach LaVine. Ricky Rubio might stay healthy for the second time in his short career. And they'll likely take Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick in the draft. 

Since the departure of Kevin Garnett, Minnesota has struggled to find a defensive identity. Per Basketball-Reference.com, they ranked last in the league in defensive efficiency last season. Part of that is due to a young and often dysfunctional lineup. NBAdraft.net describes Towns as a "very good shot blocker" with "underrated foot speed." If he can adapt to Minnesota's defensive scheme quickly, he should change the way the team defends. 

Towns also shoots the ball extremely well. He shot over 80 percent from the free throw line and might eventually give the Timberwolves another three-point option. If Wiggins and LaVine progress this offseason and Towns is the rock Minny has been looking for in the middle, the Timberwolves should turn some heads next season.

3. New York Knicks

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Phil Jackson did his job. He re-signed Carmelo Anthony and got rid of just about everyone else. Per Hoops Hype, the Knicks have just $32 million on the books for the 2015-16 season.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that they're going after free agent Greg Monroe. They'll have to offer him a max contract to keep him from signing elsewhere. That leaves three starting positions up for grabs. 

With the fourth pick, the Knicks are projected to take...well, every pre-draft projection seems to show them grabbing a different guy. If they want to build around a point guard, D'Angelo Russell would do just fine. The Ohio State freshman tore up the Big 10 last year, averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 boards and five assists per game for the Buckeyes. 

While Russell is a 10-year starter with All-Star potential, Emmanuel Mudiay probably has a higher upside. The former No. 1 high school prospect played professionally in China last year and has been compared to John Wall. According to Nbadraft.net, his jump shot isn't reliable, but with explosive quickness and superior length, Mudiay can beat defenders and finish at the rim. 

4. Philadelphia 76ers

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Since they traded Andrew Bynum, the Philadelphia 76ers have been absolutely terrible. They've won just 71 games in the last three seasons.

In the last two offseasons, they've drafted or acquired Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams (later traded,) Joel Embiid (hasn't played), and Dario Saric (stashed in Europe).

Guess what? Multiple projection sites, including NBADraft.net, have coupled the Sixers with 7'0" Latvian Kristaps Porzingis. 

Who?

Well, we don't know much about Porzingis other than what we've seen in a couple of monster workouts he's turned in over the past few weeks. Apparently, he can shoot, dribble and score in the post. So there's that. 

Even if Porzingis turns out to be the best player in this draft, the the City of Brotherly Love will boast two skilled 7-footers, two 6'10"-plus power forwards in Nerlens Noel and Dario Saric, and a handful of castoffs. 

That seems like a bizarre way to build a roster in light of the fact that the NBA Finals have turned into a small-ball exposition. 

Come on, Philly, please just take Justise Winslow, the best player from the best team in the NCAA tournament. He'll be ready to play in the fall, and he can defend multiple positions—an absolute must in a league in which screens are set as often as players flop. Stop trying to build a team that would challenge for the title in the 1950s. 

5. Utah Jazz

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Utah will pick 12th in this year's NBA draft. This team is dangerously close to becoming another Western Conference powerhouse. With Gordon Hayward harassing opposing wings, Rudy Gobert swallowing up anything around the hoop and Derrick Favors clearing the boards, Utah might have the best frontcourt in the league.

Their backcourt, however, is mediocre at best. Joe Ingles and Rodney Hood filled in nicely for Alec Burks, but none of those three is a championship-caliber shooting guard.

Trey Burke and Dante Exum were very bad offensively. Neither can shoot, which allows opposing defenders to sag into the key and help on the bigs. Burke shot 36.8 percent from the field, and Exum shot 34.9 percent.

Am I crazy to suggest the Jazz should draft the relatively unknown Cameron Payne from Murray St. with their first pick? It would give them three young point guards, which could be a problem, but this team is built to contend right now. If Payne were to beat out Burke and Exum for the starting role and bring some distance shooting and general stability to the offense a la Damian Lillard, the Jazz could jump into the heart of the Western Conference playoff picture.