NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Top Prospects of 2015 NBA Draft
Names like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky dominated the college basketball scene throughout 2015. Now rumors are swirling as to where they'll wind up in the 2015 NBA draft.
The three big men all have their upside. Towns is a defensive maven with the athleticism to run the floor. Okafor is as polished in the post offensively as any prospect you'll see. Kaminsky has a rare blend of size and range that should at the very least make him a rotational offensive specialist.
Here's a look at the latest from the rumor mill as to the future of college basketball's biggest stars.
Towns Promised No. 1 Pick?
The debate between Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor as the draft class's top prospect might just be over for the team whose opinion matters most. According to a report passed along by Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com, the Minnesota Timberwolves have told Towns he'll go first on draft night.
"The Minnesota Timberwolves have informed Karl-Anthony Towns that they will select him with the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, a source close to Towns told SNY.tv.
“It’s done, he’s going to Minnesota,” the source said. “[Minnesota President and coach] Flip Saunders was big on Jahlil Okafor for a minute there and after Karl came in [on Saturday], he decided to work out for them. He only worked out for them and it’s a wrap. It’s a wrap. They just told him they’re going to take him No. 1.
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It should be noted that Towns denied the validity of the report, per Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press.
However, given Towns' athleticism, this rumor sounds about right. While Okafor is an excellent talent, the prospect of Towns polishing his offensive game to go with his contributions as a stalwart defensively is too tantalizing to pass up.
The T'Wolves were a mess this season. Injuries and acquisitions ensured the lineup was a revolving door of players. However, with Towns joining Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, the franchise would have the beginnings of a young nucleus to build around.
One player who might not survive the rebuild is Anthony Bennett. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the franchise is looking to shop the former No. 1 pick.
Unloading another young frontcourt asset is all the more reason to believe Towns will be the first one to have his name called.
Lakers Starting to Lock in on Okafor
Should the Timberwolves make Towns the No. 1 pick, Jahlil Okafor likely won't have to wait long to hear his name called. According to Chad Ford of ESPN, the Lakers are becoming increasingly confident that Okafor will be their pick at No. 2.
This pick makes all kinds of sense for the Lakers. In the short term, it gives Los Angeles a player who is capable of contributing in the post right now.
For a franchise that only has Julius Randle under contract in the frontcourt next season, this is great news. Jordan Hill was the team's only consistent scorer down low last season, and his efficiency left a lot to be desired (.459 shooting percentage).
In the long term, Okafor has the potential to develop into a superstar. Some have compared him to Tim Duncan, but even if those lofty comparisons don't pan out, he could still wind up being Al Jefferson, whom Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman compares him to in the video below.
It would appear the 20 percent chance the Lakers don't draft Okafor might not have to do with another prospect, either. According to Stein, Los Angeles is making a push to trade for Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins.
Given how high Cousins' stock is, the No. 2 pick would likely be involved in the deal. Making a deal for an established star like Cousins seems like the only other draft night possibility for the Lakers.
Kaminsky Coveted by Knicks?
Frank Kaminsky is already one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. The latest buzz surrounding the National Player of the Year is only making him that much more interesting.
He is rare in that not many 7-footers come out of college shooting 41.6 percent from three-point range. Yet here's Kaminsky, who doesn't fit the mold of the traditional NBA big but has a well-rounded offensive game that is difficult to project to the Association.
One man who thinks Kaminsky could successfully transition to the pro game is New York Knicks president Phil Jackson. Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported the Knicks are considering taking Kaminsky at No. 4:
"Kaminsky would not have gone to New York unless the interest from the Knicks was real. And he was assured that it was, that the team would not waste his time or theirs unless there was a chance he would wind up with the Knicks.
That’s why one of the topics of discussion at the Knicks meeting was bucking conventional wisdom, passing on guards D’Angelo Russell and/or Emmanuel Mudiay and taking Kaminsky — whose versatility makes him a natural fit in the triangle offense — with the fourth overall pick, two league sources told Sporting News. If they do pass on the two guards expected to be on the board, the Knicks are also considering Willie Cauley-Stein and Justise Winslow with the No. 4 pick, though Cauley-Stein appears to be slipping.
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If the Knicks actually pull the trigger on this move, it would be the draft's first true head-scratcher. Despite Kaminsky's impressive college career, he's not a consensus top-five pick.
Still, as Jim Weber of Lost Lettermen points out, Kaminsky might be viewed differently if he were a foreign prospect:
Kaminsky might not be your traditional top-five pick. But if Jackson believes he fits into the Knicks' triangle offense, it isn't out of the realm of possibility this happens. Of course, the obvious speculation is that New York could conceivably trade down.
With their eyes set on a talent that isn't as coveted as players like Emmanuel Mudiay, D'Angelo Russell or Kristaps Porzingis, a deal to trade Kaminsky later in the draft would make some sense.
However, that could be dangerous. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported Kaminsky worked out for the Sacramento Kings, who own the No. 6 pick:
If the interest there is real, the Knicks might just be forced to reach for their guy. Regardless, where Kaminsky lands will be one of the most interesting subplots of the draft.
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