2015 NBA Power Rankings: Post 2015 Draft Edition
Compared to all the rumor and innuendo that fluttered throughout the basketball world over the past few weeks, the 2015 NBA draft was pretty tame.
No blockbuster deals. No teams trading into the top 10. No crazy high jinks from anyone in the incoming crop.
The bulk of the excitement for the evening emanated from the No. 2 pick, where the Los Angeles Lakers took Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell instead of Duke's Jahlil Okafor.
Even that wasn't particularly shocking. There had been talk of the Lakers taking Russell in the lead-up to the draft, and Okafor didn't have to wait long for his name to be called.
Chances are, it'll be years before anyone has a clear idea of the actual winners and losers from Thursday's proceedings.
Of course, that won't stop anyone from attempting to sort that out. Nor will it keep us from cranking out another round of power rankings, with teams arranged based on end-of-season performance and potential personnel going forward.
Full Draft Recap
1 of 31In case you missed anything, here's a look at all 60 picks from the 2015 NBA draft.
30. New York Knicks
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ESPN's Rece Davis made an interesting point during the NBA draft broadcast: Since Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol became the first European players to be drafted in the lottery, 16 other continentals have gotten those early calls...and none have become All-Stars.
It's no wonder, then, that New York Knicks fans were so distraught over their team taking Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4. The 7'1" Latvian forward has the size, skills and upside to be an impact player at Madison Square Garden. What he lacks is the thickness (220 lbs) to credibly defend the post and bang on the boards with the best big men in the world.
To that end, it could take quite some time for Porzingis to pan out, if he does at all—time that the Knicks don't have, between the post-30 Carmelo Anthony and their hungry fanbase.
Then again, the discomfort over Porzingis may have more to do with the franchise's futility than with any overseas failings. After all, no Knicks lottery pick since Patrick Ewing—not Kenny Walker, not Nene, not Mike Sweetney, not Channing Frye, not Danilo Gallinari and certainly not Jordan Hill—has developed into an All-Star.
In other words, good luck, Kris. You and Jerian Grant, whose rights the Knicks acquired by trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to Atlanta, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, will need it.
And if Willy Hernangomez ever matriculates to the U.S., after going from Philly to New York on draft day, per ESPN's Chad Ford, he may need a smidgen of that fortune.
29. Orlando Magic
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First, Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan loaded up on athletic defenders with questionable jump shots (i.e., Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton).
Since then, he appears to have turned his attention toward surrounding studly center Nikola Vucevic with knockdown shooters. Think Channing Frye, Ben Gordon and now Mario Hezonja, the No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft. The 6'6" Croatian shot 37 percent from three in 2013-14 and 37.9 percent from that same range this past season while suiting up for Barcelona in Spain's Liga ACB.
It doesn't hurt Hezonja that he happens to be a gym rat—and a vivacious one at that. "Mario is cocky, but it's a good cocky," fellow Croatian Peja Stojakovic told Bleacher Report's David Pick. "He needs that kind of swagger and mental toughness to survive in the NBA. Otherwise, the league would eat him."
We'll see if Orlando ultimately has an appetite for Tyler Harvey, the No. 51 pick out of Eastern Washington.
28. Sacramento Kings
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The Sacramento Kings would do well to take a page out of the playbook of their fellow NorCal occupants.
And no, I'm not talking about the fast-paced style of play that the Golden State Warriors perfected and over which Vivek Ranadive has obsessed since buying the Kings franchise.
Rather, it's Golden State's newfound franchise stability that Sacramento would do well to replicate. From ownership (Joe Lacob and Peter Guber) to the front office (Executive of the Year Bob Myers) to the coaching staff (Steve Kerr), the Warriors got their house in order, setting the stage for their tremendous talent to shine.
The Kings, on the other hand, remain a mess at the top. Multiple reports across the Twittersphere point to turmoil of some sort brewing between Ranadive, Kings hoops honcho Vlade Divac, head coach George Karl and All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the relationship between Karl and Cousins isn't exactly copacetic, on account of the coach's prior (and, perhaps, extant) desire to ship his star player out of California's capital.
That may have something to do with the discord between Karl and Divac, the man now charged with shaping Sacramento's roster, per ESPN's Marc Stein.
Even the most persistent parsing through rumors does little to lend clarity to the Kings' murky picture. What is clear, though, is that if they are ever to get back on the straight-and-narrow, it's incumbent upon Ranadive to set a strong example and send a strong message from on high.
Doing so in time to create a better environment for Willie Cauley-Stein, the No. 6 pick, would be a good start.
27. Philadelphia 76ers
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Will Joel Embiid play in 2015-16? Or will his lingering foot injury force him to postpone his debut for another season?
That might not matter now that the Philadelphia 76ers have Jahlil Okafor in their back pocket. The Sixers pounced on him with the No. 3 pick, after the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers passed on the big man from Duke. Assuming he stays in Philly, Okafor will give the Sixers a focal point for their offense from Day 1, thanks to his tremendous size (6'10", 275 lbs) and otherworldly back-to-the-basket skills.
That could be even worse news for Embiid, whose rehab has been shut down for the time being, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey. His return to action, whenever that comes, could create a logjam up front in Philly, now that Okafor figures to partner with Nerlens Noel.
Okafor, for his part, doesn't seem concerned about that. "It's not my job to figure it out," Okafor said on draft day, according to SNY.tv's Adam Zagoria. "I'll just go there and ball as hard as I can."
For what it's worth, Embiid doesn't seem to be worried about teaming up with Okafor. As the newest Sixer revealed, via Calkins Media's Tom Moore: "Joel Embiid texted me last night and said see you in Philly."
And if Arturas Gudaitis, the No. 47 pick, and Luka Mitrovic, the final pick of the draft, ever make their way over, the Sixers will really have a crunch in the middle.
As for other spots, J.P Tokoto, the No. 58 pick out of North Carolina, will have to compete only with Tony Wroten, Isaiah Canaan and Jakarr Sampson at guard.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
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It takes years to figure out whether a given draft pick will pan out. At the end of the day, we're talking about a bunch of 19- to 22-year-olds, many of whom are still developing on the court, and none of whom has ever set foot in the NBA.
The same holds for Karl-Anthony Towns and, in turn, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who made him the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. As Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher wrote prior to the draft: "Despite being projected as the first pick, Towns is considered a risk, largely, but not exclusively, because he is almost highly regarded more for what he is expected to be than what he is right now."
What he's expected to be, though, is special: a big, athletic body who can block shots, grab rebounds, change ends of the floor, shoot jumpers and score down low.
Fortunately for Towns, there's no immediate pressure to turn the T-Wolves into a title contender. Minnesota might be happy just to get back into the playoffs after an 11-year drought.
That dry spell may not end in 2016, but with Towns and Duke's Tyus Jones, the No. 24 pick, joining the likes of Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Zach LaVine and reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, folks in Minneapolis should soon be celebrating much more fruitful days on the hardwood.
25. Los Angeles Lakers
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So much for the Los Angeles Lakers casting their lot with a great, young big. They passed on Duke's Jahlil Okafor to pluck D'Angelo Russell out of Ohio State with the No. 2 pick.
To be sure, Russell is a fantastic prospect in his own right. He has all the ball skills (i.e., passing, shooting, handling) that a guard needs to succeed in the NBA and comes equipped with the size (6'5", 193 lbs) to do so at either backcourt spot.
Historically speaking, taking Russell over Okafor might actually fit more closely with the way the Lakers have long operated. By and large, the team's great bigs have come to L.A. via blockbuster trade (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pau Gasol) or free agency (Shaquille O'Neal).
Meanwhile, the great guards who have played alongside those giants—specifically, Jerry West, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant—have been drafted into purple and gold.
Now, the onus is on the front office to find another cornerstone to fill the frontcourt. Whether that happens this summer, next, sometime thereafter or never, the Lakers are ready to demonstrate, once again, that time is a flat circle. As Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding pointed out:
"Byron Scott's last season as an NBA player was spent tutoring a rookie Kobe. If Russell is the choice Thursday night, Bryant's farewell season would be spent in a similar fashion, sharing the backcourt with the symbol of the next Lakers era.
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As for Anthony Brown, L.A.'s pick at No. 34, the Stanford product could fit in as a three-and-D role player at the next level.
24. Denver Nuggets
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The Denver Nuggets could make it three years in a row that a team in the top half of the lottery writes all over the walls with the selection of a guard.
In 2013, the Orlando Magic took Victor Oladipo at No. 2, setting the stage for Jameer Nelson's departure the following summer. Last year, the Boston Celtics drafted Marcus Smart at No. 6, all but spelling the end of Rajon Rondo's tenure in Beantown. Now, it appears as though the Nuggets will show Ty Lawson to the exit, with Emmanuel Mudiay coming to the Mile High City at No. 7.
Not that this should come as any great surprise. According to ESPN's Chad Ford, Denver has been shopping Lawson for some time, along with Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried. With Mudiay firmly in the mix, look for the Nuggets to ramp up their efforts to find a new home for their incumbent point guard.
23. Charlotte Hornets
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Skill and shooting seem to be the new mantras for the Charlotte Hornets these days.
They brought in more of both when they sent Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes. That effort continued just before the draft, when the Hornets flipped Barnes to Oklahoma City for Jeremy Lamb and shipped Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson to Portland for Nicolas Batum.
Charlotte's choice of Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky at No. 9 in the 2015 draft only added to that stockpile. Frank the Tank may not be bulky or fleet on his feet, particularly when compared to his newfound NBA peers. But the reigning National Player of the Year can shoot (41.6 percent from three as a senior) and pass (2.6 assists per game in 2014-15), which is more than most 7-footers can say nowadays.
22. Phoenix Suns
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Whatever the Phoenix Suns do this summer, they should head into the 2015-16 season with at least one young guard out of Kentucky and could wind up with as many as four.
(It could've been five had the Suns not dealt Andrew Harrison's draft rights to Memphis for Jon Leuer.)
Devin Booker is the newest member of Big Blue Nation to arrive in the Valley of the Sun. Booker, a 6'5" swingman, may be the best shooter to come out of the 2015 draft (41.1 percent from three as a freshman).
Booker is hardly guaranteed to start in Phoenix as a rookie. If everything holds, Booker, along with former UK one-and-one Archie Goodwin, will be blocked out of the Suns' top five by fellow Wildcats Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.
Neither of those guys is guaranteed to stay in Arizona. According to Sporting News' Sean Deveney, the Suns had discussions about Bledsoe's availability prior to the draft, though those talks haven't amounted to much yet.
The bigger issue may come on July 1, when Knight officially hits restricted free agency. Phoenix gave up Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee and the Lakers' protected lottery pick to acquire Knight from Milwaukee but got just 11 games out of him before a severe ankle injury ended his season. It could cost the Suns a pretty penny to keep Knight in Phoenix, and if last summer's protracted standoff with Bledsoe was any indication, Knight's situation might not be resolved for a while.
21. Detroit Pistons
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The Detroit Pistons have already found their replacement for Greg Monroe at power forward, now that Ersan Ilyasova is on board. They won't have to search far and wide for Tayshaun Prince's successor on the wing, with Stanley Johnson arriving by way of the No. 8 pick.
The 6'6" freshman has the build of a young Metta World Peace but won't be dogged by the same questions about his shot (37.1 percent from three in college) and temperament that came to mark the man formerly known as Ron Artest. Johnson will be joined among Detroit's new batch of wings by Villanova's Darrun Hilliard, the No. 38 pick.
With the draft out of the way, Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons can turn their full attention to free agency. Detroit figures to do what it takes to bring Reggie Jackson, the team's big deadline acquisition, back into the fold.
Then again, the news from Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears that Brandon Jennings is on track to be ready for training camp, after tearing his Achilles tendon this past January, could play a part in Jackson's negotiations.
20. Indiana Pacers
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Larry Bird's summer mission to turn the Indiana Pacers into a team befitting its nickname is well underway.
Paul George has been preparing to play power forward, which is all the more important now that David West has declined his option and could be on his way to New York, per Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Roy Hibbert could be the next big out the door, though that will have to happen via trade now that he's opted into the final year of his deal, per Grantland's Zach Lowe.
The Pacers' selection of Texas big man Myles Turner at No. 11 appears to pave the way for Hibbert's departure. Then again, Indy may be keen not to rush Turner into a prominent role. "He’s young," said Pacers coach Frank Vogel, per the Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner. "It’s going to take some time."
In the meantime, the Pacers can turn their attention to free agency, where they may find another speedster—perhaps Monta Ellis, per ESPN's Tim McMahon and Chris Broussard—to help Indy push the pace going forward. And if Ellis balks, the Pacers can take a closer look at Oregon combo guard Joseph Young, the No. 43 pick.
19. Toronto Raptors
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In essence, the Toronto Raptors spent draft night swapping out one big backup point guard for another. As Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported, the Raptors sent Greivis Vasquez to Milwaukee in exchange for a 2017 first-round pick and the No. 46 pick in 2015 (Norman Powell).
With that deal in the bag, Toronto took Utah's Delon Wright, a 6'6" point guard with some intriguing ball skills. He probably won't mind starting his pro career in Canada, far away from the shadow of his older brother, veteran wing Dorell Wright.
"When I was younger, he used to give me a hard time, so it was natural for me to shoot back at him and bug him," Delon told Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes of Dorell. "I wasn't doing it to be mean, though. I just didn't know any better."
Delon would do well to learn better before he arrives in Toronto, lest he become the Raptors' chief rookie target of torment in the locker room next season.
18. Boston Celtics
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Say this much for the Boston Celtics: They didn't make a big splash on draft night but not for a lack of effort.
"We spent the last couple weeks trying to move, and really today was the only time we had any indication that we could move up," said Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, via WEEI's Ben Rohrbach.
The C's didn't end up moving at all. Instead, they added a physical, defensive-minded point guard (Louisville's Terry Rozier at No. 16), a sharpshooting swingman (Georgia State's R.J. Hunter at No. 28) and the NCAA's leading shot-blocker (LSU's Jordan Mickey at No. 33).
After all that, Boston finds itself close to where it began the night—that is, unless the team can lure Kevin Love with...Paul Pierce and Robin Lopez, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
17. Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat's future remains as murky as ever after draft night.
Dwyane Wade figures to opt out of his current deal and test free agency this summer. Luol Deng could follow suit. Goran Dragic's contract is up, so he's already ticketed for the market.
In the meantime, the Heat did well to snag Justise Winslow at No. 10. A strong, physical wing, he was the breakout star of Duke's run to the 2015 NCAA title.
Should Deng or Wade leave, Winslow could step in as a starter to considerable effect. Josh Richardson, the No. 40 pick in the draft, could be of some service there as well, given his background as a shooting guard at Tennessee.
And if Miami can keep its projected starting five intact, with Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside up front, it could have a future star in Winslow and another potential rotation cog in Richardson to groom on the bench.
16. Brooklyn Nets
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If you thought the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA's definition of ho-hum, were going to have an exciting draft night...well, think again. Without any prime real estate in the draft order, the Nets took Syracuse's Chris McCullough at No. 29, acquired the rights to Argentine teenager Juan Vaulet from the Hornets and swapped Mason Plumlee and the rights to Pat Connaughton to Portland in exchange for Steve Blake and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the No. 23 pick, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
In truth, it could be years before the Nets are able to throw their weight around on draft day. The 2013 blockbuster that brought Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry to Brooklyn left the Nets without complete control of a first-round pick until 2019.
15. Portland Trail Blazers
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Piece by piece, the Portland Trail Blazers seem to be dismantling what once appeared to be a title contender out West.
Nicolas Batum is on his way to Charlotte, with Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh on their way back to Rip City. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Mason Plumlee and No. 41 pick Pat Connaughton will also be Blazers, in exchange for Steve Blake and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the No. 23 pick. Daniel Diez, the No. 54 pick, is also on his way to the Pacific Northwest via trade, per the Salt Lake Tribune's Tony Jones.
Meanwhile, per Grantland's Zach Lowe, LaMarcus Aldridge—the player who Meyers Leonard, Vonleh and Plumlee (among others) will be charged with replacing—has the Spurs atop his free-agent wish list.
Damian Lillard better get comfortable being the man in Portland; he could be the only member of last season's complete starting five to return in 2015-16.
14. Utah Jazz
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Right now, power forward appears to be the position that's most piquing the Utah Jazz. According to the Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk, the Jazz may try to bring Paul Millsap back to his original NBA team, but they don't figure to do so at Derrick Favors' expense.
What to make, then, of Trey Lyles coming to Utah? The No. 12 pick in 2015 didn't get to spread his wings completely at Kentucky, though he was one of the top high school prospects prior to his freshman year in Lexington.
"There's a lot of versatility in my game I didn't get to showcase and it's just because the team didn't need it from me," Lyles said during his workout with the Jazz, according to the Salt Lake Tribune's Tony Jones. "I didn't complain about it because you go 38-0, there's really nothing you can say."
The Jazz aren't likely to get off to such a great start in 2015-16. Even so, Lyles may not need to pipe up too much if Utah turns to him when it needs a bucket.
13. Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks didn't do much to move the needle on Thursday, at least as far as on-court contributions go.
Justin Anderson, the No. 21 pick out of Virginia, fits the mold that Shawn Marion, Jae Crowder and Al-Farouq Aminu have filled in recent seasons. With Monta Ellis all but gone after opting out of his contract, the Mavs may need Anderson, a multiskilled defender, to play some solid minutes as a rookie alongside a healing Chandler Parsons.
As for Dallas' other pick, Satnam Singh Bhamara at No. 52, the team has him ticketed for the NBA Development League in Frisco, Texas, though Mavs owner Mark Cuban sees a different kind of upside in the Indian big man. "There’s a billion new Mavs fans out there right now," Cuban said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Dwain Price.
With any luck, those new fans will get to see Dirk Nowitzki ride out his twilight in style.
12. Milwaukee Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks came into the summer in search of some shooting and playmaking to goose their stagnant offense. On draft night, they took a couple of small steps in that direction with the acquisitions of Greivis Vasquez and Rashad Vaughn.
Vasquez comes to Wisconsin by way of a trade with the Raptors. The University of Maryland product projects as a more offensive-minded backup to Michael Carter-Williams but could start next to the former Rookie of the Year if Khris Middleton, a restricted free agent, winds up elsewhere.
As for Vaughn, the No. 17 pick out of UNLV, the Bucks won't likely expect him to contribute much right away. He doesn't turn 19 until August, and as Brew Hoops' Dan Sinclair wrote, Vaughn has his work cut out for him if he's to mesh with the Bucks:
"The fit is questionable for Vaughn, who doesn't seem to align with Milwaukee's pressuring defensive system, and there were other positions of greater need for the Bucks. But Vaughn's natural scoring ability is impressive, especially at a young age, and General Manager John Hammond has always prioritized talent over fit in the draft.
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11. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Jeremy Lamb is out, and Cameron Payne and Dakari Johnson are in for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Granted, Johnson, the No. 48 pick out of Kentucky, won't be tasked with playing out on the perimeter. At 7'0" and 265 pounds, he could develop into a functional backup center—assuming OKC has a spot for him behind Enes Kanter (a restricted free agent), Steven Adams and Nick Collison.
Payne is the real prize of the draft for the prudent Thunder. As ESPN.com's Royce Young described him:
"Payne is a smooth left-handed guard, but a tad undersized for what the Thunder typically prefer. Defense is a concern, and he needs to get stronger. But he has a unique feel for the game, and can certainly score. Payne has some growing to do in Oklahoma City, but the Thunder just added more talent to their already impressive cupboard full of it.
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OKC may need to draw from that cupboard in the not-so-distant future. With D.J. Augustin ticketed for free agency in 2016 and Russell Westbrook bound for the same in 2017, the Thunder figure to groom Payne to provide some depth at point guard, at the very least.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
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The New Orleans Pelicans came away empty from the 2015 draft after selling the rights to Branden Dawson, the No. 56 pick, to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That maneuver fit with the Pelicans plan to keep their team intact, more or less. According to NOLA.com's John Reid, general manager Dell Demps and head coach Alvin Gentry like the young core they have on hand.
As well they should. With Anthony Davis in tow and a coach, in Gentry, who probably has an idea or two about how to unleash the likes of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans and Ryan Anderson, the Pelicans are poised to take another significant step toward the goal of title contention in 2015-16.
9. Washington Wizards
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If Paul Pierce does indeed leave Washington, D.C., this summer, the Washington Wizards won't have to panic in search of a replacement. Otto Porter Jr. looks ready to step in for Pierce, after averaging 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench during the playoffs.
Should Porter fail to fill the void at small forward over the long haul, the Wizards could turn to Kelly Oubre, the No. 15 pick in the 2015 draft. Washington sent the No. 19 pick and two future second-rounders to Atlanta to acquire his rights.
Oubre's commitment and work ethic came into some question during his lone season in Lawrence, Kansas. But his athleticism and shooting ability are both beyond reproach, and in a winning situation like Washington's and alongside a leader like John Wall, discipline might not be such a concern.
8. Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls already have Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic crowding their frontcourt. So, naturally, they spent the No. 22 pick on...Arkansas' Bobby Portis, another big.
Prior to Portis' arrival, the Bulls appeared primed to move at least one of their incumbent giants, especially with new head coach Fred Hoiberg peddling a fast-paced style. Now that Portis is in the mix, look for Chicago to pursue a deal to unclog their frontcourt with even more vim and vigor.
And if the Bulls can do so while unloading salary—and making paying Jimmy Butler beaucoup bucks in restricted free agency all the more palatable—even better.
7. San Antonio Spurs
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Surprise, surprise: The San Antonio Spurs spent a late first-round pick on a draft-and-stash prospect. This year, the honor went to Nikola Milutinov, a Serbian center who figures to spend more time overseas as the No. 26 pick. He'll join 2013 first-rounder Livio Jean-Charles among San Antonio's store of players in Europe and could be on the same flight over as Cady Lalanne, the No. 56 pick.
But the Spurs' decision to go Euro may have a different motive this time around. As Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix tweeted, "San Antonio is all in on free agency this summer, so taking a player who they will likely stash for a year or two overseas is no surprise."
Indeed, the Spurs have a lot at stake this summer. Whether or not Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili put off retirement for another year, San Antonio will have to tangle with Kawhi Leonard's foray into restricted free agency while attempting to lure another star (LaMarcus Aldridge, perhaps?) to the Alamo City.
Not to mention Danny Green's return to the market, now as one of the league's premier three-and-D wings.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
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So far, the Memphis Grizzlies have done well to fill out the fringes of their roster this offseason.
According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, they have added Matt Barnes to their crop of wings behind Jeff Green, who opted into the final year of his deal. They may not be done dealing yet, with ESPN's Marc Stein reporting that Memphis has its sights set on Denver's Danilo Gallinari. With Jarell Martin, the No. 25 pick in 2015, the Grizzlies will get a bit more athletic up front.
But as far as importance to Memphis is concerned, all of these guys—individually or combined—pale in comparison to Marc Gasol. All signs still point to Big Spain returning to Tennessee this summer, after he hits the market as an unrestricted free agent. He spent part of his adolescence in Memphis, has grown into one of the game's best bigs with the Grizzlies and can make the most money if he stays put.
And if the Grizzlies keep adding shooting, Gasol will be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable on-court role anywhere else.
5. Atlanta Hawks
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Now that the ownership situation is officially settled, Danny Ferry is no longer a member of the franchise (with Mike Budenholzer taking over front-office duties) and the new uniforms have (unfortunately) been unveiled, the Atlanta Hawks can set about the business of shaping the roster that will attempt to build on the team's landmark success this past season.
That effort began in earnest on Thursday, when the Hawks traded for New York's Tim Hardaway Jr.
The real work, though, gets underway on July 1. That's the day Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll become unrestricted free agents.
At this point, Atlanta may have a surprisingly difficult time keeping either one of them, let alone both. According to Deseret News' Jody Genessy, the Utah Jazz may try to bring Millsap back to Salt Lake City. The Hawks might not mind making that deal, though, if it means bringing Derrick Favors back to his hometown of Atlanta.
As for Carroll, the Hawks will have to manage their cap space carefully if they want to retain their leading scorer from this past postseason. Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski wrote, "Interesting factor that negates Atlanta's hometown financial advantage on DeMarre Carroll in free agency: Hawks don't have his Bird rights."
That may not matter now that Hardaway Jr. is in the mix for the Hawks. Just don't expect Marcus Eriksson, the No. 50 pick, and Dimitrios Agravanis, No. 59, to factor into that equation—if they even make it across the pond.
4. Los Angeles Clippers
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The Los Angeles Clippers wanted to buy their way into the 2015 draft, per the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch, and wound up doing so, when they bought the rights to Michigan State's Branden Dawson, the No. 56 pick, from the Pelicans.
Not that Dawsen figures to do much for the Clippers. Doc Rivers doesn't have the best reputation for grooming youngsters into rotation players within the context of a title contender, as Reggie Bullock and C.J. Wilcox might attest.
That's not to say the Clippers couldn't have used a pick, even if only a half-decent one. With Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes no longer in L.A., DeAndre Jordan ticketed for free agency and the team's cap sheet already clogged, the Clips could use all the help they can get on the wing and in the frontcourt for as minimal a monetary investment as possible.
3. Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets will be busy bees again this summer in pursuit of a third star. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, they are hunting high and low for ways to clear cap space for an upgrade at power forward, with LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love among the most desirable options.
Sam Dekker, Houston's choice at No. 18, could enter into those plans at some point. The Rockets could use his draft rights to grease the skids for a sign-and-trade arrangement.
Dekker could be plenty valuable to the Rockets even if he stays. With Josh Smith and Corey Brewer ticketed for free agency, Dekker could become a younger, cheaper option for filling out Houston's crop of forwards.
The same goes for Montrezl Harrell, the No. 32 pick, who looks like the second coming of Rockets big man Joey Dorsey.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
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No offense to Cedi Osman (the No. 31 pick), Rakeem Christmas (the No. 36 pick) or Sir'Dominic Pointer (the No. 53 pick), but the newest Cleveland Cavaliers are small potatoes compared to the incumbents the franchise will try to retain come July 1.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, Kevin Love has opted out of the final year of his contract. Ditto for J.R. Smith, per RealGM's Shams Charania. LeBron James figures to do the same.
Fortunately for the Cavs, they're in strong position to bring all three back into the fold. Per the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett, Love is likely to stay in Cleveland, where he can earn the most money while plying his trade on a guaranteed title contender. NBA.com's Fran Blinebury noted that Smith has already expressed a desire to return and that the Cavs would be glad to have him.
As for James...well, he can't leave home twice, can he?
If all of this holds, the Cavs' biggest challenges of the summer will be determining whether to pay their restricted free agents (Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova) and if so, how much.
1. Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors had a quiet draft night, and deservedly so. After winning 67 games and claiming the franchise's first championship in 40 years, the Warriors weren't exactly in need of a big shake-up.
But Kevon Looney, the No. 30 pick, could come in handy nonetheless for Golden State this summer. With Draymond Green hitting restricted free agency and Harrison Barnes eligible for an extension, the Dubs could use Looney's rights as a trade sweetener to help offload David Lee—for his sake (to find more playing time for the former All-Star and 2016 free agent) and theirs (to save on luxury tax payments), per ESPN's Marc Stein.
But that business won't begin in earnest until July 1. For now, the Warriors can afford to bask in the glow of their shiny, new Larry O'Brien Trophy, if only for a bit longer.
Josh Martin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
