NBA Draft Grades 2015: Team-by-Team List of Scores and Overall Analysis

The studying and the machinations seemed to go on forever, but the 2015 NBA draft went by like Usain Bolt running the 100-meter dash. Sixty of the best young basketball players in the world were selected and have found new homes inside Adam Silver’s domain.

While players at the top such as Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor appear to have the talent and the game to step right in and play right from the start, the vast majority of the players drafted Thursday night will need time to develop their talent if they are going to fit in with their new teams and become productive and consistent NBA players.

Drafting teams had to look at their needs, draft position, scheme and the individual player’s personality prior to making their selections

All of these factors are taken into consideration, and grades are issued to each of the 60 selections. We also highlight some of the picks that stood out.

Pick	Team	Player	Pos.	School	Grade
1	Timberwolves	Karl-Anthony Towns	PF	Kentucky	A
2	Lakers	D'Angelo Russell	SG	Ohio State	A
3	76ers	Jahlil Okafor	C	Duke	A-
4	Knicks	Kristaps Porzingis	PF	Latvia	B+
5	Magic	Mario Hezonja	SG	Croatia	A-
6	Kings	Willie Cauley-Stein	C	Kentucky	A
7	Nuggets	Emmanuel Muddiay	PG	China	B
8	Pistons	Stanley Johnson	SF	Arizona	B
9	Hornets	Frank Kaminsky	PF	Wisconsin	A-
10	Heat	Justise Winslow	SF	Duke	A
11	Pacers	Myles Turner	C	Texas	C-
12	Jazz	Trey Lyles	PF	Kentucky	C+
13	Suns	Devin Booker	SG	Kentucky	B
14	Thunder	Cameron Payne	PG	Murray State	C+
15	Hawks	Kelly Oubre	SF	Kansas	A-
16	Celtics	Terry Rozier	PG	Louisville	D
17	Bucks	Rashad Vaughn	SG	UNLV	B+
18	Rockets	Sam Dekker	SF	Wisconsin	C+
19	Wizards	Jerian Grant	PG	Notre Dame	B+
20	Raptors	Delon Wright	PG	Utah	B
21	Mavericks	Justin Anderson	SF	Virginia	A-
22	Bulls	Bobby Portis	PF	Arkansas	B+
23	Trail Blazers	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson	SF	Arizona	C+
24	Cavaliers	Tyus Jones	PG	Duke	A-
25	Grizzlies	Jarell Martin	PF	LSU	B-
26	Spurs	Nikola Milutinov	C	Serbia	B+
27	Lakers	Larry Nance Jr.	PF	Wyoming	C
28	Celtics	R.J. Hunter	SG	Georgia State	B+
29	Nets	Chris McCullough	PF	Syracuse	B
30	Warriors	Kevon Looney	PF	UCLA	B-
Pick	Team	Player	Pos.	School	Grade
31	Timberwolves	Cedi Osman	SG	Macedonia	B
32	Rockets	Montrezl Harrell	PF	Louisville	B+
33	Celtics	Jordan Mickey	PF	LSU	A-
34	Lakers	Anthony Brown	SF	Stanford	B-
35	76ers	Guillermo Hernangomez	C	Spain	D
36	Timberwolves	Rakeem Christmas	C	Syracuse	A-
37	76ers	Richaun Holmes	PF	Bowling Green	C-
38	Pistons	Darrun Hilliard	SG	Villanova	B
39	Hornets	Juan Vaulet	SG	Argentina	D
40	Heat	Josh Richardson	SG	Tennessee	B
41	Nets	Pat Connaughton	SG	Notre Dame	B-
42	Jazz	Olivier Hanlan	PG	Boston College	B
43	Pacers	Joseph Young	SG	Oregon	C+
44	Suns	Andrew Harrison	PG	Kentucky	B
45	Celtics	Marcus Thornton	SG	William & Mary	C-
46	Bucks	Norman Powell	SG	UCLA	B
47	76ers	Arturas Gudaitis	C	Lithuania	D
48	Thunder	Dakari Johnson	C	Kentucky	B
49	Wizards	Aaron White	PF	Iowa	C-
50	Hawks	Marcus Erickson	SG	Sweden	D
51	Magic	Tyler Harvey	SG	Eastern Washington	C
52	Mavericks	Satnam Singh	C	India	D
53	Cavaliers	Sir Dominic Pointer	SF	St. John's	C-
54	Jazz	Daniel Diez	PF	Spain	C+
55	Spurs	Cady Lalanne	PF	UMass	C-
56	Pelicans	Branden Dawson	SF	Michigan State	B+
57	Nuggets	Nikola Radecevic	PG	Serbia	D
58	76ers	J.P. Tokoto	SF	North Carolina	B-
59	Hawks	Dimitrios Agravanis	PF	Greece	C-
60	76ers	Luka Mitrovic	PF	Serbia	D-

No. 2 D'Angelo Russell, Lakers

In the days before the draft, it looked like Towns would go first and Okafor second, but in the final 24 hours prior to the selection, the Lakers decided to go with D'Angelo Russell.

The spectacular freshman from Ohio State has the kind of game-changing athleticism and polished floor game to become an impact player right away. Russell can make his own opportunities off the dribble, and he can also score off the ball. Screenwriter Brian Guidry highlighted Russell's selection:

"

D'Angelo Russell picked second overall by Lakers - ESPN Video http://t.co/2hGlXNE1Wt

— Brian Guidry (@bguidry) June 26, 2015"

He has the kind of confidence needed to become a megastar in Los Angeles, and if the Lakers are going to make a run back to the heights in the NBA, Russell is going to have to play a huge role for them. Russell averaged 19.3 points per game for the Buckeyes last season and also came up with 5.0 assists per night. ESPN's Jonathan Hood noted the significance of Russell wearing No. 0:

"

My favorite was D'Angelo Russell who told us he wears number 0 because it indicates how many players can stop him... College or pro.

— Jonathan Hood (@tweetjhood) June 25, 2015"

Don't be surprised to see Russell take on a leadership role with the Lakers by his second season in Los Angeles.

No. 23 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have rolled the dice with the selection of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. There is little doubt about his athleticism and defensive prowess, but he is far from a proven commodity as far as his offensive game is concerned. Specifically, his jump shot is nearly nonexistent, and the Blazers are going to have to nurture that part of his game.

Hollis-Jefferson has a 7'2" wingspan, and he has the ability to envelop his opponents. He can take the ball and turn defense into offense. ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford was pleased with the Blazers selecting Hollis-Jefferson:

"

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is my sleeper in the draft. Love this pick for the Blazers. Best wing defender in the draft. Upside is Iguodala

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 26, 2015"

Hollis-Jefferson averaged 11.2 ppg last year and shot 50.2 percent from the field. 

No. 33 Jordan Mickey, Celtics

Jordan Mickey is not a superstar, but he has the kind of versatility that can help the Boston Celtics win games. Mickey can score (15.4 ppg for LSU last year), he can rebound (9.9 rpg) and he can block shots. Per his comments (via the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn), head coach Brad Stevens is optimistic about selecting Mickey:

"

Stevens on Mickey: "We were really lucky to get Jordan.He's a great shot-blocker for a shorter guy in height. Another good worker." #celtics

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) June 26, 2015"

Mickey tore his ACL in January, but he should be ready for the start of training camp in the fall. Once he is back on the court, he has long arms that will allow him to cause all kinds of problems on the defensive end, both as a shot-blocker and by getting in the passing lanes.

Mickey will fight for his rebounds, but he needs to add some strength if he is going to be effective in that area at the next level. Mickey is going to have to get in the weight room right away.