NBA Draft Grades 2015: Full Results, Analysis and Instant Reaction
Months of anticipation and preparation were put to an end in the span of 60 selections Thursday night at the 2015 NBA draft, but not every pick was met with praise.
After a chaotic five-hour stretch of drafting at the Barclays Center that included a handful of trades and teams maneuvering around the second round, the league's 30 organizations finally settled on their draft-night hauls. A surprise graced the opening few picks of the draft as D'Angelo Russell went to the Los Angeles Lakers instead of Jahlil Okafor, setting off a chain reaction of events down the draft board.
Before taking a step forward into the NBA Summer League and seeing exactly how these prospects develop, it's important to look back at how every selection appeared at the time. Let's take a glance at instant analysis on all 60 picks, as well as a closer look into a few notable selections.
2015 NBA Draft Results, Analysis and Grades
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | C Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky) | Ideal two-way complement to Andrew Wiggins | A |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | PG D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) | You don't win without star backcourt play | A |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | C Jahlil Okafor (Duke) | Years of tanking pay off as star center slips | A- |
| 4 | New York Knicks | PF Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) | Can't knock taking best prospect on the board | A- |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | SG Mario Hezonja (Croatia) | Magic needed a SG, they nabbed an intriguing international shooter | B+ |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | C Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky) | Primarily a defensive stopper but an elite one alongside Cousins (or post-Cousins) | B |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | PG Emmanuel Mudiay (Congo) | PG of the future—or now, if Nuggets deal Lawson | A- |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | SF Stanley Johnson (Arizona) | Nothing not to like that can't be fixed at the NBA level | A- |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | C Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) | Charlotte's most dependable pick in years despite slight reach | B |
| 10 | Miami Heat | SF Justise Winslow (Duke) | One of the draft-night steals and potential X-factor for 2015-16 season | A+ |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | PF Myles Turner (Texas) | Eyeing a system change, Turner fits Pacers' post-Hibbert agenda | B+ |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | PF Trey Lyles (Kentucky) | Good defender whose skill set doesn't match the swingman role Jazz anticipate | C+ |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | SF Devin Booker (Kentucky) | Arguably the draft's best shooter joins two more Kentucky guards | A- |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | PG Cameron Payne (Murray State) | When in doubt, go with the best guy available | B+ |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (traded to WSH) | SG Kelly Oubre (Kansas) | Raw prospect who will need time to develop in Washington | B- |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | PG Terry Rozier (Louisville) | Skilled two-way player who fits the system | A- |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | SG Rashad Vaughn (UNLV) | Quality shooter who will need to justify late rise | B+ |
| 18 | Houston Rockets | SF Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) | Rockets fill perimeter need, take advantage of Dekker's slip | A- |
| 19 | Washington Wizards (traded to NYK) | PG Jerian Grant (Notre Dame) | The Knicks traded Tim Hardaway Jr. for Grant, so they must expect a lot | B+ |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | PG Delon Wright (Utah) | Brings versatility to a backcourt that could lose Lou Williams | B |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | SG Justin Anderson (Virginia) | Big-time sleeper; will contribute minutes immediately | A- |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | PF Bobby Portis (Arkansas) | Good offensive talent; needs time to develop | B |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers (traded to BKN) | SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona) | Elite defender who will develop offensive game | A- |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to MIN) | PG Tyus Jones (Duke) | Hometown kid and another hard-working prospect to fit T-Wolves roster | B+ |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | PF Jarell Martin (LSU) | Not the ideal fit for Grizz team needing sharpshooters | C+ |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | C Nikola Milutinov (Serbia) | Draft-and-stash; likely 20-minute-a-night guy in five years because Spurs | B |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers | PF Larry Nance Jr. (Wyoming) | Will need to improve on the edge, but real offensive talent just like his dad | B+ |
| 28 | Boston Celtics | SG R.J. Hunter (Georgia State) | C's stockpiling guards and nab possibly the draft's purest shooter here | A- |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets | PF Chris McCullough (Syracuse) | Won't contribute immediately with torn ACL, but has big upside | B |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | SF Kevon Looney (UCLA) | Raw talent with ideal frame; medical red flags don't scare Dubs | B- |
| 31 | Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to CLE) | SF Cedi Osman (Turkey) | Cavs nab underrated international wing | B+ |
| 32 | Houston Rockets | PF Montrezl Harrell (Louisville) | Harrell's high-energy play will fit right in with Rockets | B+ |
| 33 | Boston Celtics | PF Jordan Mickey (LSU) | Versatile big man who is being undervalued | A- |
| 34 | Los Angeles Lakers | SF Anthony Brown (Stanford) | Sharp shooter shot 44 percent from 3-point range last season | B+ |
| 35 | Philadelphia 76ers | PF Willy Hernangomez (Spain) | He may not see the NBA for a few years, but will make a big impact when he does | B |
| 36 | Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to CLE) | PF Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse) | Project in frontcourt who may log 5-10 minutes at best | B- |
| 37 | Philadelphia 76ers | PF Richaun Holmes (Bowling Green) | Who says the Sixers have too many bigs? This one, like the rest, is a solid shot-blocker | B- |
| 38 | Detroit Pistons | SG Darrun Hilliard (Villanova) | Strong shooter but will need time to develop | B |
| 39 | Charlotte Hornets (traded to BKN) | SG Juan Vaulet (Argentina) | Size could be issue at the next level for Argentinian | C |
| 40 | MIami Heat | SG Josh Richardson (Tennessee) | Elite defender and underrated shooter with all the intangibles | A- |
| 41 | Brooklyn Nets (traded to POR) | SG Pat Connaughton (Notre Dame) | Deadly shooter with great athleticism, passing up on MLB | B+ |
| 42 | Utah Jazz | SG Olivier Hanlan (Boston College) | Not your average second-round pick, Hanlan slipped and found a great home | A |
| 43 | Indiana Pacers | SG Joseph Young (Oregon) | If you're looking for straight shooting, Young's your guy, Indiana | B+ |
| 44 | Phoenix Suns (traded to MEM) | PG Andrew Harrison (Kentucky) | There are questions about the Harrison twins' ceiling, but hard to argue with this value | A- |
| 45 | Boston Celtics | SG Marcus Thornton (William and Mary) | Undersized guard will have to overcome odds to make roster | D |
| 46 | Milwaukee Bucks (traded to TOR) | SG Norman Powell (UCLA) | Athletic playmaker could help Toronto | B |
| 47 | Philadelphia 76ers | C Arturas Gudaitis (Lithuania) | The Sixers must have some diabolical plan for a five-center lineup | D |
| 48 | Oklahoma City Thunder | C Dakari Johnson (Kentucky) | Big body but may struggle with athleticism of NBA | B- |
| 49 | Washington Wizards | PF Aaron White (Iowa) | Strong fundamentals/size but may struggle to find his niche | C+ |
| 50 | Atlanta Hawks | SG Marcus Eriksson (Sweden) | Lengthy wing player needs to put on weight | B- |
| 51 | Orlando Magic | SG Tyler Harvey (Eastern Washington) | Low ceiling for this sharpshooter | C+ |
| 52 | Dallas Mavericks | C Satnam Singh (India) | 7-footer has big-time size and strength to make a quick impact | B- |
| 53 | Cleveland Cavaliers | SF Sir'Dominic Pointer (St. John's) | The Cavs need versatility, and they get it here | B |
| 54 | Utah Jazz (traded to POR) | SF Daniel Diez (Spain) | One of the most intriguing international prospects | B |
| 55 | San Antonio Spurs | C Cady Lalanne (Massachusetts) | If he buys into the Spurs system, he'll succeed | B+ |
| 56 | New Orleans Pelicans (traded to LAC) | SF Branden Dawson (Michigan State) | Versatile two-way player who fills a need | B+ |
| 57 | Denver Nuggets | PG Nikola Radicevic (Serbia) | Oversized point guard can play big minutes when he arrives | B |
| 58 | Philadelphia 76ers | SF J.P. Tokoto (North Carolina) | Simply a steal this late in the draft | B+ |
| 59 | Atlanta Hawks | PG Dimitrios Agravanis (Greece) | Draft-and-stash that fits the value | C+ |
| 60 | Philadelphia 76ers | PF Luka Mitrovic (Serbia) | Another long-term project for the Sixers | B- |
2. Los Angeles Lakers: PG D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
With the opportunity to nab one of the two can't-miss big men in the draft in Okafor after Karl-Anthony Towns got picked up by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 1, the Los Angeles Lakers held the cards for the draft's first big surprise. It's a twist that could put their monotonous rebuild on a fast-track to success.
The Lakers took Russell out of Ohio State with the draft's second selection, taking arguably the draft's best player and unarguably the best impact guard in the class to head up the post-Kobe Bryant era alongside Jordan Clarkson.
Once Okafor went to the Sixers one pick later, it began the question of whether or not the Lakers would eventually regret taking Russell over the Duke standout. But there's no doubt that LA had in mind the recent success of a guard-led Golden State Warriors team when going with Russell, per Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com:
Time will tell if Okafor truly develops into the type of prospect that the Lakers will regret not taking, but it's hard to knock their boldness in taking Russell. It also opens up their chances to get either LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love in free agency.
If free agency goes the Lakers' way, this selection of Russell could signal the turning point for the franchise.
Grade: A
7. Denver Nuggets: PG Emmanuel Mudiay, Guangdong Southern Tigers
The Denver Nuggets have been trading away some of their best players over the last season, and their franchise face could be next if the seventh pick in the draft was any indication.
The Nuggets tabbed Emmanuel Mudiay as their point guard of the future, after seeing him fall out of the top five somewhat surprisingly and witnessing the Sacramento Kings take Willie Cauley-Stein in favor of Mudiay at No. 6. In doing so, they get a conceivable future plan for a franchise without much of one.
What does that mean for Ty Lawson, the Nuggets' star point guard? Just ask him, as he says himself he's going to Sacramento, per BSNDenver.com's Harrison Wind:
Although one of their most important players may be on the move after Thursday night, there's no doubting they are getting a player in Mudiay with serious potential. He also has a year of playing professionally in China under his belt, which should help his development.
He told SLAM Magazine the following:
The Nuggets may not have gotten the perfect fit for their roster, but they got the right fit for their future. What's more, they got unquestionably the best player still left in the draft and a player who has a chance to be much better than the seventh-best player in this class.
Grade: A-
18. Houston Rockets: SF Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
Wisconsin swingman Sam Dekker had to wait a bit longer than expected at the Barclays Center to hear his name called by Commissioner Adam Silver, but it's safe to say it was worth the wait.
That's because Dekker landed with the Houston Rockets, this year's Western Conference finalist who have one of the most complete rosters and have one key need—on the perimeter.
It also gives the Rockets a serviceable Chandler Parsons replacement one year after his departure, per Sports Illustrated:
In Houston, Dekker won't have to do much to have his offensive game develop at the NBA level. He can run around the perimeter, getting open looks from James Harden, and find his niche on a roster with veterans who can make him feel comfortable.
In time, it could prove to be one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Grade: A-
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