2015 NBA Draft Grades: Team-by-Team Letter Marks and Results

The 2015 NBA draft wasn't as perplexing as many thought it would be. In the days leading up to the event, buzz regarding teams moving up and down the selection order via big trades ran rampant, but in the end, few moves were made. However, some selections were a bit more puzzling than others.

Things started off as expected when the Minnesota Timberwolves took Karl-Anthony Towns at No. 1 overall, getting the big defensive presence they sorely needed. The draft took a slight twist from there, as the Los Angeles Lakers opted for backcourt help and selected Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor.

That led to an interesting turn of events for the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 overall, as the team likely didn't expect the center to fall in its lap. Shortly after, New York Knicks fans made their presence known, voicing their displeasure with the selection of Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4. The Orlando Magic wrapped up the top five by taking the sharpshooting international Mario Hezonja.

If you noticed, the names of Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow weren't previously mentioned. That means there was some great value to be had with later picks. Here's a look at the draft's full results, followed by a complete list of grades and some analysis for a few of the best value picks in Round 1.

2015 NBA Draft Results

2015 NBA Draft Grades

Team	Grade
Atlanta Hawks	D
Boston Celtics	B-
Brooklyn Nets	B+
Charlotte Hornets	C-
Chicago Bulls	B
Cleveland Cavaliers	C-
Dallas Mavericks	B
Denver Nuggets	A
Detroit Pistons	D+
Golden State Warriors	B+
Houston Rockets	A-
Indiana Pacers	B
Los Angeles Clippers	N/A
Los Angeles Lakers	A
Memphis Grizzlies	C-
Miami Heat	A
Milwaukee Bucks	C
Minnesota Timberwolves	A
New Orleans Pelicans	B
New York Knicks	B+
Oklahoma City Thunder	A
Orlando Magic	B-
Philadelphia 76ers	B
Phoenix Suns	B+
Portland Trail Blazers	B-
Sacramento Kings	C+
San Antonio Spurs	B
Toronto Raptors	B
Utah Jazz	B
Washington Wizards	B-

Best Round 1 Value Picks

7. Denver Nuggets: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, DR Congo

The Nuggets got a huge steal here with the selection of Mudiay. He fell to the No. 7 spot, and Denver didn't hesitate to scoop up the pure point guard. Mudiay has good size at 6'5" and plays with a great mix of physicality and speed. A smart player with the ball in his hand, he sees the court well and makes quick decisions to create chances for his teammates or finish on his own.

10. Miami Heat: Justise Winslow, SF, Duke

We may as well call this the steal of the first round. It's hard to believe Winslow fell to No. 10, and we can only imagine Pat Riley's reaction when he did. Winslow isn't the biggest small forward, but he is strong on the defensive end of the court and can hold up against multiple positions. He always delivers top-notch efforts and has great leadership qualities to boot.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

Cameron Payne was considered a sleeper before the draft but began to rise up boards rather quickly. Taking him at No. 14 was a wise move by the Thunder, as the versatile guard will add an interesting wrinkle to this high-octane squad. Since Payne can play both guard positions, the team can move Russell Westbrook off the ball and create some packages that will be difficult to defend.

18. Houston Rockets: Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin

Sam Dekker could have easily gone well before No. 18 overall, so the value is fantastic for Houston here. The former Badger landed on a team that is known for producing shooters, and Dekker proved to be one of the nation's best in that department at Wisconsin. His size and ability to play both forward spots will instantly make the Rockets even more dangerous on the offensive end of the floor.

30. Golden State Warriors: Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA

One of the better picks of the first round happened to be the last one. The Warriors nabbed Kevon Looney, a long, exciting power forward, after he slipped due to a hip injury. Looney's upside is astronomical, and he could easily develop into one of the best players from this draft. Golden State has great depth, giving it the luxury of allowing Looney to develop and get healthy before asking him to rack up time on the court.