2015 NBA Draft

[Sherm Sticky]

I don't want to make this all about the Knicks but they do have the most interesting pick in the draft IMO. If one of the top 3 falls then I think they keep the pick and take that player.



If Towns, Okafor, and Russell are gone, they have two options: (1) draft Winslow, WCS, Zinger, or Mudiay; (2) trade down.



I would be a big fan of trading down if the Knicks get a pick in the 6-10 range plus either an additional pick in the 10-15 range or a first rounder next year from a team projected to be in the lottery. They could do something like Winslow/Lyles or Herzonja/Kaminsky. Alternatively, I'd take someone like Bledsoe from the Suns plus their pick (a rumor I've seen floated around).



Bledsoe

Hardaway Jr.

Melo

Monroe

WCS



That's not a bad starting 5 at all. Definitely a playoff team.

Speaking of Lyles, he is another player who is underrated IMO. Kid has a real strong offensive game, more developed than the other Kentucky bigs.


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[dwshade]

I'm not sure what Lyles is. Really hard to get a read on him. Most NBA teams today value guys who play the four to be able to block shots and shoot the three. Lyles doesn't do either.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm not sure what Lyles is. Really hard to get a read on him. Most NBA teams today value guys who play the four to be able to block shots and shoot the three. Lyles doesn't do either.

Sounds a little like Kevin Love.


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[gkIrish]

I'm not sure what Lyles is. Really hard to get a read on him. Most NBA teams today value guys who play the four to be able to block shots and shoot the three. Lyles doesn't do either.

My understanding was that Lyles can shoot threes

 

[Sherm Sticky]

2015 NBA Draft

My understanding was that Lyles can shoot threes

So he wouldn't be a good fit with the Knicks as his game is like Melo


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[irishfan]

Lot of good rumors out there with Cousins trades and Okafor potentially sliding. I think it will be a chaotic draft if the Lakers can't get a Cousins deal done and end up taking Russell at #2.

 

[SoDakDomer]

I saw last night on twitter that the kings were asking the lakers for Clarkson, randall, and the number 2 for Cousins. Way too much to give up for Cousins IMO.

 

[gkIrish]

I saw last night on twitter that the kings were asking the lakers for Clarkson, randall, and the number 2 for Cousins. Way too much to give up for Cousins IMO.

I think Clarkson, Randle, and the #2 is a fair deal for both sides actually. I think if the Kings threw in a couple second round picks or highly protected 1st rounder it would be even more fair. In other words I think I would definitely do the deal if I were the Kings assuming they think highly of Okafor or Russell.

 

[SoDakDomer]

I think Clarkson, Randle, and the #2 is a fair deal for both sides actually. I think if the Kings threw in a couple second round picks or highly protected 1st rounder it would be even more fair. In other words I think I would definitely do the deal if I were the Kings assuming they think highly of Okafor or Russell.

Really, I feel like its way to high a price if I'm the Lakers. To me Cousins seems like a team killer, not to mention you play in LA, just wait and take your shot at big time free agents. No reason to give up all your young talent and your number 2 pick, when you should be able to sign some big time free agents. #1 on my list if I'm the GM is Aldridge.

 

[tussin]

Really, I feel like its way to high a price if I'm the Lakers. To me Cousins seems like a team killer, not to mention you play in LA, just wait and take your shot at big time free agents. No reason to give up all your young talent and your number 2 pick, when you should be able to sign some big time free agents. #1 on my list if I'm the GM is Aldridge.

Is Cousins a team killer, or is Sacramento a player killer? I'm gonna go with the latter.

 

[gkIrish]

Lot of smoke from good sources saying Lakers are taking Russell at #2. If Philadelphia doesn't take Okafor because they already have 3 other guys at that position shit could get crazy. The Knicks could take Okafor or probably get a pretty sweet package from a team that wants to trade up. Philadelphia could trade down. Tonight could be nuts.

Names you could see move tonight:

Anyone from Nuggets (Lawson, Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic)
Eric Bledsoe
Demarcus Cousins
Anyone from Celtics
Terrence Jones
Brandon Jennings
Michael Carter Williams
Anyone on the Lakers
etc..

 

[irishfan]

Lot of smoke from good sources saying Lakers are taking Russell at #2. If Philadelphia doesn't take Okafor because they already have 3 other guys at that position shit could get crazy. The Knicks could take Okafor or probably get a pretty sweet package from a team that wants to trade up. Philadelphia could trade down. Tonight could be nuts.

Names you could see move tonight:

Anyone from Nuggets (Lawson, Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic)
Eric Bledsoe
Demarcus Cousins
Anyone from Celtics
Terrence Jones
Brandon Jennings
Michael Carter Williams
Anyone on the Lakers
etc..

I'd guess the Sixers would take Okafor and then entertain the best trade offers from the Knicks/Celtics. Unfortunately, Hinkie isn't really a GM who you can fleece on a trade.

 

[NDPhilly]

Lot of smoke from good sources saying Lakers are taking Russell at #2. If Philadelphia doesn't take Okafor because they already have 3 other guys at that position shit could get crazy. The Knicks could take Okafor or probably get a pretty sweet package from a team that wants to trade up. Philadelphia could trade down. Tonight could be nuts.

Names you could see move tonight:

Anyone from Nuggets (Lawson, Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic)
Eric Bledsoe
Demarcus Cousins
Anyone from Celtics
Terrence Jones
Brandon Jennings
Michael Carter Williams
Anyone on the Lakers
etc..

If Russell isn't there I hope we trade down and take Hezonja or Mudiay

 

[irishfan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow ... <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN">@WindhorstESPN</a> just said that if Okafor slips to 3, the Celtics are ready to send a monster package to Philly to get him.</p>— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/614086833044111361">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I'm guessing at least one of the future Nets first rounders (what a hilariously bad trade that was) plus Marcus Smart, #16 this year, and who knows what else.

 

[NDPhilly]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow ... <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN">@WindhorstESPN</a> just said that if Okafor slips to 3, the Celtics are ready to send a monster package to Philly to get him.</p>— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/614086833044111361">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I'm guessing at least one of the future Nets first rounders (what a hilariously bad trade that was) plus Marcus Smart, #16 this year, and who knows what else.

THere's no way you guys have enough to trade with. Marcus Smart is a ok player but we can get a star at #3 and why would we want a bunch of middle of the first type draft picks?

 

[Irish Insanity]

Is Cousins a team killer, or is Sacramento a player killer? I'm gonna go with the latter.

I'm going with both

Lot of smoke from good sources saying Lakers are taking Russell at #2. If Philadelphia doesn't take Okafor because they already have 3 other guys at that position shit could get crazy. The Knicks could take Okafor or probably get a pretty sweet package from a team that wants to trade up. Philadelphia could trade down. Tonight could be nuts.

Names you could see move tonight:

Anyone from Nuggets (Lawson, Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic)
Eric Bledsoe
Demarcus Cousins
Anyone from Celtics
Terrence Jones
Brandon Jennings
Michael Carter Williams
Anyone on the Lakers
etc..

If the Lakers take Russell, they have to be felling good about getting Aldridge or Love.

 

[tussin]

I think if the Lakers grab Russell, the Sixers would prefer to move back only one or two spots and grab Mudiay. There is a lot of talk about how the Sixers interest in Russell / Porzingis is just smoke to increase trade value of their pick. Sixers have been high on Mudiay the entire year... Hinkie was the only GM to go over to China to scout him.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think if the Lakers grab Russell, the Sixers would prefer to move back only one or two spots and grab Mudiay. There is a lot of talk about how the Sixers interest in Russell / Porzingis is just smoke to increase trade value of their pick. Sixers have been high on Mudiay the entire year... Hinkie was the only GM to go over to China to scout him.

Well he wasn't exactly watching much worse play in China than he would with the Sixers.

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[irishfan]

THere's no way you guys have enough to trade with. Marcus Smart is a ok player but we can get a star at #3 and why would we want a bunch of middle of the first type draft picks?

You guys don't seem to have gotten a star at #3 last season.

If you draft Okafor this year, Hinkie is doing his 1-2 special and is going to just have to end up trading Embiid or Okafor in a year at less value than the #3 pick. Just like with MCW. Drafted #11 overall in 2013 and Sixers traded him for the 2016 Lakers pick (which probably wont be worse than #11 with Kobe/Randle returning). Since Hinkie has been in Philly, the Sixers are always 2 years away from being 2 years away from contending. It sucks that Russell probably wont be there, since he would have been a good fit...but I'd only take Okafor if you're certain Embiid won't recover fully. Embiid's value right now is low, and it won't get any better if he's splitting time with Okafor next season.

I really like Marcus Smart and don't want him to go, although obviously for Okafor you can make exceptions. But, I don't think trading #3 for Smart, #16, and a 1-2 future first rounders is a bad deal with Philly considering they're in limbo with Embiid.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Remember that Boston has lots of first round picks. They have Nets picks too.

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[tussin]

You guys don't seem to have gotten a star at #3 last season.

If you draft Okafor this year, Hinkie is doing his 1-2 special and is going to just have to end up trading Embiid or Okafor in a year at less value than the #3 pick. Just like with MCW. Drafted #11 overall in 2013 and Sixers traded him for the 2016 Lakers pick (which probably wont be worse than #11 with Kobe/Randle returning). Since Hinkie has been in Philly, the Sixers are always 2 years away from being 2 years away from contending. It sucks that Russell probably wont be there, since he would have been a good fit...but I'd only take Okafor if you're certain Embiid won't recover fully. Embiid's value right now is low, and it won't get any better if he's splitting time with Okafor next season.

I really like Marcus Smart and don't want him to go, although obviously for Okafor you can make exceptions. But, I don't think trading #3 for Smart, #16, and a 1-2 future first rounders is a bad deal with Philly considering they're in limbo with Embiid.

You can get a franchise cornerstone at 3. Smart isn't a cornerstone and neither is the #16 pick. Further, trading for future Nets picks really doesn't do anything to speed the process. I'd rather draft a high potential player now than two years from now. I think if the Sixers trade, it will be back one spot to the Knicks (Knicks draft Okafor, Sixers grab Mudiay).

Also, you have a distorted view of the MCW trade. MCW simply isn't that good... he's a terrible shooter and was ranked in the 50s for efficiency among point guards. I bet he wouldn't even get a first rounder if traded today. Next year's pick will likely be high because, unlike you, I do not think Old Kobe and two rookies make for a good team in the West.

 

[irishfan]

You can get a franchise cornerstone at 3. Smart isn't a cornerstone and neither is the #16 pick. Further, trading for future Nets picks really doesn't do anything to speed the process. I'd rather draft a high potential player now than two years from now. I think if the Sixers trade, it will be back one spot to the Knicks (Knicks draft Okafor, Sixers grab Mudiay).

Also, you have a distorted view of the MCW trade. MCW simply isn't that good... he's a terrible shooter and was ranked in the 50s for efficiency among point guards. I bet he wouldn't even get a first rounder if traded today. Next year's pick will likely be high because, unlike you, I do not think Old Kobe and two rookies make for a good team in the West.

I agree it doesn't do anything to speed the rebuilding process, but I don't think Hinkie has shown any hint of caring about how long his process takes. He wouldn't have traded away all the talent he had when he took over, drafted big men coming off injuries, and drafted an international player who won't be here until 2017 if he cared about winning now. If he thinks Smart, #16, #28, and a couple future first rounders give him more to work with for a couple years down the line, then I don't think he'll hesitate to trade the pick. Drafting Okafor is ceding that Embiid will never be the player they thought he would be. Taking Mudiay would be a reach. There in a rough spot if LA does go with Russell.

And I know MCW can't shoot at all, but I thought he was very much worth developing and thought he could actually be a solid starter on a contender down the line. I really don't think that LA pick will have much value next season....it's LA so I just expect them to sign a guy or two this off-season and be back in the playoffs if they avoid bad injury luck.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

This is the most pumped I've been about an NBA draft in a long long long time.

 

[tussin]

I agree it doesn't do anything to speed the rebuilding process, but I don't think Hinkie has shown any hint of caring about how long his process takes. He wouldn't have traded away all the talent he had when he took over, drafted big men coming off injuries, and drafted an international player who won't be here until 2017 if he cared about winning now. If he thinks Smart, #16, #28, and a couple future first rounders give him more to work with for a couple years down the line, then I don't think he'll hesitate to trade the pick. Drafting Okafor is ceding that Embiid will never be the player they thought he would be. Taking Mudiay would be a reach. There in a rough spot if LA does go with Russell.

1. You're right, Hinkie doesn't care about winning now. He doesn't care about getting the 8th seed and losing in the first round. He wants to win championships, and his strategy is to acquire as many assets as he can and hopefully develop or trade them into two stud players.

2. The talent he had when he took over left the Sixers in NBA purgatory. Are you going to win a championship with Jrue Holiday, Thad Young, and Igoudala? No. Were you going to have the realistic opportunity to build through the draft? No. To win championships in the NBA, you need to get lucky and draft a superstar. The best way to get lucky in the draft is to have high picks.

3. Hinkie has shown he is always going to draft the best asset with the most upside. Getting Nerlens Noel at 6 was smart. He is the best player from that draft and it's not particularly close. Same with Embiid... everyone is writing him off as a bust but his situation is really no different than it was 2 months ago. He can still develop into a stud. Hindsight is 20/20, but you can't fault Hinkie for grabbing the player that everyone in the league was comping to Hakeem.

4. Drafting Okafor is NOT ceding that Embiid will never be the player they thought he would be. If they draft Okafor, it will likely be as part of an imminent trade.

5. How is Mudiay a reach at picks 3-5? As recently as March, he was a consensus top 2 pick. Has his game regressed? No, by all accounts he has gotten stronger and his shot has improved. His drop is a product of exposure and perception... scouts weren't watching him dominate in the Big 10 and ACC all year. He was grinding away in China.

 

[irishfan]

1. You're right, Hinkie doesn't care about winning now. He doesn't care about getting the 8th seed and losing in the first round. He wants to win championships, and his strategy is to acquire as many assets as he can and hopefully develop or trade them into two stud players.

2. The talent he had when he took over left the Sixers in NBA purgatory. Are you going to win a championship with Jrue Holiday, Thad Young, and Igoudala? No. Were you going to have the realistic opportunity to build through the draft? No. To win championships in the NBA, you need to get lucky and draft a superstar. The best way to get lucky in the draft is to have high picks.

3. Hinkie has shown he is always going to draft the best asset with the most upside. Getting Nerlens Noel at 6 was smart. He is the best player from that draft and it's not particularly close. Same with Embiid... everyone is writing him off as a bust but his situation is really no different than it was 2 months ago. He can still develop into a stud. Hindsight is 20/20, but you can't fault Hinkie for grabbing the player that everyone in the league was comping to Hakeem.

4. Drafting Okafor is NOT ceding that Embiid will never be the player they thought he would be. If they draft Okafor, it will likely be as part of an imminent trade.

5. How is Mudiay a reach at picks 3-5? As recently as March, he was a consensus top 2 pick. Has his game regressed? No, by all accounts he has gotten stronger and his shot has improved. His drop is a product of exposure and perception... scouts weren't watching him dominate in the Big 10 and ACC all year. He was grinding away in China.

I meant drafting Okafor and keeping him for all of 2015-2016. I just think having your best 3 players all be big men is something to avoid....and trying to trade Okafor or Embiid after next season is just going to result in a trade that brings back much worse value than the #3 pick used on them. I agree that they should draft Okafor and let a bidding war commence.

Mudiay at #3 I think is a reach solely because I think there is a huge drop off from Towns/Russell/Okafor to the next group of players. I also think he's risky coming off a year in China since it's hard to gauge the talent. If you traded down and got Mudiay later I would think it's fine, but I personally think there is just a very big difference between the top 3 guys and the rest of the draft and any outside guy picked in the Top 3 is a reach with the teams that seem willing to trade up. I also personally don't think there is much of a difference between Smart and Mudiay skill-wise, so I don't know how much of a difference there would be between trading back for picks and drafting Mudiay as opposed to trading for Smart and picks.

And you're right about Noel...I had forgotten how bad the draft in 2013 was.

 

[GoldenDome]

Lot of smoke from good sources saying Lakers are taking Russell at #2. If Philadelphia doesn't take Okafor because they already have 3 other guys at that position shit could get crazy. The Knicks could take Okafor or probably get a pretty sweet package from a team that wants to trade up. Philadelphia could trade down. Tonight could be nuts.

Names you could see move tonight:

Anyone from Nuggets (Lawson, Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic)
Eric Bledsoe
Demarcus Cousins
Anyone from Celtics
Terrence Jones
Brandon Jennings
Michael Carter Williams
Anyone on the Lakers
etc..

I could be totally wrong on this, but usually when there is smoke around the Lakers, it is all a smoke screen. Lakers usually fly under the radar with moves and come out of nowhere. I could be totally wrong on this, but from watching the Lakers my entire life, that is usually how it has played out. Either way, we shall see in a few hours.

I really like Okafor, think he has incredible talent that is not teachable. Other aspects such as athleticism are a bit overrated in my opinion because you are essentially gambling with assets. I think Okafor has the tools to become elite post big man in the game. Finish with both hands around the basket, natural size and ball handling skills. I hope the Lakers do not pass on him.

 

[gkIrish]

As someone mentioned, Mudiay wasn't in the NCAA and didn't get the exposure guys like Russell did. Larry Brown believes, and I agree with him, that SMU would have been the #1 seed with Mudiay. He was the #1 rated player coming out of high school and nothing he did in China places a question mark on that. So why not draft the #1 talent who is 19? and got experience playing against grown men. The only question mark is his jumper but I believe he shot in the mid-30% from three and guards develop jumpers all the time in the NBA.

So I'll be thrilled if the Knicks get him and honestly I like him more than Russell because Russell's defense is putrid.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

As someone mentioned, Mudiay wasn't in the NCAA and didn't get the exposure guys like Russell did. Larry Brown believes, and I agree with him, that SMU would have been the #1 seed with Mudiay. He was the #1 rated player coming out of high school and nothing he did in China places a question mark on that. So why not draft the #1 talent who is 19? and got experience playing against grown men. The only question mark is his jumper but I believe he shot in the mid-30% from three and guards develop jumpers all the time in the NBA.

So I'll be thrilled if the Knicks get him and honestly I like him more than Russell because Russell's defense is putrid.

I completely agree! Honestly though, I really hopes he falls to the 6 so my Kings can pick him up; doubt it will happen however.

EDIT: And the rumor mill is picking up speed:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider">@chadfordinsider</a> just reported on SportsCenter that the Lakers are leaning toward Russell at 2; Sixers would grab Mudiay at 3.</p>— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) <a href="https://twitter.com/btoporek/status/614199587973300224">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[NDdomer2]

So this analyst just said if he would have got more minutes he would have got more playing time.

 

[bkess8]

Here we go!