As of Tuesday, the NBA lottery order has been set, so how might the first 14 picks play out? Here’s an early forecast.
No. 1: Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns, 6-11, C, Kentucky. The Wolves already have their share of sizzle in Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins. With Towns, Minnesota gets an upgrade on Nikola Pekovic in the middle (or even to play alongside), without getting a player who also needs the ball in his hands.
No. 2: Los Angeles Lakers: Jahlil Okafor, 6-11, C, Duke. The points guards in this draft are intriguing, but Kobe Bryant is going to dominate the ball (or at least try to) for at least one more season. The Lakers long have been about the man in the middle, and now the draft’s best post player has fallen into their laps.
No. 3: Philadelphia 76ers: Emmanuel Mudiay, 6-5, G, China. So do the 76ers finally draft a point guard they actually move forward with? Mudiay, an exceptional athlete, fits the mold of Sam Hinkie’s selections, a player who can grow into the role over time, while perhaps allowing the 76ers to return to yet another lottery.
No. 4: New York Knicks: D’Angelo Russell, 6-5, G, Ohio State. While the thought was the Knicks would take size with one of the first two picks, the fall to No. 4 basically puts Russell into their laps. And you have to figure Carmelo Anthony couldn’t be happier than to play alongside the best playmaker in the draft.
No. 5: Orlando Magic: Justise Winslow, 6-6, F, Duke. Winslow is a player who has been on the rise since showing his pedigree in the NCAA Tournament and could yet possibly break into the first four of the draft. Winslow would set up as a capable complement to Victor Oladipo in the Magic wing rotation, taking scoring pressure of Elfrid Payton.
No. 6: Sacramento Kings: Kristaps Porzingas, 7-1, C, Latvia. An argument could be made here for a shooting guard for the Kings, but that’s not a strength of the draft at this stage. Instead, Vlade Divac’s first pick in his new role could be in intriguing stretch center to pair alongside the versatility of DeMarcus Cousins, as an upgrade on long-tenured Jason Thompson.
No. 7: Denver Nuggets: Mario Hezonja, 6-8, F, Croatia. The Nuggets basically are starting from scratch, still without a coach, in position to exhibit patience with a scorer who could help redefine their largely nondescript roster. International scouts have varied on whether Porzingas goes first, but both are viewed as high lottery picks.
No. 8: Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson, 6-7, F, Arizona. While the Pistons could go big here (perhaps Willie Cauley-Stein), if they’re convinced Greg Monroe is gone, Detroit needs a wing after dealing Kyle Singler and pushing through with Caron Butler. Johnson stands as the best wing available at this stage, especially if Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings wind up teamed in the backcourt.
No. 9: Charlotte Hornets: Willie Cauley-Stein, 7-0, F, Kentucky. The Hornets can go in several directions at this stage, depending on their views on Gerald Henderson (a potential free agent) and Lance Stephenson (a trade?). But Cauley-Stein could be a perfect complement to the offensive stylings of Al Jefferson, while meeting Steve Clifford’s defensive mandates.
No. 10: Miami Heat: Kelly Oubre, 6-7, G, Kansas. The thought is that Johnson would be the preference if still on the board, and that Sam Dekker could also intrigue at this spot. In some ways, Oubre mimics the game of James Ennis. But Pat Riley has always been high on potential and upside, and there is plenty with Oubre if a handle can be established. Keep an eye here on Kentucky guard Devin Booker, as well. The Heat certainly could use his shooting.
No. 11: Indiana Pacers: Frank Kaminsky, 7-0, F, Wisconsin. David West is not the same player and the Pacers have to start thinking about a successor. While there has been talk of replacing Roy Hibbert, the Pacers might have to deal with their situation in the middle for another season. In Kaminsky, Indiana would add needed skill to the lineup alongside Paul George.
No. 12: Utah Jazz: Devin Booker, 6-6, G, Kentucky. With Booker’s outside shot, he could set up as a strong wing complement to Gordon Hayward, with the Jazz set with Robert Gobert and Derrick Favors in the power rotation, and still working, for better or worse, through Try Burke and Dante Exum at the point.
No. 13: Phoenix Suns: Myles Turner, 6-11, C, Texas. With apologies to Alex Len, it’s not as if the Suns have come up with all the answers in their power rotation (although the backcourt could become an issue based on the free agency of Brandon Knight). Turner still needs a bit more polish, but his grit could provide immediate benefit.
No. 14: Oklahoma City Thunder: Sam Dekker, 6-9, F, Wisconsin. No, we’re not predicting the future replacement for Kevin Durant (who can become a free agent in the 2016 offseason), but wing depth makes sense with Enes Kanter and Serge Ibaka in the power rotation, and Russell Westbrook in the backcourt. Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant also could make sense here.
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