NBA: 2015 NBA Draft first round recap

 

 
At around 11pm est time, the NBA concluded the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, while there were some surprises like Demarcus Cousins or Eric Bledsoe not switchig teams. While it lacked the blockbuster deal, the draft saw some player movement.

Bucks aquire Greivis Vasquez

Hornets get: 46th pick in 2015 draft and a protected 2017 first round pick 
Wizards traded up with Atlanta
Wizards get: Atlanta’s no.15 pick ( Kelly Oubre Jr. )

Hawks get: Wizards no.19 pick ( Jerian Grant ) and two future second rounders

Knicks add Notre Dame point guard
Knicks get: rights to no.19 pick Jerian Grant (via Washington)

Hawks get: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tyus Jones goes to Minnesota 
Cavaliers get: Minnesota’s no. 31 and 36 picks

Timberwolves get: Tyus Jones

As expected, the Minnesota Timberwolves took Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. with the number one overall pick. The Lakers, who at first were destined to take Duke Center Jahlil Okafor, as of recent days had fallen in love with D’angelo Russell. When Commissioner Adam Stern announced the Lakers pick, fans rejoiced. Russell is the best guard in the draft and can come in and make an immediate impact. With plenty of cap space, they feel they can sign one of the top big men available once free agency begins making this pick a pretty much no brainer. A kid that can attack the hole and is good in transition can also take some pressure off Kobe.

After Towns and Russell went 1 and 2, it was a formality that Okafor would go to the Sixers at number three. Although many thought because of their glaring weakness at Point Guard that Emmanuel Mudiay could be a possibility for the 76ers, it seemed like Philly took the “Best Available” approach and pretty much shattered the hopes of all Knicks fans in New York. With Mudiay and Winslow on the board, the Knicks management managed to still upset a fan base who is hard to please. When Kristaps Porzingis was announced as the fourth pick of the draft, Knick fans in attendance showered the Barclay’s Center with boos. The Knickerbockers have a history of whiffing on lottery picks and European-born players so only time will tell if the upside and talent breaks the streak of recent lottery woes.

Orlando was next on the board and picked guard Mario Hezonja from Croatia with the 5th pick in the first round. The Nuggets got more athletic by drafting Emmanuel Mudiay with the seventh pick which pretty much seals the fate of Ty Lawson in Denver as the Nuggets will possibly look to move him. The biggest surprise was Duke Swingman Justise Winslow slipping down to number 10 and falling right on the Miami Heat’s lap. That possibly was the biggest steal of the draft and I’m sure Heat fans were excited about the pick. Heres a look at all 30 first round picks.

Pick Team Player Pos School

1 Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns PF/C

Kentucky

2 Los Angeles Lakers D’Angelo Russell G Ohio State

3 Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor C Duke

4 New York Knicks Kristaps Porzingis F/C Sevilla

5 Orlando Magic Mario Hezonja G/F FC Barcelona

6 Sacramento Kings Willie Cauley-Stein C Kentucky

7 Denver Nuggets Emmanuel Mudiay PG Guangdong

8 Detroit Pistons Stanley Johnson SF Arizona

9 Charlotte Hornets Frank Kaminsky PF Wisconsin

10 Miami Heat Justise Winslow SF Duke

11 Indiana Pacers Myles Turner C Texas

12 Utah Jazz Trey Lyles F Kentucky

13 Phoenix Suns Devin Booker SG Kentucky

14 Oklahoma City Thunder Cameron Payne PG Murray State

15 Washington Wizards(via Hawks)

Kelly Oubre SF Kansas

16 Boston Celtics Terry Rozier PG Louisville

17 Milwaukee Bucks Rashad Vaughn SG UNLV

18 Houston Rockets Sam Dekker SF Wisconsin

19 New York Knicks (via Hawks via Wizards) Jerian Grant G Notre Dame

20 Toronto Raptors Deion Wright PG Utah

21 Dallas Mavericks Justin Anderson SF Virginia

22 Chicago Bulls Bobby Portis PF Arkansas

23 Portland Trail Blazers Rondae Hollis-Jefferson SF Arizona

24 Minnesota Timberwolves (via Cavs)

Tyus Jones PG Duke

25 Memphis Grizzlies Jarell Martin F LSU

26 San Antonio Spurs Nikola Milutinov C Partizan

27 Los Angeles Lakers Larry Nance, Jr. F Wyoming

28 Boston Celtics R.J. Hunter SG Georgia State

29 Brooklyn Nets Chris McCullough PF Syracuse

30 Golden State Warriors Kevon Looney