The 2015 NBA Draft has officially come and gone. Picks have been made, lives have been changed, and fan bases have been let down or elated. Now it’s time to step back and look at everything that went down last night, and then instantly analyze decisions that won’t actually pan out or bust for another 2-3 years.
Everyone ready?!
Winner: The Miami Heat & Justise Winslow
Even when he misses the playoffs 12 months after losing LeBron James and a few weeks before possibly losing Dwyane Wade, Pat Riley still wins. How?!
At last night’s draft, the Heat took advantage of every team from 4-9 making the wrong pick and grabbed Duke forward Justise Winslow, who somehow fell into their waiting arms. Winslow is a prototypical player for today’s NBA who plays at 100 MPH at all times. His versatility and athleticism will make him a great wing defender in the league from day one. Not to mention the fact the he fits perfectly into the presumed Heat starting line-up alongside Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside. We say presumed because this pick could have a huge affect on whether Wade might be leaving after all.
It’s not often you see a guy fall in the lottery and actually wind up a winner in the draft. But, instead of ending up in Charlotte, or Denver, or the dysfunctional mess that is Sacramento, Winslow winds up in Miami on a playoff team that isn’t far from contending in the putrid East. Congrats kid.
Loser: Knicks Fans, Management and Draft Picks
When the New York Knicks dropped out of the second pick and into the fourth at the Draft Lottery, you could immediately see the train wreck that was coming at the Draft. The top three players available were all going to be off the board by the time Phil Jackson and co got to pick, and rumors were swirling for weeks about what the team would do. Would they draft Winslow, who many believed was the best player available at that point? What about trading the pick for someone like Eric Bledsoe? Or would they shock everyone and take Frank Kaminsky much earlier than expected?
Well the decision finally came last night and it caused Knick fans to react like the entire world was coming to an end. Kids cried, people booed, it was just a brutal sight. To be fair, Kristaps Porzingis is believed by many to be an elite prospect who could end up the best player in this draft in a few years. The dude even goes to Worldstar every day to learn about American culture, how can you not like him?
I’ll tell you how, by being a Knicks fan who somehow believed that a franchise-altering player was going to be available at four heading into last night. Yeah Porzingis is a bit of a project, but so is your entire roster! Outside of Melo, the Knicks don’t have much going for them right now. The team needs all the talent it can get and Porzingis fits the bill by all accounts. You can’t rebuild in a day, just ask Laker fans. Give the kid some time to develop before crucifying him Knick fans, he could be your savior.
Speaking of Laker fans…
Winner: Laker Fans Everywhere
The Lakers were the team holding all the cards last night, and man did they make a statement. The team decided to buck its tradition of building around big men and took guard D’Angelo Russell out of Ohio State. Russell is widely considered to be the best guard prospect in this Draft class, with some even proclaiming that he is the player most likely to become a superstar. The Lakers went into the Draft with a win-win decision between Jahlil Okafor and Russell and hit a home run.
But the one group who should be the most excited about this move? Laker fans! For the first time since Nick Van Exel, the Lakers have an exciting point guard on their roster! And even more importantly, for the first time since Magic Johnson, the team has a potentially transcendent talent running the one. And after 3-4 years of boring, drama and injury-filled games, the Lakers will finally be fun again!
In today’s NBA, you need a guard that can score and distribute at an elite level to be in the title conversation, and the Lakers got just that with Russell. The former Buckeye has a phenomenal feel for the game on the offensive end, knowing when to take over with scoring or distributing. It helps that he’s also an all-world passer. If the rookie can improve his game on the defensive side, we might be looking at the NBA’s next great point guard. The pick will look great for the Lakers in the future, especially if they can counter not drafting a big by bringing LaMarcus Aldridge to the Purple & Gold, something they seem to be confident will happen.
Loser: Jahlil Okafor
Poor Jahlil Okafor. The former Dukie went from likely being the next great big in a storied history of Laker big men to the third straight center taken in the lottery by the Philadelphia 76ers. Seriously, the team taking centers is becoming so much of a joke that we might have to rename them altogether. Any suggestions?
the Philadelphia 70Centers
— François (@Mariannoo) June 26, 2015
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Seriously though, there were already questions about Okafor’s love for the game and commitment to being great, and now he ends up in Philly? Yikes. It’s no surprise that the kid didn’t seem super excited about the pick or the situation at center.
Jahlil Okafor on how Philly makes 3 straight bigs work: “That’s not my job to figure out.”
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 26, 2015
Okafor isn’t the only one with no idea how this is going to work out. Sam Hinkie and co. seem to just be stockpiling bigs and second-rounders with no idea how they are going to make it work. Joel Embiid was drafted last year and all he could do was laugh at the Sixers taking Okafor. There really isn’t much else Sixer fans and players can do right now other than laugh and pray management knows what they’re doing.
Winner: The Timberwolves & All NBA League Pass Subscribers
No need to look for next seasons League Pass team, the Minnesota Timberwolves took that spot by drafting Karl-Anthony Towns first overall last night. With Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach Lavine and Tyus Jones, the Wolves instantly have an insanely athletic core that will be fun to watch from day one. Dunks, blocks and fast breaks, oh my!
But seriously, the Wolves are big winners here. Towns is the perfect big man compliment to the superstar-in-waiting that is Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins is already a great defender on the wing, now put the rim-protection that Towns brings behind him and you’re looking at one of the best defensive duos in the league for the next decade. Add in Towns unique skillset with Wiggins athleticism and LaVine’s “HOLY CRAP” factor, and there might not be a team with a brighter future in the league today than the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Weird huh?
Loser: The Indiana Pacers
What exactly are the Indiana Pacers doing right now? In the past week they’ve had David West opt out of his contract (and are likely losing him to the Knicks), Roy Hibbert opt in to his deal (and promptly being put on the trading block) and now they’ve drafted long-term project Myles Turner with the 11th overall pick. Huh?
Back when Paul George injured his leg last season, the one silver-lining for Pacer fans was that even though they were likely missing the playoffs, at least they would have a lottery pick to add to their young core that just two years ago was on the cusp of making the NBA Finals. Turner has the tools and could turn into a great NBA player, but he is extremely raw right now. This is a playoff team with some good pieces in place that isn’t far from contending, they clearly needed a player that could contribute right away.
Picking Turner is just an absolute head-scratcher.