rotoworld article
2015 Draft Winners and LosersFriday, June 26, 2015Winners Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks
Kristaps Porzingis
Orlando Magic
Mario Hezonja
Miami Heat
Justise Winslow
Oklahoma City Thunder
Cameron Payne
Houston Rockets
Sam Dekker
Montrezl Harrell
Chicago Bulls
Bobby Portis
Losers Los Angeles Lakers
D’Angelo Russell
Detroit Pistons
Stanley Johnson
Washington Wizards
Kelly Oubre, Jr.
Boston Celtics
Terry Rozier
For jackal/bruce:
This isn’t necessarily a shot at D’Angelo Russell, who the Lakers took with the second pick in the draft. It’s more about passing over an extremely talented big man in Jahlil Okafor, who Philadelphia added to their collection with the next pick. I suppose part of it is about Russell though; I just don’t see him as someone who will lead a team to wins. He’ll put up numbers, and could be a fantasy player’s dream, but for the Lakers’ organization, I don’t think it was a smart pick. I did like what they did later in the draft with the selections of Larry Nance, Jr. and Anthony Brown, two experienced college players who can help immediately.
For benji:
The Pistons didn’t necessarily make a bad pick at number 8 with Stanley Johnson, the freshman small forward from Arizona, but if this is the direction they wanted to go with here, they shouldn’t have let Justise Winslow slide by them. I think Winslow will be a better player on both ends of the floor, and Miami had him drop into their lap.
For MP3
I admit to not being as big a fan of Kristaps Porzingis as many seem to be, but I do understand Phil Jackson’s reasoning in taking him at number 4. A skilled big man will work well in the Triangle offense, and though we are a few years from Porzingis possibly being an impact player, if he reaches even half of what some folks think he is capable of, he will be a good player. I really like the Knicks making a deal to get another pick in the first round, trading Tim Hardaway, Jr. that netted them Washington’s pick at 19, which the Knicks used to take point guard Jerian Grant from Notre Dame. He has good size, can shoot and pass well, and he has the maturity and understanding to play a role right away.