Last summer, the No. 1 overall pick came down to two budding swingmen: Duke's Jabari Parker (No. 1, Rio) and Kansas' Andrew Wiggins (No. 2, Hollywood). But the field has grown in 2015. Among the three contenders for the top pick are two big men with disparate offensive approaches — Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor — and a firecracker guard who has the scoring tools to be a consistent COMO All-Star: Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell. Positional needs don't come into play at the very top of the draft. It's all about talent, and decisions rest on a combination of late night game-tape sessions and "gut" feeling. But building a team is equal parts substance and flash. You want to win, but you want to win with "your kind" of players. Based on projected roster movements later this summer and fall, here is a first-round mock draft that will project where the chips land on Aug. 2. Everyone knows Towns is a multi-threat beast who has the power to change the culture of a lowly franchise. So why would Minneapolis overthink this one? True, there's a great option sitting at No. 2, but Towns provides a consistent defensive approach, as well as a tantalizing array of skills on the offensive end. The Player Haterzz are likely to sell out for LeBron James in free agency this fall, leaving them with very few salvageable pieces besides Blake Griffin. Towns is an excellent addition to a minuscule core. Most seasons, Okafor would be a surefire No. 1, and he still might snag the top spot this August. A dominant offensive player with the tools to be an All Star early in his career, the 7-footer won't need much time to adjust before getting his numbers at the pro level. He's a solid tool to build around for the expansion Slayers. After being discussed as perhaps the most tantalizing offensive option in this draft, Russell's stock took a bit of a hit during Summer League, where he turned the rock over at a frightening pace. Some teams will see those TOs as growing pains, while others will think long and hard about spending a high selection on him. Could he fall out of the Top 3? It depends on how much stock new GM Alex Krause puts in Vegas basketball. Few players impressed as much as Johnson did in Summer League. The former Wildcat showcased an all-around game that included an instinctive ability to get to the basket. While drafting for position is frowned upon this high in the order, Johnson to the Grizzlies does make a ton of sense given the team's projected SF depth (zero dudes) before a LeBron chase in free agency. The Hilltoppers are in an odd position heading into Year 2. James Harden is one of the league's best stars to build around, but Kevin Love is probably gone in free agency, Dirk Nowitzki is likely toast and there's still that stinky midseason swap (Kyrie for MCW) looming over Greeley. While all of this carnage will likely net Colorado another big free agency catch (Chris Paul?), the team isn't exactly following a traditional path to expansion success. We can't call the Doug McDermott pick at No. 5 a dud yet, but GM Collin Atkinson can atone for the Dougie with a rock solid Winslow selection here. Duval is constantly looking for players with a certain level of swagger, and Hezonja certainly embodies that ideal. You'd be hard-pressed to find a cockier player in this class. But unlike most boisterous prospects, this Brazilian might be able to walk the walk. Hezonja threw down some nasty dunks in the Summer League, and embodies the "athletic 2/3" combo that teams have such a tough time locking down. To be blunt: Shorewood is loaded, and there's no need to add another mouth to feed this season. Porzingis makes a lot of sense at this spot, because the Show have so much young talent that it honestly doesn't matter if the Latvian big man pans out or not. Porzingis will have at least two or three seasons to learn from the bench, and he might collect a championship ring while he's at it. While it's tough to watch Emmanuel Mudiay slip too much further down the board, Minnesnowta doesn't need any help at point. Kyrie Irving, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight (not to mention last year's No. 3, Dante Exum) are all expected to be back, which means GM Matthew Taylor will be looking for help in other spots. Small forward is a need, but the best options are already off the board, so Kaminsky -- a safe offensive option -- seems to be the play here. The most talented team in the league doesn't need much help, so Mudiay is the perfect boom-or-bust prospect that won't sink the Moose if the latter scenario unravels. He was once touted as a possible No. 1 in this class, and the raw ability is obvious. Point guard depth (Ty Lawson, Kyle Lowry) isn't a big issue for GM Joseph Fafinski, but the position could use some shoring up with one of those two guys leaving via free agency in 2016. Another Summer League darling, Turner would be a bit of a project for the Monarchs, a team that will need as much production as possible during what figures to be Marc Gasol and Damian Lillard's final year together in Missouri. It's tough being a "playoffs or bust" squad when you have never made the postseason, but KC should be one of the league's primary beneficiaries of an expanded playoff field. This pick could be a legitimate trade target for teams willing to give up an established vet. After picking No. 1 overall last year (Jabari Parker), the Rainmakers find themselves at the opposite end of the first round. Pickings are a bit slim this deep in the draft, but Cauley-Stein has the potential to be an elite defensive player. Offensively, there's not a ton to work with, and it's going to be tough to break into a Rainmakers' lineup that's already littered with big men. But Cauley-Stein's athleticism gives him a shot. REMAINING DRAFT ORDER
12. Newport Beach 13. Manhattan 14. Sunnyvale 15. Newport Beach (from Minneapolis) 16. Colorado 17. Duval United 18. Minneapolis (from Shorewood) 19. Minnesnowta 20. Chaska 21. Shorewood (from Kansas City) --- 22. Manhattan 23. Sunnyvale
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SHOREWOOD, Minn. -- With the inaugural COMO Rookie Draft looming on Aug. 3, it's time to take an early look at what teams might do with their selections.
Remaining selections11. Rio Rainmakers
12. Hollywood Hornets 13. Minnesnowta Chill 14. Kansas City Monarchs 15. Expansion Franchise 16. Newport Beach Grizzlies 17. Minneapolis Player Haterzz 18. Duval United 19. Chaska Moose 20. Shorewood Show 21. Expansion Franchise (Expansion pick) |
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