The 2015 NBA draft is in the books. There were a few twists and turns along the way. In case you missed out, we’ve got you covered.
The Minnesota Timberwolves started the night off by selecting Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns. The Lakers surprised original predictions and went with a guard as opposed to a big man by selecting Ohio’s D’angelo Russell. The move suggests that the Lakers believe they can get a quality big man through free agency. Kevin Love’s name has been floating out there forever, and this week another name is on the radar, Portland free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.
At number three, the 76ers took Jahlil Okafor from Duke. The sixers now have three-seven footers stockpiled. With the fourth pick, the Knicks selected Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia. Knicks fans in attendance at Barclays Center took the news well.
The Kings selected Willie Cauley-Stein from Kentucky at number six. Emanuel Mudiay went number seven to the Denver Nuggets. Their current point guard, Ty Lawson live streamed himself watching the draft. When the Nuggets pick was revealed, Lawson blew some Hookah smoke and speculated that he was headed to Sacramento.
The Detroit Pistons took Stanley Johnson out of Arizona with the eighth pick. The Charlotte Hornets choose Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky. While the Miami Heat selected Justise Winslow from Duke.
Here’s the complete first round of the NBA Draft.
First Round
1. Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
2. Los Angeles Lakers – D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State
3. Philadelphia 76ers – Jahlil Okafor, Duke
4. New York Knicks – Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
5. Orlando Magic – Mario Hezonja, Croatia
6. Sacramento Kings – Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
7. Denver Nuggets – Emmanuel Mudiay, Congo
8. Detroit Pistons – Stanley Johnson, Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets – Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
10. Miami Heat – Justise Winslow, Duke
11. Indiana Pacers – Myles Turner, Texas
12. Utah Jazz – Trey Lyles, Kentucky
13. Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker, Kentucky
14. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Payne, Murray State
15. Atlanta Hawks (traded to Washington Wizards for Tim Hardaway Jr.) – Kelly Oubre Jr., Kansas
16. Boston Celtics – Terry Rozier, Louisville
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Rashad Vaughn, UNLV
18. Houston Rockets – Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
19. Washington Wizards (traded to New York Knicks) – Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
20. Toronto Raptors – Delon Wright, Utah
21. Dallas Mavericks – Justin Anderson, Virginia
22. Chicago Bulls – Bobby Portis, Arkansas
23. Portland Trail Blazers (traded with Steve Blake to Brooklyn Nets for Pat Connaughton, Mason Plumlee) – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (traded to Minnesota Timberwolves for Cedi Osman and Rakeem Christmas) – Tyus Jones, Duke
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Jarell Martin, LSU
26. San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Milutinov, Serbia
27. Los Angeles Lakers – Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming
28. Boston Celtics – R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
29. Brooklyn Nets – Chris McCullough, Syracuse
30. Golden State Warriors – Kevon Looney, UCLA
There were also a few trades that went down. The Brooklyn Nets traded Mason Plumlee and second round pick Pat Connaughton to the Portland Trailblazers for their pick, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and veteran back up point guard Steve Blake.
The Wizards traded with the Atlanta Hawks for the number 15 pick, Kelly Oubre out of Kansas. The Timberwolves traded with the Cavs for the 24th overall pick, Tyus Jones out of Duke.
The Knicks also got in on a draft day trade, they sent Tim Hardaway Jr to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the 19th pick in the draft, Jerian Grant from Notre Dame. And Knicks fans are still trying to grapple with the Knicks number four pick.
Welcome to the NBA gentleman. Now it’s back to the bottom.
