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Now that the preamble has been taken care of, on to the topic of the day: Who was the most surprising pick in the 2015 NBA Draft?
With the 2015 NBA Draft now complete it’s time to begin critiquing all of the selections. Whose name being called surprised you the most? Was it the Knicks’ selection of Kristaps Porizingis with the No. 4 overall pick? Perhaps the Celtics taking Terry Rozier at No. 16? Or was it another player who you feel had his name called too high or too low during Thursday night’s big event? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and express your opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Rozier at 6 or Nance at 27
Rozier was definitely a jaw dropper at that spot. Nance was a surprise as well, especially with Kevon Looney still on the board.
For me, I was more surprised that Rozier was drafted by the celtics than the fact he went at that spot, though there were more than a few names on the board at that time that I probably would have taken before him.
Winslow at 10, Rozier at 16, Dekker at 18, Nance Jr. at 27, Hawks not taking Portis (when still available after trading down) at 19, and Harrell slipping to the 2nd round..
Harrell slipping to the second was another coup for the Rockets. Of course, they’re collecting quite a few power forwards these days. They were reportedly dangling Terrence Jones. Do you think they’ll trade him?
Most of the names I was thinking of were said. I’ll just mention that Robert Upshaw not being drafted at all surprised me. As a heat fan, I’m still riding the high after last night. I still can’t believe we ended up with Winslow
I think the Heat should thank the Hornets for turning down six picks from the Celtics to keep No. 9! Anyway, do you think this pick would prompt Luol Deng to opt out if he wasn’t already going to? Could you see the Heat starting Winslow over Deng next season if Deng comes back?
I think Deng comes back and starts ahead of Winslow this season. Regardless, the heat know they need Luol, and Justise could learn from both he and D-Wade. Also, it slows for some versatile lineups. On a side note, the Heat summer league team should be fun to watch this year. Napier, Tyler Johnson, James Ennis, Winslow, Richardson, Khem Birch, among others
I think you’re right. I don’t think it would be enticing for Wade for the Heat to line up a rookie next to him, and I think Deng knows that. And assuming they’re all there, you’re right, that is a good summer league team.
Well, we still need Deng. Even after the draft, we could use a 3 & D wing player. We definitely should be improved defensively on the perimeter, but that isn’t true without Deng
I’m definitely surprised that someone didn’t take a chance on Upshaw in the second round. No guaranteed contract required, and he has first round talent. Too many red flags scared teams off. Could turn out to be Whiteside in a few years…a starter who emerges seemingly from out of the blue.
Do you think he goes overseas? Or does someone bring him in to training camp and put him in the D-league? Any early reports on that/what teams are interested? I thought he could be of interest to the lakers or celtics, among others
I think Upshaw would be more likely to take the D-League route than head overseas. I thought he would be a fit for the Lakers, Knicks, or Warriors on draft night. He’ll play in the Summer League for the Lakers.
Ok. That makes sense. As someone else said, I’m surprised the lakers took Nance Jr over rj hunter in that spot. The lakers could have come away with Russell, Hunter, Anthony Brown, and Upshaw. That would have been a great coup for thththem, though they did very well anyway
They can still come away with Upshaw at this point. But yes, L.A. had a very solid draft…outside of the Nance pick. I’m still trying to figure that one out. I would love to be there the first time Nance meets Kobe and they discuss the infamous tweet…#awkward
Definitely lol…it may have had something to do with Mitch saying he doesn’t think they’ll have the roster space for 3 picks. Maybe the plan on stashing Nance in the d-D-league? That still doesn’t really answer for the decision though
Christian Wood not getting drafted at all was the biggest surprise to me. Now that he’s signed with the Rockets though, they can develop him as a stretch 4 who compliments Dwight really well. If Wood’s development goes right they could have a legit star on their hands he’s got that much talent.
All the ones you guys mentioned as well Upshaw, Rozier etc… RJ Hunter going 28 surprised me because I didn’t think there was a chance he slipped past the Mavericks as a ready made starting 2 guard who can shoot the lights out… My favorite move of the whole draft was the Blazers getting Plumlee and Connaughton for Hollis-Jefferson and Blake. Getting a starting 4/5 and a deadly shooter/freak athlete who will take over as the starting 2 guard when Henderson leaves after next year IMO for a defensive specialist and a backup PG whose best days are way behind him is a flat out coup for the front office in Portland
I would agree completely about Christian Wood. If the Rockets jumped on him this quickly postdraft, I think some other team should have at least scooped up his draft rights. The worst that would have happened would have been that he’d have bombed summer league, and then the team that drafted him would could have just turned him into a draft-and-stash guy to use as a trade chip later on. What other teams do you think he’d have been a fit on?
Any other team that needs a talented big that can afford to wait a couple of years lol. I think he’d have been wise to go to the Pelicans and guard/learn from Anthony Davis as he has the same kind of frame and perimeter potential and if he could have been Davis-lite, that would have made him a lot of money..,
Fully agree. Wood going to a team that also drafted Dekker and Harrell, and who already have Clint Capela from last year’s draft…a bit of a puzzler to me.
I was honestly hoping that the Spurs would take a shot with him because I can see him thriving in their system within a couple of years.
Charlotte taking Kaminsky when Winslow’s right there for the taking! Although reports said that MJ and the organization were high on Kaminsky, I don’t think that’s any excuse for taking him over a potential superstar in Winslow. Although Kaminsky fills Charlotte’s need for shooting, Winslow would have filled the team’s need for star power.
I like what Kaminsky can bring to Charlotte, but the Hornets may end up being sick with themselves for not grabbing Winslow.
To be fair, you could say that about more than just the Hornets
No doubt. Time will tell on this one. But Porzingis and Stanley Johnson better be pretty good….
I would have arguably considered him if I’m philly, after russell was off the board, but that’s probably b/c I don’t think too much of okafor, and I’m considering their need
If Philly was taking anyone else at that spot it would have been Porzingis. Winslow wasn’t even an option at No. 3 for Hinkie.
I don’t think I would have taken him at 3, but I’m just saying I would have considered him, along with Mudiay or porzingis, or trading down for Payne
I don’t think what Kaminsky provides Charlotte measures up to what Winslow or 6 draft picks from Boston (of which 4 would have been 1st rounders!) could provide. Also, even though Kaminsky’s skill set can slightly help the Hornets, the team doesn’t have a good defensive complement to him unless they resign Biyombo (but why on earth would you do that??) or if they decide to play small (which they really should do!) and have Kidd-Gilchrist play as a 4. A lineup of Walker, Batum, Winslow, Kidd-Gilchrist, and a center not named Jefferson (perhaps Zeller but not really) in a fast-paced system would have been far more intriguing and probably a lot more successful in the long run…but I guess that’s none of my business.
Agreed. That being said, I think we have to seriously take that report about the offer of 6 picks with a grain of salt…I personally don’t believe it