NBA2K15
Fictional Draft Class Project
#1 Philadelphia 76ers
Byron Austin
SG / SF
Northwestern
STRENGTHS
+ Size & athleticism
+ Offensive versatility
+ Lockdown defense
WEAKNESSES
- Ball handling
- Off-ball defense
ANALYSIS: Byron Austin seems to be the consensus 1st overall selection ... he'd give the 76ers the player they've been searching for during this tanking process.
OFFICIAL 2015 Mock Draft
#2 Orlando Magic
Darrell Wilkins
PG / SG
Ohio State
STRENGTHS
+ Athleticism & physical tools
+ Point guard skills
+ Defensive intensity
WEAKNESSES
- Inconsistent shooting
- Turnover prone
ANALYSIS: Orlando needs a franchise point guard ... why not the Buckeye superstar Darren Wilkins? He could step in and be a leader right away.
#3 Milwaukee Bucks
Lavoy Bradley
SF / PF
Fresno State
STRENGTHS
+ Elite athleticism
+ Finishing ability
+ Isolation skills
WEAKNESSES
- Outside shooting
- Passing
ANALYSIS: Although the Bucks just selected Jabari Parker last season, taking the best player available is an option because of Giannis Antetokounmpo's versatility.
#4 Minnesota T-Wolves
Brandon Landry
C / PF
Florida
STRENGTHS
+ Defensive anchor
+ Freakish athlete
+ Finishing at the rim
WEAKNESSES
- Outside shooting
- Fouling tendency
- Character concerns
ANALYSIS: Got kicked out of Florida for his junior and senior seasons due to an on-court fight ... transferred to ETSU and is said to have changed. Talent is there.
#5 Utah Jazz
Hakeem Olamendi
PF / C
Houston
STRENGTHS
+ Post-up skills
+ Finishing & soft touch
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Athleticism
- Streaky shooter
- Defensive potential
ANALYSIS: Utah could look to trade this pick ... doesn't hurt adding another talented, young big man to their already promising core, though.
#6 Boston Celtics
Marquis Fields
C
Kentucky
STRENGTHS
+ Size & athleticism
+ Shot blocking
+ Strength
WEAKNESSES
- Offensive skills
- Defensive discipline
- Character concerns
ANALYSIS: Marquis Fields has some character issues, but you don't find many people of his stature and athletic ability. Boston could use a shot-altering big man.
#7 Detroit Pistons
Andre Jenkins
PG / SG
UNLV
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting & shot creating
+ Crafty finishing
+ Passing
WEAKNESSES
- Defense
- Speed & quickness
- Ball security
ANALYSIS: Detroit could really use a true point guard to spark their franchise and get Andre Drummond involved ... Andre Jenkins is a perfect fit.
#8 Sacramento Kings
Kris Reese
PG / SG
Villanova
STRENGTHS
+ Size & length
+ Defensive potential
+ Point guard skills
WEAKNESSES
- Explosiveness
- Inconsistent shooting
- Very raw
ANALYSIS: After losing Isaiah Thomas to the Suns, the Kings are in need of a point guard ... Kris Reese gives them a great versatile player and a direction.
#9 Los Angeles Lakers
Dante Myers
SG / SF
Baylor
STRENGTHS
+ Scoring ability
+ Offensive versatility
+ Star potential
WEAKNESSES
- All-around defensively
- Explosiveness
ANALYSIS: The Lakers could be looking for Kobe Bryant's eventual hier to the throne and a current partner on the wing ... Myers is very underrated with lots of potential.
#10 New York Knicks
Jeremy Early
SF / SG
Arizona
STRENGTHS
+ Size & length
+ All-around versatility
+ Unlimited potential
WEAKNESSES
- Very raw
- Defensive awareness
- Basketball IQ
ANALYSIS: The Knicks would be getting a steal here with Jeremy Early, who easily could be drafted much higher. Early gives them a great option on the wing in the future.
#11 Indiana Pacers
Mark Freeman
SG / SF
Auburn
STRENGTHS
+ Athleticism & physical tools
+ Scoring ability
+ Explosiveness
WEAKNESSES
- Shot selection
- Turnover prone
- Defensive commitment
ANALYSIS: Indiana could be looking for a replacement for Lance Stephenson at SG ... Mark Freeman has a bunch of talent that could help the Pacers' offensive attack.
#12 Phoenix Suns
Jalen Alexander
SF / PF
Pittsburgh
STRENGTHS
+ All-around scoring
+ Shooting range
+ Post skills
WEAKNESSES
- Size & length
- Finishing w/ contact
- Defense
ANALYSIS: Jalen Alexander gives the Suns a scorer that isn't a guard and somebody they can rely on in the low post. If they add him, they could be in the playoffs in no time.
#13 Denver Nuggets
Brandon Koetze
PF / C
Wisconsin
STRENGTHS
+ Size & physical tools
+ Offensive versatility
+ Shooting range
WEAKNESSES
- Defensive potential
- Explosiveness
ANALYSIS: Brandon Koetze is a prototypical stretch 4 that can also play inside. He doesn't have much upside on the defensive end but could be a very valuable asset.
#14 New Orleans Pelicans
Wilson Reyes
SG / PG
The Philippines
STRENGTHS
+ Lockdown defense
+ 3pt shooting
+ Size & length
WEAKNESSES
- Offensive upside
- Athleticism
- Turnover prone
ANALYSIS: The Pelicans could go bold here and take Cameron Reed, but Wilson Reyes makes more sense, as the Pelicans desperately need a wing defender.
#15 Brooklyn Nets
Dave Baker
PG
Germany
STRENGTHS
+ Passing
+ On-ball defense
+ Soft touch
WEAKNESSES
- Size & length
- Outside shooting
- Off-ball defense
ANALYSIS: Baker has some size issues, but he's a gifted passer, and would excel in a system where there's already some talent around him. A future D-Will replacement.
#16 Atlanta Hawks
Cameron Reed
SG / PG
Mercer
STRENGTHS
+ All-around scoring
+ Shooting ability
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Size & length
- Passing
- Turnover prone
ANALYSIS: The Hawks may have finally found their star. Cameron Reed is a college basketball legend who has various question marks but has the potential.
#17 Houston Rockets
Trey Rodgers
SG
UNC-Charlotte
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting ability
+ Passing
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Size & length
- Athleticism
- Defense
ANALYSIS: The Rockets love shooters ... and they could look to add some bench depth by adding Trey Rodgers. Or, just trade the pick like they usually do.
#18 Miami Heat
B.J. Daniels
SF / SG
Maryland
STRENGTHS
+ Athleticism
+ All-around scoring
+ Shooting range
WEAKNESSES
- Passing
- Ball handling
- Finishing thru contact
ANALYSIS: Replacing LeBron James is no easy feat ... Daniels would help them add a young athletic scorer on the wing to make up for some of what they lost.
#19 Memphis Grizzlies
Thomas King
PG
Finland
STRENGTHS
+ Passing
+ Defense
WEAKNESSES
- Shooting range
- Explosiveness
- Shot creating
ANALYSIS: Thomas King would be a great fit for the Grizzlies' system and would be a longterm solution for their backup PG spot behind Mike Conley Jr.
#20 Portland Blazers
Donald Burke
SG / SF
West Virginia
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting ability
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Athleticism
- Defense
- Ball Handling
ANALYSIS: The Blazers still could use some valuable scoring options off the bench. Doanld Burke is the best available shooter and could fill a lot of needs.
#21 Charlotte Hornets
Amit Brown
PG
Israel
STRENGTHS
+ Passing
+ 3pt shooting
+ Creative finishing
WEAKNESSES
- Athleticism
- Length
- Limited potential
ANALYSIS: The Charlotte Hornets still need somebody to back up Kemba Walker at the point guard spot ... Amit Brown is a solid, all-around player who would fill the role.
#23 Golden State Warriors
Zac Poleon
PF / SF
Gonzaga
STRENGTHS
+ Post skills
+ Low post defense
+ Rebounding
WEAKNESSES
- Shooting
- Turnover prone
- Limited upside
ANALYSIS: Draymond Green is a nice player, but they don't have another forward they can rely on the bench. Zac Poleon brings them a David Lee-like figure w/ defense.
#22 Toronto Raptors
Sean Dixon
SG / PG
Fresno State
STRENGTHS
+ Shot creating
+ Mid range shooting
+ Ball handling
WEAKNESSES
- Passing
- Size & strength
- Athleticism
ANALYSIS: The Raptors are expected to trade this pick and could look to move up ... the most ideal situation for all options would be to take the best player available.
#24 Washington Wizards
Jeremy Marquis
SF / SG
South Alabama
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting ability
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Athleticism
- Shot creating
- Limited upside
ANALYSIS: You can never have enough shooters ... and with Paul Pierce not getting any younger, adding some depth on the wing can only help.
#25 Dallas Mavericks
Darius Webb
PG
Kentucky
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting ability
+ Passing
+ Creative finishing
WEAKNESSES
- Explosiveness
- Size & length
- Passiveness
ANALYSIS: Darius Webb has the potential to be a starting PG for a Mavs team in need of one, but it's unknown if he'll have a sense of urgency out there on the court.
#26 Los Angeles Clippers
Mason Love
PF / C
UCLA
STRENGTHS
+ Shooting range
+ Rebounding
+ Post skills
WEAKNESSES
- Athleticism
- Defense
- Limited upside
ANALYSIS: The younger brother of Kevin Love has a similar skillset, and he would give the Clippers a quality backup bigman that they've been searching for.
#27 Cleveland Cavaliers
Bernard Benjamin
C / PF
Auburn
STRENGTHS
+ Shot blocking
+ Rebounding
+ Size & strength
WEAKNESSES
- Offensive skills
- Basketball IQ
- Very raw
ANALYSIS: Behind experience, the Cavaliers' most gaping hole is their defense. Adding a rim protector like Benjamin would do wonders towards their development.
#28 OKC Thunder
Dru Wesley
PF
Ohio State
STRENGTHS
+ Rebounding
+ Strength
WEAKNESSES
- Offensive skills
- Size & length
- Limited upside
ANALYSIS: The Thunder always surprise us with this pick ... why not Dru Wesley out of The Ohio State University? He only rebounds, but he's pretty darn good at it.
#29 Chicago Bulls
Oscar Bennett
SF / PF
Baylor
STRENGTHS
+ On-ball defense
+ Shooting range
+ Rebounding
WEAKNESSES
- Shot creating
- Finishing
- Explosiveness
ANALYSIS: Oscar Bennett is a good all-around player that is considered by many to be vastly underrated. He'd be another great member to the Bulls' famous Bench Mob.
#30 San Antonio Spurs
Ryan Cooper
SF / PF
Wisconsin
STRENGTHS
+ Athleticism
+ Shooting ability
+ Basketball IQ
WEAKNESSES
- Limited upside
- Ball handling
- Off-ball defense
ANALYSIS: Picking up Ryan Cooper at the end of the first round would be the most Spurs move ever. Seriously, this would be an absolute steal if it happened.
