The NBA draft is next month and after the lottery order was announced, mock drafts have started to come out for the 2015 class and some names connected to teams include Emmanuel Mudiay as a target for the New York Knicks, LA Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers along with D'Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are likely options for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Most draft experts see Okafor and Towns as the top two picks this year and workouts through the next month could dictate who goes number one. Last year there was a consensus on Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins as the top two players and they ended up going in those spots with Wiggins getting taken first. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Towns at one is not a lock yet, as Draft Express reports that Flip Saunders "really likes" Okafor and could consider him at number one.
The Wolves are the first team in years to finish with the worst record and get the number one pick and while a trade is an option, they likely will make the pick. The team can be the first with three straight number one picks on the roster, as they picked up Wiggins and Anthony Bennett from the Cavaliers in the deal for Kevin Love. Towns and Okafor did not work out at the draft combine and things could be decided based on individual workouts and team meetings with the players.
The Knicks could be the team that makes a move, as they have the fourth pick and may want to trade. Emmanuel Mudiay could be a target for the team, as the Knicks are in need of a point guard. According to NBA.com, Mudiay played last season in China and put up solid numbers, averaging 18 points, six rebounds and five assists per game. Mudiay was injured and played in only 12 games last season, but he averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the playoffs after being a McDonald's High School All-American in 2014.
The Lakers made the most significant jump in the lottery, as they moved from fourth to the number two pick, while the Knicks were put in a tough position. The Knicks finished with the second worst record in the league and had a 55 percent chance of being in the top three, but they instead ended up with the fourth overall pick. Yahoo Sports reports that the team will consider trading the pick, but others in the media have reported that the team is also thinking about sitting tight and taking the best player available.
The Knicks basically tanked this season in the hopes of getting one of the top two picks, but now their plans have to be altered a bit. The fourth pick should allow the team to get a very talented player, but nothing close to what Towns and Okafor are expected to be. The draft is often a crap shoot, so for all anyone knows the Knicks will end up with the best player in the top 10, but that is a debate for years down the road. As it stands now, the Knicks will consider trading the pick, but if they sit tight many see Russell or Mudiay as the pick for the team.
Check here for a mock draft for the 2015 class.
Quick mock thoughts:
Wolves: Jahlil Okafor
Lakers: Karl-Anthony Towns
76ers: D'Angelo Russell
Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay
Orlando Magic: Willie Cauley-Stein