Well, being a parent and having a real job means not nearly as much time to putz around working on mock drafts. For 2015, I'm just going to post my final lottery mock, screenshot-ed off of ESPN's Mock Draft Machine to save time.
- Towns is an easy top pick, it will be fun to League Pass him and Wiggins learning to play together.
- The Lakers are trying to be up to stuff, but are probably smart to just grab the big fella and hope his defense develops.
- The Magic desperately need floor spacing, and having Porzingis could really open up their offense. They'll have to give up at least one good asset to get him.
- The Knicks are just praying for Russel or Okafor to fall to them, and here they get their guard.
- I'm sold on the conspiracy theory that the 76ers have targeted Mudiay all along and are happy to squeeze an asset out of Orlando if they can move down and still get their #2 target.
- Hezonja is perfectly imperfect for the messed-up Kings.
- Winslow to Denver is basically 2015 draft canon at this point. It just feels like an awesome fit.
- Apparently Frank is running up the boards at the last minute, and with Greg Monroe one foot out the door he'd be an ideal fit next to Drummond in SVG's front court.
- The Hornets (I love that the logo on the ESPN Mock Machine is still the Bobcats!) desperately need shooting and Hunter is the best overall basketball player left who is a good shooter.
- Miami is in serious flux with Wade possibly leaving and Dragic a free agent. It's either going to be a total re-build or a situation where rookies won't be playing too much during a playoff push, so Pat Riley has the luxury of swinging for the fences. Turner would do very well to learn from Chris Bosh, they have some similarities in their physique, game, and early experience.
- The Pacers have had no luck whenever George Hill is off the floor, so the heady Payne makes sense in a back-up/insurance/future PG perspective.
- WCS has too much raw defensive talent to fall too much farther than this.
- The local product happens to be the best player available, so why not? They have a sneaky need at the wing, as Marcus Morris and PJ Tucker don't really seem like long term starters.
- The Thunder would do very well to pick up the multi-talented Dekker here. Playing on a team where all eyes are on Durant/Westbrook would give him an amazing opportunity to get the ball with space, where he is extremely dangerous.
That's it, there's no way I could say anything of value outside the lottery because I haven't had time to do my homework. Enjoy the draft!
