2015 Draft Prospects:

Kris Dunn returning to Providence is a beyond terrible decision. Injuries have held him back for the last few years. He's already 21(or going to be). There's been so much question marks around his game. Will he become a better defender? Will he become a better shooter? Will his turnovers decrease?

He was being considered a 1st round pick and maybe even lottery. I don't understand the logic behind his choice, unless he's not serious about the NBA. Now teams will really get to nitpick everything from his game. If he doesn't improve or if Providence isn't competitive next year, he's going o be a 2nd round pick or a UDFA.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
Kris Dunn returning to Providence is a beyond terrible decision. Injuries have held him back for the last few years. He's already 21(or going to be). There's been so much question marks around his game. Will he become a better defender? Will he become a better shooter? Will his turnovers decrease?

He was being considered a 1st round pick and maybe even lottery. I don't understand the logic behind his choice, unless he's not serious about the NBA. Now teams will really get to nitpick everything from his game. If he doesn't improve or if Providence isn't competitive next year, he's going o be a 2nd round pick or a UDFA.
You could be right, or, because next years draft isn't expected to be nearly as strong, it might actually benefit him. Then, this years draft wasn't expected to be strong either, and now, most experts say its a stronger draft than last years. Can't really argue with that. It's all up to him now. From my perspective, it's a good thing. I get to watch him another year, and maybe have a better evaluation. He does have his age going against him a bit. Age isn't that big a deal to me. There are a lot of HOF players that didn't reach the NBA until age 22.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
We're certainly "due". Unfortunately, the ping pong balls - to the best of my ability to reason - don't know jack about who's due and who's not. :)
Sooooo, your saying we need better educated ping pong balls? It's all about faith baby, its all about faith. A few bucks to the commissioner wouldn't hurt either. :rolleyes:
 
You could be right, or, because next years draft isn't expected to be nearly as strong, it might actually benefit him. Then, this years draft wasn't expected to be strong either, and now, most experts say its a stronger draft than last years. Can't really argue with that. It's all up to him now. From my perspective, it's a good thing. I get to watch him another year, and maybe have a better evaluation. He does have his age going against him a bit. Age isn't that big a deal to me. There are a lot of HOF players that didn't reach the NBA until age 22.
For nba it's a good thing he's going back in depending on your perspective. Some teams want to evaluate him more. From his point of view it doesn't make a lot of sense. You give teams and scouts another year to nitpick on your game. He already set high expectations for himself in his performance this year, and I'm doubtful that he'll be able to perform at or above the same level. I think age will be a big factor. All lottery picks in the last few years 22yearsold and older have been pretty much busts.
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
Anyone else feel it in their loins that THIS is finally the year we break into the top 3? I haven't been hopeful for moving up since 2010, but this year I'm feeling a little more superstitious.
We're the Kings. I think we end up with the 8th slot.

And I think we either take Porzingis or trade our #8 pick, Collison and Thompson to Denver for Lawson so that Collison can help groom Russell who Denver takes with the #3 pick they got in the lottery.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
We're the Kings. I think we end up with the 8th slot.

And I think we either take Porzingis or trade our #8 pick, Collison and Thompson to Denver for Lawson so that Collison can help groom Russell who Denver takes with the #3 pick they got in the lottery.
Now I'm depressed.....Thanks Funky....:(
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
Well, I'm ever the optimist. I can't pursue something I don't feel positive about. Of course the lottery is a different animal all together, and don't blame you for being a tad pessimistic about it. Nothing in recent history would lend itself toward optimism. Then again, if you shoot enough arrows into the air, one of them has to hit something, doesn't it? He says hopefully........o_O
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
Kings should pick this guy! :D

Center on his team looks like a good finisher around the rim - might be worth a second-rounder.:p
Some of these little kids just amaze me. :eek: He already has little hesitation moves off his dribble, and not a bad crossover either. Something tells me we haven't seen the last of him.
 
Does anyone have an opinion on how the talent (especially with where we are drafting) compares to the talent of other draft classes? Average? Below average?
 
Some people claim, that the lottery outside of top3 is rather weak, but looking through the last 5 drafts only 2010 looks like it might be untouchable. I know, that 2012 might have two guys getting designated franchise player max, but my feeling is that Lillard will instantly become Joe Johnson type of contract.
Putting KAT, Jah and D-Lo into top3 and going down the list after them and rating the expected impact in terms of non-rookie contracts in this season's money/role:
Mudiay - lead guard as 2nd/3rd option with good defense
Winslow - SF version of Wes Matthews, 3rd best player on a deep PO team; Grantland claimed, that he would've gotten a massive contract this summer
WCS should become PF/C version of Chandler, and his handles are better than Tyson's, so he might have some offensive potential untapped
Hezonja can be reasonably expected to become an SF version of Klay;
Stanimal can probably reach Joe Johnson's level as SF.
Kaminsky is tough to figure out. He consistently beats NBA level defenders 1-on-1, using movement, quick footwork and agility, plus this guy not just "can shoot", he actually shoots well. Say, PF version of Brad Miller with ability to score in the post over smaller guys could be a very good player.
I don't particularly like guys in the teens, and some of top10 won't pan out, but overall 4-10 guys look just as strong as top guys relative to their projected position.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
It's funny, last years draft was touted a couple of years before it came, and it was considered one of those drafts that comes around every ten or so years. But, as it turned out, it was a good draft, but not a great one. Granted, I say that based on only one year, and with the top players in the draft suffering through injuries. So it remains to be seen how good it really is. That said, this years draft looks much better. At least at the top. I don't think they'll be as many good players at the bottom of the first round or into the second round, but one through fourteen or fifteen should be very solid, and it wouldn't surprise me to have four or five all stars down the road.

If the Kings can stay at six, or get lucky and move up, they should walk away with a very good player. I'd love to move up to number one, but I'd be happy as a clam if we walk away with Willy Cauley-Stein. On paper at least, he is the absolutely perfect fit next to Cousins. At least from Cousins point of view. Towns is more talented overall, and probably all star material down the road, but he will demand the ball a lot more than Stein would.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
Some people claim, that the lottery outside of top3 is rather weak, but looking through the last 5 drafts only 2010 looks like it might be untouchable. I know, that 2012 might have two guys getting designated franchise player max, but my feeling is that Lillard will instantly become Joe Johnson type of contract.
Putting KAT, Jah and D-Lo into top3 and going down the list after them and rating the expected impact in terms of non-rookie contracts in this season's money/role:
Mudiay - lead guard as 2nd/3rd option with good defense
Winslow - SF version of Wes Matthews, 3rd best player on a deep PO team; Grantland claimed, that he would've gotten a massive contract this summer
WCS should become PF/C version of Chandler, and his handles are better than Tyson's, so he might have some offensive potential untapped
Hezonja can be reasonably expected to become an SF version of Klay;
Stanimal can probably reach Joe Johnson's level as SF.
Kaminsky is tough to figure out. He consistently beats NBA level defenders 1-on-1, using movement, quick footwork and agility, plus this guy not just "can shoot", he actually shoots well. Say, PF version of Brad Miller with ability to score in the post over smaller guys could be a very good player.
I don't particularly like guys in the teens, and some of top10 won't pan out, but overall 4-10 guys look just as strong as top guys relative to their projected position.
There's probably no player in the draft that I tried not to like more than Kaminsky, and he just kept proving me wrong. He's just a very talented big man. He defends well in as far as his athletic ability allows him to, and offensively, he's a tough cover for anyone. He can really shoot the ball, and all the way out to beyond the arc. But despite that shooting ability, he did the bulk of his scoring in the post. He has terrific footwork in the post, and combines it with a lot of nifty moves. He handles the ball well for a big, and he's a very good passer. I mean if I had another first round pick in the 12 area, and he was still sitting there, I'd have to take him. To me he's like a cross between Miller and Pau Gasol.
 
Happens every year. Very frustrating but that's the advice agents give them. Very surprised at Hezonja, as his athletic testing would be impressive and likely help his stock grow. Also disappointed in KAT, Porzingis, Mudiay.
 
Everybody should know these guys from every angle by now. Teams, that need to watch them play in a pickup setting, must spend more on scouting. Top guys don't need scrutinizing against lesser guys - I'm pretty sure, each athletic test is done only once, so when a guy hesitates at the start and tests poorly in agility, it might cost him a few draft slots in the end given hype trains this time of the year. For top guys risk far outweighs the reward.
 
Vivek has emphasized on trying to find a euro talent like Peja. What about Aleksander Vezenkov? 6'9 220lbs SF/PF. He plays in the Greek league.

I honestly can't find stats for him because every website is inconsistent. However, they're all along the lines of:

32 mins- 18pts 7.8rebs 1.8asts .9stls 1.6tos 2.5pfs

  • .550% from 2pt. (8.7 attempts)
  • .400% from 3pt (4.8 attempts)
  • .78% from FT line
Video clip from 2013-



Video clip from 2015-





Looks like he can shoot the 3pter, but also likes hanging in the posts too. If he slips to the 2nd round, he's someone we should consider.