We’re now officially into the NBA’s silly season.
There’s nothing like the days between the end of the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft: rumors are flying, players and teams are making decisions on contract options and the entire league prepares for the annual upheaval that the offseason brings.
This year includes added intrigue because of the amount of uncertainty at the top of the draft. Here’s a breakdown of the teams in the lottery, and how things could shake out in the draft next Thursday at Barclays Center.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
Kentucky, PF/C
7-foot, 248 pounds
The Timberwolves repeatedly have said they haven’t made a decision yet, and Towns, Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell are all possibilities. However, Minnesota seems destined to take Towns or Okafor. Part-owner, team president and coach Flip Saunders has been said to be a huge fan of Okafor, who has the kind of low-post game you rarely see in today’s NBA. But given Minnesota’s needs on defense, where Towns should be a significantly better player, the odds tip in his favor to go first overall.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Jahlil Okafor
Duke, C
6-foot-11, 272 pounds
This is where things start to get complicated. If Towns gets past No. 1, the Lakers will almost assuredly immediately select him. But if Towns does go first, as expected, Los Angeles appear to be zeroing in on four players at this spot: Okafor, Russell, Kristaps Porzingis and Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay was in for a second workout with the Lakers this week, while Porzingis – who wowed execs from around the league with a workout in Las Vegas last week – also had a private workout in LA earlier this week. For now, we’ll say Okafor hangs on here with the second pick, but it is far from a sure thing.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: D’Angelo Russell
Ohio State, PG/SG
6-foot-5, 193 pounds
It’s always hard to get a read on just what the 76ers are doing, becuase general manager Sam Hinkie is well known for keeping his thoughts to himself. Philadelphia seems set to go in one of two directions. If Russell is on the board, it’s hard to envision the 76ers bypassing him, given their desperate need for guards and Russell being a more than adequate 3-point shooter – something the team clearly values. If he goes No. 2, Porzingis seems a more likely pick than Okafor, given his ability to stretch the floor and the fact Philadelphia already has a pair of young interior big men in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
4. New York Knicks: Justise Winslow
Duke, SF
6-foot-7, 229 pounds
There are two scenarios in play for the Knicks. The one they’ve been praying for since falling to No. 4 at the Draft Lottery last month, is Towns, Okafor or Russell – the three players they truly covet – manages to slip to them. If so, they’ll scoop up whomever is left and be thrilled. If that doesn’t, happen, though, all bets are off. The Knicks may be the most confusing team to figure out, because they continue to work out players projected to go in the teens and because they have so many gaping holes on their roster.
Since we aren’t projecting trades, we’ll put Winslow here – a player who has won at every level and would seem to possess the kind of basketball IQ that Phil Jackson would look for in running the triangle. But Mudiay could be a possibility, and if Porzingis is on the board, this would be an obvious trade spot for many teams looking to move up. It’s hard to see Jackson, who will be 70 in September, taking a player like Porzingis who will need a couple of years to mature.
5. Orlando Magic: Kristaps Porzingis
Sevilla (Spain), PF
7-foot, 220 pounds
This would appear to be the floor for Porzingis — the Magic are said to love his potential. Porzingis also would make sense from a fit standpoint. The 7-footer might default to the best shooter on a team that lacks 3-point shooting at virtually every position. Another option that could make sense is another foreign player, Mario Hezonja, who also would provide the Magic with the shooting they really need. They could also go with Willie-Cauley Stein, who would help new coach Scott Skiles introduce the kind of defensive culture change he’s hoping to make.
6. Sacramento Kings: Emmanuel Mudiay
Guangdong (China), PG
6-foot-5, 200 pounds
Tthis scenario would be pretty thrilling for the Kings, who would like to have a long-term answer at point guard. Marrying Mudiay – the very talented 19-year-old from Congo who spent last year playing in the Chinese League – with an up-tempo coach such as George Karl would appear to be a perfect match. There’s also the chance the Kings could go with a defender such as Cauley-Stein, who would fit nicely next to DeMarcus Cousins, but the guess is Mudiay — if he’s here.
7. Denver Nuggets: Mario Hezonja
Barcelona (Spain), SG/SF
6-foot-8, 200 pounds
The Nuggets have been surrounded by as many rumors as any team throughout the draft process. Point guard Ty Lawson and power forward Kenneth Faried are rumored to be on the market, and new coach Mike Malone stoked those rumblings when he declared: “The roster now won’t be the same one next season.”
Denver would like to move up in the draft, which is partly why Lawson’s name, in particular, has been dangled out there. Assuming the Nuggets don’t move up, though, Hezonja – a 3-point shooter with confidence bordering on cockiness – would help inject some new life into this locker room and help the transition back to playing fast.
8. Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson
Arizona, SF
6-foot-7, 243 pounds
Stan Van Gundy’s love for shooters is well-documented, and the Pistons helped shore up that part of their team last week when they traded for 3-point shooting power forward Ersan Ilyasova. Still, you can never have enough shooting in today’s NBA, and Hezonja would be a perfect fit if he slips to the eighth pick — the Pistons have a gaping hole at small forward.
If Hezonja isn’t here, the Pistons face a dilemma of sorts. Do they take another offensive big man, such as Frank Kaminsky or Trey Lyles? Do they take a defensive option at small forward, such as Stanley Johnson? Or do they grab yet another shooter in Devin Booker? The thought here is they fill that hole at small forward with Johnson, and hope his 37 percent 3-point shooting last season at Arizona translates to the next level.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Devin Booker
6-foot-6, 206 pounds
Kentucky, SG
The Hornets have openly said they need more shooting, which is part of the reason why they were willing to take Spencer Hawes back in the deal that sent Lance Stephenson to the Clippers (that, and just wanting to throw Stephenson out the door). And that’s why they’ve been linked to Booker for some time. Unless they decide to trade down, he seems like a very likely fit here.
10. Miami Heat: Willie Cauley-Stein
Kentucky, C
7-foot, 244 pounds
After missing the playoffs – and watching LeBron James carry the Cavaliers into the NBA Finals – you can be sure Pat Riley and the rest of the Heat organization want to be back challenging for the East crown next season. Adding a versatile, athletic defender such as Cauley-Stein would allow Chris Bosh to focus on his offense and could even allow the Heat to use last year’s revelation, Hassan Whiteside, as a trade chip to improve other parts of the roster.
You also could see Miami opt for someone like Kaminsky, the king of floor-stretching big man favored by Erik Spoelstra. They’re also said to like Booker quite a bit if he’s still on the board.
11. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Payne
Murray State, PG
6-foot-2, 180 pounds
Given Larry Bird’s public pronouncements about Cauley-Stein, whom he recently called a $100 million player, the Pacers almost certainly would gobble him up immediately with this selection. If not, look for them to take someone who will help fulfill Bird’s vision of wanting to play faster and be more athletic. Payne has shot up draft boards in recent weeks because of those attributes.
12. Utah Jazz: Myles Turner
Texas, C
7-foot, 239 pounds
After several seasons with too many big men, the Jazz arguably could use one one after trading Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City at February’s trade deadline. Giving them Turner – who has the size to play inside as well as showing the ability to knock down open perimeter jumpers – makes sense. He could give them a little bit at both ends off the bench next season.
13. Phoenix Suns: Frank Kaminsky
Wisconsin, PF
7-foot, 242 pounds
By going with Kaminsky, the Suns would be getting a seemingly perfect replacement for Channing Frye, whom they let go to Orlando in free agency a year ago. Lacking that true pick-and-pop option out to the 3-point line really afflicted Phoenix’s offense last season, and while Kaminsky also has the ability to score inside, he would be a nice complement to the Suns frontcourt.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Sam Dekker
Wisconsin, SF
6-foot-9, 229 pounds
Oklahoma City is looking for players to immediately step in and contribute next season, when they’ll be hoping to make a run deep into the playoffs after injuries to Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka left them home this year. Adding Dekker would give the Thunder another wing player, allowing them further flexibility to play smaller and faster if new coach Billy Donovan wants to do so.
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Nets): Bobby Portis
Arkansas, PF
6-foot-10, 235 pounds
16. Boston Celtics: Kelly Oubre
Kansas, SF
6-foot-7, 204 pounds
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Trey Lyles
Kentucky, PF
6-foot-10, 250 pounds
18. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans Pelicans): Kevon Looney
UCLA, PF
6-foot-9, 220 pounds
19. Washington Wizards: Jerian Grant
Notre Dame, PG
6-foot-5, 204 pounds
20. Toronto Raptors: R.J. Hunter
Georgia State, SG
6-foot-5, 180 pounds
21. Dallas Mavericks: Tyus Jones
Duke, PG
6-foot-1, 184 pounds
22. Chicago Bulls: Delon Wright
Utah, PG
6-foot-5, 179 pounds
23. Portland Trail Blazers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Arizona, SF
6-foot-7, 212 pounds
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Montrezl Harrell
Louisville, PF
6-foot-8, 230 pounds
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Rashad Vaughn
UNLV, SG
6-foot-5, 200 pounds
26. San Antonio Spurs: Justin Anderson
Virginia, SF
6-foot-6, 222 pounds
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets): Chris McCullough
Syracuse, PF
6-foot-10, 225 pounds
28. Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers): Cliff Alexander
Kansas, PF
6-foot-9, 239 pounds
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks): Terry Rozier
Louisville, PG
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
30. Golden State Warriors: Guillermo Hernangomez
Seville (Spain), C
6-foot-11, 255 pounds