2015 Draft Review: Oklahoma City Thunder

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Russell Westbrook/D.J. Augustin/Cameron Payne

SG: Anthony Morrow/Dion Waiters/

SF: Kevin Durant/Kyle Singler/Andre Roberson/Josh Huestis/Steve Novak

PF: Serge Ibaka/Nick Collison/Perry Jones III

C: Steven Adams/Mitch McGary/Dakari Johnson

2015 Free Agents

C Enes Kanter (RFA)

What They Did On Draft Night
Drafted Murray State point guard Cameron Payne 14th overall

The Thunder seem to have their sights on Cameron Payne since early in the process, and the got their guy. It makes sense since backup point guard was one of the few longterm needs they had, with D.J. Augustin set to become a free agent next summer. This is an ideal situation for Payne because there won't be any pressure on him to come in and be the guy at point guard, instead he'll have a role and be able to play off of the Thunder's stars. Payne fits well in Oklahoma City because he is a good spot-up shooter that can play off the ball when sharing the backcourt with Russell Westbrook, but is also able to take the reins as the lead guard with Westbrook on the bench. It is also good for Payne that he won't have to shoulder starters minutes any time soon, he needs to get stronger before that will be a good idea.

Drafted Kentucky center Dakari Johnson 48th overall

Due to the incredible amount of talent on the Thunder's roster, Dakari Johnson is not likely to see a single minute of action this season, but will play in the D-League the whole year. Johnson is an old school, low-post center that plays very much below the rim. Johnson rebounds well and has great size, but will likely struggle on both ends of the court due to his well below average athletic ability. Playing in the D-League will benefit Johnson because he can learn to use his size to compensate in a low pressure environment.

What To Do Next

The Thunder want to bring back Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler, but besides that their roster is full so there isn't much else they can do unless they look for a trade involving D.J. Augustin in order to clear the way for Payne. Some of the periphery young talent on the roster could also be packaged with a pic or one of the Euro players Oklahoma City has the rights to in order to upgrade the shooting guard spot or clear room for a signing.

A bonus trade sure to never happen

D.J. Augustin to Washington for a second round pick

Follow me on Twitter @double_tech

2015 Draft Preview: Dallas Mavericks

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Devin Harris

SG: ???

SF: Chandler Parsons

PF: Dirk Nowitzki/Dwight Powell

C: ???

2015 Free Agents

C Bernard James (RFA)

F Al-Farouq Aminu (player option)

G J.J. Barea 

C Tyson Chandler

G Monta Ellis (player option)

PG Raymond Felton (player option)

SF Richard Jefferson

PG Rajon Rondo

C Greg Smith

PF Amar'e Stoudemire

F Charlie Villanueva

2015 Draft Picks

1-21

2-22(52)

Team Needs

With eleven free agents, many who will not return, the Mavericks are once again in position to remake their roster this offseason, leaving their team needs up in the air. The Mavericks typically don't play rookies much, but this season they might have to. Even if they don't, it would make sense to target someone they think can be worth more than where they are drafted and develop them for a year or two to be part of the Mavericks post-Dirk rebuild. Point guard is a clear spot that could be upgraded, though Rick Carlisle has been hard on point guards of the past, finding a young, smart lead guard to be molded and learn the system while a stop-gap veteran fills in for a year or two. 

Potential Fits

The point guard that seemed to "get" playing for Carlise, was Jameer Nelson and there are two point guards in this draft that are similar to Nelson in that they don't overwhelm with athletic ability but are heady players with good understanding the nuances of the game. Duke's Tyus Jones and Murray State's Cameron Payne could both be starting quality players if given a year to absorb what Dallas wants to do. Both can make outside shots and would be excellent running the Maverick pick-and-roll/pop offense. If neither are available or if Dallas doesn't want to develop a young point gaurd, then the frontcourt should be their next area of concern. UNLV Christian Wood, Kentucky's Trey Lyles, UCLA's Kevon Looney, and Chris McCullough of Syracuse all have potential to eventually replace at least a tiny part of what Dirk's shooting gives their offense. In the second round, a shooter would be nice for depth as would a solid, reliable fifth big man type. Due to the fact that Dallas currently doesn't have an shooting guards on their roster, R.J. Hunter of Georgia State should be in consideration. His ability to shoot should make him useful off of the bench.

Mock Draft

21. Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

52. Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky

Follow me on Twitter @double_tech

2015 Draft Preview: Washington Wizards

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: John Wall/Ramon Sessions

SG: Bradley Beal/Martell Webster

SF: Otto Porter Jr.

PF: Nene/Kris Humphries/DeJuan Blair

C: Marcin Gortat

2015 Free Agents

SF Rasual Butler

PG Will Bynum

PF Drew Gooden

F Paul Pierce (player option)

C Kevin Seraphin

G Garrett Temple (player option)

2015 Draft Picks

1-19

2-19(49)

Team Needs

Washington has three clear needs no what happens with Paul Pierce; whether he picks up his option or not, Washington clearly needs a stretch-four to make this offense work at an above-average level. Pierce can fill that role if he returns, but it will become a need again next summer, so why not address it now and give your player a year in the system before you really need them? Backup point guard is another area Washington can upgrade, Ramon Sessions can be useful, but he is a limited player. Because John Wall is so big and can defend shooting guards, a high quality backup guard could play alongside him and kill two birds its one stone because backup shooting guard is also an area of concern.

Potential Fits

Several power forwards in the middle of the first round have potential to be a perimeter power forward including UCLA's Kevon Looney, UNLV's Christian Wood, Arkansas's Bobby Portis, and Trey Lyles of Kentucky. All four could be off the board when Washington pick, but it is likely at least one might be available. Looney and Wood are also long and athletic with shotblocking upside, while Portis is a physical, positional defender who is the best overall offensive player of the bunch. Lyles is interesting, he has great size but isn't a good athlete and despite a reputation otherwise, he was an awful shooter last season. Lyles carries the most risk of the group, but still would have to be considered because if his shooting rounds into form you'd have exactly what you need. Tyus Jones of Duke and Cameron Payne of Murray State are the two point guards most likely to be available when the Wizards pick. Both are similar in that they lack above-average size/physical tools yet have a lot of skills you like as a point guards. Both are good shooters, can see the floor, and are willing passers. Both would likely be an upgrade over Sessions. Another place Washington should look to improve is their depth at shooting guard, with only the oft-injured Martell Webster to back up Bradley Beal, who has been hurt some himself. R.J. Hunter of Georgia State is an ideal fit because he'll give Washington an additional shooting option that can fill in spacing the floor with Beal on the bench. An intersting second round option for the Wizards is Iowa forward Aaron White, who was a very efficient player that shot 36% from three last season.

Mock Draft

19. R.J. Hunter, SG, 

49. Aaron White, PF, Iowa

2015 Draft Preview: Houston Rockets

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Pablo Prigioni/Nick Johnson

SG: James Harden

SF: Trevor Ariza/Kostas Papanikolau

PF: Terrence Jones/Donatas Motiejunas

C: Dwight Howard/Clint Capela/Joey Dorsey

2015 Free Agents

PG Patrick Beverly (RFA)

F K.J. McDaniels (RFA)

SG Corey Brewer

PF Josh Smith

PG Jason Terry

2015 Draft Picks

1-18 via New Orleans

2-2(32)

Team Needs

GM Daryl Morey are always active in free agency and trades, so it's hard to really predict what Houston's roster needs are really going to be because of how dramatically things can change for them. However, you can see at least that point guard is a place they could could look to address simply because Patrick Beverly is coming off an injury, Jason Terry is a free agent and both he and Pablo Prigioni are older than dirt. Another reason Houston could look to upgrade James Harden's workload. Last season he was frequently the only perimeter player on the floor really able to create anything, which led to an MVP-caliber season but also is probably not tenable on the long term and hurt them in the playoffs. Corey Brewer is a free agent, so a high energy wing player could be another direction they look, as is a versatile big man if Josh Smith moves on.

Potential Fits

There are three main point guard prospects that could possibly be available when Houston picks in the first round: Duke's Tyus Jones, Murray State's Cameron Payne, and Notre Dame's Jerian Grant. Of those three, Grant makes the most sense for Houston because he is the best defender yet is still capable of being a primary playmaker. The case you could make for Jones or Payne is that while Grant is a good shooter off the dribble, his spot-up game is behind the other two. He is also the oldest by a couple years, but is clearly the most ready to contribute as well which should matter more to a team like Houston who is firmly in their championship window. With their early second rounder, Houston can target depth along the frontline or take a shot on a European player to develop overseas. 

Mock Draft

18. Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame

32. Nikola Milutinov, C Partizan

Follow me on Twitter @double_tech

2015 Draft Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Russell Westbrook/D.J. Augustin

SG: Anthony Morrow/Dion Waiters/Jeremy Lamb

SF: Kevin Durant/Andre Roberson/Josh Huestis/Steve Novak

PF: Serge Ibaka/Nick Collison/Perry Jones III

C: Steven Adams/Mitch McGary

2015 Free Agents

C Enes Kanter (RFA)

SF Kyle Singer (RFA)

2015 Draft Picks

1-14

2-18(48)

Team Needs

Oklahoma City's biggest need is to stay healthy for a whole season and with their rotation next year essentially set, any player they draft is likely to be only a bit player at first (unless those pesky injuries strike again). Because of this, Oklahoma City will be looking down the line for needs that may pop up in the future. Next summer D.J. Augustin, Dion Waiters, and Jeremy Lamb could all depart in free agency, leaving Oklahoma City thin in the backcourt. It can't be ruled out that Oklahoma City would use some of their myriad pieces to trade up for a first year impact prospect, they could also trade down or out of the first round altogether.

Potential Fits

Assuming that Oklahoma City is thinking backcourt, there are four main prospects in their range to look at: Duke's Tyus Jones, Murray State's Cameron Payne, Notre Dame's Jerian Grant, and Kentucky's Devin Booker. Jones, Payne, and Grant are all point guards; Jones is the best pure playmaker, but he has questions about his ability to defend and finish, not unlike Augustin. Payne is a good combination of scoring and playmaking, but also has similar size and defense questions. Grant is the best of the three right now (also the oldest) because he can defend either guard spot, but also legitimately play point guard full time if needed. Booker is a better shooter than all three, but isn't a point guard. At just 18 he has the most upside and could be groomed for a year as Anthony Morrow-insurance before taking a bigger role next season. New coach Billy Donovan will want players who can space the floor and move the ball, both of which Booker can do.

Mock Draft

14. Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

48. Cedi Osman, SF, Andolu Efes

Follow me on Twitter @double_tech