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2015 NBA Mock Draft
2016 NBA Mock Draft
Posted: Feb. 17, 2015.
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Denver Nuggets: Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana. 
Actual Pick: Jusuf Nurkic, C, Croatia
(DK) This pick actually goes to Denver in the draft-night trade. When we look back at this draft redo in a couple of years, I think we will be kicking ourselves for not selecting Vonleh higher. Kind of how we didn’t draft Gorgui Dieng in last year’s draft do-over. Whoops. By the way, Denver has to be really close to blowing up its roster and entering rebuilding mode, right? What is the franchise waiting for?
(PC) I agree that Vonleh needs strength. He’s still so young. The Nuggets have assembled a roster of guys who help win fantasy basketball leagues but aren’t that great at winning actual basketball games, which is kinda important. -
Boston Celtics: James Young, SG, Kentucky. 
Actual Pick: James Young, SG, Kentucky
(PC) James Young was one of my favorite players in college hoops last year, and I thought he should have been picked much higher. In hindsight, this is probably about right. Young is not as good out of the gate as I thought he’d be and has bounced back and forth between the Celtics and the D-League this season. Still, I think his potential is there to be a good rotational guy in the NBA.
(DK) A smooth shooting lefty wing? Yes, please. You know I man-crush on those types of players more than Kanye West man-crushes on himself. I am on the same page with you that Young will be a solid rotation player in a couple of years and at this point of the 2014 NBA Draft, it is all about “potential, potential, potential,” as Dickie V. would say. -
Phoenix Suns: Bruno Caboclo, SF, Brazil. 
Actual Pick: Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse
(DK) Since I went safe for Phoenix with McDermott at No. 14, I’m massively rolling the dice on a dude who I am ashamed to say, I never heard of until Adam Silver called his name on draft night in 2014. Caboclo has only played 16 minutes this season and is raw as the WWE on a Monday night, but worth the gamble over any of the other crap left on the board.
(PC) With a name like Bruno you’d think he’s a WWE Superstar rather than an NBA player. I’d be lying if I told you I even remembered Adam Silver calling his name on draft night. We’re sure Caboclo is not the next in line for a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Title, right? -
Denver Nuggets: Travis Wear, F, UCLA.
Actual Pick: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State
(PC) Ok, this might be a reach, but since this pick is also heading to Denver as part of the earlier trade, I think it makes sense. Wear is versatile and on a team of fantasy-stat schlubs, he is a guy who will do “glue guy” things to help actually win games. Wear has proven he can be a ninth or 10th man right now; that’s better than you can say about four of the last five guys we’ve chosen. At No. 19, that’s good, right?
(DK) You are crazier than all the girl contestants on “The Bachelor” combined. I’d definitely go with an upside guy here over a guy who is only seeing minutes because he is on a depleted roster that is on of the worst teams in NBA. Especially since the Nuggets are a long way away from being a playoff-caliber club. -
Toronto Raptors: Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan. 
Actual Pick: Bruno Caboclo, SF, Brazil
(DK) Now that McGary is healthy, he is actually showing signs of life. McGary recently posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, and 17 and 10 in back-to-back games. At the very least, he’d be a fifth post player on Toronto’s roster and provide some depth inside. Plus, the allure of putting McGary and Tyler Hansbrough on the same team that just so happens to be located in Canada is too good to pass up.
(PC) I debated between Wear and McGary on that last pick. I really think people forgot how good McGary can be. I like this pick. In fact, can we redo the redo draft? I want to draft McGary for the Hawks. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: T.J. Warren, SF, N.C. State. 
Actual Pick: Mitch McGary, PF, Michigan
(PC) Behind Kevin Durant, the Thunder have very little depth. Perry Jones started the season out pretty hot, but he did what everyone was afraid he would do in the NBA (got hurt) and then Oklahoma City was kind of out of luck. T.J. Warren hasn’t really had a fair shot in Phoenix as he’s had a couple stints in the D-League and gotten a ton of DNPs. When Warren has received some minutes however, whether it be in the NBA or NBDL, he’s looked okay. Warren needs some polish, sure, but he’s looked like he could hang. Especially considering he’s averaging 26.8 points per game in his nine D-League appearances.
(DK) I think there are higher-upside small forwards available than Warren, but whoever the Thunder drafts here isn’t sniffing the lineup. Even when Durant was hurt, I don’t think Warren sees any run and probably spends a good chunk of the season in the D-League like he’s done with Phoenix. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Jerami Grant, SF, Syracuse. 
Actual Pick: Jordan Adams, SG, UCLA
(DK) Tayshaun Prince was clearly on his last legs in the Grizzlies this past offseason (hence why they dealt him) so they were in need of a wing. Grant’s shown some promise on that hodge-podge of a 76ers roster and could be a solid role player one day. Since this re-draft is getting redundant with “he might be able to contribute one day” comments, have you been watching Real World: Skeletons?
(PC) I have caught a few episodes, but I still don’t know what is going on. I can’t tell if I just need to watch from the beginning or if these people are wholly unforgettable. Wait, are we talking about the rest of this re-draft or Real World: Skeletons? I think I have some attention deficit disorder going on. -
Toronto Raptors: Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan .
Actual Pick: Rodney Hood, SF, Duke
(PC) The Jazz took a forward in Aaron Gordon earlier, and now the team adds some depth to its backcourt with a true shooting guard who can step in behind Alec Burks (who is now out for the season). At this point in the is re-draft, Stauskas is still a steal even considering his struggles in Sacramento. I’ll be honest, I forgot he was available.
(DK) Nik Stauskas is perfect in Utah. This is a good pick this late. You need to watch Real World: Skeletons. I think you are going to grow to love Tony, who is reaching biggest player in Real World history status, kind of like the Manute Bol of the NBA. Plus, there’s a good batch of crazy going on as the episodes progress. -
Charlotte Hornets: Adreian Payne, PF, Michigan State. 
Actual Pick: Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut
(DK) Since you took Exum at No. 9, I’m grabbing some size. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Payne makes in Minnesota since he was buried on the bench in Atlanta. I can’t believe Payne slipped this far by the way. He could actually earn some playing in Charlotte.
Seven NBA players, picked to live in a house, and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite and start getting real … The Real World: NBA… Cast which seven players you’d ideally want to see live together. GO …
(PC) James Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, Jonas Valanciunias, Kyle Lowry, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozen and Landry Fields … Ok that was kind of a joke. The Toronto Raptors’ roster baffles me. Why do they have such good chemistry? I feel like Amir and James Johnson would clash over who’s the better “Johnson” (no double entendres intended). Where does Valanciunias fit in? Does he actually have friends? Where is Landry Fields super-hot wife? These are the questions that I contemplate when I watch the Raptors. If you’re going to make me pick a real group of seven NBA players, I need time. Good thing we have five picks left. -
New Orleans Hornets: Rodney Hood, SF, Duke.
Actual Pick: Clint Capela, PF, France
(PC) Ugh … I’ll be honest, I am only trying to make a pick so that the Houston Rockets can undo signing Josh Smith. I don’t think Josh Smith is a good fit for Houston. He’s been pretty inconsistent for the Rockets, and I definitely don’t think he’ll help come playoff time. I don’t hate Josh Smith, by the way, I actually like him. Just not on the Rockets. However, he’s definitely a candidate for the Real World: NBA house. Can we make the cast eight? MTV moved to initial houseguests like 4 years ago.
(DK) As long as Boogie is cast in the house, I don’t care. Boogie would make great TV. Especially if he were surrounded by seven European dudes who barely spoke English. The possibilities have me giddy. I almost took Hood over Grant three picks ago, so I’m down with this selection. -
Miami Heat: Tarik Black, PF, Kansas. 
Actual Pick: P.J. Hairston, SG, NBADL
(DK) Black is physical. The Heat really don’t have any physicality down low. This was before Hassan Whiteside was on Miami (what a surprise he’s been, and what a great pickup he’s been for my fantasy team) and before the franchise re-signed Bosh and signed Josh McRoberts. See what I’m doing here? I’m trying to talk myself into why Tarik Black is such a great pick ….
(PC) I nearly took Black instead of Hood just for the sake of irony, so I’m ok with it. You know what else I’m ok with? Not ever talking about Tarik Black again. -
Phoenix Suns: Damien Inglis, SF, France.
Actual Pick: Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG, Serbia
(PC) Well, Phoenix owner Robert Sarver is a notorious cheap-ass, so paying two first-round picks this season was not likely an option. The Suns take the highest-rated international player they don’t have to pay right now here for that reason. Also, did you know Phoenix plays in Talking Stick Resort Arena? That tops the list of things that sound made up in the NBA, right?
(DK) We went three picks without drafting the Suns a point guard. Instead, we gave them three small forwards. Whatever. Nobody in our imaginary draft world is going to be mad. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Clint Capela, PF, France.
Actual Pick: C.J. Wilcox, SG, Washington
(DK) Clint Capela is the least French sounding name ever. How’s that for insight?
(PC) Back-to-back Frenchies? Typically you pay extra for that. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Harris, SG, Michigan State.
Actual Pick: Josh Huestis, SF, Stanford
(PC) I know Gary Harris hasn’t been good. I really do. But his mom played in the WNBA. The WNBA. That pedigree speaks for itself. Well, it does when you don’t have anything else to say and you only have one more chance to get a subtle WNBA joke into this analysis.
(DK) Value pick. He could be a contributor in a couple years. For those counting at home, that’s the 17th time I’ve said that about one of our picks. Yup, it’s one of those draft classes. -
San Antonio Spurs: Walter Tavares, C, Spain. 
Actual Pick: Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA
(DK) Dude’s 7-1 and apparently the Hawks are going to bring him over next season. That’s better than taking like Jordan Clarkson or Glenn Robinson III. Right? Anywho, I love writing this article with you. Regardless of how watered down our picks get after the lottery … or in this year’s case, after the top 10.
(PC) I’ve actually watched quite a few Hawks games this season on League Pass and the Atlanta TV guys claim the Hawks’ front office guys are super pumped about this Tavares guy. Like two coked-up dudes in Vegas after a 22-hour bender at the blackjack table pumped. I love doing this every year, too. Want go to Vegas?
Back to 2014 NBA Mock Re-Draft: Round 1 – Picks 1-15
Go to 2015 NBA Mock Draft
Go to 2016 NBA Mock Draft
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
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