Live 2015 NBA Draft Grades: Round One – Picks 16-30

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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Live 2015 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 – Picks 1-15 | Grades for Round 2

2015 NBA Mock Draft | 2016 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 26, 2015.

  1. Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville – F Grade
    My first, “WHAT?” moment of the draft. I don’t love Rozier at all for the next level and thought he should be a second round pick. How does he fit in a C’s backcourt that already has Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas? They have needs at small forward or in the frontcourt and there were much better options available.


  2. Milwaukee Bucks: Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV – B Grade
    O.J. Mayo is not the long-term shooting guard in Milwaukee so Vaughn is a solid get here. I thought a power forward like Bobby Portis would have made more sense since the Bucks just dealt Ersan Ilyasova, but I like this pick.


  3. Houston Rockets: Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin – C+ Grade
    This is a value pick for the Rockets since their real need was a point guard and guys like Tyus Jones or Jerian Grant were on the board. Corey Brewer is a free agent so Houston does need some depth at three. I just don’t think Dekker is going to be anything special at the next level.




  4. New York Knicks: Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame – B Grade
    The Hawks dealt this pick to the Knicks for Tim Hardaway Jr. Grant should be able to play either guard position at the next level and the Knicks need all the help they can get. He should contribute right away and his versatility makes him more valuable to the Knicks than Hardaway Jr.


  5. Toronto Raptors: Delon Wright, PG, Utah – C- Grade
    Since the Raptors just traded Greivis Vasquez to Milwaukee, Toronto needs a backup point guard behind Kyle Lowry. I like Wright but not sure I like him at No. 20 especially with Tyus Jones on the board. His size is valuable and the Raps could lose Lou Williams to free agency as well so maybe Wright can play either guard spot.


  6. Dallas Mavericks: Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia – C Grade
    I like Anderson since he can do a lot of different things on the floor but I have Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ranked higher than him at the small forward spot. Tyus Jones would have been a better pick here too since Dallas needs a point guard. Again, I’m okay with Anderson, just think there were better players on the board.




  7. Chicago Bulls: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas – B Grade
    Portis is a great value at 22 and adds depth upfront alongside Noah, Gasol, and Gibson. From a fit standpoint, I thought a shooter like R.J. Hunter, defensive wing like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, or point guard like Tyus Jones made more sense though.


  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona – A+ Grade
    LOVE LOVE LOVE this pick. Portland just dealt Nicolas Batum so they have a hole at small forward. While Hollis-Jefferson is not a shooter, he can defend four positions and is extremely aggressive and athletic at the rim. He could end up being the Blazers’ small forward of the future.


  9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke – A+ Grade
    Cleveland dealt this pick to Minnesota for Nos. 31 and 36. Tyus Jones comes home to Minnesota and T-Wolves fans should be ecstatic that they were able to make this move. While they have Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine and may not need a point guard, Jones is going to be a solid player at the next level and is another young piece to help their rebuilding effort.




  10. Memphis Grizzlies: Jarell Martin, PF, LSU – D+ Grade
    While the Griz need frontcourt depth, this is sort of a “meh” pick for me. I think someone like Montrezl Harrell or either Rakeem Christmas or Chris McCullough of Syracuse will have better NBA careers.


  11. San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Milutinov, C, Serbia – D+ Grade
    I got this pick right somehow. I guess we’ll see if this pick pans out down the road like many Euro Spurs picks have. San Antonio likely wants to save cap space to pursue some free agents so I mean, I guess we’ll see.


  12. Los Angeles Lakers: Larry Nance Jr., F, Wyoming – F Grade
    I didn’t even have Nance in the second round of my mock. He doesn’t have a true position at the next level and there were far better players available rather than a guy who likely would have been available when the Lakers picked in the second round at No. 34.




  13. Boston Celtics: R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State – C-
    Another guard in a crowded backcourt for Boston. Hunter is a great value here but the Celtics drafted a shooter last year in James Young who can shoot it from deep and has more potential than Hunter. Good value, but don’t love the fit.


  14. Brooklyn Nets: Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse – B+ Grade
    An injury cut his freshman season short but McCullough has lottery potential. He may not be ready to contribute right away but down the road, this could be a tremendous pick.


  15. Golden State Warriors: Kevon Looney, F, UCLA – A Grade
    This is a terrific pick for the NBA Champs considering not too long ago, Looney was being talked about as a possible lottery pick. Golden State thrived on using a versatile lineup and Looney only adds to that. Looney will also provide insurance in case Golden Stare somehow loses Draymond Green to free agency.



  16. Go to Live 2015 NBA Draft Grades: Round 2

    Back to Live 2015 NBA Draft Grades: 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].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]




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