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2015 NBA draft
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| 2015 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 25, 2015 |
| Location | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Network | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 60 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves) |
The 2015 NBA draft was held on June 25, 2015, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It was televised nationally in the U.S. by ESPN. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The draft lottery took place on May 19, 2015.
The Minnesota Timberwolves won the draft lottery to earn the first overall pick in the draft. It marked the first time in Timberwolves history that they would receive the first overall pick through the lottery. The player selected would also be the third consecutive number one pick on the Timberwolves roster, joining Andrew Wiggins (2014) and Anthony Bennett (2013) - who were traded to Minnesota for forward Kevin Love. This draft also gave the Los Angeles Lakers the second overall pick after jumping over the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks within the draft lottery.
Highlights from the draft include the first Dominican to be the first overall pick (Karl-Anthony Towns), the highest number of Kentucky Wildcats selected in the draft lottery (four with Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, and Devin Booker), which tied the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2005 for most players selected in the lottery by one school; the tied record for most Kentucky players selected in the draft (six with Towns, Cauley-Stein, Lyles, Booker, Andrew Harrison, and Dakari Johnson), the second Latvian to have been drafted in the first round (Kristaps Porziņģis), the first former high school player to have skipped college to play in China that was selected in the draft (Emmanuel Mudiay), and the first Indian-born player to have been selected in the NBA (Satnam Singh),[1] who was also the first player since 2005 to have been drafted directly from high school (albeit as a postgraduate).
Other noteworthy announcements that came out of the draft included the official announcement of the passing of the last pioneer of the original NBA, Harvey Pollack, around the third pick and the resignation of the league's president of basketball operations Rod Thorn that became official in August after the end of the first round.
Draft selections
[edit]| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
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Notable undrafted players
[edit]These players were not selected in the 2015 NBA draft, but have appeared in at least one regular-season or playoff game in the NBA.
Eligibility and entrants
[edit]The draft was conducted under the eligibility rules established in the league's new 2011 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players union. The CBA that ended the 2011 lockout instituted no immediate changes to the draft, but called for a committee of owners and players to discuss future changes.[57] Since the 2011 CBA, the basic eligibility rules have been:
- All drafted players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In terms of dates, players eligible for the 2015 draft must be born on or before December 31, 1996.[58]
- Any player who is not an "international player", as defined in the CBA, must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.[58] The CBA defines "international players" as players who permanently resided outside the United States for three years prior to the draft, did not complete high school in the U.S., and have never enrolled at a U.S. college or university.[59]
Early entrants
[edit]Player who are not automatically eligible must declare their eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 60 days before the draft.[60][61] For the 2015 draft, this date fell on April 26. After this date, "early entry" players may attend NBA pre-draft camps and individual team workouts to show off their skills and obtain feedback regarding their draft positions. Under the CBA, a player may withdraw his name from consideration from the draft at any time before the final declaration date, which is 10 days before the draft.[62] Under NCAA rules at that time, players only had until April 16 to withdraw from the draft and maintain their college eligibility.[63] In January 2016, the NCAA changed its draft withdrawal date to 10 days after the end of the annual NBA Draft Combine in May, with the 2016 draft the first to be held under the new rule.[64]
A player who has hired an agent will forfeit his remaining college eligibility, regardless of whether he is drafted.[65] Also, while the CBA allows a player to withdraw from the draft twice,[62] the NCAA then mandated that a player who declared twice lost his college eligibility.[63] The aforementioned 2016 NCAA rule change also allowed players to declare for more than one draft without losing college eligibility.[64]
This year, a total of 48 collegiate players and 43 international players declared as early entry candidates before the April 26 deadline.[66] On June 15, the withdrawal deadline, 34 early entry candidates withdrew from the draft and one early entry candidate is added, leaving 47 collegiate players and 11 international players as the early entry candidates for the draft.[67][68]
Cliff Alexander – F, Kansas (freshman)- Justin Anderson – G/F, Virginia (junior)
- Brandon Ashley – F, Arizona (junior)
- Devin Booker – G, Kentucky (freshman)
- Willie Cauley-Stein – F/C, Kentucky (junior)
- Sam Dekker – F, Wisconsin (junior)
- Michael Frazier II – G, Florida (junior)
Olivier Hanlan – G, Boston College (junior)- Montrezl Harrell – F, Louisville (junior)
- Aaron Harrison – G, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Andrew Harrison – G, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Tyler Harvey – G, Eastern Washington (junior)
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – F, Arizona (sophomore)
- R.J. Hunter – G, Georgia State (junior)
- Vince Hunter – C, UTEP (sophomore)
- Charles Jackson – F, Tennessee Tech (junior)
- Dakari Johnson – C, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Stanley Johnson – F, Arizona (freshman)
- Tyus Jones – G, Duke (freshman)
- Trevor Lacey – G, NC State (junior)
- Kevon Looney – C, UCLA (freshman)
- Trey Lyles – F, Kentucky (freshman)
- Jarell Martin – F, LSU (sophomore)
- Chris McCullough – F, Syracuse (freshman)
- Jordan Mickey – F, LSU (sophomore)
Luis Montero – F, Westchester CC (sophomore)- /
Jahlil Okafor – C, Duke (freshman) - Kelly Oubre Jr. – G, Kansas (freshman)
- Ashton Pankey – F, Manhattan (junior)
- Cameron Payne – G, Murray State (sophomore)
- Terran Petteway – G, Nebraska (junior)
- Bobby Portis – F, Arkansas (sophomore)
- Michael Qualls – G, Arkansas (junior)
- Terry Rozier – G, Louisville (sophomore)
- D'Angelo Russell – G, Ohio State (freshman)
Satnam Singh – C, IMG Academy (postgraduate)- Deonta Stocks – G, West Georgia (sophomore)
- Jherrod Stiggers – G, Houston (junior)
- Aaron Thomas – G, Florida State (junior)
- /
J.P. Tokoto – F, North Carolina (junior) - / Karl-Anthony Towns – C, Kentucky (freshman)
- Myles Turner – C, Texas (freshman)
- Robert Upshaw – C, Washington (sophomore)
- Rashad Vaughn – G, UNLV (freshman)
- Chris Walker – F, Florida (sophomore)
- Justise Winslow – F, Duke (freshman)
- Christian Wood – C, UNLV (sophomore)
International players
[edit]
Dimitrios Agravanis – F/C, Olympiacos Piraeus (Greece)
Willy Hernangómez – F/C, Baloncesto Sevilla (Spain)
Mario Hezonja – F, FC Barcelona Lassa (Spain)
Mouhammadou Jaiteh – C, JSF Nanterre (France)
Lee Jong-hyun – F/C, Korea University (South Korea)
Nikola Milutinov – C, Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
Cedi Osman – F, Anadolu Efes (Turkey)
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. – G, Hapee Fresh Fighters (PBA D-League)
Kristaps Porziņģis – C, Baloncesto Sevilla (Spain)- Nikola Radičević – G, Baloncesto Sevilla (Spain)
Juan Pablo Vaulet – F, Estudiantes de Bahía (Argentina)
Adin Vrabac – F, TBB Trier (Germany)
Automatically eligible entrants
[edit]Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:[69]
- They have completed 4 years of their college eligibility.
- If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated.
- They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team outside of the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under that contract.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
- They are least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In terms of dates, players born on or before December 31, 1993, are automatically eligible for the 2015 draft.[70]
- They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team outside of the NBA within the United States, and have played under that contract.[71]
Based on the eligibility rules, every college seniors who have completed their college eligibility and every "international" players who were born on or before December 31, 1993, are automatically eligible for the draft. However, there are other players who became automatically eligible even though they have not completed their four-year college eligibility.
| Player | Team | Note | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Fotu | Bàsquet Manresa (Spain) | Left college in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [72] |
| Jamal Jones | Delaware 87ers (D-League) | Left college in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [73][74] |
| Todd Mayo | Westchester Knicks (D-League) | Left college in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [75][76] |
| Emmanuel Mudiay | Guangdong Southern Tigers (China) | Graduated from high school in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [77][78] |
| Naadir Tharpe | Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League) | Left college in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [79] |
| Jarvis Threatt | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) | Left college in 2014, playing professionally since 2014–15 season | [74][80] |
Combine
[edit]The invitation-only NBA Draft Combine was scheduled to occur in Chicago from May 12 to 17. The on-court element of the combine was scheduled for May 14 and 15.[81]
Draft lottery
[edit]The NBA conducted an annual draft lottery to determine the draft order for the teams that did not make the playoffs in the preceding season. Every NBA team that missed the NBA playoffs had a chance at winning a top three pick, but teams with worse records had a better chance at winning a top three pick. After the lottery selected the teams that receive a top three pick, the other teams received an NBA draft pick based on their winning percentage from the prior season. The table below shows each non-playoff team's chances (based on their record at the end of the NBA season) of receiving picks 1–14.
The 2015 NBA lottery was held on May 19.[82] The Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the worst record in the NBA and the highest chance to win the lottery at 25%, won the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers moved from the fourth spot to second, while the Philadelphia 76ers got the third pick.[83] The only team that moved down from their original draft position altogether was the New York Knicks, who moved from the projected second pick to the fourth pick.
| ^ | Denotes the actual lottery result |
| Team | 2014–15 record |
Lottery chances |
Lottery probabilities | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | |||
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 16–66 | 250 | .250^ | .215 | .178 | .357 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York Knicks | 17–65 | 199 | .199 | .188 | .171 | .319^ | .123 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 18–64 | 156 | .156 | .157 | .156^ | .226 | .265 | .040 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 21–61 | 119 | .119 | .126^ | .133 | .099 | .351 | .160 | .012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Orlando Magic | 25–57 | 88 | .088 | .097 | .107 | — | .261^ | .360 | .084 | .004 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sacramento Kings | 29–53 | 63 | .063 | .071 | .081 | — | — | .440^ | .305 | .040 | .001 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Denver Nuggets | 30–52 | 43 | .043 | .049 | .058 | — | — | — | .600^ | .232 | .018 | .000 | — | — | — | — |
| Detroit Pistons | 32–50 | 28 | .028 | .033 | .039 | — | — | — | — | .724^ | .168 | .008 | .000 | — | — | — |
| Charlotte Hornets | 33–49 | 17 | .017 | .020 | .024 | — | — | — | — | — | .813^ | .122 | .004 | .000 | — | — |
| Miami Heat | 37–45 | 11 | .011 | .013 | .016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | .870^ | .089 | .002 | .000 | — |
| Indiana Pacers | 38–44 | 8 | .008 | .009 | .012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .907^ | .063 | .001 | .000 |
| Utah Jazz | 38–44 | 7 | .007 | .008 | .010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .935^ | .039 | .000 |
| Phoenix Suns | 39–43 | 6 | .006 | .007 | .009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .960^ | .018 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 45–37 | 5 | .005 | .006 | .007 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .982^ |
Draft ceremony
[edit]In the first round of the NBA draft, each team has up to five minutes to decide which player they would like to select. The team can also propose a trade with another team before making their selection.[84] The NBA commissioner will announce the selection and the player, wearing a basketball cap sporting the team's logo, comes up to the stage to be congratulated and presented to the audience.[85][86] In the second round, each team has up to two minutes to make their picks while the deputy commissioner assumes the commissioner's role.[87][88]
The NBA annually invites around 15–20 players to sit in the "green room", a special room set aside at the draft site for the invited players plus their families and agents. When their names are called, the player leaves the room and goes up on stage. Other players who are not invited are allowed to attend the ceremony, sit in the stands with the fans and walk up on stage when (or if) they are drafted.[89] The 19 players who accepted invitations to attend the draft were Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein, Sam Dekker, Jerian Grant, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, Frank Kaminsky, Kevon Looney, Trey Lyles, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jahlil Okafor, Kelly Oubre Jr., Cameron Payne, Bobby Portis, Kristaps Porziņģis, D'Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Myles Turner, and Justise Winslow.[90] International prospect Mario Hezonja did not attend because he was still involved with his then-team FC Barcelona at the time.[91][92] Three other players, R.J. Hunter, Tyus Jones, and Delon Wright all had invitations as well, but they declined their invitations for undisclosed reasons.[90]
Trades involving draft picks
[edit]Pre-draft trades
[edit]Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams.
- ^ a b
July 11, 2012: Brooklyn Nets to Atlanta Hawks[5][6]
- Atlanta acquired Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, a conditional 2013 first-round pick, a 2017 second-round pick, the option to swap 2014 first-round pick and the option to swap 2015 first-round pick
- Brooklyn acquired Joe Johnson
- ^
July 15, 2014: New Orleans Pelicans to Houston Rockets (three-team trade with Washington Wizards)[8][9]
- Houston acquired Alonzo Gee, Scotty Hopson and a conditional 2015 first-round pick (protected top 3 and 20–30 in 2015) from New Orleans
- Houston acquired Trevor Ariza from Washington (sign and trade)
- New Orleans acquired Ömer Aşık, Omri Casspi and cash considerations from Houston
- Washington acquired Melvin Ely from New Orleans
- ^
July 13, 2014: Houston Rockets to Los Angeles Lakers[13][14]
- L.A. Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin, a conditional 2015 first-round pick (protected top 14 in 2014) and a conditional 2015 second-round pick
- Houston acquired draft rights to Sergei Lishouk
- ^
June 25, 2013: Los Angeles Clippers to Boston Celtics[14][15]
- Boston acquired a 2015 first-round pick as a compensation for allowing L.A. Clippers to hire Doc Rivers as a head coach
- ^
July 11, 2012: New York Knicks to Houston Rockets[18]
- New York acquired Marcus Camby (sign and trade)
- Houston acquired Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, a 2014 second-round pick, a 2015 second-round pick and cash considerations
- ^
June 28, 2012: Philadelphia 76ers to Miami Heat[19][20]
- Miami acquired draft rights to Justin Hamilton and a conditional future first-round pick (protected top 14 in 2013–2015, else 2015 and 2016 second-round picks)
- Philadelphia acquired draft rights to Arnett Moultrie
- Boston acquired Joel Anthony, Philadelphia's conditional first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick from Miami and cash considerations
- Miami acquired Toney Douglas from Golden State
- Golden State acquired Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks from Boston
- ^
June 26, 2014: Orlando Magic to Philadelphia 76ers[23]
- Philadelphia acquired draft rights to Dario Šarić, a future first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick
- Orlando acquired draft rights to Elfrid Payton
- ^
September 17, 2014: Sacramento Kings to Houston Rockets[25]
- Houston acquired Jason Terry, a 2015 second-round pick and a 2016 second-round pick
- Sacramento acquired Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson
- ^ a b
December 19, 2014: Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers three-team trade[26]
- Houston acquired Corey Brewer from Minnesota
- Houston acquired Alexey Shved from Philadelphia
- Minnesota acquired Troy Daniels, Sacramento's 2015 second-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick and cash considerations from Houston
- Philadelphia acquired draft rights to Sergei Lishouk and a 2015 second-round pick from Houston
- Philadelphia acquired Ronny Turiaf from Minnesota
- ^
February 22, 2011: Denver Nuggets to Minnesota Timberwolves (three-team trade with New York Knicks)[27][28]
- Minnesota acquired a 2015 second-round pick from Denver
- Minnesota acquired Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry and cash considerations from New York
- Denver acquired Kosta Koufos from Minnesota
- Denver acquired Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first-round pick, 2012 and 2013 second-round picks, the option to swap 2016 first-round picks, and cash considerations from New York from New York
- New York acquired Corey Brewer from Minnesota
- New York acquired Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Shelden Williams from Denver
- Minnesota acquired draft rights to Tanguy Ngombo
- Portland acquired Denver's 2015 second-round pick
- Houston acquired draft rights to Kostas Papanikolaou, draft rights to Marko Todorović, Denver's 2015 second-round pick and a 2017 second-round pick
- Portland acquired Thomas Robinson
- Philadelphia acquired Isaiah Canaan and Denver's 2015 second-round pick
- Houston acquired K. J. McDaniels
- ^
December 22, 2011: New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) to Utah Jazz[33]
- Utah acquired a 2015 second-round pick
- New Jersey acquired Mehmet Okur
- Atlanta acquired Brooklyn's 2015 second-round pick
- Utah acquired draft rights to Raulzinho Neto
- Milwaukee acquired Brooklyn's 2015 second-round pick
- Atlanta acquired draft rights to Lamar Patterson
- Brooklyn re-acquired their 2015 second-round pick and also acquired a 2019 second round pick as a compensation for allowing Milwaukee to hire Jason Kidd as a head coach
- ^
December 14, 2011: New Orleans Hornets (now New Orleans Pelicans) to Los Angeles Clippers[39]
- L.A. Clippers acquired Chris Paul, a 2015 second-round pick and a future second-round pick
- New Orleans acquired Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and a 2012 first-round pick
- Washington acquired Brian Cook and New Orleans' 2015 second-round pick from L.A. Clippers
- Washington acquired Nenê from Denver
- L.A. Clippers acquired Nick Young from Washington
- Denver acquired JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf from Washington
- Philadelphia acquired Eric Maynor and New Orleans' 2015 second-round pick from Washington
- Philadelphia acquired a 2016 second-round pick from Denver
- Washington acquired a conditional 2014 second-round pick from Philadelphia
- Washington acquired Andre Miller from Denver
- Denver acquired Jan Veselý from Washington
- ^
June 30, 2014: Toronto Raptors to Atlanta Hawks[43]
- Atlanta acquired John Salmons and a 2015 second-round pick
- Toronto acquired Louis Williams and draft rights to Lucas Nogueira
- ^
July 14, 2014: Chicago Bulls to Orlando Magic[44]
- Orlando acquired Anthony Randolph, a 2015 second-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick and cash considerations
- Chicago acquired draft rights to Milovan Raković
- ^
June 27, 2013: Portland Trail Blazers to Cleveland Cavaliers[45]
- Portland acquired draft rights to Allen Crabbe
- Cleveland acquired a 2015 second-round pick and a 2016 second-round pick
- Cleveland acquired Luol Deng
- Chicago acquired Andrew Bynum, Sacramento's conditional first-round pick, the option to swap 2015 first-round picks, Portland's 2015 second-round pick and Portland's 2016 second-round pick
- Chicago acquired Anthony Randolph and draft rights to Doug McDermott
- Denver acquired draft rights to Jusuf Nurkić, draft rights to Gary Harris and Portland's 2015 second-round pick
- Cleveland acquired Timofey Mozgov and Portland's 2015 second-round pick
- Denver acquired two conditional first-round picks
- ^
July 22, 2014: Cleveland Cavaliers to Utah Jazz[49]
- Utah acquired Carrick Felix, a 2015 second-round pick and cash considerations
- Cleveland acquired John Lucas III, Malcolm Thomas and Erik Murphy
- ^
January 12, 2015: Memphis Grizzlies to New Orleans Pelicans (three-team trade with Boston Celtics)[51]
- New Orleans acquired Quincy Pondexter and a 2015 second-round pick from Memphis
- Memphis acquired Russ Smith from New Orleans
- Memphis acquired Jeff Green from Boston
- Boston acquired Tayshaun Prince and a conditional first-round pick from Memphis
- Boston acquired Austin Rivers from New Orleans
- ^
January 5, 2009: Los Angeles Clippers to Denver Nuggets[53]
- Denver acquired a future second-round pick
- L.A. Clippers acquired Cheikh Samb and cash considerations
- ^
December 19, 2011: Golden State Warriors to Indiana Pacers[54][55]
- Indiana acquired Louis Amundson and a second-round pick
- Golden State acquired Brandon Rush
- Philadelphia acquired Danny Granger and Golden State's 2015 second-round pick
- Indiana acquired Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen
Draft-day trades
[edit]The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft.[93]
- ^ a b
Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks trade[7]
- Washington acquired draft rights to 15th pick Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Atlanta acquired draft rights to 19th pick Jerian Grant and two future second-round picks
- ^
New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks trade[7][10]
- New York acquired draft rights to 19th pick Jerian Grant
- Atlanta acquired Tim Hardaway Jr.
- ^ a b
Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers trade[11]
- Brooklyn acquired Steve Blake and draft rights to 23rd pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- Portland acquired Mason Plumlee and draft rights to 41st pick Pat Connaughton
- ^ a b c
Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers trade[12]
- Minnesota acquired draft rights to 24th pick Tyus Jones
- Cleveland acquired draft rights to 31st pick Cedi Osman, draft rights to 36th pick Rakeem Christmas, and a 2019 second-round pick
- ^
New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers trade[24]
- New York acquired draft rights to 35th pick Willy Hernangómez
- Philadelphia acquired two future second-round picks and cash considerations
- ^
Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets trade[32]
- Brooklyn acquired draft rights to 39th pick Juan Pablo Vaulet
- Charlotte acquired a 2018 second-round pick, a 2019 second-round pick, and cash considerations
- ^
Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns trade[37]
- Memphis acquired draft rights to 44th pick Andrew Harrison
- Phoenix acquired Jon Leuer
- ^
Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks trade[38]
- Toronto acquired draft rights to 46th pick Norman Powell and a conditional 2017 first-round pick
- Milwaukee acquired Greivis Vásquez
- ^
Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz trade[50]
- Portland acquired draft rights to 54th pick Dani Díez
- Utah acquired cash considerations
- ^
New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers trade[52]
- L.A. Clippers acquired draft rights to 56th pick Branden Dawson
- New Orleans acquired cash considerations
Notes
[edit]- ^ Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
- ^ Karl-Anthony Towns was born and raised in the United States to an American father and a Dominican mother.[2] He has represented the Dominican Republic internationally since 2012.[3]
- ^ Okafor was born in the United States to a Nigerian father. He played for the United States at the junior level but has played for the Nigeria national basketball team since 2020.
- ^ Emmanuel Mudiay was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he was raised in the United States since age 5.[4] He has not represented either country internationally.
- ^ Hollis-Jefferson became a naturalized Jordanian citizen in 2023 and plays for the Jordan national basketball team.
- ^ Cedi Osman was born in Macedonia to a Turkish father and Bosnian mother. He moved to Turkey at age 12 and became a naturalized Turkish citizen.[16] He has represented Turkey internationally since 2011.[17]
- ^ Brussino holds dual Argentinian and Italian citizenship. He plays for the Argentina national basketball team.
- ^ Dukan was born in Croatia and raised in the United States. Holding dual citizenship, he plays for the Croatia national basketball team.
- ^ Pangos was born in Canada and is of Slovenian descent. He holds dual citizenship and plays for the Canada national basketball team.
- ^ Toscano-Anderson was born in the United States and is of Mexican descent. He holds dual citizenship and plays for the Mexico national basketball team.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bengali, Shashank (June 26, 2015). "Mavericks draft Satnam Singh, the NBA's first Indian-born player". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ^ Zgoda, Jerry (June 26, 2015). "Karl-Anthony Towns taken No.1 by Wolves; Tyus Jones acquired in trade with Cavaliers". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Calipari makes Dominican team roster cuts". WKYT. June 16, 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ Mannix, Chris (June 24, 2015). "The Long March: Emmanuel Mudiay's journey from Congo to the NBA". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Brooklyn Nets Acquire All-Star Joe Johnson". NBA.com. July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ Davis, William Scott (March 31, 2015). "A small detail in the 2012 Nets-Hawks blockbuster trade has turned into a huge win for Atlanta". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ a b "Hawks Trade For Tim Hardaway Jr". NBA.com. June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Rockets Land Ariza & Valuable First Round Pick". NBA.com. July 15, 2014. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ "Pelicans Complete Three-Team Trade with Rockets and Wizards". NBA.com. July 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ "Knicks Acquire Draft Rights To Jerian Grant". NBA.com. June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Nets Acquire Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake". NBA.com. June 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Timberwolves Acquire Draft Rights to Tyus Jones". NBA.com. June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ "Lakers Acquire Jeremy Lin and Draft Choices in Trade with Rockets". NBA.com. July 13, 2014. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ^ a b Pincus, Eric (April 17, 2015). "Lakers get 27th pick in draft from Rockets after tiebreaker with Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
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External links
[edit]
2015 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 2015 NBA draft was the 69th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 25, 2015, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns from the University of Kentucky with the first overall pick.[1][2] The event, televised nationally by ESPN, consisted of 60 picks across two rounds by the league's 30 teams, with selections determined by the previous season's reverse order of regular-season performance, adjusted by a weighted lottery system for the top 14 picks.[1][3]
The draft class is widely regarded as one of the stronger ones in recent NBA history, producing multiple All-Stars and key contributors, including Towns, who won Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 and earned five All-Star selections by 2025.[4][5] Following Towns, the Los Angeles Lakers chose guard D'Angelo Russell second overall, while the Philadelphia 76ers, via a pre-draft trade with the Orlando Magic, selected center Jahlil Okafor third.[2] A highlight came at the fourth pick when the New York Knicks selected Latvian forward Kristaps Porziņģis, a move that drew loud boos from Knicks fans skeptical of his unproven potential as an international prospect, though Porziņģis later proved them wrong with All-Star appearances in 2018 and 2019.[6] Other notable first-round selections included forward Justise Winslow (fifth overall, Miami Heat via trade), center Myles Turner (11th, Indiana Pacers), renowned for his defensive prowess including leading the league in blocks twice (2019, 2021), and guard Devin Booker (13th, Phoenix Suns), who emerged as a prolific scorer and earned four All-Star selections.[4][2][7][8]
The night featured active trading, with over a dozen deals involving draft rights, players, and future assets, including the 76ers' acquisition of the third pick in exchange for multiple future first-round selections and cash considerations to the Magic.[9] Of the 60 draftees, 44 ultimately played in the NBA, contributing to a class that has amassed significant accolades, including All-NBA honors for Towns and Booker, and helping reshape franchises like the Timberwolves, Knicks, Suns, and Pacers.[1]
This selection highlights how automatic eligible players, particularly seniors, provided a balance to the draft's youth-heavy early entry group, with many contributing meaningfully in their rookie seasons.[28]
The full post-lottery order for picks 1-14 was: 1. Timberwolves, 2. Lakers, 3. 76ers, 4. Knicks, 5. Magic, 6. Kings, 7. Nuggets, 8. Pistons (who swapped with the 76ers' second-rounder but retained first-round position), 9. Jazz, 10. Pacers (via trade considerations but held), 11. Celtics (via swap rights), 12. Bobcats (now Hornets), 13. Suns, 14. Thunder.[38]
Background and Overview
Historical Context
The 2014-15 NBA season highlighted stark contrasts in team performance, with several franchises enduring dismal campaigns that shaped the upcoming draft landscape. The Minnesota Timberwolves concluded the year with a league-worst 16-66 record, plagued by injuries to key players like Kevin Love (traded midseason) and Ricky Rubio, while the New York Knicks limped to 17-65 amid coaching instability and the shutdown of star Carmelo Anthony due to knee issues. The Philadelphia 76ers fared even worse at 10-72, implementing a deliberate tanking strategy under general manager Sam Hinkie as part of their long-term rebuild, which included trading assets for future picks and enduring a 17-game losing streak to start the season to prioritize draft lottery odds.[10][11][12] This poor performance positioned these teams favorably in the NBA draft lottery, which awarded the top three picks via a weighted drawing among the 14 non-playoff teams, with the worst records receiving the highest odds.[13] Entering the 2015 draft, the class garnered widespread acclaim as one of the deepest in recent memory, boasting a talent pool that produced multiple future All-Stars and All-NBA performers across various positions. Analysts noted the exceptional versatility and upside among prospects, with the top selections including skilled big men and guards who could contribute immediately, while later picks like the 13th slot later emerged as high-impact players, underscoring the draft's overall quality compared to classes like 2003. This depth was attributed to a strong influx of international and college talent, making it a pivotal opportunity for rebuilding teams to accelerate their timelines.[14][15] The NBA's one-and-done eligibility rule, established in the 2005 collective bargaining agreement and requiring players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school, significantly influenced the 2015 talent pool by funneling top high school recruits into a single college season before declaring. This policy, intended to allow for better player development and evaluation, resulted in a freshman-heavy draft class, with over half of the lottery picks coming from one-year college stints at powerhouse programs like Kentucky and Duke, enhancing the pool's star potential but also intensifying competition for NBA scouts.[16] The 2015 draft marked several historic milestones in player diversity, including the selection of Karl-Anthony Towns as the first Dominican heritage player taken No. 1 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, reflecting growing international influence in the league. Additionally, Satnam Singh became the first Indian-born player ever drafted when selected in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks, highlighting the NBA's expanding global reach.[17][18]Key Dates and Locations
The key events leading to the 2015 NBA draft unfolded over several weeks in the spring. The NBA Draft Combine, an invitation-only event for prospective players, took place from May 12 to 17, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois, where participants underwent medical evaluations, athletic testing, and interviews with team representatives.[19] Following the combine, the NBA Draft Lottery was held on May 19, 2015, at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City, determining the order of the top 14 picks among non-playoff teams.[20] The lottery was televised live on ESPN starting at 8:05 p.m. ET, with the top picks revealed beginning around 8:30 p.m. ET.[20] The draft ceremony itself occurred on June 25, 2015, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the second consecutive year the event was hosted there.[1] ESPN provided exclusive national coverage, with the broadcast beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET and featuring NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announcing each selection on stage.[21] Unlike previous years, both the first and second rounds were conducted in a single evening, allowing all 60 picks to be finalized within approximately four hours.[21] The lottery outcome briefly elevated the Minnesota Timberwolves to the No. 1 selection position.Eligibility and Participants
Early Entry Candidates
Under NBA eligibility rules established by the league's collective bargaining agreement, prospective players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and at least one year removed from their high school graduation to enter the draft.[22] College underclassmen and international players meeting these criteria can declare as early entry candidates by submitting written notification to the NBA by the deadline, typically late April, with the option to withdraw by mid-June to retain college eligibility.[22] This process allows young talents to forgo remaining college seasons if they believe they are ready for professional basketball, distinct from automatically eligible players who have exhausted college eligibility or are older professionals.[22] For the 2015 draft, the NBA announced 48 early entry candidates from U.S. colleges and post-graduate programs, highlighting a deep pool of freshmen and underclassmen from powerhouse programs.[22] Among the most prominent were Karl-Anthony Towns, a 6-11 forward from Kentucky who averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game as a freshman, shooting 56.6% from the field while anchoring the Wildcats' undefeated regular season.[23] D'Angelo Russell, a 6-3 guard from Ohio State, led all freshmen nationally in scoring with 19.3 points per game, adding 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 41.1% from three-point range.[24] Jahlil Okafor, a 6-11 center from Duke, dominated inside as a freshman with 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 59.0% field goal shooting, contributing to the Blue Devils' national championship run.[25] These declarations underscored the one-and-done trend, where top recruits often enter after a single college season to capitalize on high draft projections. The group also included historic firsts among U.S. collegiate/post-graduate early entry candidates, such as Luis Montero, the inaugural player from the Dominican Republic to declare, a 6-7 forward who developed his skills at U.S. high school and community college programs after moving from the Dominican Republic, and Satnam Singh, the first from India, a 7-2 center who trained at IMG Academy in the U.S. International early entry candidates numbered 43, reflecting growing global talent pipelines outside U.S. colleges, with players declaring directly from professional leagues or academies abroad.[22] Emmanuel Mudiay, a 6-5 Congolese guard who bypassed U.S. college after high school due to academic issues, played for Guangdong in China's CBA, averaging 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in limited action before injury.[26] By the withdrawal deadline, 34 early entrants opted out, leaving 47 collegiate and 11 international candidates for the final draft pool.[27]Automatic Eligibility
Players are automatically eligible for the NBA draft if they meet specific criteria outlined in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, without needing to submit an early entry declaration. For the 2015 draft, this included individuals who turned 22 during the calendar year (born on or before December 31, 1993), those who had exhausted their four years of NCAA eligibility (typically college seniors), players who had signed a professional basketball contract with a non-NBA team, or those who had participated in at least two professional seasons abroad in different years.[28] The 2015 draft featured a relatively modest number of automatic eligible players compared to the 91 early entry candidates (48 college underclassmen and 43 international players who declared). College seniors dominated the automatic pool, providing experienced prospects ready for professional play. Notable examples included Frank Kaminsky from the University of Wisconsin, who averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his senior season, and Jerian Grant from Notre Dame, who led the team with 16.5 points and 5.4 assists. Other seniors like Delon Wright (Utah), Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse), and Alan Williams (UC Santa Barbara) also entered automatically, bringing polished skills from extended college careers.[28] International automatic eligible players were fewer, often older prospects with professional experience. Arturas Gudaitis from Lithuania's Zalgiris Kaunas qualified due to turning 22 in 2015 and prior pro play, where he averaged 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in the EuroLeague during the 2014-15 season. These entrants contrasted with younger early entry internationals, offering teams more immediate contributors. Several automatic eligible players were drafted highly, underscoring their value beyond one-and-done college talents; for instance, Kaminsky was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets, and Grant went 19th to the Washington Wizards (traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night).[28]| Player | Position | Team/College | Eligibility Basis | Draft Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Kaminsky | PF | Wisconsin (Sr) | College senior | 9th overall (Charlotte Hornets) |
| Jerian Grant | PG | Notre Dame (Sr) | College senior | 19th overall (Washington Wizards, rights traded to Orlando Magic) |
| Delon Wright | PG | Utah (Sr) | College senior | 20th overall (Toronto Raptors) |
| Rakeem Christmas | PF/C | Syracuse (Sr) | College senior | 36th overall (Indiana Pacers) |
| Arturas Gudaitis | C | Zalgiris (Lithuania) | Age/pro experience | 47th overall (Philadelphia 76ers, rights traded to Brooklyn Nets) |
| [Alan Williams](/page/Alan Williams) | C | UC Santa Barbara (Sr) | College senior | 50th overall (Phoenix Suns) |
Pre-Draft Events
NBA Draft Combine
The NBA Draft Combine is an annual invite-only event designed to provide NBA teams with comprehensive evaluations of draft-eligible prospects through medical assessments, athletic performance tests, team interviews, and competitive scrimmages, enabling scouts to gauge physical attributes, skills, and basketball IQ. The 2015 edition took place from May 12 to 17 in Chicago, Illinois, attracting 62 invitees, the majority of whom were early entry candidates from college and international ranks.[29][19] Key components included anthropometric measurements, agility drills such as the lane agility test and three-quarter court sprint, vertical jump assessments, and shooting exercises like spot-up and non-stationary shooting, which simulated on-court movement and accuracy under fatigue; the event also reintroduced 5-on-5 scrimmages after a three-year absence to better showcase players in game-like scenarios.[30][31] Notable absences included top prospects like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, who opted out to minimize injury risk and prioritize private workouts, while several other invitees withdrew due to medical concerns or minor injuries, such as foot issues flagged during evaluations.[32] Standout performances highlighted the class's athletic depth, with Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton recording a 44-inch max vertical jump, one of the highest ever at the combine, and Virginia's Justin Anderson leading standing verticals at 38 inches; in agility testing, Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson posted a class-best 5.0% body fat and quick lane times, while average three-quarter court sprint times hovered around 3.2–3.3 seconds for guards and wings, underscoring the prospects' speed.[33][34] Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell impressed in shooting drills, hitting over 60% in multiple spot-up categories, and agility tests with a 34-inch standing vertical and sub-3.2-second three-quarter sprint, boosting his stock as a versatile guard.[35][36] Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein stood out in measurements at 7 feet 0.5 inches tall with a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan, enhancing his appeal as a defensive anchor.[37]Draft Lottery
The NBA Draft Lottery for the 2015 draft was held on May 19, 2015, at the NBA headquarters in New York City, with the results announced by Commissioner Adam Silver during a televised event.[38][39] The lottery determines the order of the top three picks among the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs, using a weighted system to give teams with worse regular-season records higher probabilities of securing higher selections.[40] This process, in place since 1990, aims to discourage intentional tanking while providing lottery teams a fair chance at premium talent.[41] The lottery procedure involves drawing four ping-pong balls from a set of 14 numbered balls (1 through 14) in a randomized machine, creating a four-digit combination from 1,000 possible outcomes (out of 1,001 total combinations, with one invalid).[40] Each non-playoff team is assigned a proportional number of these combinations based on inverse regular-season winning percentage, with ties resolved by drawing lots.[42] For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the league-worst 16-66 record, received 250 combinations (25% chance at the No. 1 pick), while the New York Knicks (17-65) got 199 (19.9%), the Philadelphia 76ers (18-64) 156 (15.6%), and the Los Angeles Lakers (21-61) 119 (11.9%).[43] The drawing is conducted three times in a secure room overseen by Ernst & Young representatives, NBA officials, and team delegates: first for the No. 1 pick (20 seconds of mixing), then for No. 2 and No. 3 (10 seconds each).[40] The remaining picks (4 through 14) follow in reverse order of regular-season records, but under the rules implemented for the 2010 lottery, no team can drop more than three spots from its pre-lottery position to limit extreme falls for poor performers.[41] In the 2015 lottery, the Timberwolves secured the No. 1 overall pick, aligning with their 25% odds and marking their first-ever lottery win for the top selection.[38] The Lakers unexpectedly jumped from the fourth-best odds (11.9%) to the No. 2 pick, while the 76ers landed at No. 3 despite having the third-best odds (15.6%).[38][44] The Knicks, with the second-best odds (19.9%), fell to No. 4, the maximum drop allowed under the three-spot rule.[38] These results were influenced by prior trades, such as the Lakers retaining their No. 2 pick (owed to the 76ers if it fell outside the top five) and various conditional rights held by teams like the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz affecting lower lottery positions.[45]| Pre-Lottery Position | Team | Record | Combinations | Odds for No. 1 Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 16-66 | 250 | 25.0% |
| 2 | New York Knicks | 17-65 | 199 | 19.9% |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 18-64 | 156 | 15.6% |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | 21-61 | 119 | 11.9% |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | 25-57 | 88 | 8.8% |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | 29-53 | 63 | 6.3% |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | 30-52 | 43 | 4.3% |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 32-50 | 28 | 2.8% |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 38-44 | 17 | 1.7% |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 38-44 | 11 | 1.1% |
| 11 | Boston Celtics | 40-42 | 8 | 0.8% |
| 12 | Charlotte Bobcats | 43-39 | 7 | 0.7% |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 39-43 | 6 | 0.6% |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 45-37 | 5 | 0.5% |
Draft Ceremony and Selections
Ceremony Proceedings
The 2015 NBA Draft took place on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the third consecutive year the event was hosted there.[46] The ceremony featured NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on stage to announce each of the 60 selections across two rounds, with top prospects arriving in formal attire and gathering in the green room—a designated area for the 19 invited lottery hopefuls and other high-profile attendees—for pre-draft anticipation and networking.[47] These players, including projected top picks like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, posed for a group photo with Silver before the event began, setting a tone of excitement amid the arena's packed seating for public ticket holders starting at $20.[46] Proceedings commenced at 7:00 p.m. ET with Round 1, where teams made their selections in lottery-determined order, culminating in the Minnesota Timberwolves choosing Karl-Anthony Towns first overall.[2] Following the 30th pick, a approximately two-hour dinner break allowed draftees to participate in on-site media interviews and family celebrations, while ESPN's broadcast continued with analysis. Round 2 resumed around 10:30 p.m. ET, featuring quicker announcements for picks 31 through 60, including the historic selection of Satnam Singh by the Dallas Mavericks at No. 52—the first Indian-born player ever drafted into the NBA.[18] The event incorporated entertainment segments and live reactions to maintain momentum, with Silver occasionally joined by league legends for announcements. The atmosphere buzzed with high anticipation for what was widely regarded as a deep draft class, drawing a record audience for ESPN with an average of 3.7 million viewers—up 8% from 2014—and peaking at over 5.1 million during early primetime hours.[48] This viewership reflected the class's talent depth, from versatile big men to skilled guards, amplifying the electric energy inside Barclays Center as fans and analysts dissected each selection in real time.First-Round Picks
The first round of the 2015 NBA draft saw NBA teams select 30 players, with 26 coming from U.S. colleges and universities and 4 being international prospects who had not played college basketball in the United States.[1] The highest non-college selection was point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, taken seventh overall by the Denver Nuggets after playing professionally overseas in China.[1] The round emphasized versatile big men and guards, with Kentucky contributing four players, tying for the draft-high. The selections are detailed in the following table:
[1][49]
Karl-Anthony Towns, chosen first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, was viewed as an ideal franchise center due to his 7-foot frame, shooting range, and defensive versatility from his standout freshman season at Kentucky, where he averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds.[50] D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' second pick, impressed scouts with his scoring creativity and playmaking as a freshman at Ohio State (19.3 points, 5.7 assists per game), positioning him as a potential lead guard for the rebuilding franchise.[50] Jahlil Okafor, selected third by the Philadelphia 76ers, brought elite post scoring and touch from Duke (17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds), seen as a low-risk big man fit despite questions about his athleticism.[50]
The fourth pick, Kristaps Porziņģis to the New York Knicks, drew immediate controversy as fans booed the 7-foot-3 Latvian forward on stage, doubting his readiness and defensive impact after limited professional experience in Spain.[51] Later selections highlighted shooting and defense, such as Devin Booker's sharpshooting (10.0 points per game at Kentucky) for the Suns at No. 13 and Justise Winslow's two-way wing skills (12.6 points, elite defense at Duke) for the Heat at No. 10.[50]
Second-Round Picks
The second round of the 2015 NBA Draft consisted of picks 31 through 60, where teams prioritized high-risk, high-reward prospects, including a significant number of international players who often required development time overseas. This round saw increased activity in trades compared to the first, with several selections immediately swapped for future picks or established players, reflecting teams' strategies to build flexibility. Many second-rounders signed initially with G League affiliates or European clubs, allowing for gradual integration into NBA systems. The following table lists all 30 second-round selections, including the drafting team, player, position, and college or country of origin.
Several international selections involved buyout negotiations from European contracts, such as Willy Hernangómez, who secured a release from Spanish club Unicaja Málaga before joining the 76ers. The round included 10 international players, underscoring the NBA's growing global reach, with many stashed abroad to develop further—examples include Juan Pablo Vaulet in Argentina and Artūras Gudaitis in Lithuania.
Among the value picks, Montrezl Harrell (No. 32, Houston Rockets) stood out as a sleeper, evolving into a Sixth Man of the Year winner in 2020 after providing explosive bench scoring across multiple teams. Josh Richardson (No. 40, Miami Heat) became a reliable two-way guard, starting over 200 games in his career. Norman Powell (No. 46, Milwaukee Bucks, rights traded to Toronto Raptors) emerged as an All-Star by 2021, known for his athletic scoring. Satnam Singh (No. 52, Dallas Mavericks) made history as the first India-born player drafted, though he spent most of his professional career in the G League. Dakari Johnson (No. 48, Oklahoma City Thunder) offered frontcourt depth early in his career but transitioned to overseas play after limited NBA minutes. These selections highlighted the second round's potential for late-blooming stars, similar to first-round value like Devin Booker, amid a draft class rich in trades and international depth.
Draft Transactions
Pre-Draft Trades
Prior to the 2015 NBA draft on June 25, the league saw extensive trading of draft picks from previous seasons and the upcoming draft, with over 20 picks changing hands through deals executed in the 2014 offseason and during the 2014-15 season. These transactions significantly reshaped team asset portfolios, allowing rebuilding franchises like the Philadelphia 76ers to stockpile selections while contenders acquired future flexibility. Protections on many first-round picks—often tied to the originating team's performance—added complexity, as lottery outcomes determined whether obligations conveyed or rolled over to future years.[52] The Philadelphia 76ers exemplified aggressive asset accumulation through a series of prior trades, positioning them with multiple potential first-round picks entering the lottery. Their own first-round selection, based on their league-worst record, became the No. 3 overall pick. They also held the Miami Heat's 2015 first-rounder (top-10 protected), acquired indirectly via the August 23, 2014, three-team Kevin Love trade involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves; however, Miami's pick landed at No. 10, retaining it due to the protection. Additionally, the 76ers owned the [Los Angeles Lakers](/page/Los Angeles Lakers)' 2015 first-rounder (top-5 protected), obtained on August 10, 2012, as part of the Lamar Odom trade to the Dallas Mavericks (with protections added in subsequent deals); the Lakers' No. 2 lottery position triggered the protection, keeping the pick in Los Angeles and deferring the obligation. The Oklahoma City Thunder's 2015 first-rounder (if outside the top 18) came from the June 28, 2012, JaVale McGee trade via Denver, but Oklahoma City's pick fell to No. 14, inside the protected range, so it remained with the Thunder. These conditional assets highlighted Philadelphia's strategy under general manager Sam Hinkie to maximize draft capital amid their rebuilding "Process." The 76ers also acquired the Orlando Magic's #5 pick (top-10 protected) on June 26, 2014, in exchange for their #12 pick (Elfrid Payton) and future assets, which became #3 after the lottery.[53] Other notable first-round pick trades included the Boston Celtics acquiring the unprotected Los Angeles Clippers' 2015 selection on June 24, 2013, in exchange for head coach Doc Rivers (with the Clippers sending a conditional second-rounder if necessary); this pick, based on the Clippers' strong 56-26 record, conveyed as the No. 28 overall selection. The New Orleans Pelicans' pick (protected top-3 and 20-30), traded to the Houston Rockets on July 15, 2014, as part of the Omer Asik deal, conveyed at No. 13; Houston then traded it to the Phoenix Suns for two future second-round picks and cash. The Dallas Mavericks retained their No. 21 pick (Justin Anderson) due to top 1-3 and 15-30 protections in the December 18, 2014, Rajon Rondo trade with the Boston Celtics. These deals demonstrated how originating teams' records influenced final positions—traded picks from poor teams like Minnesota (No. 1 own pick retained) jumped higher in the lottery, while those from contenders like the Clippers dropped to the late first round.[52][54][55] Second-round picks saw even more movement, with the 76ers alone holding six via trades such as the Orlando Magic's (from the 2014 draft-night Dario Saric swap), Denver's (via Houston in the February 19, 2015, K.J. McDaniels deal), and New Orleans' (from the 2013 Eric Maynor trade), enabling them to select seven players overall. Such pre-draft wheeling and dealing created a fluid landscape, where teams like Boston and Philadelphia entered the draft with enhanced options, while others like the Clippers forfeited valuable assets for immediate coaching impact.[53]Draft-Day Trades
The 2015 NBA Draft, conducted on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, featured a high volume of real-time negotiations, with trades announced intermittently throughout the first and second rounds, often just before or after player selections to facilitate immediate on-stage announcements by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. These draft-day transactions allowed teams to adjust positions dynamically, swapping draft rights, established players, and future assets to target specific prospects or consolidate rosters. In total, at least nine major trades were completed during the event, involving 14 first-round picks and numerous second-round selections, though some deals built on pre-existing pick rights.[56][57] One of the earliest significant first-round maneuvers involved the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks, who swapped the Nos. 15 and 19 picks along with additional considerations; the Wizards acquired Kelly Oubre Jr. at No. 15, while the Hawks received the No. 19 selection (later traded) and two future second-round picks. Immediately following, the Hawks flipped the No. 19 pick to the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Tim Hardaway Jr., enabling the Knicks to select Jerian Grant. These back-to-back deals, completed mid-first round, exemplified the rapid-fire pace of draft-night wheeling and dealing.[56][9] Further into the first round, the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets executed a multi-asset swap centered on the No. 23 pick: the Nets received that selection (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) and veteran guard Steve Blake, while the Blazers obtained center Mason Plumlee and the No. 41 second-round pick (Pat Connaughton). Later, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers traded positions in a package focused on point guard talent; the Timberwolves gained the No. 24 pick (Tyus Jones), with the Cavaliers receiving the Nos. 31 (Cedi Osman) and 36 (Rakeem Christmas) picks plus a 2019 second-round selection from Minnesota. These exchanges highlighted teams' strategies to either move up for immediate contributors or acquire depth with future upside.[56][57] In the second round, activity intensified with smaller-scale pick swaps and cash considerations. The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Toronto Raptors guard Greivis Vasquez, sending the No. 46 pick (Norman Powell) and a top-15 protected 2017 first-round pick (originally from the Los Angeles Clippers). The New York Knicks acquired the No. 35 pick (Guillermo Hernangómez) from the Philadelphia 76ers for two future second-round picks, bolstering their frontcourt options. Additional deals included the Brooklyn Nets obtaining Juan Pablo Vaulet at No. 39 from the Charlotte Hornets for two future second-round picks and cash; the Memphis Grizzlies securing Andrew Harrison at No. 44 from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for forward Jon Leuer; the Portland Trail Blazers getting Daniel Diez at No. 54 from the Utah Jazz for cash; and the Los Angeles Clippers acquiring Branden Dawson at No. 56 from the New Orleans Pelicans for cash. Such transactions often involved lesser-known prospects and financial incentives, reflecting teams' efforts to stock development pipelines without major player sacrifices.[56][9]| Trade | Teams Involved | Assets Received by First Team | Assets Received by Second Team | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 15/19 Swap | Washington Wizards - Atlanta Hawks | No. 15 pick (Kelly Oubre Jr.) | No. 19 pick (Jerian Grant), two future second-round picks | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 19 for Player | Atlanta Hawks - New York Knicks | Tim Hardaway Jr. | No. 19 pick (Jerian Grant) | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 23/41 Package | Brooklyn Nets - Portland Trail Blazers | No. 23 pick (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson), Steve Blake | Mason Plumlee, No. 41 pick (Pat Connaughton) | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 24/31/36 Package | Minnesota Timberwolves - Cleveland Cavaliers | No. 24 pick (Tyus Jones) | Nos. 31 (Cedi Osman) and 36 (Rakeem Christmas) picks, 2019 second-round pick | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 46 + Future 1st | Toronto Raptors - Milwaukee Bucks | No. 46 pick (Norman Powell), protected 2017 first-round pick | Greivis Vasquez | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 35 Swap | New York Knicks - Philadelphia 76ers | No. 35 pick (Guillermo Hernangómez) | Two future second-round picks | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 39 Swap | Brooklyn Nets - Charlotte Hornets | No. 39 pick (Juan Pablo Vaulet) | Two future second-round picks, cash | CBS Sports Trade Tracker |
| No. 44 Swap | Memphis Grizzlies - Phoenix Suns | No. 44 pick (Andrew Harrison) | Jon Leuer | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 54 Swap | Portland Trail Blazers - Utah Jazz | No. 54 pick (Daniel Diez) | Cash | ESPN Trade Tracker |
| No. 56 Swap | Los Angeles Clippers - New Orleans Pelicans | No. 56 pick (Branden Dawson) | Cash | ESPN Trade Tracker |
Post-Draft Developments
Notable Undrafted Players
Following the 2015 NBA draft, undrafted players became unrestricted free agents, allowing all 30 teams to pursue them with non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed training camp contracts. These deals typically invited prospects to summer league rosters, where standout performances could lead to preseason opportunities or assignments to the NBA Development League (now G League). The process was competitive, with teams prioritizing athleticism, skill fit, and intangibles like leadership, as rosters were still fluid before the regular season.[58][59] Among the most notable undrafted free agents (UDFAs), Quinn Cook, a senior guard from Duke who helped lead his college team to a national championship, signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on September 28, 2015. Cook joined the Cavaliers' Las Vegas Summer League squad, where his playmaking and shooting earned praise and positioned him for preseason consideration.[60] Christian Wood, a sophomore power forward from UNLV projected as a late first-round pick but hampered by inconsistent workouts, first participated in the Houston Rockets' Orlando Summer League after going undrafted. On September 7, 2015, he signed a four-year partially guaranteed contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, allowing him to compete for a roster spot through training camp and further summer league exposure in Las Vegas.[61][62] T.J. McConnell, Arizona's gritty point guard known for his defense and court vision, agreed to a partially guaranteed deal with the Philadelphia 76ers immediately after the draft on June 26, 2015. He quickly integrated into the 76ers' summer league team in Orlando, where his high-energy play and assist numbers helped secure an invitation to training camp.[63] Cliff Alexander, a freshman forward from Kansas once ranked as a top recruit, signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on July 24, 2015, following initial summer league stints with the Brooklyn Nets. His rebounding and shot-blocking in Las Vegas Summer League provided an early audition for Portland's frontcourt depth.[64] Other prominent UDFAs included Aaron Harrison, a Kentucky guard who signed with the Charlotte Hornets for summer league to showcase his 3-point shooting, and Robert Upshaw, a Washington center who joined the Los Angeles Lakers on a non-guaranteed deal emphasizing his rim protection. Montrezl Harrell, a forward from Louisville, signed with the Houston Rockets on July 13, 2015, and later earned the 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Approximately 12-15 UDFAs secured similar training camp invitations across the league, with summer league stats often tipping the scales for final roster decisions.[65]Long-Term Player Impact
The 2015 NBA draft class has established itself as one of the deeper groups in modern league history, producing four All-Star selections and a wide array of contributors who have sustained careers well into their second decade. As of 2025, approximately 20 players from the class remain active in the NBA, with the group collectively amassing over 500 seasons of experience and multiple franchise records. While lacking MVP awards or championships for its top talents (with the notable exception of one ring), the class's strength lies in its depth, featuring consistent high-volume scorers, defensive specialists, and role players who have impacted playoff contenders across the league.[1][66] Karl-Anthony Towns, selected first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, anchors the class as its most decorated member, earning the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year award, five All-Star nods (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025), and three All-NBA selections while averaging 23.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game over his career. Devin Booker, picked 13th by the Phoenix Suns, has emerged as a premier scoring guard with four All-Star appearances (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024) and two All-NBA honors, becoming the Suns' all-time leading scorer with career averages of 24.5 points per game. Kristaps Porziņģis, the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks, added one All-Star selection in 2018 and contributed to the Boston Celtics' 2024 NBA championship, though his impact has been hampered by recurring injuries including an ACL tear in 2018, a torn meniscus in 2020, and multiple ankle and calf issues. D'Angelo Russell, the second overall selection by the Los Angeles Lakers, earned a single All-Star berth in 2019 and has provided steady scoring production across several teams.[67][68][69][70] Beyond the headliners, the class's depth is evident in players like Myles Turner (11th pick, Indiana Pacers), the franchise's all-time blocks leader, and Kevon Looney (30th pick, Golden State Warriors), who has won three championships as a key rotational big man. Norman Powell (46th pick, Milwaukee Bucks) and Bobby Portis (22nd pick, Chicago Bulls) have also thrived as efficient scorers and rebounders, with Powell earning a 2019 championship alongside the Toronto Raptors. This breadth has led to historical rankings placing the 2015 class among the top 10 for overall production since 2000, surpassing the 2013 class in All-Star appearances but trailing elite groups like 2003 in MVP-caliber talent and titles. The group's enduring presence underscores its value, with multiple players achieving 20+ point seasons and contributing to 10+ playoff appearances collectively.[67][71]| Player | Draft Position | Key Achievements | Career Averages (PPG/RPG/APG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 1st (MIN) | 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 1x ROY | 23.0 / 11.1 / 3.2 |
| Devin Booker | 13th (PHX) | 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA | 24.5 / 4.0 / 5.3 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 4th (NYK) | 1x All-Star, 1x Champion | 19.6 / 7.7 / 1.8 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 2nd (LAL) | 1x All-Star | 17.8 / 3.4 / 5.7 |
| Myles Turner | 11th (IND) | All-time blocks leader (IND) | 14.0 / 6.8 / 1.3 |