2015 NBA Draft Needs: The Outsiders

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Nowadays, being stuck in mediocrity is undesirable.

If a team barely misses the playoffs, they won’t have a high enough pick to draft an impact player. That’s a big part of why teams are currently throwing away seasons — they’ll have a great chance to add a franchise player instead of going all in on an average roster that misses the playoffs every year.

We’ve already taken a look at the top eight teams in the draft and what they might do with their current selections. Next up are the remaining six teams in the lottery, each of whom made a goal to clinch a postseason birth this year but didn’t accomplish it. Are there any players still available at their draft spot that can give them the one piece they need?

(Note: All of the first round picks these teams have are not set and stone until the NBA Draft Lottery. Current pick projections are based on the odds each team has to win the lottery. For example, Charlotte has the ninth best chance, so they are projected to get the No. 9 pick)

9. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Needs: SG, PF

Picks: 9, 39

Charlotte went into last offseason feeling like they were ready to take the next step towards contention. They made the playoffs just the year before after being the laughing stock of the league, turning in one of the worst seasons in the history of the NBA. Last summer, Charlotte rolled the dice on Lance Stephenson and signed Marvin Williams to fill their shooting needs. Stephenson ended up having the worst 3-point shooting season of all-time and the team struggled with injuries to core players Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Charlotte was dead last in the league in 3-point shooting, making that the biggest need this offseason. The good news is that there are several wings at the top of the draft that can provide that for them. Stanley Johnson (37.1 percent), Kelly Oubre (35.8 percent), and Mario Hezonja (39.1 percent) are all capable of knocking down long range shots consistently.

Another option for Charlotte is to take a stretch-four, like Kristaps Porzingis, Myles Turner, and Frank Kaminsky. In the case of Porzingis and Turner, they can also provide the rim protection that Jefferson and Cody Zeller don’t provide. In the last two drafts, however, Charlotte drafted a power forward with their top ten picks. It is unlikely that they decide to go that route again for a third straight season as it may impede the growth of their previous two lottery picks, Noah Vonleh and Zeller.

As for pick thirty-nine, finding someone else who specializes in shooting would be helpful. Notable prospects in that range that might still be available are Tyler Harvey, Rashad Vaughn, Anthony Brown, and Aaron White.

10. MIAMI HEAT

Needs: SG, SF

Picks: 10 (top 10 protected or to PHI), 40

I’m probably amongst a few people who believes that with their current roster, Miami can be a contender next season. They were about as unlucky as you can be when it comes to injuries last season. Josh McRoberts was out for the year early in the season, Chris Bosh had a serious blood clot issue, and you can always bank on Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade missing a chunk of games each season. That left newly acquired Goran Dragic to fend for himself after the All-Star break, thus leading the Heat to a disappointing lottery season.

Their starting five of Dragic (assuming he re-signs), Wade, Deng, Bosh, and Hassan Whiteside will be amongst the best in the league. Their bench, however, is suspect at best. The Heat had to make do with several minimum contract players and journeyman this season to fill in the holes for their injured stars.

Coach Spoelstra loves to space the floor with shooters and play an aggressive, trapping style on defense. A long wing like Kelly Oubre would be a nice fit because of his 7-2 wingspan and ability to stretch the floor.

If they want a backup big to provide further spacing, they have a few options. Myles Turner would be great for protecting the rim and perimeter shooting, and Frank Kaminsky was deadly from deep for Wisconsin this season (41.6 percent).

The good news for Miami is at No. 10, they’ll likely get the left over of the Oubre, Johnson, and Hezonja wing trio that is expected to go in this range. Any of the three would be a very nice addition for the Heat.

11. INDIANA PACERS

Needs: SG, PF, C

Picks: 11, 43

There is a lot of uncertainty about the futures of the Indiana big men Roy Hibbert and David West. Both have the option of opting out of their current deals to become free agents this summer. West has been the center of the locker room since he arrived in Indiana, making his departure unlikely. The front office made it clear once the season ended that the direction of the team was going to change, including their style of play. Instead of grinding it out like they have been, the Pacers are looking to play a more uptempo style and said rather blatantly that Roy Hibbert’s role will be reduced.

If Indiana is willing to cut ties with their long time center, they will need to find someone who will be able to replace his rim protection. Hibbert is one of the best in the league, with opponents shooting 42.6 percent at the rim against him (fifth best among rotation players in the whole league). Myles Turner is a name that would fit well with the new direction the organization might be headed. Hibbert is more of a back to the basket threat who wants the guards to throw it to him on the block, whereas Turner is the exact opposite, thriving in pick and pop situations.

If Indiana chooses to move on from Roy, Turner looks like he would be the ideal fit.

12. UTAH JAZZ

Needs: SG, C

Picks: 12, 42, 54 (from CLE)

The Jazz enjoyed a fantastic finish to the season, turning in a record of 19-10 after the Enes Kanter trade. Rudy Gobert blossomed into one of the best rim protectors in the league and a dunking machine once he was promoted to the starting lineup. The pieces are there for something special. Gordon Hayward had a fantastic season, Derrick Favors is a double-double every time he takes the floor, and they have depth in young pieces like Dante Exum, Trey Burke, Rodney Hood, and Alec Burks. This draft will be about adding even more to that depth and continuing to build around the core of Hayward, Favors, and Gobert.

The Jazz should target someone who can come in and back up Gobert. As has already been mentioned, both Myles Turner and Frank Kaminsky are the two main centers at play in this portion of the draft. Kaminsky ultimately might be the best fit due to his elite shooting from deep. In their first year under Quin Snyder, the Jazz ranked in the top half of the league in percentage of their shots taken from three. Kaminsky would also fit nicely next to Gobert, spreading the floor and creating more space for his rolls to the rim.

13. PHOENIX SUNS

Needs: SG, SF, C

Picks: 13, 44

The Suns took a step back from the 2013-14 season when they almost won 50 games and narrowly missed the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. They made several deals in the middle of the season to try and boost their playoff hopes, but the chemistry just wasn’t able to come full circle. Phoenix was also dealt a tough hand when Goran Dragic, their All-NBA guard, decided to force a trade to only a handful of teams. Being hamstrung by this demand, Ryan McDonough did his best to keep their slim playoff hopes alive by dealing for Brandan Wright and Brandon Knight, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

The encouraging thing for the Suns is they had a few front court players that stepped up their game in both Morris twins and 2013 first round pick Alex Len. T.J. Warren also improved as the season went along and even cracked the starting rotation a few times towards the end. Even though Warren shows promise, the Suns have rotated through himself, Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker in the final starting wing spot. They could really use another player to add depth at that position and solidify their wing rotation.

A prospect who makes sense for the Suns is Sam Dekker. His stock soared in the NCAA tournament when he showed the ability to knock down threes and beat anyone to the rim. Phoenix plays an extremely fast pace, making Dekker’s high-flying game a perfect match for the Suns.

14. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Needs: PG, SG, SF

Picks: 14, 48

This offseason is a crucial one for Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder. It started off already with the firing of long time head coach Scott Brooks, one of the faces of the franchise during the Thunder’s ascension to the top. They’ve already filled the position by hiring former University of Florida head coach Billy Donovan to a five-year deal. This is also Kevin Durant’s last year under his current contract, and Presti needs to do all he can to put a team around their superstar that is a legitimate contender. If not, there is a small possibility Durant might leave in free agency.

The big concern with this team is their wing depth. Anthony Morrow was a great addition to this team last offseason, shooting a sizzling 43.4 percent from three. After him, it is slim pickings. Dekker might be available here, but even though he shot well from three in the NCAA tournament, his whole body of work as a 3-point shooter doesn’t look promising (career 34.8 percent).

The Thunder need shooting to surround Durant and Westbrook, which is why adding Devin Booker would be a match made in heaven. Booker connected on 41.1 percent of his 3-point attempts as a freshman and showed the ability to knock down shots by spotting up, coming off screens, and off one or two dribbles. The Thunder should absolutely target the Kentucky wing if they decide to keep their pick at 14.