2015 NBA Draft Needs: On The Cusp

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Four more teams were sent packing from the playoffs after the second round, which means four more teams can set their eyes on the 2015 NBA Draft.

Normally, these teams aren’t expecting the draft to produce a key franchise piece for them because of how low their draft pick is. This puts more pressure on the scouting and player development of a team’s front office to find a “diamond in the rough” — a player who can contribute to their team despite falling to the latter end of the first round.

Next up in our draft needs series, we take a look at the teams who are one piece away from being in contention next season after falling short this year.

Note: The number next to the team’s name is the rank they finished after the regular season was over. Unlike the lottery teams, it doesn’t necessarily represent where their highest pick is going to be.

19. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Needs: PG, SG, PF

Picks: 19, 49

The Wizards had a rocky season that had fans questioning the direction the team was heading. Randy Wittman was back on the hot seat, and people were left wondering if Bradley Beal and John Wall were going to be the long-term backcourt for the franchise.

Then the playoffs arrived.

The Wizards looked like a completely different team in the postseason. Wittman pulled great out of bounds plays from nowhere and unleashed a small ball lineup that the Wizards didn’t use at all during the season. They went from firing far too many shots from mid range in the regular season — something that is a death sentence in the modern NBA — to becoming the best 3-point shooting team in the postseason. Wittman likely saved his job thanks to these adjustments.

Unfortunately for the Wizards, Wall got injured in the Atlanta series and had to miss a few games. They turned the point guard duties over to Bradley Beal due to their lack of depth at the position, which led to mixed results. Because of this, Washington should look to add a backup point guard to grow alongside Wall and Beal in the coming years. The ones available at this stage in the draft could be Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne and Tyus Jones.

22. CHICAGO BULLS

Needs: PG, SF

Picks: 22

The Bulls ended their season on an extremely low note, getting blown out on their home floor in Game 6 against the Cavaliers. Now, they enter an offseason that is full of just as much uncertainty as anyone. Will Tom Thibodeau return as head coach? Are they willing to pay Jimmy Butler the amount of money he is going to command in free agency? What are they going to do about their front court rotation? Will they trade away one of their bigs?

With Butler, Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks all set to hit free agency, the Bulls need to add help in the backcourt behind Derrick Rose or on the wing. R.J. Hunter has been lighting it up in draft workouts and would be a prospect the Bulls could take at No. 22. In addition to Hunter, Justin Anderson is another possibility if the Bulls decide to go with a wing. If they look for a replacement for Aaron Brooks, any of the aforementioned point guards could be available as well.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Needs: SG, SF, PF

Picks: 25

The biggest question for Memphis this offseason is whether or not Marc Gasol is going to stay. Gasol went to high school and has spent all his years in the NBA playing in Memphis, making it a long shot that he leaves. The other member of their starting front court, Zach Randolph, signed an extension last offseason. They still have star point guard Mike Conley under contract through next season. It doesn’t seem like the core of this team is going to be shaken up a ton this summer, meaning they need to adjust on the fringes of their roster in order to take that next step towards title contention.

The key issue for the Grizzlies in their series against Golden State was that they weren’t deep enough to go toe-to-toe with the Warriors. They only played three bigs in their rotation and one of them, Kosta Koufos, may leave in free agency this summer. They could use someone on the wing, but they still have the likes of Vince Carter, Tony Allen and Courtney Lee occupying the two. Jordan Adams will more than likely have a larger role in the rotation next year in addition to those players.

If Memphis drafts someone to fill a hole in the front court rotation, Jarell Martin, Montrezl Harrell and Christian Wood are three players who will be available in this range. All three have different skill sets; Martin likes to face up and attack, Harrell has an extremely high motor and crashes the glass, and Wood is a shot blocking big who has the potential to be a pick and roll lob guy.

Any of them would help the Grizzlies depth and bring a new element to their team.

28. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Needs: PG, SF, PF

Picks: None

The Clippers have a huge predicament on their hands. They don’t own a first round pick this year, thanks to the trade that brought in Doc Rivers to be the coach and general manager. They don’t have a second round pick, either, leaving them pretty limited as far as what type of players they can add this offseason. They don’t have any cap room to sign players, making the draft the only real way to add cheap contracts to their roster.

The Clippers can trade future picks or buy their way in, but that would still require them giving up assets and further prolonging this issue. For a team that lacked depth, things are looking rather grim for the Clips this offseason.

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