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NBA Draft 2015: 3 riskiest players

By Alexandra Huber

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the crowd before the start of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the crowd before the start of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Which players in the 2015 NBA Draft carry the most risk for teams?

Like any worthwhile investment, NBA draft picks are not without risk.

Next: 20 Richest NBA Players of All-Time

For many teams in the Draft, especially those in the lottery, selecting the right player is imperative to their future success. Choosing the wrong guy can set a team back years, especially one that does not tend to throw money at free agents.

So who are the riskiest players in the 2015 Draft? These three are at the top of our list.

1. Kelly Oubre, Kansas

Oubre enters this year’s draft after a year under Bill Self at the University of Kansas. While at KU, Oubre averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds and 21.0 minutes, but the size and athleticism of players in the NBA will pose a much greater challenge than the competition Oubre faced in the Big 12–especially against TCU. Although Oubre continued to improve throughout the season, especially in conference play, he is still a relatively raw talent. NBA coaching and training should help, but will it be enough?

Assuming Oubre puts on some size and continues to polish his skill set, he could make an impact as a wing on an NBA roster. But he’s far from a sure thing, especially when he is projected to go at the end of the lottery.

For a comparison, the last Jayhawks to go at the end of the lottery were the Morris twins, who went back-to-back in the 2011 Draft.

2. Myles Turner, Texas

Like Oubre, Turner is a freshman out of a Big 12 program.

Just on looks alone, specifically his seven-foot frame, Turner looks like an NBA player, at least on height alone. But the former Longhorn comes with some serious question marks, specifically when it comes to his athleticism and durability. Finishing at the rim should be a given for a guy of that size, but it’s something Turner struggled with in Austin.

Bottom line: Turner needs to gain speed and athleticism to make his height a true weapon.

3. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia

With foreign players, there is always a question of whether or not they can translate well to the NBA. Sure, they have played professionally, but how does the competition stack up to what they will see in the association?

Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis is no exception, though he is intriguing to a number of teams. Unlike a couple other risky players in this year’s draft, Porzingis has exhibited both athleticism and above-the-rim potential at his time playing in Europe. Projected to go somewhere in the middle of the lottery, Porzingis averages 37.9 percent from the arc (with international dimensions) and 49.5 percent from the field.

Less impressive, however, are his rebounding and assist numbers: 4.5 and 0.6 per game respectively. Sure, he can knock down a shot, but will he be able to battle for rebounds in the paint? The answer to that question will determine how successful he can be at the next level.

Despite the questions that some players raise, all of them have displayed flashes of brilliance–they wouldn’t be in the Draft if they hadn’t. Teams considering the aforementioned risky players will have to be certain that those flashes are more of the exception than the rule.

Although this year’s draft has a decent amount of talent, but teams should still be careful. No team wants a Sam Bowie moment.

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