NBA Draft 2015: 5 Players Who Will Be Busts

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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Frank Kaminsky – Charlotte Hornets

If college success directly translated to the NBA, Frank Kaminsky would be on his way to being a multiple time All-Star for the Charlotte Hornets. That’s not the case, though, and the reality of the league and players like Kaminsky indicates that the Hornets may eventually regret grabbing the big man with the ninth overall pick.

Kaminsky should be able to provide offense at the pro level. He showed in college that he has a versatile offensive skill set that allows him to knock down jumpers all over the floor, as well as create space to finish on the interior. Its clear from looking at his work in college that his biggest issues were on the defensive end.

Though Kaminsky isn’t slight of build, he doesn’t have the strength or quickness to combat the physicality and speed of quality NBA big men. Perhaps the best example of this is the National Championship game against Duke when Jahlil Okafor bullied him in the post on a number of occasions. That’s going to be the type of matchup Kaminsky is up against on a nightly basis in the NBA, which is going to prove to problematic for him and make it hard for teams to keep him on the floor.

Perhaps an even bigger problem for Kaminsky in the NBA, though, is his lack of upside. He’s not particularly long or athletic given his size, so there’s no prospect of him eventually harnessing those attributes. Even with something like his offensive prowess, Kaminsky is going to have to adjust to trying to get his shots against better defenses and players. With his limited upside and physical skills, that could prove to be more difficult than imagined.

Seeing a college star make it in the league would certainly be refreshing given the history of guys like Adam Morrison and Jimmer Fredette in the NBA, but Kaminsky doesn’t look like the guy to turn that around. It’ll be for different reasons than guys like Morrison and Fredette, but it’s hard to see much success in the NBA lying ahead for Kaminsky.

Next: Which Top-5 Pick Will Be a Bust?

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