2015 D-League Draft Review

The D-League draft happened this past weekend, with 106 players picked across seven rounds. Overall, the quality of players seemed to be down from prior years, but the first few rounds had a lot of veteran experience to help teams, plus some players who will benefit well from quality teaching from developmental coaching.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown, with my analysis on the picks:

Austin Spurs (San Antonio)

Analysis: The Spurs went with a surprise in the first round, Cameroon native Nguidjol, who played in the Philippines. Long and athletic, though still raw, Nguidjol is exactly the type of player who the D-League was made for, where time with the coaches in the Spurs’ system should help him a lot, though maybe not immediately. McCamey, a former college star at Illinois, has bounced around the past few seasons, including a season in the D-League. McCamey is a versatile scoring guard and a streaky shooter.  Glasgow is a small, quick point guard, who is very good at breaking down defenses and hitting his teammates in good spots, as well as a pesky defender. Guillandeaux is a shooting guard with good size and the ability to score at all three levels on the floor. The seven-foot Ndoye showed some skill in Georgia last year as a rim protector, averaging almost 4 blocks per game, though his offensive skills need work. Abdul-Aleem is old for a rookie, 27, but he’s a talented scorer with a strong body.

Bakersfield Jam (Phoenix)

*Traded to Maine for Askia Booker

Analysis: The Jam traded their first two selections for Booker, a rookie out of Colorado. Lightning quick, with the ability to score in bunches, Booker can be a bit wild for the point guard position, and will need to show that he can be more of a distributor. Carter and Dickson are athletic wings who hit the offensive boards well, and have the ability to guard multiple positions.  Downing, a rookie out of Presbyterian, is a talented scorer with a good long-range shooting stroke.  Onwukamuche is a long, agile defender with potential as a pro rim-protector.

Canton Charge (Cleveland)

*Traded to Grand Rapids for Michael Stockton

Analysis: Barton was another surprise in the first round. He has good speed and could be a good defender, but the rest of his game is lacking, especially on offense, where’s not really a great scorer or passer.  Forbes was traded for Grand Rapids’ 2^nd round pick, Michael Stockton, son of NBA legend, John. Stockton has solid overseas experience and is very good at leading his team and offense, and making good passes. Reddic is a big-bodied forward with good scoring ability within the arc. He’s coming off a good season in Italy, and should help the Charge on the boards and defense. Smith, a good perimeter shooter, has played in Mexico and Argentina. He has the ballhandling ability and vision to run the point, though he has always looked to score first. Carter is an athletic wing who has improved as a perimeter shooter. If he can show NBA three-point range, he may stick with the Charge.

Delaware 87ers (Philadelphia)

*Traded to Erie

Analysis: The 87ers added some interesting talent; including a potential D-League star in point guard Jordan. Jordan had some ups and downs in his two seasons at St. John’s, but there’s no denying he is a talented scorer and passer. Former Iona star Laury is a strong-scoring big man, showing the ability to knock down shots all over the floor. Denson is coming off a good season in the Netherlands. Though not much of a scorer, he is a solid point guard and defender. Rookie Ty Greene hit almost 300 three-point shots in his college career, including 103 as a senior at a 41 percent clip. Harris is a quick point guard with the ability to get into the defense or get his team out in transition. Mason is another good defender out of the Cleveland State program, showing the ability to guard multiple positions. He has also improved as a long-range shooter, so his versatility should be attractive to the Delaware coaching staff.

Erie Bayhawks (Orlando)

*Acquired Myck Kabongo from Delaware

Analysis: Huff was a solid choice in the 2^nd round, adding a strong, slashing guard with the ability to lock-down on the defensive end. A trade with Delaware gave them the 87ers 2^nd round pick, Kabongo, a disappointment since he left Texas after his sophomore year, is a quick point guard, but turns the ball over too much and doesn’t have the shot to draw defenders out on him. He does have some D-League experience, but his play wasn’t good enough to really notice.   Sumler is both a better point guard and shooter than Kabongo, and is coming of a decent rookie year in Denmark. Dixon was a selection of the Austin Spurs in last year’s draft, but didn’t make the final cut, but that experience could help him with Erie. An athletic wing with long arms, Dixon likes to attack the basket, but still needs to show he can knock down jumpers.  Deguara is 7’4 and very raw, but has bit of experience in Italy and Spain, but will need some serious work to get ready for the speed of the D-League game.  Erie went out of the box again in the 7^th round with Morla, a raw 7-footer from the Dominican Republic. Wiry with very long arms, Morla is another big man who needs a lot of work, but the little available on him shows some good fundamentals in the post with a nice touch around 2-3 feet.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana)

*Traded to Oklahoma City as part of three-team deal

Analysis: Lemon was a solid pick in the 2^nd round for the Mad Ants. An explosive point guard with great leaping ability, Lemon played in Hungary and Germany last season. He still needs to become a better shooter, but his style of play could work in the D-League. Walker, a rookie power forward, didn’t get a ton of playing time at Texas-Arlington, but he is an efficient scorer around the basket, and has some potential as solid defender. Ross played in Cyprus last year and has the potential to stretch the floor with his shooting, when he’s consistent. Harris is a D-League veteran, having played 4 seasons in the league. He’s a decent point guard and solid leader, though another guard who can’t shoot. Carlton is an intriguing pick in the 6^th round. An athletic wing who can score in bunches, Carlton has the ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor.

Grand Rapids Drive (Detroit)

*Traded to the Canton Charge for Adrian Forbes

Analysis: The Drive may have gotten the most exciting player in this year’s draft in Thompson, one of the NCAA”s most prodigious dunkers. He’s more than that though, with the ability to score in a variety of ways, and the ability to guard multiple positions well. Forbes is a big-bodied power forward who is a beast around the basket with efficient scoring and great rebounding on both ends of the floor.  Comer was one of college basketball’s best point guards over the past few years, averaging over 7 assists per game last year, while continuing to develop as a halfcourt leader and perimeter shooter. Honestly, I don’t know what the Drive is getting in Romero, so it will be interesting to see what the Cuban can do. Williams has had experience in Iceland and Canada, and while not a great long-range shooter, he is capable of getting hot and knocking a few down.

Idaho Stampede (Utah)

*Acquired Justin Manns from Santa Cruz for rights to Daniel Orton

Analysis: Ayres, a five-year NBA veteran, has a championship ring with San Antonio. A decent role player at the NBA level, Ayres is a good defender and rebounder with some scoring ability in the mid-range area. Releford has played in Belgium and Canada since turning pro, and while not much on the offensive end, he is a very good perimeter defender. Riley and Hallice was a great combo to draft in the 4^th round. Riley is an athletic 7-footer with the ability to block shots, though his scoring ability never really flourished. Hallice, a rookie power forward, is another very good interior defender, with versatile scoring ability within 15 to 20 feet. Williams has spent the past few years playing in Canada and has the ability to score inside and out, and the length to be disruptive on the perimeter. Forbes is a massive presence around the basket, and very tough to stop with his combination of strength and skill as he gets to the rim. At near 300 pounds, he moves well, but his benefit is in halfcourt systems. Manns, acquired from Santa Cruz, is a long, wiry big man with good leaping ability. He can be explosive around the basket, and his ability to block shots can be a game-changer on the defensive end, though his lack of strength can be tough against bigger opponents.

Iowa Energy (Memphis)

Analysis: The Energy made the most of their 3 first round picks, adding a lot of experience.  Jones, once a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, played three mediocre seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being waived by Boston a couple of weeks ago. He’s a long and skilled forward, but just hasn’t been able to put all of his abilities yet. This could be a good second chance for him.  Martin had 7 NBA seasons, though never much more than a role player in any of his stops. He’s a decent long-range shooter, but has trouble scoring in a lot of other ways. Like Jones and Martin, Jackson has D-League experience, though unlike them, he hasn’t been in the NBA. He has made a good living overseas, using his power game to wreak havoc around the basket, and he will be a nice tutor for any big man who comes through the Energy system.  Rembert is a good scoring guard with a nice long-range shooting touch, though at 6’3, he’ll have to be better at creating his own shots.  Wright played in the D-League last season and gives the Energy an athletic slasher with good size and defensive ability. Whisnant is another decent long-range shooter, though has a tendency to force things, leading to a lot of bad shots.

Los Angeles D-Fenders (Los Angeles Lakers)

*Traded to Oklahoma City for a 2016 3^rd round pick.

Analysis: The Defenders went with experience with their first pick, taking Hawkins who has played in the D-League and extensively overseas, including stops in Finland, France, and Belarus. Hawkins is a good long-range shooter with the ability to create for teammates off the dribble. Branch is a sold point guard, nothing too fancy, with the ability to hit teammates in good spots to score. Like Hawkins, Gransberry has experience in the D-League and overseas. He’s another big presence in the post, and a problem to deal with on the offensive boards. Weingarten has spent time with Canton and Delaware the past two seasons, and he’ll give the Defenders an option as a stretch 4 with his shooting ability.

Maine Red Claws (Boston)

*Traded to Bakersfield for Kevin Young and Karrington Ward

** Traded to Texas for 2016 8^th round pick

Analysis: The Red Claws added a good veteran presence in Kevin Young, a lock-down perimeter defender, as well as another good wing defender in the rookie Ward, both obtained from Bakersfield. Ellis is a good long-range shooter on the wing, hitting 42 percent from three-point range as a senior at Army.  Olson, a rookie out of Denver, is another good long-range shooter, as well as a strong defender and playmaker. Marshall was a good long-range shooter in college, though he had some struggles in Italy last year. From the looks of this draft, it’s easy to see what Maine was honing in on.

Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City)

*Traded to Delaware for rights to JP Tokoto, James Carlton, & 2016 2^nd round pick

**Traded to Texas for Jon Octeus and the rights to Jeff Adrien

***Traded to Fort Wayne

Analysis: The Blue were very active after the draft, dealing for some good pieces. Though Tokoto wasn’t in the draft, his athletic ability and defense will play very well in the Blue system. Carlton, obtained along with him, is an athletic wing who can score in bunches, and has the ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor.  Octeus is an athletic rookie point guard with the ability to score at all three levels. The 7’2 Chiles is a big presence in the middle, and though not a very skilled offensive player, he’s efficient around the basket, in addition to his ability to protect the rim. Niles is a good long-range shooter who played in Italy last year. Bradley, another athletic rookie, is very good at getting to the rim and a very strong rebounder for his size.

Raptors 905 (Toronto)

Analysis: In their first draft as a D-League team, the 905 added some good pieces to help build their first team. Anderson knocked down almost 42 percent of his three-point attempts at Washington last season, and he has some ability to create for teammates off the dribble. Harris is a quick point guard with the ability to get into the paint, and though not a great finisher, he finds teammates well, and is dangerous in transition. Roberson is only 6’9, but he’s a solid post presence on offense, finishing at the basket at a very good rate. He is also a good defender and rebounder, especially against bigger players. Johnson played for Delaware and Reno last season, and gives the Raptors an athletic wing who can score in a variety of ways. Puk is a decent post scorer and defender who played in England last year. He’s probably not more than a back-up at this level.

Reno Bighorns (Sacramento)

Analysis: Reno was another team that opted for some experience early on in the draft.  In the 2^nd round, the Bighorns took Toppert, a shooting guard with good size and a nice long-range stroke. Toppert has played in Germany the past two seasons, hitting over 40 percent from three-point range. Tyndale is another veteran, having spent a few seasons in the D-League, as well as playing in Sweden and Ukraine. He’s a shooting guard with t a strong body who likes to get to the basket, but he has also improved as a long-range shooter as a pro.  Richard is a long, wiry power forward, with not a ton of skill on offense, but a good defender and a great rim protector with a lot of energy. Craig is another player who was known for is defensive ability, and rebounding, than anything on the offensive end, but he’s a smart player who knows his role. Walker was a Division II standout, hitting 266 three-point shots in his college career, at a near 40 percent clip. He should fit in perfectly in the Reno offense. The Bighorns also acquired one of Rio Grande’s first round picks, Cliff Hammonds. Hammonds was a defensive standout in college, and has spent the last few years playing at a high level in Europe. He’s a good shooter, strong ballhandler and passer, and as mentioned, a quality defender.

Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston)

*Traded to Reno for rights to Jordan Hamilton

Analysis: Rio Grande Valley has done a great job teaching and developing players in the style of play of their Houston affiliate, and this group of players has some potential to add another piece to the pro team down the line. Williams was key player for Ohio State the past few seasons, even if he didn’t get many touches on the offensive end. He’s a good defender and rebounder, with the potential to be a good shot-blocker at the pro level.  Summers had a solid career at Ole Miss, though inconsistent. He also has potential as a pro defender, and if he finds some consistency, a good long-range shooter. Cochran is a smart, steady point guard with the ability to run the team’s offense, but knock down shots if needed. He’s also a tough defender at the point of attack, doing what he can to disrupt the flow of the opponent’s sets. Quinn is another tough defender in the backcourt, having played in the San Diego State defensive system, one of the best in the country. While not a great shooter, he can knock down open jumpers, and has the ability to run the point if needed.  Cotton played at the Division II level, and is known more for his athletic ability than anything else. Cotton won the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 Final Four, though he also hit 44.6 percent from three-point range as a senior at Delta State.

Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State)

*Traded to Idaho for rights to Daniel Orton

Analysis: The defending champion Warriors added a lot of potential help in the backcourt, with a couple of big men to balance things out. Their first round pick, Shaw, is an athletic big man with the potential to be a solid post scorer and defender, though he seems to have trouble finding consistent effort.  Brewer is an 8-year NBA veteran, starting 304 games in that span. He’s a solid defensive wing, but never quite found his shooting stroke at the NBA level.  Jones is a good defender on the wing with the ability to create for teammates off the dribble. Though Ross didn’t have a great rookie season in Australia, he’s a strong shooting guard with a nice long-range stroke. He’s a tough defender at multiple spots, and rebounds very well for his size.

Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami)

Analysis: The Skyforce added a versatile wing in Trawick in the 1^st round. A product of Georgetown, Trawick can fill a lot of different roles on both offense and defense, but his improved long-range shooting has made him a bigger threat to score. Stocks is old for a rookie, 27, after declaring for the NBA Draft after just two seasons at the Division II level.  He’s still a quick point guard, though more of a scorer than passer, with a decent long-range shot and the ability to cause chaos on defense. Byrd had been a little-used role player at Michigan State before leaving there to turn pro, though he has good size for the wing and could eventually be a decent long-range shooter. Scott is an undersized center, with a big, strong body, and the ability to defend and rebound against bigger players.

Texas Legends (Dallas)

*Traded to Oklahoma City for Patrick Miller

Analysis: Parks, one of the Philippines’ best young players the past few years, played for the Mavericks Summer League squad and impressed enough to be picked with their first selection. He has the ability to create his shot in a variety of ways, as well as being able to move to the point guard spot if needed. His game still needs a lot of refining, but the Legends’ staff will help him a lot. Reynolds had a very good year in Japan last year, and while not a very efficient scorer, he’s a good defender and rebounder. Bropleh is a good long-range shooter, and has the ability to be a lockdown defender on the perimeter.  Simpson is a long, athletic big man, though not very skilled. He will be a project if he sticks. Miller, who they acquired from Oklahoma City, had a good rookie season in Turkey, knocking down over 40 percent from long-range.  Miller is also very controlled at the point guard position, with good passing and vision. Quardell Young, acquired from Maine after the draft, is a quick point guard with good shooting ability, who often overmatched other guards at the Division III level.

Westchester Knicks (New York)

Analysis: In their second D-League season, the Knicks amped up the excitement level by picking Fredette in the first round. While he didn’t pan out at the NBA level, his long-range shooting ability will add up to a lot of points in the D-League.  Morgan, a big man who played in China last year, is a solid player on both ends, as long as he is within a few feet of the basket. Still, he has a shot to be a good rim protector in the D-League. Capers, a rookie out of Division II, is a scoring point guard who loves to break down defenses. He played well on the defensive end, though he does take a lot of chances, which worked at his college level, but may not work here. Crawford is very similar to Capers, though at only 5’6, he is a lot quicker and tougher for defenses to keep track of, at times. Mondy was selected by Rio Grande Valley last season, though didn’t make the team. He’s a fantastic on- and off-ball defender, with the ability to create shots for himself and others.

Follow me on Twitter – @NBADraftBlog

Email me: ed (at) NBADraftBlog.com