Minnesota picks Towns 1st, Russell goes 2nd to Lakers in NBA draft

MANILA, Philippines – The Minnesota Timberwolves did the expected while the Los Angeles Lakers made a surprise selection in the 2015 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, June 26.

Picking first overall,  the T-Wolves took Kentucky product and consensus No. 1  overall pick Karl Anthony-Towns – a decision announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to kick off this year’s draft.

 

Karl Anthony Towns on playing with Andrew Wiggins: @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/OcI8vVAdbF

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 26, 2015

A few minutes later, the Lakers picked Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell over Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, getting a dynamic point guard to pair up with Los Angeles legend Kobe Bryant.

Okafor went third overall to the Philadelphia 76ers – a curious move considering Philadelphia already has two quality big men in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

 

WATCH: 76ers #3 pick Jahlil Okafor talks to PH and media after getting drafted @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/BP2nObx6kL

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 26, 2015

The fourth pick, made by the New York Knicks, drew the ire of the crowd after they took the intriguing Latvia product Kristaps Porzingis.

 

Porzingis on the pressure of playing in New York: #rstream @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/MvqLyfkjvV

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 26, 2015

Another European, Mario Hezonja from Croatia, went fifth overall to the Orlando Magic, while Sacramento selected its potential DeMarcus Cousins replacement in Willie Cauley-Stein from Kentucky at No. 6. 

Dynamic point guard Emmanuel Mudiay from China went seventh overall to the Denver Nuggets while Stanley Johnson of Arizona was taken eighth, by the Detroit Pistons.

 

WATCH: @nuggets #7 pick E. Mudiay speaks to PH media and others @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/D68ah1Hh85

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 26, 2015

Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky was selected by Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets at No. 9 while the Miami Heat picked Justise Winslow from Duke – who was expected to be a top-5 selection – with the tenth pick.

 

.@hornets pick Frank Kaminsky talks to PH and international media via @Cisco @rapplerdotcom : pic.twitter.com/yOHZukAewp

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) June 26, 2015

Here’s the full list of draftees in the first round:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns

2. Los Angeles Lakers – D’Angelo Russell

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Jahlil Okafor

4. New York Knicks – Kristaps Porzingis

5. Orlando Magic – Mario Hezonja

6. Sacramento Kings – Willie Cauley-Stein

7. Denver Nuggets – Emmanuel Mudiay

8. Detroit Pistons – Stanley Johnson

9. Charlotte Hornets – Frank Kaminsky

10. Miami Heat – Justise Winslow

11. Indiana Pacers – Myles Turner

12. Utah Jazz – Trey Lyles

13. Phoneix Suns – Devin Booker

14. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Payne

15. Atlanta Hawks – Kelly Oubre (traded to the Washington Wizards)

16. Boston Celtics – Terry Rozier

17. Milwaukee Bucks – Rashad Vaughn

18. Houston Rockets – Sam Dekker

19. Washington Wizards – Jerian Grant (traded to the Atlanta Hawks, who then traded him to the New York Knicks for Tim Hardaway Jr.)

20. Toronto Raptors – Delon Wright

21. Dallas Mavericks – Justin Anderson

22. Chicago Bulls – Bobby Portis

23. Portland Trail Blazers – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

24. Cleveland Cavaliers – Tyus Jones (traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for picks no. 31 and 36.)

25. Memphis Grizzlies – Jarell Martin

26. San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Milutinov

27. Los Angeles Lakers – Larry Nance

28. Boston Celtics – R.J. Hunter

29. Brooklyn Nets – Chris McCullough

30. Golden State Warriors – Kevon Looney 

Videos above thanks to Cisco Telepresence.

– Rappler.com