Projected 2015-2016 NBA All-Rookie Teams List
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Now that the NBA Draft is complete and we are half-way through the NBA's summer league, it is time to make our first round of projections for the 2015-2016 NBA All-Rookie teams.
Last season the two teams were as follows:
1st Team All-Rookie (2014-2015)
Andrew Wiggins - Minnesota Timberwolves
Nikola Mirotic - Chicago Bulls
Nerlens Noel - Philadelphia 76ers
Elfrid Payton - Orlando Magic
Jordan Clarkson - Los Angeles Lakers
2nd Team All-Rookie (2014-2015)
Marcus Smart - Boston Celtics
Zach LaVine - Minnesota Timberwolves
Bojan Bogdanovic - Brooklyn Nets
Jusuf Nurkic - Denver Nuggets
Langston Galloway - New York Knicks
2015-2016 Projections
NBA All-Rookie First Team Projections
C - Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns was the consensus number one overall pick going into the 2015 NBA Draft, and the 7-foot center has looked extremely worthy of that selection thus far in the NBA's summer league. Towns played just one year under Coach John Calipari at the University of Kentucky, but averaged 10.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game.
Towns should be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year as the big man has an NBA-ready body and a great young core around him to succeed in Minnesota. The Timberwolves might not be a playoff team this season, but with Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Nikola Pekovic and Ricky Rubio on the team, they will be exciting to watch
F - Jahlil Okafor - Philadelphia 76ers
Okafor was perhaps the best scorer coming out of this year's NBA Draft. The Duke big man played just one year in college but made the most of it, winning the NCAA basketball championship by beating Wisconsin in the final game of the tournament.
Okafor is ready to go offensively, the only question we have to wonder about Okafor is can he guard other big men in the NBA? If Okafor can handle the defensive end of the game and improve his strength and leaping ability, then he has a chance to be the best player in the 2015 draft class.
F - Stanley Johnson - Detroit Pistons
The Pistons took Johnson with the 8th overall selection in the 2015 draft, over highly touted Duke forward Justise Winslow. Johnson has perhaps the most NBA-ready body in the entire draft class, and will make an instant impact with his new team.
The Pistons needed a wing badly to pair with their newly signed franchise point guard Reggie Jackson, and center Andre Drummond. Look for Johnson to average at least 10.0 points a game this season.
G - D'Angelo Russell - Los Angeles Lakers
Laker fans were somewhat surprised when the Lakers selected Russell over Okafor with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, but they will not be disappointed once they see the pure talent that Russell brings with him to every game.
Russell will be playing alongside future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and 2014 NBA All-Rookie Team selection Jordan Clarkson this season, in what hopes to be a comeback year for the purple and gold. He can score the ball, shoot the three-pointer, facilitate and rebound. There isn't much the Ohio State product cannot do, and he is primed for a stellar season. Russell should average over 12.0 points and 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
G - Emmanual Mudiay - Denver Nuggets
The point guard who played last season in China rather than attending college was drafted 7th overall by Denver Nuggets. Mudiay looks to start in place of Ty Lawson, who recently was arrested for suspicion of a DUI for the second time this year. Mudiay will get plenty of minutes, it is just a matter of what he does with them.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team Projections
C - Myles Turner - Indiana Pacers
Turner was selected 11th overall by the Pacers after just one season at the University of Texas. The 7-footer averaged 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for the Longhorns in his one season in Austin.
The Pacers traded center Roy Hibbert to the Lakers this off-season, and Turner presumably enters the 2015-2016 NBA campaign as the Pacers' starting center. The Pacers have drafted well in the past, so I wouldn't be surprised if Turner ends up being one of the top-5 players in this draft.
F - Justise Winslow - Miami Heat
Winslow fell to the Heat who had the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Winslow played just one year at Duke, but showed immense potential as a scorer. driver and defender.
His stock rose tremendously as the Blue Devils reached the NCAA title game against Wisconsin, and with Dwayne Wade, Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng mentoring the young small forward, Winslow is set up for a very solid rookie year.
F - Frank Kaminsky - Charlotte Hornets
"Frank the Tank" has been overlooked his entire basketball career, but the versatile forward looks to bring his unique game and talent to the NBA after an impressive stint at the University of Wisconsin.
Kaminsky averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game his senior year and despite the Boston Celtics trying to trade up for him, Michael Jordan and the rest of the Hornets' front office settled on keeping the pick to select Kaminsky.
G - Mario Hezonja - Orlando Magic
Hezonja last played for FC Barcelona but do not let his foreign mystique deter you from watching this kid. He is one of the most explosive players in the draft class, and has a pure shooting stroke to go with his impressive driving ability. Hezonja certainly does not lack confidence either.
He talks trash, scores as time expires when his team is up 19 points, and does not believe in respect on the court.
"Respect? No, I never had respect to anybody on a basketball court," Hezonja said. ""I heard about, 'If they smell blood, you get eaten.' I'm not like that. I don't care. Whether it's a veteran or a young player standing in front of me I always have the same goal. I want to run over everybody."
Needless to say the young man has some serious confidence, and look for him to back it up on the court this season in Orlando.
G - Jerian Grant - New York Knicks
This pick by Phil Jackson could be the steal of the entire draft. The Knicks traded up to pick 19 to get Grant after drafting Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick. The Wizards originally drafted him, but he was sent to Atlanta, and then eventually to New York in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr.
Grant showed superstar talent and play-making ability while playing at Notre Dame under Coach Mike Brey. He averaged 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game last season for the Fighting Irish, and is a sleeper to not only be on the All-Rookie teams, but also to make a serious push for the Rookie of the Year Award. Grant is smart, athletic, and explosive and under Derek Fisher and the young New York Knicks, he should fit right in.
