'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwf/2gAIAQEAAAAAOZf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAC//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAfEAABBAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBQYRADESFWH/2gAIAQEAAT8Ayy8yGrrXK+/vfXTYLziunVRhYEwdANqSD49fRLk64xmZNkSX6yebzzhOGSyVTZKu1Xrn/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDESH/2gAIAQIBAT8AhbLP/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDISL/2gAIAQMBAT8Aly6P/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
For much of the NBA fan base the season is over when a team is crowned and named the NBA champions in June, however, there is an important event just a couple of days after, one that is taken lightly by everybody except the teams and the media.The 2015 Draft is more than a month away, June 25th to be precise but the mock drafts and college player’s scouting reports start becoming the talk of the non-Playoff teams’ front office from the moment the NCAA tournament (March Madness) begins.To bring you up to speed with how the NBA Draft works, read this.Each year the number of international players on the active rosters of the 30 NBA teams increases to a new record number and the international recruits called in through the Draft are a huge reason for that.So staying along the same lines, here are the top 4 international picks to watch out for in the 2015 NBA Draft:
#4 George Lucas
Get set to watch out for another combo guard in the league. George Lucas, a 6 foot 6 inches guard with a crazy wingspan of 7 foot 1 inches, has two strong positives to boast about on his draft profile- his defense and his court vision. At the age of 19 he has excellent court vision and this ear of amazing point guards in the league, teams could use a player who can just come in, play some stellar D while a starter is catching his breath.
On the negatives, his jumpshot could use some work. There is no use of speed, court vision and size if you cant make your defender second guess with a reliable jump shot as a back-up. Nonetheless his positives: length, defense, court vision and size will make sure he is picked in the first round itself.
Watch him ball:
#3 Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja is a Crotian 6 foot 7 inches national currently playing for FC Barcelona in Euroleague and ACB. Team scouts have been hugely impressed by his offensive skill-set and efficient shooting. He can knock down shots off spot-ups or off screens,at the same time he is a good driver to the basket as well which helps. Despite his inconsistent defense, given his magnificent talent on the offensive talent, he is projected to be a top 10 pick in this year’s Draft.
A lot of credit for needs to go to the current breakout year he had with Barcelona. He came off the bench for the Spanish Club averaging 7.7 points in 16.2 minutes shooting 46.2% from the field and 38.2% from the three point land.
He can play the shooting guard and small forward positions. He could play Small forward spot when Coaches want their team to go small, on the other hand if he plays the shooting guard position, he creates a mismatch due to size.
Highlights from his time at Barcelona:
#2 Kristaps Porzingis
European big men with their uncharacteristic talent and ability to play multiple roles on the floor has changed the way the game has been played. The Gasol brothers in Pau and Marc have displayed their dominance at the Power Forward and Center positions in the NBA right now. Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia is a similar kind of player who has size, athleticism, shooting range and shot blocking ability.
He had applied for the 2014 NBA Draft but withdrew when the predictions coming in where he could be a possible late first round pick. The decision to play another year in the Spanish ACB for Baloncesto Sevilla has worked in his favor, as scouts now consider him a player to be drafted anwhere between 3 and 6. A long time international scout had this say about him:
"He's my favorite player in this draft. I keep telling my staff: This one is not like other international players. He's the real deal. He's special in all the ways a player can be special. He just needs to get stronger. That's it. He's going to be a big-time pro."
Among the teams expected to receive a pick in the top 6, he could be most useful to the Knicks with his size, shooting and defense. Not to forget he was also named the Eurocup Rising Star. The strength for his size is one key factors the scouts are looking at as a weakness.
Highlights of his play in the Spain:
#1 Emmanuel Mudiay
Born in Congo, Emmanuel Mudiay is a big point guard standing at 6 foot 5 inches. He is not only the highest ranked international player expected to be drafted, but he is also expected to be a top 4 pick overall. Like most of the international players that apply for the NBA Draft, Mudiay has no USA college basketball experience.
Coming out of high school, many expected and predicted him to be the number one overall pick in the 2015 Draft. That aside, on August 24th 2013 he chose to play for the SMU Mustangs to play under Larry Brown, the coach who led the Detroit Pistons to a championship in 2004.
However, a year later in the summer of 2014, he decided to forgo college and signed a one year contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Despite injuries limiting the games he played, it is here that is talent and potential was on display as he registered respectful averages of 18 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists in a total of 12 games.
He is quite quick for a guard of his size, but as he prepares to enter the NBA, his perimeter shooting and turnovers is something he needs to work on. Among the teams most expected to obtain a Top 5 pick, he could probably be picked by the Philadelphia 76ers or the New York Knicks.
Here are a few of his highlights during his time in China:
Guess the Lakers players!
