BREAKING: Cleveland Cavaliers Select Tyus Jones with Twenty-Fourth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft. Trade Him to Minnesota

By Peyton Wesner

"With the twenty-fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Tyus Jones from Duke University." 

From Kansas to Duke, the last two first round selections by the Cleveland Cavaliers have came from major collegiate programs, and just like last year's selection (Andrew Wiggins), General Manager David Griffin has sent Duke Freshman Tyus Jones to Minnesota for two draft picks at the beginning of the second round. 

Jones, a nineteen year old from Burnsville, Minnesota, was the third Duke Freshman to be selected in the first round this evening (Jahlil Okafor taken third by Philadelphia and Justise Winslow picked tenth by Miami). 

His national attention and draft stock began to become substantial after a twenty-two point, seven rebound, eight assist performance in a 92-90 comeback victory against rival North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Later, the six foot, one inch, point guard would be a huge part of Duke's 2015 National Championship run and brought home Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2015 Final Four after scoring a game-high twenty-three points in the championship game against Wisconsin. Besides Tyus Jones playing his best in the biggest moments on the biggest stages, he is the definition of a point guard as he is a floor general that looks to get his teammates involved. Although his overall shooting needs to improve, the Minnesota native shot well from three point land and ended his season at 37.9%. 

Unlike Karl-Anthony Towns, one should not expect Tyus Jones to walk into the Target Center and start for the Timberwolves, yet he should play quality minutes behind fellow point guard Ricky Rubio. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Ricky Rubio

---10.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.8 APG, & 1.7 SPG.

SG-Kevin Martin

---20.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, & 2.3 APG.

SF-Andrew Wiggins

***2014-2015 Rookie of the Year

---16.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, & 1.0 SPG.

PF-Karl-Anthony Towns

---10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, & 2.3 BPG. (At University of Kentucky)

C-Nikola Pekovic

---12.5 PPG & 7.5 RPG.

6th-Zach LaVine

***2014-2015 All-Rookie Second Team 

---10.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, & 2.8 APG. 

BREAKING: Charlotte Hornets Select Frank Kaminsky with Ninth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft

By Peyton Wesner

"With the ninth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Frank Kaminsky from the University of Wisconsin."

The great Michael Jordan (Principal Owner and Chariman of the Charlotte Hornets) and General Manager Rich Cho didn't just take a big man from Wisconsin, they selected a weapon. "Frank the Tank" is the definition of a late bloomer at the collegiate level as he went from playing 7.7 minutes and 10.3 minutes per game his Freshman and Sophomore years respectively to 27.2 minutes and 33.6 minutes per game his Junior and Senior seasons. With a rise in playing time came an increase in every statistical category for Kaminsky besides blocks per game between his Junior and Senior season. During his Senior season, the Lisle, Illinois, native (18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, & 1.5 BPG) was the star on a Wisconsin Badgers team that lost in the 2015 National Championship.

Despite being a twenty-two year old, the Hornets picked him rather than a younger player because of his skill as a shooter. Kamnisky shot an impressive 41.6% from beyond the arc, which is actually better than the second overall pick D'Angelo Russell! In addition, the seven footer knows how to attack a defense inside and outside of the paint with pump fakes and his dribbling ability. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Kemba Walker 

---17.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, & 1.4 SPG.

SG-Jeremy Lamb

---6.3 PPG & 2.3 RPG.

SF-Nicolus Batum

---9.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, & 1.1 SPG.

PF-Cody Zeller

---7.6 PPG & 5.8 RPG.

C-Al Jefferson

---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.

6th-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

---10.9 PPG & 7.6 RPG. 

Tonight's selection of Kaminsky, who is the third Big Ten player to be selected by a Charlotte first round pick in the last three years, is not the only move the Hornets have made this offseason to upgrade their team as they traded Lance Stephenson to the Clippers for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, Gerald Henderson and last year's first round pick Noah Vonleh for Nicolus Batum, and newly acquired Matt Barnes to Memphis for Luke Ridnour, who was later sent to Oklahoma City for Jeremy Lamb. The mentioned transactions have added depth to Charlotte while making them a contender for a 2016 NBA Playoffs' spot, if their key contributors can stay healthy. Last season, star Kemba Walker missed twenty games while big man Al Jefferson missed seventeen due to injury, which ultimately popped their balloon of hope to make the playoffs.

BREAKING: Denver Nuggets Select Emmanuel Mudiay Seventh Pick in 2015 NBA Draft

By Peyton Wesner

"With the seventh pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets select Emmanuel Mudiay from Dallas, Texas. He last played for Guangdong in China." 

Who is Emmanuel Mudiay and why does the name sound familiar? Emmanuel Mudiay is a six foot, five inch, nineteen year old point guard that had orginally committed to play for Larry Brown's SMU Mustangs out of high school, but then decided to go professional and take his talents to China for $1.2 million dollars. 

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mudiay sprained his right ankle in his tenth game for the club, causing him to miss three months of the season. Nevertheless when he returned to action, he netted twenty-four points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had four assists in a win or go home playoff game. 

Since most have not had a chance to watch Emmanuel Mudiay play, he can be described as a great passer that has the ability to finish at the rim with authority. In addition, the nineteen year old is a great rebounder for his position, which makes him a threat to record triple-doubles on a nightly basis. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Ty Lawson

---15.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.8 APG, & 1.2 SPG.

SG-Randy Foye

---8.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 

SF-Danilo Gallinari

---12.4 PPG & 3.7 RPG.

PF-Kenneth Faried

---12.6 PPG & 8.9 RPG.

C-Jusuf Nurkic

***2014-2015 All-Rookie Second Team 

---6.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, & 1.1 BPG.

6th-Emmanuel Mudiay

---18.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, & 1.6 SPG. (Played for Guangdong Southern)

After the Denver Nuggets' selection of Mudiay, Ty Lawson was quoted saying "I am going to Sacramento bro." As of now, there has been no deal sending Lawson anywhere, but one must assume they drafted the guard from Congo for a reason. Either way, with or without Lawson, Denver is several years away from competing for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Also, considering only two players projected to start this upcoming season (Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson) played over sixty-five games last year, the Nuggets need to address the injury bug in the locker room before worrying about making the NBA Playoffs.

BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers Select D'Angelo Russell with Second Pick in 2015 NBA Draft

By Peyton Wesner

"With the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select D'Angelo Russell from Ohio State University." 

By far the most talented guard in this year's NBA Draft is heading to Southern California to suit up in purple and gold for the Lakers. Coming out of Montverde Academy, D'Angelo Russell was a five-star recruit (according to Rivals.com) and a McDonalds All-American, but despite those accomplishments he was not as highly valued as Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Stanley Johnson. What a difference a year can make since Russell has just been selected ahead of all three.

The nineteen year old from Louisville, Kentucky, is a terrific scorer that is extermely unselfish, unlike the majority of scorers in basketball. Russell's passing skills are at their best when penetrating defensive gaps and driving in pick and rolls. The shooting guard also had one of the best shooting strokes in college basketball this past season shown in his accuracy from beyond the arc (41.1%).

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Jordan Clarkson

***2014-2015 All-Rookie First Team 

---11.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 3.5 APG.

SG-Kobe Bryant

---22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, & 1.3 SPG.

SF-Nick Young

---13.4 PPG & 2.3 RPG.

PF-Julius Randle

---15.0 PPG & 10.4 RPG. (At University of Kentucky)

C-Jordan Hill 

---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.

6th-D'Angelo Russell 

---19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, & 1.6 SPG. (At Ohio State University)

A little over a month ago on May 22, Kobe Bryant indicated to Los Angeles Lakers' General Manager Mitch Kupchak that the 2015-2016 season would be his last with the team. So with that being said, one has to think that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will do anything to get back into the 2016 NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2013 and compete for a championship. Tonight was a big step in that direction for next year as well as the years after. By selecting Russell, Los Angeles adds a tremendous player to their already good backcourt that includes Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson, and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant. Also, one must remember that Russell plays the same position as Kobe Bryant so this upcoming season he will learn from one of the best while taking over the spot when Bryant departs. By picking D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers are enjoying the best of both worlds.

BREAKING: Minnesota Selects Karl-Anthony Towns with First Pick in 2015 NBA Draft

By Peyton Wesner

"With the first pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select Karl-Anthony Towns from the University of Kentucky." 

Unless one has been locked in a room with no technology or a basketball coma, he or she should have known that the Timberwolves and General Manager Milt Newton were going to select Karl-Anthony Towns to start the 2015 NBA Draft as reports broke with the news late Monday morning. 

Despite not being as highly touted out of high school as Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Towns, like past Kentucky Freshman, became a better player and more coveted prospect as the season grew on. In his last eighteen collegiate games, the six foot, eleven inch, nineteen year old posted averages of 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game while leading the Wildcats to their fourth Final Four appearance in five years. 

Since the Draft Lottery on May 19, the great debate for Minnesota has been whether to select Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor with the first pick. After much analyzation, Towns' high level of defensive play, which includes his ability to effectively guard bigs in the post and on the perimeter, was too enticing to pass up. In addition, Towns is just as talented on offense as Okafor, if not more, considering he has accuracy from beyond the arc and shoots 81.3 percent from the charity stripe (thirty percent better than Okafor). 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Ricky Rubio

---10.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.8 APG, & 1.7 SPG.

SG-Kevin Martin

---20.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, & 2.3 APG.

SF-Andrew Wiggins

***2014-2015 Rookie of the Year

---16.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, & 1.0 SPG.

PF-Karl-Anthony Towns

---10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, & 2.3 BPG. (At University of Kentucky)

C-Nikola Pekovic

---12.5 PPG & 7.5 RPG.

6th-Zach LaVine

***2014-2015 All-Rookie Second Team 

---10.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, & 2.8 APG. 

By selecting Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves will have another young player with tremendous potential to join 2014 draft picks Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine. Although Minnesota is unlikely to make the 2016 NBA Playoffs in the tough Western Conference, the T'Wolves are just a few years away from having a .500 record and fighting for the eighth seed or higher in the "Wild Wild West." 

2013 First Overall Pick Mark Appel Promoted to Triple-A

By Peyton Wesner

When Spring Training broke at the end of March, the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, were stacked with top prospects. Since then, the talents of shortstop Carlos Correa and starting pitchers Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez have all been promoted to Minute Maid Park for their Major League debuts. Yet one player that has remained at Whataburger Field for the whole season has been Mark Appel, MLB.com's twenty-fifth ranked prospect. 

Appel, who has been drafted three times in his career (fifteenth round by Detroit in 2009, eighth overall by Pittsburgh in 2012, and first overall by Houston in 2013), initially struggled to begin his first full season in 2014 and he did the same this year. In fact after a start on May 22, Appel's earned run average was 6.03! Since his dreadful start in late May at Midland in which he surrendered seven earned runs in three and two/thirds innings, the Houston native has drastically improved with two starts of no earned runs and an earned run average of 2.17 in his last five outings. He even threw a complete game shutout in game one of a doubleheader against San Diego Padres' affiliate San Antonio last Sunday.

With his fantastic start against San Antonio, the Astros decided that the time was right to promote Appel to Triple-A Fresno. Speculation and rumors surfaced after Sunday's start but today the transaction became official. As of this afternoon, the Stanford product has not been made the probable pitcher for any date, but it is assumed that he will make his Triple-A debut while the Grizzlies are in Reno for a five-game set. Although Appel has not stepped on a Triple-A diamond, most believe it is not out of the realm of possibilities to see him starting with former teammates McCullers and Velasquez in an Astros' uniform by the end of the season. 

Angels Promote Prospect Andrew Heaney for Team Debut

By Peyton Wesner

December 10, 2014, was a very crazy day for then Miami Marlins' pitcher Andrew Heaney. From being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dee Gordon to then being shipped across town to the Angels for Howie Kendrick, Heaney's December 10 cannot be described as an average "ho-hum" day. Today will not be either as the Angels are recalling their number one prospect and MLB.com's twentieth best for his team debut. 

This afternoon is not the Major League debut of the former Oklahoma State standout since he made five starts in seven games pitched for Miami last season, but today would be a historic moment for the left hander if he can come out on top with the win. Heaney was 0-3 with a bloated earned run average of 5.83 during his time with Miami last year and is still currently looking for the first win of his Major League career. 

The twenty-four year old was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake for his Angels' debut in order to push back the start of Matt Shoemaker to Friday. The purpose of delaying Shoemaker's start was to revise the rotation due to the injury to Jared Weaver. Heaney was 6-2 with an ERA of 4.71 and seventy-two strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-thirds innings in fourteen starts with Salt Lake. Although some may wince in disgust at his earned run average, Heaney was playing in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League; therefore, one should assume with his track record that his numbers would be much better elsewhere.

Heaney will be facing the American League leading Houston Astros and Rookie Lance McCullers, who is making his eighth career start (first versus Los Angeles (AL)). The Angels enter today with a record of 36-36, which puts them five and a half games behind the Astros for first in the American League and two and half games back of the last Wild Card spot.