BROOKLYN – As usual, the NBA Draft was filled with boos and oohs from the crowd.
D’Angelo Russell drew the biggest ovation when he was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Subsequently, Kristaps Porzingis eventually drew the ire of the crowd when he was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had high praise for Russell. “We think his upside is unlimited, and we didn’t feel that for all the players we were considering,” Kupchak said.
Meanwhile, Knicks President Phil Jackson had similar high praise for Porzingis. “He has eye-opening talent and is ready for the challenge to play in New York City,” Jackson said.
One general manager compared Porzingis to Dirk Nowitzki and Andrei Kirilenko in my previous SheridanHoops column.
Not to be outdone by their rivals across the bridge, the Brooklyn Nets dealt Mason Plumlee to the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake.
This move strongly suggests Brook Lopez will remain with the team and the Trail Blazers are prepared for LaMarcus Aldridge to leave in free agency this summer.
Nets general manager Billy King felt Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the “best defensive player in the draft.”
Meanwhile, two of the biggest surprises in the first round were the Boston Celtics selecting Louisville guard Terry Rozier 16th overall and the Lakers selecting Larry Nance Jr. 27th overall.
Rozier had a workout that blew the Celtics away. “That’s what put him in play at 16,” a league source told SheridanHoops.
Here’s a video link below to our draft recap with CineSport host Brian Clark:
Michael Scotto is an NBA columnist for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.