NBA Draft 2015 recap: 2 Terps traded, 5 Big Ten players drafted

Former Terrapins guards were a hot commodity in this year’s draft.

Greivis Vasquez (’10) and Steve Blake (’03) were both shopped in exchange for first round picks.

Vasquez was sent from the Toronto Raptors to play for the up-and-coming Jason Kidd-coached Milwaukee Bucks for a 2017 lottery protected first round pick via the Los Angeles Clippers and the no. 46 pick Norman Powell.

Blake will be moving across the country from the Portland to play on the east coast again for the first time since 2005. He was packaged with the no. 23 pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in one of the biggest draft-day deals to the Brooklyn Nets for Mason Plumlee and the no. 41 pick Pat Connaughton.

Dez Wells Will Play For Wizards Summer League Team

Wells wasn’t selected in the 2015 draft, but has already signed to play in the Las Vegas summer league with the Washington Wizards. The tournament-style league lasts 11 days beginning July 10.

Ima show YOU how great I am

— Dez Wells (@Dez32Wells) June 26, 2015

He told Testudo Times a few weeks ago he had a feeling he wouldn’t hear his name called, but was confident a team would pick him up.

CSN’s J. Michael reported that Wells is expected to make the Wizards 2015-16 roster, as they lack guard depth.

The Wizards drafted Kansas’ Kelly Oubre and Big 10 rival Aaron White in this year’s draft, but White is expected to play overseas next season, leaving a spot for the Terrapin.

In three years with Maryland, Wells scored 14.3 points per game on 57.7 percent true shooting. He also dished 2.6 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds and averaged one steal per game.

Three Big 10 Players Drafted in the First Round

Ten percent of the first round, including two players in the lottery played in the Big 10 last season.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell no. 2 overall. The former Ohio State guard was the second leading scorer in the conference, averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He was extremely efficient at 57.3 percent true shooting including 41.1 percent from three-point range.

The Buckeyes crushed the Terrapins last season in a 24-point victory. Russell tallied a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds and also dished 6 assists without turning the ball over in 34 minutes.

Former Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky was selected no. 9 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte has drafted three big men from the Big 10 in consecutive years. They took two Indiana bigs the past two seasons – Cody Zeller fourth overall in 2013 and Noah Vonleh ninth overall in 2014.

Kaminsky averaged 18.8 points on 62.8 percent true shooting, blocked 1.5 shots per game and was the conference’s second leading rebounder at 8.2 per game.

The National Player of the Year scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a six-point upset loss to the Terrapins.

Another former Badger, Sam Dekker was taken no. 18 by the Houston Rockets.

His stock jumped after the NCAA tournament, where he hit 15 three-pointers in the first five games, including five of six in the Elite Eight against the Arizona Wildcats.

Dekker averaged 17.9 points on 60.5 percent true shooting and 7.2 rebounds per game. His shooting consistency was his major problem, and as a three-point specialist he only shot 33.1 percent last season.

He went two for six from long range in the loss against the Terps, scoring 14 and rebounding 9.

Two Big 10 Players Drafted in the Second Round

Former Iowa forward Aaron White was selected 49^th overall by the Washington Wizards. He’ll be spending next year overseas, and can be considered a draft-and-stash pick.

White averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in his senior season.

Former Michigan State small forward, Brandon Dawsen, was taken 56^th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations.

Dawsen averaged 11.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in his senior season.

Notable Undrafted Big 10 Players (Alphabetical)

The Big 10 only had five names called this year, two less than last.

Here's a list of guys who were passed on:

Duje Dukan - Wisconsin

Andre Hollins - Minnesota

Kadeem Jack - Rutgers

Traevon Jackson - Wisconsin

Myles Mack - Rutgers

Jon Octeus - Purdue

Gabe Olaseni - Iowa

D.J. Newbill - Penn State

Terran Petteway - Nebraska (Hawks Summer League)

Rayvonte Rice - Illinois

Shannon Scott - Ohio state

Sam Thompson - Ohio State

Travis Trice - Michigan State

Maurice Walker - Minnesota

Dez Wells - Maryland (Wizards Summer League)

Amir Williams - Ohio State