Two things you can say about this year's NBA draft: 1) it lacks a consensus No. 1 Pick across the board, and 2) the projected top-four picks are loaded with skills and potential, but after them, there's a considerable drop in talent. Basketball Insiders said the 2015 Class has a number of potential franchise players, particularly, a pair of seven-footers.

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As soon as the NBA Draft Lottery concluded, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers picking one and two, respectively, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor have been jostling for position on who gets to be the top pick.  Let's discuss the strengths and areas for improvement of each pivot man, to have a better view of their respective games before the June 25 NBA Draft.

Towns averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 block shots as a freshman for John Calipari's University of Kentucky Wildcats. Scouts are impressed with his proverbial "upside," being a seven-footer who has good lateral speed and mobility, with better-than-most defensive IQ and energy to match, and a perimeter offense that goes along with his still developing post game.  Some of his notable highlights were against Georgia, Hampton, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, where he averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds according to RealGM.Com game logs.

Overall, Towns' offense and post moves, in particular, are not as refined compared to that of Okafor's. Analysts still see him as a project with about a year or two from being a solid contributor to his club. With proper training, these facets could be improved at the next level.

Okafor, though, is a bigger story as a freshman for Mike Krzyzewski's Duke University Blue Devils where he averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds. Scouts see him as a prospect with one of the best and polished low-post games they have seen in years. Other positives include his effective passing off the double team, his soft hands, and his unparalleled court awareness. In his notable games of the season, he has been a beast with 28 points and 8 rebounds. Scott Howard of NBA.Com sees him as a very good foundation of a ball club that can make an immediate impact in the upcoming season, and could develop into a 20-10 player in the near future.

The downside on Okafor, however, is his atrocious 51% free throw shooting, his lack of shooting beyond 15-feet, and his inconsistent defensive game. Often, he has been criticized for being lackadaisical in defending the pick and roll.

Towns and Okafor are the closest "can't-miss" prospects this draft class has to offer. The Wolves and the Lakers, however, should keep in mind, that aside from drafting the best talent, they should also draft for their need.  In my opinion, drafting either of these players is a step in the right direction to improve and rebuild from their disappointing 2014-2015 seasons.

TagsMinnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski, Kentucky WIldcats, Duke Blue Devils