2015 NBA Draft Notes: International Players Pull Out, Qualls Tears ACL

Monday was the cutoff date in which international players could withdraw from the 2015 NBA Draft, and many did just that. The top tier talent like Mario Hezonja and Kristaps Porzingis (who removed their names at this point last year) opted to stay in this year's draft, but several players who would have made for solid second round picks decided to bounce.

Some notable names:

George De Paula (PG - Pinheiros): Rated by Draft Express as the top international player born in 1996, De Paula likely pulled out when he couldn't get a first round guarantee. He possess true point guard skills, and is absurdly large for the positon. At the 2015 NBA Draft Combine he measured in a 6' 5.5" tall with a pterodactyl-like wingspan of 7' 0.25". We'll likely see him back in the draft next year, provided he's a first round pick.

Aleksandar Vezenkov (PF- Aris): Vezenkov is only 19, but one of the premier scorers Europe has to offer right now. He's got a solid post game, and can step outside and shoot the three ball. He shot 37.8% from beyond the arc on an average of five shots a game in a solid Greek league. Draft Express rated him as the 11th best power forward in the 2015 class. He would have been a good draft and stash option.

Timothe Luwawu (SF - Antibes): Luwawu became popular in this class because this class of swingmen is so weak. He's regarded as a half decent shooter, and with his length any team would hope to mold him into a 3-and-D type player. Draft Express regarded him as the seventh best small forward in the 2015 class.

All these guys are serious projects and would be several years away from making an NBA impact if they ever came over at all. However, this is a super weak class, and seeing some of the bigger named international players drop out leaves the second round looking pretty barren.

A couple players who decided to stay in the draft are French center Mouhammadou Jaiteh, who worked out for the Sixers on Monday, and Dario Saric's teammate, swingman Cedi Osman. For more on Osman, you can read Shamus Clancy's scouting report.

Michael Qualls Tears ACL

A bloody Monday got even worse when news got out that Arkansas wing Michael Qualls tore his ACL during a workout, and will be out up to 12 months. I highlighted Qualls as my favorite player in the second round, so this one hurts my soul. The Sixers have shown that ACL injuries don't scare them away, (this is not a joke, just a mere statement of fact) so I hope they can snag him with a very late pick and give him the year to rehab. Certainly a low risk, high reward play, if possible.