The Central Division houses one of the NBA's most fascinating quintet of teams going forward.
The defending Eastern Conference-champion Cleveland Cavaliers headline the bunch, the Chicago Bulls fancy themselves a perennial East contender, the Milwaukee Bucks are in the process of building one of the more intriguing and athletic young cores in the league, the Indiana Pacers are only a freak injury and one year removed from being East finalists, and the Andre Drummond-centric Detroit Pistons are entering Year 2 under Stan Van Gundy.
Here's how draft night is shaping up for each of the division's teams.
Detroit Pistons
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 8, No. 38
Area(s) of need: Frontcourt depth, shooting
As a perennial loser selecting in the top-10, the Pistons simply need to acquire the best talent they can. From a positional standpoint, however, they'd surely like to add to their frontcourt and address their ever-present shooting deficiency.
As it stands, Drummond and the recently acquired Ersan Ilyasova are the only big men with guaranteed contracts on Detroit's books next season, with Greg Monroe's pending unrestricted free agency looming over the franchise and veteran Anthony Tolliver on a non-guaranteed deal.
Unfortunately, other than Frank "The Tank" Kaminsky, an impact big man doesn't appear to be in the cards with the No. 8 selection.
Three-point shooting is also always a welcomed addition in a Van Gundy offense built around a physically imposing big man.
Potential targets, No. 8: Justise Winslow, SF, Duke; Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia; Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin; Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
No. 38: Robert Upshaw, C, Washington; Rakeem Christmas, PF/C, Syracuse; Jarell Martin, F, LSU
Indiana Pacers
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 11, No. 43
Area(s) of need: Swingman, potentially a big man
Much of the Pacers' needs will depend on what becomes of the $28 million in combined player options starting big men Roy Hibbert and David West hold. If both are back – along with restricted free agent Chris Copeland – and Paul George is the All-Star forward of old, the Pacers may simply be looking for bench depth to add to the George-Hibbert-West-George Hill quartet.
If one or both (unlikely) of Hibbert and West are out of the picture, the Pacers would likely be looking for a big man or two, and they can use some added depth at two-guard and the swingmen positions.
Potential targets, No. 11: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky; Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona; Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State; Myles Turner, PF, Texas; Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin
No. 43: J.P. Tokoto, SG, North Carolina; Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky;
Milwaukee Bucks
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 17, No. 46
Area(s) of need: Point guard, center
If the Bucks retain RFA Khris Middleton, as expected, they'll likely be bringing back largely the same roster that stunned the Eastern Conference en route to 41 wins and a top-six seed this season – minus the recently departed Ilyasova – as virtually all of their core is locked up through 2015-16.
Given that, and the fact that they remain a young, rebuilding team despite their ahead-of-schedule success, Milwaukee would be wise to draft according to what they deem the best talent available.
If there's one position they can surely upgrade, it's at the point, where Michael Carter-Williams remains a lengthy defensive presence but an offensive detriment.
Potential targets, No. 17: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas; Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky; Tyus Jones, PG, Duke; Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame; Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
No. 46: Cliff Alexander, PF/C, Kansas
Chicago Bulls
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 22
Area(s) of need: Small forward, reserve point guard, shooting
Assuming Jimmy Butler receives and accepts the maximum contract extension he earned this season, the Bulls should return four-fifths of their starting lineup, minus pending UFA Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
With Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic adding to their dearth of capable big men behind Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, their positional needs appear to be at the three and behind Derrick Rose at the point.
Chicago actually finished in the top-10 in 3-point shooting this season, but their offense could still use more spacing.
Potential targets, No. 22: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona; Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia; Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame; Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Cleveland Cavaliers
Picks in the 2015 NBA Draft: No. 24, No. 53
Area(s) of need: Bench depth, shooting guard
Assuming the Cavs keep Kevin Love around for at least one more season and pick up Timofey Mozgov's team-friendly team option (less than $5 million), they won't exactly head into the summer with a pressing need.
Depending on what happens with RFA Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, who holds a player option for next season, they may want to add another two-guard and generally address their depth on the wings.
Potential targets, No. 24: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona; R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State; Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia; Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
No. 53: Norman Powell, SG, UCLA; Michael Frazier, SG, Florida; Olivier Hanlan, G, Boston College
