I really like both Towns and Russell, but they're not falling to 6 no matter what. After those two guys, I actually have Stanley Johnson, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Myles Turner ranked over Okafor, Winslow, and Cauley-Stein.
Jahlil Okafor is a solid big man and a better defender than he gets credit for, but I don't see him as a franchise guy. He should be a reliable scoring option who'll probably peak as an All-Star, like an Elton Brand or Al Jefferson, but to be a franchise guy he has to be the best player on a contending team and I don't see that happening. Next to Cousins I really don't see that happening. I really like Justise Winslow because he's a competitor and he plays hard, but he looks like a 3 and D roleplayer in the making. Certainly wouldn't mind having him on the team, but I don't see a huge amount of upside with him. Duke's championship run seems to have inflated his value. Willie Cauley-Stein is a bit of an enigma for me. He consistently disappointed me at Kentucky and the question I've been asking myself is whether Calipari's platoon rotations held him back or masked his weaknesses. On paper he sounds like a perfect fit -- terrific size and athletic profile, an above the rim threat if unguarded, the perfect pick-and-roll defender. If I hadn't watched him play I'd be all over him as our pick. My impression of him as a player though is that he's going to disappoint a lot of people who expect to see an All-NBA defender. He's really capable when he's locked in and focused, but his rebounding technique is poor and he doesn't have the timing and body control of an elite shotblocker. He likes to play back on the perimeter and rely on his speed and reach to close the gap on offensive players and I'm not sure that's going to work as well in the NBA. He frustrates me in the same way Jason Thompson does because I can see all the physical tools and potential there, but it doesn't come together into a player that dominates in any aspect of the game. And if he can't dominate at the college level, he's not a top 10 pick. Bajaden watches a lot more college basketball than I do though and he loves Cauley-Stein, so take my analysis for what it's worth. Personally, I hope someone else drafts him.
So my thinking at #6 is that I'll take whoever is left of Stanley Johnson and Emmanuel Mudiay. If both are on the board, I'm going to try really hard to get pick #7,8, or 9 and draft both of them. It's not because I think rookies are inherently more valuable than veterans, it's because both of them have star potential on both ends of the court and players like that are few and far between. Sure it'll take some time and patience to get them there, but we get one crack at a free agent this off-season and I feel like Cousins, Gay, free-agent to be named, and a competent supporting cast with a renewed focus under George Karl next year gives us a solid shot at a lower playoff seed. If Myles Turner is still on the board in the 11-14 range I'd try and get a pick there to add him simply because of his potential. I think he's a top 5 talent so that's a steal in the late lottery. If he does develop, your backup PF/C role is handled for the next 10 years. I'm not sure what it would take to add those additional picks though. Typically, teams ask for too much. Miami's pick could be available if they're trying to save cap space for Durant.