* Lakers take Russell second, 76ers grab Okafor third
* Knicks pick Latvian Kristaps Porzingis with fourth pick (Updates at end of first round)
NEW YORK, June 25 (Reuters) - Kentucky's versatile big man Karl-Anthony Towns was the expected first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft but surprises followed at Barclays Center on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, two once-proud franchises, made big bets on players with potential while two international players were among the top five choices.
Towns, 19, is considered an ideal modern NBA big man with a combination of dominant defense, low post scoring brilliance and an outside shot -- qualities craved by a Minnesota team that has not made the playoffs since 2004.