2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Most Intriguing Prospects

As the NBA playoffs move closer toward their conclusion, the hype surrounding the 2015 NBA draft continues to grow as several teams will have an opportunity to select players with franchise-changing ability.

Some might argue that the 2015 class is top heavy due to the presence of players like Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke center Jahlil Okafor, but there is plenty of value to be had throughout the rest of the first round as well. The question marks will accumulate as the round progresses, but there is undeniable talent to be had in the latter stages of the opening round as well.

With June's draft from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York only a month away, here is a full, first-round mock draft along with further analysis regarding some of the most intriguing prospects likely to come off the board in the first round.

Pick No.	Team	Player
1	Minnesota Timberwolves	Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
3	Philadelphia 76ers	D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
4	New York Knicks	Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
5	Orlando Magic	Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
6	Sacramento Kings	Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
7	Denver Nuggets	Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia
8	Detroit Pistons	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
9	Charlotte Hornets	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
10	Miami Heat	Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
11	Indiana Pacers	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
12	Utah Jazz	Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
13	Phoenix Suns	Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
15	Atlanta Hawks (from BKN)	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
16	Boston Celtics	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Myles Turner, C, Texas
18	Houston Rockets (from NO)	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
19	Washington Wizards	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
20	Toronto Raptors	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
21	Dallas Mavericks	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
22	Chicago Bulls	Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
24	Cleveland Cavaliers	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Delon Wright, G, Utah
26	San Antonio Spurs	Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
27	Los Angeles Lakers (from HOU)	Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
28	Boston Celtics (from LAC)	Norman Powell, SG, UCLA
29	Brooklyn Nets (from ATL)	Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
30	Golden State Warriors	Robert Upshaw, C, Washington

Analyzing Intriguing Prospects

Christian Wood

Following a breakout sophomore season at UNLV that saw him average nearly 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game, Christian Wood declared for the NBA draft, and his rare combination of skills figures to pique the interest of many teams.

He has excellent size at 6'11", but he is more than capable of moving outside the paint as well. That type of versatility is extremely valuable, and it is something that could potentially push him to the brink of being a lottery pick.

It is difficult to get a gauge on how much teams value him, though, as evidenced by this tweet courtesy of Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com:

"

I think the player I have the least idea what to do with on my board is Christian Wood. Legit could go from 14-28 and it wouldn’t shock me.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 21, 2015"

The biggest thing that Wood has working in his favor is the fact that he isn't one-dimensional. According to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune, Wood believes he can do a little bit of everything at the next level:

"I can play different positions," Wood said. "I'm versatile. I shoot the ball to three and I feel like I can be good in the pick and pop and pick and roll."

In addition to that, Wood certainly isn't lacking when it comes to confidence. Per Jessica Camerato of BasketballInsiders.com, he is already hoping to mix it up with one of the NBA's best offensive players in Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant:

"

I think the player I have the least idea what to do with on my board is Christian Wood. Legit could go from 14-28 and it wouldn’t shock me.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 21, 2015"

That willingness is impressive, and there is no doubt that it would be an interesting matchup due to Wood's frame and ability to defend all over the floor.

The big man is undoubtedly one of the most unpredictable prospects in this draft, but the team that selects him will be getting a potential stud if his abilities translate to the next level.

Delon Wright

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The University of Utah enjoyed a surprisingly strong 2014-15 season, and there is no question that the play of guard Delon Wright was among the biggest reasons for that.

With 14.5 points, fives assists and nearly five rebounds per game, the Los Angeles native was absolutely spectacular for the Utes. He shot over 50 percent from the field despite being a guard, and he also managed to hit from beyond the arc at a 36-percent clip, while nailing nearly 84 percent of his free throws.

Efficiency is the name of the game in basketball, and Wright was among the most efficient players in the nation last season. From a statistical standpoint, ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton ranks Wright as a player deserving of a lottery selection, according to ESPN.com's Mike Mazzeo:

Despite that, most mock drafts have Wright falling into the latter portion of the first round. Brad Evans of Yahoo! Sports doesn't understand why he isn't more highly touted after two excellent seasons at Utah:

Wright is an ideal combo guard capable of scoring the basketball as well as he distributes it. That type of guard has become a hot commodity in the NBA in recent years with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard serving as a prime example.

While Wright may not quite be at Lillard's level, he is a multi-talented player who has a great chance to outperform his draft position provided he is utilized properly.

Terry Rozier

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Guard Terry Rozier's role at Louisville increased significantly this past season, and the Youngstown, Ohio native was up to the task as he averaged 17 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists per game while establishing himself as a potential first-round pick.

Rozier doesn't have great size at 6'1", but he is an explosive and tough player who led the Cardinals deep in the NCAA tournament despite few expecting them to advance all the way to the Elite Eight.

As good as Rozier was during the season, he has seemingly helped his stock even more since the conclusion of the campaign. According to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, he was among the most impressive performers at the combine:

After watching his performance, Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com believes Rozier's star is very much on the rise:

Rozier could have problems against physical defenders at the next level since he isn't particularly big, but he is as scrappy as they come in his own right, so he should be able to make up for what he lacks in height with stick-to-itiveness.

If Rozier is taken in the first round, it is very likely that he'll be among the final picks. He probably won't be expected to make a major impact immediately, but as seen during his time at Louisville, he is a rapidly improving player who could get acclimated to the professional game fairly quickly.

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