NBA Mock Draft 2015: Opening-Round Predictions and Rising Prospects to Watch

In the background of the epic Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors showdown rests a 30-team league jockeying for the best possible position heading into the 2015 NBA draft.

Whether it's exploring trade ideas, wiggling around for cap room, keeping an eye on potential free agents or keeping it basic with film study of top prospects, the NBA is alight with activity despite just two teams still alive in the playoffs.

In unison, top prospects continue to shuffle around on the stock market as teams watch film and partake in interviews and workouts. It's a wild time, but also the best time of year for fans as a newfound hope begins to creep in, even for the rebuilding franchises.

Let's take a look at a fresh mock based on the stock market and team needs, then highlight some of the recent big winners of the draft process.

2015 NBA First-Round Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Minnesota Timberwolves	Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky
3	Philadelphia 76ers	Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
4	New York Knicks	D'Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State
5	Orlando Magic	Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
6	Sacramento Kings	Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
7	Denver Nuggets	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
8	Detroit Pistons	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
9	Charlotte Hornets	Kelly Oubre, SG, Kansas
10	Miami Heat	Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia
11	Indiana Pacers	Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin
12	Utah Jazz	Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
13	Phoenix Suns	Myles Turner, C/PF, Texas
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	Cameron Payne, SG, Murray State
15	Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn Nets)	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
16	Boston Celtics	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
18	Houston Rockets (from New Orleans Pelicans)	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
19	Washington Wizards	Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
20	Toronto Raptors	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
21	Dallas Mavericks	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
22	Chicago Bulls	Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
24	Cleveland Cavaliers	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
26	San Antonio Spurs	Delon Wright, PG, Utah
27	Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets)	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
28	Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers)	Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
29	Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks)	Rakeem Christmas, PF, Syracuse
30	Golden State Warriors	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV

Top Rising Prospects

Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

It's to the point with the 2015 class that there is just one point guard who stands alone after D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay—Murray State's Cameron Payne.

Before the predraft process, folks didn't know a ton about Payne and put him right with, or even behind, players such as Notre Dame's Jerian Grant and Duke's Tyus Jones.

Those days are well in the past for the guy who averaged 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists as a sophomore, a guy who just missed on the Big Dance, a platform he needed to become a household sensation.

Payne continues to make up for lost time, though, putting on great interviews and workouts with teams, hence dates with two of the more important teams in the draft, as Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears details:

There's no looking back for Payne, who projects as a solid pro right out of the gates thanks to his high on-court IQ helping him to get others involved, as well as his ability to produce on and off the ball thanks to his offensive ability.

While Payne's rise received a delay thanks to factors out of his control, he's using the things he can to solidify a top selection.

Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

It seems almost impossible for a lesser-known big man to stick out in such a deep class.

There are headliners such as Duke's Jahlil Okafor, high-upside guys such as Myles Turner and even promising mid-round guys such as Frank Kaminsky and Bobby Portis.

Good luck figuring out where the situation leaves a talented prospect such as Louisville's Montrezl Harrell.

As a junior, Harrell posted averages of 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game, but it seems his stature at 6'8" and 253 pounds turns some teams off when it comes to draft stock, especially in a deep class.

As a general manager tells ESPN.com's Chad Ford, though, size isn't everything:

"

He has the game of a center. But you write him off because of his size. But when you factor in his 9-1 standing reach he's on par with Kaminsky. And you know he has the strength and engine to compete in the middle. I think he could surprise some people and be a Ben Wallace-type big in our league.

"

Thanks to a freakish athletic showing at the NBA Draft Combine, teams in the middle of the round may find it difficult to take a pass on such upside.

Also keep in mind it takes just one team to fall in love and pull the trigger on Harrell earlier than most expect. There's little doubt teams see the upside with a bit of grooming, which places the Louisville product closer to the bigger names than they would perhaps prefer.

R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

It's all about shooting these days thanks to big names such as Stephen Curry.

The slight shift in league makeup creates room for someone like Georgia State's R.J. Hunter to surprise on draft day. Last year as a junior, he averaged 19.7 points per game with one of the sweetest shooting strokes around, converting 30 percent of his attempts from deep and 40 percent from the floor.

Hunter won't blow anyone away with his athleticism at 6'6" and 185 pounds, but as Ford himself writes, even the physical numbers can deceive, and role plays a big factor:

"

The bigger issue is whether he can do anything else. Can he defend? He has the long arms to do so, and his lane agility scores were among the top at the combine which suggest yes. Is he a good enough athlete? He lacks strength and doesn't possess explosive leaping ability (he measured with a 33.5-inch max vert), but it really depends on what you're asking him to do.

"

There's plenty of room for spot-up shooters in the first round of drafts these days. Most picks outside of the lottery are such a gamble that teams look for a sure thing, even in a smallish role, which Hunter provides in droves thanks to his shooting prowess.

Of course, Hunter can also continue to develop into a more versatile threat on both ends of the court, but in the meantime, he can knock down shots when coaches need it most, a valuable asset for most teams on its own.

With a lack of surefire shooters in the class after Kentucky's Devin Booker, look for Hunter to be one of the headline acts in the post-draft "surprise" breakdowns.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.