Ranking the Most NBA-Ready Prospects in the 2015 Draft Class

Imagine NBA teams drafting in 2015 could only keep prospects for one season. Potential, upside and long-term ceiling are phrases we can ignore. 

Instead, we're picking the guys who are going to be the top rookie performers. 

The following prospects are our 10 most NBA-ready in the field, whether it's due to their strong physical tools, skill levels or other various intangibles. 

These rankings only reflect their outlooks for 2015-16—nothing more. 

10. Jerian Grant, Notre Dame, 6'5", PG, Senior

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Jerian Grant could potentially be the oldest 2015 first-rounder if that's indeed where he gets selected. I'd bet on it. Grant looked like a pro Wednesday night in Notre Dame's win over Duke, when he went for 23 points and 12 assists after taking over down the stretch.

While Grant's 6'5" size and athleticism play to his advantage, it's his ball-screen instincts that could lead to rookie-season minutes as a backup point guard.

He has terrific vision off the dribble, particularly out of pick-and-rolls, whether he's hitting the roll man or the shooter who's rotated from the corner to the wing. Grant is also dangerous in the drive-and-kick game. He's got a knack for getting into the paint, triggering the collapse and finding the open man.

NBA coaches should value his decision making as well—he's  currently tied for No. 10 in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, per DraftExpress, and No. 8 in pure point rating, per RealGM.com.

On top of his passing ability and willingness to use it, he's also averaging 17.4 points a game and shooting a spectacular 62.4 percent on two-point field goals. Grant has the shot-making ability to score off balance and plenty of shooting range, which he showcased with a 27-foot heat-check bomb against Duke.

He'll be 23 years old by the start of the 2015-16 season. His dad Harvey was a pro and his brother Jerami plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. Jerian should have a good idea of what he's getting into. 

Grant might not go in the lottery, but I'd still expect to hear his name during NBA broadcasts in 2015-16.

9. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky, 7'0", C, Freshman

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Though Karl-Anthony Towns might be a top-five pick, at times, he doesn't quite look fully ready for college competition. "It was too physical for him," coach John Calipari told reporters after he'd benched Towns against South Carolina on Saturday, via 247Sports' Jon Hale. 

Offensively, his skill set covers a ton of ground, only he isn't quite proficient enough in any particular area just yet. He's even shown shaky touch, as he's shooting just 49.5 percent on two-pointers, a below-average number for a big man, particularly one as talented as Towns. 

However, Towns' interior presence, both defensively and under the boards, should be enough to keep him on the floor. Per 40 minutes, he averages 12 rebounds and ranks top 10 nationally in block percentage.

At 6'11", 250 pounds with a 7'3" wingspan and above-average athleticism, Towns has the tools to give teams something in the middle right away. But until he sharpens up his skills, from post scoring to outside shooting, it could be a few years before he's putting up substantial numbers.

8. Trey Lyles, Kentucky, 6'10", PF, Freshman

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Trey Lyles just might have a game tailor-made for the pros, with 6'10" size, face-up mobility and a textbook shooting stroke. 

He projects as a solid screen-and-roll or pick-and-pop power forward from day one. You get the feeling he could sit in the mid-range and knock down 18-footers all day long. He's making 44.6 percent of his two-point jumpers, per Hoop-Math, and he's shown impressive body control when it comes to finishing plays on the move. 

Lyles has been rebounding the ball at a strong rate as well, grabbing 9.7 boards per 40 minutes. 

He also has a high basketball IQ, which speaks to his NBA-readiness and role-player potential. Regardless of how ineffective his scoring attack is on any given night, he's not going to hurt your offense with poor shot selection or bad decisions. 

Lyles would seemingly fit best on a team that could surround him with talent and playmakers, but either way, he's got something to offer right away as a floor-spacer, passer and rebounder.

7. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin, 7'0", C, Senior

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At 7'0", Frank Kaminsky's ability to stretch the floor as a shooter could hold immediate value in dozens of NBA rotations. 

He's hitting 1.1 threes a game at a 40.4 percent clip off plays like pick-and-pops and drive-and-kicks. The threat he poses from outside alone forces opposing defensive bigs to leave the paint. 

With NBA center size, he also has the footwork to cause problems for laterally slow big men. Kaminsky is a tough cover facing up, where he can separate off spins and finish with body control and touch. His back-to-the-basket game, as well as his passing (2.4 assists per game, up from 1.3), have also improved. 

Whether or not Kaminsky's post skills translate is really irrelevant in terms of his 2015-16 outlook. It's his mobility and jumper for a big man that could earn him minutes right away. 

6. Mario Hezonja, Croatia, 6'8", SG/SF, 1995

European prospects aren't typically viewed as NBA-ready, but Mario Hezonja's experience overseas, along with his skill set and tools, should call for a fairly smooth transition.

Of course, it's still up in the air if he'll declare. And if he does, there's the question of whether he'll come over right away. But if he does, I wouldn't bet against Hezonja emerging as the surprise rookie in the class. 

He's playing the same role now for Barcelona as the one he''d play if he arrived in the NBA next season. As a teenager on a pro team, Hezonja is currently more of a third or fourth option whose scoring opportunities come mostly in the form of spot-up three-pointers, catch-and-slashes and finishes in transition. By next season, Hezonja should be used to operating without the ball in his hands. 

When those scoring opportunities present themselves to Hezonja at the NBA level, there's no reason to think he won't be able to deliver. At 6'8", he's a spectacular, above-the-rim high-flyer, which should translate to easy buckets in the more open, faster-paced NBA game. And Hezonja can shoot with plenty of range. Between Euroleague and Spanish ACB, 27 of his 62 made field goals have come from behind the arc.

He's still more of a long-term prospect, but there's a good chance Hezonja can bring something to the table quicker than his background or age suggest.

5. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, 7'0", C, Junior

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You might look at Willie Cauley-Stein's raw ball skills and think he's still a few years away from being able to contribute. But at the NBA level, teams won't be asking him to shoot or score. They'll want him playing to his strengths as a finisher, rebounder, rim protector and versatile defender.

And at 7'0", 240 pounds with NFL wide receiver-type athleticism, you'd like to think those strengths should translate seamlessly. 

Think Tyson Chander, who impacts games consistently without a go-to move or jumper.

As long as his motor stays charged, Cauley-Stein has the ability to single-handledly disrupt an opposing team's offensive set. From shot-blocking and denying the post to switching on pick-and-rolls on the perimeter, he covers an incredible amount of defensive ground. For what it's worth, he has the No. 1 defensive rating in the country, per sports-reference.com.

Though limited in what he can do offensively, Cauley-Stein still offers his guards a giant high-percentage finishing target around the rim, where he's shooting 74.3 percent, per Hoop-Math.

There's a chance he could be even more effective than he is now when he's playing alongside better scorers and playmakers. The numbers might not be there early, but the minutes should be. 

4. Stanley Johnson, Arizona, 6'7", SF, Freshman

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As good as Stanley Johnson is with the ball, it's that 6'7", powerful 245-pound frame that ultimately separates him from most small forwards. He's got 45 pounds of muscle on a kid like Andrew Wiggins, who plays the same position. 

Regardless of how many points he averages as a rookie, Johnson's physical approach and ability to play through contact should allow him to contribute minutes right off the bat.

He even created buzz at the LeBron James Nike Skills Academy this summer, when he went toe-to-toe with James himself. "The whole week when I'm playing during the games, he's there watching and I'm like, 'You're next,'" Johnson said of James at the time via ESPN's Myron Medcalf.

Fearless and confident, he also has the tools to defend from day one. Coaches are bound to value the versatility Johnson offers as well—the ability to guard two to three positions, given his size, strength and foot speed.

The fact that he shoots 40.7 percent from downtown will keep him on the floor too. Though he's currently Arizona's first scoring option, he'll likely be doing a lot more spotting up next year as a No. 3 to No. 5 option. And that jumper is going to come in handy. 

Johnson has struggled at the rim this season, and chances are his field-goal percentage won't look like the 48.8 percent he's shooting now. But between his toughness, strength, athleticism and shot-making skills, he'd be able to hold his own in an NBA game tomorrow.

3. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State, 6'5", PG/SG, Freshman

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D'Angelo Russell has everything working for him, from his physical tools and skill set to his overall mental approach. 

Whether you view him as a point guard, a shooting guard, a combo guard—it shouldn't matter. Russell's versatility should quickly translate to success at both backcourt positions. 

He's a world-class passer, which obviously plays to his favor as a facilitator. Russell averages 5.2 assists per game despite also being the leading freshman scorer in the country (19.4 points per game).

His offensive skills are razor sharp. Pull-ups, floaters, step-backs, fallaways in the post—Russell's ability to create and knock down contested shots should go a long way for him in the pros, next year and down the road. 

While we've seen him take over with the ball in his hands, at 6'5", Russell is just as capable sliding off it at the 2, where he's a lethal shooter making 2.9 three-pointers per game at a red-hot 45.4 percent clip.

On top of his A-plus fundamentals, Russell's basketball IQ and maturity are both years ahead of most kids his age. There really isn't much to question with regard to his long- or short-term outlook.

2. Emmanuel Mudiay, China, 6'5", PG, 1996

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China might not be known for its basketball or player development, but the CBA still consists of grown men and professionals, some of which were previous NBA draft picks. And at 18 years old, Emmanuel Mudiay more than held his own for the 10 games he lasted prior to injuring his ankle.

Whether you put any stock into his 17.7-point and 5.9-assist averages, the eye-test results were encouraging. He looks the part, from his physical tools and burst to his skill set and feel for the game. 

At 6'5", Mudiay has the size and quickness to physically match up with any point guard in the league. And he can run an offense. 

Mudiay is clever out of pick-and-rolls and off drive-and-kick opportunities. He's always looking for teammates but can just as easily turn it on as a scorer. Floaters, runners, pull-ups, fallways, acrobatic finishes—Mudiay can separate and convert from a number of different angles. 

A shaky jumper will hurt his field-goal percentage. And he tends to try and avoid contact at the rim a little too frequently, resulting in off-balance misses in traffic. But not even NBA defenses will be able to shut down a teenage Mudiay with the ball. Depending on where he ends up, he should be right there in the running for 2016 Rookie of the Year. 

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke, 6'11", PF/C, Freshman

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As high as his NBA ceiling is, part of the appeal to Jahlil Okafor is that he can give you something right away. 

At 6'11", 270 pounds with a 7'5" wingspan, he's a massive presence in the paint, whether he's 19 years old or 29. 

Okafor should be able to immediately move defenders with his body from opening night. He also happens to be as skilled in the post as anyone we've seen in years.

With Okafor, it's not just about his strength—it's the quickness, footwork and touch he blends it with. While he can activate bully mode against the weaker defenders, he can just as easily shake and bake when matched up against bulkier, stronger big men. 

Even if limited explosiveness diminishes the effectiveness of Okafor's offense early on, his size and soft hands should inevitably still lead to easy buckets and rebounds.

It's going to take a few seasons for Okafor to catch up at the defensive end, but feel free to pencil him in as your 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year favorite.