Every Top-5 NBA Lottery Team's 2015 Draft Board Entering March Madness

While the top 2015 NBA draft prospects prepare for the NCAA tournament, lottery teams are making preparations of their own.

Every franchise must put together a wish list, compiling their preferred rankings of the most talented candidates from the amateur ranks. Finding the right order is even more critical for clubs at the top end of the lottery.

To give you an idea of who each squad covets (and what their most glaring needs are), we put together a war-room draft board for each top-five lottery team.

For some franchises, the highest-ranked player on the board reflects their most pressing weakness. For others, the prospect who tops their charts is simply the best draft candidate in the field. We've also broken down the best-case and worst-case scenarios for each team, whether they win the draft lottery and pick first or fall as far as they can down the draft rankings.

What if each high-lottery club had their pick of the 2015 litter?

New York Knicks

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

2014-15: 15th in Eastern Conference

Projected Draft Slot: No. 1 (25 percent chance to win lottery)

Biggest Needs: Point guard, center

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C

3. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio St. G

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, China PG

5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona SF

Best-Case: Jahlil Okafor

If New York lands first in the lottery, it will have several tempting choices. Phil Jackson's outfit needs help in almost every area, so the most beneficial route may be to pick the best player.

Okafor is that guy, as he's already a phenomenal low-post beast and will only get better.

The Knicks are in desperate need of an anchor in the middle, as no true center outside of Amar'e Stoudemire (now with the Dallas Mavericks) has averaged more than eight points per game for them this year. Duke's big man could be a superb interior catalyst who gives the team someone to lean on in the frontcourt.

He won't noticeably improve their defense, especially early in his career. But Carmelo Anthony's need for offensive help is as dire as any other privation, and Okafor is built to produce. He'll instantly make life better for 'Melo while making play-calling easier for coach Derek Fisher.

"[Okafor's] purely dominant post offensive game doesn't come around often, and I think a good amount of his defensive issues are manageable," wrote Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports.

Worst-Case: Emmanuel Mudiay at No. 4

This scenario isn't awful at all. Sure, the Knicks miss out on a premier big man, but they fill a huge need at point guard.

The Knicks have needed a dynamic playmaker in the backcourt for too long, and the 19-year-old Mudiay is the type of igniter who could change the complexion of their offense. He's an attack-mode guard who can deftly dish the rock or score above the rim.

Think about New York's point guards in recent years—guys like Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Raymond Felton, Jeremy Lin, etc. None of them have (or had) the mix of size and burst that Mudiay could provide, so he could give the squad a new identity.

Minnesota Timberwolves

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2014-15: 15th in Western Conference

Projected Draft Slot: No. 2 (19.9 percent chance to win lottery)

Biggest Needs: Rim protector, stretch 4

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C

2. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio St. G

3. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, China PG

5. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia PF

Best-Case: Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota needs to add a lengthy interior defender, and it must also incorporate more shooting skill to their frontcourt. Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic can't really space the floor, and Adreian Payne isn't a high-volume option moving forward.

Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns fills both holes for T'Wolves coach Flip Saunders, supplying offensive firepower at the 4 or 5 while blanketing the rim with his length. Although he's still a little raw defensively, his coverage and shot-blocking talent is readily apparent.

As a scorer, he's on a fast track to become a legitimate inside-out threat. Towns is dangerous when working with his back to the basket, and he can also keep opponents honest with his jumper. Kentucky coach John Calipari trusts feeding the ball to Towns in the post during crunch time as if he's an upperclassman.

"I've got enough confidence in him to go to him to shoot free throws," Calipari told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach. "That's how much I think of him. We know he has the courage and has the skill and ability."

Worst-Case: Kristaps Porzingis at No. 5

Much like New York, this isn't a dreadful situation for Minnesota despite plummeting to fifth in the lottery. However, there's a significant drop-off in value compared to the top couple of prospects.

At worst, Kristaps Porzingis will help the Timberwolves spread the floor. He's already hitting copious triples from the international line at a 37 percent clip, and he figures to become a legitimate three-point threat in the NBA soon.

As a plus, the Latvian's length and agility will alter some shots and help Minny improve its interior defense. He's not the strongest defender right now, but he has tangible upside on that end.

Philadelphia 76ers

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

2014-15: 14th in Eastern Conference

Projected Draft Slot: No. 3 (15.6 percent chance to win lottery)

Biggest Needs: Point guard, shooter in backcourt or wing

1. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio St. G

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C

3. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, China PG

5. Mario Hezonja, Croatia SG/SF

Best-Case: D'Angelo Russell

The Philadelphia 76ers' approach could vary drastically depending on where they land in the lottery. But if their top choices are available, they should add some playmaking juice and backcourt scoring punch.

Their selection of D'Angelo Russell is based off the need for a point guard and efficient shooter. General manager Sam Hinkie's willingness to trade Michael Carter-Williams indicates that he could be eyeing a backcourt stud like Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay.

One NBA scout is confident that either one would be a significant upgrade over MCW.

"They are more devoted to their craft," the scout told Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "And I think they both have a higher IQ."

Philly loves to shoot from long range, but it's hitting just 32 percent from beyond the arc. Russell's a 42 percent shooter from the college line, and he projects to be a smooth multipurpose guard.

Most lottery teams wouldn't pass on Okafor and Towns, but as we've learned over the past couple of years, the Hinkie-led Sixers aren't like most teams.

Worst-Case: Stanley Johnson at No. 6

Should the Sixers slide out of the top five and miss out on all five of their top choices, they could still make a huge upgrade at the wing and bring in Stanley Johnson.

Arizona's sturdy freshman would make Philly more multidimensional on both ends of the floor. He handles the ball, attacks the rim, shoots from the perimeter, rebounds and defends stingily. Johnson would remind a lot of Sixers fans of Andre Iguodala, given his versatility and playing style.

While Johnson won't be the prolific scorer Brett Brown needs, he can be a critical part of the team's quest to go from "promising" to "competitive."

Los Angeles Lakers

USA TODAY Sports

2014-15: 14th in Western Conference

Projected Draft Slot: No. 4 (11.9 percent chance to win lottery)

Biggest Needs: Point guard, center, wing

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C

3. Emmanuel Mudiay, China PG

4. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio St. PG

5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona SF

Best-Case: Jahlil Okafor

Mitch Kupchak and Co. have several gaping deficiencies to address this offseason, and the draft could give them a superb guard, center or small forward.

Although the Lakers' need for a point guard might be more pressing than anything else, it's not so much worse than the other areas to necessitate taking a point man at No. 1. If LA wins the top spot, it would do well to secure their big man for the future.

Jahlil Okafor won't become the next Shaquille O'Neal or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but he could be the next championship-level center for the Lakers franchise. He's got the size, skill level and pedigree to be one of the franchise's cornerstones alongside Julius Randle.

A February report by ESPN Insider's Chad Ford revealed that Okafor was atop their draft board. We don't know whether things have changed since then, but it illustrates how much they value him. 

Worst-Case: Lakers Lose the Pick

As part of the 2012 Steve Nash trade, the Lakers agreed to trade their 2015 first-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns. It's "top-five protected," so they only get to keep the pick if they remain in one of the top five draft slots.

In the unfortunate event they fall out of the top five between now and draft night, the pick automatically goes to the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired rights to the pick from the Suns as part of the recent three-way trade-deadline deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

This would be the epitome of "worst-case scenario" on lottery night. LA would go from potentially having a top-five draft prize in the fold to suddenly being out of the first-round party.

Orlando Magic

Phil Sandlin/Associated Press

2014-15: 13th in Eastern Conference

Projected Draft Slot: No. 5 (8.8 percent chance to win lottery)

Biggest Needs: Swingman, stretch 4

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky PF/C

2. Stanley Johnson, Arizona SF

3. Jahlil Okafor, Duke C

4. Mario Hezonja, Croatia SG/SF

5. Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia PF

Best-Case: Karl-Anthony Towns

Stanley Johnson would be a magnificent pick for Orlando if they land in their projected range, but things change if they jump all the way up to the No. 1 spot.

With apologies to Channing Frye, the Magic need a stretch big for the future. Towns doesn't yet have a productive three-point jumper, but he clearly has the potential to space the floor and excel in pick-and-pop scenarios.

Kentucky's young stud would complement Nikola Vucevic wonderfully, giving him some much-needed defensive support and drawing opponents' attention on the other end. Towns would also mesh with forwards like Tobias Harris and Aaron Gordon, giving Orlando some flexible lineup scenarios.

Worst-Case: Kevon Looney at No. 8

The Magic would undoubtedly be bummed to miss out on both Stanley Johnson and Mario Hezonja, not to mention the chance for a top-five prospect. Either one of those swingmen could be an awesome fit on this roster.

In the event that the basketball gods punish them with a tumble to No. 8, expect Orlando to look at a shooting forward like UCLA's Kevon Looney.

The 6'9" power forward would supply inside-out scoring and give the squad insurance if Tobias Harris leaves via free agency. Looney also gives the team another rebounder, which is something they could use (Orlando gets out-rebounded 43.5 to 41.2 per game).

Dan O'Brien covers the NBA draft for Bleacher Report.

Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR