2015 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Predictions and Top Storylines to Watch
The 2015 NBA draft is starting to take shape thanks in large part to a strong class that could go in any number of directions. Usually, the first pick is a given months in advance, but there's still some debate about the top player available.
In some cases, not having a definitive No. 1 would be the sign of a weak class, but in this instance, it speaks to how well-regarded Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns are heading into the meat of evaluation season.
Another interesting aspect of this draft is the teams at the top. From a market-size perspective, having the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers picking at or near the top is an unusual occurrence.
Well, maybe not the Knicks and the 76ers, but the Lakers are back in the lottery for the second straight year. This is a critical summer for those rebuilding franchises, so being able to get the right fit who can contribute right away is going to be fascinating to watch.
Here's a look at our latest mock draft followed by the top storylines to watch before June 25 rolls around.
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 2 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Congo |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Justin Anderson, SG, Virginia |
| 20 | Chicago Bulls | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 21 | Toronto Raptors | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 22 | Dallas Mavericks | Aleksandar Vezenkov, SF, Bulgaria |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 26 | Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 28 | Memphis Grizzlies | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) | Caris LeVert, SF, Michigan |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
Jahlil Okafor's Separating Trait
There's room to argue that Towns' ceiling is higher than Okafor's, making him a better option for the Knicks at No. 1. But the Duke star has two things that will give him the edge when it comes time for Phil Jackson and Co. to make the pick.
One is completely irrelevant to what kind of player Okafor will eventually be, and that is star power enhanced by winning an NCAA title. The Knicks are in such a sad state right now that they ran out a roster in March that had players with fewer total minutes in their careers than Tim Duncan had in his career, per SportsCenter:
A lot of that had to do with the injury to Carmelo Anthony, but it also speaks to the lack of depth in New York right now. Okafor may not be able to save the franchise on his own, but he will at least give the team a young player to build around and get some positive headlines for once.
The other reason Okafor has an edge over Towns is because his offensive game is more developed. He can score in the post, which is hard to find from a college player, so the Knicks should have no problem popping him.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated wrote about why Okafor was putting a firm grasp on the top pick as the college season wound down:
"Okafor shook off a sluggish start to March with a 28-point, eight-rebound effort in Duke’s loss to Notre Dame in the ACC tournament. He continues to impress scouts with his play in the post and with his defense, and while still rough around the edges, he has improved as the season has progressed.
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Okafor isn't a liability on defense, averaging 1.4 blocks per game, but it's the weakest part of his game and will need to develop in order for him to become an All-Star NBA player.
Towns is the polar opposite, with a developing offensive presence and defensive prowess. NBA teams will almost always bet on the scorer figuring out defense instead of the other way around when it comes to the No. 1 pick.
Rebuilding Los Angeles
There seems to be a wide gap between where the people running the Lakers believe this franchise is and where it actually is. Anyone watching the team over the last two years can tell it is in a dangerous transition phase that would be best served with a roster rebuild.
In March, Lakers President and Governor Jeanie Buss did an interview with the Los Angeles News Group (h/t Matt Moore of CBS Sports) that made it sound like this team is going to contend sooner than later.
"I've been assured by our basketball operations that the team will be back in contention soon," she said. "If we are not meeting those goals, then changes have to occur. I have no reason not to believe them when they tell me that's what they can deliver. I don't see what would be holding them back."
Buss did go on to say that if the plan didn't work, changes would be made. The question is, what is the plan Buss, Lakers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak have in mind?
Free agency blew up in their faces last summer, which led to the current situation with players such as Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer. Since Kobe Bryant is still on the roster for at least one more year, the Lakers can't sell a rebuild to their iconic player and fans.
But having two first-round picks, including one in the top five, gives the Lakers a chance to build a much-improved roster that costs a fraction of what Lin, Boozer and some of the other players currently on the team are making.
Above all else, the Lakers have to address the point guard position. Steve Nash was a disaster from the beginning before retiring. Jordan Clarkson has been solid this season, but there is a ceiling to what he can do and a plethora of players at the position where the Lakers are projected to pick.
D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay are the top two point guards in this class, so at least one will be available to take his talents to Los Angeles. Russell is the known quantity, putting on a show for Ohio State in the NCAA tournament.
Here's what ESPN Insider Chad Ford said about Russell after the Buckeyes' win against VCU:
Where teams believe Russell can play will determine his potential, as it's not outside the realm of possibility that he will end up a 2-guard.
Unfortunately, the 76ers are also in the market for a point guard and picking ahead of Los Angeles in this scenario. That leaves the Lakers with Mudiay, who isn't a bad alternative, based on scout comments to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"You can't go wrong with either kid," the scout said. "Whoever is on the board, that's who you take. One of them will still be on the board at three or maybe four."
Whether it's Russell or Mudiay, the Lakers will have their point guard of the future to pair with the returning Julius Randle and a late first-round pick. They could hypothetically use that pick in any potential trade they might make in free agency as well.
There are certainly options for the Lakers to play with, but the most important thing is coming out of this draft with a star-level point guard.
Speaking of Philadelphia...
Let's think about the 76ers for a moment. This is a franchise that has alienated an entire fanbase, drawn the ire of analysts and been unable to find a franchise cornerstone amid all the losing that's taken place since 2013.
In other words, general manager Sam Hinkie would seem to be on the hot seat because Philadelphia has become an NBA laughingstock.
But if you examine how the team has drafted over the last two years, it's not like the 76ers are doing illogical things. Nerlens Noel, who was in the mix to go No. 1 overall before getting hurt in 2013, ranked second on a big board Ford compiled from the scouting community the year Noel came out of Kentucky.
The New Orleans Pelicans took Noel sixth overall and traded his rights to Philadelphia. He's playing this year and still developing, but he wasn't a bad selection.
In 2014, many people considered Joel Embiid the top pick before foot problems caused him to slip. The 76ers had to keep him out all year, similar to what happened with Noel, but the potential value he adds made him worth a shot at No. 3 overall once Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were off the board.
This isn't to defend all the moves Hinkie has made, such as trading Michael Carter-Williams and loading up on second-round draft picks, but his top picks have been justifiable.
All of the criticism will be valid if Hinkie screws up 2015, with the 76ers in the mix for the No. 1 pick and likely looking at a top-three selection in a worst-case scenario. He understands the situation based on these comments to reporters after the trade deadline, per The Associated Press (via USA Today):
""We will not bat 1.000 on every single draft pick,' Hinkie said. 'We also have them by the bushel-full."
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"We're all focused on the same thing — like how we do build something really special? How do we build something that can win at the highest level? And how do you have the fortitude not to take shortcuts? We talk about that a lot."
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For all the complaining about Hinkie and Philadelphia, how do you win in the NBA? With superstars. The Sixers dealt some nice role players, but name one legitimate superstar the team let go before complaining.
Now, since top-tier free agents wouldn't sign with a franchise even hovering around .500, what purpose does it serve to try building a team that can compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference before losing in the first round?
Basically, turning into the skid and accruing all sorts of draft picks would give the 76ers a better chance to find their Anthony Davis or Andrew Wiggins. They will also have Embiid coming back next year to pair with Noel.
Adding a player like Russell to that frontcourt duo would make the 76ers much more interesting next year than they have been in years.
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