2015 NBA Mock Draft: Bold Predictions for High-Profile Prospects
With one-half of the Elite Eight field set, talent evaluators have yet another layer of NCAA tournament action to consider as they gather information for the upcoming NBA draft. Some high-profile players haven't been able to shine in the confines of their team's offense.
Scouts will have to see through this in some cases to identify the prospect's upside. It's the opposite for other NBA hopefuls.
Their offense is centered around them in a way that it won't be on the next level. Can they find a niche in the NBA? I'll examine three prominent players and evaluate what they can become in the NBA.
The spotlighted names are highlighted in the table below.
| 1 | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke | New York Knicks |
| 2 | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Kentucky | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 3 | D'Angelo Russell, SG/PG, Ohio State | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 4 | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG/SG, Congo | L.A. Lakers |
| 5 | Stanley Johnson, SF/PF, Arizona | Orlando Magic |
| 6 | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame | Sacramento Kings |
| 7 | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky | Detroit Pistons |
| 8 | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke | Denver Nuggets |
| 9 | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) |
| 10 | Mario Hezonja, SF/SG, Croatia | Charlotte Hornets |
| 11 | Myles Turner, C/PF, Texas | Indiana Pacers |
| 12 | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin | Utah Jazz |
| 13 | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA | Phoenix Suns |
| 14 | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SG/SF, Arizona | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) |
| 15 | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas | Boston Cetics |
| 16 | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky | Philadelphia 76ers (via Miami Heat) |
| 17 | Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 18 | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 19 | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky | Washington Wizards |
| 20 | Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan | Chicago Bulls |
| 21 | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville | Toronto Raptors |
| 22 | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin | Dallas Mavericks |
| 23 | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State | San Antonio Spurs |
| 24 | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 25 | Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma | Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers) |
| 26 | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 27 | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington | L.A. Lakers (via Houston Rockets) |
| 28 | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 29 | Delon Wright, PG, Utah | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) |
| 30 | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas | Golden State Warriors |
Karl-Anthony Towns
Widely viewed as the member of the vaunted Kentucky Wildcats with the most upside, Karl-Anthony Towns will never get an opportunity to spread his enormously long wings in college. Seeing as though his college career isn't likely to have more than three more games left in it, we should be seeing KAT on the next level soon.
The 7-footer is a gifted passer with great timing as a shot-blocker. He's not an explosive athlete, and his attention can wane at times during the game.
This tendency could land him in the doghouse with many NBA coaches. He's just 19 years old, so he has time to work out many of the kinks. Because you can't teach the vision and feel for the game he seems to possess, KAT won't slip out of the top four under any circumstances.
As you can see from the mock draft above, I'm not a proponent of selecting him No. 1 overall. I believe a team like the New York Knicks can't afford to gamble with their pick. The safest prospect is still the Duke Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor.
When all is said and done, Okafor's work ethic and fundamentals are more sound. He's a fiercer competitor, and I believe that will make him a better pro than KAT.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Kentucky's other big with early lottery potential is Willie Cauley-Stein. Defensively, he's already ready to play in the NBA, but his offense is raw—and that's being kind. Per Hoop-Math.com, WCS shoots just 35.7 percent on jump shots from two-point range.
He's long and explosive, but he doesn't have much beyond dunks to offer an offense at this point in his career. That's fine, as long as the team that drafts him understands the type of player it is getting.
WCS is very much like a young Tyson Chandler. That could be a godsend for a team in need of a defensive presence in the middle, like the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks or Phoenix Suns.
I have him landing in Motown where the Detroit Pistons may have to replace unrestricted free agent Greg Monroe. Cauley-Stein could play alongside Andre Drummond or back him up at center. In either case, his defense would really help Detroit's interior protection.
Frank Kaminsky
Athleticism isn't Frank Kaminsky's best attribute. He'll have a hard time guarding any NBA big who is capable of putting the ball on the floor off the dribble.
That said, Kaminsky can be effective in the post with his soft touch from the perimeter.
In the 2014-15 season, he has made 49 percent of his two-point jumpers and 40 percent of his threes. At 7-feet tall with solid footwork and a high release, he has the makings of a rare offensive threat who can cause matchup problems.
Defensively, he may need to be hidden, but if he plays with a team that has versatile defenders, that aspect of his game may not be as easily exposed. Kaminsky could shine as a reserve in Utah or with the Boston Celtics. I don't see him as a starter on a good NBA team.
Because this draft isn't loaded, he could still be a late lottery selection.
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