NBA Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft Projections for 1st-Round Action
The NBA playoffs are about to take flight, and that means the 2015 NBA draft is now only a couple of months out.
In this piece, we'll look at three prospects who could turn out to be major game-changing forces for whatever franchise selects them early on. One is an elite big man, one is an explosive guard with a propensity for attacking the hoop and the other is a 19-year-old star who has only felt the agony of defeat one time at the collegiate level.
But first up, let's check out an updated mock draft for all 30 NBA franchises:
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 11 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 12 | Indiana Pacers | Frank Kaminsky, F/C, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Utah Jazz | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 14 | Boston Celtics | Jakob Poetl, C, Utah |
| 15 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 16 | Milwaukee Bucks | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Oklahoma City Thunder | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via NO) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 26 | Los Angeles Lakers (via HOU) | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 27 | Boston Celtics (via LAC) | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | San Antonio Spurs | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 29 | Atlanta Hawks | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Even though the big man struggled—aside from a few crucial moments—in the national championship game against Wisconsin, there's no denying Jahlil Okafor's upside.
At 6'11", the 19-year-old center still has a ton of room to grow into his body.
The "glass half-full" approach on Okafor is that he's already a fantastic offensive player who should be able to contribute right away to any team that lands his services.
The opposite view is that he isn't the most dynamically athletic player in this year's class. Despite having great size, he doesn't really explode toward the rim like you'd hope a dominant big man would—think Anthony Davis or even Dwight Howard.
Nevertheless, because of all the great things he accomplished at Duke this past season, Okafor has a good shot to be the No. 1 overall pick. There are clearly enough positive traits loaded up in his game to dramatically reduce a franchise's predraft stress levels.
Even without that burst of athleticism, it's hard to picture Okafor not becoming a marquee playmaker for a long time. He has such a strong offensive arsenal at his disposal.
When you fire up the film, you can't help but be left astonished at all of the things he can do while working in the paint.
D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State
The top picks in this draft could very well be two big men. That shouldn't bother Ohio State combo guard D'Angelo Russell.
Russell is basketball's version of a burner. Simply put, the 6'5" guard is a fluid, speedy scorer. Of all the players in this year's draft, Russell can finish the best and create the most offensive chaos when he gets everything going.
Critics may worry about his tendency on film to sort of dematerialize at times, but his positives far outweigh any negatives.
The NBA has seen an influx of combo guards who can spread the ball around and pass with an edge—just look at James Harden of the Houston Rockets. Russell is another one of those players. He's creative enough to see the floor and find the open man without forcing too many passes into tight spaces.
In the professional ranks, it sure is lovely to have a multifaceted guard who can score, pass the ball and play with a sustained level of aggression. Russell has all three of those qualities.
Thanks to the talent and size that guys like Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns possess, Russell could fall into the No. 3 or even No. 4 overall slot. If that happens, a team like the Philadelphia 76ers or Los Angeles Lakers could wind up with one heck of a steal in the first round.
Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
The argument of who should go No. 1 between Okafor and Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns is a conversation that could go either way.
We talked about Okafor earlier and all of the things he can do around the rim. The case for Karl-Anthony Towns may be a bit more convincing.
Towns is ultra-skilled. He's a connoisseur of offense in the paint. Another coveted 19-year-old prospect, his one season in Lexington was dazzling. In 21.1 minutes per game, he averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
A major difference between Okafor and Towns is that the latter is a great shooter. He can stretch the floor at times and even fire from three-point range if needed.
When you factor in that he can block shots with the best of them and rebound immensely well, it's hard not to fall in love with Towns' upside and overall ability.
This choice should come down to preference for whichever NBA team picks first. Do you go with Towns' style of play or do you hope that Okafor—who's already special—can morph into a franchise-changing asset?
Either way, both guys should be able to help out right away.
All game scores, stats and information proved by ESPN.com, unless noted otherwise.
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