2015 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions and Analysis for Top Prospects Available
With the NBA lottery set, we can now get to the business of really digging into the 2015 draft. This year features a deep talent pool, and most teams would love to sneak into the top four. There appears to be a bit of a separation between the top four options on the board and the rest of the field (though Justise Winslow fans might disagree).
Below, you'll find a full first-round mock draft, but I'll also go through the top prospects and the best possible fit for them. While it isn't guaranteed these lottery teams will end up with the following players, each squad offers something in particular that makes it a great fit for one or more of the top prospects.
Let's break it down.
Mock Draft
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, G/F, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Willie Cauley-Stein, PF, Kentucky |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers* | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz* | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| End of Lottery | ||
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Nets) | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks* | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls* | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF/SG, Arizona |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Caris LeVert, SF, Michigan |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs* | Justin Anderson, F, Virginia |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies* | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets)* | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Clippers)* | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
Jahlil Okafor: Los Angeles Lakers
How many NBA players wouldn't want to be the future face of the Los Angeles Lakers?
Of course, there are more reasons why Jahlil Okafor should want to surface with the Lakers. He'll have a perimeter presence to pair with in Kobe Bryant and one of the game's greatest players of all time to learn from. The team has another promising young post player in Julius Randle who will gobble up rebounds and pair nicely with Okafor. Finally, you know going forward that the Lakers will aggressively pursue top free agents.
Okafor is as skilled a post scorer as the draft has seen in years, but he has his flaws, too. In Los Angeles, he'll be part of an organization that will find a way to surround him with players who mitigate those flaws and allow him to thrive as a potential superstar.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns is a rim protector with a developing offensive game, so the ideal situation for him would be to land on a young, developing team that will be patient as he learns the NBA ropes and that already has other scoring options on the squad.
In Minnesota, he'd be paired with a playmaker at point guard, Ricky Rubio, and a scoring wing in Andrew Wiggins. He wouldn't need to be the focal point of the offense, and he would be able to quietly develop alongside Wiggins to form a dangerous pair for the next decade.
D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay: Philadelphia 76ers
Either player would join Philadelphia and immediately be the man, no questions asked. For D'Angelo Russell, the floor-spacing would be incredible with Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel on the court, never mind the fact that another big man, Dario Saric, would be joining the party for the 2016-17 season. Russell would get a lot of open looks.
And because the Sixers don't have any pure scorers, Russell would have the chance to put up a bunch of shots each night. It's hard to imagine him being disappointed with that development.
Emmanuel Mudiay, on the other hand, would get to be the primary ball-handler and would have two bigs to dish the ball to when he drives to the hoop. The Sixers' defensive, fast-break philosophy would fit his game perfectly, and he would have the chance to grow next to the team's young players.
For either one of the top point guards in this year's draft, Philly is a surprisingly ideal destination.
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