2015 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects After Regular Season
Working effortlessly throughout a grueling NBA season, franchises will now devote their attention to the next task in hopes of witnessing their labor pay off.
No, not the postseason. The NBA draft lottery.
Losing is hard. It takes guts to enter an arena of bitter fans paying to watch peers best you at your profession. Night after night, the NBA's also-rans endured debilitating humiliation, all with the aspirations of receiving a young star for their troubles.
Then again, a random drawing of Ping-Pong balls could relegate those struggles to nothing. This post-regular season, pre-lottery mock draft uses reverse standings to get the juices flowing.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 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 | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from Pelicans) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Malik Pope, SF, San Diego State |
| 21 | Chicago Bulls | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence |
| 22 | Dallas Mavericks | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 27 | Boston Celtics (from Clippers) | Nigel Hayes, PF, Wisconsin |
| 28 | Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets) | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
Analyzing Impact Freshmen
Leaving college after fulfilling the required year of service has become the norm for top basketball prospects. For some reason, they prefer starting their dream gig and instantly making millions to playing the same sport for free. Weird.
Freshmen will litter the 2015 first round, especially at the top. Although young and inexperienced, they radiate promise for franchises needing a reason to hope again.
Some will flop at the professional level, but others will flourish. Here's a magnified look at three intriguing freshmen on the board.
D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
Teams that spent a year in turmoil for a top pick want to hit a jackpot on a superstar. They crave a player who can wipe away their misfortune with a magic wand, but no such savior exists this year.
For a probable top-five pick, D'Angelo Russell doesn't brandish earth-shattering upside. Yet the Ohio State guard is the best bet to contribute on both ends.
As explained by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com, Russell isn't the quintessential young guard now desired, but rather a savvy playmaker who averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals for the Buckeyes:
"Russell is not your typical uber-athletic, high-flying one and done lottery pick, relying much more on skill, feel and instincts than most freshmen. He has great size for the point guard position at 6-5, with solid length and a good frame that should fill out in time. His size, combined with his shooting ability and basketball IQ, gives him (and the coaching staff that will eventually utilize him) intriguing versatility, as he can be paired with many different styles of guards and wing players, allowing his team to take advantage of all kinds of mismatches and get very creative with the lineups and play-calls they throw out.
"
With the ability to distribute like a point guard and score with the best shooting guards, he will fit anywhere. ESPN's Fran Fraschilla marveled at Russell's versatility:
"Best passer I've seen in college basketball in while just received the Jerry West award for best SG. Tells u why D'Angelo Russell so good.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 11, 2015"
Because of their higher ceilings, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor will occupy the top two spots. Russell, however, shouldn't fall any further. Don't be surprised if he winds up becoming the class' true prize.
Myles Turner, PF, Texas
A mega-prospect coming out of high school, Myles Turner was limited to 22.2 minutes per game for Texas, where he attempted 7.6 field goals. While his Longhorns tenure won't catapult him up the Round 1 ranks, he might as well instead play a limited role for an NBA organization.
At 6'11" and 240 pounds, as listed on ESPN.com, the 19-year-old possesses the size of a professional big man. When given the ball, he showed an exceptional scoring touch, and he swatted 2.6 shots on the other end.
Armed with a slick jumper, Turner could fill into the perfect stretch 4, although not yet one who'd effectively veer behind the three-point arc. Having a clear, projectable role goes a long way when talented prospects are constantly ignored because of their "tweener" status.
Turner won't log meaningful minutes during his rookie campaign. While he's not exactly a project pick either, he'll require some seasoning and strengthening before hanging with the big boys.
Yet All-Star upside will earn him a late lottery nod.
Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
Hot off the presses, Tyus Jones announced he will parlay his Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors into an NBA job. Duke confirmed the news of its point guard's departure:
"Duke's @Tyusjones06 to enter NBA Draft. Get the full story on http://t.co/hlRRE03MhA - http://t.co/CNN2oDMkyM pic.twitter.com/XwSPYhV0BK
— Duke M. Basketball (@Duke_MBB) April 15, 2015"
The team's official Twitter page relayed his farewell to Durham:
".@Tyusjones06 - “Coming to Duke was a dream of mine and being a part of such a special team was amazing." ... pic.twitter.com/sEUxbaeaUg
— Duke M. Basketball (@Duke_MBB) April 15, 2015"
During the Blue Devils' championship victory over the Wisconsin Badgers, Jones dropped a game-high 23 points alongside five assists. ESPN's Chad Ford sees him as a late first-round selection:
"Jones is ranked No. 23 in our Top 100. In the 17-25 range. RT @GoodmanESPN: Tyus Jones is headed to the NBA, Duke announces.
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) April 15, 2015"
Despite taking a back seat to Okafor and Justise Winslow—who cemented his top-10 pick status during the NCAA tournament—Jones developed a big-game reputation by averaging 23.0 points, 7.5 assists and 6.5 boards through two games against archnemesis North Carolina.
His exposure to the limelight could earn Jones some brownie points, especially from a contender searching for a young role player unafraid of the moment. Just don't expect anyone to go overboard.
Despite playing the NCAA tournament hero last year, Shabazz Napier lasted until pick No. 24. Jones will also find residency in the 20s.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
