NBA Draft 2015: Ideal Mock Draft Selections for Every 1st-Round Team
The NBA draft is a crapshoot on a year-to-year basis in terms of star power, and while the past couple of years have lacked to some degree, the 2015 NBA draft looks to be something very special.
Players like Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor look like surefire All-Stars at the next level, but it isn't simply a top-heavy class. There is big-time talent throughout the lottery, and it looks as though some great players can potentially be found in the latter part of the first round as well.
Several prospects helped their stock by performing well in the NCAA tournament, so here is a closer look at some of them, in addition to a full first-round mock draft.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, 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, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 12 | Indiana Pacers | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from BKN) | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from NO) | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies | Delon Wright, G, Utah |
| 27 | Boston Celtics (from LAC) | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | Los Angeles Lakers (from HOU) | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from ATL) | Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
Analyzing NCAA Tournament Standouts
Justise Winslow
As huge as the likes of Okafor and Tyus Jones were in Duke's run to the national championship, it can be argued that no player was more valuable to the Blue Devils than freshman forward Justise Winslow.
The Houston native averaged well over 12 points and six rebounds per game on the season, but he was especially fantastic throughout March Madness. He reached double figures in scoring in each of Duke's last five tourney games, and he also came up big defensively, as he was often tasked with guarding the opposition's best player.
Due to his complete, all-around game and his ability to make a difference on the defensive end, Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post likens Winslow to San Antonio Spurs star and reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard:
It's certainly an apt comparison, and if Winslow is able to become anything close to Leonard at the next level, then he will be a success.
The do-everything forward helped his draft stock significantly by performing well on the big stage, and ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman views him as a top-10 talent:
That may actually be a bit conservative, as Winslow could very easily find his way into the top five. Players of his ilk are extremely coveted since they can impact games in so many ways, and the team that comes away with him will be extremely lucky.
Willie Cauley-Stein
The Kentucky Wildcats had no shortage of star players during their near run to perfection this past season, but one guy who consistently stood out due to his defensive excellence was forward Willie Cauley-Stein.
Cauley-Stein averaged just under nine points and over six rebounds per game, and although his production certainly doesn't jump off the page, he created constant headaches for opposing teams.
The 7-footer's length always posed an issue, and it is a big reason why Kentucky was one of the best defensive teams in recent memory. One area in which Cauley-Stein could stand to improve, though, is his impact on the offensive end.
The Naismith Player of the Year finalist is such a good defender, however, that NBA draft analyst Ed Isaacson believes he can get by in the NBA based on that alone initially, according to Larry Vaught of The Advocate Messenger:
"It's not all bad because of how he runs the floor in transition, and with the right team, his lack of offense can be hidden a bit, at least in the short-term. Long-term, he should find a consistent role as a defensive specialist, though I wouldn't expect him to be praised as much as he was this past season.
"
Cauley-Stein won't become an elite player unless he does make some strides offensively, but Brian Geltzeiler of SiriusXM NBA Radio believes he'll be successful because he fits the current style of play in the NBA:
Defense-first bigs like Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers star DeAndre Jordan have managed to become excellent NBA players, so there is no reason why Cauley-Stein can't follow in their footsteps.
Even if his offense never catches up with his defense, Cauley-Stein is still worth a top-10 selection because of how he controls the paint.
Frank Kaminsky
Perhaps no player has more intrigue surrounding him ahead of the 2015 NBA draft than Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky, who is coming off a National Player of the Year senior season.
The 7-footer did it all with the Badgers and led them to within inches of a national title. He averaged nearly 19 points and over eight rebounds per game, and he excelled on both ends of the floor. Kaminsky entered the season as the odds-on favorite to be named the best player in college basketball, and he never did anything to change that opinion.
Kaminsky was dominant in the NCAA tournament, as he scored at least 19 points in each of Wisconsin final four contests of the tourney. That included 21 points and 12 rebounds in the national championship game against Duke, as well as 20 points and 11 boards in the Badgers' upset win over Kentucky.
As pointed out by Michael Singer of USA Today, Kaminsky outplayed both Towns and Okafor in head-to-head situations:
That has to count for something, although it isn't likely to vault him into the top five of the draft. The top 10 certainly isn't out of the question, though, and it is tough to envision him falling out of the lottery.
Kaminsky is the type of player who could benefit any team since he has size, an ability to score inside or step outside and the tenacity needed to win battles on the glass.
He isn't receiving as much hype as many of the other prospects in this class since he did it the old-fashioned way by going to Wisconsin for all four years, but the team that ultimately comes away with him will be getting a winner who simply gets the job done on the court.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter
