2015 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Predictions and Top Sleepers Available for 1st Round
There will be plenty of storylines and angles on the NBA draft in the coming weeks. Which player will go No. 1 overall? Which guard should a team with a top-five pick select first? Will the lottery bless or curse certain teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, who have a number of conditional picks on the line?
But let's not forget about the sleepers. Let's not forget about the players who will likely slip past the lottery selections but could end up having a huge impact for their team. Let's not look past some of the potential value picks.
Along with a full first-round mock draft, I'll break down three players I believe could really make an impact for teams as mid-round values.
| 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 | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 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 | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs* | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies* | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 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) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse |
R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
The one thing you have to really like about R.J. Hunter is that despite the fact he was obviously the focal point of the opposing team's defensive game plan each and every game, he still posted 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season.
Sure, the competition wasn't as talented as he would have faced playing in a major conference, but he still managed to put the ball in the hoop with most of the opponent's defensive energy being spent trying to stop him.
So you have to give him that.
You also have to give him his status as one of the best spot-up shooters in this draft. Or his solid length (he's 6'6") and intelligence at the shooting guard position. Yes, he needs to add strength. Yes, he'll need to get better taking the ball to the rack. But in a league that has fallen in love with shooters again given the success of Golden State, Hunter is absolutely a player who should quickly have a role on a team next year.
Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
There's something to be said for players who can flat-out score, and Jerian Grant is one of those players.
Grant averaged 19 points per contest in 2013-14 and put up 16.5 points per game last year. He's also never averaged less than five assists per game, so he knows how to get his teammates involved, and his 1.7 steals per game during the 2014-15 campaign was a nice touch.
Plus, he'll hit the NBA as a polished product, having stayed all four years in college. The worry for some teams might be that Grant's already hit his ceiling, but he'll be coming into the NBA as a finished, savvy product, and he'll be an immediate contributor and a good player for years to come.
Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Delon Wright could have taken the easier route during his time at Utah.
He could have coasted on the name of his older brother, NBA player Dorell Wright, but instead, he made a name of his own. He could have been defeated by his academic troubles in high school, but instead, he turned himself into a good student. He could have gone to the NBA before graduating, but instead, he chose to finish his education, both on the court and off, and now he'll hit the NBA as a polished, mature prospect.
Chris Dortch of NBA.com wrote an excellent profile on the Bob Cousy Award winner as he prepares to enter the draft. But the most telling moment from the piece came when Wright talked about his preparations for the NBA.
"I know I need to work on my mechanics," he said. "My follow through. Bending my knees. And [since the season ended], I've been working on difficult shots that I might not necessarily shoot every time in a game, but that I might need."
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Wright is focusing on what he needs to improve, not on what he's already accomplished. That was a theme in his time at Utah, and it's why the team that selects him in this year's draft is going to get a consummate pro and a player who should be able to contribute from day one.
A smart, physically gifted player who wants to constantly improve his game is generally a recipe for success in the NBA. Wright isn't going to be the sexiest pick in this year's draft, but he'll do whatever it takes to make an impact for the team that selects him.
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