2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Where Top Prospects Will Land
Although the playoffs remain at the forefront in the minds of most basketball fans, it won't be long before the 2015 NBA draft takes center stage. Of course, the teams that missed the postseason have already turned the page and started looking toward the future.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are the two gems of the class. The centers play different styles but were both highly effective as college freshmen. D'Angelo Russell, another first-year standout at the collegiate level, isn't far behind that top duo.
That said, it's a class that will likely be better known for its depth than high-end talent. There should be contributing talent available deep into the first round. Knowing that, let's check out one scenario for how the first 30 picks could play out on June 25.
1st-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, Congo |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Nets) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Jakob Poetl, C, Utah |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets) | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Clippers) | Travis Trice, PG, Michigan State |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
The prospects that make the jump to the NBA from college are always heavily scrutinized. Most of their games are available on TV, making it easier to evaluate them. And if they leave school early, there's usually a debate about whether it was the right move.
Things are a little tougher when it comes to those who didn't play college ball. Figuring out how their skill set will translate to the NBA and how long it would take to acclimate to the American pro game is a trickier task. It's one that often leads to a greater risk vs. reward situation.
Let's take a closer look at the top international prospects and where they are projected to fall.
Top International Prospects
4. Los Angeles Lakers: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Congo
Mudiay has already traveled quite a journey. He was born in Congo, moved to the United States and played high school basketball before heading back overseas. He opted to play with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China rather than go to SMU, where he originally committed for college.
It's always an option on the table for players who want to gain international experience while also starting to earn some paychecks. From a basketball perspective, the point guard told Evan Daniels of Scout that it better prepared him for the NBA, too.
"Definitely. Honestly it challenged me as a basketball player," Mudiay said. "I'm not saying I'm better than everybody in college, but I felt like it gave me a better challenge than college would have given me."
The first thing that stands out is the speed at which he plays the game. He combines quickness with a high basketball IQ to showcase high-end playmaking skills. Add in the fact he already has good size for the position at 6'5'' and all the raw tools are in place.
Whatever team drafts him will need patience, though. He's not a finished product, especially as a shooter, and there will surely be some growing pains along the way as a result. As long as the Lakers don't have unrealistic dreams of contending next season, he would be a good long-term fit.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
The allure of European big men is always there for NBA teams. Porzingis is like many in the fact that he features ideal size (7'1'') but also moves around the court well. His offensive game is well-rounded and improving as he becomes more comfortable in the post.
Yet he lacks strength. The need for adding more power to his frame is evident and that's not something that happens overnight. It's going to take a sustained effort once drafted. Otherwise he will struggle mightily to defend NBA forwards.
He initially declared for the draft last year before deciding to pull out. He certainly bolstered his stock during the extra year with Baloncesto Sevilla. HoopsHype spoke with the top prospect, who thinks it was ultimately the correct call:
The Hornets are a team that could definitely use more depth on the interior. It's a situation where after he comes stateside they should be able to work him into the rotation slowly. The all-around talent is there for him to become an All-Star, but it's going to take awhile for him to reach his peak.
10. Miami Heat: Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia
Hezonja is an interesting prospect. He doesn't do any single thing that really jumps out. Yet he does a little bit of everything and the cumulative effect has allowed him to make a major impact. That's exactly what teams are looking for in a swingman.
The Croatian can knock down shots from beyond the arc or get into the paint for layups. When he attacks, he does a good job of distributing to open shooters. And he holds his own on the defensive end, although he could also use some more strength. It's not as much of a concern as it is for Porzingis, though.
He's the type of player with the potential to rise up draft boards once NBA talent evaluators are about to get a closer look at him. He should shine in individual workouts and athletic testing. Jonah Ballow of the New York Knicks' official site sees him as a potential top-five selection:
One thing he'll definitely need to do in the NBA is play more consistent team basketball. He's had a tendency to fall in love with isolation offense. Joining a veteran team like the Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would accelerate the learning process.
