NBA Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft, Landing Spots for Top Prospects
The 2015 NBA draft class features a little bit of everything—from a fundamentally strong center in Jahlil Okafor to an exciting international point guard in Emmanuel Mudiay and just about everything in between. It's a group that should fill a lot of needs around the league.
While the class does have a lot of depth, it's limited in terms of elite prospects. So if teams slated to draft outside the top five following the lottery, which is set for May 19, want an upper-echelon incoming player, they may have to trade up.
The draft is always more interesting when there's some wheeling and dealing going on. For now, let's check out how the first round could play out with a mock draft.
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 at the top of the draft class always receive the most attention. This year should be no different, with Okafor, Mudiay, Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell creating an extremely intriguing quarter of talent.
As mentioned, however, this is a class that's more about the depth. Teams picking later in the first round probably won't find a superstar, but there should still be a good chance to improve their squad. There are a lot of players capable of stepping into a specific role and having some quick success.
So let's check out a trio of noteworthy selections from the second half of the opening round.
Notable Second-Half Picks
19. Washington Wizards: Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
Harrell steadily improved on the offensive end over his last two years with the Cardinals. He's still not a complete product on that end of the floor, but he's become more comfortable in the post and added some range to his game. That should ensure he goes in Round 1.
The main thing that stands out when watching him play is the energy. He was rarely the most talented player on the floor in ACC play with Louisville. Yet he rarely got outworked, and that goes a long way. It helped him average nearly 16 points and nine rebounds this past season.
Quite simply, not everybody is willing to put in maximum effort every night. That's why having a high motor is valuable in itself. Chris Brown of Grantland notes it should allow him to enjoy a long pro career, even if he doesn't develop into a major scorer:
The Wizards are a team with a lot of skill, especially on the perimeter, but they could use a little more grit. Harrell can step in, play the spark-plug role off the bench and give the squad an added dynamic it's been missing. If his offensive game does improve with time, he can become a starter.
21. Dallas Mavericks: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Portis possesses an intriguing skill set. The power forward has showcased good range on the offensive end to go with quickness and length to disrupt opponents on defense. He's still raw in the post, however, and would benefit from adding more power to his frame.
Perhaps one more year of college ball could have helped smooth out those flaws. Since he decided to go pro, the key is finding a team that can afford to bring him along with patience. The Mavericks are an ideal fit with Dirk Nowitzki already in place.
Getting a chance to play behind a 13-time All-Star, who also took some time to grow at the NBA level, would be an ideal learning opportunity. Hawgs Illustrated notes the Arkansas product is still hoping to move up into the lottery, though:
Every prospect wants to go as high on draft day as possible. This could very well be a situation where sliding to No. 21 would actually help Portis' long-term outlook, though. Expectations wouldn't be nearly as high as if he goes in the lottery, and he can get consistent advice from a top-tier power forward.
26. San Antonio Spurs: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
Kawhi Leonard's role within the Spurs continues to grow. He holds the key to the team's future as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili head toward the finish line and Tony Parker struggles to stay healthy after years of punishment.
In turn, San Antonio needs to add some depth behind its main building block. Hollis-Jefferson isn't quite as promising of a prospect as Leonard, but his skill set is much the same—a versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions. A lot of work to do on the offensive end, though.
Like Portis, he's another prospect who could have returned to school to see if he could have further bolstered his draft stock. Adam Green of Arizona Sports notes that the forward said it was a tricky decision, but he felt it was the best move for both himself and his family.
"It's definitely a tough decision to make, being as though you're loved in the program, you did so much here, you established so much here, it's amazing," Hollis-Jefferson said. "Leaving this program is tough, but I feel as though it's the best decision for me and my family. So, I'm ready to take that next step."
Joining the Spurs would immediately place him on a championship-caliber roster. Exactly how much playing time he would get as a rookie is uncertain. Over the long haul, he could carve out a niche for himself behind and/or alongside Leonard.
