NBA Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Projections and Predictions for Top Prospects
Unlike in the NFL, which seems to drag the draft process on indefinitely to artificially extend the season, the NBA gets the whole draft process right. Although there is a long time between the cutoff date for players to declare and the draft itself, the NBA playoffs don’t allow the process to take center stage for as long as football does.
With that in mind, there isn’t usually a lot of movement on draft boards until the draft—set for June 25—draws much closer. But there is still a great amount of intrigue in what is going on, especially at the top of the draft with a deep crop of top-level prospects available this year.
So how are things going to shape up for those top prospects this year? Will the draft go chalk or will someone creep up a few spots and surprise some people on draft day? Here are a few predictions for the top prospects involved in this year’s draft.
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 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, SF, 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 | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SG/SF, Arizona |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets) | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Clippers) | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State
It is no secret that D’Angelo Russell is one of the best offensive prospects to enter the draft in the past half-decade.
Whether it's his natural affinity for scoring or his ability to create crazy passes, like the ones in the videos below, Russell launched his draft stock into the stratosphere during his time at Ohio State by turning into a force offensively that is close to a lock in the NBA.
His position remains slightly in question, with the vision of a point guard but a skill set more akin to a shooting guard, but he could play whatever role is needed for the team that selects him.
If the lottery shapes up according to the numbers, though, he might have a completely different role than just point guard/shooting guard moving forward. He might have to replace one of the game's all-time greats.
As of now, the Los Angeles Lakers look to fall into the fourth spot in the draft and—depending on what the 76ers do at No. 3—look to be in play for landing the former Buckeye.
That is both a blessing and a curse, as Russell would get the chance to go to one of the premier destinations in the league and get to learn from Kobe Bryant, while also being groomed to replace him.
The Lakers are in a transition period, and Bryant can’t be too far away from retirement, which could put a heavy burden on Russell’s young shoulders in the next couple of seasons as his natural replacement.
It will be Russell’s handling of that pressure in Los Angeles that decides whether he was a worthy top-five pick or just another bust.
Prediction: D’Angelo Russell No. 4 to the Lakers
Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
There is a long and well-documented history of players who succeed in the college game before transitioning to the next level, but whose games just don't translate properly.
The national player of the year, Frank Kaminsky, could very well be the next in that long line of players.
As a Badger, Kaminsky was an offensive force and nearly led Wisconsin to the national championship in April before falling to Duke. He couldn’t be stopped, with an inside and outside game that is rare for a player of his size.
Despite his success in college, though, there are some doubts about what Kaminsky can do at the pro level. With a limited defensive ability and without a great post-up game, he might just be out of place in the NBA.
He has the size of a center but the game of a stretch 4, which makes him versatile but without really fitting the mold of a starting five in the NBA. Which is why, as luck would have it, Kaminsky is perfect for the Miami Heat, who select at No. 10 overall.
Even if Hassan Whiteside takes a step back next year after his breakout season, Kaminsky wouldn’t be expected to start and instead could provide minutes off the bench for the Heat.
His ability to space the floor, especially with Chris Bosh at the 4, could turn Miami into an offensive juggernaut that is capable of competing in the East.
It is rare to use a top-10 pick on a player who isn’t expected to start, but the Heat wouldn’t be in the lottery were it not for some bad luck and can afford to add a sixth man with their first-round pick next season.
Prediction: Frank Kaminsky No. 10 to the Heat
Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
Devin Booker can shoot the ball.
It’s not breaking news. It’s not the newest hot take on a player expected to go highly in this year's draft. It’s just a fact. Devin Booker can shoot the ball.
Last season with Kentucky, which was so loaded with talent Booker didn’t even start, he averaged 10 points a game but shot 41 percent from beyond the arc and became the best shooting option on a team full of future NBA talent.
So with a raw, young player who can shoot the lights out of any building he steps into, what could be a better situation than placing him with a veteran shooter that is still one of the league’s best? In this case, that veteran would by Atlanta’s Kyle Korver.
Although Korver just missed out on hitting 50 percent of his triples in the regular season this year, he is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA and could teach Booker a lot about how to develop into a star based around a shooting touch.
Booker isn’t ready to be a star yet, with his defense still a pretty big problem and not much to his game inside the arc, but he won’t have to be on a balanced team like the Hawks. With the pressure off and time to develop under a proven star, Booker will fit comfortably in Atlanta.
Prediction: Devin Booker No. 15 to the Hawks
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