2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Landing Spots of Top Prospects

Although the playoffs continue to garner most of the attention, the 2015 NBA draft is also starting to come into focus. The lottery to determine the order of the first 14 picks is just over a week away, with the draft itself scheduled for June 25.

One thing pundits and fans are likely going to discuss a lot leading up to draft night is the amount of depth in this class. Prospects like Montrezl Harrell and Jerian Grant, who enjoyed a lot of success at the collegiate level, may be available in the second half of Round 1.

There are many players who may not become stars in the NBA but are capable of filling a key role off the bench. With that in mind, let's check out one mock-draft scenario for the opening round at this stage of the process.

First-Round Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
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	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
8	Detroit Pistons	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
9	Charlotte Hornets	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
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)	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
16	Boston Celtics	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
18	Houston Rockets (via Pelicans)	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
19	Washington Wizards	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
20	Toronto Raptors	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
21	Dallas Mavericks	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
22	Chicago Bulls	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Justin Anderson, SG, Virginia
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

There are two distinct battles among this year's group of point guards. The first one is at the top of the draft between D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay. They are both likely to get selected inside the top five, but it's not yet clear whom a team will select first.

Then there's a more crowded battle to become the third point guard picked. The next one off the board probably won't come until the middle of the round, and a large group of players is still battling for position on teams' final draft boards.

Let's check out the top trio at the position as things stand right now.

Top Point Guards

3. Philadelphia 76ers: D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State

Russell enjoyed a fantastic freshman season at Ohio State. He averaged 19 points, nearly six rebounds and five assists while shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc. His understanding of how to run an offense went far beyond a typical first-year player.

His shooting ability would allow him to play shooting guard on a team with a pass-first starting point guard. But once he gains some experience in the NBA, a team is going to want the ball in his hands as much as possible. ESPN Stats & Info highlighted his effectiveness:

He would benefit from adding more muscle to his frame, especially considering the grind of an NBA season, and his focus on defense can improve. Those are both minor issues, though. The only major concern is the lack of top-end athletic ability.

While he's not the most explosive athlete, he more than makes up for it with his advanced basketball skill set and IQ. He reads and understands the action, allowing him to make up for the lack of natural burst. The end product is a well-rounded combo guard with a bright future at the point.

4. Los Angeles Lakers: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China

Mudiay was born in the Congo, played high school basketball in the United States and then opted to play professionally in China rather than play college ball. It's quite a journey that will take another step once a team drafts him.

Going overseas is a route often discussed but sparely utilized. Brandon Jennings, who's gone on to enjoy a solid NBA career, is an example of success. Mudiay told Evan Daniels of Scout he thinks it was the right decision and got him ready for the American pro game.

"Definitely. Honestly it challenged me as a basketball player," he 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."

Mudiay certainly brings a different range of abilities to the table than Russell. He's a better athlete, with lightning quickness and the leaping ability to finish in traffic, which gives him a high ceiling. He's less polished in the basic facets of running an offense, however, which also lowers his potential floor.

If Mudiay can become a more consistent shooter, his future is bright. But the debate comes down to risk vs. reward for teams picking inside the top five. While Mudiay's got a lot of flash, Russell has more substance at this stage to give him the slight edge.

18. Houston Rockets: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke

Jones is a project. He probably could have used another year at Duke to iron out the rough patches in his game in a situation where playing time would have been guaranteed. But he should still go in the first round based on his talent level.

He's a court general, playing a vital role as the Blue Devils won the national title. He's only an average scorer, however, and it's unclear whether he'll be able to take the next step in that area. Still, Mike Schmitz of Draft Express notes he's viewed favorably for a backup role:

It speaks to the discussion about the amount of depth in the class. Jones probably doesn't have the complete group of traits necessary to star in the NBA. But in the right situation—in his case as a backup PG capable of providing stability off the bench—he could thrive.

His play for Duke during the NCAA tournament should have helped his stock. That includes a 23-point effort in the championship game. Given that surge, he claimed the inside track to win that battle to become the third point guard selected.