NBA Draft 2015: Complete 1st-Round Mock Draft and More
Unlike its football counterpart, the NBA draft is all about substance over style.
While the NFL draft is a grandiose three-day event that comes after months of buildup in front of tens of thousands of fans, the NBA draft happens within a month of the NBA Finals. It sneaks up on people who are still watching late-night highlights of the championship series and quietly sets the tone for the future of the league.
Every pick also holds more weight because there are only two rounds compared to seven. A couple of lackluster draft picks in a row can set a small-market franchise back for years.
The 2015 draft class is loaded with potential All-Stars who will one day determine which teams are in the playoffs and which teams are holding out hope for future drafts. Here is a look at a complete first-round mock and some picks to watch.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, F/C, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, G, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF-C, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
Picks to Watch
No. 6 Sacramento Kings: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
Kentucky big men have worked out in the past for the Sacramento Kings (they selected DeMarcus Cousins with the fifth overall pick in 2010), and the Kings will go back to the Lexington well in this draft with Willie Cauley-Stein.
The presence of Cousins down low is what makes this such an ideal pick for the Kings.
Cousins is a formidable post defender who generally occupies the lane and protects the rim. However, he isn’t particularly mobile and has trouble getting out on the perimeter against stretch forwards and centers who can shoot. Fortunately for Sacramento, that is exactly where Cauley-Stein thrives.
Cauley-Stein is athletic enough to guard virtually any position outside of electrifying guards, and he will naturally defend the opponent’s best perimeter big, while Cousins serves as the rim protector down low. What’s more, Cauley-Stein is plenty capable of defending the lane if Cousins needs a breather or if the opponent has multiple bigs who play down low.
While many see Cauley-Stein largely as an elite defensive prospect because of his athleticism and versatility, he believes he brings more to the table, as he said in interview during the SEC tournament, via Chris Dortch of NBA.com: "Defender only? I'm a ball player. It's annoying when people say you're just a defensive player. I feel like I can do anything on the floor. But it really doesn't matter what you think. You've got to show people."
Cauley-Stein would also work on the offensive end for the Kings, assuming they will get out and run next year under head coach George Karl. Cauley-Stein attacks transition opportunities like a shooting guard filling the lane, and he will be the recipient of a number of alley-oop passes his rookie season and beyond.
Kings fans will be thrilled if that comes to fruition in Sacramento next year.
No. 22 Chicago Bulls: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
In theory, the Chicago Bulls are set at point guard with Derrick Rose, but even the most casual NBA fans understand Rose’s injury history.
The Bulls will take national champion Tyus Jones as a safety net and a source of added depth at the position. Even if Rose doesn’t get hurt again, Jones proved he is more than capable of playing alongside another ball-handling guard this year at Duke when he shared the floor with Quinn Cook.
While Cook played more shooting guard this season than in years past for the Blue Devils, he also handled the ball enough that it forced Jones away from it at times. Jones hit 37.9 percent of his threes in his one season at Duke and can take advantage of the space Rose creates with penetration if the two guards play together.
Plus, Jimmy Butler, who led the league in minutes per game this season, needs a break sometimes, and adding more backcourt depth will take some of the responsibility off his capable shoulders.
Throw in the fact that head coach Tom Thibodeau (if he is back in Chicago) has been something of a backup point guard whisperer over the past few years with Nate Robinson, D.J. Augustin and Aaron Brooks, and this is an ideal fit.
Jones can handle the ball and find his teammates in pick-and-roll situations, which works in Chicago with so many quality big guys. Jones can play pick-and-pop with Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic or hit Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah attacking the rim. Jones understands how to put talented bigs in position to score from his time with Jahlil Okafor at Duke, and that will not change in Chicago.
No. 25 Memphis Grizzlies: Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com believes Justin Anderson is an ideal fit with the Memphis Grizzlies in this year’s draft:
"Anderson would fit right into the grit-and-grind mentality as a great, long athlete and a physical defender. However, he'd also add a different element as a shooter that could help to provide offense. This seems like a strong pickup for a team that figures to still be contending as long as they keep Marc Gasol in the offseason.
"
Anderson checks in at 6’6” and is versatile enough to guard smaller ball-handlers and bigger forwards in the same game. He is not exactly someone who will bang around in the post, but he also won’t back down from guarding taller opponents when necessary.
Offensively, he drilled 45.2 percent of his three-pointers in the 2014-15 season with Virginia, which is exactly what the Grizzlies need. They have two bigs in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol who attract attention on the block and high elbow, which creates the need for shooters who can space the floor, particularly from the corner three.
Anderson fits that bill.
He is also capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket off the dribble if defenders close too hard on that perimeter shot.
Anderson fills a shooting need and fits into the culture of defensive toughness that is already in place in Memphis. This pick makes sense.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
