NBA Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft, Landing Spots for Coveted Prospects

The 2015 NBA draft won't take center stage until the playoffs end. Yet the process is starting to heat up, with the combine and lottery both coming up over the next few weeks. Both events are key in determining the futures of the most high-profile prospects.

Given the structure of this year's class—few top-end prospects but plenty of depth—the combine is probably going to have a bigger impact than normal. There's a lot of jockeying for placement, with little certainty outside the top half of Round 1.

So there's still a chance to make a notable jump up the board before draft day. That's set for June 25 in New York City. Let's check out how the outlook is shaping up right now with a complete mock draft of the opening round.

Round 1 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

Since the postseason is still garnering most of the attention, the focus on the draft class usually surrounds the top players. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor headline the group and will likely become the first two players off the board, pending the lottery results.

That said, since the gap between the season and the draft is relatively short compared to its NFL counterpart, some players don't end up getting the hype they deserve. That's especially true in a class like this, which features so much solid depth.

Let's take a closer look at a trio of prospects currently projected to go outside the top 10 who are worth watching in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Overlooked Prospects to Watch

12. Utah Jazz: Myles Turner, PF, Texas

Turner arrived to Texas with a boatload of hype. He was the sixth-ranked recruit in the nation based on 247Sports' composite rankings and featured a highly intriguing skill set. The post player was seemingly never able to find a comfort zone with the Longhorns, though.

His playing time varied widely, and his production was inconsistent. He would flash his potential every once in awhile—one example being a game against Oklahoma where he tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. Getting him to play on that level regularly is the challenge.

There's no doubting his talent, though. He features a well-rounded skill set with the ability to make a significant impact on both ends of the floor. He explained to Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype that he thinks that's going to shine through during the process.

"I think I have just as many chances as everybody in this draft class," Turner said. "People have their own projections, but once individual workouts happen I'll be able to show what I can do. If they believe I'm worthy of the No. 1 spot, then there it is. That's what I'm working for at this point, this is such a deep draft class."

He's a work in progress. Whatever team takes him, in this case the Jazz, is going to need some patience as he goes through the development process. That said, if the coaching staff does help him reach his ceiling, his overall numbers will match anybody in this class.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

An argument could be made that Booker's stock would already be higher if he played college basketball with a program where he was more prominently featured. He was just another face in the crowd on an absolutely stacked Kentucky roster.

That's not to say he made the wrong choice. There are plenty of more factors beyond draft stock that go into a decision like that. But talent evaluators didn't really get a chance to see his full arsenal because his role within the team was mostly being a pure shooter.

He did that well, shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc. That was enough for him to join many of his teammates in making the NBA jump. Patrick Magee of the Sun Herald provided remarks from the guard's father about the feedback he received:

Along with his shooting ability, he sports ideal size and reads the court well. He's got the tools to become a reliable defender if he adds a little more power to his frame. He projects as an offensive spark plug off the bench at the outset, but he has the potential to become a lot more.

22. Chicago Bulls: Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame

It's not uncommon for players like Grant to get overlooked. The Notre Dame product followed the more traditional route to the NBA. He spent all four years in school, and those prospects simply don't tend to garner the type of attention as a freshman sensation.

Make no mistake, however, he's a rock-solid basketball player. Perhaps not a superstar at the next level, but somebody capable of filling a backup role at point guard. And if the starter gets hurt, a team can feel comfortable with him running the show for a while.

Grant's best season with the Fighting Irish came as a junior. He averaged 19 points and six assists while shooting nearly 52 percent from the field. His numbers dropped off a bit last season, but Seth Cooper, who's been training the guard, told Rodger Bohn of Slam Magazine the best is yet to come:

All told, he's an ideal fit for a team like the Bulls. Derrick Rose's injury woes have been a consistent concern for the franchise in recent years. Grant could step in, provide some much-needed depth at the position and learn from one of the best the game has to offer.