NBA Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Where 1st-Round Prospects Will Land
There is always a great deal of anticipation surrounding the NBA draft among fans, but that seems to be especially true this year due to the fact that quality players can be found throughout the first round.
In addition to the big names who will come off the board early and very likely go on to have strong NBA careers, potential difference-makers will be available throughout the round. Some of them won't pan out, while others will find a way to build upon the standout collegiate careers that made them highly touted in the first place.
As the focus of many fans continues to shift toward the draft, here is a full first-round mock draft along with some further analysis regarding prospects who have a great chance to outperform their draft positioning.
| 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, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from BKN) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from NO) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Delon Wright, G, Utah |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (from HOU) | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (from LAC) | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from ATL) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
Breaking Down Potential Steals
Montrezl Harrell
There is no question that Louisville power forward Montrezl Harrell has great physical ability, but perhaps the biggest thing that sets him apart from most other prospects in this class is his desire and willingness to do anything in order to win.
Harrell was a great fit on head coach Rick Pitino's Cardinals team, and he was essentially the heart and soul of the squad. His production this past season was spectacular, as he averaged nearly 16 points and over nine rebounds per game.
Those numbers put Harrell in some elite company and led to his being named the top player in college basketball at his position, according to ESPN Stats & Info:
The Tarboro, North Carolina, native easily could have entered the draft and been a potential first-round pick after his sophomore year, but he decided to go back to school and refine his skills.
Pitino believes that was an excellent decision, as Harrell managed to improve in nearly all facets of the game.
"He has improved his passing dramatically, his ball-handling dramatically," Pitino said, per Jeff Greer of the Courier-Journal. "He has always been a warrior with the way he has played. He plays every possession as if it's his last on earth. ... But he improved dramatically at other phases of the game, which I think is necessary going into the NBA level."
Harrell has good size at 6'8" and 240 pounds, although he will inevitably encounter some players who are taller than him. Due to his wide body and great positioning, though, he figures to be a fantastic rebounder at the next level.
Even if his offensive game doesn't reach an All-Star level, Harrell will be a valuable player due to the manner in which he attacks the glass. He is the type of player winning teams need, and one organization will be extremely happy to land him in the mid-to-late first round.
Jerian Grant
Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant was undoubtedly one of the best players in college basketball this past season; however, he could potentially fall into the latter part of the first round, which is something many of the NBA's top teams would love to see.
Grant's scoring was down a bit in 2014-15, as he averaged over 16 points per game, but he improved in other areas, as he set career highs with nearly seven assists and three rebounds per contest. He truly did it all for the Fighting Irish, and he was perhaps the biggest reason why they had such a successful season.
He was especially good in big-game situations during the ACC and NCAA tournaments. According to Nick Ironside of 247Sports, head coach Mike Brey has never had a player better than Grant when the game is on the line:
That is an intangible that should help him have success in the NBA and endear himself to the fans as well. Even when it comes to a pure skills perspective, though, Grant seemingly has what it takes to be a very good player at the next level.
He is extremely athletic, a great passer and a committed defender. One area in which he is better than most probably realize, however, is his shooting prowess, per Rodger Bohn of Slam Magazine:
Grant seems to be the total package, but he hasn't been receiving much hype as a lottery pick. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that he played four seasons at Notre Dame, but that certainly shouldn't be a strike against him.
He is more NBA-ready than many of the prospects in this class, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him make an instant impact for a team that is already solid.
Cameron Payne
Murray State missed the NCAA tournament this past season despite winning 25 games in a row. Despite the disappointment, it was a huge accomplishment for the Racers, and point guard Cameron Payne was front and center.
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2013-14, Payne enjoyed an even better sophomore campaign, as he averaged over 20 points and six assists per game. He was the straw that stirred the drink for the Racers, as essentially everything went through him on the offensive end.
The 6'2" guard can do a little bit of everything, and Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders seems to believe he has the attitude and demeanor needed to succeed in the NBA:
Payne could slip a bit due to the stigma against mid-major schools, but recent years have proved that players can come from smaller schools and make an instant impact in the NBA. Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is perhaps the best example of that.
While Payne has the makings of a player who may need some time to develop before becoming a true factor at the next level, he will have that luxury if a playoff team selects him late in the first round.
Getting a chance to sit and learn would probably be the best thing for Payne, and the team that gets him will have an interesting lottery ticket on its hands that could ultimately turn into a big payday down the road.
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