2015 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for Elite Frontcourt Prospects
Stephen Curry won MVP and LeBron James is the best player in the world, but young big men still rule the NBA's present and future.
The common belief is that there's a shortage of dominant big men in the NBA, but that might be a little overblown. A difference-making big man is one capable of putting up a 20-point, 10-rebound performance without anyone blinking an eye at his stat line.
Of the eight teams still alive in the NBA playoffs, there are as many big men on those teams combined who would fall into that category. In case you're wondering who I'm referring to, here's my quick list: the Chicago Bulls' Pau Gasol, Washington Wizards' Marcin Gortat, Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, Houston Rockets' Dwight Howard and the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
If the Cleveland Cavaliers had a healthy Kevin Love, there would be nine.
That doesn't even account for the other good bigs. Each one of the guys listed below also qualifies as a proven 20-and-10 candidate on any given night.
- Anthony Davis
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Hassan Whiteside
- Andre Drummond
- Greg Monroe
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Tim Duncan
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Al Jefferson
- Brook Lopez
We could have easily used the old "etc." after a few of those names, but to drive home the volume, I ran the entire list.
There are still a number of good big men in the NBA, and that makes it all the more important for teams to grab quality frontcourt players in the draft when possible. The following mock draft will spotlight the best post players in the draft.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 2 | New York Knicks | D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Kelly Oubre, SG, Kansas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Myles Turner, C/PF, Texas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn Nets) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from New Orleans Pelicans) | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 25 | San Antonio Spurs | George Lucas, SG, Brazil |
| 26 | Memphis Grizzlies | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets) | Tyler Harvey, SG, Eastern Washington |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers) | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
Jahlil Okafor
Most mock drafts you see have Karl-Anthony Towns of the Kentucky Wildcats going No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Until the official draft order is released May 17 and there's some indication who the Wolves are looking at, I'll stick to Jahlil Okafor of Duke as the first player off the board.
Okafor has the more unique frame and skill set. Finding a young big man who already weighs 272 pounds—yet isn't fleshy—and who also possesses post moves and a touch beyond his years is rare.
When you also look at his enormous 7'5" wingspan, the overall package just gets better. No matter where he goes, Okafor or the Ohio State Buckeyes' D'Angelo Russell would be my early picks for Rookie of the Year. Okafor is the most NBA-ready, traditional post-up big the league will have seen since Tim Duncan came into the league in 1997.
He's not the defender Duncan was or is, but he can put the ball in the basket. He's comparable to Cleveland Cavaliers great Brad Daugherty. In case you're wondering, Daugherty averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game over nine NBA seasons. I think Minnesota would take that in a heartbeat.
Karl-Anthony Towns
There's a lot to love about KAT's game, but if the picks fall in order, he or Okafor are going to slip to No. 4. The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks would be better off taking Emmanuel Mudiay and Russell than another post player. Even with that dynamic, the New Jersey native seems to be making somewhat of a plea to play for the Knicks.
He told Marc Berman of the New York Post, "If I have the opportunity to ever play for the Knicks, that's what I would love to do.''
Towns has excellent touch around the basket, he can step out and shoot it from distance, he's a good passer and shot-blocker. However, one of the biggest differences between he and Okafor is the sample size of minutes from their respective freshman seasons.
Kentucky's platoon system had KAT on the floor for just 21.1 minutes per game. There has to be some question about how he'll adjust to playing the minutes a top-rated lottery pick is expected to log.
There's also the issue of lower-body strength and overall physicality. Okafor looks to be physically stronger with larger hands. That's a big deal for a post player. KAT did measure over 6'11" at Kentucky's pro day, but we'll see what the official numbers are at the NBA Draft Combine.
He just doesn't come off as a physical low-post presence that will be able to bully his way inside against powerful defenders.
Still, he's going to be an above-average player who will have a strong rookie season. A 12-point, seven-rebound campaign seems feasible. Teamed with Kobe Bryant, another Kentucky standout in Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and a notable free agent, the Los Angeles Lakers could have enough to make it to the postseason in this scenario.
Willie Trill Cauley-Stein
With a recent change making him officially known as Willie Trill Cauley-Stein, there's another Kentucky big man trying to make a name for himself.
Truth be told, the drop-off from Okafor and Towns to WTCS is a big one. WTCS is an elite rim protector and athlete for a 7-footer, but offensively he's as raw as can be. His offensive input for a team is going to be restricted to putbacks, lobs and transition buckets.
If he plays with a heady point guard who knows how to get him easy baskets, WTCS can overachieve early in his career while he hopefully works to expand his offensive game. As it stands, he is very similar to a young Tyson Chandler.
That's not a bad thing by any stretch. Chandler's defensive prowess has led him to an above-average NBA career and an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks. As a rookie, a stat line of six points, seven rebounds and close to two blocks per game is realistic for Trill.
He'd be a nice piece for the rebuilding Denver Nuggets.
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