NBA Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Elite Wing Prospects

Player comparisons are among the most fun, yet subjective, aspects of pre-draft discussions. Those of us who bother to make such comps are doing so with a relatively small sample size. We're analyzing results from an environment that may not be exactly like the one the prospect is heading to in the NBA.

That said, by studying body types, tendencies, athleticism and skill sets, you can usually narrow down a ceiling and a floor comparison for a prospect. For this mock draft, we've done just that with a concentration on the best wing players in the draft.

Pick	Team	Player
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	Willie Trill Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
7	Denver Nuggets	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
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

Justise Winslow

There are more similarities between Justise Winslow and Jimmy Butler than their hairstyles. Both are physically strong wing players capable of playing the shooting guard or small forward positions in the NBA. Butler made his name and carved his niche in the Chicago Bulls rotation with his defensive prowess. 

For the first three years of his career, he was a bit of a one-dimensional player. All of that changed this season when Butler took his scoring average to 20 points per game. This is unlike Danny Granger, who seemed to lose his identity as a defensive stopper when he became a scorer.

Butler's defense didn't suffer. He's still playing the type of lockdown defense that earned him minutes for the Bulls' defensive-minded head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Winslow's progression in the NBA might be similar, although he's a little farther along on the offensive side than Butler was at this point in his career.

As a freshman, Winslow averaged 12.6 points per game while knocking down 41.8 percent of his three-point attempts. Granted, we are talking about college three-pointers and Winslow took just 2.8 from deep per game, but that's a better stroke and percentage than Butler produced in his final year at Marquette (34.5 percent on 1.6 attempts).

Like Butler, Winslow can attack the basket and finish through contact. At 6'7", 229 pounds, he's almost the exact same size as Butler, who is listed at 6'7", 220. While their heights and weights are similar, there is a big difference between the two players' wingspans.

Butler has bucked the trend against small forward/2-guards with relatively short wingspans. His wingspan measured at 6'7.5"—which was identical to his height in shoes—at the NBA Scouting Combine in 2011.

Winslow shouldn't have to worry about dispelling any myths against short-armed players. His wingspan was measured at 6'10" for Team USA Basketball in 2014.

All in all, you have to love Winslow's NBA body, upside and his current commitment on the defensive end of the floor. All three qualities make him an excellent fit for the Orlando Magic's athletic nucleus.

Ceiling: Jimmy Butler

Floor: More Athletic Rick Fox

Stanley Johnson

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

This must be the year for physically strong wing prospects. For as powerfully built as Winslow is, the Arizona Wildcats' Stanley Johnson is even sturdier. Standing 6'8", weighing 243 pounds and boasting a 6'11.5" wingspan, Johnson nearly has the measurements of a power forward. 

In fact, don't be surprised to see him play that position if the NBA team he joins decides to go small.

Defense is also a major part of Johnson's game. He has the size, power and athleticism to defend multiple positions. Because of that combination of skills, it's hard not to see the comparisons between him and Metta World Peace. 

Johnson's personality couldn't be more different than MWP's, but on the floor, their games are similar. Both men can wear down offensive players with their physicality on defense and finish close to the basket with contact because of their strength with the ball.

MWP wasn't quite the athlete that Johnson is in transition. The 18-year-old has the bounce that allows him to finish above the rim if he has a head of steam. He's not a pogo-stick leaper like North Carolina's J.P. Tokoto. Instead, he's more of a ferocious and strong jumper.

I originally had Johnson landing with the Sacramento Kings but, assuming the draft order stays in line with the above format, the Denver Nuggets are a better fit for him.

Ceiling: Metta World Peace without the antics

Floor: More offensive-minded Darvin Ham

Mario Hezonja

As far as pure offensive wing players are concerned, Mario Hezonja might be the best of the bunch. He has the size and skill to finish off of the dribble and he can make the three-ball at a high rate. During the EuroCup in 2014-15, Hezonja shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc.

He's not the best defensive player, but the athleticism is there to grow to be better than average in that aspect of the game.

When watching him play, he looks like a cross between a bigger Manu Ginobili and a more athletic version of Danilo Gallinari. Perhaps the most attractive trait he has is confidence. Hezonja never looks intimidated or unwilling to take over a game.

Despite the fact that he just turned 20 years old in February, Hezonja has already exhibited some alpha-male tendencies. If he lands with a team like the Detroit Pistons, that take-charge mentality could help shape the future for his new squad.

Ceiling: Manu Gallinari (Mixture of Manu Ginobili and Danilo Gallinari)

Floor: Marko Jaric

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