NBA Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Elite Rebounding Prospects
Specialists who limit opposing offenses to just one shot or secure second-shot opportunities for their teams have great value. Rebounding isn't the end-all-be-all stat that determines a game, but when a team is beaten soundly in this category, it's a tough impediment to overcome.
This mock draft focuses on the top rebounders in this class. With some prospects playing fewer minutes than others, we had to take more into consideration than rebounds per game. The players spotlighted below the mock have not only put up strong rebounding numbers, but they also have the frames and requisite energy to be glass cleaners.
| 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 |
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Despite the fact that he only played 21.1 minutes per game during the season, Towns still averaged 6.7 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Kentucky Wildcats. That's 12.6 rebounds per 40 minutes. Towns gets excellent position under the glass and uses his 7-foot frame to grab the ball at its highest point.
Because he played limited minutes due to Kentucky's platoon system, he wasn't able to dominate the glass the way he will in the NBA. In games where he played 30 or more minutes (he never played more than 31) Towns averaged 10 rebounds per contest.
He will be close to a double-digit rebounder in his first two seasons in the NBA, if he's given the opportunity. If he lands with the Los Angeles Lakers, he might get half of his rebounds retrieving Kobe Bryant's misses.
Bobby Portis, Arkansas
This might not be one of the first names that come to mind when you think about solid rebounders, but it should be. At this point in his career, Portis is more of an offensive rebounder. He averaged 3.7 offensive rebounds per game in 2014-15 compared to just 5.2 defensive caroms.
That's an odd percentage, but it's due to a lack of understanding of defensive positioning more than motor or will. Portis has an active body, and at 6'10" he has the length to be a factor on both sides of the glass.
If he lands with a coach and in a system that brings him along the right way, Portis could be similar to Zach Randolph. He'd fit nicely into the Celtics' rotation of young big men.
Kevon Looney, UCLA
He's a little thin, but his activity, 7'3" wingspan and instincts make Kevon Looney the best pure rebounder in the draft. He averaged 9.2 rebounds per game with 3.4 of them coming on the offensive glass. Like Portis, Looney is still learning the defensive positioning game, but his effort is Dennis Rodman-like.
He's such a great athlete with some offensive upside, so he may never dedicate himself to rebounding the way The Worm did, but the tools are there.
The Milwaukee native would be a big hit with his hometown team. The Milwaukee Bucks already have extraordinary length and youth on their roster. With Jabari Parker, John Henson and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Looney could add even more size and athleticism to the Bucks frontcourt.
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