NBA Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Top Prospects Ahead of Combine
As the postseason continues, the first major landmark on the path to the 2015 NBA draft hits this week at the NBA Draft Combine.
While major names such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay won't attend, there will be plenty in the way of intrigue in Chicago as prospects continue to reshuffle the stock market.
While perhaps not the wild global affair of its NFL counterpart, the event in the Windy City announces the arrival of the path to the draft better than anything can.
Below, let's look at an updated mock draft based on need and the stock market before analyzing a few players in need of big performances. NBCSports.com offers the full combine participant list.
2015 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers | D'Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kelly Oubre, SG, Kansas |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Myles Turner, C/PF, Texas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn Nets) | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from New Orleans Pelicans) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Cameron Payne, SG, Murray State |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers) | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks) | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Christian Ford, PF, UNLV |
Players with Most to Gain at Combine
Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
With some of the big names out of the picture, Duke's Justise Winslow has a chance in Chicago to solidify his standing after an epic run in the Big Dance elevated his stock.
The freshman was a strong contributor all season, averaging 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Folks will most remember his tournament play, though, where he scored a minimum of 11 points five of his six times out and grabbed nine or more boards five of six games, too.
As ESPN.com's Chad Ford points out, though, questions linger about Winslow's stock:
"Winslow still is riding a tremendous run in the NCAA tournament and has persuaded some scouts to put him ahead of several players in our top five. But there also is still some skepticism among GMs. They question whether Winslow just got hot at the right time. In workouts, he's going to have to show that he can shoot the ball with the same consistency he shot it at the end of the season, and that he has the ball skills to play the wing.
"
Winslow touts ideal size at 6'6" and 222 pounds and getting hot in the tournament never hurts, but it's clear teams will want to see even more consistency from a guy who shot 49 percent from the floor as a freshman.
The numbers can mislead, though, as on tape, Winslow shoots elite with both feet set, but off the bounce is where he struggles. If he shows an improvement in Chicago, his stock won't budge—which is a good thing.
D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
One major benefactor of Mudiay's absence in Chicago? Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell.
Many consider Russell an elite prospect, which makes sense considering as a freshman he averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 boards and 5.0 assists. But even those numbers may not be enough to trump the overseas allure of Mudiay.
It doesn't help questions remain about Russell's athleticism. While he features an elite mind for the game and can score from anywhere on the floor, a lack of explosiveness on tape will make his job at the pro level more difficult.
ESPN.com's Fran Fraschilla provided perspective on the issue:
"There is only one area of concern for Russell, in my opinion. His athleticism is not at an elite NBA level right now -- and may never be. While he is a tall and rangy guard, he will need to find a way to defend the dynamic athletes in NBA backcourts. Staying in front of quick point guards and guarding big, physical shooting guards will be his greatest challenge early in his career.
"
Good news—the combine is where prospects can put such questions to bed in emphatic fashion.
If Russell can show well on and off the court in Chicago, he won't have any issues sticking around as a top-five selection.
Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas
Say hello to one of the draft's most polarizing players, Myles Turner.
It seems Texas coach Rick Barnes and his staff held Turner back this past season, a notion many will find difficult to argue with considering he averaged just 22.2 minutes per game—and played just 16 against Butler in the Big Dance.
Turner decided to go pro anyway, and he explained the decision to HoopsHype:
It's not hard to figure out why.
Turner stands at 7'0", 240 pounds and can at least act as a defensive enforcer as a rookie. In those small 22.2 minutes, he still averaged 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.
The 19-year-old star possesses an NBA body and tremendous upside, which begs the question how his numbers and stock would look right now if he had seen as many minutes as, say, Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky.
In fact, in such a deep class, Turner needs to take advantage of some top big men skipping the event in Chicago and duel with others such as Kaminsky. Perhaps no player has more on the line.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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