NBA Draft 2015: Latest 1st-Round Mock Draft Heading into Combine
With the NBA Draft Combine just underway and the lottery looming next week, expectations for the 2015 NBA draft are bound to shake up considerably in the coming days.
While all-but-guaranteed top picks Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns opted not to be a part of the 62 players putting their talents on display, many of the other elite prospects in the nation are participating. The results from Chicago will undoubtedly play a part in deciding their fate, but the event's impact doesn't stack up to that of the May 19 lottery.
That leaves only a few more days to analyze the first round before things get changed up, so let's take a look at the latest mock draft.
2015 NBA 1st-Round Mock Draft
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky |
| 2 | New York Knicks | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Congo |
| 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 | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn) | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 21 | Chicago Bulls | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 22 | Dallas Mavericks | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 27 | Boston Celtics (via LA Clippers) | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 28 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston) | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta) | Terran Petteway, SG, Nebraska |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
Notable Selections
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
Whoever is picked No. 1 overall might inevitably come down to the fit needed for the team that wins the lottery. Karl-Anthony Towns is the right fit for Minnesota.
The former Kentucky center found a way to develop into the go-to scoring option on a team stacked to the brim with NBA talent, utilizing his polished post-up skills and size to daunt opponents. More athletic than Jahlil Okafor, he's able to wreak havoc on the defensive end and swat shots with ferocity.
While the Timberwolves already have Nikola Pekovic down low as the anchor center, Towns is the ideal power forward partner who can feed off Pekovic and play alongside him properly.
Throw Kevin Garnett's leadership into the mix, and Towns could very well blossom into an All-Star.
8. Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson
Heading into the second year of Stan Van Gundy's reign, the Detroit Pistons have star-caliber play in the post, and the duo of Brandon Jennings and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the backcourt.
But they're missing that glue guy to make it all come together.
Stanley Johnson may not be that type of player just yet, but that's the ultimate goal for this ultra-athletic defensive stopper. The Arizona one-and-done has lockdown defender at the next level written all over him.
Johnson's NBA-ready frame (6'7", 245 lbs) suggests he'll fit nicely at the swingman position that the Pistons are lacking at. The 18-year-old is far from a reliable three-point shooter at the moment, but that's one area where he can improve upon quickly.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Frank Kaminsky
It's not very often that college basketball's Player of the Year can be had outside of the draft lottery spots. That only makes the Atlanta Hawks' potential selection of Frank Kaminsky even more intriguing.
Picking the Wisconsin star would further bolster a team that dominated the Eastern Conference in 2014-15. Given how Kaminsky rose to the top in a ball-movement-heavy Wisconsin offense and how the Hawks run a similar scheme, Kaminsky would likely fit in right away.
Coming off a tough national championship loss to Duke, Kaminsky has been grinding in pursuit of a high draft position, as captured by Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress:
"Kaminsky putting on an absolute shooting clinic out here. Going to be such a touch cover in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/iiM0TZbIQ7
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 6, 2015"
The Hawks would not necessarily need Kaminsky too much right off the bat, but it wouldn't be long at all before the 22-year-old proved himself worthy of considerable playing time. Atlanta has a pretty good system right now, but it'd be hard to see Kaminsky being benched for long in favor of Pero Antic and Zaza Pachulia.
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