NBA Draft 2015: Latest Mock Draft Picks After Official Lottery Results
The draft lottery is the NBA’s version of a wedding altar.
There is a mixture of excitement and nerves as teams place their immediate and long-term futures on the line. It’s also better served as a once-in-a-lifetime type of memory, because teams don’t want to return there every single year and would be much better off landing that one superstar who sets them up for seasons to come.
The good news for the franchises that missed the playoffs this season is the sheer amount of potential star power available in the 2015 draft class. There are a number of franchise-changing players, and the only question now is where each of them lands.
Here is a look at a complete first-round mock draft after the official lottery results, as well as a few underrated lottery candidates who do not receive enough attention as potential All-Stars.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, F/C, Kentucky |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | New York Knicks | D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, G, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, C, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Montrezl Harrell, PF/C, Louisville |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Robert Upshaw, C, Washington |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) | Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
Underappreciated Lottery Candidates
Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona
Today’s NBA is a stretch forward’s game, and Stanley Johnson fits the bill.
He checks in at 6’7” and is tall and strong enough to bang around with bigger post players. However, he possesses the athleticism and open-court speed to play the small forward spot on both ends. Throw in his ability to stretch the floor with an outside shot, get out in transition and slash to the basket, and Johnson will contribute at the NBA level in his rookie season.
While the offensive skill set is there, Jonathan Givony of Draft Express believes Johnson’s best trait is his defense:
"Johnson's biggest appeal as a NBA prospect likely lies with his potential on the defensive end. He has tremendous physical tools here, including great size for his position, a strong frame, solid length, and excellent anticipation skills. Although he wasn't always able to show it alongside Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Johnson has the potential to guard up to three positions at the NBA level, as he should have no problem bodying up most power forwards thanks to his strength and toughness. He is extremely physical when locked in, displaying tremendous footwork on the perimeter, being capable of hounding smaller perimeter players, and also doing a nice job of getting in the passing lanes—averaging an impressive 2.1 steals per-40 minutes pace adjusted and a decent amount of blocks as well. He's also a terrific rebounder, grabbing 9 boards per-40 minutes despite spending heavy minutes at the shooting guard position.
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Johnson is a picture of versatility, and he can stretch the floor, lock down the opponent’s best player on defense and rebound down low with underrated strength. From a raw tools standpoint, Paul George comes to mind.
Johnson has plenty of work to do to reach the status of someone like George, but even the mere possibility that the Arizona product has that ceiling should entice a team in the top 10 of the draft.
Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Bobby Portis was the SEC Player of the Year, even though the conference included all the Kentucky stars who will hear their names called on draft day. He averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and racked up 14 double-doubles during the season if tournament games are included.
Portis is a walking double-double threat, and his nose for the basketball and physicality won’t disappear at the NBA level.
Portis can also stretch the defense with a solid perimeter jumper and consistently runs the floor for someone his size. His combination of mobility and strength will be a problem for plenty of power forwards in the league, and his ability to get out in transition and aggressively attack the rim will lead to easy looks in his rookie season.
Portis is also an offensive rebounding force with solid touch around the basket.
The same traits that help him on offense will come into play on the defensive side. His relentlessness and versatility will help him match up with stretch forwards or bang around for rebounds down low, and his athleticism allows him to cover more ground near the basket as a shot-blocker.
Portis is a double-double candidate every time he steps on the floor and will be a valuable tool in a team’s rotation next season.
Myles Turner, C, Texas
Myles Turner boasts a sky-high ceiling, even if he doesn’t put up Rookie of the Year numbers right away.
He stands 6’11”, but he is a lethal jump-shooter for his position. Turner’s presence alone on the court will force opposing big men away from the basket and open up the lane for penetration from the wing or top of the key.
That jump shot will also lead to plenty of pick-and-pop opportunities if he is paired with a skilled ball-handler, although he has the explosiveness to roll to the basket if and when defenders cheat toward that outside shot.
The physical tools are there for Turner to be a force on the post, and he demonstrated soft touch around the basket at Texas. He will also likely add more strength at the NBA level considering he is still only a year removed from high school.
Former Texas and NBA point guard T.J. Ford discussed the difficulty of matching up with the versatile and skilled Turner, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com: "That form of player is difficult to guard. Basketball is instincts, and if you can't use your instincts, then you're limited at the end of the day. I don't care how good you are. If you don't have good instincts, you're limited."
Turner is also arguably the best shot-blocker in this draft class, and he swatted 2.6 blocks a game in only 22 minutes of action in his one season at Texas.
So much of defense in today’s NBA revolves around having consistent rim protectors who can prevent the opponent’s best player from creating clean looks at the basket, and Turner certainly fills that need.
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