NBA Mock Draft 2015: Latest Projections for Marquee 1st-Round Prospects
It's that time of the year for 2015 NBA draft first-round hopefuls to put their talents on display at the draft combine and various workouts, attempting to boost their stock prior to the big day on June 25.
The board is somewhat concrete near the top, and that's reflected in franchise-caliber big men like Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns opting to skip the draft combine. But for virtually everyone else, it's a do-or-die couple of weeks that can either solidify lottery-pick status or cause them to slip past Round 1.
There may be hundreds of hours of game film to scour over, but the lasting impression these prospects give scouts will be what carries over into draft day. With that said, let's take a look at the latest mock draft.
2015 NBA Round 1 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 | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 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 | Dallas Mavericks | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 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) | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
4. Los Angeles Lakers: D'Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State
The Lakers may have had better than a fourth overall pick on their minds throughout a tank-happy 2014-15 season, but they should be doing jumping jacks if D'Angelo Russell falls to them.
Ohio State's fabulous freshman checked off just about every box on the NBA checklist throughout his one-and-done season—tremendous shooting, elite ball skills, athleticism and great passing vision. Add on the fact that he's 6'4" but with a 6'9" wing span, and he's a dream-like prospect.
Russell is at the draft combine meeting with potential top-five teams, not surprisingly including the Lakers, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
He may not be a perfect fit next to Kobe Bryant as they play a similar position and are most effective on the ball. But with Bryant having seemingly one year left and the franchise in peril, the bigger picture needs to be looked at.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
Kentucky's Devin Booker is much more than perhaps the best pure shooter in the NBA draft.
His deadly game from mid-range and consistent three-point shot made him one of Kentucky's go-to scorers amid its 38-1 season, often getting isolation looks on the perimeter and making the most of them. Booker also measures well across the board, with a 6'6", 205-pound frame that will allow him to be effective on the wing.
As new Thunder head coach Billy Donovan attempts to build around Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, he'll need to find that third scoring option on the perimeter—hopefully closer to James Harden than Reggie Jackson. Booker can generate his own shot and hold his own on defense, making him an ideal fit.
18. Houston Rockets: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
Is there any way the Houston Rockets can go ahead and call up Tyus Jones for Thursday's Game 6?
Desperately missing point guard Patrick Beverley in the postseason, Houston is having to split minutes between the likes of Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni. That's a stopgap solution if I've ever heard of one. Even when Beverley returns, he's far from a 35-minute-a-night player.
Jones' presence would be felt immediately. No stranger to playing alongside great teammates at Duke, his vision would give James Harden and Dwight Howard looks they haven't gotten before. He's a big-shot player with endless range and is improving mightily on the defensive end.
As a player with plenty of growth still to make, Jones needs to land somewhere that will give him a valuable spot in the rotation. Both sides would benefit greatly if it happens to be Houston.
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