NBA Mock Draft 2015: Projections for Prospects Who Will Make an Immediate Impact
The early portion of the NBA draft is as much about upside as immediate impact. With that said, there's no question that teams would love to tab players who figure to give them something to smile about sooner rather than later.
When looking for the players who figure to offer the most in the way of immediate impact, the three spotlighted prospects in this mock have to rate the highest.
The featured players' names are highlighted in the table below:
| 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 | Jordan Mickey, 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 |
Jahlil Okafor
Finding a player who stands a shade under 6'11" in shoes with a 7'5" wingspan and weighs a solid 272 pounds is rare. If said player has elite footwork and touch around the basket at the age of 19, then there's now cause for even more excitement.
Jahlil Okafor is the man who fits that description.
In helping to lead the Duke Blue Devils to the national championship as a freshman, Okafor averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. While he'll never be an elite shot-blocker, he's already got the skills to make a splash as a post threat on offense.
With Okafor's array of moves and size, it would be a shock if he averages fewer than 16 points per game as a rookie. If the draft lottery doesn't disrupt the top portion of the order of selection, Okafor could go anywhere from first to fourth overall.
I have him going first because he's simply a rarer talent than Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns, and his extended minutes as a freshman have him better prepared to make an impact as a rookie.
With that said, most mocks have Towns going No. 1 with Okafor going second or slipping to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 4. Both are plausible scenarios, but we'll have to wait for the lottery on Tuesday to have a clearer picture.
D'Angelo Russell
Of all the players in this year's draft, the one with the most superstar potential is D'Angelo Russell. The 6'5" guard can play either backcourt position, score, distribute and has the frame to be an above-average perimeter defender.
Russell won't be coming to the NBA with an offensive game that still needs a ton of development. He's already a very good outside shooter, as evidenced by his 41 percent accuracy rate from long range.
His 5.7 rebounds, five assists and 1.6 steals per game also prove he can stuff a stat sheet in a variety of ways.
Beyond the stats and measurements, Russell has the swagger of a future superstar.
ESPN.com's Fran Frischilla wrote this about Russell back in February: "At 6'5" and armed with a 6'9" wingspan, Russell has a unique ability to control a college basketball game with his scoring, passing, basketball intelligence and leadership. But most impressive is that he already possesses the poise and countenance of a 10-year NBA veteran."
This kid seems to know that his defender can't guard him, and thus he's willing to take over as a scorer whenever needed. On the flip side, he's far from a selfish gunner, has a great feel for the game and understands when to get his teammates involved.
If I were in charge of the team picking first in the draft, Russell would be the top pick.
Willie Trill Cauley-Stein
If a player can defend and rebound, he can make an impact as a rookie.
Both of those qualities are Willie Trill Cauley-Stein's strengths. His athleticism allows him to be a potentially elite weak-side and pick-and-roll defender, and his length (7'0 ½" with 7'3" wingspan) and instincts are suitable for an above-average rebounder.
Energy has never been an issue for him in college, and if he lands with the right coaching staff and point guard, his career could look a lot like Tyson Chandler's post-Chicago Bulls run. Chandler's career took off when he joined the then New Orleans Hornets and played with Chris Paul.
Cauley-Stein is a similar athlete at center and could be an immediate defensive presence for the Sacramento Kings alongside DeMarcus Cousins.
If he slips to the Detroit Pistons, who could lose Greg Monroe in free agency, he and Andre Drummond would make for a dominant defensive frontcourt.
Unless otherwise noted, measurements courtesy of DraftExpress.
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