2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Pro Comparisons for Prospects
As the path to the 2015 NBA draft wears onward, few better ways to keep up to date exist than with a mock draft.
For some, mock drafts are a fun venture with little takeaway value. While true analysts should never be judged based on how many picks they get right, the value of a mock draft lies in its all-encompassing look at prospect value and team need in a given scenario.
Another good way to get a general idea of a prospect some may not be familiar with is pro-player comparisons.
While the comparisons aren't meant to guarantee that the prospect will morph into such a player, it gives a look at how they perform and what the current skill set hints at for the future.
Below, let's take a look at both.
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) | Kevin Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 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 | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 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) | Rakeem Christmas, PF, Syracuse |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Christian Ford, PF, UNLV |
Notable Pro Comparisons
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
The comparison: Tim Duncan
It's not often that a player lands such a comparison, but it's not hard to see why with Duke's Jahlil Okafor.
Standing at 6'11" and 270 pounds, Okafor didn't encounter many issues as a freshman, shooting 66 percent from the floor with per-game averages of 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks.
Back in February, a guy by the name of David Robinson—who knows a thing or two about playing with Duncan from their time with the San Antonio Spurs—dropped the comparison:
"The freshman @BigJah15 Okafor reminds me of TImmyD #BrightFuture
— David Robinson (@DavidtheAdmiral) February 7, 2015"
It's no exaggeration to say Okafor is one of the most polished offensive big men to enter the draft in quite a long time. He uses an array of post moves to finesse his way around would-be defenders, which is a skill sure to translate to the pro level right away.
There are issues on the defensive end of the court, but at his size and 19 years of age, there's little doubt Okafor can improve in the right situation.
Okafor entered last season as the top prospect for a reason and lived up to the billing. The lofty comparison seems a tad much for any player yet to turn 20 years old, but the Blue Devils star seems to have the right foundation in place to fulfill his potential.
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
The comparison: Manu Ginobili
Perhaps the most talented player in the class—if not the one with the most upside—it's no wonder the best comparison for Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell is one of the league's top guards in recent years.
Go figure, it's also a star Russell confesses to studying.
“Watching film growing up, I looked at it as gaining an edge,” Russell said, per Reid Forgrave of Fox Sports. “Manu Ginobili, the passes he made, wow. He was two steps ahead. The same with Steph Curry."
Like Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, Russell doesn't have any issue getting others involved via creative passes. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last season, although he shares the shoot-to-break-a-slump habit that Ginobili features, too.
Russell is more of a combo guard than a point guard, just like Ginobili. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to create offense, instead freeing himself away from the ball for quality looks. With it, though, he can also get his teammates involved on a consistent basis.
Like with Okafor, the foundation for such a lofty comparison seems to be in place. Expect the draft results to reflect the thought.
Emmanuel Mudiay
The comparison: John Wall
This year, no prospect intrigues more than Emmanuel Mudiay, who's biding his time playing ball overseas away from the eyeballs of casual fans.
Don't fret, though, as a John Wall comparison comes close to hitting the nail on the head. As ESPN.com's Chad Ford writes, Mudiay struggles with his jump shot but gets the ball in the hands of teammates with ease:
"If Towns and Okafor are locked in a scrum for the best big man in the draft, then Mudiay and Russell are locked into a fight for the best guard. They offer a major contrast in styles. Mudiay's game is based on power and athleticism while Russell's is on skill, shooting and feel. NBA teams will be watching closely to see how Mudiay shoots the ball in workouts. That's their biggest question mark about him at the moment.
"
He possesses a strong blend of skills that Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman touched on back in December: "At 6'5", 200 pounds, he reminds me of a mix between John Wall and Jrue Holiday—big, skilled playmakers who can take over in the half court and play above the rim in the open floor."
Similar shooting questions followed Wall to the NBA. Based on how one of the league's best point guards turned out, teams in need around the top five won't pause very long to take a similar gamble.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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