2015 NBA Draft Prospects: Top-Rated Players Heading into Draft Lottery
With the lottery on approach, the 2015 NBA draft class doesn't feature a LeBron James or Tim Duncan teams will fight over once the pingpong balls settle.
And that's all right.
Prospects such as James and Duncan are anomalies, the can't-miss prospects teams will ruin whole seasons for in an effort to further their chances at the top pick.
This year, landing second behind the top pick means an easier decision between Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke's Jahlil Okafor.
There's nothing wrong with landing anywhere in the lottery thanks to such a deep class. If a team drafts smart and pairs it with a big free-agency haul, contending status will follow. Here's a look at some of the top names in the lottery.
Top-Rated Players
Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
The argument between Towns and Okafor may boil down to simple preference.
Towns stands at 6'11", 250 pounds and is a defensive juggernaut who averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.3 blocks last season as a freshman.
It might not matter who clutches the No. 1 pick, at least according to data compiled by ESPN.com's Chad Ford:
"Towns continues to tighten his grip on the No. 1 pick since we last covered him. In an informal poll of NBA scouts and GMs from 28 of the 30 teams in the league, the large majority of them had him No. 1 on their boards. While it doesn't rule out Okafor or Russell or Mudiay going No. 1, Towns probably is going to have to struggle in workouts, have an undisclosed injury that shows up in the medical testing at the combine or have some off-the-court issue to lose his grip. In other words, this spot is his to lose, regardless of which team gets the No. 1 pick.
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It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Towns is the most complete big man in the draft. Okafor might be better on the offensive end of the court, but the Kentucky product can dominate both ends and take control of games.
Anything in the way of "falling stock" when it comes to Towns over the next few weeks figures to be a smoke screen. He's an instant contributor with staggering upside and is worthy of the top pick.
Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Then again, it would be hard to find fault with a team for going with Okafor at No. 1.
There aren't many places that rank Okafor higher than Towns thanks to his defensive struggles, but if a team wants to load up on an offensive powerhouse with room to grow in all areas, Okafor is a great option.
Last year the Blue Devils star averaged 17.3 points, 8.5 boards and 1.3 assists and comes in at a solid 6'11" and 275 pounds. He's the most polished big man on the offensive side of the court to enter the draft in a long time, too.
The issues placing Okafor behind Towns aren't just limited to his ability to block shots or defend screens. He also converted on just 51 percent of his free-throw attempts last year, so at the next level a Hack-a-Jahlil strategy might work.
Still, the issues with Okafor are minimal, especially because they figure to evaporate in a hurry once he learns from pro coaches and players. There's no reason for shock if he comes off the board first or second.
Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
There's always a chance that a guard steals the spotlight at No. 1 depending on how the pingpong balls land.
Emmanuel Mudiay seems like a nice surprise option, especially with fans not knowing much about him after he played ball in China last year.
In a nutshell? Mudiay seems like John Wall, a pass-first guard who can get others involved thanks to his extreme athleticism, but struggles to knock down his jumper at a consistent clip.
Mudiay's biggest competition is Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell, but Sam Vecenie at CBSSports.com and the minds at DraftExpress.com, among others, rank him over the Buckeyes star.
Ford doesn't agree, but a recent breakdown shows why there is so much appeal around the 6'5", 196-pound prospect:
"Mudiay's appeal is based around a terrific combination of size, athleticism and power at the point guard position. He can get anywhere he wants on the floor, finishes at the rim, and plays with a terrific motor. His jump shot still needs more work and he can still polish his point guard skills, but he's likely to be the first international player to hear his name called on draft night.
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Like the duel between Towns and Okafor, the battle between Russell and Mudiay doesn't have a clear winner.
That's a good thing for the lottery teams in need of a top-flight guard. There's plenty to go around, so long as a team lands in the top 10 or better.
| D'Angelo Russell | PG | Ohio State |
| Justise Winslow | SF | Duke |
| Kristaps Porzingis | PF | Latvia |
| Mario Hezonja | SF | Croatia |
| Willie Cauley-Stein | C | Kentucky |
| Myles Turner | PF | Texas |
| Cameron Payne | PG | Murray State |
| Stanley Johnson | SF | Arizona |
| Trey Lyles | PF | Kentucky |
| Devin Booker | SG | Kentucky |
| Frank Kaminsky | C | Wisconsin |
| Sam Dekker | SF | Wisconsin |
| Jerian Grant | PG | Notre Dame |
| Bobby Portis | PF | Arkansas |
| Kelly Oubre | SF | Kansas |
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
