NBA Mock Draft 2015: Opening-Round Projections and Sleeper Prospects to Watch
With the order of the 2015 NBA draft set, expect the stock market to shift in dramatic fashion many times on the march to June 25.
Between now and the draft, breaking news will emerge, reels upon reels of film will go through the ringer and prospects will partake in interviews and workouts capable of shifting the eventual outcome of the draft.
Mock drafts offer the best way to keep up with the action. The one below features a result ordered by team need and prospect value.
As the march continues, there are also a few sleepers to know who might jump up sooner rather than later.
2015 NBA First-Round Mock Draft
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 4 | New York Knicks | 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) | Kevon 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 |
Sleeper Prospects to Watch
Devin Booker, G, Kentucky
While he's not a lesser-known name per se, it would be a shock to see Kentucky's Devin Booker as a lottery pick, right?
Booker is a catch-and-shoot player who doesn't feature elite athleticism or an ability to move with the ball in his hands and create his own shot. That's not a bad thing, and there's a role in the NBA for his talents—but perhaps not as a lottery pick.
Except Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix hears otherwise. He's not alone, either, as ESPN.com's Chad Ford also hears Booker is a candidate for the top 10, and he offers a reason, too:
"With the Splash Brothers continuing to shoot their way through the Western Conference playoffs, the need for shooting was a major point of emphasis from scouts this week. The NBA is a trendy league and right now the ability to stretch the floor is trending in NBA scout circles.
"
In other words, Booker might catch the globe sleeping June 25 as he hears his name called at the podium earlier than most would have imagined.
Sometimes underrated talent or small-school prospects create the sleeper label for themselves. Other times, league trends and team needs birth a sleeper such as Booker, so watch out.
Cameron Payne, G, Murray State
In the same vein, Murray State's Cameron Payne is a small-school prospect with a big game who can shock the globe and perhaps enter the lottery fray.
Payne missed out on the Big Dance this past year and didn't get to seize the minds of fans. He would have, considering he averaged 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists last year on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent from deep.
Payne isn't an elite athlete, either, but he's an outstanding floor general with a high basketball IQ who can orchestrate an offense at an elite clip, if not pour in the points on his own. Ford hears a team high in the order loves what Payne brings to the table:
Payne won't ever compete with D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay as the top point guard in the draft, but he does seem ready to come off the board higher than recognizable names such as Jerian Grant and Tyus Jones.
Just how high is the question.
Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
A 6'11", 216-pound power forward sounds like he has a lot of work to do, right?
Maybe Christian Wood does, but his immense on-court talent, which helped him average 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game last season at UNLV, continues to turn heads on the path to the draft.
Wood is an elite athlete and superb rim defender, but he can also stretch defenses out after shooting 50 percent from the floor last year. Still, the NBA seems iffy on his stock because he's so light.
Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports sums up Wood's situation well:
"I think the player I have the least idea what to do with on my board is Christian Wood. Legit could go from 14-28 and it wouldn’t shock me.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 21, 2015"
Players with elite athleticism and an ability to run the floor in a relentless manner, as well as shoot at an efficient clip, don't come around too often. While questions remain around Wood, it takes just one team to fall in love with his moldable skill set and pull the trigger.
A lesser-known name with massive upside and a surefire pro role as a rookie, Wood might be the highest riser between now and draft day.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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