2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Projections and Predictions for Fringe Prospects

When it comes to the 2015 NBA draft, most of the focus goes on just how unfortunate teams such as the New York Knicks are after the lottery and how things will shake out for the top prospects. 

Perhaps more interesting is what unfolds at the tail end of the first round. Thanks to a deep class, contenders have plenty of late options to consider to fill out a roster and rebuilding teams can find additional young guys to form a solid foundation. 

Mock drafts offer one of the best ways to keep up with those fringe prospects, so let's take a look at one before highlighting some of the more intriguing names. 

2015 NBA First-Round Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Selection
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	Cameron Payne, SG, Murray State
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	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
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

Predictions for Fringe Prospects

Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Say hello to one of the draft's most intriguing prospects. 

Cliff Alexander is a freak athlete who comes in at 6'9" and 239 pounds, but he only averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 boards per game as a freshman at Kansas last year before entering the draft too early.

Folks seem split on Alexander, who seems to be an elite project player. The question is, where does a team take him? As Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com captures, opinions are all over the place:

There's a reputation Alexander can't help stretch the floor, but he looked good at the combine and shot 57 percent last year. He seems to have a role with a patient team willing to help him add strength and work on the fundamentals.

This won't be the first year an athletic project comes off the board higher than some would expect. Look for a rebuilding team to roll the dice in the early second round.

Prediction: Alexander comes off the board in the early second round.

Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville's Terry Rozier is another polarizing first-round pick.

It's easy to see why. He's stuck in a class not only headlined by D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, but one that also offers solid mid-first-round options such as Cameron Payne and others.

The fact Rozier comes in at 6'2" and 190 pounds doesn't help—nor does his 41 percent shooting from the field as a sophomore, only offset by 17.1 points per game.

As Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com points out, many will write Rozier out of the first round based just on his shooting:

"

I’ll just say this: if Terry Rozier is shooting well and knocking down 3s consistently, he’s a first round pick 100%.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 24, 2015"

Rozier has the right attitude and willingness to improve as one of the only big-name players to compete in the entire combine this offseason. 

Thanks to an ability to drive and create for himself and others, not to mention a skill set sure to improve with time, look for a team like the Chicago Bulls to pull the trigger and add depth.

Prediction: Chicago selects Rozier at No. 22. 

Rakeem Christmas, C, Syracuse

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of intriguing, Syracuse senior center Rakeem Christmas continues to fly under the radar.

In his first serious dose of playing time last year, the Philadelphia native erupted for 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

Yet Christmas continues to hang around the end of the first round. Some of it has to do with size (6'10", 243 pounds), but most of it seems to be the fact he only has one year of serious playing time under his belt.

If the combine is any sign, though, Christmas continues to rise, as ESPN.com's Chad Ford writes:

"

Christmas was the leading scorer at the combine, averaging 19.5 PPG, 6 RPG and 1.5 BPG in about 27 minutes per game. Christmas showed the ability to score both inside and outside and his measurements, particularly a 7-foot-5 wingspan, a 9-2.5 standing reach and weight (246 pounds), all put him in the category of NBA center. Christmas was projected as a late second-rounder before the combine. I think he's going to be one of the first picks off the board in the second round now after talking with scouts.

"

An ability to dominate other top prospects says a lot, and it's smart to remember Christmas seems to be just budding in his development.

Near the end of the first round, a team such as the Brooklyn Nets won't mind helping Christmas—a proven producer with off-the-charts measureables—develop into the best pro he can be.

Prediction: Brooklyn selects Christmas at No. 29.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.