2015 NBA Mock Draft: Breakdown of Underrated Prospects, 1st-Round Predictions
The 2015 NBA draft still isn't for another few weeks. What better way to stir up some speculation about what will happen in the first round than another mock-draft scenario?
It seems as though the top five picks are more or less set in stone in terms of whom the players will be. Their order is the only thing that seems to be up for debate. That's why it's worth examining some of the more underrated prospects a little more.
Check out an updated mock scenario below, followed by a closer look at a few players who are flying a bit under the radar.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Kentucky |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State |
| 4 | New York Knicks | Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SF/SG, Spain |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn) | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans) | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Frank Kaminsky, C/PF, Wisconsin |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Justin Anderson, SF/SG, Virginia |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston) | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers) | Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta) | Michael Frazier II, SG, Florida |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
Analysis of Underrated Prospects
Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Spain
A lot of deserved attention is being paid to a trio of perimeter players who figure to be top-five picks in D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow. Hezonja is one potential stud who isn't being discussed too much amid the predraft hype.
With a 6'8" frame, supreme confidence and lights-out shooting ability from beyond the arc, Hezonja has the game to play either the 2 or 3 at the NBA level.
USA Today's Derek Bodner noted how well Hezonja handles the basketball in his analysis:
Check out the following testimony reported by the Gazette's Paul Klee:
"Here, file this away: A veteran who played with Hezonja in Europe said he's never been as impressed with a player of Hezonja's age, in terms of work ethic and competitive fire. This one, too: One international scout I trust like a brother said Hezonja plays with a supreme confidence and fears no one on the court.
"
Some may view Hezonja's swagger as a bit off-putting, yet he likely won't have any issues if he's tasked with a big role early on in his NBA career. It takes special talent and mental strength to get to the top in the NBA, and Hezonja has the makings of being that type of player.
Just 20 years old, there is still a ton of upside for Hezonja to explore. His ball-handling prowess can make him a nightmare matchup off the dribble as well as off the ball, and his competitive nature should only help improve his defense over time, too.
Hezonja hasn't gotten big minutes in his time overseas with FC Barcelona, which may actually galvanize him in the long run to reward a franchise that invests a high draft pick in him.
Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Players with Portis' size at 6'11" with a 7'2" wingspan don't often boast the type of long-range shooting he does. That's what makes him so underrated.
Most perimeter-oriented big men might tend to lack the grit, desire, functional strength or mentality to bang away down low or be aggressive. None of these areas is a problem for Portis, whose motor runs hot at all times.
CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely reported what Portis had to say about his style of play and what fuels him on the court:
"I'm very crazy. I play angry, I play mad. I play very angry. Every game, I sit in the locker room and I have visions of the players on the other team slapped my mom. So that's why I get mad and now I get you because you slapped my mom. …
I bring something different to the basketball court that I think most 20-year-olds don't bring. I bring a sense of urgency. I play with a log on my shoulder; not a chip. I play with a log on my shoulder simply because I feel I'm one of the best kept secrets in this draft.
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Portis himself believes he is being overlooked in the draft. His three-point shots were limited to a mere 30 attempts last season, but Portis did hit 14 of them. The unorthodox form Portis has will make him almost impossible to block at the NBA level.
If all the lottery teams pass on Portis, there's a great chance for him to land with a playoff-caliber squad and contribute right away as a spark plug off the bench. But Portis won't necessarily be a career reserve—he has the skills to become a starter someday.
In the middle of the first round or thereabouts, prospective suitors can't ask for much more than a prospect of Portis' caliber.
Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
Not as much on the collective consciousness of the aforementioned floor generals or even players like Duke's Tyus Jones, Payne (6'2", 183 lbs) may wind up being a strong contender for this class' best point guard.
The dynamic playmaker averaged 20.2 points per contest and shot 37.7 percent from three-point range on 6.4 attempts per game. Payne also dished out six assists with only 2.5 turnovers, which is phenomenal proficiency for his high level of involvement in the Racers offense.
Per Sports-Reference.com, Payne had a 31.5 percent usage rate. For some perspective on the statistic, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James was at 32.4 in the same statistic in 2014-15, per NBA.com.
Not playing against the best competition in college is about the only knock on Payne at this point. A 6'7" wingspan gives him enough length to compensate for slighter height and bulk, and his quickness makes up for any lack of transcendent athleticism.
Murray State could have made some noise in the NCAA tournament had it gotten a bid from the selection committee. The Racers went undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference in the regular season and played at an extremely high level, so Payne is used to leading a winning team.
His desirable traits and intangibles should offset any doubts about his size, physical gifts or caliber of collegiate opponents.
Payne has the type of savvy decision-making and distributing ability to be a pure point guard. He also has the explosive scoring required in the modern NBA to be a truly special, all-around solid player at the position. Those who pass on him near the top of the draft may wind up regretting it.
Note: Wingspan and measurements courtesy of ESPN Insider.
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