NBA Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Predictions and Buzzworthy Frontcourt Prospects

Don't call it a comeback, but the NBA is again transitioning back to a league in which the center is commanding more and more attention. That bodes especially well for some of the top prospects in the 2015 NBA draft who not coincidentally play that position.

Stars such as Nikola Vucevic, Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins and Marc Gasol have all been integral to the success of their respective teams or have provided a foundation for the organizations going forward. 

Now teams in the mix to draft one of the five best centers in the 2015 edition of the draft are hoping to acquire similar building blocks. 

Many consider Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky, Texas' Myles Turner, Duke's Jahil Okafor and Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns the top five centers in the draft. How these players come off the board on June 25 remains to be seen, but all five potential first-round picks have a chance to be difference-makers for whichever teams land them.

Here's the latest NBA mock draft from Bleacher Report:

Pick	Team	Player
1	Minnesota Timberwolves	Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
3	Philadelphia 76ers	D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
4	New York Knicks	Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
5	Orlando Magic	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
6	Sacramento Kings	Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
7	Denver Nuggets	Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
8	Detroit Pistons	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
9	Charlotte Hornets	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
10	Miami Heat	Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
11	Indiana Pacers	Myles Turner, C, Texas
12	Utah Jazz	Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia
13	Phoenix Suns	Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
15	Atlanta Hawks	Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
16	Boston Celtics	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
18	Houston Rockets	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
19	Washington Wizards	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
20	Toronto Raptors	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
21	Dallas Mavericks	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
22	Chicago Bulls	Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
24	Cleveland Cavaliers	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
26	San Antonio Spurs	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
27	Los Angeles Lakers	Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
28	Boston Celtics	Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
29	Brooklyn Nets	Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
30	Golden State Warriors	Delon Wright, PG, Utah

As many as six centers could come off the board in the first round, including five of the most highly regarded prospects at the position within the first 13 picks.

In comparison, only centers were drafted in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft. Joel Embiid, selected third overall, did not play due to injury. Jusuf Nurkic, the 16th overall pick, remained overseas.

Karl-Anthony Towns: The Best of the Class

Many consider Towns and Okafor to be neck and neck for the No. 1 overall selection later this month, but Towns is our pick and for good reason. His combination of offense and defense makes him an attractive pick with an extremely high ceiling, and that gives him a strong chance to completely alter the direction of the Timberwolves organization.

James Crisp/Associated Press

Towns has the chance to be the first center drafted first overall since the Trail Blazers took Greg Oden ahead of Kevin Durant in 2007. Prior to that, a center was selected first overall four out of five years between 2001 and 2005. The lone exception, not surprisingly, was LeBron James back in 2003.

With the increasingly prominent roles of centers in the NBA, it's not a surprise that Towns is the most highly touted prospect in this year's draft class. With Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins and potentially Towns, the Timberwolves could have three No. 1 overall picks in their starting five in 2015-16. Factor in Ricky Rubio, and the team has a very solid nucleus as it tries to turn a corner.

Okafor Destined for Hollywood

Jahlil Okafor is the prize awaiting the Lakers should Minnesota take the expected route and draft Towns. Okafor, who helped lead Duke to an NCAA championship this past season, will now be tasked with rebuilding a Lakers frontcourt that has been a weakness the last few seasons.

Okafor boasts a strong blend of size (6'11", 270 lbs), length and strength, in addition to solid footwork and above-average touch. He has the chance to make an immediate impact on a Lakers team that strongly desires to return to form as a contender in the Western Conference.

Paired with last year's first-round pick, Julius Randle, Los Angeles has a chance to get much bigger, more talented and very dangerous at the Nos. 4 and 5 spots. While it doesn't necessarily bring the Lakers to the level of other Western Conference playoff contenders, it does give Kobe Bryant a much-needed weapon entering what will likely be his final NBA season and provide the Lakers with franchise building blocks for the post-Kobe era.

Cauley-Stein: A Hot Commodity, Candidate for Trade

NBA teams are well aware of the importance of a defensively inclined center. That's where Willie Cauley-Stein comes in.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Cauley-Stein does not boast the offensive skill set that other centers in this draft class do, but the 7-footer is expected to be a defensive stopper who'll change the entire dynamic of whichever team lands him in the draft.

In the mock draft above, we pegged Sacramento to nab Cauley-Stein with the sixth overall selection. That remains a very fluid situation, as numerous teams have been rumored to have interest in trading up for the former Kentucky big man. 

"

Trade buzz: Celtics are interested in moving up in the draft, reportedly eyeing Kentucky big man Willie Trill Cauley Stein. (via CSN)

— NBA Live Tv (@NBALiveTv1) May 21, 2015"

Additionally, ESPN.com's Chad Ford reported the Knicks are considering using the No. 4 overall pick for Cauley-Stein.

Without question, Cauley-Stein has generated a lot of interest and intrigue among NBA teams and is one of the biggest chess pieces in the entire draft. He could continue to be the subject of trade talks for the next few weeks leading up to June 25 and may force a team to move up to nab him. 

Turner Could Be Insurance for Indiana Up Front

Indiana has relied on Roy Hibbert to anchor the frontcourt for many of the team's playoff runs, but with tricky contract situations and a prime position in the upcoming draft, we inferred that the Pacers could take Myles Turner out of Texas as an insurance policy.

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

The 19-year-old freshman proved to be one of college basketball's best offensive centers last season. The benefit of landing in Indiana, assuming the team retains Hibbert this summer or not, is that Turner can continue to sharpen his game and add some weight while not having to pick up big chunks of minutes before he's ready.

Last year, Turner averaged 4.7 blocks per game and was one of the Big 12's top defenders, evident by a rating of 86.3. Clearly, he took advantage of his 6'11" frame and 7'4" wingspan. 

If Turner does fall to Indiana at No. 13, he proves insurance should the team lose Hibbert this offseason. Hibbert holds a $15.5 million player option for the 2015-16 season but has yet to opt in, though president of basketball operations Larry Bird expects the veteran to do so at some point, according to the Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner.

There has been talk swirling out of Indy that Hibbert could be trade bait, and if so, then Turner provides the Pacers with a defensive stopper in the middle—with or without Hibbert going forward. 

Player of the Year Kaminsky to the Suns

The winner of college hoops' top honor this year, Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky could find a home in the desert later this month.

The 7'1" center owns a unique and wildly versatile offensive skill set, with the ability to battle down low in the post as well as make shots from three-point range. According to Hoop-Math.com, Kaminsky took 70 percent of his shots at the rim, 45.5 percent on two-point jump shots and 41.6 percent from downtown.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The question about Phoenix is that the team selected Alex Len in the first round in 2013, so a true center is not the most glaring need this summer. 

Len is extremely injury prone, and Kaminsky offers a different range of skills than he does as a more non-traditional type of center. Kaminsky is a center, but his game could allow him to fill in as a stretch 4. And because their games would not conflict, the two 7-footers could theoretically be on the court at the same time and coexist. 

Much like the Suns of Mike D'Antoni, Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, adding Kaminsky to the mix along with Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight could make this offense among the tops in the NBA. The Suns would be following the blueprint set by the Warriors, who are about to play for an NBA title.