NBA Draft 2015: Mock Draft Projections for 1st-Round Players Who Will Be Steals

This season's NBA finalists are indicative of totally disparate approaches to building a championship contender.  The Cleveland Cavaliers boast a pair of former top overall picks in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as well as a former top-five pick in Tristan Thompson.  Conversely, the Golden State Warriors' top trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all taken outside of the top five, with the latter two taken 11th and 35th overall, respectively.

For the most part, the other 28 teams attempting to approach the Finals pinnacle are destined to build their rosters through one of those two paths.  While it would be nice to fall into an All-Star-caliber big man like Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor, teams outside of Minneapolis and Los Angeles will need to unearth value the same way the Warriors have.

Fortunately, there are several prospects who stand out as players who will get underdrafted but have the projectability in their games to become draft steals.  Projecting the entire first round, here's a look at the players most likely to outplay their likely draft positions.

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

Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia

The international man of mystery at the top of the draft, the 19-year-old Porzingis doesn't yet possess the functional strength to make an impact his rookie year.  However, it would also be a mistake to pigeonhole him as the stereotypical soft European big man.  As Grantland's Danny Chau illustrates in a must-read profile, the Latvian prospect excites because of his guard-like capabilities in his 7'1" body:

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There are reasons to get excited about Porzingis's potential, and they start with his shooting ability. He has a gorgeous, fluid, quick motion, and is adept at coming off a screen or shooting off-balance or off the dribble. He's developed a pretty sweet bank shot from working out with Audie Norris, Sevilla's assistant coach and a onetime Trail Blazer. There aren't many 7-footers anywhere who can operate functionally like a shooting wing, getting open looks on flare screens and pin-downs. It's Porzingis's most bankable skill, the one that seems most likely to translate immediately in the NBA.

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His rookie season will likely be spent in the weight room as he adds muscle on to his 220-pound frame.  Porzingis might not become a defensive anchor like Towns or Willie Cauley-Stein, but at the moment, he's not quite a functional rebounder.  However, it would also be incorrect to suggest that the teenager doesn't possess the mentality to grow into an inside-outside player even if his body type won't allow him to bang in the post with the likes of DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard.

Offensively, Porzingis' shooting and sneaky explosiveness should allow him to contribute in a part-time role immediately.  Though most see his ceiling as going to the Orlando Magic at pick No. 5, Porzingis himself has suggested he would like to go one pick earlier:

The New York Knicks aren't exactly in the mood for patience, though, and Derek Fisher has no track record in player development.  A franchise with a more extended timeline, like the Magic or Denver Nuggets, could allow Porzingis to mature as he gains weight and assimilates to the NBA game.

Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas

The SEC Player of the Year isn't likely to end up in the lottery, but his high floor could make him an appealing asset if surrounded by the right talent.  The 6'11" Portis will fall because he doesn't possess ideal upside, but it's that kind of thinking that helped players like Green end up in Golden State.

That's not to suggest that Portis is the same type of player as Green, but the former Razorback is among the most versatile big man scoring threats.  Portis averaged 17.5 points per game last season, and his inside-outside game has drawn interest from over one-third of the league in the predraft workout process:

Most importantly, Portis has the aggression to hold up defensively in the post even if his bulk won't allow him to take on the best centers.  He should nonetheless be a starting-caliber power forward with the motor to defend stretch forwards in small-ball lineups and the activeness to bother less powerful post players.

Multiple teams in the early post-lottery stages, like the Washington Wizards or Toronto Raptors, could use more offensive capabilities in the frontcourt.  Portis isn't going to be the alpha dog on a championship contender, but as he learns to harness his offensive versatility to keep defenders off balance, he should become an asset on a contender.

Delon Wright, PG, Utah

The second-team All-American actually saw a small dip in his scoring average from his junior season, but Wright remained one of the best players in the country.  According to Sports-Reference.com, Wright was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive win shares.  Indeed, in the metrics community, the Utah point guard has become a consensus darling:

Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn elaborated on that by illustrating that the biggest concern surrounding Wright, his erratic three-point shooting, isn't a significant concern based on his senior season performance:

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Scouts have concerns over Wright's long-range shooting ability, due to his general reluctance to take threes, and the fact that he made just 22.6% of them as a junior, but I think it's a bit overblown. He shot 35.6% from deep as a senior and 83.5% from the free-throw line, which is relevant because it tends to correlate to distance-shooting success in the NBA.

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Winn's article also highlighted the impressiveness of Wright's all-around game, as he put up per-40-minute numbers that just six other players since 2000 have equaled, including Dwyane Wade, Tyreke Evans and Jeremy Lin.  The 6'5" guard certainly possesses excellent size for the position even if his lack of elite athleticism won't allow him to dominate like the best big guards in the league.

The 23-year-old might not have a ton of projectability left.  However, among prospects outside the lottery, Wright is as likely as any to develop into a plus starter one day, making him a potentially huge steal for teams in need of a cost-controlled foundation.