NBA Draft 2015: 1st-Round Mock Draft, Landing Spots for Prized Prospects
The 2015 NBA draft is slowly but surely starting to come into focus. Barring some type of unexpected development, there probably won't be any more major moves up or down the draft board among the top prospects over the final couple of weeks.
Most players now have a basic range in which they will likely fall. The question is which team is going to grab them based on how the draft ends up playing out. There's a lot of uncertainty starting with the New York Knicks, who own the No. 4 overall pick.
Let's check out one scenario for how the opening round may play out on June 25.
First-Round Mock Draft
| 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, Congo |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Myles Turner, PF, Texas |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Nets) | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via Pelicans) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Justin Anderson, SG, Virginia |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets) | Jarell Martin, PF, LSU |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Clippers) | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky |
As always, most of the focus leading up to the draft has been on the top prospects. In this class, the quartet of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay make up that group, and they are certainly worthy of the hype.
That said, the most notable thing about this class is its depth. Even those teams drafting in the 20s should have a good chance to select a player who can crack their rotation in the near future. So let's take a deeper dive into some of the more interesting selections from deep in Round 1.
Notable Late-Round Picks
26. San Antonio Spurs: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
Hollis-Jefferson is a terrific defender with high-end athleticism and a great motor. The reason he's still on the board this late in the round is uncertainty about his offense. He showcased a limited repertoire during his time at Arizona and still needs plenty of work at that end of the floor.
The forward isn't afraid to attack the paint and finishes well around the rim. He's highly inconsistent from the mid-range, however, and isn't much of an outside shooter. He must add more length to his offensive game to even start at small forward in the NBA.
That said, he can already step in as a role player off the bench as a defensive stopper on the perimeter. His combination of quickness and length will allow him to guard a variety of players. Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe notes the forward thinks his ability to read the game is key:
The Spurs could use a true backup for Kawhi Leonard. They usually go with three guards when the future franchise cornerstone heads to the bench. Hollis-Jefferson can assume the role instead, ensuring San Antonio doesn't suffer a massive drop-off defensively.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas
Things just didn't work out for Alexander at Kansas. He arrived to the Jayhawks as a hyped top-five recruit and a potential lottery pick. He leaves after one lackluster season with plenty of potential but on the first-round fringe due to his lack of production and development.
While he lacks prototypical size for an NBA power forward, he makes up for it with his length, athleticism and power. It should allow him to become a reliable defender and rebounder in the NBA once he gains some experience.
He's still very much a raw talent, though. The most important thing for him is landing with a team that's going to give him consistent playing time to make the necessary strides. Daniel Poneman of SwagAir.com is still bullish on the forward's long-term outlook:
The Nets could certainly use some frontcourt depth, and they aren't ready to contend right now. They can afford to take a chance on Alexander and hope he starts showing why he was viewed so favorably coming out of high school. It's not a guarantee he'll succeed, but it's worth the limited risk at this stage.
30. Golden State Warriors: Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
It would have been interesting to see what Johnson could have accomplished with another school. He opted to head for Kentucky, where he was overshadowed due to the team's star-studded roster the past couple of years. He played limited minutes, and that prevented him from making a major impact.
In turn, it's also tricky to get a clear read on his draft stock. He sports ideal size and is a load to deal with in the post, but his skill set doesn't stand out at either end of the floor. His defense doesn't stand out for a player with his physical tools, and his offense is mostly limited to easy looks around the basket.
One thing working to his advantage is the lack of interior depth around the league. Even a merely average post player has plenty of value. Bill Oram of the Orange County Register points out the big man is even setting a realistic goal for himself:
The Warriors obviously have no shortage of scoring weapons and are strong on the perimeter. That's why Johnson seems like an ideal fit. He can bring some stability to the frontcourt in a niche role without needing a bunch of offensive touches to be effective.
