NBA Mock Draft 2015: 1st-Round Predictions and Prospects Worth a Gamble

When it comes to the 2015 NBA draft, months bleed to weeks, and those, in time, bleed to days as the excruciating wait continues.

While fans take in the chaotic NBA Finals showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, fans of the other teams in the Association sneak an eye toward the upcoming draft.

Rest assured that the front offices of those teams have all attention on the draft.

Behind the scenes, each team continues to jockey for position by forming draft boards, tearing them down and forming them anew based on workouts, film study, numbers and on and on.

Given today's technology, it's easy to round up how teams think and where prospects rank. It just calls for another mock draft, so let's get right to it.

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	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
9	Charlotte Hornets	Kelly Oubre, SG, Kansas
10	Miami Heat	Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia
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 Wood, PF, UNLV

Prospects Worth a Gamble

Myles Turner, C, Texas

It's very easy to play the "what if?" game when it comes to Texas' Myles Turner.

With the Longhorns, Turner received just 22.2 minutes per game on average, with an eyebrow-raising 16 in the team's lone Big Dance contest, a loss to sixth-seeded Butler.

Despite the odd usage, the 6'11", 239-pound enforcer still posted averages of 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks—so just imagine what he could have posted if he received, say, 10 more minutes on average.

Still, the NBA seems to have pause when it comes to Turner, especially in a class already comfortable at the position early on, thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor. Maybe the Texas coaches were on to something with how they used Turner.

Even so, there's a lot to like with Turner. He can impact the pro game as a defender right away. His offensive game will only improve with coaching, and it's already dynamic, as NBC Sports' Rob Dauster wrote back in January:

While Turner hasn't lived up to expectations, few in his position could have, given the precollegiate hype that followed him to the Longhorns.

As long as a team is willing to invest its resources into unlocking his potential, Turner might classify as one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas

Right now, the NBA seems to pigeonhole Kelly Oubre Jr.—he's a project player who can knock down threes and play strong defense, but he's only a rotational piece right out of the gates.

Maybe it's a fair assessment after Oubre averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 36 percent from deep as a freshman. As USA Today's Derek Bodner points out, one of the former Kansas Jayhawks star's biggest weaknesses comes when he puts the ball on the court:

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There is no weakness that will slow an elite athlete down than quicker the lack of a real ability to handle the basketball in traffic. It's the type of skill that, when lacking, can force players into tough, contested, shots. Worse, it's type of skill that, when lacking, can force gifted offensive players to not even try to assert themselves.

"

Of course, it's a correctable issue in need of coaching, not one teams should highlight as a career-ruiner and call it a day.

For his part, Oubre believes he fits in well with a team such as the Phoenix Suns, as the organization captures on Twitter:

A locale such as Phoenix is the perfect environment for Oubre.

A quick-paced offense in which the Kansas product can rotate in to knock down shots and slow players on the defensive end of the court will help him morph into the best player he can be.

While a gamble, the upside with Oubre is that of a full-time NBA starter once he develops.

Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame

It's not easy for a point guard to stand out in a deep class top-heavy with guys such as elite scorer D'Angelo Russell and international sensation Emmanuel Mudiay.

Notre Dame's Jerian Grant would perhaps be closer to the top two, were it not for a few key issues surrounding his stock. ESPN.com's Chad Ford provides a look, complete with an analysis from a general manager:

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While some people quibble a bit with his jumper ("I'm surprised at his 3-point shooting percentage," one GM said. "Just based on what I saw on tape, I thought the percentage would be higher"), the only real issue is his age. If he were 19, he'd be a lock for the top 10. Instead he'll turn 23 before the season, a red flag for some.

"

As a senior for the Fighting Irish, Grant averaged 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field but 32 percent from deep.

If it sounds like nitpicking, it perhaps is, but the age issue is worth a look. Unfortunately for Grant, basketball is a young man's game, and while 22 is young, keep in mind that the two guys mentioned above him are just 19 years old.

This age difference may remove Grant from some boards. It's a questionable policy, though, as Grant is a pro-ready prospect who can make a difference right out of the gates. He might not have the highest ceiling or longevity by comparison, but at some point, the positives must outweigh the negatives.

The team willing to look past a number and place faith in key areas of improvement will get a key rookie contributor.

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