2015 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions, Storylines Surrounding 1st-Round Prospects
While it's still impossible to say with 100 percent certainty how the first round of the 2015 NBA draft will unfold, basketball followers have a much better idea of what scenarios are in play with less than a week until draft night.
With the Finals over and free agency still to come later in the summer, the draft on June 25 is the only thing that can fill the basketball vacuum. As a result, fans will be debating some of the bigger questions surrounding the first round.
Below are a few of the topics of discussion in the draft lottery.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, 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/SG, China |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Wisconsin |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, France |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (from Hornets) | Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets) | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (from Clippers) | Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks) | Delon Wright, PG, Utah |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Joseph Young, SG, Oregon |
Storylines to Watch
Whom Do the Philadelphia 76ers Target at No. 3?
For all intents and purposes, the first two picks are pretty much in the bag. Karl-Anthony Towns looks more and more like a future member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, which means the Los Angeles Lakers would almost certainly take Jahlil Okafor.
And if Okafor goes No. 1, then Towns will go No. 2.
The prevailing thought early on was that the Philadelphia 76ers would then turn to either D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay at No. 3. ESPN's Chad Ford then reported Kristaps Porzingis might enter the fray as well:
"But over the past few weeks multiple sources around the league suspect that Sam Hinkie may actually be leaning toward Porzingis. He's an odd fit given the Sixers abundance of big men (though news that Joel Embiid's foot hasn't healed may change the fit analysis). But Hinkie has always drafted based on the best player available strategy. He doesn't draft for need. So while the team needs Mudiay or Russell more, if he believes Porzingis is the best player on the board, so be it.
"
Ford added Philly's increased "interest" could instead be subterfuge in order to get the Orlando Magic to move up to third.
Given how Joel Embiid's recovery may have taken a turn for the worse, it might make sense for the 76ers to go ahead and draft Porzingis. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer spoke about Embiid's injury with Bleacher Report's Team Stream Now:
Philadelphia's selection of the Latvian big man would then be a sign that the franchise could be legitimately concerned with Embiid's health.
Still, it would be surprising if the Sixers passed on both Russell and Mudiay, especially considering their need for a point guard.
CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie wrote that the two guards aren't all that dissimilar and that it's not about determining which player is better but rather which player fits more with the team that might draft him:
"It's situation and scheme dependent for me. I have Mudiay higher on my board because I think his upside is a bit higher due to his instincts in the pick-and-roll and athleticism. Having said that, if I was the Knicks and wanted to run the triangle offense, Russell is a perfect fit and would be my choice. If we're talking the Kings, who want to get up and down and will use a lot of pick-and-roll, I like Mudiay more there. They're close enough as players that I wouldn't begrudge a team for taking either over the other.
"
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman broke down why Russell would be the smarter choice for Philly between him and Mudiay:
At some point, the 76ers will need to add players who can help the team right now. You can't keep building for the future every single year. With Russell, the franchise would be getting a young point guard who will deliver right off the bat while also providing plenty of future value.
Do the New York Knicks Keep the No. 4 Selection?
Many looked at the New York Knicks as the biggest losers of the draft lottery since they had the second-worst record in the league but received the No. 4 pick. And to a certain extent, it is a bit disappointing to go from Towns or Okafor to Russell or Mudiay.
ESPN.com's Ian Begley reported earlier in the month the Knicks are weighing whether to trade down in the first round and draft Cameron Payne. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported Trey Lyles might be the object of Phil Jackson's affection.
While it's not unrealistic to think the Knicks are throwing a bunch of smoke screens out there, it's equally plausible to deduce that the franchise is turning over every rock in order to see what's out there.
New York is in a somewhat tough position in that the difference between Mudiay and the rest of the draft class isn't significant. Yeah, you could take him at No. 4, but ideally from a Knicks' perspective, they can move back to around No. 15 and select somebody like Lyles or Payne. That way, they'd have an impact rookie and another future asset or two.
Ford also suggested that the Knicks could acquire Ricky Rubio in a trade package involving the fourth overall pick.
In the end, New York will probably take Mudiay at No. 4. The trade offers the Knicks will receive between now and the draft and have received already won't justify dealing such a high first-rounder.
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder Make the Most of the Lottery?
Since drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in back-to-back-to-back years, the Oklahoma City Thunder have drafted just one player in the lottery: Steven Adams. Being in the first 14 picks isn't a position the Thunder have typically occupied.
That's why OKC needs to make the most of its first-round pick this year. You don't envision the franchise getting back in the lottery anytime soon unless Durant leaves in free agency, at which point Oklahoma City would have bigger problems on its hands.
Between the Thunder's cap situation and questions around Durant's future, the team might have a hard time attracting much worthwhile talent during free agency. Oklahoma City doesn't need a radical overhaul by any means, but the roster does have some holes.
The draft might be the team's best chance at adding a backup small forward or three-and-D guard who could help fill out the roster and produce immediate results.
Plus, selecting and subsequently relying on a rookie over a veteran free agent is the much more cost-effective option, something that would only benefit the Thunder.
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