NBA Mock Draft 2015: Bold Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects

Even though the NBA season just came to a close, teams have been hard at work trying to make preparations for 2015-16. 

The draft can be dismissed in the NBA, with teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets getting rid of picks like a bad fungus, but look at the two teams that competed for a championship. The Golden State Warriors built their roster largely through the draft with players such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to get LeBron James back in part because they were able to draft a star such as Kyrie Irving to build around and acquired Kevin Love for two former No. 1 picks. Teams have to succeed on draft night to compete for a championship, even if they use some of those pieces as assets to acquire a veteran player. 

With two days left until draft night, here is a look at how things figure to shake out and the biggest stories that will come out of it. 

Pos.	Team	Pick
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	Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia
9	Charlotte Hornets	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
10	Miami Heat	Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
11	Indiana Pacers	Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
12	Utah Jazz	Myles Turner, PF, Texas
13	Phoenix Suns	Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	Delon Wright, PG, Utah
15	Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets)	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
16	Boston Celtics	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
18	Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans)	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
19	Washington Wizards	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
20	Toronto Raptors	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
21	Dallas Mavericks	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
22	Chicago Bulls	Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
24	Cleveland Cavaliers	Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
26	San Antonio Spurs	Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
27	Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets)	Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
28	Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers)	Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
29	Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks)	Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
30	Golden State Warriors	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State

Most Impactful Rookie: D'Angelo Russell to Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3

Mel Evans/Associated Press

It's become apparent in the weeks leading up to the draft that D'Angelo Russell is going to provide the most immediate impact for his new team. 

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix wrote a profile of Russell in March that offered a synopsis of the things that some might criticize about the Ohio State star:

"

Criticisms of Russell are rare, and they almost always come with a qualifier. He's not overwhelmingly athletic, but he's quick enough and, at 180 pounds, able to bang with bigger point guards. While the form on his jump shot is clean, his release is a little slow, but that can be improved with NBA coaching. And he can be too unselfish, but that's far from a fatal flaw.

"

Nothing about Russell's individual skills screams superstar, but putting all the pieces together have made him one of the most sought-after prospects in this class. 

In fact, ESPN Insider Chad Ford noted in his sixth mock draft that the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 1 "might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal" if the team decides that Russell is the right choice for the franchise. 

Since the NBA is still infatuated with big men, it seems more likely than not that Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0") and Jahlil Okafor (6'11") will go Nos. 1-2, in either order, and Russell will be waiting for the 76ers with the third pick. 

It would be a good thing too, as Philadelphia is starved for a legitimate superstar talent who can handle the ball and create chances for recently drafted big men such as Nerlens Noel and—assuming he returns healthy next season, which is becoming more problematic—Joel Embiid. 

Kristaps Porzingis has been getting a lot of buzz in the final days leading up to the draft as a possible outside-the-box choice for Los Angeles or Philadelphia. Both rosters have so many holes that they can afford to gamble, but Russell's talent and immediate potential will be too tempting if he's on the board for the 76ers. 

Regardless of where Russell ends up, his ability to control the ball, create his own shot and get teammates high-percentage looks makes him the most valuable asset in this year's draft class. 

Best Value Pick: Cameron Payne to Indiana Pacers at No. 11

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Even before they fell apart last season, due in large part to Paul George's injury, one position that has plagued the Indiana Pacers for years is point guard. When they had the best record in the Eastern Conference two years ago, George Hill was the starting point guard. 

While Hill is a fine player, he's not the kind of point guard a team wants guiding its offense. His single-season career high for assists is 5.1, which he set in 2014-15. 

The problem facing Indiana is Payne has fared so well in predraft exercises that teams picking in the top five are bringing him in for individual workouts, per Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears:

ESPN's Ryen Russillo thinks so highly of Payne that he compared his playmaking skills to those of another highly regarded point guard in this class:

In a league that's driven by point guards more than ever, a high-IQ player with quickness, a good jump shot and outstanding vision isn't going to last long on draft day. The Pacers need Payne to be there at No. 11 if they want to get back into the top tier of teams in the Eastern Conference. 

George returning at full strength next season will make the Pacers a playoff team, but a strong point guard will push them into that 55-win territory once again so they can get another crack at LeBron James in the postseason. 

Biggest Reach: Kristaps Porzingis to Orlando Magic at No. 5

Fernando Medina/Getty Images

There's such a knee-jerk reaction in the NBA draft when a team drafts a foreign player. Last year, for instance, Eric Freeman of Yahoo Sports wrote a piece with the headline, "Who is Dante Exum and why did the Utah Jazz pick him at No. 5 in the NBA draft?"

Only a select few people, most associated with NBA teams, have firsthand knowledge of who a player is and what he's capable of doing at this level. Sometimes they will hit the nail on the head, with Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker two of the most famous recent examples. 

Porzingis will be the first foreign player taken in this draft, mocked here to Orlando at No. 5. (Emmanuel Mudiay played last season in China but was slated to play college basketball at SMU before questions about his eligibility caused him to go overseas.)

There's a divide among teams about the kind of talent and potential that Porzingis will have when he arrives in the NBA, as ESPN's Ford wrote in his scouting report analysis:

"

Some teams have him ranked as high as No. 2 and No. 3 on their boards, while others have him in the eight to 10 range. The teams that have him high point to his unique combination of size, athleticism and skill. It's rare to find a 7-footer who can protect the rim, shoot the 3 and make high-IQ basketball plays. Teams that have him ranked lower worry about his thin frame and lack of rebounding in Spain.

"

That does make Porzingis a risky player to take, though a team such as Orlando can afford to bet on the good version coming out. The Magic have a talented young nucleus to build around with Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic. 

Yet the Magic also have to start turning this potential into performance. There are only so many years to talk about what that core can be instead of what it actually is. 

Sometimes it is better to go down in flames during a draft than play things safe, but the Magic have built a team that's essentially all potential with no results thus far. They may get one of the best players in this draft if Porzingis is the selection, but they need to start adding high-floor, low-risk talent to supplement the roster. 

Players such as Willie Cauley-Stein and Justise Winslow would add a toughness to Orlando's defense that it's lacked even with all its exciting young talent.