NBA Mock Draft 2015: Predictions for Prospects Rising Up Round 1 Board

With less than two weeks remaining until the 2015 NBA draft, the league-wide perception of many top prospects continues to change.

As teams work overtime to lock down their big boards, reporters are laboring just as much to uncover those preferences. New information causes drastic swings from earlier mock drafts.

The latest first-round projections acknowledge prospects who have become the talk of the town around the Association:

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

Regardless of the sport, every draft features a few players inexplicably catching fire weeks before the event. Even without any actual games sparking the change of heart, teams flock to certain guys during film reviews and workouts.

Last year, Elfrid Payton's popularity expanded until he ballooned to a No. 10 selection. Predraft bandwagons often get out of hand, but the point guard proved that the buzz was justified by averaging 11.1 points, 8.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals for the Orlando Magic after the All-Star break.

Who will follow in his path this year? These guys continue to watch their stocks soar before June 25.

Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia

The legend of Kristaps Porzingis grows with each passing day. 

At first, it was noteworthy to see the Latvian power forward discussed as a top-five candidate. Then the buzz kept growing. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 19-year-old prospect could go as early as No. 2:

ESPN's Chad Ford backed up those claims, providing a brief glimpse of the mystery man during a pro workout:

Porzingis' shooting abilities have scouts salivating over the 7-footer. He'll fit perfectly into a league gradually ditching the old "big man" archetype for guys who can space the floor and protect the rim.

While many international draftees often wait a year or two before joining the NBA, Porzingis told CBSSports.com's Sam Vecenie that he's ready to make the transition now:

"

I would love to come [to the NBA] next season. My dream is to play in the NBA, so hopefully it happens this season. But it depends on the team of course. Maybe they want me to stay one more year in Europe. I don't know. But obviously it's my dream to play, and I'm ready to come over to the States.

"

As his stock grows, Porzingis poses a big threat to the expected top four. The Philadelphia 76ers are never one to shy away from a risk, and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson could see him as a better fit for the triangle offense than Emmanuel Mudiay.

Yet New York, which doesn't own its 2016 first-rounder, will feel added pressure to come away with a trustworthy contributor this year. As for the 76ers, D'Angelo Russell will prove too tempting to pass up, leaving Porzingis to the Orlando Magic at pick No. 5. 

Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

During his sophomore season, Cameron Payne produced 20.2 points and 6.0 assists per game. According to Sports-Reference.com, he produced an NCAA-high 716 points while generating a 12th-best 30.1 player efficiency rating. Scouts are finally starting to take notice.

In March, ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman projected Payne as the No. 29 overall pick in his mock draft. In his latest edition, the Murray State point guard vaulted up to No. 11. If that's not enough of a jump, two teams way up the board are looking his way.

As Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com noted last week, the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers both scheduled workouts with Payne:

Per ESPN.com's Ian Begley, the Knicks' interest is "serious." They'd trade down if they truly want the rising guard, but they can't afford to go below the top 10 with the Indiana Pacers lurking at No. 11. 

NewsOK.com's Darnell Mayberry shot down rumors of the Oklahoma City Thunder promising to draft him, but Payne might not make it to No. 14 anyway. Frequently associated with him, the Pacers need an offensive spark. Payne will give them just that.

Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV

Absent from Goodman's March mock altogether, UNLV's Rashad Vaughn has recently invaded first-round conversations. Goodman now has the shooting guard going No. 21 to the Dallas Mavericks.

According to the Pioneer Press' Marcus R. Fuller, Vaughn might not make it that far after an impressive showcase for the Atlanta Hawks:

Vaughn tallied 17.8 points per game with the Rebels, draining 2.3 three-pointers per bout during his freshman campaign. A pure shooting stroke is winning scouts over, but the 18-year-old is anxious to prove he's more than a one-trick act, per CSNChicago.com's Mark Strotman:

"

I think a lot of people just look at me as a shooter. I can do a lot more things. I can score the ball from all three levels, I can play on and off the ball, I can make plays for my teammates. That’s one thing I’m looking to show. I did a lot of shooting, but ball-handling and making plays is something I always did, something I’ve been working on and I have to show. But I have to show I am a shooter because the NBA loves shooters.

"

Because of said affinity for shooters, Vaughn will hear his name called before the conclusion of the first round. While his all-around game remains unproven enough for Atlanta to pounce at No. 15, Dallas makes sense with Monta Ellis possibly on the way out.