NBA Mock Draft 2015: Round 1 Predictions and Projections for Fringe 1st-Rounders

Now that the NBA season is (sadly) over, we can fully turn our attention to the NBA draft. We have just about a week until the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the clock on June 25, and mock drafts have been popping up all over the Web.

But who doesn't love a good mock draft?

Here's our latest projection for the first round, along with a breakdown of a couple of players who could sneak into the end of the first round.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves	Karl-Anthony Towns, F/C, Kentucky
2. Los Angeles Lakers	D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
3. Philadelphia 76ers	Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
4. New York Knicks	Willie Cauley-Stein, F, Kentucky
5. Orlando Magic	Justise Winslow, G/F, Duke
6. Sacramento Kings	Emmanuel Mudiay, G, DR of the Congo
7. Denver Nuggets	Kristaps Porzingis, F, Latvia
8. Detroit Pistons	Mario Hezonja, F, Croatia
9. Charlotte Hornets	Devin Booker, G, Kentucky
10. Miami Heat	Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona
11. Indiana Pacers	Myles Turner, F, Texas
12. Utah Jazz	Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky
13. Phoenix Suns	Kelly Oubre, F, Kansas
14. Oklahoma City Thunder	Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin
15. Atlanta Hawks	Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas
16. Boston Celtics	Jarell Martin, F, LSU
17. Milwaukee Bucks	R.J. Hunter, G/F, Georgia State
18. Houston Rockets	Tyus Jones, G, Duke
19. Washington Wizards	Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame
20. Toronto Raptors	Frank Kaminsky, F/C, Wisconsin
21. Dallas Mavericks	Cameron Payne, G, Murray State
22. Chicago Bulls	Rashad Vaughn, G, UNLV
23. Portland Trail Blazers	Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville
24. Cleveland Cavaliers	Joseph Young, G, Oregon
25. Memphis Grizzlies	Kevon Looney, F, UCLA
26. San Antonio Spurs	Chris McCullough, F, Syracuse
27. Los Angeles Lakers	Christian Wood, F, UNLV
28. Boston Celtics	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F, Arizona
29. Brooklyn Nets	Terry Rozier, G, Louisville
30. Golden State Warriors	Rakeem Christmas, F, Syracuse

We'll start with the team that, according to Odds Shark, is the favorite to win next year's NBA title: the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs hung in against the Golden State Warriors for a minute, but their injuries and lack of depth caught up to them.

Now LeBron James and Co. hold the 24th pick, and here we have them using it to add a dimension they could certainly use more of: shooting. 

Joseph Young out of Oregon isn't a name you'll see in the first round of many mock drafts, but he has the skills to succeed at the next level, especially if he is spotting up on the wing and getting open looks created by James.

Netting over 20 points per night, Young led the Pac-12 in scoring. He also shot 35.7 percent from three his senior season and put up 30 in the NCAA tournament against Wisconsin.

Young is a natural 2-guard but he has shown he can also handle the ball if need be. He would fit well with the Cavs coming off the bench, either spelling Kyrie Irving or even playing next to him. Playing Irving and Young together could be rough defensively, but having James, Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov behind them could help mitigate that.

We saw in the NBA Finals how much the Cavs needed scoring, especially off the bench. Young, who is a confident and explosive player, could give them just that.

Another player we have just making it into the first round is Rakeem Christmas. As of now, we have the newly crowned champion Golden State Warriors pegged to select the Syracuse forward with the last pick of the first round.

At first glance, Christmas doesn't seem like a fit with the Dubs, who just won the title playing small with five players capable of hitting the three. Christmas isn't anything close to a three-point threat; he took one three in his entire four-year career with Syracuse. You probably aren't surprised to find out that he missed it.

But what Christmas lacks in shooting he makes up for with a full bag of post moves. He can shoot the jump hook over either shoulder and can catch the ball on the run in the pick-and-roll. 

Christmas also solidified his draft stock at the combine, according to Mike Waters of Syracuse.com.

ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg had plenty of good things to say about Christmas' game, via Waters: "He can run. He's rebounded balls out of his area. He's a physical screener, which I think is underrated. As a frontcourt player, you've got to be a good screener. And now, he's shown that 17-foot jumper. He's showing a pretty complete offensive game."

He's also an excellent rebounder (nine a game his senior year) and is athletic enough to run the floor and finish above the rim. With Draymond Green set to hit restricted free agency, the Dubs could use an insurance policy at forward. Even if Golden State brings Green back, another spry forward with some shot-blocking capability would certainly help them inside.