2016 NBA Mock Draft: A Very Early Look at Next Year's First Round
The 2015 NBA draft was loaded with star power at the top. And the 2016 draft may produce a handful of potential franchise building blocks as well.
College basketball will welcome a number of quality young freshmen who'll likely fill next year's lottery.
But there are also some big-name returning players bound to enter the conversation.
And as always, expect a few international prospects to quietly creep up boards throughout the season.
The draft order was based on the 2014-15 standings—not how the lottery played out. Future trades were taken into consideration, using team records from least year when determining what protections hold.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Ben Simmons, LSU, 6'10", SF/PF, Freshman
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The Gatorade National Player of the Year, Ben Simmons will start next season as our favorite to go No. 1.
His game screams versatility. At 6'10", Simmons is a point forward who can handle the ball and initiate the offense.
He has terrific vision, passing instincts and basketball IQ—particularly for a player with the size of a mismatch wing.
Simmons is also a crafty scorer around the basket and key.
He'll need to improve his shooting range or at least show his three-point jumper isn't broken. But long term, Simmons has the potential to become one of the league's more unique playmakers.
2. Denver Nuggets (via Knicks): Skal Labissiere, Kentucky, 7'0", PF/C, Freshman
2 of 30Skal Labissiere will be filling in for Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein at Kentucky.
At 7'0", Labissiere is considered a power forward, with the ability to knock down jumpers in the mid-range and score around the elbows.
But he's also a rim protector. Labissiere has strong instincts and a live motor in the paint, where he blocks a ton of shots.
Getting stronger will be atop his priority list moving forward, but Labissiere will enter the season as the No. 1 big man in the field.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Brandon Ingram, Duke, 6'9½", SF, Freshman
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Brandon Ingram was a standout at the McDonald's All American Game and Nike Hoop Summit. He has mismatch size (6'9½", 7'3" wingspan) for a small forward who can face the rim and separate into jumpers off the dribble.
He's incredibly skinny, having weighed in 196 pounds. But he's still 17 years old and has another few years to build his body.
Highly skilled and versatile, Ingram is bound to shoot up draft boards in what should be a one-and-done year at Duke.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers): Jaylen Brown, California, 6'7", SF, Freshman
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Jaylen Brown already has the look of an NBA small forward with 6'7" size, a 7'½" wingspan and 222-pound frame.
He's at his best attacking the rim, though he's comfortable scoring in the mid-range and shooting off the dribble.
Brown also has the tools to become a strong defender, which plays to his two-way outlook on the wing.
In what should be a loaded lineup at California, look for Brown to quickly emerge as a top-five 2016 NBA draft option.
5. Orlando Magic: Henry Ellenson, Marquette, 6'10", PF/C, Freshman
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Henry Ellenson is incredibly skilled for a power forward or center, with the ability to handle the ball and create 25 feet from the basket.
He also has a pure shooting stroke, which plays to his stretch 4 or 5 potential. Ellenson can even knock down jumpers off step-backs or fallaways. He looks comfortable whenever he lets it go.
He's an above-average athlete for a big, but he won't blow anyone away with explosiveness.
Still, between his outside touch, ball skills and face-up mobility, NBA scouts should be all over him at Marquette.
Expect the Kevin Love comparisons to start flowing once the season gets going.
6. Sacramento Kings: Jamal Murray, Kentucky, 6'5", SG, Freshman
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Jamal Murray reclassified and just announced his commitment to Kentucky, where he'll share a backcourt with fellow freshman Isaiah Briscoe and sophomore Tyler Ulis.
Murray is a terrific scorer, which he proved at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. He dropped 30 points in front of dozens of NBA scouts and decision-makers.
Crafty off the dribble and dangerous from behind the arc, Murray can create and generate offense at will.
He doesn't ooze athleticism, but his feel for the game and skill level are awfully impressive.
7. Toronto Raptors (via Nuggets): Dragan Bender, Croatia, 7'½", PF, 1997
7 of 30Dragan Bender generated all sorts of buzz following 2015 Eurocamp, and with 7'½" size and face-up skills, it's not hard to see why.
Though not a standout athlete, Bender covers a ton of ground offensively. He can handle the ball, knock down jumpers, loft in floaters and pass it off.
Bender also has the foot speed to guard out on the perimeter, as well as the size to block shots at the hoop.
His versatility should generate plenty of 2016 lottery talk over the next year.
8. Detroit Pistons: Cheick Diallo, Kansas, 6'9", PF, Freshman
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Named MVP of both the McDonald's All American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, Cheick Diallo is coming off a fantastic spring.
Diallo isn't a go-to scorer; rather, his game revolves around athleticism, energy and motor. He can make plays and impact games without needing touches in the offense.
A big-time finisher, relentless rebounder and active shot-blocker, Diallo's physical tools and instincts should translate to any and every level.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga, 6'10", PF, Sophomore
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Domantas Sabonis would have likely generated first-round interest had he declared in 2015. But in 2016, he'll have the chance to jump into the lottery of what should be a weaker draft.
Sabonis has already started generating buzz while preparing for his sophomore year.
"I'm hearing ridiculously good stuff about Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis this summer. Might even play some small forward for Zags this year," ESPN's Fran Fraschilla tweeted.
Sabonis is a mobile big who finishes everything around the rim and cleans the glass. If he comes back more polished offensively and shows he can play further from the hoop, we could be talking top-10 pick next June.
10. Miami Heat: Kris Dunn, Providence, 6'4", PG, Junior
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We had Kris Dunn projected as a lottery pick for most of the year, though he decided to return for his junior season.
Dunn is an electric athlete with a strong frame and some mean change-of-direction shiftiness.
And he's an excellent passer and playmaker, having led the country in assist percentage, per Sports-Reference.com.
If Dunn's shooting touch improves and he cuts down on his turnovers in 2016, it may allow teams to view him as a potential starting NBA point guard.
11. Indiana Pacers: Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame, 6'1", PG, Junior
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Demetrius Jackson shared a backcourt with first-round pick Jerian Grant, so he wasn't given the freedom to consistently take over games.
That should change in 2016.
Jackson is a phenomenal athlete with great quickness, strength and above-the-rim hops. He's difficult to stay in front of, and if defenders sag, he'll make them pay. Jackson shot at least 41 percent from the three in back-to-back seasons.
He's going to have a big year for Notre Dame as its top offensive gun.
12. Utah Jazz: Jakob Poeltl, Utah, 7'0", C, Sophomore
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Jakob Poeltl helped hold Duke's Jahlil Okafor to six points and eight rebounds in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
He's an athletic 7-footer who can defend the post and protect the rim.
Poeltl is still a major work in progress offensively, but he's a weapon in the pick-and-roll game, and he finishes almost everything around the rim.
The Omer Asik comparison is as good as it gets.
13. Phoenix Suns: Malik Newman, Mississippi State, 6'4", SG, Freshman
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Malik Newman is an offensive machine who's bound to put up points right away at Mississippi State.
He can create and make shots from all over the floor, from step-backs and pull-ups to runners.
Newman lacks NBA 2-guard size, and he isn't a point guard. But he's just too good of an athlete, scorer and playmaker.
NBA teams will likely view Newman as a Monta Ellis-like firecracker who can make things happen with the ball in his hands.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, 6'10", PF, Junior
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Damian Jones has the size and athleticism that allows him to immediately stand out under the NBA lens.
Explosive around the basket, Jones can also finish below the rim from tough angles. He needs to polish his post game this year, though he's capable of separating and finishing with his back to the basket.
This year, scouts will be tuned in to see how much better his jumper has gotten. And Jones shot below 60 percent from the line in back-to-back seasons.
He'll need to show some shooting touch to ultimately justify being taken as a top-20 pick.
15. Boston Celtics (via Nets): Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Kansas, 6'6", SG, Soph.
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He played only 11.2 minutes per game as a freshman, but Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk just turned 18 years old this June. And his talent has been well-documented for years.
With excellent size and athleticism for a 2-guard or wing, he's a dangerous shooter who can handle the ball and create jumpers off the dribble.
Mykhailiuk must get better after contact and scoring in traffic, but between his physical tools and shot-making ability, he's a good-looking offensive prospect.
16. Boston Celtics: Malik Pope, San Diego State, 6'9", SF, Sophomore
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Malik Pope looked raw as a freshman, when he averaged only 14.8 minutes and 5.1 points per game.
But there is clearly NBA potential tied to Pope's athleticism, size and skill set as a wing.
At 6'9", he can face up, knock down jumpers (40.8 percent from three) and separate into them in the mid-range.
If Pope returns with a little more polish, he'll find himself in the first-round conversation by January.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Antonio Blakeney, LSU, 6'4", SG, Freshman
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Though undersized, Antonio Blakeney projects as a combo guard and perimeter scorer.
He can create and make difficult shots away from the hoop with three-point range. And he's an explosive athlete capable of rising above the rim for a highlight slam.
Shot selection will ultimately be key for Blakeney, as his style of play could make him prone to inefficiency.
Still, he's clearly a first-round talent with a potent offensive attack. Playing alongside potential No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, Blakeney will likely be performing in front of scouts and general managers all season.
18. New Orleans Pelicans: Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey, 6'6", SG, 1997
18 of 30Furkan Korkmaz played 12.1 minutes per game in the Euroleague with Anadolu Efes—an impressive feat in itself for a 17-year-old.
At 6'6", he's an accurate shooter who made 33 of 78 threes in 45 games this year.
Korkmaz is also a big-time athlete who can rise above the rim or finish acrobatically around it.
Scouts will need to see him in a bigger role next season, but he's certainly a first-round talent for the NBA folks to track.
19. Washington Wizards: Melo Trimble, Maryland, 6'3", PG, Sophomore
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Melo Trimble immediately emerged as an impact freshman for Maryland, where he ran the show as lead guard.
He's more of a scorer than a passer, having averaged 16.2 points to just three assists per game. But Trimble is no doubt a dangerous playmaker who can create shots for himself or teammates off the dribble.
From an NBA standpoint, Trimble lacks the athleticism ball-handlers typically need to finish at the rim.
However, he got to the line a whopping 240 times last season. Trimble is fearless, and he has a knack for drawing contact around the hoop.
He also shot 41.2 percent from downtown.
Trimble doesn't offer the upside of point guards like Kris Dunn and Demetrius Jackson, but he should be a mid- to late first-round option as a potential NBA backup.
20. Toronto Raptors: Diamond Stone, Maryland, 6'10", C, Freshman
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Diamond Stone should be a beast in the middle for Maryland, where his 6'10", 250-pound size will overwhelm college bigs.
At this point, his skills are behind his physical tools. Stone does damage using his strength and length as a finisher, rebounder and shot-blocker. But he doesn't quite project as a center who'll be stepping outside the paint or falling away into jumpers out of the post.
And Stone won't do much scoring next year at Maryland, but there is a chance his potential alone could trigger a 2016 first-round bite.
21. Dallas Mavericks: Caris LeVert, Michigan, 6'7", SG, Senior
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Caris LeVert has one final year to sell scouts on his offensive versatility. However, it's his durability that's the biggest concern.
He's already had two surgeries on his foot, with the second having cost him most of his junior year.
Still, at full strength, LeVert is a first-round talent who can handle the ball, create for teammates and light it up from three.
If he can last a full season without any setbacks, LeVert should bounce right back into the first-round discussion.
22. Chicago Bulls: Justin Jackson, North Carolina, 6'7", Sophomore
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Justin Jackson was up and down as a freshman, but a strong postseason helped remind scouts what fueled all the hype surrounding him out of high school.
At 6'7", he has great size, smooth mobility and a promising shooting touch. Jackson can knock down threes or loft floaters on the move.
And he does a nice job of scoring off the ball.
But at 190 pounds, Jackson must add strength, especially when you consider he isn't an explosive athlete.
23. Denver Nuggets (via Blazers): Jake Layman, Maryland, 6'9", SF, Senior
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Jake Layman had a breakout year at Maryland, and though he didn't do a lot of scoring, there is clearly NBA value tied to his physical tools and skill set.
At 6'9", he has above-average size and athleticism for a wing. And based on how today's NBA has evolved, teams may even view Layman as a small-ball stretch 4, given his promising three-point stroke.
Heading into the season, Maryland could be considered the top team in the country. It certainly wouldn't hurt Layman's NBA draft odds if the Terps finished that way.
24. Phoenix Suns (via Cavaliers): Marcus Lee, Kentucky, 6'10", PF, Junior
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Marcus Lee should finally get his chance to play regular minutes at Kentucky.
In the limited action he's seen, Lee has flashed his exciting athleticism and motor. He's a big-time weapon in transition, as well as a constant threat to put back a miss, rise up for a lob or block a shot.
Lee projects as a forward who can impact stretches of games without needing touches in the offense.
A lack of ball skills and shooting touch will likely keep him outside the lottery, but Lee has enough to offer in the form of energy and activity.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin, 6'7", SF/PF, Junior
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Nigel Hayes really came on down the stretch, showcasing his inside-out versatility and ability to score within an offense.
Hayes was always an active player around the basket, where he finishes at tough angles and hits the offensive boards.
But as a sophomore, he took his game out behind the three-point arc (39.6 percent from three).
Hayes doesn't quite have a true position, but as a mistake-free hustler who can make plays inside and shoot, there is some role-player potential here for NBA teams to look into.
26. San Antonio Spurs: Grayson Allen, Duke, 6'4", SG, Sophomore
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Grayson Allen only played 9.2 minutes per game as a freshman, but he had a few eye-opening moments last season that were tough to ignore.
He went off for 16 points in the national championship game, just a month after hanging 27 on Wake Forest.
Allen is a spectacular athlete who can rise above the rim or catch fire from behind the arc. And he's capable of making off-balance shots off drives and cuts.
He lacks the position's traditional size, but as an energy guard off the bench, Allen could look attractive late in next year's first round.
27. Houston Rockets: Daniel Hamilton, Connecticut, 6'7", SF, Sophomore
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Daniel Hamilton struggled with inconsistency as a freshman, and it kept him out of the 2015 NBA draft conversation.
But he clearly has physical tools and a skill set that can translate to the NBA. At 6'7", he's a solid athlete who can score from all three levels. Hamilton has a floater and pull-up in his repertoire, as well as a threatening three-point stroke.
He shot only 38 percent from the floor, so he'll need to improve as a finisher in tighter spaces.
28. Los Angeles Clippers: Aleksandar Vezenkov, Bulgaria, 6'9", SF/PF, 1995
28 of 30After leading Greece's top league in scoring, Aleksandar Vezenkov withdrew from the 2015 draft at the deadline.
He'll likely be right back in the conversation next year, though. Vezenkov made 63 threes in 34 games at a 38.7 percent clip. At 6'9", he's a stretch big who can shoot.
On the downside, Vezenkov lacks athleticism and lateral quickness. Defensive limitations may prevent him from ever being able to hold down a full-time role.
Still, his shot-making skills alone could justify late first-round value.
29. Atlanta Hawks: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, 6'4", SG, Senior
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Buddy Hield looked like a fringe first-rounder after last season. He'll ultimately have a better shot to crack the top 30 in 2016, especially if he continues to expand his game.
Hield has shooting range, having made at least 90 threes in consecutive seasons. He's also a good passer and defender.
Hield's next step is polishing his scoring arsenal inside the arc. He shot only 41.2 percent from the floor last year.
Hield's shot-making ability and role-player potential could be enough to generate late first-round interest.
30. Golden State Warriors: Brice Johnson, North Carolina, 6'9", PF, Senior
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Brice Johnson hasn't had that breakout year many have been expecting. He continues to show glimpses without putting it all together to form consistency.
Johnson is a bouncy athlete at the rim, where he finishes and rebounds. And he can find ways to score around the key.
He's also looked capable shooting in the mid-range. This year, scouts will want to see Johnson knock down more jumpers, whether they're off the catch or turning over his shoulder in the post.
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