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

The long wait for the 2015 NBA draft has nearly reached its conclusion, as all 30 franchises will converge on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Thursday night to determine the NBA futures of the top collegiate and international prospects.

While the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell seemingly established themselves as the top players in the class, there is no shortage of uncertainty regarding how the early part of the first round will play out. Add in the always unpredictable nature of the mid-to-late first round, and it should make for a highly entertaining draft.

Along with a full first-round mock draft, here is some further analysis regarding players who have the potential to be breakout stars in the NBA even if they go outside the top five as expected.

Pick No.	Team	Player
1	Minnesota Timberwolves	Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, 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	Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
6	Sacramento Kings	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
7	Denver Nuggets	Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia
8	Detroit Pistons	Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
9	Charlotte Hornets	Willie Cauley-Stein, PF, Kentucky
10	Miami Heat	Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
11	Indiana Pacers	Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
12	Utah Jazz	Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
13	Phoenix Suns	Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
15	Atlanta Hawks (from BKN)	Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
16	Boston Celtics	Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
17	Milwaukee Bucks	Myles Turner, C, Texas
18	Houston Rockets (from NO)	Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
19	Washington Wizards	Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
20	Toronto Raptors	Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
21	Dallas Mavericks	R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
22	Chicago Bulls	Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
23	Portland Trail Blazers	Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
24	Cleveland Cavaliers	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Delon Wright, G, Utah
26	San Antonio Spurs	Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
27	Los Angeles Lakers (from HOU)	Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
28	Boston Celtics (from LAC)	Norman Powell, SG, UCLA
29	Brooklyn Nets (from ATL)	Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
30	Golden State Warriors	Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse

Analyzing Potential Breakout Stars

Mario Hezonja

Top prospects such as Towns, Okafor and Russell are viewed as close to sure things to be stars in the NBA, but there are plenty of other players in the 2015 class who could go either way. Croatian guard Mario Hezonja is perhaps the prime example of that, as his ability will undoubtedly entice a team to take him fairly early on.

Hezonja has been a solid contributor for FC Barcelona to the tune of nearly six points in just 15 minutes per game, according to RealGM. His experience against older players makes him an enticing option, but the 20-year-old has yet to prove that he is capable of putting up big numbers in a featured role.

In fact, ESPN's Fran Fraschilla believes Hezonja's status as a European player is the only thing preventing him from competing with Towns and Okafor for one of the top selections:

There is always some mystery involved with Euro players since it is difficult to predict how they will translate to the American game. Luckily for Hezonja, though, he is a versatile player who is able to shoot from long range, play above the rim and do a little bit of everything else in between.

Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com heard a general manager compare Hezonja to one of the best foreign players to ever make the leap to the NBA:

If Hezonja is anything like former Sacramento Kings star Peja Stojakovic, then he will certainly be worth a very high selection in the 2015 NBA draft.

His ceiling is quite impressive, but it may be tough for him to crack the top five since teams have much more information and a better feel for the top collegiate players in the draft.

Hezonja will become a valuable commodity when those guys are off the board, though, and it is easy to envision the Denver Nuggets jumping at the chance to select him at No. 7.

Frank Kaminsky

Despite winning the Naismith National Player of the Year award in 2014-15, it would be somewhat of a surprise if Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky cracks the top 10 of the NBA draft. Even so, there is reason to believe that the 7-footer has what it takes to be a highly effective player at the next level.

Kaminsky's value to the Badgers this past season can't be overstated, as he averaged nearly 19 points and eight rebounds per game. He was also a big-time threat from long range, as he connected on 42 percent of his three-point attempts, which is something that makes him an intriguing possibility in the latter part of the lottery.

Although Kaminsky was stationed at center during his time at Wisconsin, he intends to make the move to power forward in the NBA, and he believes he is more than capable of transitioning because of his top-notch shooting ability, according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders:

"

(I'm) turning myself into a four. ... In college, I played the five for so long. I know I can play the four. I just have to pick up the nuances. The NBA values big guys that can stretch the floor. ... I played against fours in college, because that's who was guarding me. I know what I’m able to do. The college game is obviously different than the NBA game. It also makes it easier that the shot clock is 11 seconds shorter. There's not as much running around.

"

Few expected Kaminsky to become a big-time player in college, but he defied the odds by developing into the most dominant player in the nation. As Rothstein pointed out, that progress could work to his advantage as he attempts to prove himself in the NBA:

There simply isn't much fanfare behind Kaminsky right now even after his magical 2014-15 campaign, and that means a team could end up with a major steal on its hands.

Few players possess the combination of shooting, rebounding and low-post scoring prowess that Kaminsky brings to the table. One organization that could really use that type of player is the Utah Jazz, who are selecting at No. 12.

The Jazz also need to change the culture, and Kaminsky is a proven winner who can help immensely in that regard. The big man is going to be a positive influence on whichever franchise takes a chance on him, and Utah would be wise to jump at the opportunity.

Tyus Jones

Lance King/Getty Images

Okafor receives much of the credit for Duke's successful 2014-15 season because of his dominance in the paint, but if not for the consistent and levelheaded play of point guard Tyus Jones, it is unlikely that the Blue Devils would have won a national championship.

Jones exceeded expectations as a freshman by averaging almost 12 points and six assists per game, but most importantly, he saved his best performance for when the lights were shining brightest. The Apple Valley, Minnesota, native put up 23 points and five rebounds in Duke's national championship game win over Wisconsin.

Some might question Jones' ability to be a quality starter at the next level since his talented teammates at Duke often overshadowed him, but he believes he is more than capable of making the transition because of his all-around skill set, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer:

Another concern regarding Jones is his size, but as pointed out by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, when Jones posted strong measurements at the combine, it alleviated that uncertainty to some degree:

Every player needs immense talent to succeed in the NBA, but there is something to be said for guys who have a winning mentality and a penchant for raising their level of play in the most important games and moments.

Jones is that type of player, which is why no team can go wrong bringing him in. That is especially true for an organization that is in need of a point guard, such as the Houston Rockets. Houston has a big hole at that position if it loses Patrick Beverley, but Jones could be an ideal replacement if he is available at No. 18.

The former Duke standout excels at making those around him better, and with stars such as James Harden and Dwight Howard already in place, Jones would be an excellent fit as part of the Rockets.

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