2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Stock Watch for Hyped Prospects

In the days before the 2015 NBA draft, the stock market features the most activity of any other period. 

Some of it comes down to smokescreens, as front offices try to mask draft-day intentions. Much of it's real, with so much information from team workouts, interviews and more to go by near the deadline.

Regardless, the most notable names in the draft continue to shuffle around the board as the clock ticks 24 style. With so much information flying at once, the best way to keep it all in check comes via a mock draft, which takes into account the stock market, as well as team needs and actions.

Below, stay in touch with an updated mock and analysis on notable movement after the jump.

2015 NBA Round 1 Mock Draft

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

Stock Watch for Hyped Prospects

Stock Up: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia

Before Kristaps Porzingis arrived on American soil to meet and work out for teams around the Association, he was an unknown commodity some penciled in as a top-10 selection, but few were willing to commit to anything concrete. 

Now he's a top-three or top-four player—written in permanent marker. 

At 7'2" and 230 pounds with a great shooting stroke from deep, Porzingis blew away scouts in workouts, who beforehand had seen a bit of tape and heard things through the grapevine but hadn't experienced his play in person.

Suffice it to say, concerns about his lack of rebounding and defense on tape went out the window. After his initial workout for scouts, teams lined up for private auditions, as Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding pointed out:

As ESPN's Andy Katz explains, teams love the Latvia native for his offensive prowess:

Said offensive ability is rare, which has Porzingis' stock soaring, gifting him the label of highest stock-riser late in the process. Unless it's an expert smokescreen job by every team in the league, of course.

Keep in mind, though, his rise means others fall.

Stock Down: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China

One recent faller is another international sensation by the name of Emmanuel Mudiay.

At 6'5" and 196 pounds, Mudiay wows scouts with his athleticism. He's freakishly fast and can cut on a dime, allowing him to penetrate to the paint with ease and either fire off a high-percentage look or use his high on-court IQ to dish to open teammates. Defenders don't seem to stand a chance at swiping the rock from him, either.

Still, lingering questions about his shot anywhere on the court will remind some of John Wall's draft journey. Over at ESPN.com, Chad Ford now ranks Mudiay fifth, well behind fellow point guard D'Angelo Russell (No. 2) and just behind Porzingis (No. 4).

Still, Ford praises Mudiay in his latest update, keying on his athleticism and upside:

"

While I think Towns is the best prospect in this draft, Mudiay is the next most intriguing physical prospect. He does incredible things for a player his size. And as far as the experience in China? Mudiay has developed both physically and mentally in ways that will be hard for the other top players in the draft to match.

"

It's clear, at least a little, Mudiay suffers in the stock department thanks to Porzingis' late arrival. What he lacks in comparison to Russell, though, is a strong scoring ability right out of the gates.

Tremendous upside and his impact on others figures to see Mudiay off the board among the top five or right outside of it, but it's important to note his recent slip as others emerge.

Stock in Flux: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

It seems Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein is that guy this year.

As in, he's the gifted one with a late report about an injury or something else, which may or may not hamper his draft position when things get underway. Per Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com, a foot injury WCS suffered in 2014 has left teams with "varying degrees of concern."

Still, before the report, WCS was one of the hottest risers around. At 7'1" and 242 pounds, he's the draft's best defender, something ESPN Stats & Info helps to trumpet:

Impressive, right? It doesn't even mention his averages of 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.7 blocks on just 25.9 minutes per game, numbers hampered by a platoon system with the Wildcats.

Per Ford, teams love his athleticism and pro-ready defense:

"

He's freakishly athletic, and he moves laterally as well as any big man I've ever seen (that includes Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond). He's bouncy and just glides up and down the floor. There's a reason teams think he might be able to guard all five positions on the floor, and everything he did in Los Angeles confirmed that ability. He's also gotten bigger. He's bulked up considerably over the past few months without losing any of his explosiveness. 

"

Injury concerns or not, it's clear time heals all wounds, including the initial one WCS suffered by just being a part of a deep 2015 class headlined by teammate Karl-Anthony Towns.

Over the course of the draft process, WCS has carved out a nice space for himself as a must-have defender. He's one of the most hyped players around at just the right time, which seems to cement a spot in the top 10.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.