2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Top Prospects on the Rise

Even as we inch closer to the 2015 NBA draft, there still remains plenty of uncertainty throughout the first round. Prospects continue to see their stock rise and fall, and this will go on until the picks are made Thursday night.

Players like Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns have been high on draft boards since the start of the college basketball season, but the past few weeks and months have featured plenty of new names climbing lists. Between impressive workouts, quality interviews or just deeper looks at game film, public opinion has transformed on a number of prospects for the better.

While this remains a fluid process, here are the latest predictions for the entire first round along with a breakdown of the players rising the most.

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

Fast-Rising Prospects to Watch

Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia 

The more scouts get a chance to view Kristaps Porzingis, the more they fall in love with him. The 7'1" forward not only has the tools to be a versatile offensive player in the NBA, but he also has the athleticism that many past European big men have lacked.

As a result, Porzingis has moved from being a possible lottery pick to potentially being taken within the first few picks in the draft.

One of the most intriguing early spots could be the New York Knicks at No. 4, especially after the organization brought him in for an extra workout earlier this week, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

With Towns and Okafor likely to be taken with the first two picks and the Philadelphia 76ers needing a point guard, Porzingis could fall right into the Knicks' lap. The move would also mesh with what Phil Jackson considers needs for his rebuilding team.

"The positions we're kind of covered is lead guard and small forward," the team president recently explained on ESPN Radio (h/t Al Iannazzone of Newsday).

Although it doesn't necessarily take players like Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow out of contention for the Knicks, it seems more likely the team would grab a big to help build the triangle offense. A high-ceiling player like Porzingis would make a lot of sense.

Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

While my feeling is that Jerian Grant can provide more to an NBA team thanks to his size (6'4", 200 lbs), athleticism and versatility to play either guard spot, Cameron Payne has continued to fly up other draft boards over the past couple of months.

He would be a good fit for the Houston Rockets with so much uncertainty currently at point guard, but falling to the 18th pick might end up being a worst-case scenario for the Murray State guard. In fact, Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star reported how high Payne could end up climbing:

Despite being a bit undersized (6'1 ½" in shoes), the point guard is an excellent scorer with the quickness and shooting ability to get points from anywhere on the floor. He also proved throughout his sophomore season he could carry an otherwise weak squad to a lot of success.

Whether he ends up becoming a starting guard in the NBA or simply a high-energy backup, Payne is the type of player a coach will want on his team. 

Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse

Rich Barnes/Getty Images

Climbing into the first round would actually be an impressive feat for Chris McCullough considering a torn ACL kept him off the court for the second half of the college basketball season. He hasn't been able to fully work out for teams and only averaged 9.3 points in 16 games for Syracuse.

However, NBA teams see a lot of potential for the athletic power forward. His length (7'3" wingspan) could help make him a dangerous offensive weapon, especially when paired with his improving shooting ability.

This upside is a reason he appears likely to be taken with one of the first 30 picks. Interestingly, ESPN Insider Chad Ford recently explained, "I'm told there's almost no way he falls past Brooklyn at No. 29."

Just before his hometown Nets get a chance to take him, however, the Boston Celtics could make a move for the forward. Jay King of MassLive.com explained the organization had big plans for McCullough earlier in the process:

While Boston did make the playoffs last season, the team should still remain patient with the rebuilding process and look for upside wherever possible. At this stage in the first round, it's hard to find too many better options at a position of need.

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