2015 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Order and Final Landing Spots for Top Prospects
At long last, the NBA draft is upon us. Luckily, we don't have to wait about three months after the season ends for the draft like we do in the NFL. The NBA gets right down to business and has the draft shortly after a champion is crowned.
Starting Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET, we will finally have answers to all of our draft questions. Will Karl-Anthony Towns go first? What will the Los Angeles Lakers do with the second pick? Will a team in the top five take a chance on Kristaps Porzingis?
As Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders pointed out, there could be a lot of moves come draft night that could shake up the order.
In the past few days alone we have heard the Lakers are trying to trade for DeMarcus Cousins, per Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times. Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com also reported the Boston Celtics are looking to move up from 16th overall. And Kennedy also mentioned the Atlanta Hawks as a potential team looking to make a move.
But until a move actually happens, we have to operate under the assumption the draft order will stay as is. With that in mind, here's a look at our final mock first round ahead of the draft. We gave the best option for every team based on where it is currently selecting.
| 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 | Justise Winslow, G/F, Duke |
| 5. Orlando Magic | Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, Latvia |
| 6. Sacramento Kings | Emmanuel Mudiay, G, DR of the Congo |
| 7. Denver Nuggets | Mario Hezonja, F, Croatia |
| 8. Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona |
| 9. Charlotte Hornets | Devin Booker, G, Kentucky |
| 10. Miami Heat | Willie Cauley-Stein, F/C, Kentucky |
| 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 (from Brooklyn) | Frank Kaminsky, F/C, Wisconsin |
| 16. Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas |
| 17. Milwaukee Bucks | R.J. Hunter, G/F, Georgia State |
| 18. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans) | Tyus Jones, G, Duke |
| 19. Washington Wizards | Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame |
| 20. Toronto Raptors | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F, Arizona |
| 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 (from Houston) | Christian Wood, F/C, UNLV |
| 28. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers) | Jarell Martin, F, LSU |
| 29. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta) | Delon Wright, G, Utah |
| 30. Golden State Warriors | Rakeem Christmas F/C, Syracuse |
2. Los Angeles Lakers: D'Angelo Russell
The Lakers will surely go back and forth between taking D'Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor and maybe even Porzingis. But the best pick for them here is Russell.
First of all, for what it's worth, ESPN's Jay Bilas (via The Buckeye Nut on Twitter) called Russell "the best pure basketball player in this year's NBA draft." In addition, pairing Okafor with Julius Randle inside could clog the paint and would leave them at a disadvantage defensively.
Russell has the potential to play either guard spot, and he and Jordan Clarkson could create a dynamic backcourt, with either player being able to create or play off the ball.
The Lakers have a second first-round pick (27th overall), and here we have them shoring up their frontcourt with Christian Wood out of UNLV. Wood certainly isn't as skilled as Okafor, but he can protect the rim and still has enough skill to be a threat on the offensive end.
10. Miami Heat: Willie Cauley-Stein
In past mocks, we have had Willie Cauley-Stein going as high as fourth to the New York Knicks. But after further reflection, it seems the Knicks would need to go with some more offensive talent considering Carmelo Anthony isn't as spry as he once was.
Because of that, we have the Knicks taking Justise Winslow, one of the best two-way players in the draft.
After that, the next couple of teams are likely to pass on Cauley-Stein for other players who fill a need. He shouldn't make it past the Miami Heat at 10th overall, though.
At first glance, Cauley-Stein doesn't seem like a fit with the Heat. They already have Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen and last year's breakout player, Hassan Whiteside, in the frontcourt.
But Cauley-Stein can guard all five positions, something none of the other Heat forwards can do. That gives him the versatility to be able to play alongside any of those players and still be able to match up on defense. With Bosh on the floor, they won't necessarily need offense from Cauley-Stein. And he and Andersen/Whiteside would make it a nightmare to score at the rim.
Should Stanley Johnson fall to the Heat, Pat Riley will likely pounce on him. But if, as we have here, Johnson is off the board, the Heat would be wise to give themselves some lineup flexibility down low with Cauley-Stein.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Frank Kaminsky
We originally had the Atlanta Hawks going with Bobby Portis, a forward with a solid post game who would fit well next to Al Horford or as part of the second unit. However, after considering Kennedy's tweet, the Hawks picking Frank Kaminsky makes a lot more sense.
To start with, Kaminsky has three-point range, which the Hawks covet. They were third in the league this past season in three-pointers attempted per game.
Kaminsky is also an unselfish player who can make plays for others out of the post. He came from a good system in college, playing for Bo Ryan, who is one of the best college coaches and one who stresses team basketball over one-on-one offense.
That's the same type of system the Hawks are trying to run. If you are strictly comparing Kaminsky and Portis based on fit for the Hawks, you have to go with Kaminsky.
Portis is certainly an interesting player to watch, though. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com said: "From the moment Bobby Portis steps on the court, the first thing you notice is his eyes bulging out."
Portis also discussed his playing style with Blakely: "I’m very crazy. I play angry, I play mad. I play very angry. Every game, I sit in the locker room and I have visions of the players on the other team slapped my mom. So that’s why I get mad and now I get you because you slapped my mom."
While at first that seems like an unusual mental image to use to get yourself jacked up for a game, Blakely said it didn't come out of nowhere. It stemmed from growing up in a household filled with domestic abuse, so Portis channels that into motivation on the court.
Portis has the necessary skill to succeed in the NBA. In fact, the Celtics would probably love to have him at 16th overall, one spot after the Hawks pick. Kaminsky just seems like the big man Atlanta would prefer between the two.
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