NBA Mock Draft 2015: Final Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects
The 2015 NBA draft promises to bring the drama. Just hours before the draft, and uncertainty still rules the day.
Sure, there's the real possibility that a player like DeMarcus Cousins gets moved during the event, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. But even without trades, there is a lot of intrigue to follow on draft night.
It appears Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are destined to be the top two picks, but there are a few players of interest who could drastically change the way this draft transpires. Here's a look at predictions for all 30 first-round picks, along with a closer examination of the players whose landing spots have the potential to turn into the major storylines of the draft.
| 1 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State |
| 4 | New York Knicks | Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, Baloncesto Sevilla (Spain) |
| 5 | Orlando Magic | Mario Hezonja, SG, FC Barcelona II (Spain) |
| 6 | Sacramento Kings | Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets | Emmanuel Mudiay, SG, Guangdong Foshan (China) |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | Stanley Johnson, G, Arizona |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | Frank Kaminsky, F, Wisconsin |
| 10 | Miami Heat | Justise Winslow, SF, Duke |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Myles Turner, F/C, Texas |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky |
| 14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Cameron Payne, G, Murray State |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets) | Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas |
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Kevon Looney, F, UCLA |
| 18 | Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans) | Tyus Jones, PG, Duke |
| 19 | Washington Wizards | Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin |
| 20 | Toronto Raptors | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona |
| 21 | Dallas Mavericks | Jerian Grant, SG, Notre Dame |
| 22 | Chicago Bulls | R.J. Hunter, G, Georgia State |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Justin Anderson, F, Virginia |
| 24 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Terry Rozier, G, Louisville |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville |
| 26 | San Antonio Spurs | Rashad Vaughn, G, UNLV |
| 27 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets) | Delon Wright, G, Utah |
| 28 | Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) | Anthony Brown, G/F, Stanford |
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) | Olivier Hanlan, G, Boston College |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Christian Wood, PF, UNLV |
The European Big: Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis evokes the classic question: Darko Milicic or Dirk Nowitzki?
It might be a tired cliche at this point, but any time a European big is touted as the next big thing, the question has be asked. With Porzingis, it's the same story. The 7-footer is 19 years old, looks great in workouts, shoots the ball well and can be seen in grainy YouTube videos dominating Euroleague competition.
So, which team is willing to go all-in on the hype?
It would appear the first team to look for would be the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3. ESPN's Chad Ford has reported within the last week that there's suspicion around the league that Porzingis could be the highest player on Sam Hinkie's board when they go on the clock.
However, the most likely destination right now is perceived as the New York Knicks at No. 4. The Latvian big man visited New York in the lead-up to the draft and came away impressed.
"It’s my dream [to] play for the Knicks," Porzingis said, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. "It’s a basketball city. It definitely is a big spotlight. I think I can take it. I would love to be a part of, a leader of that rebuilding team."
However, as Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress points out, the Knicks might be the biggest wild card on draft night:
Givony has Porzingis going at No. 6 to the Sacramento Kings in his latest mock draft. That means his draft range realistically extends from No. 3 to No. 6. With several teams appearing to be interested in the big man's services, which one will step up and take the risk will be one of the early storylines to watch.
Kentucky's Other 7-Footer: Willie Cauley-Stein
Before the Kentucky Wildcats had Karl-Anthony Towns to swat opponents into the bleachers, it had Willie Cauley-Stein. Towns' one-year stay in Lexington will likely find him as the No. 1 selection, but Cauley-Stein's three-year stay is likely to land him in the lottery as well.
The precise location Cauley-Stein will wind up in is anyone's guess. As Givony notes, Cauley-Stein's draft stock is all over the place in mock drafts:
It's easy to see the appeal in WCS. He's a pro-ready defender. His frame (7'0", 245 lbs) and defensive ability (2.2 career blocks per game) will make him an immediate contributor. His offensive game isn't a finished product, but at 21 years old, he still has time for development on that side of the floor.
RealGM has some favorable pro comparisons for the big man:
So, what's the catch?
The one thing keeping Cauley-Stein from being among the safest picks in the draft is a bill of health that's questionable. According to DraftExpress, teams are a bit hesitant to draft the Kentucky star based on an injury he sustained in his ankle during his sophomore season that required surgery to place a pin in the foot.
Aside from any illegal activity, that's about as bad a red flag as a big man can have. If teams are legitimately concerned that the issues with his ankle could linger, it could drop him out of the top 10 altogether.
If it turns out the ankle won't be a problem down the road, Cauley-Stein could be a superb value for the team catching him in his hypothetical fall.
The National Player of the Year: Frank Kaminsky
The National Player of the Year award hasn't necessarily been an omen of NBA success. Much like drafting a European big, there are success and horror stories alike. For every Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin, there is a Tyler Hansbrough and Jimmer Fredette.
That makes a guy like Frank Kaminsky all the more difficult to project to the next level.
At the end of the college season, it felt like Kaminsky was a lock to be drafted in the 10-15 range. Just a few days before the draft, his stock seems to have hit some interesting fluctuation.
First, there was the report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News that the Knicks' interest in the big man wasn't just as a target should they trade down, but that they're interested in him as an option at No. 4. Then, there was increasing belief that the smooth-shooting 7-footer could be a target for the Kings at No. 6, as Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated noted:
Of course, Cousins staying in Sacramento is a subplot of the draft all on its own. All of the talk that the Knicks and Kings would be interested in surprising everyone with a Kaminsky pick seems like a smokescreen of some sort.
However, Ford sees the Hornets' recent moves as a sign they like Kaminsky. Andy Katz of ESPN also noted the franchise's affinity for the forward:
Kaminsky is a unique asset. The 7-footer has the frame of a power forward, but he shot 41.6 percent from three-point range in his senior campaign. He has the potential to create matchup problems as a power forward, but just how well he could defend down low remains a serious concern.
The Hornets are in need of promising talent in the frontcourt and three-point shooting. Kaminsky is the rare player who can help out on both of those fronts.
Of course, the Hornets can't take the big man if the Knicks or Kings surprisingly make Kaminsky a top-six pick.
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