NBA Draft Lottery 2016: Predictions, Updated Standings for No. 1 Pick
Is it June yet?
The NBA playoffs are going to fly by, and soon it will be draft season.
After the likes of the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers or Oklahoma City Thunder settle into the champion’s throne, the tankers and bottom-feeders will come under the spotlight.
How will the lottery shake out? What will the Philadelphia 76ers do sans ex-general manager Sam Hinkie? Most importantly, who’ll be taken No. 1 overall?
Updated Mock
| 1 | Brandon Ingram (Duke) | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2 | Ben Simmons (LSU) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 3 | Dragan Bender (International) | Phoenix Suns |
| 4 | Jaylen Brown (Cal) | Boston Celtics |
| 5 | Kris Dunn (Providence) | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 6 | Jamal Murray (Kentucky) | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 7 | Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) | Denver Nuggets |
| 8 | Jakob Poeltl (Utah) | Sacramento Kings |
| 9 | Henry Ellenson (Marquette) | Toronto Raptors |
| 10 | Skal Labissiere (Kentucky) | Milwaukee Bucks |
Predictions
Brandon Ingram Goes No. 1
Ben Simmons' stock has dropped.
That’s right—Mr. Surefire No. 1 Pick himself is now pegged second overall by DraftExpress, one of the more respected draft sites around.
NBADraft.net has the LSU freshman going first, though, and ESPN’s Chad Ford does as well. Despite the Tigers’ underwhelming season that did not feature an NCAA tournament berth, the 6’10” Australian is viewed as a top-two pick, at the very least.
Still, his public image is much different than it was earlier in the year.
The Vertical’s Jonathan Givony ripped Simmons on March 14, laying out a numbered list of reasons why he wasn’t the best overall prospect. It wasn’t really X’s and O’s, either.
Instead, Givony harped on things like Simmons’ “lack of competitiveness,” stat-padding, lack of interest on defense and character.
Here’s one of the more alarming passages:
"One NBA executive described him as a “taller Rajon Rondo, a more athletic Evan Turner, or a skinnier Royce White.” Simmons has displayed a penchant for stat-mongering like few players in recent memory, seeming to pad his numbers in blowouts. At times, it appears he only passes when guaranteed an assist and chases home-run plays at inopportune times in search of a highlight. Simmons seems to value those things over winning.
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That’s a haymaker.
With the college season over, there’s not much Simmons can do to improve his stock before the combine.
Brandon Ingram, on the other hand, is riding a wave of positivity after showing up for head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke in March.
During the Blue Devils’ run to the Sweet 16, Ingram averaged 23.0 points, 6.3 boards and 2.7 assists while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from deep. He used his lanky frame to create space and rise above defenders with ease.
And in crucial moments, the 18-year-old shined. He wasn’t intimidated:
Ingram’s farewell letter on the Players' Tribune only reiterated the growing sentiment that he’s a more mature player than Simmons.
Expect the Duke product to follow in Kyrie Irving’s footsteps and hear his name called first.
Thon Maker Cracks the Top 15
Thon Maker is a true wild card.
Being a 7-footer with guard skills makes him a tantalizing product for NBA teams. Take a look at the kid’s skill set below.
He’s truly like a video game character:
The 19-year-old high schooler, who announced his intention to enter the draft as a Bleacher Report exclusive, has a strong chance of being eligible, per Givony at DraftExpress:
"The 19-year old Maker believes he has a strong case to be considered draft eligible, since he reportedly graduated high school in Canada in June of 2015, and is now technically in his fifth year of high school.
The official NBA collective bargaining agreement rule states that a player can be eligible for selection in the NBA Draft if “the player is or will be at least nineteen years of age during the calendar year in which the Draft is held, and, at least one NBA Season has elapsed since the player's graduation from high school.”
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While it’s easy to hop aboard the hype train after watching Maker’s highlight reels, others aren’t sold.
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski is one of those detractors:
One NBA executive told SNY.tv’s Matt Eisenberg that the versatile big man could go in Round 1: “I do see someone selecting him in the first round for sure. Let's hope he goes to college and is not eligible for the NBA draft.”
With gangly foreign stars like Kristaps Porzingis and Giannis Antetokounmpo thriving, it won’t be surprising to see a team take a chance on Maker, even in the top 10-15 picks.
Perhaps Wojnarowski is spot-on, and Maker needs a few years to develop. But height and length can’t be taught. Maker has both, and then some.
Flaws aside, Maker is working taking a shot on.
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