NBA Draft 2016: Ideal Mock Draft Selections for Every 1st-Round Team

A lottery and a bevy of seven-game-series showdowns rest between the NBA and its 2016 draft.

Wild times abound in the Association. Major names continue to declare for the June 23 draft, and the playoffs have unexpected entertaining series, such as Paul George (OK, the Indiana Pacers) making a show of it against the Toronto Raptors.

There's the allure of The Kevin Durant Summer overshadowing things. There's the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks scheming for something big. There's potential major opt-outs, such as Dwight Howard.

The wildest time of the year rolls on for the NBA. With the draft order mostly set, here's a look at a mock draft featuring ideal picks for each team.

2016 NBA Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player
1.	Philadelphia 76ers	F Ben Simmons, LSU
2.	Los Angeles Lakers	SF Brandon Ingram, Duke
3.	Boston Celtics (via BKN)	PF Dragan Bender, Croatia
4.	Phoenix Suns	SG Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
5.	Minnesota Timberwolves	SF Jaylen Brown, California
6.	New Orleans Pelicans	SG Jamal Murray, Kentucky
7.	Denver Nuggets (via NYK)	C Jakob Poeltl, Utah
8.	Sacramento Kings	PG Kris Dunn, Providence
9.	Toronto Raptors	PF Henry Ellenson, Marquette
10.	Milwaukee Bucks	C Diamond Stone, Maryland
11.	Orlando Magic	PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State
12.	Utah Jazz	PF Ivan Rabb, California
13.	Phoenix Suns (via WAS)	C Thon Maker, Orangeville Prep
14.	Chicago Bulls	SG Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey
15.	Denver Nuggets (via HOU)	G Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
16.	Boston Celtics (via DAL)	SG Timothe Luwawu, France
17.	Memphis Grizzlies	G Caris LeVert, Michigan
18.	Detroit Pistons	SG Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
19.	Denver Nuggets (via POR)	PG Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
20.	Indiana Pacers	F Marquese Chriss, Washington
21.	Atlanta Hawks	C Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
22.	Charlotte Hornets	PF Brice Johnson, North Carolina
23.	Boston Celtics	PF Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
24.	Philadelphia 76ers (via MIA)	SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
25.	Los Angeles Clippers	C Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
26.	Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC)	F Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida
27.	Toronto Raptors	F Paul Zipser, Germany
28.	Phoenix Suns (via CLE)	F Taurean Prince, Baylor
29.	San Antonio Spurs	PG Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt
30.	Golden State Warriors	C Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV

Best Fits for Notable Franchises 

1. Philadelphia 76ers: F Ben Simmons, LSU

The Philadelphia 76ers like to go with the best player available no matter what the roster looks like. 

Hey, it works in football. While some shuffling among decision-makers in the organization might change things moving forward, there's no sense in the 76ers going away from the approach at No. 1—LSU's Ben Simmons is the guy.

Simmons comes in at 6'10" and 240 pounds and is a facilitator, which is something Philadelphia could use. As a freshman at LSU, he posted averages of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Some may rally for Duke's Brandon Ingram, but ESPN.com's Chad Ford explained the difference: "Sixers fans are hoping for much better results, and they should get it whether the pick is Simmons or Duke forward Brandon Ingram. Ingram fits more of a need for the Sixers. Simmons has a higher upside."

Upside is the name of the game here. Philadelphia won't be ready to win right away because it lands a more pro-ready prospect. And the note about Simmons being a facilitator is important—the 76ers need someone who can act as a pseudo-PG and get the offense rolling. 

Said guy is Simmons, who provides a nice balance and can grow alongside the other notable picks of years past.

3. Boston Celtics (via BKN): PF Dragan Bender, Croatia

JACK GUEZ/Getty Images

The Boston Celtics might be the most interesting team in the draft. 

Danny Ainge, sometimes known as a genius (kidding), has a stockpile of notable draft picks on his hands and can shape the roster as he pleases. Great, but it's a roster already duking it out with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

The rich get richer. Ainge's squad needs help down low, with Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley holding down the backcourt. Amir Johnson, Jared Sullinger and others aren't great long-term solutions.

This means, of course, that Ainge can go out and get Croatian sensation Dragan Bender, a prospect who stands at 7'1" and 216 pounds with the long range of a shooting guard.

ESPN's Fran Fraschilla made the most obvious comparison:

Bender might not play like Kristaps Porzingis right out of the gates, but he's an excellent edition in Boston, both when it comes to culture and on-court fit.

One way to make up for a weakness underneath the basket other than directly replacing players? Stretching the floor with a player like Bender, who appears to have the upside of an elite talent.

With a playoff roster already in place, Bender could land in few better places to grow as a player.

11. Orlando Magic: PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The NBA draft is all about upside. 

Look at Michigan State's Deyonta Davis. As a freshman, Davis only averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with Michigan State before deciding to go pro.

It's not a major knock, either. Davis is young, and the upside is gigantic, as he stands at 6'10" and 240 pounds in need of strength and a more versatile offensive skill set to become a solid pro.

An ESPN.com scouting write-up from February explained how Davis would work his way into the lottery:

"

Davis is a pure upside play. His length, shot-blocking ability and ability to step out and hit midrange jumpers appeal to scouts. His role has been pretty limited for Michigan State offensively, but defensively, he has been a monster. He probably should return for another year of school. But if he does declare, he has a shot at the lottery.

"

Those things are coachable, especially on a team like the Orlando Magic. Remember, Nikola Vucevic has already carved out a nice role for himself as a starter with the team, meaning the franchise could take its time in developing a project like Davis.

Call it a win-win for both sides. If Orlando is going to upgrade the roster, it figures to come at center, as Vucevic's contract isn't impossible to escape. In the long term, Davis could be a force next to the more offensive-minded Aaron Gordon, giving the Magic a nice balance and a roster capable of making some noise in the Eastern Conference.

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