NBA Mock Draft 2016: Latest Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

While 16 teams are just getting started on their playoff runs, the rest of the league can now focus all of its energy on the NBA draft. 

For the teams picking at the top of the lottery, the event represents the opportunity to snag a franchise-altering player. This class might be short on surefire cornerstones, but players like Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram certainly have the potential to develop into those kinds of players. 

Even if there isn't a superstar to be found in this class, there are still players in the lottery who could be key cogs in their franchises, and some will be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. 

Here's a look at how the first round could shake out and a few team and player fits that stand out. 

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Philadelphia 76ers	Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Ben Simmons, PF, LSU
3	Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)	Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma
4	Phoenix Suns	Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia
5	Minnesota Timberwolves	Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
6	New Orleans Pelicans	Jakob Poeltl, PF/C, Utah
7	Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)	Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
8	Sacramento Kings	Jaylen Brown, SF, California
9	Toronto Raptors (via Denver Nuggets)	Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette
10	Milwaukee Bucks	Timothe Luwawu, SG, France
11	Orlando Magic	Marquese Chriss, F, Washington
12	Utah Jazz	Demetrius Jackson, G, Notre Dame
13	Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards)	Denzel Valentine, G, Michigan State
14	Chicago Bulls	Ivan Rabb, PF, California
15	Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets)	Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga
16	Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)	Furkan Korkmaz, G, Turkey
17	Memphis Grizzlies	Skal Labissiere, PF/C, Kentucky
18	Detroit Pistons	Wade Baldwin, PG, Vanderbilt
19	Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)	Jonathan Jeanne, C, France
20	Indiana Pacers	Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State
21	Atlanta Hawks	Stephen Zimmerman, C, UNLV
22	Charlotte Hornets	Taurean Prince, F, Baylor
23	Boston Celtics	Ante Zizic, C, Croatia
24	Philadelphia 76ers (via Miami Heat)	Tyler Ulis, G, Kentucky
25	Los Angeles Clippers	Diamond Stone, C, Maryland
26	Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)	Malik Beasley, G, Florida State
27	Toronto Raptors	Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina
28	Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers)	Thon Maker, C, Australia
29	San Antonio Spurs	DeAndre' Bembry, SF, St. Joseph's
30	Golden State Warriors	Damian Jones, PF/C, Vanderbilt

Brandon Ingram to Philadelphia with the No. 1 Pick

For most of the season, Ben Simmons had been the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. However, his play on the court at LSU didn't necessarily back that up. 

The potential remains. He's still a big man with a rare skill set that includes great court vision, ball distribution and effective down-low scoring. 

That last skill is the problem with Simmons in Philadelphia. 

This is a franchise that already has Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel on the roster. Those three guys all have different games than Simmons, but all three do their scoring around the basket. Simmons is another player who needs to have the ball on the block to score. 

At some point, the Sixers have to stop simply collecting assets and start building a team. 

That's where Ingram comes in. The 6'9" forward shot 41.3 percent from three-point range in his freshman campaign at Duke while averaging 17.3 points per game. 

Ultimately, Ingram projects as a versatile weapon on both sides of the court. It's why Sporting News' Kevin O'Connor named him the No. 1 player on his big board:

"

Ingram is one of those rare players who could switch with ease on defense, but opponents could have a tough time switching against him when he’s on offense. He’s rail thin, but long-term he projects as a player who can defend multiple positions because of his mix of speed and length (7-3 wingspan). And on offense, he’s a very good shooter off the catch (41 percent from 3) who can pull up over small defenders or drive by slower ones.

"

Simmons should still be a top-two pick. For all the questions that came with his lackluster run at LSU, he still has the skills that will make scouts salivate. 

But simply figuring out where he's going to stand in the half court with any of Noel, Embiid or Okafor on the court is a challenge in and of itself. Ingram will provide some of the much-needed spacing the 76ers need as a shooter while still providing some great upside. 

Boston Celtics Get Crunch-Time Scorer in Buddy Hield

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

The Boston Celtics are in the rare position of drafting in the top three spots while simultaneously competing in the playoffs. 

That should impact the way they approach the selection. While other teams are hoping to get the players with the highest upside, the Celts should be looking for who can make the biggest impact right now. 

That's Buddy Hield. 

Boston was 28th in three-point shooting at a disappointing mark of 33.5 percent from deep this season. The only player over 40 percent from three was center Kelly Olynyk. 

Hield would immediately be Boston's shooter. The guard might not entice teams looking for upside, but the senior has already proved he can shoot. As Synergy Sports Tech noted, he was nearly automatic on catch-and-shoot jumpers:

With Hield on the roster, the Celtics automatically have a player they can go to down the stretch to make shots. It's nearly a perfect marriage of team need and the skills of a prospect. 

Denzel Valentine Gives Devin Booker a Running Mate in Phoenix

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Denzel Valentine will be one of the most intriguing prospects to keep an eye on in the draft process. 

On one hand, he's the anti-lottery pick. His athleticism is nothing to write home about. He's likely already close to his ceiling in terms of development, and he isn't a lights-out shooter.

On the other, few players can claim to be as proven as Valentine in a draft class that is relatively weak. The 6'5", 220-pound guard feels as though his four years in college have adequately prepared him for the pros. 

"I just feel like I'm ready on and off the court," Valentine said, per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. "I'm mature. I haven't played one possession of the NBA, but I know how to play with pace. I know how to compete at a high level for multiple games."

In this scenario, the Phoenix Suns find themselves in a position where Valentine makes the most sense. 

Dragan Bender gives the Suns a high-upside project with the No. 4 pick. His potential as a 7-footer who can shoot and defend multiple positions is too good to pass up—but he's going to take time to develop. 

With Devin Booker looking like the future of the Suns organization, Phoenix would need to get someone who can help it win right away. 

Adding Valentine to the roster gives the Suns one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft and one who doesn't need to take a lot of shots to be successful. Valentine's best skill as a player is his court vision, which paves the way for his abilities as a distributor. 

Eric Bledsoe only played 31 games in 2015-16. Brandon Knight played in just 52. Valentine gives Phoenix a fourth guard who provides a solid insurance policy and roster flexibility heading into 2016-17.