NBA Draft 2016: Latest Mock Draft for the Best Prospects Atop Round 1

For almost half of the NBA, the next big event on the schedule is June 23's draft from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 

One of sports' most exclusive drafts features just 60 picks, which makes a player's selection all the more special. 

Here is my latest first-round mock draft. The top half of the draft order will not be set until May 17's lottery drawing, so the order of picks is based on regular-season records.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Philadelphia 76ers	Ben Simmons	F	LSU
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Brandon Ingram	SF	Duke
3	Boston Celtics	Jamal Murray	SG	Kentucky
4	Phoenix Suns	Dragan Bender	PF	Croatia
5	Minnesota Timberwolves	Buddy Hield	SG	Oklahoma
6	New Orleans Pelicans	Kris Dunn	PG	Providence
7	Denver Nuggets	Henry Ellenson	PF/C	Marquette
8	Sacramento Kings	Jaylen Brown	SG/SF	California
9	Toronto Raptors	Jakob Poeltl	C	Utah
10	Milwaukee Bucks	Ivan Rabb	PF	California
11	Orlando Magic	Skal Labissiere	PF/C	Kentucky
12	Utah Jazz	Furkan Korkmaz	SG	Turkey
13	Phoenix Suns	Marquese Chriss	SF	Washington
14	Chicago Bulls	Denzel Valentine	SG	Michigan State
15	Denver Nuggets	Timothe Luwawu	SG	France
16	Boston Celtics	Domantas Sabonis	PF/C	Gonzaga
17	Memphis Grizzlies	Caris LeVert	SG	Michigan
18	Detroit Pistons	Malik Beasley	SG	Florida State
19	Denver Nuggets	Dejounte Murray	SG	Washington
20	Indiana Pacers	Demetrius Jackson	PG	Notre Dame
21	Atlanta Hawks	Brice Johnson	PF	North Carolina
22	Charlotte Hornets	Malachi Richardson	SG	Syracuse
23	Boston Celtics	Cheick Diallo	PF	Kansas
24	Philadelphia 76ers	Tyler Ulis	PG	Kentucky
25	Los Angeles Clippers	Diamond Stone	C	Maryland
26	Philadelphia 76ers	Wade Baldwin IV	SG	Vanderbilt
27	Toronto Raptors	Deyonta Davis	PF	Michigan State
28	Phoenix Suns	Melo Trimble	PG	Maryland
29	San Antonio Spurs	Damian Jones	PF	Vanderbilt
30	Golden State Warriors	Stephen Zimmerman	PF/C	UNLV

The 76ers Could Have the Best Draft

This statement has been made annually over the past three or four years. The problem is injuries and a subpar supporting cast has kept Philadelphia rooted to the bottom of the league standings. 

If the pingpong balls fall in the right way, the Sixers will have the No. 1 overall pick along with another two picks in the 20s that they received from the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, per NBADraft.net. 

Speaking hypothetically, if the 76ers get the No. 1 pick, there shouldn't be much deliberation, as Ben Simmons is the best all-around athlete in this year's draft. 

In his lone season at LSU, Simmons averaged a double-double of 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. 

At 6'10", he can run the floor, shoot from mid-range and provide a low-post game, something that could stretch Philadelphia's frontcourt. 

Teaming up with Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor and, if he's healthy, Joel Embiid, the 76ers could have a young, talented and explosive combination at the 4 and 5. 

Outside of the big men, Philadelphia's roster might as well be a blank canvas, as anyone acquired in the draft provides the possibility of being an upgrade at each position. 

Kentucky's Tyler Ulis could be available toward the end of the first round, and he could be a point guard of the future. Despite his 5'9" frame, Ulis can score and facilitate, having averaged 17.3 points and 7.0 assists per game last season with the Wildcats. 

Having a true floor general could give the 76ers structure and provide a supplier for those promising big men. 

With one more pick in the round coming from the Thunder, which will likely be one of the final five picks of the round, the 76ers could look for a shooter who can stretch the floor and provide a solid wing presence. 

That could come in the form of Vanderbilt's Wade Baldwin IV, who shot almost 41 percent from downtown last season. 

Developing a deep shooter like that would give opposing defenses something else to contend with other than Okafor, Noel, Embiid and possibly Simmons. 

If they have a successful draft like this, the 76ers could flirt with the chance of being a lower lottery pick instead of contending for a top-two pick like they have lately. 

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.