2016 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for Most Athletic 1st-Round Prospects
With the Golden State Warriors missing Stephen Curry and the Miami Heat down Chris Bosh and on and on, the NBA playoffs continue to provide a stark lesson as to the importance of the draft.
While the postseason bracket rages onward, the lottery is right around the corner. It's a moment that most franchises fixate on as the days go by thanks to sitting out of the playoffs, and this year's deep class in tandem with the summer of Kevin Durant promises a shot at an instant turnaround for a few lucky teams.
Elite athletes pepper the class. Some guys are elite prospects without the classification—like Kentucky's Jamal Murray. Some lean on it completely, while others strike the perfect balance. Below, let's take a look at a mock based on team need and prospect value before pointing out some of the top athletes in the class.
2016 NBA Mock Draft
| 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 | F Marquese Chriss, Washington |
| 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 | PF Brice Johnson, North Carolina |
| 21. | Atlanta Hawks | C Damian Jones, Vanderbilt |
| 22. | Charlotte Hornets | PF Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga |
| 23. | Boston Celtics | F Paul Zipser, Germany |
| 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 Taurean Prince, Baylor |
| 28. | Phoenix Suns (via CLE) | Cheick Diallo, C, Kansas |
| 29. | San Antonio Spurs | PG Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt |
| 30. | Golden State Warriors | C Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV |
Most Athletic First-Round Prospects
8. Sacramento Kings: PG Kris Dunn, Providence
Providence's Kris Dunn gets comparisons to Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook for a reason, folks.
Dunn is one of those can't-miss prospects at the point, a floor general who can get everyone involved while weaving his way through defenses and finishing at the rim—just don't ask him to go nuts with his jump shot from range.
Not that Dunn isn't improving, either. At 6'4" and 220 pounds, he already has most of what NBA teams ask for on both ends of the court, and his athleticism helps him play either guard spot well.
Stat lines aren't always the best way to evaluate a prospect. It helps with Dunn, though, who last year averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
ESPN.com's scouting report echoed a lot of these sentiments while suggesting a strong fit with the Sacramento Kings: "Dunn has a case for being the best point guard in the draft. He's quick, sees the floor well and has good size for the position. He's not a lights-out shooter and can be turnover-prone, but he would be a good long-term fit in Sacramento."
It's easy to love the Dunn-to-Sacramento scenario. Needing to please DeMarcus Cousins while the franchise starts over at head coach, it's best if the front office goes out and gets a prospect like Dunn to replace Rondo.
That's presuming Rondo leaves, but even if he doesn't, letting Dunn learn from him or even play next to him isn't the worst idea.
9. Toronto Raptors: PF Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Unlike Dunn, Henry Ellenson's athleticism doesn't translate to both ends of the court.
It's not the biggest knock in the world, not when Ellenson comes in at 6'10" and 245 pounds and can stretch the floor by hitting shots from long range. A complete package on the offensive end of the court, the Marquette product can complement more defensive-minded big men quite well.
Upside is the name of the game with Ellenson, something Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski concurred with when talking to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the forward's decision to make the leap:
"Henry absolutely made the right decision. I've talked to a number of NBA GMs and I'll talk to probably every one of them before the draft, and he's going to go real high. In today's NBA with his skill set, his ability and the fact that he's still just scratching the surface of who he's going to be — and I've been really fortunate to be around a lot of them, good ones, real good ones — he's going to be in that category.
"
A team like the Toronto Raptors comes to mind when one thinks of what Ellenson brings to the table.
The Raptors could use some fresh faces down low next to Jonas Valanciunas. Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson aren't terrible options, and Toronto is obviously in the postseason, but Ellenson brings a different dynamic in that he can open up the paint with his shooting.
Big men who can shoot is a big need in the NBA these days. In other words, it's easy to see why Ellenson made the jump.
11. Orlando Magic: PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State
It doesn't get much more athletic than Michigan State's Deyonta Davis.
Standing at 6'10" and 240 pounds, the freshman is one of the best athletes in the draft and will only improve with time as he ages. He might be the best rim defender in the class too; he's an explosive guy who can get up and down the court and defend the paint with anticipation and violence.
The numbers don't do Davis justice. As a freshman, he averaged just 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. But one has to realize the Spartans didn't go out of their way to get Davis playing time, as he averaged just 18.6 minutes.
Those block numbers don't look so bad in that context, right?
The reality, though, is Davis looks like a long-term project. He's not polished enough to start just yet, which makes him a good fit for a team like the Orlando Magic.
Orlando has Nikola Vucevic down low, but it's hard to know how the front office will feel about the situation down the road. Helping both Davis and Aaron Gordon realize their potential and getting them on the floor together could provide a nice complementary post game that helps the Magic get back in the playoff conversation.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
