2016 NBA Mock Draft: Full Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects Prior to Lottery
The NBA draft is a fluid process with evolving evaluations, meaning draft boards will continue to change right up until the first pick on June 23.
While this latest mock draft projects landing spots for the top prospects as of now, there will be a multitude of changes in the coming weeks. Not only will the upcoming NBA Draft Combine, which kicks off Wednesday, create plenty of movement among players, but the order itself will change after the lottery next Tuesday.
Still, current mocks provide a look at possibilities for different teams as well as assessments of where players will likely be selected. Everything will probably change, but here is a look at the latest mock for the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.
| 1 | Philadelphia 76ers | Brandon Ingram | SG | Duke |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | Ben Simmons | PF | LSU |
| 3 | Boston Celtics (via BKN) | Jamal Murray | SG | Kentucky |
| 4 | Phoenix Suns | Dragan Bender | PF | Croatia |
| 5 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Kris Dunn | PG | Providence |
| 6 | New Orleans Pelicans | Jaylen Brown | SF | California |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets (via NYK) | Henry Ellenson | PF | Marquette |
| 8 | Sacramento Kings | Buddy Hield | SG | Oklahoma |
| 9 | Toronto Raptors (via DEN) | Jakob Poeltl | C | Utah |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks | Marquese Chriss | PF | Washington |
| 11 | Orlando Magic | Deyonta Davis | PF | Michigan State |
| 12 | Utah Jazz | Denzel Valentine | SF | Michigan State |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns (via WAS) | Demetrius Jackson | PG | Notre Dame |
| 14 | Chicago Bulls | Wade Baldwin IV | PG | Vanderbilt |
| 15 | Denver Nuggets (via HOU) | Timothe Luwawu | SF | France |
| 16 | Boston Celtics (via DAL) | Domantas Sabonis | PF | Gonzaga |
| 17 | Memphis Grizzlies | Skal Labissiere | PF | Kentucky |
| 18 | Detroit Pistons | Furkan Korkmaz | SG | Turkey |
| 19 | Denver Nuggets (via POR) | Tyler Ulis | PG | Kentucky |
| 20 | Indiana Pacers | Diamond Stone | C | Maryland |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks | Ante Zizic | C | Croatia |
| 22 | Charlotte Hornets | Malik Beasley | SG | Florida State |
| 23 | Boston Celtics | Thon Maker | C | Australia |
| 24 | Philadelphia 76ers (MIA) | Dejounte Murray | PG | Washington |
| 25 | Los Angeles Clippers | Taurean Prince | SF | Baylor |
| 26 | Philadelphia 76ers (OKC) | Ivika Zubac | C | Bosnia |
| 27 | Toronto Raptors | DeAndre Bembry | SF | Saint Joseph's |
| 28 | Phoenix Suns (via CLE) | Brice Johnson | PF | North Carolina |
| 29 | San Antonio Spurs | Malcolm Brogdon | SF | Virginia |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | Ben Bentil | PF | Providence |
Notable Draft Picks
Boston Celtics: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
There is a top tier in this draft with Duke's Brandon Ingram and LSU's Ben Simmons being a step above everyone else in the class. No matter which teams earn the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the lottery, it's likely these two players will be selected first and second in some order.
The question for the Boston Celtics is what will they do if they are on the clock at No. 3.
While Dragan Bender has tons of upside, the Celtics could use more of a sure thing as a squad that tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference this season. They need talent where they can get it, but they also would like someone who could help out right away. This makes Jamal Murray the perfect selection at No. 3.
Murray is already an excellent perimeter scorer who knocked down 40.8 percent of his three-point shots in his one season at Kentucky. This will fill a major need for Boston after the team made just 33.5 percent of its shots from beyond the arc this past season. At the very least, he could join Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley in a backcourt rotation while giving the squad exactly what it needs to improve going forward.
Meanwhile, the freshman also has plenty of upside and could potentially become a point guard down the line with his ball-handling ability. If he does transition to a lead guard role, his value and impact could be enormous.
The Kentucky player is also not short on confidence, believing he should be taken first overall ahead of Simmons, Ingram and others.
"I want to be the No. 1 pick," Murray said last month, per Drew Franklin of Kentucky Sports Radio. "I'm not even thinking about them. I’m a big competitor. I want to win in every type of way. Even with my dad, we’ll be walking, and I’ll say 'I'll beat you to the door' for no reason."
With plenty of confidence and a rare combination of a high floor and a high ceiling, Murray is worth the No. 3 pick.
Utah Jazz: Denzel Valentine, SF, Michigan State
Injuries down the stretch prevented the Utah Jazz from reaching the playoffs this season, but along the way they displayed one of the best defenses in the NBA. Only the San Antonio Spurs allowed fewer points per game than Utah's 95.9.
The team needs some versatile weapons to improve the offense, something it will find in Denzel Valentine.
Valentine doesn't have elite athleticism or quickness, but he makes up for it with basketball IQ and a knack for always knowing the right play on the court. This helped him complete an incredible season for Michigan State where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game while winning the AP Player of the Year award.
According to Sports-Reference.com, he led the nation with an offensive box plus/minus of 12.2, making him almost two full points more valuable per 100 possessions than No. 2 on the list, Buddy Hield.
While there are doubts about his ability to translate these skills to the next level, one NBA executive compared him favorably to current NBA All-Star and former Michigan State player Draymond Green.
"At this point in his career, he’s actually better than Draymond was," the executive told Chris Solari of the Lansing State Journal. "I’m not saying he’s going to do what Draymond did in terms of his game skyrocketing and becoming an All-Star, but at this point of his career, he’s better than Draymond."
Few could have predicted Green's rise to success, but teams are starting to realize the value of a versatile player who can score inside and out as well as being able to create for others. Those who can fill up the stat sheet should always have a role on a team trying to win.
He might not be a star, but he would be an immediate part of the Jazz rotation and potentially be the missing piece that gets them over the edge.
Indiana Pacers: Diamond Stone, C, Maryland
Paul George had an incredible season, but he needs a lot of help if the Indiana Pacers want to get back to being competitive in the Eastern Conference.
Indiana especially needs to improve its inside scoring with rookie Myles Turner representing the only real post threat. Ian Mahinmi and Jordan Hill had solid years as well, but neither appear likely to be part of the future for the Pacers.
Adding Diamond Stone could go a long way thanks to the center's ability to score in the post. While most big men are raw at this age, Stone has an advanced offensive arsenal that allowed him to average 12.5 points per game on a team with numerous veteran options taking away opportunities.
He was also highly efficient at the rim, making 73.5 percent of his shots down low with only 60.5 percent of those attempts being assisted, per Hoop Math. This shows he can create for himself and finish efficiently.
There are still questions about Stone's defense and rebounding ability, both of which were inconsistent during his only collegiate season. While he has some range on his jump shot to 10-15 feet, he still needs to improve in this area as well.
However, these could all be improved with time. The 6'11", 255-pound Stone has plenty of upside and could be a steal at this stage of the draft.
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