NBA Draft 2016: Predicting Biggest Winners in 1st-Round Mock Draft
When it comes to the two rounds of the NBA draft, teams can go with any number of strategies or philosophies.
Some teams take calculated risks based on athleticism or intangibles, while others have no problem stashing players overseas, a sort of rainy-day fund for basketball talent. There's also the ever-present struggle of balancing team need versus pure talent.
Of course, most teams are hoping they hit the jackpot with their first-round choices.
Whether it's a lowly team snagging a can't-miss lottery pick, a prospect who gets to instantly gun for a starting spot or a player who looks perfect for a certain team's scheme, some draft choices just smack of destiny.
With the NBA Draft Combine still ongoing, here's a first-round mock draft and a look at a couple of picks that could prove instantly fortuitous for both player and team.
| 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 | SG Jamal Murray, Kentucky |
| 6. | New Orleans Pelicans | F Jaylen Brown, California |
| 7. | Denver Nuggets (via NYK) | PF Henry Ellenson, Marquette |
| 8. | Sacramento Kings | PG Kris Dunn, Providence |
| 9. | Toronto Raptors (via DEN) | F Marquese Chriss, Washington |
| 10. | Milwaukee Bucks | C/F Jakob Poeltl, Utah |
| 11. | Orlando Magic | PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State |
| 12. | Utah Jazz | SG Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey |
| 13. | Phoenix Suns (via WAS) | C Skal Labissiere, Kentucky |
| 14. | Chicago Bulls | PG Tyler Ulis, Kentucky |
| 15. | Denver Nuggets (via HOU) | SG Denzel Valentine, Michigan State |
| 16. | Boston Celtics (via DAL) | G/F Timothe Luwawu, France |
| 17. | Memphis Grizzlies | PG Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame |
| 18. | Detroit Pistons | PF Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga |
| 19. | Denver Nuggets (via POR) | SF Taurean Prince, Baylor |
| 20. | Indiana Pacers | PG Wade Baldwin, Vanderbilt |
| 21. | Atlanta Hawks | C/F Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV |
| 22. | Charlotte Hornets | C Diamond Stone, Maryland |
| 23. | Boston Celtics | C Thon Maker, Australia |
| 24. | Philadelphia 76ers (via MIA) | SG Patrick McCaw, UNLV |
| 25. | Los Angeles Clippers | SF, DeAndre Bembry, Saint Joseph's |
| 26. | Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC) | C Ivica Zubac |
| 27. | Toronto Raptors | G Dejounte Murray, Washington |
| 28. | Phoenix Suns (via CLE) | PF, Juan Hernangomez, Spain |
| 29. | San Antonio Spurs | SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia |
| 30. | Golden State Warriors | PF Brice Johnson, North Carolina |
Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
Obviously, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram will be winners. They are almost certain to be the top two picks in the draft no matter which teams end up with those spots. It's easy to call them winners, so let's move down a few spots for the first player who could be in an extremely good situation come draft day.
If the Minnesota Timberwolves draft Kentucky sharpshooter Jamal Murray, they will have added the deadly outside presence they need to flesh out the young core that features Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Take it away, CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie:
"Murray, simply put, represents the perfect fit for the Timberwolves. He's the best possible fit in between Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins due to superb shooting ability, skill attacking closeouts, and potential to occasionally run the point while Rubio plays off ball as he does a tremendous job cutting away from the ball. The two of them could also help him defensively, as they are both quite good on that end and could limit the damage he provides on that end. Finally, having him in the lineup could allow Zach LaVine to play more as an offensive creator off the bench, something the team could use. It's a nice pickup here.
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Murray could provide big minutes for a young Timberwolves team right away. He averaged 20.8 points per game on 40.8 percent shooting from three-point land in his lone season at Kentucky. The Timberwolves ranked 29th in the league in three-pointers made per game and 25th in three-point percentage in 2015-16.
Wiggins and LaVine are fine young wing players, but they are at their best when attacking the rim. Minnesota needs someone who can open up space outside. Plus, Murray will have the distinct pleasure of moving on from John Calipari's finishing school for NBA prospects to the molder of young talent that is coach Tom Thibodeau.
If Murray is available whenever the Timberwolves get their chance, this pick could be a dream scenario for both parties involved.
Thon Maker, C, Australia
Thon Maker's presence alone in the 2016 draft counts as a win for the young man who took an unorthodox path to NBA eligibility. Should the 19-year-old find himself drafted in the first round, all the better.
Maker is of course a risky pick. He seems to lack the strength and physicality inside to cope at an NBA level, and there are obvious question marks surrounding his maturity and pro readiness as a prep-to-pro prospect.
Still, he flashes a fluid game and an ability to move up and down the court with relative ease. There really aren't too many 7'1" players who can move like Maker. If he does end up a first-round pick, it will likely be for a team that has a bevy of choices in this draft. Philadelphia, Phoenix and Boston are all strong possibilities for Maker in such a scenario.
In this mock draft, the Celtics are the team that takes a chance on the 19-year-old Maker's potential. The Celtics are a young team with a smart coach in Brad Stevens and a sold core of players including Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder.
Maker's name first came to light as the subject of some ridiculous YouTube mixtapes. However, Maker isn't going to rest on his online laurels, per Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo:
"People gotta stop with the mixtape stuff. That's not me.
I bet you those people who put them out haven't sat through a whole game of mine and watched it. My defensive rotation, the way I communicate to my teammates, the way I pass the ball. They probably got the bad passes, the one-hand passes, not the fundamental, two-hand, jump-stop, they don't get to see all that stuff. Some people use that to identify me, and I told the teams what it is.
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Maker might need some time to develop in the NBA D-League, but then again, the Celtics could use another season or two to really hit their stride and develop into legitimate contenders. If Maker proves to be an NBA-caliber talent, he could be ready for the next level right when the Celtics are ready to make their mark.
Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia
Who cares if the boundless athleticism of the Oklahoma City Thunder just dispatched the San Antonio Spurs in six games. Getting drafted by this dynastic franchise from Texas would be a dream come true for any prospect, and Malcolm Brogdon certainly has the feel of a future Gregg Popovich disciple.
He's a defensive stalwart, boasts strong agility and has matured plenty in the collegiate ranks. He has the necessary confidence to come into a well-regarded Spurs team, per the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell:
Brogdon can do a little bit of everything, as evidenced by his 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 39.1 percent three-point shooting from the 2015-16 season.
There's a decent chance Brogdon doesn't fall all the way to the end of the first round, but if he does, the Spurs should pick him up. They will need to bolster the ranks at the positions held by the aging trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Brogdon isn't a flashy player by any means, but he gets the job done better than most. This sounds exactly like a shrewd Spurs pick.
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