2016 NBA Draft: Top Prospects and Pre-Lottery 1st-Round Order
Unlike other events of this kind, we know more about the prospects who will hear their names early in the 2016 NBA draft than the teams that will take them.
The lottery is set to take place on Tuesday, and it could lead to a lot of changes throughout the first round of the draft. Not only are the top three spots up for grabs based on where the pingpong balls end up, but trades on the books will shake things up at the top.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the highest odds for the No. 1 pick as the worst team in the NBA, but they could also take the Los Angeles Lakers' pick if it ends up outside of the top three. Additionally, they can swap with the Kings if Sacramento's pick ends up higher.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets will end up with the highest of theirs and the New York Knicks' pick, with the Toronto Raptors getting the other one. The Washington Wizards are also hoping for a top-three finish because it would allow them to keep their pick instead of sending it to the Phoenix Suns.
These deals prevent us from knowing the final order until the lottery is completed. On the other hand, we do know the top two and maybe three picks in some order based on the separation from these players compared to the rest of the class.
Here is the full first-round draft order with a breakdown of the players who will be invested in the outcome of the lottery.
| 1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 3 | Boston Celtics (via BKN) |
| 4 | Phoenix Suns |
| 5 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 6 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 7 | Denver Nuggets (via NYK) |
| 8 | Sacramento Kings |
| 9 | Toronto Raptors (via DEN) |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 11 | Orlando Magic |
| 12 | Utah Jazz |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns (via WAS) |
| 14 | Chicago Bulls |
| 15 | Denver Nuggets (via HOU) |
| 16 | Boston Celtics (via DAL) |
| 17 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 18 | Detroit Pistons |
| 19 | Denver Nuggets (via POR) |
| 20 | Indiana Pacers |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 22 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 23 | Boston Celtics |
| 24 | Philadelphia 76ers (via MIA) |
| 25 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 26 | Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC) |
| 27 | Toronto Raptors |
| 28 | Phoenix Suns (via CLE) |
| 29 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors |
Projected Top Picks
Ben Simmons, PF, LSU
When you are the projected top pick since the start of the college basketball season, it's understandable for people to overreact to criticism.
It's true Ben Simmons does not have a developed jump shot, and there are question marks about his effort on defense. These issues, coupled with the fact a lot of teams won't know how to use him, could push him out of the first spot in the draft.
However, the LSU forward is one of the most versatile players to come into the draft in years and could be a star in the NBA. ESPN's Fran Fraschilla explained why he is perfectly suited for the modern NBA:
Simmons has the size of a power forward at 6'10". He rebounds like a true big man but handles the ball like a guard with the vision to run the point. He can help a team play small ball without losing anything on the defensive end.
It might take a creative coach to get the most out of Simmons, but he has as much upside as anyone in this class.
Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
While Simmons represents the versatile weapon who can do a lot on the floor, Brandon Ingram is much easier to project as a prospect. He is an elite scorer with a wide skill set who will only get better with time.
Putting him into a box as a prospect is not necessarily a bad thing. He still has versatility as someone who could legitimately play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward, especially when he adds strength, but the difference between him and Simmons is that teams know what they will get from the offensive star.
Ingram also received high praise from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski when the player declared for the draft, per Chip Patterson of CBSSports.com:
"He is a no-maintenance player who loves the game, has a strong desire to get better and competes every time he steps on the floor. Brandon is also a creative and thoughtful young man who comes from a beautiful family. We're proud that he'll always be a member of the Duke basketball family as he pursues an exciting future in professional basketball. I have absolutely loved coaching Brandon.
"
As someone who can already score inside and out with the wingspan (7'3") necessary to also be an elite defender, Ingram's upside is large enough to justify selecting him with the first overall pick in the draft. Depending on the need of the team that picks first, this remains a heavy possibility.
Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia
A lack of certainty could push Dragan Bender down the draft, but he has too much talent to end up anywhere outside the top five picks.
Bender stands at 7'1" with a standing reach of 9'3", according to DraftExpress. This alone gives him a huge advantage on both ends of the court. Of course, he also knows how to use these physical traits to become a versatile weapon.
The forward is still developing his back-to-the-basket attack but can get his shot off over most defenders down low. He also has displayed a nice shooting touch in his young career and could be a prototypical stretch 4 who can spread out the opposing defense.
With his length and instincts, Bender has plenty of potential to be a star on the defensive end.
After playing for a solid Maccabi Tel Aviv squad in Israel, he could have a quicker transition to the NBA than some other European products. He is still raw, but Bender has the tools to be a star early in his professional career.
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