NBA Mock Draft 2016: Projections and Predictions for Top Sharpshooters

Less than one month separates the nation's best college basketball prospects from their new professional homes when the June 23 NBA draft takes place live from Brooklyn, New York. 

The draft order is almost completely set with the postseason drawing closer to its finish as we take a look at this latest mock draft:

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

Predictions for Sharpshooters to Watch

Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke

2015-16 FG%: 44.2

2015-16 3-Pt.%: 41.0

Where He'll Go: No. 2; Los Angeles Lakers

One year at Duke was all that Brandon Ingram needed to become a top-two draft prospect. At 6'9", Ingram was a big reason why Duke made it to the Sweet 16. 

He averaged 17.3 points per game with 6.8 rebounds, as his scoring prowess from all over the floor was impressive.

While he might have to improve on his physicality, his offensive game already holds the big-time potential for teams at the top of the draft to be clamoring over him and LSU's Ben Simmons. 

Simmons will likely go No. 1 to the Philadelphia 76ers, which will allow the Lakers to get Ingram at No. 2. This is a team that already has some young pieces in place with guards D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, along with forward Julius Randle. 

Randle, though, is not nearly as versatile as Ingram when it comes to scoring, which would allow the Duke prospect to stretch the floor for the Lakers and give them a much-needed long-range threat. 

In 2015-16, the Lakers shot a league-worst 31.7 percent from three-point range. A player like Ingram could begin a turnaround in that department for a Lakers team that has been a shell of its former championship-winning self. 

Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

2015-16 FG%: 50.1

2015-16 3-Pt.%: 45.7 (sixth in the nation)

Where He'll Go: No. 5; Minnesota Timberwolves

Buddy Hield showed throughout his senior year at Oklahoma that he is the most explosive offensive player in the game on his way to averaging 25.0 points per contest. 

His ability to score from anywhere on the floor, especially from distance, made him the NCAA's version of Stephen Curry.

Due to his versatility and pure scoring ability, he's a can't-miss prospect who is going to go in the top 10. 

Given that the forward position is likely to dominate the top of the draft with Ingram and Simmons, Hield could slide down to a team like the Timberwolves, who could use some major help in the backcourt, especially at the shooting guard position. 

At the moment, Minnesota's only listed shooting guard is Zach LaVine, who played a significant amount of time at the point guard position as well. 

If Hield is still on the board, expect the Timberwolves to pounce at an opportunity to acquire a true pure scorer who can help stretch an offense that's headlined by forwards Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State

2015-16 FG%: 46.2

2015-16 3-Pt.%: 44.4 (11th in the nation)

Where He'll Go: No. 14; Chicago Bulls

Not only can Denzel Valentine score with the best of them in the 2016 draft class, but he can also distribute. This is a player who averaged 19.2 points along with 7.8 assists for the Spartans last season, proving he holds point guard capabilities. 

He's also not afraid to do the dirty work and attack the glass based on the 7.5 rebounds he averaged.

Given his size, though, it's unlikely he'll be playing as a point guard, which is where a slight drop in his draft stock could occur. Against larger, stronger defenders in the NBA, Valentine will have to work on his ability to create chances off of the ball to open up his offense at the professional level. 

A team such as the Bulls could use him backing up Jimmy Butler for instant offense off the bench. If the bug bites injury-prone Derrick Rose again, then Chicago could experiment with Valentine at point guard.

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.