NBA Mock Draft 2016: Projections for Prospects with Most Star Potential

A lot of the NBA draft process is about teams trying to find the next superstar. Teams with superstars tend to contend for championships, while teams without elite talent usually have a difficult time becoming legitimate title threats.

Of course, a team needs more than just a single superstar to win, but having one is a great start toward building a strong squad. Players with high ceilings tend to go early in the draft, often ahead of more established prospects, and this year’s event should be no exception.

Let’s predict the first round for this year’s draft and then discuss three guys who have the best chance at NBA superstardom.

Pick	Team	Player
1	Philadelphia 76ers	F Ben Simmons, LSU
2	Los Angeles Lakers	SF Brandon Ingram, Duke
3	Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn)	PF Dragan Bender, Croatia
4	Phoenix Suns	SF Jaylen Brown, California
5	Minnesota Timberwolves	SG Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
6	New Orleans Pelicans	PG Kris Dunn, Providence
7	Denver Nuggets (via New York)	PG/SG Jamal Murray, Kentucky
8	Sacramento Kings	SG Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey
9	Toronto Raptors (via Denver)	PF/C Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
10	Milwaukee Bucks	C Jakob Poeltl, Utah
11	Orlando Magic	G/F Timothe Luwawu, France
12	Utah Jazz	F Marquese Chriss, Washington
13	Phoenix Suns (via Washington)	F/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State
14	Chicago Bulls	G Malik Beasley, Florida State
15	Denver Nuggets (via Houston)	F Henry Ellenson, Marquette
16	Boston Celtics (via Dallas)	SG/SF Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
17	Memphis Grizzlies	PG Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt
18	Detroit Pistons	PG Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
19	Denver Nuggets (via Portland)	F Taurean Prince, Baylor
20	Indiana Pacers	F Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
21	Atlanta Hawks	C Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV
22	Charlotte Hornets	PF/C Thon Maker, Australia
23	Boston Celtics	G Caris Levert, Michigan
24	Philadelphia 76ers (via Miami)	PG Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
25	Los Angeles Clippers	PF Brice Johnson, North Carolina
26	Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City)	G Malachi Richardson, Syracuse
27	Toronto Raptors	SG/SF DeAndre Bembry, St. Joseph's
28	Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland)	G Dejounte Murray, Washington
29	San Antonio Spurs	C Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
30	Golden State Warriors	SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia

Projections for Potential Future Stars

No. 1, Philadelphia 76ers: F Ben Simmons, LSU

Ben Simmons has the highest ceiling of any player in the draft, and it’s not debatable. 

Any player who possesses nearly every basketball skill you can imagine, aside from a good jump shot, should be held in high esteem. Find him a good shooting coach who can get him to work hard on that stroke, and we’re talking about a perennial MVP candidate. 

Samantha Baker/Associated Press

Despite the fact that the 76ers need more NBA-caliber guards on the roster, Simmons is too good of a prospect to pass up. Besides, he possesses the lateral quickness, dribbling and passing ability of a backcourt player while being 6’10”, so it’s easy to see him bucking the small-ball trend and playing the 1 or 2 in certain lineups. His skill set is reminiscent of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo's but with a better feel for the game.

Philadelphia has big-man prospects coming out its ears in Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. As the future de facto point guard of the Sixers, Simmons will get them the ball in great positions to score.

No. 2, Los Angeles Lakers: SF Brandon Ingram, Duke

The cliche pro comparison for Brandon Ingram is Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. Obviously, that’s a best-case scenario, and no one should be disappointed if Ingram doesn’t win an MVP award or lead the NBA in scoring four times.

But the fact that the lanky 6’9” forward has the ball-handling, shooting and defensive chops to even get that comparison speaks well to his NBA future.

Lance King/Getty Images

The Lakers will probably take whoever the Sixers don’t select between Simmons and Ingram, but Ingram is actually the best fit for them. The Lakers don’t need any more ball-dominant players clogging up their rotation (Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and Lou Williams were the top four minute-getters in Los Angeles last season), and Ingram is fine coming off screens, scoring in spot-up situations and filling lanes on fast breaks.

Ingram’s ability to score on plays where teammates create for him should help the Lakers improve on their league-worst 18 assists per game. He’ll also use his underrated passing ability to keep the ball moving, which should help Los Angeles play better.

No. 3, Boston Celtics: PF Dragan Bender, Croatia

There's a clear drop-off in talent after the top two prospects, but Boston can afford to roll the dice at the No. 3 slot on a big man with All-Star potential. The team is already one of the better squads in the league with a great head coach in Brad Stevens, but it’s missing elite talent who could help its title chances skyrocket.

Dragan Bender can be that guy if he fulfills his potential.

THOMAS COEX/Getty Images

The Croatian 7-footer is just 18 years old and has excellent quickness and ball-handling ability for his size. He can also make plays for teammates, defend in space and knock down the occasional outside jumper. Although instant NBA stardom is not in his future, Boston can continue to build on its strong core as he develops.

Boston has a big-man rotation of Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko, but Olynyk recently had shoulder surgery. Therefore, it makes sense for the Celtics to nab a potentially dominant player at one of the frontcourt positions rather than upgrade on the perimeter, where they already have Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder.