NBA Draft 2016: Mock Draft Projections for Safest Lottery Prospects

One-half of the NBA Finals is set after the Cleveland Cavaliers disposed of the Toronto Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. They'll await the team that comes out of the mammoth clash between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

But for the other 27 teams in the league, their sights are focused on Brooklyn on June 23 with the 2016 NBA draft. 

It provides teams an opportunity to get one or more solid pieces to contribute toward a championship roster as we take a look at my 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	Cheick Diallo	PF	Kansas
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	Thon Maker	PF	Australia
29	San Antonio Spurs	Petr Cornelie	PF	France
30	Golden State Warriors	Ben Bentil	PF	Providence

Safest Lottery Prospects

Ben Simmons, F, LSU

Where He'll Go: No. 1; Philadelphia 76ers

There's no question that LSU's Ben Simmons is the top college prospect in the draft this season. This is a 6'10" forward who could play every position with a skill set that could make him a superstar at the next level.

Simmons averaged a double-double in his lone season at LSU with 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds while also adding almost five assists per game. 

As long as he stays inside the three-point line, he's money.

In order for Simmons to flourish, he would need to land on a team where he can get a lot of touches and simply play his game. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are just that kind of team, as they are all but a blank canvas. Sure, they have some young projects in the frontcourt with Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. However, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford that Philadelphia will "explore" trading Noel and Okafor.

In terms of their guard situation, the Sixers have nothing but Ish Smith, Hollis Thompson and Nik Stauskas. There isn't going to be that All-NBA player who will take the ball away from Simmons, and if Philadelphia drafts him, it needs to insert him as the untouchable cornerstone of the team and have him stay there. 

Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

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

For teams in search of an explosive scorer who holds the prospect of averaging 22-25 points per game in the league, look no further than Buddy Hield. 

All Hield does is score, and he's efficient about it. He shot 50 percent overall from the field and almost 46 percent from three-point range. 

On top of that, he is fearless when it comes to driving to the basket and creating chances closer to the hoop.

The Minnesota Timberwolves should be salivating at the prospect of getting Hield at No. 5 considering they have a depleted backcourt. Zach LaVine, who played his fair share of point guard, is listed as the team's only shooting guard—where Hield could see some major playing time upon arrival. 

In terms of point guards, Ricky Rubio and Tyus Jones don't provide much scoring support for a Minnesota team that leaned on the frontcourt pairing of Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Hield's arrival could stretch Minnesota's offense and make it a nightmare to stop from all areas of the floor. 

Kris Dunn, PG, Providence

Where He'll Go: No. 6; New Orleans Pelicans

Kris Dunn is the most NBA-ready point guard prospect in this year's class, and he needed all four years of his eligibility to do so. 

Dunn improved his game from seldom-scoring facilitator to well-rounded threat, putting up 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

He's a prime candidate to become a point guard the New Orleans Pelicans can rely on given the fact that starter Jrue Holiday hasn't played more than 65 games in a season since 2012-13. 

Dunn would back up a healthy Holiday in New Orleans and could take the reins if he asks for too much during unrestricted free agency after the 2016-17 season. Taking Dunn on June 23 provides a great security blanket for the Pelicans given Holiday's uncertain future, and it would ensure the team still has a skilled point guard to work the offense.

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.