NBA Mock Draft 2016: 1st-Round Predictions and Elite Prospects Breakdown

Even in a relatively shallow NBA draft class, several franchises have the opportunity to significantly improve their trajectories June 23. 

After the two elite talents at the top of the prospect pool—LSU's Ben Simmons and Duke's Brandon Ingram—there's a hodgepodge of future valuable role players and boom-or-bust types. Teams will not only have the unenviable task of deciding whether they want to be more or less risky, but they'll also need to figure out which players fit their rosters the best.

Let's predict the first round of the rapidly approaching draft and then break down the fits of the top five projected picks.

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	F Marquese Chriss, Washington
9	Toronto Raptors (via Denver)	PF/C Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
10	Milwaukee Bucks	C Jakob Poeltl, Utah
11	Orlando Magic	SG Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey
12	Utah Jazz	G/F Timothe Luwawu, France
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

Analyzing the Top Five Projected Picks

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, F, LSU

Samantha Baker/Associated Press/Associated Press

Philadelphia needs ball-handling and playmaking with a roster already heavy on big-man prospects, and the 6'10" Simmons just happens to thrive in those areas. With the highest ceiling in the draft, he also would immediately lift the spirits of a disillusioned Sixers fanbase.

While Simmons technically isn't a guard, he has the athleticism to play there in spurts and can give Philadelphia all sorts of lineup versatility as it looks to return to competitiveness under new general manager Bryan Colangelo.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke

The Lakers will probably just take whoever falls to them between Simmons and Ingram, but L.A. should be hoping that the Duke freshman stays on the board for it at No. 2. He doesn't have quite the MVP ceiling of Simmons, but that's OK—he has the sweet shooting stroke and defensive versatility that NBA teams are craving right now.

Don't be surprised if the Lakers become an above-average offensive team in Ingram's rookie year. With him, potentially all three of D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle and a splashy free-agent signing, Los Angeles could immediately become a respectable squad. 

3. Boston Celtics: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia

Admittedly, the Celtics would be rolling the dice here. Dragan Bender is a raw talent with relatively few accomplishments and modest production compared to most of his fellow lottery-bound prospects. Boston's management would be counting on its coaching staff to season the 18-year-old into a future star.

However, the Celtics are in good shape moving forward whether Bender fulfills his potential or is a complete bust. It's a worthwhile risk for them to take a big man with a rare blend of size (7'1", 225 lbs), mobility, shooting touch, passing ability and defensive versatility. He could end up being the superstar talent who eventually gets the squad over the top.

4. Phoenix Suns: Jaylen Brown, SF, California

With Simmons, Ingram and Bender off the board, the Suns will likely focus on the tier of four players directly behind them—California's Jaylen Brown, Kentucky's Jamal Murray, Oklahoma's Buddy Hield and Providence's Kris Dunn.

Murray, Hield and Dunn are clear backcourt players, a positional group at which Phoenix is already set. Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Devin Booker are currently the team's three most talented players, and they're all guards.

That leaves Brown, a hyperathletic 6'7", 223-pound small forward who's already a strong slasher and a great finisher in transition. Defensively, he has shown the potential to lock down his man on the ball. Also, Phoenix could use a blue-chip prospect at the 3 position, with T.J. Warren coming back from season-ending foot surgery and P.J. Tucker not being the long-term option there.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Minnesota should give Murray a long look here. He's an excellent shooter who can play off the ball, which is the type of player the team needs with Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins frequently handling the ball and Karl-Anthony Towns needing plenty of touches as well.

Hield is a better fit for the Wolves, though. While the 22-year-old has three years of seniority on Murray, he's an even better shooter and a steadier defender, which could help accelerate the Wolves' rebuild under new head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Minnesota's youngsters are ready to move forward on the road toward contention, and worrying about playing a younger, defensively challenged guy like Murray could delay that process.