NBA Draft 2016: Updated Mock Draft After Latest Prospect Workouts
Like other major sports leagues such as the NFL, the NBA draft process doesn't stop.
Well, it stops for one thing—the actual selection process. But right after the last pick has been called at the podium, the front offices and scouts get right back to work on the next upcoming class.
The never-ending cycle would explain why NBA teams continue to run through the paces of individual workouts with draft prospects, despite having years of film and attending the combine. Sometimes these workouts are due diligence; often, they are ways to get one final look at a guy the front office wants to grab.
Either way, it's worth examining the notable workouts and what they could mean. Let's do so below after a look at an updated mock draft.
2016 NBA Mock Draft
| 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 | SG Jamal Murray, Kentucky |
| 5. | Minnesota Timberwolves | SF Jaylen Brown, California |
| 6. | New Orleans Pelicans | SG Buddy Hield, Oklahoma |
| 7. | Denver Nuggets (via New York) | F Marquese Chriss, Washington |
| 8. | Sacramento Kings | PG Kris Dunn, Providence |
| 9. | Toronto Raptors (via Denver) | C Jakob Poeltl, Utah |
| 10. | Milwaukee Bucks | C Thon Maker, Orangeville Prep |
| 11. | Orlando Magic | PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State |
| 12. | Utah Jazz | F Henry Ellenson, Marquette |
| 13. | Phoenix Suns (via Washington) | C Skal Labissiere, Kentucky |
| 14. | Chicago Bulls | G Tyler Ulis, Kentucky |
| 15. | Denver Nuggets (via Houston) | SG Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey |
| 16. | Boston Celtics (via Dallas) | SG Timothe Luwawu, France |
| 17. | Memphis Grizzlies | PG Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame |
| 18. | Detroit Pistons | SG Denzel Valentine, Michigan State |
| 19. | Denver Nuggets (via Portland) | G Caris LeVert, Michigan |
| 20. | Indiana Pacers | PF Brice Johnson, North Carolina |
| 21. | Atlanta Hawks | C Diamond Stone, Maryland |
| 22. | Charlotte Hornets | PF Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga |
| 23. | Boston Celtics | F Paul Zipser, Germany |
| 24. | Philadelphia 76ers (via Miami) | G Malik Beasley, Florida State |
| 25. | Los Angeles Clippers | C Cheick Diallo, Kansas |
| 26. | Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City) | F Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida |
| 27. | Toronto Raptors | F Taurean Prince, Baylor |
| 28. | Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland) | C Damian Jones, Vanderbilt |
| 29. | San Antonio Spurs | PG Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt |
| 30. | Golden State Warriors | C Zhou Qi, China |
Players with Recent Notable Workouts
Jamal Murray
Viewed as one of the most complete players in the class and perhaps the third player off the board, Kentucky's Jamal Murray had an interesting visit recently.
Standing at 6'5" and 207 pounds after a freshman season with averages of 20.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, Murray finds himself hyped as the guy closest to the level of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.
It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that Murray worked out for the Boston Celtics, who have the draft's third selection. Murray met with the media during that workout and made it clear he wouldn't mind joining a roster that is already stacked with backcourt talent, according to Taylor C. Snow of NBA.com.
“It’s only going to make me better, going up against guys like Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart,” Murray said. “All those guys are physical and could help me out offensively.”
Boston will have an interest in Murray if the team keeps the pick, though the front office might try to swing a trade because it has so many selections to work with (three in the first round alone).
In the mock above, the Celtics go with Dragan Bender instead of Murray to fit more of a need for the long term. Bender is more of a project but might have better upside, which leaves the Phoenix Suns to grab Murray and pair him with Devin Booker.
It also shouldn't come as a surprise that Murray knocked his workout out of the park, going 79-of-100 from deep in a drill, per Snow. No matter where he lands, the workout was more proof Murray might be the best shooter in the class.
Prediction: Murray lands with the Suns at No. 4.
Skal Labissiere
It's quite important to know the who and when around workouts hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers this year.
This isn't only because of the Lakers' rebuild around new head coach Luke Walton in the aftermath of the Kobe Bryant era. Nor is it strictly because the Lakers own the second pick in the draft.
It's more about how volatile the Lakers can be by shaking up the draft with a blockbuster deal, which is one of the first things to enter the mind when one hears the team worked out Kentucky center Skal Labissiere.
That's not a knock on Labissiere, either. A 7'0", 216-pound center doesn't come around often. But he isn't in consideration as high as No. 2.
Even Labissiere told Joey Ramirez of NBA.com that each workout is a chance to prove himself: "Definitely. I just treat the workouts (as an opportunity) to get better. That's what I do anyway. I've been working out since school's been over. So I just treat them as a way to improve myself. That was just another workout for me. It was a great experience being here."
Labissiere didn't get much of a chance at Kentucky, averaging just 15.8 minutes per game. It's important, then, to understand which teams are giving him extra chances now. And as Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders pointed out, the Lakers aren't alone as of late:
Interestingly enough, the above mock has the Kentucky product going to Phoenix, which isn't a bad move if he gets to learn for a year or two behind Tyson Chandler before vying for a starting gig.
Prediction: Labissiere lands with the Suns at No. 13.
Denzel Valentine
Michigan State shooting guard Denzel Valentine is one of those prospects whose visits say quite a lot about his future and the future of those teams involved with him at this point in the process.
Valentine is a niche player. Seniors who are already close to their ceilings take a back seat to players with more upside. Teams that are considering Valentine know what he's offering, and it's not a terrible thing when looking at his last two seasons in college:
| 2015-16 | .462 | .444 | 19.2 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
| 2014-15 | .443 | .416 | 14.5 | 6.3 | 4.3 |
Given his niche status in what also happens to be a deep guard class, Valentine confirmed he's only working out with a few teams before the draft.
One of those was the Utah Jazz. He told the media where other workouts will take him, according to the team's Facebook page (h/t Kyle Austin of MLive.com).
"Valentine took part in his first team workout last week, with the Utah Jazz," Austin wrote. "There, he told reporters that he's only scheduled to visit three other teams before the draft: the Chicago Bulls, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic. That number could go up or down, Valentine said, 'depending on what happens.'"
Given all the above, this doesn't mean those are the only destinations to expect for Valentine.
In fact, it sets a trend more than anything—teams that want immediate help at the spot might pull the trigger. Look at the Detroit Pistons in the mock above. They are a young playoff team in need of a rotational presence with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at shooting guard.
While not the most exciting high-upside prospect around, Valentine still has plenty of suitors, so keep an eye on how his workouts progress.
Prediction: Valentine lands with the Pistons at No. 18.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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