NBA Draft 2016: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Names to Watch on Stock Market
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit to make history by digging themselves out of a 3-1 hole in the 2016 NBA Finals has the spotlight right now.
However, it doesn't mean serious changes don't continue to unfold surrounding the 2016 NBA draft.
Stuck in the background or not, the draft process continues to chug along at a feverish pitch, with prospects making the rounds for workouts and interviews and teams sliding names around draft boards and shaping the overall stock market.
It's a lot to keep up with on its own, but it's almost impossible when it's not in the limelight. Let's take a look at a mock draft (a tool to analyze the stock market on its own), before looking at some of the names to know when it comes to stock.
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 Dejounte Murray, Washington |
| 30. | Golden State Warriors | C Zhou Qi, China |
Names to Watch on Stock Market
SG Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Michigan State's Denzel Valentine looked like a lottery pick at one point.
A four-year player with the Spartans, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists last year. He has a reputation not only as a leader but as someone who can knock down shots when asked.
The only knock was Valentine's age (22) and his perceived closeness to his ceiling, although some teams in the lottery look for more of a sure thing than a raw prospect.
Unfortunately for Valentine, a new issue has popped up and damaged his stock in a major way, according to CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish: "Valentine reportedly has a 'fairly significant knee issue' that is causing concern with some teams, and, I'm told, it could cost him on draft night. Without that issue, he could go in the top 10. But there's no guarantee he'll even go in the teens with it."
This makes Valentine one of the most interesting players on the market to watch. A team such as the Detroit Pistons will consider him a good value at No. 18—and would love to pair him with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope—but other teams might take a pass, thinking the upside of another player is now just as risky as Valentine's injury woes.
Expect Valentine's stock to fluctuate in a big way as more info and analysis come out.
Prediction: Valentine goes 18th to Detroit.
PG Dejounte Murray, Washington
Who?
This is the problem with the draft process—fans turn away for one second and a new name seems to enter the fray. About a week ago it was Washington's Marquese Chriss; now it's his teammate, Dejounte Murray.
Murray isn't so much an unknown as he is a newcomer to the first-round scene. That's why it's surprising to see him ranked as high as ninth on ESPN.com's Chad Ford's big board.
An ESPN.com scouting report told the story of Murray's recent ascension:
"But top-five pick? His lack of shooting probably keeps him from hitting that range. Dunn is ahead of Dejounte Murray on virtually every draft board in the league and I think it will stay that way. But after Dunn is off the board (and Jamal Murray, if you count him as a point guard), I think Dejounte Murray has moved into the consensus spot as the next-best PG in the draft.
"
As a freshman, Murray posted 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 29 percent from deep. While he's a bit thin, a 6'5", 183-pound frame comes with necessary NBA height and length.
It's no secret that point guard is a weak class this year, which is a major no-no for teams that are looking to improve. Look at Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and the other stars of the playoffs this year and one can see the importance of having an elite court general.
Could Murray be that in time? Perhaps. For now, it's hard to place him in the top 20 for fear of a smoke screen, but keep a close eye on the talk around his stock in the coming days. Until then, one smooth team gets a steal for the future in the mock above.
Prediction: Murray goes 29th to San Antonio.
C Thon Maker, Orangeville Prep
Before even Chriss was Thon Maker, although most understood he'd catapult into lottery talk if he became eligible for the draft.
And here he is.
Maker took an unconventional route to the draft, and he's an unconventional player who NBA teams cannot afford to ignore. So it goes for a freakish 7'1", 216-pound athlete. He's light, but Maker runs the floor like he's 6'5" and knocks down shots from deep like a shooting guard.
After a workout with the Boston Celtics—who own the third, 16th and 23rd picks, by the way—Maker told ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg he continues to improve in all areas:
"I think I might be ahead defensively, because I take pride in getting stops. My offense, it's catching up pretty fast, but that's because I'm getting a lot of reps in. In these workouts, you are getting a chance to show both, so by me having a chance to show offense at the same time, it's helping me get better. I'm not worried about making mistakes in these workouts, so I'm definitely getting better.
"
Maker might boast more upside than any player in the class, which is why a team such as the Milwaukee Bucks won't mind taking the risk at No. 10 and adding him to an athletic lineup that is highlighted by Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The stock market isn't done with Marker, though. Before his name gets called at the podium, he could take a bigger leap, get declared a bust and a smoke screen or anything in between.
It's a fitting situation for Maker, the most interesting man in the draft. He's the stock domino to circle in red.
Prediction: Maker goes 10th to Milwaukee.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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