2016 NBA Mock Draft: Current Projections for Every 1st-Round Prospect
On Thursday, 60 draft prospects will fulfill their dreams of being selected by an NBA team.
But it’s not only an exciting time for the players—teams are also hoping to improve their rosters on draft night, whether by adding promising rookies, swinging blockbuster trades or possibly doing both. The league’s power structure could shift significantly this week.
It’s time to predict what will happen in the first round Thursday. Then, we’ll analyze some of the projected lottery picks who seem like the safest bets to succeed in the NBA.
| 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) | PF/C Deyonta Davis, Michigan State |
| 14 | Chicago Bulls | F Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga |
| 15 | Denver Nuggets (via Houston) | F Henry Ellenson, Marquette |
| 16 | Boston Celtics (via Dallas) | SG/SF Denzel Valentine, Michigan State |
| 17 | Memphis Grizzlies | G Dejounte Murray, Washington |
| 18 | Detroit Pistons | PG Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame |
| 19 | Denver Nuggets (via Portland) | F Taurean Prince, Baylor |
| 20 | Indiana Pacers | PF/C Thon Maker, Australia |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks | PF/C Cheick Diallo, Kansas |
| 22 | Charlotte Hornets | G Malik Beasley, Florida State |
| 23 | Boston Celtics | G Caris LeVert, Michigan |
| 24 | Philadelphia 76ers (via Miami) | PG Wade Baldwin IV, Vanderbilt |
| 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) | C Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV |
| 29 | San Antonio Spurs | C Ante Zizic, Croatia |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors | SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia |
Predictions for Low-Risk Lottery Talent
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma
Buddy Hield was college basketball’s best three-point shooter last season. He drained four long balls per game with a 45.7 percent success rate despite being the focal point of Oklahoma’s offense and having to create many of those looks on his own.
Generally, all-world three-point shooting transfers from college to the NBA. Jimmer Fredette is the obvious exception, but he was also smaller (6'2", 195 lbs), less athletic and didn’t have the defensive chops to keep a rotation spot.
Selecting the 6'5" Hield would be a low-risk move for the Timberwolves. With their franchise building blocks in place in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, they need shooting and defense.
The 22-year-old sharpshooter would have to adjust to a smaller role on offense, but he can maintain his great college efficiency in his rookie campaign by playing off the attention Ricky Rubio, Wiggins and Towns draw. His defense would also likely be serviceable, considering he has decent size and athleticism. Plus, he wouldn’t have the scoring burden he had to carry for the Sooners as a senior.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
Unlike Hield, shooting isn’t the main draw for Kris Dunn. The Providence floor general struggles to score from the outside, but he does have a lot of other things going for him: size, athleticism, defensive tenacity and the ability to get into the lane.
There aren’t many 6’4”, 205-pound point guards who not only have elite athleticism but also hound their man on defense. At the least, Dunn will be a guy opposing floor generals dread facing. That same physical profile will also help him score in transition and when big men switch onto him.
The Pelicans do have Jrue Holiday penciled in at point guard, but that could change. Holiday has been notoriously injury-prone over the past three seasons, and his 6’4” size could allow him to play with Dunn on occasion. The combination of Dunn and superstar forward Anthony Davis both in the pick-and-roll and transition is also fun to dream about.
How much Dunn develops his shooting and hones his playmaking ability will determine his ceiling, but his floor is still tantalizing.
7. Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Kentucky
The Nuggets don’t have any glaring positions of need. Because of that, they should go with the best prospect available at No. 7: Jamal Murray.
At just 19 years old, Murray is already an NBA-caliber scorer. He’s a rare player who is comfortable both creating his own shot and playing off the ball, and he’s a high-IQ talent. His biggest draw is outside shooting, both from behind the three-point line and inside of it.
Guards with Murray’s size (6’5”, 207 lbs) and diverse offensive repertoire are valuable on any NBA team. The Kentucky freshman’s mediocre athleticism and defensive chops may prevent him from becoming a superstar, but he won’t be a bust.
The Nuggets would give Murray plenty of burn both at the 1 and 2 in his rookie year, when he can spell Emmanuel Mudiay at point guard and play alongside him occasionally as a shooting guard. Denver may eventually have a logjam in the backcourt with Mudiay, Murray, Gary Harris and Will Barton, but it should work out fine in the short term.
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