NBA Draft 2016: Start Time, Order, Prospects Guide and Mock Draft Predictions

The 2016 NBA draft might end up being the toughest to predict due to the likelihood of a high number of trades.

ESPN's Ryen Russillo and Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders provided a look at some of the rumors:

It's unlikely all of these potential deals are completed since there can't be that many buyers, but the drama surrounding each pick will rise. Not only do we have to figure out which player will hear his named called, but we won't know what team he will be going to at that point.

Everything will be answered by the end of Thursday, but here is what you need to know heading into the draft.

2016 NBA Draft

When: Thursday

Time (ET): 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

TV: ESPN

Round 1	Team	Player	Pos.	School
Round 2	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Philadelphia 76ers	Ben Simmons	PF	LSU
2	Los Angeles Lakers	Brandon Ingram	SF	Duke
3	Boston Celtics (via BKN)	Jamal Murray	SG	Kentucky
4	Phoenix Suns	Dragan Bender	PF	Croatia
5	Minnesota Timberwolves	Kris Dunn	PG	Providence
6	New Orleans Pelicans	Buddy Hield	SG	Oklahoma
7	Denver Nuggets (via NYK)	Marquese Chriss	PF	Washington
8	Sacramento Kings	Jaylen Brown	SF	California
9	Toronto Raptors (via DEN)	Jakob Poeltl	C	Utah
10	Milwaukee Bucks	Henry Ellenson	PF	Marquette
11	Orlando Magic	Deyonta Davis	PF	Michigan State
12	Atlanta Hawks (via UTA)	Denzel Valentine	SF	Michigan State
13	Phoenix Suns (via WAS)	Timothe Luwawu	SF	France
14	Chicago Bulls	Wade Baldwin IV	PG	Vanderbilt
15	Denver Nuggets (via HOU)	Furkan Korkmaz	SG	Turkey
16	Boston Celtics (via DAL)	Domantas Sabonis	PF	Gonzaga
17	Memphis Grizzlies	Demetrius Jackson	PG	Notre Dame
18	Detroit Pistons	Skal Labissiere	PF	Kentucky
19	Denver Nuggets (via POR)	Malachi Richardson	SF	Syracuse
20	Indiana Pacers	Thon Maker	C	Australia
21	Atlanta Hawks	Tyler Ulis	PG	Kentucky
22	Charlotte Hornets	Ante Zizic	C	Croatia
23	Boston Celtics	DeAndre' Bembry	SF	Saint Joseph's
24	Philadelphia 76ers (MIA)	Dejounte Murray	PG	Washington
25	Los Angeles Clippers	Brice Johnson	PF	North Carolina
26	Philadelphia 76ers (OKC)	Cheick Diallo	C	Kansas
27	Toronto Raptors	Malik Beasley	SG	Florida State
28	Phoenix Suns (via CLE)	Taurean Prince	SF	Baylor
29	San Antonio Spurs	Malcolm Brogdon	SF	Virginia
30	Golden State Warriors	Ivica Zubac	C	Croatia
31	Boston Celtics (via PHI)	Juan Hernangomez	SF	Spain
32	Los Angeles Lakers	Damian Jones	C	Vanderbilt
33	Los Angeles Clippers (via BKN)	Patrick McCaw	SG	UNLV
34	Phoenix Suns	Diamond Stone	C	Maryland
35	Boston Celtics (via MIN)	Guerschon Yabusele	PF	France
36	Milwaukee Bucks (via NO)	Paul Zipser	SF	Germany
37	Houston Rockets (via NYK)	A.J. Hammons	C	Purdue
38	Milwaukee Bucks	Chinanu Onuaku	C	Louisville
39	New Orleans Pelicans (via DEN)	Ben Bentil	PF	Providence
40	New Orleans Pelicans (via SAC)	Stephen Zimmerman	C	UNLV
41	Orlando Magic	Caris LeVert	SG	Michigan
42	Utah Jazz	Jake Layman	SF	Maryland
43	Houston Rockets	Isaiah Cousins	PG	Oklahoma
44	Atlanta Hawks (via WAS)	Petr Cornelie	PF	France
45	Boston Celtics (via MEM)	Zhou Qi	C	China
46	Dallas Mavericks	Kay Felder	PG	Oakland
47	Orlando Magic (via CHI)	Georgios Papagiannis	PF	Greece
48	Chicago Bulls (via POR)	Robert Carter Jr.	PF	Maryland
49	Detroit Pistons	Isaiah Whitehead	PG	Seton Hall
50	Indiana Pacers	Wayne Selden	SG	Kansas
51	Boston Celtics (via MIA)	Jarrod Uthoff	SF	Iowa
52	Utah Jazz (via BOS)	Pascal Siakam	PF	New Mexico State
53	Denver Nuggets (via CHA)	Isaia Cordinier	SG	France
54	Atlanta Hawks	Rade Zagorac	SF	Serbia
55	Brooklyn Nets (via LAC)	Gary Payton II	PG	Oregon State
56	Denver Nuggets (via OKC)	Michael Gbinije	SG	Syracuse
57	Memphis Grizzlies (via TOR)	Joel Bolomboy	PF	Weber State
58	Boston Celtics (via CLE)	Danuel House	SF	Texas A&M
59	Sacramento Kings (via SA)	Anthony Barber	PG	North Carolina State
60	Utah Jazz (via GS)	A.J. English	PG	Iona

Top Prospects

Ben Simmons, PF, LSU

While there was some mystery about whether the Philadelphia 76ers would actually take Ben Simmons No. 1 overall, Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com reports it is a done deal:

The LSU star hadn't worked out for the team (or anyone else) during the draft process, which created more of a risk for a top overall pick. The power forward also represents a poor fit for an organization that has quality prospects in the frontcourt and nowhere else.

Among the other complaints about Simmons is his lack of outside shooting and questionable effort on defense.

Despite all these concerns, there is no doubt he is the best player in the class. Simmons is a unique specimen as a 6'10" forward with size and athleticism who can handle the ball like a guard. He has excellent vision and passing ability to be a lead guard if needed; plus he has the strength to defend big men and rebound as well as anyone.

While LSU didn't have the season many were hoping for, the freshman put up incredible numbers in his one year, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

It will take a creative coach to get the most out of Simmons, but he can be a star at the next level.

Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest difference between Simmons and Brandon Ingram is the offensive versatility, as shown by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express:

Ingram is an excellent outside shooter and is almost unguardable at 6'9" with a 7'3" wingspan. The comparisons to Kevin Durant might be high praise, but he has a similar skill set with his ability to create shots for himself and get a good look from just about anywhere on the court.

While he played power forward most of the time for Duke last season, he can spend time at small forward and even shooting guard in the NBA. No matter where he is, he can spread the floor with his outside shot while also posing a threat to beat any opponent off the dribble.

There are concerns about his strength as well as his defensive ability. While he has the length necessary to guard multiple positions in the NBA, he doesn't have great quickness or instincts to stop players on the perimeter. He has the tools, but he will have to prove himself at the next level.

Still, Ingram has as high of a floor as you can find from an 18-year-old. He has plenty of upside, but you know what he can be: a true perimeter scorer. The Los Angeles Lakers need someone like this to replace Kobe Bryant, and it appears this will be the perfect fit.

Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

The draft is wide open after the first two picks, with everything coming down to what the Boston Celtics do at No. 3. They can easily trade the pick, but if they keep it, there are no less than six possible options for the organization.

Among all the choices, though, Jamal Murray would make the most sense to improve the team now and in the future.

While the Celtics already have a bit of a logjam in the backcourt, Murray could immediately become the squad's best shooter after knocking down 40.8 percent of his three-pointers last season. He knows how to create opportunities for himself and at the very least could represent instant offense off the bench for a contender.

Although it seems short-sighted to take a player at No. 3 who might just end up in the rotation, Murray also has plenty of room to grow as a potential point guard. The 6'5" guard played the position in high school and could represent the prototypical starter at that spot—something Boston is lacking.

Murray did promise some improvements if he goes this early, per Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv:

Forwards such as Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Jaylen Brown are also possibilities to fill a major hole at the 4, but Murray represents a perfect fit for Boston.

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