NBA Mock Draft 2015: Edition 2
1. Minnesota Timberwolves Karl Anthony-Towns, F/C
Unless Jahlil Okafor has grown an evolved mid range game and drastically improved his free throw shooting, Karl Anthony-Towns is still the best prospect in this draft. He gives Minnesota a legit big man who can run the floor, can play defense, and could grow into a stretch forward in due time and could pair up with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine for a lethal trio.
2. Los Angeles Lakers Jahlil Okafor, C
If Towns does indeed go No. 1, the Lakers should get quite the consolation prize in Okafor. The former Duke big man already has the size, strength and polish around the rim to be extremely productive from the beginning in the NBA. Pairing up with Julius Randle, he would give the Lakers a core to guide them as the Kobe Bryant era seems to draw to a close.
3. Philadelphia Sixers Kristaps Porzingis, F/C
Philly and general manager Sam Hinkie have no plans to win right now. They have drafted unproven International commodities as of late, or injury prone prospects, as they continue on their massive rebuilding process. Porzingis is the top international player in this draft and he should continue the Sixers' recent trends; the 7'1" big man has great athleticism, is a beast on the glass and is sound defensively. He will continue to develop in Latvia and likely come over within a couple of years, much like last year's Philadelphia draft pick, Dario Saric.
4. New York Knicks D'Angelo Russell, G
The Knicks were absolutely terrible last season and while improved health would certainly help, they certainly need a ton of scoring assistance in this year's draft. While luckily for them, there is a pretty decent chance D'Angelo Russell could drop to them at four. The former Ohio State Buckeye is the best pure scorer in this draft, with a smooth jumper and the ability to get to the rim and finish. It will be interesting to see if him and Carmelo will be able to play together in harmony, but Russell's passing ability will only help 'Melo.
5. Orlando Magic Willie Cauley-Stein, C
Despite adding athletic defenders like Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton, the Orlando Magic still have a long way to go defensively. They would be eager to fix that by selecting Cauley-Stein here. Cauley-Stein's offensive game is not worthy of a Top-5 selection but he is a wonderful shot-blocker and he is improving offensively.
6. Sacramento Kings Emmanuel Mudiay, PG
The Kings do have Darren Collison at point guard, and while he is a speedy quick and exciting player, there is a great chance he leaves this offseason. Mudiay used his experience in China to learn against pros, and he has the natural athleticism and playmaking ability to be a stud. He will have to improve as a shooter but the Kings have a number of great shooters, such as Nik Stauskas and Ben McLemore, who will space the floor and open up for his drives.
7. Denver Nuggets Mario Hezonja, G
Earlier today, the Nuggets announced the hiring of Mike Malone as their next head coach, following the terrible two years they had under Brian Shaw. Malone has a lot of work to do, and adding playmakers and ball handlers in the backcourt should be a priority, especially with Ty Lawson possibly being dealt this summer. Hezonja is an efficient guard who can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. He would be a very welcome addition to the Denver roster.
8. Detroit Pistons Justise Winslow, G/F
The Pistons showed signs of life following their release of Josh Smith, but they still have a long way to go to make the playoffs, even in the weak Eastern Conference. Improving on the wing would certainly help, and having an actual strong shooter out there would open up space for a healthy Brandon Jennings and Andre Drummond underneath. Winslow still is inconsistent from deep but he showed serious scoring potential throughout the NCAA Tournament, and he is already an established defender.
9. Charlotte Hornets Stanley Johnson, G
The Hornets dealt away Lance Stephenson yesterday, marking the end of his short and unpopular career in Charlotte. What it did is open up the shooting guard position, one that could be filled by Arizona product Stanley Johnson. Johnson is a good shooter, but is more dangerous attacking the rim with his fabulous athleticism. Charlotte will be eager to add the young and improving Johnson to their backcourt that is led by Kemba Walker.
10. Miami Heat Kelly Oubre, G/F
After sitting out most of the year, Chris Bosh should return healthy to Miami next year and fill their need for a power forward. That leaves the team's largest need at the wing, where the Heat lack a true scorer. Oubre will have to grow as a shooter, but he has crazy athleticism and he showed a lot of heart and selflessness in his lone season with Kansas. Plus, he clearly fills Miami's greatest need here at 10.
11. Indiana Pacers Frank Kaminsky, F/C
Roy Hibbert's career has seriously taken a turn down the wrong path, and David West is aging, meaning Indiana should be looking for future help in their frontcourt. He may not be the most physically impressive player in this draft, but there is something to be said about Kaminsky dominating against some big name NBA prospects throughout his time at Wisconsin, especially his final two games against Duke and Kentucky.
12. Utah Jazz Kevon Looney, F
Looney was very productive in his lone season with UCLA, proving to be a strong rebounder and showing off a diverse offensive game, with the ability to grow even more in the coming years. Utah could use some more frontcourt help, and Looney could become a force in the future at either forward spots.
13. Phoenix Suns Myles Turner, F/C
A player who was known for his punishing force down low coming out of high school, Turner fell in love with the three ball this past season in Austin playing for Texas and slumped terribly at times. He still has the body and strength to play center, even in the considerably tougher NBA, but Phoenix might actually use his floor stretching abilities, if his three-point shot can become more consistent. It would open up lanes for the aggressive driving ability of Eric Bledsoe, who they appear to be building around.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder Cameron Payne, PG
Reggie Jackson was wonderful in backup duties for OKC for awhile but he wanted to become a bigger part of the team or leave, forcing the Thunder's hand, who shipped him to Detroit at the deadline. While it did part OKC from one of the NBA's premier backup point guards, it opened the door for the Thunder to draft their new backup. Payne's scoring should not be a question, but he will need adjustment time in the NBA, which is considerably bigger and more athletic than the Ohio Valley Conference he played in while at Murray State.
15. Atlanta Hawks Trey Lyles, F
Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer models his offense off of the San Antonio Spurs (where he spent a considerable amount of time as an assistant), and the Spurs have always had an abundance of versatile big men, usually who can shoot. Atlanta should help improve their offense by adding Kentucky forward, Trey Lyles, a 6'10" forward with a smooth stroke.
16. Boston Celtics R.J. Hunter, SG
In one of the craziest NCAA Tournament moments in recent memory, Hunter hit a deep, game winning three over Baylor to send the Sun Belt champion Georgia State Panthers onto the next round and send his father and head coach Ron Hunter sprawling on the floor. Hunter isn't just a clutch shooter; he is tall for his position and a hard worker. He will add much needed shooting help to Boston.
17. Milwaukee Bucks Montrezl Harrell, F
While the Bucks are hoping Jabari Parker will be back and fully healthy by next season, they will still most likely need more offensive punch. Montrezl Harrell isn't the tallest prospect, but he is powerful and he showed an improved jump shot this past season with Louisville. It will be interesting to see who he will guard at the next level, but the tools are there.
18. Houston Rockets Jerian Grant, PG
Despite making a Western Conference Finals trip this season, Houston still has a number of areas they need to improve if they want to take the next step. One of those areas is at point guard, where they lack much options, as Jason Terry was starting at the spot towards the end of the season due to injuries to Patrick Beverly. Jerian Grant is a proven scorer, who seems like he would fit in Houston's up-tempo attack.
19. Washington Wizards Bobby Portis, PF
John Wall and Bradley Beal are two of the most exciting young guards in the NBA and Washington will be led by them for years to come. But, the Wizards' frontcourt is still limited, especially offensively. Adding a young piece like Bobby Portis, who broke out in his sophomore season with Arkansas, would add a dangerous option to Washington' frontcourt.
20. Toronto Raptors Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, G/F
Although he had his moments at Arizona over the past two years, Hollis-Jefferson still has a long way to go. He isn't a great shooter, he will turn the ball over and while he has the tools to be a lockdown defender, he isn't there yet. Even so, Toronto is a great place for him to develop, and he could see plenty of opportunities on the wing.
21. Dallas Mavericks Tyus Jones, PG
Jones parlayed a breakout NCAA Tournament into a rising NBA stock, but he still has to improve from deep and get a lot stronger to succeed in the NBA. Even so, his smooth passing and ball handling would help out any team, especially a team like Dallas, who has serious problems at point guard, as they will likely move on from the Rajon Rondo experiment this summer.
22. Chicago Bulls Rashad Vaughn, G
While the Bulls are hoping Fred Hoiberg will jumpstart a struggling Chicago offense when he takes over as coach, adding a scorer in this draft is a must. So why not pick up the aggressive Vaughn, a guy who nearly signed with Hoiberg at Iowa State?
23. Portland Trail Blazers Sam Dekker, F
A breakout NCAA Tournament had Dekker's draft stock shooting up, but don't be surprised if he drops on Draft Day. He was great at times at Wisconsin, but he also disappeared at times, and he is a tweener at the moment. Even so, Portland would get a steal here, landing a versatile forward who could succeed in a small market like Portland.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers Delon Wright, PG
Matthew Dellavedova became a hero in Northeast Ohio for his play in the early half of the NBA Finals, but he struggled significantly down the stretch. Cleveland will still need a hustle guy like him, but adding a backup in this draft would be even better. Wright is a strong, sturdy point guard who would work well with Cleveland's stars.
25. Memphis Grizzlies Justin Anderson, G/F
While the Grizzlies hope Marc Gasol will be back, there slumps towards the end of the series against Golden State showed they need even more scoring punch. When healthy, Anderson was extremely good for Virginia and he is versatile to fill a number of positions in Memphis. He would be a smart pickup for a smart organization.
26. San Antonio Spurs Terry Rozier, G
Don't be surprised if San Antonio goes the International route, nobody does it better than them, but the fact is, the Spurs are really, really old. Even if Manu Ginobli and Tim Duncan are back, they are becoming shells of what they once were. Rozier wouldn't be the perfect fit in San Antonio, but the guard would add much needed explosiveness and scoring to a Spurs' backcourt desperate for it.
27. Los Angeles Lakers Robert Upshaw, C
Already adding Okafor earlier, Los Angeles locks in their frontcourt of the future by actually adding a strong defensive center here. Upshaw was putting together a big year before being dismissed at Washington and he is the best shot blocker in this draft. Byron Scott will need him to mature, but the potential for this guy this late is well worth the risk.
28. Boston Celtics Chris McCullough, F
Before a knee injury ended his season early at Syracuse, McCullough was showing the potential to be a stud for the Orange. McCullough is a terrific athlete who can run the floor as well as any forward in this draft, if he recovers from his injuries. He would be a welcome addition to a very unathletic Boston frontcourt.
29. Brooklyn Nets Cliff Alexander, F/C
Few players in this draft are greater mysteries than Alexander. A five-star prospect coming out of high school, Alexander saw very little action with Kansas last season. He still has the size and strength to grow into a very effective player, and he plays hard. For a Brooklyn team with no direction right now, he at least adds potential.
30. Golden State Warriors Jarrell Martin, F
Martin is a versatile, inside-out threat who was very productive in his short time with LSU. Golden State has a lethal offense, but their frontcourt could still add a floor spacer. Martin isn't a knockdown shooter, but he would help and make the reigning champs even tougher.
Unless Jahlil Okafor has grown an evolved mid range game and drastically improved his free throw shooting, Karl Anthony-Towns is still the best prospect in this draft. He gives Minnesota a legit big man who can run the floor, can play defense, and could grow into a stretch forward in due time and could pair up with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine for a lethal trio.
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| Jahlil Okafor |
If Towns does indeed go No. 1, the Lakers should get quite the consolation prize in Okafor. The former Duke big man already has the size, strength and polish around the rim to be extremely productive from the beginning in the NBA. Pairing up with Julius Randle, he would give the Lakers a core to guide them as the Kobe Bryant era seems to draw to a close.
3. Philadelphia Sixers Kristaps Porzingis, F/C
Philly and general manager Sam Hinkie have no plans to win right now. They have drafted unproven International commodities as of late, or injury prone prospects, as they continue on their massive rebuilding process. Porzingis is the top international player in this draft and he should continue the Sixers' recent trends; the 7'1" big man has great athleticism, is a beast on the glass and is sound defensively. He will continue to develop in Latvia and likely come over within a couple of years, much like last year's Philadelphia draft pick, Dario Saric.
4. New York Knicks D'Angelo Russell, G
The Knicks were absolutely terrible last season and while improved health would certainly help, they certainly need a ton of scoring assistance in this year's draft. While luckily for them, there is a pretty decent chance D'Angelo Russell could drop to them at four. The former Ohio State Buckeye is the best pure scorer in this draft, with a smooth jumper and the ability to get to the rim and finish. It will be interesting to see if him and Carmelo will be able to play together in harmony, but Russell's passing ability will only help 'Melo.
5. Orlando Magic Willie Cauley-Stein, C
Despite adding athletic defenders like Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton, the Orlando Magic still have a long way to go defensively. They would be eager to fix that by selecting Cauley-Stein here. Cauley-Stein's offensive game is not worthy of a Top-5 selection but he is a wonderful shot-blocker and he is improving offensively.
6. Sacramento Kings Emmanuel Mudiay, PG
The Kings do have Darren Collison at point guard, and while he is a speedy quick and exciting player, there is a great chance he leaves this offseason. Mudiay used his experience in China to learn against pros, and he has the natural athleticism and playmaking ability to be a stud. He will have to improve as a shooter but the Kings have a number of great shooters, such as Nik Stauskas and Ben McLemore, who will space the floor and open up for his drives.
7. Denver Nuggets Mario Hezonja, G
Earlier today, the Nuggets announced the hiring of Mike Malone as their next head coach, following the terrible two years they had under Brian Shaw. Malone has a lot of work to do, and adding playmakers and ball handlers in the backcourt should be a priority, especially with Ty Lawson possibly being dealt this summer. Hezonja is an efficient guard who can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. He would be a very welcome addition to the Denver roster.
8. Detroit Pistons Justise Winslow, G/F
The Pistons showed signs of life following their release of Josh Smith, but they still have a long way to go to make the playoffs, even in the weak Eastern Conference. Improving on the wing would certainly help, and having an actual strong shooter out there would open up space for a healthy Brandon Jennings and Andre Drummond underneath. Winslow still is inconsistent from deep but he showed serious scoring potential throughout the NCAA Tournament, and he is already an established defender.
9. Charlotte Hornets Stanley Johnson, G
The Hornets dealt away Lance Stephenson yesterday, marking the end of his short and unpopular career in Charlotte. What it did is open up the shooting guard position, one that could be filled by Arizona product Stanley Johnson. Johnson is a good shooter, but is more dangerous attacking the rim with his fabulous athleticism. Charlotte will be eager to add the young and improving Johnson to their backcourt that is led by Kemba Walker.
10. Miami Heat Kelly Oubre, G/F
After sitting out most of the year, Chris Bosh should return healthy to Miami next year and fill their need for a power forward. That leaves the team's largest need at the wing, where the Heat lack a true scorer. Oubre will have to grow as a shooter, but he has crazy athleticism and he showed a lot of heart and selflessness in his lone season with Kansas. Plus, he clearly fills Miami's greatest need here at 10.
11. Indiana Pacers Frank Kaminsky, F/C
Roy Hibbert's career has seriously taken a turn down the wrong path, and David West is aging, meaning Indiana should be looking for future help in their frontcourt. He may not be the most physically impressive player in this draft, but there is something to be said about Kaminsky dominating against some big name NBA prospects throughout his time at Wisconsin, especially his final two games against Duke and Kentucky.
12. Utah Jazz Kevon Looney, F
Looney was very productive in his lone season with UCLA, proving to be a strong rebounder and showing off a diverse offensive game, with the ability to grow even more in the coming years. Utah could use some more frontcourt help, and Looney could become a force in the future at either forward spots.
13. Phoenix Suns Myles Turner, F/C
A player who was known for his punishing force down low coming out of high school, Turner fell in love with the three ball this past season in Austin playing for Texas and slumped terribly at times. He still has the body and strength to play center, even in the considerably tougher NBA, but Phoenix might actually use his floor stretching abilities, if his three-point shot can become more consistent. It would open up lanes for the aggressive driving ability of Eric Bledsoe, who they appear to be building around.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder Cameron Payne, PG
Reggie Jackson was wonderful in backup duties for OKC for awhile but he wanted to become a bigger part of the team or leave, forcing the Thunder's hand, who shipped him to Detroit at the deadline. While it did part OKC from one of the NBA's premier backup point guards, it opened the door for the Thunder to draft their new backup. Payne's scoring should not be a question, but he will need adjustment time in the NBA, which is considerably bigger and more athletic than the Ohio Valley Conference he played in while at Murray State.
15. Atlanta Hawks Trey Lyles, F
Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer models his offense off of the San Antonio Spurs (where he spent a considerable amount of time as an assistant), and the Spurs have always had an abundance of versatile big men, usually who can shoot. Atlanta should help improve their offense by adding Kentucky forward, Trey Lyles, a 6'10" forward with a smooth stroke.
16. Boston Celtics R.J. Hunter, SG
In one of the craziest NCAA Tournament moments in recent memory, Hunter hit a deep, game winning three over Baylor to send the Sun Belt champion Georgia State Panthers onto the next round and send his father and head coach Ron Hunter sprawling on the floor. Hunter isn't just a clutch shooter; he is tall for his position and a hard worker. He will add much needed shooting help to Boston.
17. Milwaukee Bucks Montrezl Harrell, F
While the Bucks are hoping Jabari Parker will be back and fully healthy by next season, they will still most likely need more offensive punch. Montrezl Harrell isn't the tallest prospect, but he is powerful and he showed an improved jump shot this past season with Louisville. It will be interesting to see who he will guard at the next level, but the tools are there.
18. Houston Rockets Jerian Grant, PG
Despite making a Western Conference Finals trip this season, Houston still has a number of areas they need to improve if they want to take the next step. One of those areas is at point guard, where they lack much options, as Jason Terry was starting at the spot towards the end of the season due to injuries to Patrick Beverly. Jerian Grant is a proven scorer, who seems like he would fit in Houston's up-tempo attack.
19. Washington Wizards Bobby Portis, PF
John Wall and Bradley Beal are two of the most exciting young guards in the NBA and Washington will be led by them for years to come. But, the Wizards' frontcourt is still limited, especially offensively. Adding a young piece like Bobby Portis, who broke out in his sophomore season with Arkansas, would add a dangerous option to Washington' frontcourt.
20. Toronto Raptors Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, G/F
Although he had his moments at Arizona over the past two years, Hollis-Jefferson still has a long way to go. He isn't a great shooter, he will turn the ball over and while he has the tools to be a lockdown defender, he isn't there yet. Even so, Toronto is a great place for him to develop, and he could see plenty of opportunities on the wing.
21. Dallas Mavericks Tyus Jones, PG
Jones parlayed a breakout NCAA Tournament into a rising NBA stock, but he still has to improve from deep and get a lot stronger to succeed in the NBA. Even so, his smooth passing and ball handling would help out any team, especially a team like Dallas, who has serious problems at point guard, as they will likely move on from the Rajon Rondo experiment this summer.
22. Chicago Bulls Rashad Vaughn, G
While the Bulls are hoping Fred Hoiberg will jumpstart a struggling Chicago offense when he takes over as coach, adding a scorer in this draft is a must. So why not pick up the aggressive Vaughn, a guy who nearly signed with Hoiberg at Iowa State?
23. Portland Trail Blazers Sam Dekker, F
A breakout NCAA Tournament had Dekker's draft stock shooting up, but don't be surprised if he drops on Draft Day. He was great at times at Wisconsin, but he also disappeared at times, and he is a tweener at the moment. Even so, Portland would get a steal here, landing a versatile forward who could succeed in a small market like Portland.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers Delon Wright, PG
Matthew Dellavedova became a hero in Northeast Ohio for his play in the early half of the NBA Finals, but he struggled significantly down the stretch. Cleveland will still need a hustle guy like him, but adding a backup in this draft would be even better. Wright is a strong, sturdy point guard who would work well with Cleveland's stars.
25. Memphis Grizzlies Justin Anderson, G/F
While the Grizzlies hope Marc Gasol will be back, there slumps towards the end of the series against Golden State showed they need even more scoring punch. When healthy, Anderson was extremely good for Virginia and he is versatile to fill a number of positions in Memphis. He would be a smart pickup for a smart organization.
26. San Antonio Spurs Terry Rozier, G
Don't be surprised if San Antonio goes the International route, nobody does it better than them, but the fact is, the Spurs are really, really old. Even if Manu Ginobli and Tim Duncan are back, they are becoming shells of what they once were. Rozier wouldn't be the perfect fit in San Antonio, but the guard would add much needed explosiveness and scoring to a Spurs' backcourt desperate for it.
27. Los Angeles Lakers Robert Upshaw, C
Already adding Okafor earlier, Los Angeles locks in their frontcourt of the future by actually adding a strong defensive center here. Upshaw was putting together a big year before being dismissed at Washington and he is the best shot blocker in this draft. Byron Scott will need him to mature, but the potential for this guy this late is well worth the risk.
28. Boston Celtics Chris McCullough, F
Before a knee injury ended his season early at Syracuse, McCullough was showing the potential to be a stud for the Orange. McCullough is a terrific athlete who can run the floor as well as any forward in this draft, if he recovers from his injuries. He would be a welcome addition to a very unathletic Boston frontcourt.
29. Brooklyn Nets Cliff Alexander, F/C
Few players in this draft are greater mysteries than Alexander. A five-star prospect coming out of high school, Alexander saw very little action with Kansas last season. He still has the size and strength to grow into a very effective player, and he plays hard. For a Brooklyn team with no direction right now, he at least adds potential.
30. Golden State Warriors Jarrell Martin, F
Martin is a versatile, inside-out threat who was very productive in his short time with LSU. Golden State has a lethal offense, but their frontcourt could still add a floor spacer. Martin isn't a knockdown shooter, but he would help and make the reigning champs even tougher.
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