Combine drills, measurements, lottery results, rumors, speculation, media posturing … it must be draft season.
With just four teams remaining in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, this mock draft is for the 26 other teams sitting at home. There are only so many opportunities to improve your roster in the offseason, and the draft is a big one.
Without further ado, here is Mock Draft 1.0
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- Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl Towns, PF/C, Kentucky
Karl Towns has been the consensus number one overall pick for a few months now, and had any team other than the Timberwolves won the lottery I would have felt more comfortable slotting him first. I’m still putting Towns here, but this is far from a lock. Flip Saunders reportedly loves Jahlil Okafor, but Flip went on WCCO in Minnesota Wednesday morning and listed “a two way player” when talking about what the Wolves need out this pick. That sounds more like Karl Towns than Jahlil Okafor to me.
- Los Angeles Lakers – Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
The Lakers are fortunate to be picking second, and should draft either Karl Towns or Jahlil Okafor depending on who the Timberwolves select in front of them. You could make a case for D’Angelo Russell here, but I’d expect the Lakers to target a veteran point guard in free agency.
- Philadelphia 76ers – Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guangdong, China
D’Angelo Russell is the safe pick here, but everything and anything we’ve seen out of Sam Hinkie suggests that ‘safe’ isn’t how he works. The 76ers are a ‘swing for the fences’ kind of franchise, and Mudiay is the ‘swing for the fences’ kind of pick. If I were to give out pre-draft superlatives, Mudiay would receive ‘most likely to increase his stock in workouts’. The 76ers need a point guard, and Mudiay has more potential than any other point guard in this draft class.
- New York Knicks – D’Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
The Knicks would be ecstatic if Russell fell in their lap at 4, and I think that is the most likely scenario at the moment. Russell will give the Knicks a little bit of everything offensively, and he is the kind of multi-talented offensive player Phil Jackson covets. If Russell is off the board when the Knicks pick rolls around, a trade here would not surprise me.
- Orlando Magic – Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
The Magic have a very young, versatile roster, so they could go in a few different directions here, but Porzingis gives them a player with near limitless potential and incredible flexibility moving forward. I was tempted to slot Willie Cauley-Stein here, but Orlando has drafted high caliber defensive prospects in three straight years. I think they target offense this time, and if they do, Porzingis is their guy.
- Sacramento Kings – Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
The Kings have been looking for a defensive anchor since … forever, it seems. Cauley-Stein is the most dynamic defender in this draft, and his willingness to play that role without hunting for his own offense makes him a perfect fit next to the Kings high volume scorers. If Cauley-Stein is available when the Kings pick, I have little doubt he is their target.
- Denver Nuggets – Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia
The Nuggets have a plan, I think. Unfortunately, we aren’t privy to that plan; meaning Denver could go in a few different directions here. The Nuggets will be one of the most active teams in the trade market this offseason, and Hezonja’s high skill level coupled with his versatility as a combination guard / forward will give the Nuggets more flexibility than anyone else on the board at 7.
- Detroit Pistons – Justise Winslow SG/SF, Duke
The Pistons have a glaring hole at small forward, and Justise Winslow is a prototypical Stan Van Gundy player. If Detroit has some prior knowledge that Greg Monroe will be leaving in free agency, they could look at Frank Kaminsky or Myles Turner, but Winslow feels like the right fit here.
- Charlotte Hornets – Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
I don’t love this fit in Charlotte, but this is an instance where the talent level starts to drop off, and Johnson shouldn’t slide outside of the top-10. Charlotte should take Johnson if he’s available at nine, and he’ll improve the potential of that roster considerably, but other moves will have to be made for this to be long-term fit.
- Miami Heat – Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
The Heat would love to land Stanley Johnson here, but Kelly Oubre is a solid backup plan. Oubre isn’t what I would consider ‘NBA ready’, but he should be able to shoot the ball from three, and contribute on defense sooner than later, which is precisely what the Heat need out of a role playing wing next season.
- Indiana Pacers – Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin
The Pacers are all over the map right now, but they need to add some scoring ability to this roster and Kaminsky is one of the more dynamic scorers left on the board. Kaminsky should be able to contribute from day one, and considering where the Pacers are as a franchise, that fits what they should be looking for.
- Utah Jazz – Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
Utah might have the best collection of young talent in the NBA, which allows them to be extremely flexible on draft night. They could trade up, trade down, or trade out entirely. If they stay here, Frank Kaminsky would be an ideal fit because if his ability to stretch the floor paired with either Rudy Gobert or Derrick Favors, but I don’t think Kaminsky will be on the board when Utah has to make their selection. Looney is the next best fit.
- Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
The Suns roster is still in flux after the moves they made at last seasons trade deadline. Booker is a steady prospect who should be able to come in and shoot the ball from day one. With Brandon Knight’s impending free agency, and the Morris twins legal problems, Booker in a safe pick for Phoenix, and that might be exactly what they need.
- Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
Cameron Payne would be an excellent pick for the Thunder at 14. He is the kind of combination guard that can play with Russell Westbrook when needed, and run the bench as the primary ball handler of the second unit. Keep an eye out for Sam Dekker, or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson if Cameron Payne is off the board.
- Atlanta Hawks – Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
The Hawks are probably going to hunt for a wing in this year’s draft, and Dekker will be the best remaining wing on the board when they make their selection. Dekker will give Head Coach Mike Budenholzer another versatile offesnive toy to play with, and should be able to contribute immediately
- Boston Celtics – Myles Turner, C, Texas
If Danny Ainge can walk away with a prospect like Myles Turner at 16, he’ll be a happy man. Turner fits nearly every interior need the Celtics had last season, and for a team desperately trying to assemble a formidable frontcourt, Turner has more potential than any frontcourt player available.
- Milwaukee Bucks – Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
The Bucks are in a position not too dissimilar to the Utah Jazz. They have so much young talent up and down their roster that it’s hard to peg exactly what they are thinking heading into the draft. Grant gives them another player with above average length for his position, allowing him to contribute at either guard spot next season. His unique raw attributes and talent level for a player his size fits what Milwaukee has been trying to build over the past few seasons.
- Houston Rockets – Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
The Rockets should be looking for a point guard depth in this years draft, and if Jerian Grant is off the board at 18, expect the Rockets to target Tyus Jones here. Jones may be the better selection anyway, as his skillset compliments Patrick Beverly very well.
- Washington Wizards – Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
The Wizards are in a position where talented depth of any kind would help them tremendously, and at this point, Trey Lyles is the best player on the board. Fortunately for the Wizards, Lyles does fill a need considering how often Nene is in an out of the lineup. The Wizards should be happy to find Lyles available here.
- Toronto Raptors – R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
For a team on the verge of losing Lou Williams in free agency, counting on a player like RJ Hunter to replace some of that offense isn’t the worst gamble. Hunter is a veteran college player who should be able to contribute towards the Raptors playoff push right away.
- Dallas Mavericks – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
The Mavericks would love to land a point guard prospect this year, but if Tyus Jones and Jerian Grant are both unavailable, Dallas will have to look elsewhere. Hollis-Jefferson is my best player available at this point, and with his unlimited potential as a defender, the Mavericks could certainly do worse.
- Chicago Bulls – Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
Provided the Bulls can bring Jimmy Butler back next season, this team just doesn’t have a lot of holes. Justin Anderson would give Chicago solid defensive depth on the perimeter, and if he can figure out his jump shot, a lot of teams will regret passing on him. If the Bulls fall in love with one of the point guard available over the next month, that could be an option here as well.
- Portland Trail Blazers – Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
For a team on the verge of losing their starting frontcourt in one offseason, landing Bobby Portis at 23 would be a steal. Portis gives the Blazers a versatile skilled forward, and should teams above the Blazers fall in love with the ‘potential’ of some of the less established, higher upside prospects in this years draft, Blazers fans should be thrilled.
- Cleveland Cavaliers – Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Delon Wright would give a contending team like the Cavaliers a reliable perimeter defender and ball handler with the ability to contribute sooner than later. Wright’s size and defensive prowess would allow him to play with any guard on the Cavaliers roster.
- Memphis Grizzlies – Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
I don’t want to call Upshaw a potential replacement for Marc Gasol, because that would be selling Gasol way too short, and Upshaw way too high. However, if the Grizzlies lose Kosta Koufos in free agency, Upshaw gives them some terrific bench size with ridiculous potential.
- San Antonio Spurs – Christian Wood, PF
If the Spurs aren’t the hardest team to prognosticate for, they are pretty close. With that being said, Christian Wood is a talent unlike anything the Spurs have on their roster right now. He is a project, certainly, but one that I could see Greg Popovich getting behind.
- Los Angeles Lakers – Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
If the Lakers land one of Jahlil Okafor or Karl Towns at the top of the draft, their frontcourt of the future is set. Rashad Vaughn gives them a very young guard with as much potential as anyone left on the board.
- Boston Celtics – Montrezi Harrell, PF, Louisville
The Celtics philosophy is rather simple; in any scenario, acquire the best asset. At this point in the draft, Harrell is that guy. The Celtics have a young, crowded collection of young frontcourt players, but they are a team openly willing to let their players compete for minutes, and no one is going to out-compete Harrell.
- Brooklyn Nets – Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU
The Nets are stuck with a mediocre roster and limited flexibility in the near future, but if they find a way to keep Brook Lopez next season, Mickey could provide some much needed help defense and rim protection. His size and length make him a versatile frontcourt prospect that could fit into virtually any scenario.
- Golden State Warriors – Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
The Warriors are one of the few teams that can afford to draft a player in the first round without any intention of using said player. McCullough will miss a lot of time as he recovers from an ACL tear, but an opportunity to sit on the Warriors bench for 82+ games next season would do him wonders. If all goes according to plan, McCullough could be ready to contribute as soon as the 2016-17 after David Lee likely leaves in free agency.
