It’s been about a month since our last NBA Mock Draft. In that span, we’ve been able to study the prospects more in depth, and we’ve seen the draft order change dramatically due to the NBA standings and trade deadline. The trade deadline also changed the outlook and needs of pro teams. As always with these early mocks, things will change on a large scale between now and the actual draft, but here’s our best shot.
Last year we did four mock drafts. We got a lot right in our final mock, but missed on many picks as well. We’ll do our best once again to bring you accurate analysis. Today, we’ll let Greg take the odds (including the #1 pick) and Andrew will take the evens. Enjoy!
NOTE: The draft order below is based on the current NBA standings (and trades) as of 3/4/15.
2015 NBA Mock Draft 2
1. New York Knicks select: Jahlil Okafor (C, Duke)
1st Mock: Jahlil Okafor (C, Duke)
This pick isn’t as clear cut as it once was for me, but Okafor, when healthy, is the most dominant player in college basketball by a fair margin. He still needs work defensively and will need to bulk up, but his offensive skillset is more advanced than anyone I’ve seen in college basketball over the last 10 years for his age. He’s going to be an All-Star in the NBA for many years.
2. Philadelphia 76ers select: Emmanuel Mudiay (PG, China)
1st Mock: Emmanuel Mudiay (PG, China)
Mudiay is big name that remains relatively unknown due to his choice to play overseas and then getting injured on top of that. But Philly just traded MCW, and now needs a point guard. Mudiay not only fills that void, but is likely the best player in this draft outside of Okafor. At least in terms of potential that is.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves select: Karl-Anthony Towns (C, Kentucky)
1st Mock: D’Angelo Russell (G, Ohio State)
In a different year Towns might be #1 overall. His offensive game has progressed nicely as Kentucky has gone deeper into the year. He still shows signs of youth on occasion with dumb fouls or bad positioning, but he’s a solid pick here. A Towns/Wiggins combo for a decade to come would make fans happy.
4. Los Angeles Lakers select: D’Angelo Russell (G, Ohio State)
1st Mock: Willie Cauley-Stein (PF/C, Kentucky)
The Lakers will likely use a best available approach, as they have holes all over their roster. Russell is both a scorer and facilitator, so it’s very likely he could play with Kobe now before eventually replacing him as the go-to option down the road, no matter if he plays point guard or shooting guard in the NBA. For the Lakers, any of the players listed above would be great options as well.
5. Orlando Magic select: Kristaps Porzingis (PF, Latvia)
1st Mock: Myles Turner (PF, Texas)
Porzingis would be an almost textbook complement to Nikola Vucevic down low for the Magic. With Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo playing well at the 1 and 2 spots, the Magic upgrade the 4 spot and increase their ability to spread the floor, which will only make their young backcourt better.
6. Denver Nuggets select: Justise Winslow (SF, Duke)
1st Mock: Karl-Anthony Towns (C, Kentucky)
Denver is at a crossroads right now. They’ve been mediocre for years and now seem content giving away their players, as they did at the trade deadline. Where do they go from here? Well they can’t go wrong with Winslow, who is a versatile player, a solid scorer, and one that possesses nice size on the perimeter.
7. Sacramento Kings select: Willie Cauley-Stein (PF/C, Kentucky)
1st Mock: Stanley Johnson (SF, Arizona)
Cauley-Stein’s combination of size and athleticism is just too tempting to pass up. This frees up the Kings to actively shop Demarcus Cousins as well, with the flexibility of having a serviceable young player to step into his spot and give them stability. Or he’d obviously make an excellent backup.
8. Detroit Pistons select: Stanley Johnson (SF, Arizona)
1st Mock: Justise Winslow (SF, Duke)
This was a tough call, as Detroit may be looking for some additional shooting and scoring from the outside. Johnson doesn’t bring that. But he does do everything else well and has excellent athleticism. This will allow him to succeed in the NBA and carve out a nice role for a long time. Detroit does have a hole at the small forward position too, so Johnson could presumably start as a rookie.
9. Boston Celtics select: Mario Hezonja (SF, Croatia)
1st Mock: Trey Lyles (PF, Kentucky)
The Celtics have some good young players in the frontcourt, otherwise Myles Turner could be the pick here. Hezonja would be a good fit for coach Brad Stevens’ system and be able to step in and play good amount of minutes for this team next season.
10. Utah Jazz select: Myles Turner (PF, Texas)
1st Mock: Kristaps Porzingis (PF, Latvia)
They parted ways with Kanter at the trade deadline, relinquishing the depth they had inside. Turner helps give them that again. But he also brings something Favors and Gobert don’t: shooting and touch from the outside. I think he’d be a valuable backup big man because of this, and may steal minutes from Favors more and more as he develops.
11. Indiana Pacers select: Melo Trimble (PG, Maryland)
1st Mock: Mario Hezonja (SG, Croatia)
This is, of course, going under the assumption that Trimble will declare for the NBA following his freshman year at Maryland. Trimble is a gifted scorer with a high basketball IQ and has helped to lead Maryland nearly to a Big 10 title in their first year in the league. He’s the kind of player that Indiana desperately needs to help get their franchise back near the top of the Eastern Conference.
12. Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn) select: Kelly Oubre (SF, Kansas)
1st Mock: Kevon Looney (F, UCLA)
With Carroll and Millsap up for free agency this summer (both looking for bigger contracts most likely), I think Atlanta may only be able to bring back one. Clearly, they’d commit to Millsap. If that’s the case, Oubre would be a nice replacement for Carroll, as his athleticism and overall game match Carroll’s pretty evenly. He may even be a more consistent shooter than Carroll too.
13. Phoenix Suns select: Devin Booker (SG/SF, Kentucky)
1st Mock: Montrezl Harrell (PF, Louisville)
Booker’s draft stock is rising as Kentucky’s season progresses. He’s one of the draft’s best shooters, plays with great intelligence, and defends very well. He’s a big reason Kentucky is still undefeated and could be a player similar to Kyle Korver eventually, even though he’s more athletic than Korver is.
14. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans) select: Kevin Looney (F, UCLA)
1st Mock: Frank Kaminsky (PF, Wisconsin)
Josh Smith has been terrific for Houston. The problem is that he’s an unrestricted free agent this summer. While the Rockets may want him to stay, price could become an issue, or they may choose to address another position first (Gragic at point guard for example). Either way, Looney could bring a lot of the same traits that Josh Smith does. He’s athletic and active, can play inside and out, and even plays a similar role at UCLA. By the time draft day comes, Looney may be selected much higher however.
15. Charlotte Hornets select: Frank Kaminsky (PF, Wisconsin)
1st Mock: Kelly Oubre (SF, Kansas)
Kaminsky and Al Jefferson in the frontcourt would be great. Cody Zeller is likely best suited as a backup. Kaminsky though can come in and score, rebound, and even defend a little bit. He’s more athletic than he looks and he’d be a good addition to this Charlotte team.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami) select: Cliff Alexander (PF, Kansas)
1st Mock: R.J. Hunter (SG, Georgia State)
For the record, Alexander isn’t a great fit for Philly, nor is he the best player available here. But he’s the pick regardless. Why? Because Philly isn’t looking to be good now, but in the future. And of all the players that are left, he has the most upside and has the most potential. The problem is that he’s struggled at times this year at Kansas (and right now he’s dealing with eligibility issues), so I’m not sure he’ll even come out for the draft.
17. Milwaukee Bucks select: Montrezl Harrell (PF, Louisville)
1st Mock: Cliff Alexander (PF, Kansas)
Harrell is undersized for the position, but reminds me of a more athletic Dejuan Blair. He can come in and give 10-15 really good minutes a night as a hustle guy initially, and if his jumpshot improves he can become a pretty solid NBA frontcourt player.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder select: Trey Lyles (F, Kentucky)
1st Mock: Sam Dekker (SF, Wisconsin)
Fourth Wildcat in this mock, and one that could end up going much higher on draft night. For OKC, this is all about value. He’s a tremendous value here, even if they don’t “need” his talent at the moment. They likely won’t be making this pick however, as they will send their pick to Cleveland if they pick outside the top 18. And with they way they have been winning recently, they will likely meet that criteria by season’s end.
19. Washington Wizards select: Domantas Sabonis (PF, Gonzaga)
1st Mock: Jerian Grant (PG, Notre Dame)
Sabonis not only has name recognition (thanks daddy), but he has the game to back it up. He’s extremely talented already, and given a little bit more time to develop and grow into his body a bit, he could become a very good pairing with Marcin Gortat and replace Nene as the second part of that frontcourt.
20. San Antonio Spurs select: Bobby Portis (PF, Arkansas)
1st Mock: Jacob Poeltl (C, Utah)
I had the Spurs taking Portis in our first mock also (at pick 21). It simply makes sense at this stage of the draft (value), and with them likely deteriorating inside next year without Duncan (fit).
21. Chicago Bulls (from Cleveland) select: Jerian Grant (PG/SG, Notre Dame)
1st Mock: Bobby Portis (PF, Arkansas)
Grant will make coach Tom Thibideau want to pull what hair he currently has out of his head, but he gives the Bulls a scoring option with more size off of the bench to replace Aaron Brooks next season. He’s a solid shooter and can handle the ball when Derrick Rose is off the court due to rest or injury. Tyus Jones and Terry Rozier are other options here, but I like Grant’s size better.
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Chicago) select: AJ Hammons (C, Purdue)
1st Mock: Justin Anderson (SF, Virginia)
Obviously, Hammons would have to turn pro for this to happen, but after a great season at Purdue, it seems likely at this point. Cleveland needs more depth in the frontcourt, particularly players that can play defense. Hammons has been blocking a lot of shots this season so that’s why he’s the selection. You can’t teach 7 feet!
23. Toronto Raptors select: R.J. Hunter (SG, Georgia State)
1st Mock: Delon Wright (PG, Utah)
Advanced stats guys like Hunter. Metrics say that when he gets more space in the pros and doesn’t get guarded like a #1 option he will flourish. I tend to agree with that.
24. Dallas Mavericks select: Terry Rozier (PG, Louisville)
1st Mock: Tyrone Wallace (PG, California)
Rondo hasn’t been as good as advertised in Dallas, so taking a scrappy point guard would be a smart move for the Mavs. Rozier is a terrific defensive player, and can penetrate on offense to create for himself and others. He’s similar to Rondo in a lot of ways actually. Maybe he can have a similar pro career.
25. Boston Celtics (from LAC) select: Tyus Jones (PG, Duke)
1st Mock: Devin Booker (SG, Kentucky)
Jones is a bit undersized, but he shows up in big moments and plays like a player much bigger. The longer players in the NBA might trouble him at first, but I think with time he could become accustomed to that size and adjust. He’d be a good fit in Boston and would allow Marcus Smart to slide to the #2 position, which is more natural for him.
26. Portland Trailblazers select: Justin Anderson (SF, Virginia)
1st Mock: Tyus Jones (PG, Duke)
Due to a late season injury, who knows if Anderson will turn pro after his junior season. But if so, he’d be a great addition to Portland. He projects to be a nice glue guy that would excel off the bench for a contender such as Portland. And with Batum struggling this season compared to last year, he could use a solid backup.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston) select: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF, Arizona)
1st Mock: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF, Arizona)
Hollis-Jefferson is a bit of a risk. I’m not sure if he’ll be a good pro at all. He has the athleticism, but shoots 20.5% for his career from 3 in college. Unless he can significantly improve that he might never be more than a bench contributor. However, picking him at this spot in the first round given the fact that he COULD figure it out is worth the pick.
28. Memphis Grizzlies select: Delon Wright (PG, Utah)
1st Mock: Terry Rozier (PG, Louisville)
Wright fits the defensive nature of Memphis and would serve as a solid backup to Conley. Seeing as Conley is a small guy, Wright would bring a contrasting size difference to give the team a fresh look in the second unit.
29. Golden State Warriors select: Sam Dekker (SF, Wisconsin)
1st Mock: Caris LeVert (SG, Michigan)
Dekker is an almost perfect fit for Golden State. He’s long, defends well, can learn to shoot better, and plays within his limits. Steve Kerr will get the best out of him and he’ll add another element similar to Harrison Barnes to this improving team.
30. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta) select: Jacob Poeltl (C, Utah)
1st Mock: Buddy Hield (SG, Oklahoma)
Was going to go with LeVert here, but I’m not convinced LeVert will turn pro after an injury destroyed his junior season. So Poeltl gets the nod instead. It could turn out to be a better pick anyways, seeing as Poeltl is younger with more upside (size helps). And with the unknown future of Brook Lopez, they could use another big man.
So there you have our second mock for the NBA Draft. Obviously, this is first round only. Plus, this will undergo some major changes moving forward. You agree or disagree with our projected picks? Let us know in the comment section.
By: The Sports Guys
