We’re halfway through the playoffs, but most teams are already looking ahead to next season. The NBA Combine is upon us and therefore draft decisions are still being made. The lottery takes place next week as well, which will tell us the specific order of the draft. Plus, coaching changes are happening, teams are prepping for free agency, and organizations are making plans for their future rosters. It’s a great time to do a mock draft.
Since many prospects are still being evaluated and teams haven’t started doing private workouts yet, this mock is not based upon what I’m predicting will happen. Instead, this mock is based upon what I believe should happen, and it gives an idea as to where I rank the prospects currently. Enjoy!
NOTE: The draft order below is based on the final NBA standings (and trades) as of 5/11/16.
2016 NBA Mock Draft #1
1. Philadelphia 76ers select: Brandon Ingram (SF, Duke)
The 76ers should not take another big man in Simmons, despite him being #1 on other scout draft boards. Ingram is a better offensive player, with better range, and plays a wing position which they need. In fact, I personally have Ingram above Simmons anyways.
2. Los Angeles Lakers select: Ben Simmons (PF, LSU)
I really don’t like the fit here (I like Ingram much better for LA), but Simmons is too tantalizing to pass up. I say you draft him and look to trade Julius Randle or Larry Nance. Randle in particular could bring you a top ten pick, in my opinion, in this year’s draft.
3. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn) select: Thon Maker (PF, Australia)
I’m sure many will be surprised by this selection, but this is what I’d do. The Celtics need a good big man, and I think Maker is the best option. He’s risky for sure, but he’s clearly the most talented option. I don’t like the foreigner Bender, and while I considered Poeltl here, he disappeared too often in college for my liking. Maker provides a perfect blend of size, athleticism, versatility, and upside. And yes, I consider him a top 5 prospect.
4. Phoenix Suns select: Dragan Bender (PF, Croatia)
While I don’t love Bender as much as others, the Suns possess three first round picks this year and can use one to stash a player overseas. Many see Bender as a future All-Star, so he’s worth a selection here. I also believe help at forward is needed badly, and with their backcourt as loaded as it is, it’s easier to pass on Murray, Hield, and Dunn.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves select: Jamal Murray (SG, Kentucky)
Minnesota needs to continue finding young talent to add to their roster, and I love Murray for them because he can shoot it. While Rubio, Wiggins, and Mohammed are all athletes who deserve playing time, none of them can make outside shots consistently. Murray gives them a guard with range that can stretch defenses. Buddy Hield would be another solid option.
6. New Orleans Pelicans select: Buddy Hield (SG, Oklahoma)
Buddy Hield was amazing last year and the only flaw in his draft stock is his age. Seeing as he played four years in college, he’s already much older than many of the prospects he’s compared to. With that said, we know at this point that he can score in bunches from behind the arc, and he also flashed underrated athleticism last season. The Pelicans will likely lose Eric Gordon this summer, but can replace him with Hield, who will put up similar numbers right away (and will hopefully remain healthier).
7. Denver Nuggets (from New York) select: Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, California)
The Nuggets still have not found a dominant wing that can stay healthy, despite numerous efforts the past few seasons. Brown is worth a selection here to see if he can be the guy. He has massive upside, but is still fairly raw. If he’s coached up right though, he could be a dynamic player at the next level.
8. Sacramento Kings select: Kris Dunn (PG, Providence)
With Rondo potentially on his way out the door this summer, Dunn would be an instant starter for them at point guard. At that position, Dunn has great size and a unique skill set as he does everything well. His toughness would be good for a Kings team that struggles displaying that on a nightly basis. Newly minted HC Dave Joerger would appreciate that greatly.
9. Toronto Raptors (from Denver) select: Skal Labissiere (PF, Kentucky)
The Raptors don’t have a set guy at power forward. The fact that Luis Scola started in that spot often is a sad fact. Labissiere still has a ways to go, but he has some great traits to build on. His outside touch would give spacing for Valanciunas to work inside, and he could provide rim protection on the defensive end.
10. Milwaukee Bucks select: Jakob Poeltl (C, Utah)
The Bucks seemed like a team on the rise a year ago, now it seems as if they need a mini-rebuild. Rumors I’ve heard are that they may look to trade or dump Greg Monroe, despite signing him to a hefty contract last offseason. I agree with the move however, particularly if they can get something good in return. Poeltl would be a nice replacement.
11. Orlando Magic select: Domantas Sabonis (PF, Gonzaga)
Sabonis has been really good for two years in college. This past season he also had great stretches of play in the NCAA Tourney, including a dominant performance against Poeltl. I think he could play alongside Vucevic very well in Orlando, and would give the team better depth inside. This takes pressure off both Vucevic and the backcourt, who currently carry the load.
12. Utah Jazz select: Dejounte Murray (G, Washington)
The Jazz took a nice step forward this year, but still have some issues at point guard. Barring a point guard signing or trade, they should look to draft one. Murray isn’t a pure point guard, but could play that spot if coached correctly. He also can play off the ball if desired. His upside is why I took him over other guard prospects available at this point.
13. Phoenix Suns (from Washington) select: Denzel Valentine (SF, Michigan State)
While I had the Suns stashing a player with their last pick, this time they take a “safe” player. Valentine fills a need at small forward, and can provide everything a team would want. He can score, pass, rebound, defend, and initiate offense. His age limits his upside, but he’s mature enough to contribute right away.
14. Chicago Bulls select: Diamond Stone (C, Maryland)
Gasol and Noah could both be gone (free agents), which suddenly means the Bulls would be thin inside. At this stage of the draft process, not much separates the remaining players. So I prefer Stone above the other options. He has a lot of potential on both ends, and that was clear to see despite being underused in college.
15. Denver Nuggets (from Houston) select: Furkan Korkmaz (SG, Turkey)
Denver, with three first round selections, should take a risk with at least one of them. So taking Korkmaz is perfect for this squad as he’s a big time foreign scorer that could star in the NBA one day. Who knows how long he’ll play overseas, but the Nuggets can afford to wait a tad longer.
16. Boston Celtics (from Dallas) select: Deyonta Davis (PF, Michigan State)
Yet another team with three picks in the first round, Boston takes another big man with upside. He is a guy that can man the paint, finish in traffic, and is slowly developing a nice jump shot. Defending the pick-and-roll is also something Davis can do well. I think Brad Stevens would love this kid.
17. Memphis Grizzlies select: Tyler Ulis (PG, Kentucky)
The Memphis Grizzlies are getting a new coach, have nine free agents this summer, and now face a uncertain future. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the roster, so this pick is simply the player I like the most at this stage in the draft. I’m also predicting Mike Conley changes teams this summer. Ulis would especially make sense then.
18. Detroit Pistons select: Henry Ellenson (PF, Marquette)
Count me among those who think Morris is nothing more than a good bench player… not a starter. Ellenson could be a very nice option inside next to Drummond however, particularly due to his offensive versatility. He’s such a unique player that some teams will love him and others will will hate him. If I’m Detroit, I love him.
19. Denver Nuggets (from Portland) select: Brice Johnson (PF, North Carolina)
Similar to current big man Kenneth Faried, Johnson makes his living on rebounding and finishing. He has a very high motor and tremendous jumping ability. This would be a safe pick for Denver that ensures they get production from this draft choice. If I’m Denver, I’d also shop Faried since I’m taking a younger version of him here.
20. Indiana Pacers select: Malik Beasley (SG, Florida State)
The Pacers have a lot of guys who are streaky shooters or are shooters with limited range. For them to truly go “small” as Bird wants, they need shooters that can be relied upon consistently. And while Beasley has some deficiencies in other areas, his best attribute is his jump shot. That’s why this pick makes sense. If a solid versatile big falls to this spot (like Myles Turner last year), I’d take another one of those. In this scenario however, I didn’t see any fits I liked that well.
21. Atlanta Hawks select: Malachi Richardson (SG, Syracuse)
With nearly their whole roster at the end of their contracts this summer or next, Atlanta simply needs to find the best available player. Richardson was quietly a great one and done player, who emerged late in the year and helped guide Syracuse into the Final Four. He’s got solid size and plays hard at both ends. If they happen to lose Kent Bazemore this offseason, Richardson would help ease the loss. And if Kent comes back, Richardson makes the bench must better.
22. Charlotte Hornets select: AJ Hammons (C, Purdue)
Seeing as they have selected Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky recently, let’s take a third Big Ten big man… In all seriousness, this pick is made due to the potential losses of Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams. They also struggle to protect the rim, even with those guys, and Hammons excels in that area. Plus, he’s shown development in his post game and is the best big man remaining on my board. If a shooter falls in their lap here, that would be another solid selection.
23. Boston Celtics select: Malcolm Brogdon (SG, Virginia)
While Boston went with large upside big men with their first two picks, this time they take a safer player that can log minutes on the perimeter. He’d be a perfect second team player that can contribute right away, particularly important with Evan Turner at the end of his contract. Many see him as a second round pick, but I like him better than Justin Anderson who was taken at #21 last year in a better draft class.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami) select: Caris LeVert (SG, Michigan)
As you can tell by both of my picks so far for Philadelphia (LeVert and Ingram), I’d acquire perimeter players if I’m the GM in this draft. LeVert has been injured a lot recently, but he can do nearly everything well and still has room to grow. If healthy, I wouldn’t be surprised if he started for the 76ers next season in this scenario.
25. Los Angeles Clippers select: Marquese Chriss (PF, Washington)
While I’m not a huge Chriss fan, this is tremendous value for him and he could be a valuable backup (or replacement) for Blake Griffin. He is still raw in areas, but that of course means he has massive upside.
26. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City) select: Timothe Luwawu (SG, France)
He’s a major scoring prospect from a country that’s given the NBA solid players. The athleticism is there as well and he can play on both ends. As I’ve done with other teams in this mock, teams with three picks have options and stashing a player is a decent decision for a team rebuilding. Obviously, I’m still picking wings for the 76ers in hopes of finding some production there.
27. Toronto Raptors select: Patrick McCaw (SG, UNLV)
This is my insurance policy in case Derozan is in a different uniform in a few months. McCaw is a tad streaky, but he can score in bunches and possesses a lot of talent. I like his size for the position and I think he’d fit in well in Toronto.
28. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland) select: Ben Bentil (PF, Providence)
Bentil exploded onto the scene this season and was a lethal scoring machine in the Big East. He did it from inside, outside, and in between. And while the Suns took Bender at #4 in this draft, it may take a few years to get him to the states. Bentil could come in right now and make a difference off the bench (or more in time).
29. San Antonio Spurs select: DeAndre Bembry (SG/SF, St. Joe’s)
Bembry is the type of player the Spurs seem to always draft or acquire; which is to say that he’s unique. He has great speed, quickness, and athleticism, which makes him a dynamic defender. His raw offensive game would be polished nicely in San Antonio too. In many ways, he reminds me of Kawhi Leonard when he was coming out of college. You know how that’s worked out for the Spurs.
30. Golden State Warriors select: Cheick Diallo (PF/C, Kansas)
Despite not playing much for the Jayhawks last year, I still love this kid’s potential and thought he was handled all wrong last year by Bill Self. I remember watching him play a year ago in the McDonald’s All-American game and at the Nike Hoop Summit, and thought he was better than the majority of players in his class (including many taken above him in this mock). That’s the guy the Warriors would be selecting here. His high motor and ability to do the little things is exactly what they need, as all their big men (except Green) will be free agents this year or next. I guess what I’m saying is that this could be Bogut’s potential replacement.
By: The Sports Guys
