The NBA have-nots, also known as all of the teams that didn’t make the 2015 NBA Playoffs, are finally ready to add the next piece to their team’s puzzle. The 2015 NBA Draft is officially here, and we’ll finally know what the top teams are going to do with some big names.
I looked at several 2015 NBA Mock Drafts and I averaged out all of the picks in the lottery to help us figure out where players will likely be drafted.
Obviously, this isn’t an exact science, but it does help us see, from a wider perspective, who is expected to land where.
Also, by averaging this out, it makes us think that some blogger at Bleacher Report has as much NBA Draft insider ability as ESPN’s Chad Ford. That’s likely not the issue, but I chose not to weight the decisions any certain way.
The six websites we’re going to use all updated their 2015 NBA Mock Drafts in the past couple days, and they include:
CBSSports.com: Their college basketball writer, Gary Parrish, updated his mock draft Tuesday night.
ESPN.com: Chad Ford updated his mock draft on ESPN Insider last week.
SI.com: Chris Mannix shared his updated mock on Tuesday.
SlamOnline.com: The Slam staff shares their mock draft thoughts with us Wednesday.
Yahoo! Sports: Jonathan Givony from DraftExpress.com breaks it all down for us on Monday.
SBNation.com: Kevin O’Connor posted his updated mock on Monday.
2015 NBA Mock Draft Averages
And here is the order of the 2015 NBA Draft, with most popular picks for each spot listed:
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky
Consensus No. 1 pick, no real debate about it. The T-Wolves are already coming off Andrew Wiggins’ Rookie-of-the-Year campaign.
”Towns has the potential to be an All-Star and he even has an outside chance of becoming a transcendent player. He’s long, athletic and scores in a myriad of different ways on the offensive end. He has a great handle for a big man and will likely develop into a knockdown shooter. But he’s going to make his most immediate impact on the defensive end as a shot blocker patrolling the paint.” –O’Connor, SBNation.com
2. L.A. Lakers: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
The first two picks seem to be the easiest of the entire draft, although, there have been some random rumors about D’Angelo Russell going to the Lakers. Don’t believe it. Okafor also has the L.A. persona to really become a star out there.
”If it’s possible to somehow package this pick with a player or two and lure DeMarcus Cousins from Sacramento, I guess the Lakers should probably do that, if only because A) Cousins is a top-10 talent right now, and B) it might give the Lakers a chance to win in what will likely be Kobe Bryant’s final season. Short of that, they should just take Okafor, who could become the next great Lakers center within three years while returning the presence of the dominant big to the NBA.” –Parrish, CBSSports.com
3. Philadelphia 76ers: D’Angelo Russell, SG, Ohio State
Both CBS and ESPN have the 76ers taking Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia, but everyone else likes Russell here. It really does make more sense for them to go with Russell, as they already have quality big guys, but we’ll see.
”What is Philadelphia up to? That’s what several executives have asked in recent days. It’s hard to believe the Sixers would take Kristaps Porzingis, not with a gaping hole at point guard and Russell, who is well liked in the organization, on the board. More likely: Philadelphia is trying to manipulate the Knicks or Magic to trade up for Porzingis. You know Sixers GM Sam Hinkie loves collecting draft picks.” – Mannix, SI.com
4. New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
Is it just me, or will we automatically label Porzingis a bust candidate if he ends up with the Knicks?
”With center Greg Monroe reportedly a top target of the Knicks in free agency, power forward could very well be the next position the team looks to fill with triangle-friendly players, especially if Russell (who is a lock to get picked here if available) is indeed off the board. Porzingis’ 3-point range and shot-blocking ability could make him an excellent complement to Monroe, even if his passing ability and overall feel for the game will need to improve to play in such a motion-heavy offense.” – Givony, Yahoo!
5. Orlando Magic: Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
A couple week ago, Porzingis was going to go here, but he shot up the boards in recent weeks, and now, Winslow seems like a consolation prize. Yet, he fits pretty well here.
”The Magic covet Porzingis—and sources say Orlando is the preferred destination of Porzingis’s camp—but it’s looking likely the Magic will have to trade up to get him. Winslow is a reasonable alternative. The Magic backcourt is crowded but a defensive minded swingman who has been favorably compared to Jimmy Butler is tough to pass up. European guard Mario Hezonja is another option.” – Mannix, SI.com
6. Sacramento Kings: Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, DR Congo
Again, just a couple weeks ago, Mudiay was guaranteed to go to the Knicks.
”Mudiay was, this time last year, projected by some to be either the first or second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. So the idea that he could be available here is excellent news for Sacramento. The cast of characters surrounding Mudiay is a little bit of a concern, if only because they haven’t handled his career well to date. Still, Mudiay is an undeniable talent, and the Kings would be wise to scoop him up if he’s on the board.” – Parrish, CBSSports.com
7. Denver Nuggets: Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia
This is where things start to come unraveled in all of the NBA mock drafts.
”Given who’s left on the board, this pick, it would seem, would come down to Hezona and Willie Cauley-Stein. Hezonja, a 6-8 Croatian wing, is the better fit for the Nuggets, who already have the gigantic Jusuf Nurkic manning the middle. Hezonja can shoot and put the ball on the floor, and he’s also athletic. He could be the player the Nuggets thought they were getting when they traded for Danilo Gallinari.” Yaron Weitzman, SlamOnline
8. Detroit Pistons: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
As a Magic fan, I wouldn’t be upset if they ended up with WCS on their team.
”The Pistons acquired Ersan Ilyasova from the Milwaukee Bucks, signaling that Greg Monroe’s days in Motown are done. This move gives the Pistons a forward who can stretch the defense offensively. Detroit may entertain suitors for the pick with the thought that its two biggest needs coming into next season are small forward and an offensive minded guard off the bench. Sticking at the No. 8 spot, the logical selection is Cauley-Stein. His ability to protect the rim and flexibility to guard all five positions are proven NBA assets. He can also contribute on the glass. With Illyasova and WCS in fold, Detroit continues to mold into a Playoff contender.” — Leigh Klein
9. Charlotte Hornets: Devin Booker, G, Kentucky
Another Kentucky freshman comes off the board here, as the Hornets need some help on the outside to help Al Jefferson.
”Charlotte was one of the worst outside-shooting teams in the NBA last season, which could make Booker an attractive option at this spot in the draft. He plays a real position of need at shooting guard, which was occupied by the streaky shooting Gerald Henderson, who picked up the player option on his contract for next season. That’s even more the case now that Lance Stephenson has been traded.” — Givony, Yahoo!
10. Miami Heat: Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
Once again, the Heat enter an offseason with a lot of question marks, for the second summer in a row. Three mockers liked Johnson to land in South Florida a couple weeks ago, but now it’s down to just two.
”Miami’s future is murky, with various players entering free agency and/or aging. Johnson is a high-end, versatile defensive player and provides complementary offense with his shooting and pick-and-roll play.” – O’Connor, SBNation.com
11. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
If Cauley-Stein drops, he wouldn’t go beyond the Pacers at 11.
”Mid-major recruits who become lottery picks after just two years of college are incredibly rare bordering on nonexistent. So it’s amazing what’s happening with Payne. Oklahoma City is an obvious option if he slips. But Payne makes sense for the Pacers, too.” – Parrish, CBSSports.com
12. Utah Jazz: Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas
All six mock drafts had different answers here, so I just chose the highest-ranked player not taken above.
”The Jazz have been looking at about seven players at this spot: Turner, Trey Lyles, Frank Kaminsky, Johnson, Dekker, Kevon Looney and Kelly Oubre. You can make a solid argument for each of them. However, if Turner somehow falls to them at 12, I don’t know how they pass. The Jazz have the ability to be patient. They have starters at every position and money to add a few free-agent veterans to support the bench. And Turner gives them something they don’t have: a big man who can really stretch the floor. If Turner is gone, I think Lyles is the next most likely option.” – Ford, ESPN.com
13. Phoenix Suns: Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
One of the most agreed upon late picks earlier this month, Frank the Tank works perfectly here, going from the Land of Cheese to the Land of the Suns. But now, the only mocker left choosing this destination for him was ESPN.
”It has been hard to get a read on what Phoenix is going to do at 13. There are a lot of variables left in the draft. But Kaminsky makes a lot of sense for a team that’s trying to fight its way into the Western Conference playoffs next season. He’s more ready than most draft prospects to come in and do his thing. His ability to stretch the floor is especially appealing. Alex Len can’t play 48 minutes a night. The Suns really need backup help at the 5.” – Ford, ESPN.com
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kelly Oubre Jr., SF, Kansas
Some of the players that missed being lottery picks, in this mock mock draft, include: Kevon Looney, Sam Dekker and Bobby Portis.
”Oubre projects as an athletic perimeter defender with star potential. If he falls this far, Oklahoma City would be wise to scoop him up in an attempt to keep stocking talent in pursuit of a championship.” – Parrish, CBSSports.com
Enjoy the 2015 NBA Draft! I’m already looking forward to mocking the 2016 NBA Draft!
Photo Credit: Michael Hickey, Getty Images