The 2015 NBA Draft is slowly creeping upon the basketball and sports world. All the hype surrounding the star-studded 2015 draft class and the teams responsible for their selection is about to come to fruition, or perhaps be proven bust, but one thing is for sure. It is sure going to be one hell of a night on Thursday.
Lottery teams, especially top picks like the Timberwolves and Lakers, have all eyes on them. Whether Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, or D'Angelo Russell will be selected first is still out in the blue, along with the overall order in which the three will come off the board. Who knows? Maybe one could even drop to the Orlando Magic at the fifth pick.
The staff here at VAVEL thought it best to compile a mock draft of potential first round selections by each team emprised with the responsibility of choosing an available prospect in 2015. Each writer involved was assigned one single team to vouch for and represent. Some teams do not have picks in the first round of this year's actual draft, and therefore were left off, while others (the Celtics and Lakers, two bitter rivals) possess multiple first-round selections. No unexisting trades were made in this mock draft.
A short explanation of the reasoning behind each selection can be found directly below each draftee's name. Without further ado, here is how it all went down.
1st Pick - Minnesota TImberwolves - Vahan Shakhpazyan
Karl-Anthony Towns, Forward/Center, Kentucky
Karl-Anthony Towns should solidify the young core that the Minnesota Timberwolves have, and it is time for this team to move past Nikola Pekovic, who was a disappointment last season. With Towns, the Wolves will have a young, athletic, big man who can give the team something it hasn’t had in a while; a potent shot blocker. Towns has a ton of potential to become the cornerstone of this team along with Andrew Wiggins. Towns should also make a nice duo with Ricky Rubio who could set him up offensively for easy looks. Ultimately, this move will turn Gorgui Dieng as the team’s permanent starting power forward. The Wolves have a foundation of young talent, and adding Towns only makes the future brighter for this youthful team.
2nd Pick - Los Angeles Lakers - James Stendebach
Jahlil Okafor, Center, Duke
The Lakers have had a rich history of talented big men. Adding Jahlil next to Julius Randle will give the Lakers one of the youngest, most talented front courts in the league for the next decade. In order for the Lakers to restore themselves as one of the elite teams in the league. It starts down low, and it starts with Jahlil. Okafor had a very successful championship year as a freshman Blue Devil, and hopefully he can carry that over to the pros.
3rd Pick - Philadelphia 76ers - Max Rizer
D'Angelo Russell, Guard, Ohio State
D'Angelo Russell offers the Sixers help on offense. He is a high scoring combo guard who can pass well as well as crash the glass and grab boards. Russell's physicality also gives him a step up, being 6'5" and 193 lbs. Russell gives the Sixers a point guard who can improve the team on multiple levels and start at the point right off the bat or hooting guard, depending on how the Sixers want to go.
4th Pick - New York Knicks - Jeremy Blanding
Emmanuel Mudiay, Guard, China/Congo/USA
Emanuel Mudiay is the obvious choice for the Knicks here. The Knicks have struggled for years to find an elite point guard, and if they draft Mudiay, they may be getting the next Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose. Just like Westbrook and Rose, Mudiay shows incredible speed, athleticism, and ability to finish at the rim. Mudiay has also shown that he excels at the pick and roll game, which will work well with Carmelo Anthony. Mudiay also shows the potential to be very good defensively, and we all know the Knicks need someone like that. The only issue with the Knicks and Mudiay is the triangle offense. The triangle offense is all about shooting, passing, and not a lot of dribbling. Mudiay is a ball-dominating guard and struggles with his jump shot. There are some issues with Mudiay, but he has the potential to be the next superstar in New York.
5th Pick - Orlando Magic - Jeffrey Waitkevich
Kristaps Porzingis, Forward, Latvia
With the two best big men off the board and the two best guards also not available, the Magic are best suited going with the best player available with the most potential. That player is 7'1" F-C Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian big man also fits with the roster as Head Coach Scott Skiles doesn't have a player who can shoot from the perimeter and also play solid defense. Channing Frye can stretch the floor with the best of them but he is a huge defensive liability. DeWayne Dedmon can protect the rim but his offense is limited to moves around the basket and dunks and open layups. Porzingis' size and shooting touch give the Magic the best of both worlds and they finally get a player who has the potential to be a star. Some would prefer a defensive stalwart in the form of Justise Winslow or Willie Cauley-Stein, but with Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton already on the roster, the need for shooting is more glaring. Also, multiple NBA Draft experts have set Porzingis' draft floor at number 5 to Orlando. Last year, the player nicknamed "Zinger" reportedly received a draft promise from the Magic with the 12th pick but he withdrew before the draft and the rest is history. This could be Orlando's chance to fulfill that promise and get another piece to their rebuilding puzzle.
6th Pick - Sacramento Kings - Bobby Bourhis
Willie Cauley-Stein, Forward, Kentucky
For the Kings, this offseason is all about finding a frontcourt mate to pair with DeMarcus Cousins. Sacramento has drafted a shooting guard in each of the last two NBA drafts (Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas). During this time, they have seen Cousins grow into one of the most versatile big men in the league. His shooting and passing ability allow him to play comfortably at power forward or at center. Pairing DeMarcus with a defensive minded center such as Willie Cauley-Stein would instantly fortify the Kings’ interior defense, as well as their offensive and defensive rebounding. Cauley-Stein’s defensive focus would take pressure off of Cousins on that end of the floor, allowing him to focus more on his offense. The Kings would be foolish to pass up on Cauley-Stein, especially if the top two point guard prospects (Russell and Mudiay) are already off the board.
7th Pick - Denver Nuggets - Parker White
Justise Winslow, Forward, Duke
The Denver Nuggets would be thrilled if small forward Justise Winslow out of Duke fell to them at the seventh spot. Denver has had problems in recent years with scoring from the perimeter, and with Wilson Chandler and Randy Foye entering the final year of their contracts, Winslow becomes a perfect long term answer. It’s rumored that Winslow could be drafted as high as five to the Orlando Magic and as low as eighth to the Detroit Pistons. Winslow could be a potential star with his elite level of speed and athleticism. His jump shot is still a work and progress but as his freshman year progressed it became more consistent. Winslow is not a one trick pony; he is all over the place on the defensive side of the ball. That works out perfectly for Denver, as they were 27th in the league in points allowed (105). Winslow is an all-around basketball player and if he falls to the Nuggets he could be the cornerstone for years to come.
8th Pick - Detroit Pistons - Chris Robbins
Stanley Johnson, Forward, Arizona
The Pistons seriously need a small forward. With only Tayshaun Prince and Cartier Martin at the slot, the Pistons not only have no talent, but also have no depth. After the Pistons acquired Ersan Ilyasova from Milwaukee for Caron Butler, the Pistons found their solution to replace Greg Monroe, opening up a bigger hole at the three. While the Pistons were hoping for Justise Winslow to fall to them, he went one pick earlier to the Nuggets. This left the Pistons with the choice of Hezonja, Booker, Johnson, and Oubre. Johnson was by far the highest on this GMs board at this juncture. Hezonja has bust potential and seemed like a reach, Bookers style didn't seem to fit what this GM was looking for, and while Oubre seemed like another good option, he doesn't have the talent to start right now in Detroit that the Pistons felt Stanley Johnson could bring to the table on day one.
9th Pick - Charlotte Hornets - Alex Roig
Devin Booker, Guard, Kentucky
Booker's one of the best, if not the best, shooter in the draft. With the Hornets finishing at the bottom of 3pt percentage, they need all the shooting they can get. And while Booker may seem a stretch at ninth, he perfectly fits for the Hornets. And that is all that matters.
10th Pick - Miami Heat - Sami Jarjour
Kelly Oubre, Guard, Kansas
The Miami Heat are in need of a wingman, especially with the recent development of Hassan Whiteside; the Heat are happy with their frontcourt of Whiteside and Chris Bosh. Along with the recent rumors of Dwayne Wade jumping ship, the Heat are in need of a backup plan. With Stanley Johnson and Devin Booker off the board, Kelly Oubre has the next biggest upside. A 6’7” swingman with a 7’2” wingspan is a promising size, despite his small frame, weighing in at just 203 pounds. Yet, at 19 years-old, Oubre has a lot of time to bulk up and development his body and his game. His size and athleticism on the defensive end is big for the Heat and Coach Spoelstra. Oubre averages 2 steals per 40 minutes at Kansas, which is a phenomenal rate. The only weakness many coaches and GMs are noticing is his late of full effort at all times, which is something that can be fixed in a great organization and system, which is what Miami is.
11th Pick - Indiana Pacers - Phillip Steinmetz
Frank Kaminsky, Center, Wisconsin
Frank the Tank makes a lot of sense for Indiana. He is a stretch big that can put the ball on the floor. Kaminsky won National College Player of the Year and was unstoppable all season long. He can step in and start at center if the Pacers decide to move Hibbert. Indiana is trying to play a more up tempo style of play and the Wisconsin center would be a perfect fit.
12th Pick - Utah Jazz - Oliver Fredrickson
Mario Hezonja, Forward, Croatia
Although it is unlikely that the top-7 projected Herzonja would slip down to #12, this pick would be a dream come true for the Jazz. With the combination of size, skill and confidence that Hezonja possesses, the Jazz would have no problem adopting a ‘best-player-available’ approach and take this highly touted Croatian phenom. Although the Jazz already have Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward and Dante Exum taking up the bulk of the minutes on the wing, the addition of Hezonja would provide the Jazz with some much needed offense to go with their stifling defense which was among the league’s best for the latter part of last season. Hezonja would allow Burks to ease his way back from injury and provide the Jazz with even more young talent to add to their young core.
13th Pick - Phoenix Suns - Richard Stayman
Bobby Portis, Forward, Arkansas
The Suns need help in the frontcourt. While Myles Turner was available, and is considered to have more upside, Portis is the safer pick, and can contribute right away. The Suns might lose Brandan Wright in free agency, and will need another power forward besides Markieff Morris.
14th Pick - Oklahoma City Thunder - Zach Drapkin
Cameron Payne, Guard, Murray State
Payne is the obvious pick here for OKC. Shooting guard has been an issue ever since the James Harden trade, and while Russell Westbrook stellarly runs the point, he may not be back after 2017 if GM Sam Presti decides to spend money elsewhere, such as re-signing Kevin Durant or pursuing other free agents. Payne can play a sort of combo guard role alongside Russ, showcasing his talented distribution while also polishing and applying a solid shooting stroke he began to discover at Murray State. 20.2 points per game isn't too shabby to start a stat line. Dion Waiters, Reggie Jackson, and many others have failed to fit the role Presti was hoping to fill alongside Westbrook. But come Cameron Payne, the Thunder could finally have found the answer at the 2.
15th Pick - Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) - Yuriy Andriyashchuk
Myles Turner, Center, Texas
Turner was a dominant inside force at Texas and can help the Atlanta Hawks in moving Al Horford to his true forward position and not continuing to play out of center since his rookie season. Turner is also an excellent free throw shooter and has a lot of upside in terms of athleticism. Turner has the potential to be the true center Atlanta has been looking for to help improve their rebounding on both sides of the floor.
16th Pick - Boston Celtics - Liam O'Brien
Trey Lyles, Forward, Kentucky
It's not often you find a player with the length and versatility of Trey Lyles, making him an easy steal at the No. 16 spot for the Boston Celtics, assuming they retain the selection. With a 6'10" frame without shoes, a 9-foot standing reach, and a 7'3" wingspan, Lyles possesses the ability to play the power forward position immediately while still being able to attack from the perimeter. Lyles was featured almost exclusively on the perimeter at Kentucky, where he excelled at attacking the lane and penetrating through undersized defenders at the wing position. He features a deft shooting touch and outstanding footwork for a man of his size, utilizing these assets to attack from either side of the floor. His conditioning is at a personal best heading into the draft. If he can develop a consistent outside jump shot, his potential as a weapon is boundless.
17th Pick - Milwaukee Bucks - Thomas Eurich
Sam Dekker, Forward, Wisconsin
The Bucks had Trey Lyles and Myles Turner in the sights, but unfortunately they were picked back-to-back the picks before #17. So, the Bucks went to their old draft board and picked University of Wisconsin alum Sam Dekker. Dekker fills many holes for the Milwaukee Bucks. He provides them with a shooter that they desperately need with Ilyasova and Knight out of the picture and fills in for Khris Middleton if Middleton decides to leave for elsewhere.
18th Pick - Houston Rockets (from Pelicans) - Brandon Awadis
Tyus Jones, Guard, Duke
With Patrick Beverley set to hit restricted free agency, the Rockets select a true leader. This Jones, although he does not possess top-notch athleticism, he makes up for that with his court vision and clutch play. The former Duke Blue Devil can come in and play big minutes right away and produce for this Houston team as he landed in a perfect situation with James Harden to ease the ball handling duties.
19th Pick - Washington Wizards - Colby Giacubeno
Kevon Looney, Forward, UCLA
The Wizards have struggled against stretch power forwards for years now. With Looney's athleticism and ability to score from every level, it will open up the floor tremendously for John Wall to operate. Looney's length will cause a number of problems for opposing big men on both ends of the floor.
20th Pick - Toronto Raptors - Libaan Osman
Jerian Grant, Guard, Notre Dame
Jerian Grant from Notre Dame is expected to go in the mid first round and will likely not be available when it’s the Toronto Raptors turn to pick. With the shock to him falling to number 20 in the draft, how could the Toronto Raptors say no? His passing ability is through the roof. He can create for himself offensively and has great instincts on defense. With Greivis Vasquez rumoured to be on his way out of Toronto, Grant could come off the bench and learn from Kyle Lowry and develop to become a top notch point guard in the NBA.
21st Pick - Dallas Mavericks - Jacob Marshall
RJ Hunter, Guard, Georgia State
With Dallas having only 5 active players on their roster. They have a few needs, and with the possibility of losing Monta Ellis. RJ Hunter to land here would make the Mavs very happy. In his career at Georgia St., Hunter shot 42.3% from the field and 35.4% from the three point line. He does a pretty good job not turning the ball over at 1.7 turnovers per game and got 2.2 steals per game. Overall, Hunter is a great prospect that the Mavs would be very happy to have.
22nd Pick - Chicago Bulls - Vijay Vemu
Terry Rozier, Guard, Louisville
Rozier is a great fit for the Bulls. Right now, the Bulls need a solid backup point guard. A point guard that can score and play defense is a solid fit for the Bulls. Rozier can score. He averaged 17.1 points per game for Louisville last year and was the key scorer in their run to the Elite Eight. His size (6’1) would be a great upgrade as Chicago has had a bunch of backup undersized point guards who were a liability on defense. Rozier also offers underrated rebounding for a guard his size as he averaged 6.6 rebounds per game. He also puts in work on the defensive end. The only knack on Rozier is his shot selection and that can only improve in time. Rozier and the Bulls would be a great fit as Fred Hoiberg sees a faster offense fitting the Bulls the most and Rozier can thrive in that system.
23rd Pick - Portland Trail Blazers - Martin Lee
Rashad Vaughn, Guard, UNLV
Portland Trail Blazers have a couple of options with the number 23 pick in the NBA draft. They could go after a shooting guard or a forward. But with where they are placed, drafting UNLV shooting guard Rashad Vaughn is a good pick. This kid is going to be a good player in the league; in his only season for UNLV, he averaged 17.8 points 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assist per game. He can shoot the ball well and he is a good ball handler. He can put up 10-15 points per game in a season. Depending if Portland drafts him, he will be going into training camp competing with guys like Westly Matthews. As a rookie, you do not really want to start him early. He will be coming off the bench if he is drafted by Portland for now, since Matthews is a good starting shooting guard right now for the Blazers.
24th Pick - Cleveland Cavaliers - Dominic Gonzalez
Justin Anderson, Forward, Virginia
Justin Anderson wasn't one of the biggest names in college basketball but lets take a look at this potential first rounder. Strengths: He's a great shooter and defender. His shooting ability is what makes him a first rounder but his defense is also underrated. Anderson is an above average defender which allows him to keep up with smaller players laterally. He was also the unspoken leader of a Virginia team that was one of the best in the country all last year, however with him missing time due to injury near the end of the season they faltered early in the NCAA tournament. Weaknesses: He played out of position all season as a small foreward. Most NBA teams see him as a shooting guard and that's something he is going to have to adapt too. He's not a great play maker either and doesn't seem to have the ability to create his own shot on a consistent basis.
Justin Anderson is a great value pick here at the tail end of the first round, and could end up being an Iman Shumpert-type player with a better jump shot.
25th Pick - Memphis Grizzlies - Daniel Waller
Montrezl Harrell, Forward, Louisville
The Grizzlies have been known for their grit-n'-grind style of play. Montrezl Harrell will fit right in. His 7’3” wingspan, athleticism, and tenacity should allow him to become a force defensively. He’s a great finisher around the rim, although his jump shot needs to improve. With Jeff Green’s inconsistent play, Harrell should see plenty of opportunities to shine. In recent years, Memphis has struggled with their transition offense. The Grizzlies ranked 23rd in points scored in transition during the 2014-2015 season. Harrell will help to improve their transition offense with his quickness and force. A front line of Gasol, Randolph, and Harrell will make guards think twice before driving into the lane
26th Pick - San Antonio Spurs - Torkil Bang
Anthony Brown, Guard/Forward, Stanford
The San Antonio Spurs will try to get their hands on one of the top tier free agents this summer, most likely LaMarcus Aldridge. But in order to do that, they will have to part ways with several of their own free agents, probably including Danny Green, who has earned himself a nice payday as a great 3-and-D role player. Anthony Brown, a senior from Stanford, might not be able to fill Green's sneakers right away, but he is of the same mold as a player like Khris Middleton, and projects to be at least a servicable bench player but still with some upside.
27th Pick - Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets) - James Stendebach
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Forward, Arizona
The small forward spot for the LA Lakers has been a weak point for some time now. Drafting Hollis-Jefferson will provide a young, athletic SF that can defend extraordinarily well. The Lakers will need a defensive presence besides Okafor and RHJ will bring that to the LA Lakers.
28th Pick - Boston Celtics (from Clippers) - Liam O'Brien
Delon Wright, Guard, Utah
The Celtics' backcourt is built with the foundation of sizable guards who pride themselves on locking down whoever they are defending, and Utah G Delon Wright fits this mold to perfection. Featuring a 6'6" build, Wright has rapidly agile feet on the defensive end while possessing an unparralled instinct of anticipation for what the opponent may decide to do. Wright garnered 2.6 steals per 40 minutes in two seasons at Utah, at his ability to anticipate lead to a plethora of key blocks and rebounds. Wright is also an excellent passer, finding teammates for open threes on the perimeter with timely precision while excelling at finding the big man in pick-and-roll situations. Scoring wise, his ability to change speeds while attacking makes him a threat to penetrate through the lane on any given possession.
29th Pick - Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks) - Noel Alberto
Jarell Martin, Forward, LSU
There are a few reasons Jarrell Martin was the right guy for the team at 29. First of all, his athleticism his phenomenal. He can finish above the rim, which is something Joe Johnson cannot do and can also play the four, which also Johnson struggles to do. He'll also be able to take minutes off of Bogandovic at the 4. Martin's ability to attack the glass both offensively and defensively surpasses him in comparison to the other two. Also, Jarell can take on both the 3 and the 4 strongly. His knack to make mid-range jumpers and drive to the basket will stretch and space out the floor which is exactly what the Nets need since Thaddeus Young has left.
30th Pick - Golden State Warriors - Peyton Wesner
Chris McCullough, Forward, Syracuse
What could a team with as much depth as the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors need on Thursday night? A power forward! With former All-Star David Lee looking for a new home, the Warriors will be short a quality big man for their upcoming season. In addition, if GM Bob Myers decides not to match the offered amount to restricted free agent Draymond Green, another hole will need to be filled in Oakland by a power forward/small forward. Fortunately, if freshman Chris McCullough from Syracuse is chosen with the last pick in the first round, he could fill the vacancy for the Warriors. Despite the twenty year old coming off an ACL tear, he showed great talent in sixteen games suited up for Jim Boeheim. Yes, McCullough lacks experience, but his defensive skill (6.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game) and potential to become a better player both offensively and defensively adds to his appeal. Besides, who would be a better fit for the highest three point shooting team in the NBA than a six foot, nine inch big that can nail three pointers?
There it is, folks. Thanks to all the writers who helped put this mock draft together.
Here is a summary of all the picks:
Timberwolves - Vahan Shakhpazyan - Karl-Anthony Towns
Lakers - James Stendebach - Jahlil Okafor
Sixers - Max Rizer - D'Angelo Russell
Knicks - Jeremy Blanding - Emmanuel Mudiay
Magic - Jeffrey Waitkevich - Kristaps Porzingis
Kings - Bobby Bourhis - Willie Cauley-Stein
Nuggets - Parker White - Justise Winslow
Pistons - Chris Robbins - Stanley Johnson
Hornets - Alex Roig - Devin Booker
Heat - Sami Jarjour - Kelly Oubre
Pacers - Phillip Steinmetz - Frank Kaminsky
Jazz - Oliver Fredrickson - Mario Hezonja
Suns - Richard Stayman - Bobby Portis
Thunder - Zach Drapkin - Cameron Payne
Hawks (from Brooklyn) - Yuriy Andriyashchuk - Turner
Celtics - Liam O'Brien - Trey Lyles
Bucks - Thomas Eurich - Sam Dekker
Rockets (from New Orleans) - Brandon Awadis - Tyus Jones
Wizards - Colby Giacubeno - Kevon Looney
Raptors - Libaan Osman - Jerian Grant
Mavericks - Jacob Marshall - RJ Hunter
Bulls - Vijay Vemu - Terry Rozier
Blazers - Martin Wingfield Lee - Rashad Vaughn
Cavaliers - Dominic Gonzalez - Justin Anderson
Grizzlies - Daniel Waller - Montrezl Harrell
Spurs - Torkil Bang - Anthony Brown
Lakers (from Houston) - James Stendebach - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Celtics (from LAC) - Liam O'Brien - Delon Wright
Nets (from Atlanta) - Noel Alberto - Jarell Martin
Warriors - Peyton Wesner - Chris McCullough