Final 2015 NBA mock draft
Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's class, what each team needs to do with their picks, and more leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft, which takes place June 25 in Brooklyn.
Mock drafting is an inexact science. What teams will be thinking, how they evaluate their needs, and how they evaluate prospects are all a mystery. Even the best mock drafts are a series of educated guesses.
But they're a lot of fun.
What follows are our educated guesses at what picks will be made (not who we would pick), making the necessary (but incorrect) assumption that no picks will be dealt.
Tap each player's name for a full scouting report where applicable.
First Round
1. Minnesota Timberwolves - Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
As close to a no-brainer as it gets in this draft, the Wolves land a potentially generational two-way talent at center. Towns can cover a wide range in pick-and-roll coverage, protect the rim, stretch the floor, score inside, and do everything in between.
2. Los Angeles Lakers - Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
It sounds like the Lakers are leaning toward Okafor, and it's hard to fault them. While D'Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis have their fans, Okafor was the consensus top prospect for most of the season and will be one of the league's toughest checks inside.
3. Philadelphia 76ers - D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
The 76ers are always awash in misinformation, making their plans tough to feel out. The guess here is that the Porzingis love is a bit of a smoke screen, and the Sixers will take who they perceive as the best talent - and, in this case, also the best fit.
4. New York Knicks - Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
The Knicks have been tied to a lot of players, intentionally, as they look to move down. Should they keep the pick, the thinking is they go with Winslow, a nice wing complement to Carmelo Anthony. It's a bit early for some of their other rumored targets, and Porzingis may be a little too risky in his early years.
5. Orlando Magic - Kristaps Porzingis, PF, International
There's a strong chance Porzingis doesn't last this long, but it'd be tough for the Magic to pass if he does. They could use his spacing and rim protection, he complements the pieces in place, and he's the highest-upside play on the board.
6. Sacramento Kings - Mario Hezonja, SF, International
It's impossible to figure out what's going on the Kings' front office right now. Vlade Divac in a key decision-making role makes Hezonja, a Croatian playing big minutes in the world's second-best league, a potential target, while links to Rajon Rondo suggest Emmanuel Mudiay isn't foremost in their thoughts.
7. Denver Nuggets - Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, International
This pick could easily flip with No. 6, even if Hezonja's camp doesn't sound high on Denver. Mudiay is the best talent left on the board, the only consideration for a team in the Nuggets' position.
8. Detroit Pistons - Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
This one may seem a bit off-board, but the Pistons are looking to move the pick, their primary options didn't slip in this mock, and they're said to be higher on the versatile Dekker than most.
9. Charlotte Hornets - Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
It's too early in my eyes to be drafting for fit over talent, but Booker cures what ails the Hornets so perfectly, it's hard to pass this up. Shooting-starved team with a need at the two, meet 41.1-percent 3-point shooter.
10. Miami Heat - Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
Another great fit, Johnson would stand as insurance on the wing in the event Luol Deng and/or Dwyane Wade leave, and would be an NBA-ready bench contributor in the event they stay.
11. Indiana Pacers - Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
The Pacers have always been high on Cauley-Stein and there's a chance concerns over a 2014 ankle injury have been exaggerated to help him slide. Cauley-Stein pushes the team's defensive upside even higher and stands as a more versatile, faster-tempo Roy Hibbert successor.
12. Utah Jazz - Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
The Jazz can go in any number of directions thanks to solid pieces at each position. Myles Turner fits in the frontcourt, but the Jazz lack a plus defender on the wing, a role Oubre could grow into.
13. Phoenix Suns - Myles Turner, C, Texas
Frank Kaminsky would provide the immediate scoring and spacing the Suns need from a frontcourt addition, but rumors they're shopping Eric Bledsoe suggest they may be pulling back on the development timeline. Enter Turner, who could offer that same spacing, plus rim protection, with a bit of patience.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder - Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
Promise or otherwise, the Thunder need a long-term solution at backup point guard.
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Brooklyn) - Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
The reserve bigs struggled mightily for the Hawks in the playoffs, and Kaminsky can really shoot, a must for a big man in Mike Budenholzer's offense.
16. Boston Celtics - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
It sounds unlikely the Celtics will be making this pick. If they are, they'll likely look for the highest upside, given the lack of rim protection available at this point. Hollis-Jefferson can muck the spacing even further, but Brad Stevens would have a terrific defense on his hands, and the Celtics are believed to be high on the versatile RHJ.
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
The Bucks now officially have a need in the frontcourt after dealing Ersan Ilyasova. Lyles gets the nod here over Bobby Portis for ceiling and over Kevon Looney for floor - he's the best overall prospect remaining.
18. Houston Rockets (from New Orleans) - Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
There are just too many signs here. Jones is a favorite of the analytics crowd, fills a need as a playmaker who doesn't need to dominate the ball, and shut down workouts for a long time after visiting Houston.
19. Washington Wizards - Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
The Wizards could use another body in their frontcourt immediately and a potential successor to Nene for 2016. Portis is the safest pick remaining: a sure bet to carve out a rotation spot, even if no single trait jumps out.
20. Toronto Raptors - Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
Masai Ujiri said he'll draft someone we've heard of this year, and the Raptors are banging the "best player available" drum publicly. The guess here is that Looney fits the bill. He was once pegged for the top 10 and has the long-term upside of an Amir Johnson replacement in the starting lineup.
21. Dallas Mavericks - Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
The Mavs will almost surely go point guard, so this is a toss-up between Grant and Delon Wright. Both are NBA-ready players, but Grant's upside seems a shade higher, and he's proven he can share a backcourt in the event Monta Ellis sticks around.
22. Chicago Bulls - R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
With 35-year-old Mike Dunleavy set for free agency and the wing depth a little thin, the Bulls bet that Fred Hoiberg's offense can leverage Hunter's shooting and playmaking abilities.
23. Portland Trail Blazers - Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
Montrezl Harrell would be nice insurance with the frontcourt in flux, but Arron Afflalo will opt out, Wesley Matthews is looking for a major payday, and the Blazers need wing help. They roll the dice here that Anderson's shooting as a junior is his true talent level, not a mirage.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers - Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
The Cavs would prefer that someone else make this pick. If they keep it, Vaughn would make a cheap J.R. Smith replacement who could even help with backup point guard duties.
25. Memphis Grizzlies - Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
Someone has apparently made Martin a promise, and the Grizzlies are the team that make the most sense. They could use a backup for Zach Randolph and Martin could conceivably see some time at the three, too.
26. San Antonio Spurs - Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
It's always impossible to figure what the Spurs will do, and international players immediately come to mind. But they could use another frontcourt body and Harrell is ready to play now, an important consideration if Tim Duncan is giving it one more go.
27. Lakers (from Houston) - Anthony Brown, SG, Stanford
Vaughn sliding would be nice for everyone except Kobe Bryant, but he's gone here, and Brown fills an adjacent role as a shooter with size off the bench.
28. Celtics (from L.A. Clippers) - Guillermo Hernangomez, C, Spain
I'm gonna be completely honest: Monday night, The Rock tried to sell me on Hernangomez in a dream, so I'm not letting him slide to the second round. With the Celtics looking to package picks, maybe an acquiring team wants a draft-and-stash candidate with its later first-rounder.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta) - Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
A barren draft-pick cupboard can be looked at two ways: either the Nets need to draft a sure thing, or they need to swing for the fences for a player who will move the needle. McCullough, who'll miss at least some of the season recovering from a torn ACL, has one of the highest upsides remaining.
30. Golden State Warriors - Delon Wright, PG, Utah
The Warriors are said to want more shooting (unfair), and while Wright doesn't project as a great outside threat, he's solid and can slot in as a Leandro Barbosa replacement off the bench.
Second Round
31. Timberwolves - Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
32. Rockets (from New York) - Jonathan Holmes, SF, Texas
33. Celtics (from Philadelphia) - Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
34. Lakers - Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
35. 76ers (from Orlando) - Joseph Young, SG, Oregon
36. Timberwolves (from Sacramento) - Nikola Milutinov, C, Serbia
37. 76ers (from Denver) - Cedi Osman, PG, Macedonia
38. Pistons - Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
39. Hornets - Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, France
40. Heat - Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU
41. Nets - Olivier Hanlan, SG, Boston College
42. Jazz - Pat Connaughton, SF, Notre Dame
43. Pacers - Andrew Harrison, PG, Kentucky
44. Suns - Rakeem Christmas, C, Syracuse
45. Celtics - Arturas Gudaitis, C, Lithuania
46. Bucks - J.P. Tokoto, SF, North Carolina
47. 76ers (from New Orleans) - Norman Powell, SG, UCLA
48. Thunder - Daniel Diez, SF, Spain
49. Wizards - Vince Hunter, SF, UTEP
50. Hawks (from Toronto) - Michael Frazier II, SG, Florida
51. Magic (from Chicago) - Richaun Holmes, PF, Bowling Green
52. Mavericks - Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas
53. Cavaliers (from Portland) - Josh Richardson, SG, Tennessee
54. Jazz (from Cleveland) - Mateusz Ponitka, SG, Poland
55. Spurs - Tyler Harvey, SG, Eastern Washington
56. New Orleans Pelicans (from Memphis) - Larry Nance Jr., PF, Wyoming
57. Nuggets (from L.A. Clippers) - Awudu Abass, PF, Italy
58. 76ers (from Houston) - Alan Williams, C, UC Santa Barbara
59. Hawks - Nikola Radicevic, PG, Serbia
60. 76ers (from Golden State) - Michael Qualls, SG, Arkansas