The 2015 NBA Draft Thread: Draft Day Is Here

[frshstunna]

People have taken this "pace and space" stretch 5 trend a little too far.

Not picking Jahlil in the top 2 or 3 picks will come back to haunt those teams that passed on him. That guy has IT.

It's easier to learn to be an average to good defender and develop a Jump shot...(especially with Jahlil's physical tools).....than it is to learn his offensive post arsenal.

Brook Lopez isn't really carrying the Nets anywhere right now.

brook Lopez also never had a good team around him either plus he's always hurt anyway ...I don't see too many rational ppl saying Okafor is gonna win titles on his own , just kinda funny how alotta ppl are leaning towards he won't fit in the league or he might suck now

 

[awwsome]

First he can play 3 positions, now he's Deng at worse.


I forgot Jahlil gonna come in averaging 20 and 7 too.

 

[ognikehead85]

Watch Winslow end up like Marvin Williams

 

[buc em]

I have a feeling Winslow is the Knicks guy too. It seems like he's been in NYC all summer for some random reason ever since that pic of him and Melo.

 

[100027]

brook Lopez also never had a good team around him either plus he's always hurt anyway ...I don't see too many rational ppl saying Okafor is gonna win titles on his own , just kinda funny how alotta ppl are leaning towards he won't fit in the league or he might suck now

He was carrying us past the hawks.

Bad coaching slowed that down.

I feel you.  I like Brook Lopez.  I'm just saying I see where the concern comes from if you're worried a big man will be a scorer only.

Probably injuries are Brook's biggest issue but the lack of rebounding is also frustrating.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

I can't blame Brook Lopez for how garbage the Nets are. D-Will is washed up, Joe Johnson is passed his prime. Not much more Brook can do for his team.

 

[pmatic]

I think most teams would be happy to end up with a player of Lopez's caliber, warts be damned.

 

[100027]

Brook is an excellent offensive weapon. Anywhere inside the 3 and his back to the basket he's getting buckets.

He's a average defender / rebounder.

Good help defense and shot blocker as well.

He's a willin passer as well.

The issue is the nets just aren't very good.

But when Brook had a rebounding 4 next to him he was cookin. Since he can play inside and out and spacing isn't a issue.

If you told me Okafor would Lopez without the injuries I would take it in a heart beat.

I agree with everything you say and I think Brook is clearly the best scoring center in basketball.  Except he is a below average rebounder for position, his career rpg is like 7 and I want more out of a star center.

But I'm not sure I would build around him or take him #2 if I think Russell is an all-around superstar at PG, for example.

Of course Brook is not to blame for the Nets' struggles.  D-Will 

 

 

[mr marcus]

Ready for summer league

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

Don't think the league is going that extreme where Winslow can effectively play the 4

 

[pmatic]

 

[pmatic]

will u post fords new big board please

Chad Ford Big Board 11.0

The NBA draft team workouts are finally in motion. All 30 teams in the league are now hosting workouts of prospects almost daily. Although these workouts might seem superficial on the surface, they often serve as important tiebreakers between players whom teams like.

Nail the interview or the on-court portion of the workout, and you can still see your stock rise. Screw it up, and there's still room to fall. That said, there hasn't been a lot of major movement in our top 30. There's been some tweaking here and there based on feedback from teams. In other words, the board is stabilizing.

Here's our latest player rankings, based on feedback from NBA teams.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns has been No. 1 on the Big Board since March, and barring any last-minute injury or revelation, he'll be No. 1 on our Final Big Board as well. No prospect in the draft has a stronger combination of size and skill for his position. Towns has the potential to be a dominant 4 and 5 in the NBA on both sides of the floor. His engaging personality and excellent work ethic give him a clear path to stardom. According to the analytics, Towns ranks anywhere from No. 1 to 5 in most models used by NBA teams. Towns has yet to work out for anyone, and there remains a strong chance that he'll forgo workouts altogether. He is, however, planning on visiting both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers for interviews. In virtually every scenario, he goes either No. 1 to the Wolves or No. 2 to the Lakers.

2. D'Angelo Russell

Russell is in a two-way scrum with Okafor for No. 2 on most NBA boards. In speaking with numerous GMs and scouts, it appears Russell has gained a slight edge over Okafor, but it's very, very close. Usually size rises as we get closer to the draft, but with the elite play of Stephen Curry and James Harden this season, and a renewed focus on the 3-point shot in NBA offenses, Russell's shooting and playmaking ability actually might be more coveted than Okafor's old-school low-post game. Analytically, Russell ranks No. 1 or No. 2 on most models used by NBA teams. Russell's draft window looks pretty small. He should go either No. 2 to the Lakers or No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the unusual circumstance that he falls, I don't see him getting past the New York Knicks at No. 4.

3. Jahlil Okafor

Okafor still is a highly coveted prospect but has lost ground in recent weeks to both Towns and Russell. His style of play is the major culprit. Teams are looking for versatility, playmaking, shooting and rim protection. While Okafor has the most polished low-post game in the draft with excellent size and length for his position, he doesn't check any of the "en vogue" boxes at the moment. He's still heavily in the mix at No. 1 to the Wolves, No. 2 to the Lakers and No. 4 to the Knicks.

4. Emmanuel Mudiay

Mudiay still is one of the harder players to get a read on right now. As I wrote on Tuesday, the fact that he's been hard for NBA teams to evaluate has hurt his stock a bit. But it doesn't mean he hasn't been improving. I was absolutely wowed with his workout, and I suspect the Lakers (who he worked out for on Saturday), Knicks (worked out for them on Tuesday), Sixers and Timberwolves will all be impressed as well. It wouldn't surprise me if he ends up No. 2 by the end of the process. Not only is he a great athlete with great size for his position, he has rare maturity for a 19-year-old. Mudiay has a great chance to be an All-Star, and in a head-to-head workout, I think he'd give Russell all he could handle -- maybe more. Mudiay is in the mix with the Lakers at No. 2, the Sixers at No. 3 and the Knicks at No. 4. I think his floor is the Kings at No. 6.

5. Kristaps Porzingis

Porzingis just arrived in the United States last weekend and is planning a major workout in Las Vegas for NBA teams on Friday. It will be the only workout Porzingis will do before the draft. He will fly to a few teams and do interviews, but this one workout will likely solidify his stock in one direction or the other. I'll be there in Vegas to report on the whole thing, but until then, it's still a little tough to get a great read on his draft stock. He's in the mix as high as No. 3 to the Sixers. The Magic like him a lot at No. 5 as well. I doubt he would slide past the Kings or the Nuggets at No. 6 or 7.

6. Justise Winslow

The Winslow vs. Mario Hezonja debate continues to rage in NBA front offices around the league. Hezonja is the bigger and better offensive player. Winslow is stronger, a better defender and a better-known quantity. Both have a chance to be terrific. Winslow gets the slight nod over Hezonja on our Big Board when surveying teams around the league, but it's very, very close. One thing that might get Winslow the nod is his place in certain analytics models. According to Real Plus/Minus, Winslow ranks No. 2 in the draft behind Towns. The Knicks are giving Winslow a very serious look at No. 4. The Magic at No. 5, the Kings at No. 6 and the Nuggets at No. 7 are also all seriously considering him.

7. Mario Hezonja

Hezonja is right there alongside Winslow as the top wingman on the board. The biggest thing hurting Hezonja right now is he's unable, due to team commitments, to come to NBA teams to interview and work out. While scouts have done their due diligence and scouted him heavily in Spain, his playing time and role with the team has been very inconsistent, especially lately. He might very well have overtaken Winslow had he been able to attend workouts. Nevertheless, Hezonja's range is pretty similar to Winslow's. He could go as high as No. 5 to the Magic. I don't think he slides past the Hornets at No. 9. The Nuggets and Pistons are also seriously in play for him.

8. Willie Cauley-Stein

Cauley-Stein is the last guy on this Big Board who has a good shot of going in the top 5. He's widely regarded as the best defender in the draft and > from everything I saw in two workouts in L.A. last week, he's living up to the hype as a player who can guard five positions on the floor. Players with his size, athletic ability and defensive instincts don't come along every day. He, too, is heavily in the mix for the Knicks at No. 4, the Magic at No.5 and Kings at No. 6. If he doesn't go there, however, he could be in for a bit of a slide. But there's no way he'll get past the Pacers at No. 11.

9. Myles Turner

Turner is another player hoping to have a coming out party in Las Vegas on Friday. He'll join Porzingis in that big workout in front of a number of top NBA GMs and scouts. Turner has been working on his athleticism and his running technique and the word from trainer Joe Abunassar is that he's improved significantly. Given Turner's size, skill set and potential, he could be a real draft sleeper. On pure upside, he's a top 5 talent. I'm not sure there's a team in the top five that will take him, but the Kings at No. 6, the Nuggets at No. 7, the Pistons at No. 8, the Heat at No. 10 and the Pacers at No. 11 are all taking a close look at Turner. The Jazz at No. 12 or the Suns at No. 13 probably are his floor.

10. Cameron Payne

In the past two months, Payne's rise on draft boards has been incredible. Payne didn't crack our Big Board until April when he debuted at No. 20. He moved up to No. 15 on Big Board 9.0 and then up to No. 11 on Big Board 10.0. Now, he's cracked the top 10 and is getting interest from the Lakers, Knicks and Kings -- all teams drafting in the top 6. What gives? His combination of quickness, length and the ability to score and pass the ball are clearly intriguing teams. I like him, but I wonder if teams are getting a little too caught up in the hype. I'm projecting him to go to the Pacers at No. 11. The Kings at No. 6, the Hornets at No. 9 and the Thunder at No. 14 are other real possibilities.

I can post the rest of the top 30 later.

Later:

11. Stanley Johnson

Johnson came to Arizona with a ton of hype from NBA people who loved his size, strength and leadership. His season at Arizona was solid, but it raised questions about his athleticism and motor, especially defensively. That's led to a lot of different opinions on Johnson. Some teams still have him ranked in the No. 5 to 10 range. Others rank him in the 15 to 20 range. The Pistons, Hornets, Heat, Pacers, Jazz and Suns seem like the best bets to take him.

12. Kelly Oubre

Oubre is another controversial prospect. On sheer physical tools and upside, he belongs five or six spots higher on the board. He's one of the biggest wings in the draft, is a very good athlete, and has the potential to be a coveted "3-and-D"-type player. The question marks all center on his maturity and work ethic after he got off to a very rocky start at Kansas. His trainer, Drew Hanlen, swears he's one of the hardest-working players he's ever trained and that his improvement has been dramatic the past few months. If teams see that in workouts, he'll go much higher than projected here. He has the same sort of window that Johnson does -- Pistons, Hornets, Heat, Pacers, Jazz and Suns. I could also see the Thunder rolling the dice on him at No. 14.

13. Trey Lyles

Lyles continues one of the quietest campaigns in recent memory to be a lottery pick. There's zero buzz about him, but when you press NBA teams, virtually all of them have him ranked somewhere in the lottery on their boards. Figuring out where he finally lands is the question. The Pistons seem like his ceiling right now. I'm told they're the highest team interested. The Pacers and Jazz are two other teams that are fans. I think the Celtics at No. 16 and the Bucks at No. 17 are his floor.

14. Devin Booker

Booker couldn't be entering the league at a better time. The NBA is hungry for elite 3-point shooters and Booker stands as one of the two or three best shooting prospects in the draft. He's got a quick release, deep range and plays with a high basketball IQ. He also tested surprisingly well in some of the athletic testing at the draft combine. He also has the same draft window as Johnson and Oubre -- essentially, the teams picking No. 8 to 14 could all use a shooter. The Hornets at No. 9 seem especially interested.

15. Frank Kaminsky

Kaminsky was the national player of the year, but it's hard for skinny seniors to get lots of lottery love. Teams love his shooting ability and high basketball IQ, but there's a pretty fierce debate about which position he'll play in the NBA someday. The Heat appear to be his ceiling at No. 10. The Pacers, Jazz, Suns, Hawks and Bucks are the other teams that could draft him in the first round.

16. Bobby Portis

Portis has received strong reviews wherever he's worked out. He has great size, a terrific motor, a good rebounder and shooter. He remains one of the safest picks in the draft. Portis' draft range starts at the Pacers and includes the Jazz, Hawks, Celtics and Bucks. I believe his floor is the Wizards at No. 19.

17. Sam Dekker

Dekker is garnering some very positive reviews from teams in workouts. The key for him will be shooting, and several teams are telling me he's shot the ball well and has been aggressive. His range goes from the Pistons at No. 8, and include the Heat (who are big fans), Pacers, Jazz, Suns, Hawks and Bucks

18. Rashad Vaughn

Vaughn's terrific workout in Santa Monica a few weeks ago in front of a bunch of NBA scouts and executives was an eye-opener. He shot the ball as well as any prospect I've seen so far and showed some explosion getting to the basket. He's carried that strong play over into workouts with the Lakers, Heat, Warriors, Pacers and Bulls and has put himself in the mix for the late lottery, starting as high as Indiana at No. 11. The Thunder, Suns, Hawks, Bucks, Raptors, Mavs and Bulls are also giving him looks.

19. Jerian Grant

Grant's workouts have been strong, but he's still battling perceptions that his age limits his upside. Teams drafting to hit a home run will likely pass. But teams that love his experience, playmaking ability and toughness are fans. His range starts at the Thunder at No. 14. Other teams interested include the Rockets, Raptors, Mavs and Bulls.

20. Kevon Looney

Looney didn't really help himself at a pro day he participated in L.A. a few weeks back. He went through a hard workout and struggled to make shots. But in the ensuing few weeks, he's helped himself in subsequent workouts. He still has some of the best upside of any player in the draft and teams seem more comfortable that his sports asthma condition can be controlled with proper conditioning and medication. His range starts with the Pistons at No. 8. The Jazz, Suns, Celtics and Wizards are other strong contenders.

21. R.J. Hunter

Hunter is right there with Booker as one of the top shooters in the draft -- even if he did miss a lot of shots this season. Workouts have gone well, with several teams claiming he's the best shooter they've seen in this year's draft. That could get him looks as high as the Thunder at No. 14, the Hawks at No. 15, the Bucks at No. 17, the Mavs at No. 21 and the Bulls at No. 22.

22. Tyus Jones

Jones hurt his back in a session in Houston and won't be working out for a while. Knowing the shenanigans Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has pulled in the past, I wouldn't be shocked if the "injury" might be a promise by the Rockets to select him at No. 18 if he shuts down his workouts. The Rockets have been on him for a while. He does have suitors higher than the Rockets. The Nuggets and Thunder have both shown interest. But the odds are pretty high that he doesn't get past Houston at No. 18.

23. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

"If Hollis-Jefferson could shoot, he'd be a top-10 pick" is the refrain from every GM in the league. He might be the best wing defender in the draft. He has elite athletic abilities, high character and a high motor. But with the league emphasizing 3-point shooting more than ever, his stock is in flux. I think the Celtics at No. 16 are probably his ceiling. The Raptors are another strong possibility at No. 20. Ditto for the Blazers at No. 23.

24. Delon Wright

Wright is another wild card. For all the talk about him being a senior and lacking upside, there are several teams that want to be playoff contenders and seem to like him a lot. He's one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft, and the Thunder, Rockets, Raptors, Mavs, Bulls and Cavs will all give him looks.

25. Justin Anderson

Anderson has been impressive both in workouts and interviews and after a lot of hand wringing, more teams seem to be convinced that his hot shooting this season at Virginia wasn't a fluke. His ceiling is probably Milwaukee at No. 17. The Bulls at No. 22, the Blazers at No. 23 and the Cavs at No. 24 are three other strong contenders to draft him.

26. Montrezl Harrell

After having some of the steadiest draft stock of any player on our Big Board for the last two seasons, Harrell has struggled to get traction the past few months as teams have focused on his lack of elite size and inconsistency at Louisville. "If you're going to be a little guy playing the 4," one GM said, "you better play your *** off every possession." Harrell did at times, but now in workouts he's learning that has to come every day. The Wizards at No. 19 are probably his high spot. The Blazers, Spurs and Nets at No. 29 are other landing spots.

27. Terry Rozier

Rozier had a strong showing at the draft combine and continues to draw praise from teams in the draft. They see him more as a defensive stopper and energy guy coming off the bench right now, but Rozier thrived in his first season at Louisville. His ceiling is the Rockets at No. 18 -- he has several fans there. The Bulls, Cavs and Nets are other options.

28. Chris McCullough

McCullough is widely regarded as a value pick in the late first round. Had he stayed in school, he could've been a lottery pick next year. He's athletic and versatile. He's just raw. The Blazers at No. 23, the Spurs at No. 26 and the Nets at No. 29 are good options. In fact, I'm told there's almost no way he falls past Brooklyn at No. 29.

29. Jarrell Martin

Martin's athleticism and improved shooting seem to be bringing him back into favor with scouts. He'll also work out in front of NBA teams in Las Vegas on Friday, and a strong showing there could help his stock. He was widely regarded as a potential lottery pick coming out of high school. The Blazers, Spurs and Celtics are his best bets in the first round.

30. Christian Wood

Wood has the talent of a lottery pick. He has great size, athleticism and skill. But as I wrote on Monday, teams seem to be very turned off right now. The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine and in workouts has been disappointing. Teams seem concerned about both his focus and his motor. He looks to be in real danger of sliding into the second round despite his unique skills for a big guy.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/mock/?season=2015&version=11&source=Chad-Ford-Big-Board

 

[jpzx]

@DJJazzyJody: Kansas small forward Kelly Oubre is headed to Utah for a pre-draft workout this weekend. He's in Charlotte today.

@mikepersinger: Kentucky's Devin Booker out to prove to Hornets, NBA he's more than a shooter. @rick_bonnell: http://t.co/5mLkHjPHdq http://t.co/HcGqGowXbD

 

[jpzx]

"I've already said, being the No. 1 pick is not that important for me, it's more so for the fan base," Jahlil Okafor said. "I just want to be in right position with a team that wants me."

When have you ever heard a potential No. 1 disown the idea of being No. 1? When he wants the No. 2 team to take him, that's when. Okafor appears to want to play for the Lakers so badly, it's as if he's ready to cede the draft title to Towns right now.

"He's obviously a great player, he's definitely deserving of being the No. 1 pick," Okafor said of Towns.

So far, it appears Towns is ready to accept that crown and go to Minnesota. He is the only potential top-four pick who has not yet worked out for the Lakers, and they have had difficulty in pinning him down for a visit, which could mean that he already knows he's going to join the Timberwolves, so what's the use?

Okafor suffers from no such uncertainty, saying, "I'm coming from Duke University ... where the entire atmosphere is about winning. ... That's what the Laker organization is about, that's what I want to be part of."

When this columnist had the nerve to ask about his defensive deficiencies, Okafor had the wit to fire back.

"I hear the criticism, but we won a national championship at Duke, so it wasn't that bad," he said, grinning. "Coach K was fine with the way we played defense."

I don't think that's an answer though.


Story: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article23639860.html#storylink=cpy

 

[awwsome]

Jahlil already house hunting in LA.

 

[robotea]

you guys think KAT will be better than d12? 

 

[carver]

Lulz yeah I think it's obvious he wants to be a Laker. Please tell flip that as well jah. Pls

 

[awwsome]

you guys think KAT will be better than d12? 

Do I think a player that hasn't played in the NBA is going to be better than a 3 time DPOY and one of the most dominant defensive centers ever?


Gotta think about that.

 

[sohi 23]

Lakers gunna pick Okafor over Russell and I'm gunna die a little inside.

 

[pmatic]

Jeff Goodman Mock Draft 5.0

With just two weeks remaining before the NBA draft, there is still plenty of uncertainty. Who does Flip Saunders take at No. 1? What will Philadelphia do if both point guards -- D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay -- are on the board at No. 3? Two imports -- Kristaps Porzingis and Mario Hezonja -- could completely alter the complexion of the draft.

There's a plethora of skilled forwards in the middle of the draft, so a big question becomes: Who will slide? Guys who continue to gain traction are former UNLV scoring wing Rashad Vaughn and Murray State point guard Cameron Payne.

Here's out latest mock draft with my intel gathered from NBA executives and other sources:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves - Karl-Anthony Towns

Flip Saunders will do what just about every decision-maker who owns the top pick does: send out multiple smokescreens in an attempt to see if any no-brainer trade offers come his way. However, this should ultimately come down to a choice between the two big men: Towns and Okafor. Saunders likes both, but we're going with the fact that he'll wind up choosing Towns -- who has a higher upside and also is the superior defensive player.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - Jahlil Okafor

The Lakers need plenty, but Okafor should be the choice if Towns winds up going first overall. He's a rare breed: a true post player who can play well alongside Julius Randle in the front court for years to come. He also possesses a high basketball IQ, and could help Kobe Bryant win games now.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - D'Angelo Russell

This is where the draft could truly get interesting -- largely due to the fact that the Tankmaster (aka Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie) is on the clock. It comes down to a choice between two point guards: Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, as well as skilled 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis. Russell does well by the analytics, and he's also ready to come in and make an

4. New York Knicks - Emmanuel Mudiay

The Knicks can't go wrong with this pick, as Phil Jackson needs just about everything besides a forward who loves to shoot. Mudiay is the new-age point guard: He is big, strong and athletic but needs to work on his perimeter shot. There's some intrigue because he played a minimal amount of games in China this past season, but Mudiay played on the summer circuit the previous year and showed tremendous upside.

5. Orlando Magic - Kristaps Porzingis

This should be a no-brainer for GM Rob Hennigan and the Magic. Porzingis is a skilled 7-foot Latvian, and one high-ranking NBA executive told me he might have as much upside as anyone in the draft -- and that includes Towns. The Magic have enough guys who are perimeter shot-challenged. They need another scorer, and that's Porzingis.

6. Sacramento Kings - Willie Cauley-Stein

The Kings need a skilled forward who can stretch the defense, and Vlade Divac would have a difficult time passing on Porzingis if he's still on the board. However, he takes Cauley-Stein here, who can change the game on the defensive end much like DeAndre Jordan or Tyson Chandler. He and DeMarcus Cousins could mesh well together.

7. Denver Nuggets - Mario Hezonja

This will be a tough call between two wings -- Hezonja and Winslow -- for the Nuggets brass, but the difference is that Hezonja is the superior perimeter shooter. He's also taller, as Winslow measured at 6-foot-4 1/2 without shoes.

8. Detroit Pistons - Justise Winslow

Stan Van Gundy will celebrate if Winslow, the versatile wing who helped lead Duke to the national title, is still on the board. He needs a wing with size, and while Winslow didn't quite measure up, he can guard multiple positions and brings no shortage of toughness to the table.

9. Charlotte Hornets - Devin Booker

The Hornets were last in the NBA in 3-point shooting, and Booker is the best pure shooter on the board, arguably in the entire draft. Booker shot 41 percent from 3 as a freshman at Kentucky, and would fill a major need for Charlotte.

10. Miami Heat - Kelly Oubre

The Heat need young legs and Oubre has extremely high upside. He's an athletic small forward with size who wound up shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc last season at Kansas. Oubre can learn for a year under veteran Luol Deng, and then might be ready to go.

11. Indiana Pacers - Cameron Payne

The Pacers' most glaring needs are at point guard and power forward. The Murray State floor leader has risen and Larry Bird would bank on the fact that he's an upgrade over George Hill. Indiana could also go with one of the skilled bigs on the board, specifically Trey Lyles or Myles Turner.

12. Utah Jazz - Stanley Johnson

The Jazz have Alec Burks, who has played well the past two seasons, but logged just 27 games due to a shoulder injury this past season. Johnson is a power wing who has a chance to be a terrific player in the league. He's big, strong and showed he can make shots, shooting 37 percent from 3 last season at Arizona.

13. Phoenix Suns - Sam Dekker

Ryan McDonough needs to upgrade on the wing from Marcus Morris, and loves to add high-character guys. Dekker gives him an athletic wing with size who could run with Eric Bledsoe.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder - Frank Kaminsky

Sam Presti can afford to go with the best player on the board, and the skilled 7-footer, who is coming off a National Player of the Year campaign, is just that. He can play the 4 or the 5, and would be an ideal piece for OKC.

15. Atlanta Hawks - Trey Lyles

Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll are free agents this season, and Al Horford hits the market a year from now. Lyles is a super-skilled power forward who played out of position most of this past season at Kentucky. He can shoot from the perimeter, rebounds well and is also a terrific passer for a power forward.

16. Boston Celtics - Myles Turner

There is some concern about the way he runs and whether there's a medical issue, so he might drop a bit. However, the Celtics need a rim protector, and the 6-foot-11 Turner can do that and step out and make shots. He would be tough for Danny Ainge to pass up if he falls this far.

17. Milwaukee Bucks - Jerian Grant

The Bucks have a nice pair of young bookend forwards in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker and a young point guard in Michael Carter-Williams. GM John Hammond can go in a variety of different directions and will likely just go with the best guy on the board. Grant is versatile, can play both backcourt spots and is already 22 years old.

18. Houston Rockets - Tyus Jones

Duke's unflappable, shot-making point guard is ideal for the Rockets in that he runs the team and gets guys quality looks. The Rockets had to live with aging Jason Terry after Patrick Beverley went down with an injury, and Jones is the perfect complement to James Harden and Dwight Howard.

19. Washington Wizards - Bobby Portis

The former Arkansas Razorback isn't a tremendous athlete, but he's got a nice combination of length and skill and enough athleticism to be a nice piece in the NBA.

20. Toronto Raptors - Kevon Looney

He's tough to figure because he's not skilled enough to play the 3 in the NBA yet, and not big enough to play the 4. But he's worth the roll of the dice because he rebounds at a high clip, and has shown spurts when he can make perimeter shots.

21. Dallas Mavericks - Rashad Vaughn

The Mavs need backcourt help, especially with Rajon Rondo gone and plenty of uncertainty whether Monta Ellis comes back. Vaughn is a prolific wing scorer who put up big numbers last season at UNLV and could help fill the void if Ellis leaves.

22. Chicago Bulls - Delon Wright

Fred Hoiberg will need a backup point guard more than just about anything else (except for health) -- especially one who can defend. Wright has the size, can really guard and his jump shot will improve.

23. Portland Trailblazers - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Portland needs to try to grab someone who can help up front, especially if LaMarcus Aldridge leaves in free agency. Hollis-Jefferson is nothing like Aldridge, but he's a big-time athlete and defender who needs to improve his ability to make shots.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jarell Martin

There's plenty of uncertainty regarding Kevin Love's future, but the core of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson should stay intact -- along with Timofey Mozgov. Martin would give the Cavs a nice complement to Thompson in that he's a 6-foot-9 forward who can make shots to 16-18 feet.

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Justin Anderson

The Grizzlies could use a more reliable wing than Courtney Lee, and Anderson is a wing who can guard and also proved he can make shots this past season. He shot 45 percent from 3 as a junior after shooting 30 percent from beyond the arc his first two seasons at Virginia.

26. San Antonio Spurs - R.J Hunter

The Spurs could lose Danny Green via free agency, and will need someone to fill that role as a shooter. Hunter struggled to shoot it from deep this past season, but the Georgia State star is a 2-guard who will make a living by making shots from beyond the arc.

27. Los Angeles Lakers - Terry Rozier

He's a scoring point who is still learning how to consistently make quality decisions while running a team, but Rozier can get to the basket, brings toughness to the table and would give the Lakers another option at the point.

28. Boston Celtics - Montrezl Harrell

I'm not sold he'll slip this low, but if he does, he'd be a great pick for the Celtics' second first-round pick. Harrell would give Boston much-needed athleticism up front. He's a guy who can rebound at a high level, but needs to work on his skill.

29. Brooklyn Nets - Chris McCullough

The Nets might as well roll the dice here. McCullough didn't do much before going down with a season-ending injury midway through his freshman season at Syracuse, but he looks the part and could develop into a nice player down the road.

30. Golden State Warriors - Jonathan Holmes

The Warriors don't need much, so GM Bob Myers can just go with whoever he thinks has a chance to stick on a deep and loaded team. Holmes is a guy who can be a stretch 4-man and is worth the roll of the dice with the final pick of the round.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft/mock/?season=2015&version=5&source=Jeff-Goodman-Mock-Draft

 

[MVP]

Lakers gunna pick Okafor over Russell and I'm gunna die a little inside.

You'll come back to life when the superior Russell is here in a couple seasons.

 

[jpzx]

Maybe when Bean's gone LA will be cool again.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Lakers gunna pick Okafor over Russell and I'm gunna die a little inside.

You'll come back to life when the superior Russell is here in a couple seasons.

What happens when Russell turns into a bust?

 

[awwsome]

Interested to see what playoff team gets Christmas.

 

[nick.]

i like Rakeem, hope the Knicks could buy a late 1st rounder & pick him up