2015 NBA Mock Draft: Pick-by-Pick Predictions for the 14 Lottery Teams
Published by Daniel Lewis on June 24, 2015.
Robert Willett, AP, Getty, Paul J. Bereswill
On Thursday, June 25, Brooklyn will be the become the center of the NBA universe as it hosts the 2015 NBA draft.
What this year’s draft lacks in depth it makes up in top-shelf talent, featuring a duo of standout big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, two elite distributors in D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, and two decorated international players in Mario Hezonja and Kristaps Porzingis.
These players have the potential to give the Timberwolves arguably the scariest group of young players, spring struggling big-market teams such as the Lakers and Knicks back into contention, and perhaps finally end the seemingly perpetual tanking efforts in Philadelphia.
Below are predicted selections for the 14 lottery teams in the 2015 NBA draft:
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: PF/C Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
2. Los Angeles Lakers: C Jahlil Okafor, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers: PG D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State
4. New York Knicks: SF Justise Winslow, Duke
5. Orlando Magic: PF Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
6. Sacramento Kings: PG Emmanuel Mudiay, China
7. Denver Nuggets: SF Mario Hezonja, Croatia
8. Detroit Pistons: SF Stanley Johnson, Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets: PF Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
10. Miami Heat: SG Devin Booker, Kentucky
11. Indiana Pacers: C Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
12. Utah Jazz: C Myles Turner, Texas
13. Phoenix Suns: SF Kelly Oubre Jr, Kansas
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: PG Cameron Payne, Murray State
What this year’s draft lacks in depth it makes up in top-shelf talent, featuring a duo of standout big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, two elite distributors in D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, and two decorated international players in Mario Hezonja and Kristaps Porzingis.
These players have the potential to give the Timberwolves arguably the scariest group of young players, spring struggling big-market teams such as the Lakers and Knicks back into contention, and perhaps finally end the seemingly perpetual tanking efforts in Philadelphia.
Below are predicted selections for the 14 lottery teams in the 2015 NBA draft:
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: PF/C Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
2. Los Angeles Lakers: C Jahlil Okafor, Duke
3. Philadelphia 76ers: PG D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State
4. New York Knicks: SF Justise Winslow, Duke
5. Orlando Magic: PF Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
6. Sacramento Kings: PG Emmanuel Mudiay, China
7. Denver Nuggets: SF Mario Hezonja, Croatia
8. Detroit Pistons: SF Stanley Johnson, Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets: PF Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
10. Miami Heat: SG Devin Booker, Kentucky
11. Indiana Pacers: C Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
12. Utah Jazz: C Myles Turner, Texas
13. Phoenix Suns: SF Kelly Oubre Jr, Kansas
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: PG Cameron Payne, Murray State