2015 NBA Mock Draft: The Kings Do The Smart Things
By Ti Windisch
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) lays the ball up past Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) and Nigel Hayes (10) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Karl-Anthony Towns. 1. player. 86. Karl-Anthony Towns is simply the best prospect in this draft, and although Jahlil Okafor is also very talented Towns’ diverse and deadly offensive game makes him the better prospect. Towns and Andrew Wiggins will make the Timberwolves a great League Pass team in 2016, and they might make them a truly great team by 2017.. Power Forward. Kentucky
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) drives to the basket against Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Center. Duke. Jahlil Okafor. 2. player. 20. Although there have been reports of Los Angeles selecting D’Angelo Russell in this spot if Towns is gone, I just don’t see it. Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal have shown the Lakers exactly how important having a franchise big is–they can’t pass on that opportunity in Jahlil Okafor.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Ohio State. D'Angelo Russell. 3. player. 93. That leaves D’Angelo Russell to fall to the 76ers, and that’s honestly a great outcome for them. He’s easily the best prospect in the draft, and might be better than Towns or Okafor–the center position is just too hard to fill with great talent these days, so Russell drops a little. After trading Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks the 76ers need a point guard anyway, so they can add Russell to their stock of great young talent in Philadelphia.. Shooting Guard
4. New York Knicks
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) lays the ball up over Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) during the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Knicks fans are (rightfully) worried Phil Jackson is “goink” to do something dumb with this pick, but what they should do is take Justise Winslow here. New York can’t afford for an international prospect to flounder and leave the franchise in an even worse position, and drafting Winslow would allow Carmelo Anthony to slide to the power forward position, which is his best fit in this modern NBA. Let’s see if Jackson chooses to keep up with the times or keep his team in the dark age.. Small Forward. Duke. Justise Winslow. 4. player. 27
5. Orlando Magic
Mar 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Emmanuel Mudiay of Prime Prep Academy poses for a portrait. He is a finalist for the USA Today Player of the Year Award. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
player. 38. The Magic have a young point guard in Elfrid Payton already, but there’s no way they pass on Emmanuel Mudiay if he makes it this to them. Mudiay’s potential is huge, and he was once considered as the top pick in this draft. When you’re in a bad place as a franchise, you don’t draft for fit, you get the best player available. For Orlando to get out of their slump they don’t need any specific positional talent, just talent in general.. Point Guard. China. Emmanuel Mudiay. 5
Next: Picks 6-10