2015 NBA Mock Draft: Where will D’Angelo Russell fall?
FanSided Staff
The NBA Draft is approaching. Who will be the picks in the entire first round?
As each day passes, the NBA draft gets closer and closer. This is the chance for all those teams who haven’t been competing this post-season to reload their roster with young talent to maybe have a chance at making the playoffs next year. It’s an exciting time for some and stressful for others as no one really knows who is going to land where.
Some players are obvious top-10 picks. As far as talent goes, most of them are pretty interchangeable. How the teams sift through them is a combination of the right fit within their organization and the most talented player available. It’s no question that Karl-Anthony Towns is the best player in this year’s draft with a huge upside. But the potential that goes along with Jahlil Okafor might be enticing enough for Flip Saunders and company at Minnesota to take a risk and go for Okafor.
Some teams that don’t land in the top-three picks are most likely sweating bullets awaiting who the Timberwolves, Lakers, and 76ers will take. Obviously for the Knicks, a point guard who can compete now is the most attractive to their organization, so they are probably hoping Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell falls to them. For a team like the Magic, where they are building around their flowering talent, it might be smart to pick someone who has a high ceiling but also might not be ready as of now.
All in all, the draft is an exciting time even though no one really knows how it’s going to pan out. But it is the biggest day of the summer for those teams that aren’t playing in the playoffs and is a huge indication of how good your team is going to be in the future.
Without further ado, here is a mock draft for the entire first round for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Next: No. 1: Minnesota Timberwolves
Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) keeps the ball away from Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jacorey Williams (22) during the second half of the SEC Conference championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated Arkansas Razorbacks 78-63. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 2: Los Angeles Lakers
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) dunks while guarded by Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) during the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 3: Philadelphia 76ers
Next: No. 4: New York Knicks
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
Next: No. 5: Orlando Magic
Next: No. 6: Sacramento Kings
Next: No. 7: Denver Nuggets
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) shoots over Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) in the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 8: Detroit Pistons
Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) looks on during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 9: Charlotte Hornets
Apr 3, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) shoots during practice for the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 10: Miami Heat
Feb 28, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jacorey Williams (22) in the second half at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 84-67. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 11: Indiana Pacers
Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) celebrates with forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) against the Texas Southern Tigers during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 12: Utah Jazz
Mar 3, 2015; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) cuts down a portion of the net after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won their 11th consecutive Big 12 Championship 76-69. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 13: Phoenix Suns
Dec 20, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Myles Turner (52) passes around Long Beach State 49ers forward Temidayo Yussuf (left) during the first half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 14: Oklahoma City Thunder
Mar 21, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) celebrates against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 15: Atlanta Hawks (from BKN)
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) drives to the basket against Duke Blue Devils guard Tyus Jones (5) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 16: Boston Celtics
Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) works against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) during the second half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 17: Milwaukee Bucks
Mar 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Justin Anderson (1) reacts to a play during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 18: Houston Rockets (via Pelicans)
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) guards Duke Blue Devils guard Tyus Jones (5) during the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 19: Washington Wizards
Mar 7, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Murray State Racers guard Cameron Payne (1) brings the ball up court against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the second half in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference basketball tournament at Nashville Memorial Auditorium. Eastern Kentucky won 86-83. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 20: Toronto Raptors
Mar 26, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney during practice the day before the semifinals of the south regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 21: Dallas Mavericks
Mar 21, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia State Panthers guard R.J. Hunter (22) chases a loose ball with Xavier Musketeers forward Jalen Reynolds (1) and Musketeers guard Myles Davis (15) in the first half of a game in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 22: Chicago Bulls
Mar 29, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Montrezl Harrell (24) handles the ball against Michigan State Spartans forward Matt Costello (10) during the second half in the finals of the east regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 23: Portland Trail Blazers
Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) shoots a free-throw during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 24: Cleveland Cavaliers
Mar 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Utah Utes guard Delon Wright (55) drives past Duke Blue Devils guard Tyus Jones (5) and forward Justise Winslow (12) during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 25: Memphis Grizzlies
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) dunks the ball during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers of the 2015 NCAA Men
Next: No. 26: San Antonio Spurs
Jan 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies center Robert Upshaw (24) rebounds against Oregon State Beavers forward Jamal Reid (32) during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 27: Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets)
Jan 11, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Chris McCullough (5) shoots the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 28: Boston Celtics (via Clippers)
Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Jarell Martin (1) shoots the ball in front of North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Ralston Turner (22) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Next: No. 29: Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks)
Mar 4, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin
Next: No. 30: Golden State Warriors
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) drives to the basket against Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men
