2016 NBA Mock Draft: Timothe Luwawu Breaks into the Top 10
Trevor Magnotti
Sep 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri during a media interview at Raptors Media Day at The Real Sports Bar Toronto. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 9: Bryan Colangelo ,President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors, answers questions about his own contract with the MLSE to The Star’s Cathal Kelly. Rene Johnston/ Toronto Star (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest NBA headline of the past week, as the leader of “The Process,” Sam Hinkie, formally resigned last Wednesday in a rambling 13-page resignation letter. In his stead, the 76ers have promoted former Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo to general manager. Hinkie had received plenty of criticism for his methods over the past three years, with his team just barely avoiding tying it’s own mark from 1972-1973 for most losses in a season. The 76ers’ draft decision-making has been under a constant microscope, and it’s about to be once again with Colangelo taking what should be a drastically different approach in the 2016 NBA Draft. It will be very interesting to see how Colangelo changes the 76ers’ draft strategy, and with three picks in the first round, we should get plenty of chances to find out in this 2016 NBA mock draft.
The Sixers aren’t the only ones in a state of flux at this point in the 2016 NBA Draft process, though. The draft pool is constantly changing, as the NCAA’s new rule allowing underclassmen to have more time to decide on their future. Players like Chieck Diallo of Kansas and Domantas Sabonis of Gonzaga are on the fence about joining and staying in the draft, and as real evaluation begins at the end of the season, it’s expected that plenty of players will be dropping out of the draft pool. Until then, though, let’s see how the 1st round could shake out (using Monday’s NBA standings for a draft order), headlined by the prospective decision Colangelo could have to make at number one.
This mock draft is brought to you by Upside & Motor, part of the Hardwood Paroxysm Basketball Network. You can find more in-depth analysis of the prospects mentioned within, including scouting reports and performance breakdowns, over at Upside & Motor.
Next: 1. Philadelphia 76ers
Feb 13, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) shoots over Texas A&M Aggies guard Alex Caruso (21) during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 2. Los Angeles Lakers
Feb 20, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles the ball around Louisville Cardinals forward Deng Adel (22) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals won 71-64. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 3. Boston Celtics
Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender’s name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months./ AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Next: 4. Phoenix Suns
Feb 11, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Jaylen Brown (0) drives in against Oregon Ducks forward Elgin Cook (23) and forward Dwayne Benjamin (0) during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Feb 2, 2016; Rosemont, IL, USA; Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn (3) reacts during the second half against the DePaul Blue Demons at Allstate Arena. DePaul defeats Providence 77-70. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 6. New Orleans Pelicans
Mar 1, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jamal Murray (23) dribbles the ball against the Florida Gators during the second half at Stephen C. O
Next: 7. Denver Nuggets
Mar 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Trevon Bluiett (5) defends against Marquette Golden Eagles forward Henry Ellenson (13) during the second half of the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles 90-72.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 8. Sacramento Kings
Mar 5, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) dribbles during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 9. Toronto Raptors
Sep 29, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri during a media interview at Raptors Media Day at The Real Sports Bar Toronto. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 10. Milwaukee Bucks
Feb 10, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes forward Jakob Poeltl (42) shoots the ball during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 11. Orlando Magic
Feb 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Marquese Chriss (0) dunks against Arizona State Sun Devils forward Obinna Oleka (5) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 12. Phoenix Suns
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – APRIL 07: Furkan Korkmaz,
Next: 13. Houston Rockets
Feb 13, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) and Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) fight for a loose ball in the first half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 14. Chicago Bulls
Jan 20, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Wade Baldwin IV (4) brings the ball up court against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 15. Utah Jazz
Feb 11, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) blocks the shot by Oregon Ducks forward Dwayne Benjamin (0) during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 16. Boston Celtics
Feb 9, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) reacts after dunk the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Georgia 82-48. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 17. Memphis Grizzlies
Feb 6, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) drives to the basket asPurdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Purdue Boilermakers 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 18. Denver Nuggets
Feb 20, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) in action during a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 19. Detroit Pistons
Feb 9, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers forward Vince Edwards (12) at Mackey Arena. Purdue defeats Michigan State 82-81 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 20. Indiana Pacers
Jan 30, 2016; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Domantas Sabonis (11) attempts a free throw after a technical foul call on the San Francisco Dons during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 86-48. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 21. Charlotte Hornets
LONG BEACH, CA – AUGUST 4: Dewan Huell
Next: 22. Philadelphia 76ers
Jan 17, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Malik Beasley (5) chases a loose ball in front of Virginia Cavaliers guard Darius Thompson (51) in the second half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The Florida State Seminoles upset Virginia 69-62. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 23. Boston Celtics
Next: 24. Atlanta Hawks
Feb 18, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Deyonta Davis (23) and Wisconsin Badgers forward Ethan Happ (22) fight for a rebound during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 25. Los Angeles Clippers
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 09: Paul Zipser of Germany looks dejected after losing the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 Group B basketball match between Italy and Germany at Arena of EuroBasket 2015 on September 9, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Next: 26. Toronto Raptors
Jan 19, 2016; Logan, UT, USA; UNLV Rebels forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) grabs a rebound in the first quarter against the Utah State Aggies at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 27. Philadelphia 76ers
Jan 30, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) passes around Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 28. Phoenix Suns
Mar 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson calls out during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 29. San Antonio Spurs
Mar 5, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after receiving a technical foul during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 30. Golden State Warriors
Feb 27, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Baylor Bears forward Taurean Prince (21) shoots over TCU Horned Frogs forward Vladimir Brodziansky (10) during the second half at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Trevor Magnotti
Athletic Trainer living in Pennsylvania. Contributor for Fear the Sword and the Step Back. I own four tarantulas and love studying anatomy. If you like tweets about the NBA and college football, follow at @Illegalscreens.
