2015 NBA Mock Draft: Final Edition

Here is the final edition of my 2015 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves- Karl Anthony Towns, Forward/Center, Kentucky: Flip Saunders has coveted Jahlil Okafor's ability as a post-up big man, but some deeper scouting since the season ended seems to be leaning toward Karl-Anthony Towns as their next franchise center piece. Having Towns and Andrew Wiggins together for a decade should make the Wolves' rebuilding plan almost foolproof.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Jahlil Okafor, Center, Duke: The Lakers may flirt with the idea of D'Angelo Russell as their next great guard or Kristaps Porzingis as the next Dirk Nowitzki, but Okafor is probably just too good to pass up on. His defensive issues can be ironed out with some solid coaching and putting him next to Julius Randle could be one of the best frontcourts of the future.

3. Philadelphia 76ers- D'Angelo Russell, Guard, Ohio State: D'Angelo Russell has been the perfect pick for the next step in the rebuilding process in Philadelphia for quite a while. Russell has the potential to be a dominating offensive guard like James Harden, and he fits perfectly with the style Sam Hinkie eventually wants to build. He'll also be a nice distraction to fans if Joel Embiid isn't able to go next season.

4. New York Knicks- Kristaps Porzingis, Forward, Lativa: Dropping to the four slot may not be as bad after all for this storied franchise. Emmanuel Mudiay is the most intriguing guard in the draft and the Knicks certainly need a big upgrade in the backcourt, but the buzz and potential swirling around Kristaps Porzingis may be too high for Phil Jackson to pass up on. They can still go grab a veteran big man now to bring Porzingis along slowly and look for an upgrade in the backcourt in free agency.


5. Orlando Magic- Mario Hesonja, Guard/Forward, Croatia: Orlando needs a wing to pair with Victor Oladipo since Tobias Harris is likely to leave in free-agency. Hezonja needs to prove he's a shooter in the NBA, but acclimate him to the high altitude and watch him run all over opposing defenses.

6. Sacramento Kings- Emmanuel Muiday, Guard, China: The tricky thing here for the Kings is figuring out if Emmanuel Mudiay can be a star point guard for them or if they need to grab someone like Willie Cauley-Stein to pair next to DeMarcus Cousins. Kings going with Mudiay here means they feel his shot is correctable and his athleticism is too special to pass up.

7. Denver Nuggets- Justice Winslow, Forward, Duke: Winslow would be a great fit for Denver, who can use some young legs on the wing if they trade Danillo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler. If Winslow falls to the Nuggets, I don't see them passing up on a promising young winger with a ton of upside.

8. Detroit Pistons- Stanley Johnson, Forward, Arizona: Johnson seemed to be a lock to go Top 5 before his freshman season at Arizona, but his offensive capabilities didn't quite shine through. If Stan Van Gundy believes Johnson can be a shooter at the NBA level, he'll be the guy here and fit in perfectly. He can play the defense Van Gundy craves and stretching the floor for Andre Drummond is the biggest key for the Pistons.

9. Charlotte Hornets- Frank Kaminskiy, Center, Wisconsin: Instead, the trades have opened the door for Frank Kaminsky, who could start alongside Al Jefferson from opening night. The Hornets can use a big to stretch the floor and knock down shots away from the rim. Kaminsky's passing instincts and basketball IQ are attractive qualities as well. 

10. Miami Heat- Myles Tuner, Forward/Center, Texas: Miami's filled with what-ifs: what if Dwayne Wade is serious and the Heat can't work out a deal with him? What would that do to their hopes of re-signing Goran Dragic? What if Chris Bosh has a recurrence of the blood clots that tabled his season? What if Hassan Whiteside is as dominant as he played for stretches last season? What if he isn't? What if the Heat can get a full season out of Josh McRoberts? There's a potentially strong rotation amid all those questions, but there isn't an obvious wing to take. So the safe pick is Turner, who has big upside as a four, and whose presence would allow Miami to play more small ball, with Bosh at center, if McRoberts can't get healthy.

11. Indiana Pacers- Willie Cauley-Stein, Center, Kentucky: There's a good chance Roy Hibbert won't be a Pacer next season and beyond, so Cauley-Stein is the choice here. His defensive versatility could make him one of the most unique players in the league. He's a rim protector who can switch onto guards and pick up at half court.

12. Utah Jazz- Trey Lyles, Forward/Center, Kentucky: Lyles offers terrific value anywhere outside the top 10. He doesn't jump out of the gym, which limits his upside on the surface, but his size, polished skills and basketball IQ are NBA-friendly for a projected power forward. He's confident and comfortable shooting in the mid-range and sharp enough to put it on the floor. Lyles also knows how to score within an offense, an important strength for a player who won't be featured as a top option.

13. Phoenix Suns- Devin Booker, Guard, Kentucky: If Devin Booker slips by Charlotte at No. 9, he well might drop to the Phoenix Suns, who shouldn't let him fall any further. The Suns could use a complementary shooter and shot-maker to play off their ball-dominant backcourt, especially with Gerald Green set to become an unrestricted free agent. Booker is arguably the draft's top shooter, and at 18 years old, he's also the youngest prospect in the field. He'll have the next few years to expand on his offensive repertoire and develop his one-on-one skills.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder- Cameron Payne, Guard, Murray State: Not sure anybody's stock has risen more since the end of the college season than Cameron Payne's. His workouts have been stellar, the interviews are great, and he can really play.

15. Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn Nets)- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Forward, Arizona: The Hawks have to think small forward here -- unless, as you hear, they're looking to dump the pick and save dollars for their key free agents, All-Star Paul Milsap and incumbent small forward DeMarre Carroll. But with Carroll coming off a knee injury as well, Atlanta may need to pick a potential replacement. Hollis-Jefferson gets after it defensively like Carroll, and even if the Hawks can re-sign him, having Hollis-Jefferson around would let them move swingman Kent Bazemore around to more reserve shooting guard duties.

16. Boston Celtics- Kelly Oubre, Forward, Kansas: Oubre will require patience, but he has as much upside as anyone left on the board. The Celtics will take him here as the best available prospect. Oubre is a stud athlete with deep shooting range and promising defensive tools. With Oubre and James Young, Boston will have tremendous length and bounce on the wing.

17. Milwaukee Bucks- Bobby Portis, Forward, Arkansas: The Bucks are locked in at the one, two and three for some time, with Michael Carter-Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jabari Parker, and they'll likely re-sign restricted free agent small forward Khris Middleton this summer now that they've dealt Ersan Ilyasova's contract to Detroit. But Portis would be a natural fit for the long, hard-playing style that coach Jason Kidd instilled in his team in his first season. Portis, the SEC Player of the Year, would give Kidd some options at the offensive end of the floor, too.

18. Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans)- Tyus Jones, Guard, Duke: With Patrick Beverley and Jason Terry entering free agency, the Houston Rockets should be looking for additional playmakers and ball-handlers. Tyus Jones' passing skills would fit perfectly into a lineup consisting of established scorers and shooters. He has an excellent feel for the point guard position, as well as the ability to set the table for teammates and knock down pull-ups and floaters.

19. Washington Wizards- Kevin Looney, Forward, UCLA: The Wizards want to go small full-time next season, but even if Paul Pierce returns, they'll need to start thinking about the future at the four spot. Nene is entering the last season of his contract, and is not likely to return after 2015-16. So Looney would be a solid long-term investment. He shot better than 40 percent on 3-pointers in his one season with the Bruins, and he can handle the ball very well for a big. While he's not a ridiculous athlete, he is ridiculously long, which should help him make up for his lack of bulk at the defensive end.

20. Toronto Raptors- Sam Dekker, Forward, Wisconsin: Terence Ross hasn't exactly nailed down the small forward spot for the Rapors in two seasons, so taking a guy like Dekker wouldn't be a bad move. Dekker wouldn't solve the Raptors' inexplicable collapse on defense last season. But he does play hard, and he has the ability to potentially guard multiple positions. And in the Badgers' biggest NCAA tournament games, he showed up big. With All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan getting opposing defenses' attention, Dekker's game could flourish off the ball. He can certainly drive to the rim and finish.

21. Dallas Mavericks- Delon Wright, Guard, Utah: Wright shouldn't be viewed as a potential starter just yet, but he would be a pretty good start. He's not a great shooter, but he gets into opponents on defense, and he has the size (6-foot-5 1/2) to be able to guard both guard positions. He's a willing, able passer, which would be the kind of point guard Rick Carlisle wants on a team with as many scorers as the Mavs. He's smart and tough and knows the NBA game and his brother, Dorell Wright of the Portland Trail Blazers, has been in the league for a decade.

22. Chicago Bulls- Justin Anderson, Guard/Forward, Virginia: Chicago has plenty of big men, but they can use somebody on the wing to come off the bench or even start for them if Mike Dunleavy leaves in free agency. I don't see Jimmy Butler leaving Chicago and Anderson would be a nice pairing on the wing with Butler.

23. Portland Trail Blazers- Montrezl Harrell, Forward, Louisville: Reports are saying that LaMarcus Aldridge will be leaving Portland in free-agency. They may go after Kevin Love to replace Aldridge, but it won't hurt to have a productive guy like Harrell to come off the bench. The Blazers could very well dump this pick to save some guaranteed first-round dollars and keep more in their substantial reserves to build the roster.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers- R.J. Hunter, Guard, Georgia State: Hunter is another guy who is hard to see falling into the 20's in this draft, but that's just how deep it is. Cleveland could end up losing both JR Smith and Iman Shumpert in free agency and Hunter provides some good depth and insurance at this pick.

25. Memphis Grizzlies- Rashad Vaughn, Guard, UNLV: Vaughn's name has been hot over the past month, but without an invitation to the green room, he might still be slated for the late first round. He also has adequate size and athleticism, and at 18 years old, he's one of the youngest prospects in the draft. Memphis could use backcourt depth and Vaughn would give them that.

26. San Antonio Spurs- Jerian Grant, Guard, Norte Dame: Grant was such a productive player for the Irish, developed in to a great leader. A guy who was a consensus All-American as a senior and was third in the country in total assists is the kind of guy you want on your squad if you're a veteran team with championship aspirations. Tony Parker's injury-plagued campaign last season might also factor into San Antonio looking for someone who could get some run at the point with Cory Joseph, allowing Patty Mills to play more off the ball in reserve.

27. Los Angeles Lakers- (via Houston Rockets)- Anthony Brown, Forward, Stanford: Anthony Brown is going to be 23 years old by the time his rookie season starts, but he can hit 3's? He has a great wingspan, and he could find his way into that wing rotation for the Lakers right away. Byron Scott may not have to teach an older rookie like this too much.

28. Boston Celtics- (via Los Angeles Clippers)- Arturas Gudaitis, Center, Lithuania: Well-known overseas, Arturas Gudaitis' athleticism, rim protection and face-up ability have generated buzz in Euroleague play. The fact that he stayed in the draft at the deadline suggests he may have heard some positive feedback. Considering the Celtics have an early second-round pick, they might as well draft and stash at No. 28, save some money for next year and then take an NCAA product at No. 33, where contracts aren't guaranteed.

29. Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks)- Jordan Mickey, Forward, LSU: Mickey put himself on first-round radars with a standout performance at the NBA combine. He's a tough scorer around the basket, and though his shooting accuracy still needs work, he's more than capable of knocking down jumpers in the mid-range. 

30. Golden State Warriors- Jonathan Holmes, Forward, Texas: Holmes would be a good fit for a team that likes to play small ball. Holmes can play the 3, but he's better off at the 4, where he can stretch the floor as a shooter, defend power forwards and overpower wings. Though he doesn't project as much of a scorer, Holmes' defensive versatility and face-up game are valued in the NBA. Draymond Green would ultimately be the ideal player for Holmes to develop behind.