2016 NBA Mock Draft: 3rd Edition

Here is my third edition of my 2016 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons, Power Forward, LSU: With their hodge podge of big men and Simmons with star potential with his ball handling and passing, he’s an obvious choice even as some executives favor Ingram for his shooting. Simmons isn’t a good shooter.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram, Small Forward, Duke: The Lakers needed a little bit of luck, and got it here. Not only were they able to keep the selection (it was top-three protected) and end up with the No. 2 pick in a two-player draft, but they're also in line to grab a guy whose skills perfectly complement the other pieces they already have. LA is still a long way away from competing for titles, but Ingram and D'Angelo Russell are good pieces to build around.

3. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)- Dragan Bender, Power Forward/Center, Croatia: There is no doubt this pick is likely to be traded. The Celtics missed out on the Simmons/Ingram bonanza but may have gotten lucky in their own way: After making the playoffs, Boston doesn't have any huge, glaring needs, nor are there the players in the No. 3 spot who would have addressed them. Instead they can take Bender, who at 19 years old is a long-term project, but also a potential future star.

4. Phoenix Suns- Jaylen Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, California: It's easy to see the Suns considering several different directions here. Brown has the kind of elite athleticism that translates into a great open-court player, a good rebounder for a wing and the potential to be a high-level defender, all with good size for a small forward. That package came through even as he shared time with Ivan Rabb, a possible lottery pick before deciding to return to school, and Tyrone Wallace, who should get drafted. Brown was the Pacific 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jamal Murray, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Murray shouldn’t be looked at as anyone’s starting point guard of the future, but he’s great off the ball and can fill up the scoresheet like nobody’s business. He’ll stretch the floor well on a young Timberwolves lineup full of people who need the paint.

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Kris Dunn, Point Guard, Providence: The Pelicans can use a young point guard considering Jrue Holliday has been injury prone the last few seasons. Dunn would fit nice with the Pels and would be a fun pick and pop partner with Anthony Davis.

7. Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)- Henry Ellenson, Power Forward, Marquette: A perimeter shooting threat, especially from a front court position, would help open up driving lanes for Emmanuel Mudiay. Ellenson has the chance to develop into that, while also contributing on the glass.

8. Sacramento Kings- Skal Labissiere, Power Forward/Center, Kentucky: Right now, what you know you’re getting out of Labissiere is an athletic big who can defend the rim and slash if defenders give him a step. Potentially, if he can develop more of a mid-range jumper and some offensive feel, he could be one of the best prospects out of this class.

9. Toronto Raptors (via Denver Nuggets)- Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma: There’s a real good shot Hield goes higher—perhaps as high as No. 3—but teams will look and see a finished product without much upside. Still, as the best shooter in the draft, what more would you want to develop? Plus, Toronto would be an intriguing fit and can start for the, if DeMar DeRozan leaves this summer in free agency.

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Jakob Poeltl, Power Forward/Center, Utah: It's the obvious fit, and the right one as well. Poeltl immediately will bring a defensive presence and offensive production to the low post in Milwaukee.

11. Orlando Magic- Domantas Sabonis, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: Sabonis is rising as teams shuffle around the big men of the draft class and are realizing that his floor (a top-notch defender and rebounder) is probably long-term starter material. He’s also a solid finisher, though, and the offense should come along in a big way sooner rather than later.

12. Utah Jazz- Deyonta Davis, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Davis has a ton of potential, but could be a few years away from contributing, and grooming him for the time being could be a good option for the Jazz. He would fit nicely with their big men.

13. Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards)- Furkan Korkmaz, Shooting Guard, Turkey: The Suns need to stash a player or two with all the picks they have this year, and Korkmaz might be the best of those candidates. He’s only 18, can score and could be a Top 5-kind of prospect in a few years.

14. Chicago Bulls- Wade Baldwin, Point Guard, Vanderbilt: The Bulls have needed some young depth at the point guard spot for some time, and Baldwin’s defensive versatility and ability to shoot off the ball would give him the ability to play both guard positions for Chicago.

15. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets)- Timothe Luwawu, Small Forward, France: The Nuggets got a ton of upside with their first pick and get even more with a player who’s probably one year away. Luwawu is a developing defender and all-around scorer, and at 20 years old could come over sooner rather than later.

16. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)- Denzel Valentine, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Michigan State: The important part of the Final Four team in 2014-15 had a nice climb up draft boards last season with more experience and a larger role for an elite program. Valentine earned that centerpiece spot as 22-year-old senior who is smart and versatile. He shot 44.4 percent behind the arc and also easily leading the team in assists, a testament to his ability to become a secondary ball handler in the pros as well as score.

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Demeatrius Jackson, Point Guard, Notre Dame: Memphis needs depth at point guard even if Mike Conley re-signs. Jackson has speed to play in the open court, leaping ability to play above the rim and a quick first step to create an opening. The physical advantages are especially important because he does have great size. He gives Notre Dame the chance to send a point guard into the first round for the second year in a row (after Jerian Grant went 19th last June).

18. Detroit Pistons- Marquese Chriss, Power Forward, Washington: Chriss surprised even himself in coming so far so fast as a freshman, using advanced athleticism and a decent perimeter game to charge up draft boards. Teams like to see a prospect trending up, and that's Chriss in a big way. But he is not a good rebounder for a power forward and he fouled out in 15 of 34 games.

19. Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)- Malik Beasley, Shooting Guard, Florida State: Denver could use some wing players and Beasley would be a nice fit. The team is also thin at the position so this pick would make sense.

20. Indiana Pacers- Tyler Ulis, Point Guard, Kentucky: They sure need a point guard. You don’t get great ones this far down in the draft, though the pros agree he’s the best pure point guard in the draft. But the 5-10 measurement is with shoes. With lifts? His height scares teams away, but it did with Isaiah Thomas, too.

21. Atlanta Hawks- Malachi Richardson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Syracuse: In the short term the Hawks lack wing scoring, and in the long term they lack star power, and Richardson eventually could fill both needs. Yes, he's a long way from being a complete player, but as Richardson showed in Syracuse's run to the Final Four, few players have more long-term potential than he does. His 23-point performance against Virginia was one of the best games anyone played in the tournament.

22. Charlotte Hornets- Damian Jones, Center, Vanderbilt: An athletic seven-footer who loves to run the floor and protect the rim? Sounds exactly what Charlotte needs. He’ll need a year or two to get his feet under him in the NBA.

23. Boston Cetlics- Ante Zizic, Center, Croatia: A high-energy player with nice athleticism for a big, he runs the floor well and handles the contact of playing inside. His offensive game is still limited, though. Zizic is 19, making him an ideal draft-and-stash pick for the end of the first round. With his intensity and with time, he could become a contributor for an NBA team.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami Heat via Cleveland Cavaliers)- Taurean Prince, Small Forward, Baylor: The Sixers got a win player in Simmons at the top of the board and double down here to grab a bench player who does everything well but nothing particularly great. Defensively, he can guard multiple spots and could easily play with the No. 1 pick in any number of lineups.

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Stephen Zimmerman, Center, UCLA: Size plus the ability to play in transition plus a nice touch from the perimeter plus the potential to defend both big-man spots. It's easy to see Zimmerman moving back up, after previously being in the lottery mix. The question is whether he will convince front offices he can play a physical style as well, at least on defense and go after contact rather than rely entirely on finesse. It didn't help that his freshman season was dotted by nagging injuries, illness and a coaching change.

26. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Cleveland Cavaliers/Denver Nuggets)- Juan Hernangomez, Small Forward/Power Forward, Spain: The 76ers don't want a third rookie along with two possible redshirt rookies, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, so one of the picks in the 20s is almost surely ticketed for a trade or a player to remain overseas. (If they deal No. 1, everything changes.) Hernangomez has used a season of good production to greatly help his chances of making the first round. His experience -- 20 years old now, 21 for the start of training camp -- shows. He is a good athlete who runs the floor well, plays above the rim and can score in a variety of ways. His brother Willy was the No. 35 pick by the 76ers last year and traded the same night to the Knicks.

27. Toronto Raptors- Brice Johnson, Power Forward, North Carolina: Johnson falls hard in this scenario, but his range in the draft will depend on whether teams weigh senior year vs. all the tape he put out before that. A talented rebounder, Johnson’s lack of real NBA-caliber girth could keep him from showcasing those skills as often. Overall, though, he’s got more skills than a lot of the big men going above him here.

28. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland Cavaliers via Boston Celtics)- Cheick Diallo, Power Forward/Center, Kansas: The Suns could wish Diallo were a few inches taller at this spot, but if he were a few inches taller, they’d have to take him in the lottery. He’s longer than he is tall, though, and a good athlete which helps mitigate some of that. He’s a first big off the bench-type and plays with a ton of energy.

29. San Antonio Spurs- DeAndre Bemby, Shooting Guard, Saint Joseph's: All around, Bembry is a lot better of a player than this draft slot but nothing is through the roof and his shooting could use some work. He’s the type of player the Spurs could stash toward the end of the bench, never hurt them in limited minutes and show up in a few years a much better player when asked to play a bigger role.

30. Golden State Warriors- Malcolm Brogdon, Shooting Guard, Virginia: With Harrison Barnes about to get very expensive, Brogdon’s combination of experience, defensive ability, and ability to navigate screens off the ball and shoot from the perimeter could help him contribute right away for the Warriors.