Welcome to the 2016 NBA Mock Draft on NBA Lord's Blog! It's always a great challenge to put together a two-round mock draft that is accurate, but I enjoy the process of thinking through which players belong where and what surprises we may see in the draft. Like my previous mock drafts, I will go in order of each pick and predict which player I think will end up where. Note: This mock draft doesn't really account for trades, since those are impossible to predict with any certainty.
#1. Philadelphia 76ers: With the first pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Philadelphia 76ers selecting LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons. Ben Simmons is considered by most NBA scouts to be the top player in this draft due to his rare combination of size, speed, length, and skill. At 6'10", 240 pounds, Simmons can handle the ball in the open floor exceptionally well and get to the cup. He does need to improve his jump shot and his overall effort, but given that the NBA Draft is all about potential, Simmons is the logical choice for the 76ers to take with the first overall pick.
#2. Los Angeles Lakers: With the second pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Los Angeles Lakers selecting Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram. At 6'9" and 195 pounds, Ingram has the build of a young Kevin Durant while also possessing the game of a young Kevin Durant. He handles the ball really well for a guy of his size, can pop the three, and use his length to score over his opponents.
Also, his weaknesses mirror that of a young Kevin Durant: He's not all that strong, he gets pushed around inside when defending bigger players, and he needs to become a better perimeter defender. Given his high upside as the next Kevin Durant, the Lakers would be foolish to not take him if he's still on the board. His weaknesses aren't anything to be afraid of. He just needs to fill out more and grow into his body. That's really the only concern with his game at this point.
#3. Boston Celtics: With the third pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting Oklahoma senior shooting guard Buddy Hield. There's a lot of speculation about what the Celtics will do with this pick. They very well may trade it to acquire a more established player, but if they do keep the pick, I see them selecting Buddy Hield because of his scoring ability and maturity. Buddy Hield burst onto the college basketball scene during his senior year and dramatically increased his draft stock from a second round pick to a high-end lottery pick. The Celtics don't want any projects to work with. They want to win right now and Buddy Hield is probably the most NBA-ready player in this draft. Hield is a fantastic shooter and scorer who is sure to make an instant impact wherever he goes.
#4. Phoenix Suns: With the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Phoenix Suns selecting California freshman forward Jaylen Brown. As some of you know, I also cover Cal men's basketball for Rivals.com, which is actually my main sports-writing gig right now. I got to know Jaylen during the course of his freshman season at Cal and watch him up close.
What I can tell you about Jaylen Brown is that he is a fantastic specimen of an athlete, a highly intelligent young man, and a player who just wants to win. At 6'7, 225 pounds, Jaylen Brown runs the floor really well and is able to do serious damage when he is in the open-floor. A little known fact about him is that he actually has the potential to play point guard at the next level, which would really make him scary. Jaylen Brown had moments during his freshman season when he just couldn't be stopped. He took over games in stretches and wowed the fans at Haas Pavilion with some electrifying dunks. So, definitely look for him to enter the dunk contest.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Jaylen Brown is a fantastic defender due to his physical tools. He gets in the face of defenders and can guard multiple positions. He is a truly versatile player who can play positions 1 through 4. The only concern with Jaylen Brown is his shooting form and shooting consistency. If he wants to reach his max potential in the NBA, he needs to develop a more consistent jump shot and knock down his free throws with more regularity.
As far as the Suns are concerned, Jaylen has worked out for them and his workouts with them appeared to go really well. The Suns could go in a number of directions and more than anything need somebody who could one day be the face of their franchise. Jaylen Brown has all the tools to be just that kind of player for them, which is why he makes sense for them. If Jaylen can improve like we all think he can and will, he could wind up being the best player in this entire draft class. The Suns would be foolish to pass on him if he's still available at #4.
#4. Phoenix Suns: With the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Phoenix Suns selecting California freshman forward Jaylen Brown. As some of you know, I also cover Cal men's basketball for Rivals.com, which is actually my main sports-writing gig right now. I got to know Jaylen during the course of his freshman season at Cal and watch him up close.
What I can tell you about Jaylen Brown is that he is a fantastic specimen of an athlete, a highly intelligent young man, and a player who just wants to win. At 6'7, 225 pounds, Jaylen Brown runs the floor really well and is able to do serious damage when he is in the open-floor. A little known fact about him is that he actually has the potential to play point guard at the next level, which would really make him scary. Jaylen Brown had moments during his freshman season when he just couldn't be stopped. He took over games in stretches and wowed the fans at Haas Pavilion with some electrifying dunks. So, definitely look for him to enter the dunk contest.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Jaylen Brown is a fantastic defender due to his physical tools. He gets in the face of defenders and can guard multiple positions. He is a truly versatile player who can play positions 1 through 4. The only concern with Jaylen Brown is his shooting form and shooting consistency. If he wants to reach his max potential in the NBA, he needs to develop a more consistent jump shot and knock down his free throws with more regularity.
As far as the Suns are concerned, Jaylen has worked out for them and his workouts with them appeared to go really well. The Suns could go in a number of directions and more than anything need somebody who could one day be the face of their franchise. Jaylen Brown has all the tools to be just that kind of player for them, which is why he makes sense for them. If Jaylen can improve like we all think he can and will, he could wind up being the best player in this entire draft class. The Suns would be foolish to pass on him if he's still available at #4.
#5. Minnesota Timberwolves: With the fifth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Minnesota Timberwolves selecting Providence senior point guard Kris Dunn. At 6'4, 220 pounds, Dunn has nice size for the point guard position and he can really score the rock. He averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists last season on 37.2% shooting from beyond the arc. His 69.5% foul shooting needs work, but otherwise, he appears like a guy who should be able to score at the next level.
The reason I have the Timberwolves taking Kris Dunn is because they still need help at the point guard position and could really benefit from having a point guard who can score. Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio aren't exactly the best shooters/scorers. Plus, there's a possibility that Ricky Rubio gets traded. If the Timberwolves want to trade him or at least have that option, drafting Kris Dunn would be a smart move since it would give them a possible replacement for him who can actually shoot.
#6. New Orleans Pelicans: With the sixth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the New Orleans Pelicans selecting Croatian power forward Dragan Bender. At 7'0", 220 pounds, Bender has great size and length for an NBA big man and he is very skilled for his size. He has the potential to be a three-point shooter at the NBA, which would make him very dangerous.
Dragan Bender doesn't have the defensive prowess of Anthony Davis or the athleticism, but due to his skill set and overall potential, he could help the Pelicans form an even more formidable front court than what they already have. If he's available at this spot, the Pelicans will take him.
#7. Denver Nuggets: With the seventh pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Denver Nuggets selecting Utah sophomore power forward Jakob Pöltl. The Denver Nuggets already have Kenneth Faried, but they could use one more quality big man to help him out down low. Jakob Pöltl would be a great fit alongside Kenneth Faried because he is a great rebounder and scorer down on the block. Jakob Pöltl has a lot of moves that he can use and plays an old-school style of basketball that Kenneth Faried emulates.
I know it would pain Utah Jazz fans to see a Ute join the Nuggets, but Jakob Pöltl would make a lot of sense for the Nuggets. With Kenneth Faried and Jakob Pöltl, the Denver Nuggets would have a front court that could rival the Utah Jazz front court of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. Plus, the Nuggets already have their point guard for the future in Emmanuel Mudiay. Watching Emmanuel Mudiay and Jakob Pöltl play together would be a lot of fun. I think Pöltl would play great with Mudiay and make him better.
#8. Sacramento Kings: With the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Sacramento Kings selecting Kentucky freshman point guard Jamal Murray. Ben McLemore hasn't exactly panned out for the Kings and neither has Rajon Rondo. The Kings would be smart to look for someone else to be the leader of their backcourt for the future and Jamal Murray could check off that box. He is a very talented scorer who averaged 20 points per game on 40.8% shooting from beyond the arc. At 6'4", 205 pounds, Murray has solid size for a combo guard with the potential to be another Monta Ellis. His defense could use some work, but you have to love his upside given that he's only 19 years old. The Kings better take this kid if he's available.
#9. Toronto Raptors: With the ninth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Toronto Raptors selecting Turkish small forward Furkan Korkmaz. Korkmaz draws comparisons to Gordan Hayward due to his 6'7", 175 pound frame and versatility. He has a smooth shot and handles the basketball very well, giving him point forward potential like Gordon Hayward. Guys like that can play multiple positions and considering that the Raptors don't really need one thing, adding a guy who can play various positions makes a lot of sense.
If Furkan Korkmaz reaches his full potential and turns into another Gordon Hayward, the Raptors could come out the winners of this draft. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals, so they are already a very competitive team. If they can add another talented young scorer to the mix to go along with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, look out!
#10. Milwaukee Bucks: With the 10th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Kentucky freshman center Skal Labissiere. Labissiere is listed at 7'0", 216 pounds with a 7'2.5" wingspan and 9'0" standing reach. While he does need to bulk up, he has the physical tools to be a very good big man in the NBA. He has nice shooting mechanics and is very skilled for a player of his size. He has the ability to knock down 3s from NBA range and put the ball in the basket from virtually anywhere on the floor.
On the defensive end of the floor, there's no reason to think Skal Labissiere can't be effective. He blocked 4.2 shots per 40 minutes during his freshman season which indicates he knows how to use his length to his advantage on defense. If he adds more weight and doesn't get pushed around so much, he could be just as effective on defense as on offense.
The only concern with Skal Labissiere is that he never lived up to his billing. He was supposed to be the number one pick in this draft and dominate college basketball, but he wasn't able to. The fact that he's a low-end lottery talent instead of a top-3 guy makes his freshman season a disappointment, which if you think about it, shows how much expectations surrounded him. Still, he has all the tools and talent in the world to become the player everybody thinks he could become and he's still really young, so at #10, he'd be worth the gamble for the Bucks, who are in need of another rim protector to replace Larry Sanders.
#11. Orlando Magic: With the 11th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Orlando Magic selecting Gonzaga sophomore power forward Domantas Sabonis. At 6'10", 240 pounds, Sabonis has got a good body on him and utilized it well at Gonzaga to establish position in the paint and control the glass. While he likely won't be able to muscle his way in the paint like he did in college, the fact that he has that kind of mentality means he is tough and hard-nosed, something that NBA teams like.
Statistically, he improved a lot from his freshman season (9.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, .3 blocks, and 66.4% from the foul line) to his sophomore season (17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, .9 blocks, and 76.9% from the foul line), which indicates that he is yet to reach his ceiling. His ability to score efficiently is very impressive and should serve him well at the next level. The fact that his foul shooting improved indicates that in time, so should his jump shot, so he shouldn't remain a player who scores primarily around the basket. He should be able to diversify his game more in this regard.
Domantas Sabonis can get you points, rebounds, and blocks. He's a very nice all-around big man who would accompany Nikola Vucevic nicely down on the block. If he's available, the Magic would be smart to scoop him up.
#12. Utah Jazz: With the 12th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Utah Jazz selecting Washington freshman combo guard Dejounte Murray. At 6'5", 170 pounds, Murray has good size for a combo guard (6'9.5" wingspan). He is a crafty scorer whose game compares to Jamal Crawford. He averaged 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, so he can do a little bit of everything. His foul shooting (66.3%) and three-point shooting (28.8%) need work, but his ability to score the basketball is already evident.
It's hard to figure out where the Jazz will go in the draft, but their front court is in good shape with Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, so they really don't need to add another big man. However, the point guard position is still a question mark for them. It's hard to figure how good Trey Burke will become and while Dante Exum has a ton of potential, he is still raw and yet to prove he can score in the way that Dejounte Murray appears to be able to.
If the Jazz were smart, they'd draft Dejounte Murray and see if he can surpass either Trey Burke or Dante Exum. Having Murray would take pressure off of needing both of those guys to deliver the goods. I.e. Dejounte Murray could make one of them expendable in a trade. Given Utah's needs, Dejounte Murray makes the most sense of any player left on the board at this point.
Note: This pick has been traded to the Atlanta Hawks via a 3-way deal. Jeff Teague is going to the Pacers, George Hill is going to the Jazz, and the 12th pick is going to the Hawks. I'm going to stick with Dejounte Murray at #12 to Atlanta. It's very possible that the Jazz were planning to draft Dejounte Murray and were only willing to give him up provided they got a point guard of their own.
So, the Jazz were indeed searching for a point guard and now they have one in George Hill. With Jeff Teague in Indiana, the Hawks now have room for one more point guard, which I think will be Dejounte Murray. I know I said at the beginning that this mock draft doesn't account for trades, but considering this trade happened so early prior to the draft, I figured I would write this in.
#13. Phoenix Suns: With the 13th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Phoenix Suns selecting Washington freshman power forward Marquese Chriss. At 6'10", 235 pounds, Marquess Chriss is an explosive athlete who loves to catch lobs and throw down dunks in transition. He's also very active on the glass and excels at getting put-back dunks as well. Should the Suns select Jaylen Brown, picking up a big man like Marquesse Chriss at #13 would be a pretty smart thing to do due to his potential and upside.
At this point in the draft, you want to draft by potential as much as need. Marquese Chriss has tons of potential and could wind up being one of the best players in this draft in time. Plus, the Suns' front court isn't totally solidified, so drafting Marquese Chriss would also be addressing a need. He's a guy that makes sense for Phoenix to draft if he's still on the board.
#14. Chicago Bulls: With the 14th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Chicago Bulls selecting North Carolina senior power forward Brice Johnson. At 6'10", 210 pounds, Johnson could put on a little weight, but overall he has great size and length. Plus, he is very springy and can leap out of the gym.
With Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah getting old, the Bulls would be smart to find a young athletic big man to take their place for the future. Brice Johnson would be a perfect fit because of his size, length, mobility, athleticism, and activity on the glass (10.4 rebounds per game). When you watch Brice Johnson dunk on TV, his athleticism really stands out, so I can only imagine what it's like to watch him play in person. Not only does he get up, but he gets up very quickly, which is why he's so tough to stop on the boards.
Guys with Brice Johnson's athleticism have tons of potential because they have attributes that you just can't teach. I could also see the Bulls selecting a point guard due to Derrick Rose's frailty, but look for the Bulls to take Brice Johnson at #14 and give their front court someone to build around for the future.
#15. Denver Nuggets: With the 15th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Denver Nuggets selecting Syracuse freshman shooting guard Malachi Richardson. At 6'6", 200 pounds, Malachi Richardson has a nice build for an NBA wing. His 7-foot wingspan is flat out scary, giving him tremendous potential on defense. He was a good all-around guard during his freshman season, averaging 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 35.3% shooting from three-point range and 72.0% from the foul line.
The Denver Nuggets could use a quality player on the wing to accompany Emmanuel Mudiay and Malachi Richardson might do just the trick. He has tremendous potential given that he's only played one year of college basketball and possesses all the physical tools that he has. I think he would be a very nice fit for the Denver Nuggets.
#16. Boston Celtics: With the 16th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting Kansas freshman power forward Cheick Diallo. At 6'9", 220 pounds, has great size for the power forward position, possessing a 7'4" wingspan and a 9'1" standing reach. He runs the floor really well for a player of his size and definitely possesses NBA-level athleticism. Plus, he has a very high motor that draws comparisons to Kenneth Faried on NBADraft.net.
The major concern with him is he is isn't very polished on the offensive end of the floor and he also didn't play very much during his freshman season (3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and .9 blocks in 7.5 minutes per game). He appears to be a typical project that could blossom into something in 4-5 years but shouldn't be expected to make an immediate impact. In the middle of the first round, guys like Cheick Diallo are good guys to gamble on since they are low risk high reward.
The reason why the Celtics would be smart to take a flyer on him is that they could use another banger down low to go along with Kelly Olynyk. Jared Sullinger isn't as much of a banger on the boards as the Celtics would like him to be and he's dealt with some injury. The Celtics need more consistency down low and a guy who can bring some energy on the boards. Cheick Diallo definitely makes sense for the Celtics in my opinion.
#17. Memphis Grizzlies: With the 17th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Vanderbilt sophomore combo guard Wade Baldwin. Wade Baldwin is a really nice two-way player at the point guard position. He averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game last season while also shooting 40.6% from 3-point range and 79.9% from the foul line.
At 6'4", 200 pounds, Baldwin has good size for the point guard position, possessing a 6'10" wingspan, which enables him to guard both guard positions and possibly the small forward position as well. The reason why Wade Baldwin makes sense for the Grizzlies is that Mike Conley is getting older and it is unclear how much longer he'll be with the team.
If Mike Conley does stay with the team, he would be a great mentor to Wade Baldwin, helping him get a better feel for the point guard position. Wade Baldwin would be a great fit in Memphis because the Grizzlies need another point guard, they love to play defense, and they could also use somebody who can score. Baldwin checks off all three of those boxes.
#18. Detroit Pistons: With the 18th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Detroit Pistons selecting Vanderbilt junior center Damian Jones. At 7'0", 245 pounds with a 7'2" wingspan, Damian Jones has great size for the center position in the NBA. He shows an ability to be physical down on the block and hold his own against NBA bigs.
The major concern with Damian Jones is playing hard for a full 40-minutes, but if he is able to overcome this obstacle, the sky could be the limit for him. He had solid numbers last season at Vanderbilt (13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game), indicating that with seasoning, he'll be even better. The rebounding numbers could have been higher for sure, but the points and blocks are very encouraging.
As far as why I have the Pistons taking him, I think the Pistons could use another big man to accompany Andre Drummond down on the block. Drummond is fantastic, but he would really appreciate having another banger down low with him. Plus, Drummond would help Damian Jones with his motor and effort.
The Pistons could go a number of directions since they have a solid point guard in Reggie Jackson, a solid shooting guard in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and an elite big man in Andre Drummond. I personally think the Pistons would be best served adding another big to help them establish one of the best rebounding front courts in the NBA.
Note: Damian Jones is undergoing surgery on a torn pectoral muscle. I don't see this affecting his draft stock too much.
#19. Denver Nuggets: With the 19th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Denver Nuggets selecting Australian/Sudanese center Thon Maker. At 7'1", 215 pounds, Thon Maker has great size for the center position and he has a fantastic motor. He runs the floor really well, gets after it on the glass, and has the potential to be a quality shooter.
Given that he's an international guy who is relatively unknown, there is an inherent risk in taking him, but with two earlier picks the first round, the Nuggets can live a little and gamble on him. If he starts to develop into something, they could either hang on to him and deal Jursuf Nurkic for something or they could trade him for some other need.
In other words, Thon Maker could be an attractive trade chip to have. His potential is really high and at this point in the draft, selecting a guy with this kind of potential is tough to pass up. Even though the Nuggets are already well stocked in the front court, I still have them taking a flyer on Thon Maker and seeing where it goes.
#20. Indiana Pacers: With the 20th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Indiana Pacers selecting Michigan State senior shooting guard Denzel Valentine. He's not the most athletic dude in the world, but at 6'5", 210 pounds, he's got good size for an NBA wing. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game on 44.4% shooting from beyond the arc in his senior season. His skills should make up for his lack of explosive athleticism.
As far as how he fits in Indiana, I feel like the Pacers would benefit from a skilled wing that can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end. NBADraft.net compares him to Danny Green and if he lives up that billing, he'd be a terrific addition to the Pacers.
Note: The Nets have acquired this pick, sending Thaddeus Young and a future second pick to the Pacers. For the sake of simplicity, I will say Denzel Valentine goes to the Nets. The Nets could benefit from another good shooter in the backcourt that possesses Valentine's capabilities.
#21. Atlanta Hawks: With the 21st pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Atlanta Hawks selecting Michigan State freshman power forward Deyonta Davis. Deyonta Davis is 6'10", 240 pounds, and sports a 7'2" wingspan. He has great physical tools, but is very raw, still. He runs the floor really well in transition and shows an ability to finish well above the rim.
While he is a bit of project, he could be a good player for the Hawks to develop behind Paul Millsap. He has tremendous upside considering his age and physical tools. He would fit well in Atlanta, who could benefit from having another young big man for the future.
#22. Charlotte Hornets: With the 22nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Charlotte Hornets selecting Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone. Diamond Stone has good size for an NBA big (6'10", 255 pounds) and he already displays nice touch around the basket and some post moves to build around. He kind of reminds me of a young Al Jefferson in that regard.
Considering the comparison to Al Jefferson, the Hornets would be smart to draft him and have Al Jefferson work with him. I know that Al Jefferson will be a free agent, but if they re-sign him, which appears likely, he'd be a great guy to work with Diamond Stone. If Al Jefferson leaves, Diamond Stone would make sense as a possible replacement. Either way, Diamond Stone make sense for the Hornets, who will need a quality back-to-the basket big man once Al Jefferson retires or departs. I don't think Frank Kaminsky fills this particular role/need. He's more of a complimentary player.
#23. Boston Celtics: With the 23rd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting Florida State freshman shooting guard Malik Beasley. Malik Beasley arguably is the best player left in the draft according to my mock draft. He's 6'5", 190 pounds and is a very good shooter (15.6 points per game on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range and 81.3% shooting from the foul line).
I know the Celtics have RJ Hunter and James Young, but they have so many picks, that it wouldn't be a bad idea to add one more shooting guard into the fold. Plus, with all of their picks, odds are good the Celtics make some trades, so Malik Beasley could very well get drafted by the Celtics and traded elsewhere.
#25. Los Angeles Clippers: With the 25th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Los Angeles Clippers selecting Baylor senior small forward Taurean Prince. Taurean Prince averaged 15.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game during his senior year at Baylor while also nabbing 1.3 steals. He's got a good body on him and shows the potential to be a solid two-way player in the NBA like Jeff Green though not as good of a scorer. Similar to Timothe Luwawu, Taurean Prince is a nice glue guy and the Clippers could use another one of those guys. Especially since Paul Pierce is on his last leg and Jeff Green hasn't been able to live up to his billing post-OKC.
#26. Philadelphia 76ers: With the 26th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Philadelphia 76ers selecting UNLV sophomore shooting guard Patrick McCaw. Patrick McCaw also has "glue guy" written all over him. He's 6'6", 180 pounds with a 6'10" wing span. He's an excellent on-ball defender who is active in passing lanes (2.5 steals per game).
Defense wins championships and having a great on-ball defender is a must in the NBA. In addition to his defense, Patrick McCaw is also a solid scorer (14.7 points per game on 36.6% shooting from beyond the arc and 77.4% shooting from the foul line). He definitely projects to be a very good two-way player in the NBA. Philadelphia would be wise to select him if he's available.
#27. Toronto Raptors: With the 27th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Toronto Raptors selecting Marquette freshman power forward Henry Ellenson. At 6'11", 245 pounds, Henry Ellison has a good body on him, sporting a 7'2" wingspan. His statistics at Marquette were really good (17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 74.9% from the foul line). His athleticism is what has people worried, but given that he's only a freshman, he should still have lots of room for improvement and growth. Worst case scenario, he's a half-way decent role player and the Raptors could use another one of those as they try to find ways to challenge the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
#28. Phoenix Suns: With the 28th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Phoenix Suns selecting Michigan senior shooting guard Caris LeVert. Caris LeVert was a solid veteran shooting guard at the Division 1 level last year. He averaged 16.5 points per game while shooting 44.6% from beyond the arc. He could carve out a nice niche for himself as a role player that helps give Devin Booker a breather.
#29. San Antonio Spurs: With the 29th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the San Antonio Spurs selecting Oregon State senior point guard Gary Payton II. Given that I cover Cal hoops, I was able to watch Gary Payton II play in person last season when Oregon State came to Berkeley. GPII is a very quick guard who has a knack for grabbing rebounds inside. He's a jack-of-all-trades kinda guy who scores, dishes assists, gets steals, and rebounds. The Spurs are always looking for quality role players and Gary Payton II is an attractive option because of all the different things that he can do.
#30. Golden State Warriors: With the 30th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Golden State Warriors selecting Croatian center Ivica Zubac. Ivica Zubac has a lot of things going for him: He's big (7'0", 245 pounds with a 7'4" wingspan), mobile, and he has good hands. He's a solid rebounder and shot blocker and is good around the rim. His athleticism doesn't wow people and he's had some injuries, but even so, he seems like a guy who would be worth gambling on if you're a Warriors team in need of another big body down low.
2ND ROUND
#31. Boston Celtics: With the 31st pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting NC State junior point guard Anthony Barber. Despite only being 6'3", 175 pounds, Anthony Barber had no trouble scoring the basketball last season (23.5 points per game). In his sophomore year, he averaged 12.1 points per game, so he nearly doubled his scoring average. His ability to improve so much in one year is really impressive and he would certainly learn a thing or two from Isaiah Thomas.
#32. Los Angeles Lakers: With the 32nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Los Angeles Lakers selecting UNLV freshman power forward Stephen Zimmerman. He sounds like a project, but one worth investing in. He's got a good body on him (6'11", 235 pounds, 7'3" wingspan) and receives good marks on his basketball IQ. He just need to develop his game and learn how to use his body. Considering that he's only a freshman, he has plenty of time to reach his max potential.
#33. Los Angeles Clippers: With the 33rd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Los Angeles Clippers selecting French power forward Guerschon Yabusele. Geuerschon Yabusele is 6'8", 260 pounds, and he has a 7'1" wingspan. He is considered a bit undersized for the power forward position, but he makes up for this due to his mobility, motor, and overall demeanor. He appears to be a hard working kid who is willing to improve and get better. Guys like that are always good investments at this stage of the draft and the Clippers could use more guys like this.
#34. Phoenix Suns: With the 34th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Phoenix Suns selecting Syracuse senior small forward Michael Gbinije. At 6'7", 200 pounds, Michael Gbinije has good size for an NBA wing and he's a capable scorer (17.5 points per game). He also improved a lot from his junior year, so he should continue to get better in the NBA. He's also a smart player who knows how to make the right basketball play. This guy has "solid role player" written all over him, which is a great find at this stage in the draft.
#35. Boston Celtics: With the 35th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting New Mexico State sophomore power forward Pascal Siakam. I need to preface this by saying that he played in the WAC, but he did average 20.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game last season. Pascal's still a young man and is certain to improve. If he played at a bigger program he may have been a first round guy. He'd be a steal for the Celtics at #35.
#36. Milwaukee Bucks: With the 36th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Weber State senior power forward Joel Bolomboy. Joel Bolomboy has an NBA body on him at 6'9", 225 pounds while possessing a 7'1" wingspan. He's really athletic and runs the floor really well. He looked like a man among boys in the Big Sky conference and knows how to use his athleticism to his advantage. Similar to Pascal Siakam, Joel Bolomboy may have been a projected first round pick if he came from a bigger school.
As far as the Bucks are concerned, I think Joel Bolomboy makes sense because they could use another big man to crash the boards and do what Larry Sanders used to do. Bolomboy is another possible guy to do just that. His NBADraft.net comparison to Kevin Willis is also encouraging since Willis played for a very long time in the NBA. He could be a guy who helps Milwaukee build something during the next decade.
#37. Houston Rockets: With the 37th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Houston Rockets selecting Notre Dame junior point guard Demetrius Jackson. At 6'1", 195 pounds, Demetrius Jackson is very quick and attacks the hole well. He averaged 15.8 points and 4.7 assists per game last season on 81.3% shooting from the line, so he's definitely skilled. The only knock on him is his size, but his athleticism for his size is fantastic. He could be a nice off the bench player for the Rockets.
#38. Milwaukee Bucks: With the 38th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Chinese center Zhou Qi. At 7'2", 215 pounds, Zhou Qi moves very well and has great length. You can't teach those attributes, which is why he'd be worth the gamble for the Bucks. They need a true center and Zhou Qi could fill that need for them in time.
#39. New Orleans Pelicans: With the 39th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the New Orleans Pelicans selecting St. Joseph's junior shooting guard DeAndre Bembry. DeAndre Bembry can score (17.4 points per game) and he has solid size for an NBA wing (6'5", 205 pounds). My only concern with him is that statistically, he regressed from his sophomore year to his junior year, so he may have reached his max potential already. Still, he's got good size and rebounds well for a guard. If he can improve his shooting (which needs a lot of work: 26.6% from 3-point range and 65.7% from the foul line), he could be a nice wing in the NBA because of his size and rebounding abilities.
#40. New Orleans Pelicans: With the 40th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the New Orleans Pelicans selecting Croatian center Ante Zizic. Ante Zizic is a 6'11", 230 pound big man who has a high motor and gets after it on the glass. He could be a nice front court mate with Anthony Davis provided his skills translate to the NBA.
#41. Orlando Magic: With the 41st pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Orlando Magic selecting Providence sophomore power forward Ben Bentil. What makes Ben Bentil intriguing is his combination of size and shooting. He's 6'8", 230 pounds and he averaged 21.1 points per game on 32.9% shooting from beyond the arc and 78.2% shooting from the foul line. Plus, he grabbed 7.7 rebounds per game, so he can play down on the block. He's a unique player that Orlando would be smart to pick up.
#42. Utah Jazz: With the 42nd pick in the 2016 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Utah Jazz selecting California senior point guard Tyrone Wallace. I got to know Tyrone Wallace really well on the Cal basketball beat last year for Rivals.com. He's got great size for an NBA point guard (6'5", 205 pounds) and he is a lefty, which makes him more challenging to guard. Tyrone Wallace's major strengths are his size, athleticism, and ability to run the point guard position. NBA teams always like point guards who can see over the defense and Tyrone Wallace will have no problem doing that in the NBA. Tyrone Wallace rebounds well and does a great job at getting in the lane and finishing around the rim.
What Tyrone Wallace needs to work on is his shooting. He can score (15.3 points per game last season), but he isn't a great shooter (29.8% from 3-point range and 64.9% from the foul line). His upshot is high due to his physical package for a point guard, but if he wants to have a long career in the NBA, his shooting percentages must improve.
As for why Utah, I think the Jazz could use a versatile combo guard who can play both positions off the bench. They aren't in need of any one position, but they could use more versatility. Plus, Tyrone Wallace has experience playing with quality big men, so he should play well in the pick and roll with Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert.
#43. Houston Rockets: With the 43rd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Houston Rockets selecting Virginia senior shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon. Malcolm Brogdon has good size for an NBA wing (6'5", 215 pounds) and he can stroke it (18.2 points per game on 39.1% shooting from 3-point range and 89.7% shooting from the foul line). The Rockets need more quality role players and off the bench production, which is why this guy would make a nice fit for them.
#44. Atlanta Hawks: With the 44th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Atlanta Hawks selecting Kansas senior power forward Perry Ellis. Perry Ellis is an experienced big man who should be able to come in right away and be a solid role player off the bench. His 16.9 points and 78.5% foul shooting is very good, but his 5.8 rebounds per game indicate that he may not have what it takes to hold his own down low in the NBA. That being said, working with Paul Millsap should make him better. He is a competitive, smart basketball player who could carve out a nice role for himself in the NBA, which is as good as you can hope for at this stage.
#45. Boston Celtics: With the 45th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting USC junior combo guard Julian Jacobs. Like every Boston Celtics pick, I don't know if they'll actually keep it, but I'm gonna keep with the trend of the Celtics grabbing a guard. Jacobs averaged 11.6 points per game last season, which isn't high, but his 4.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals indicate that he can do more in addition to scoring.
#46. Dallas Mavericks: With the 46th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Dallas Mavericks selecting Spanish power forward Juan Hernangomez. Juan Hernangomez has a good body on him (6'9", 225 pounds) and his 75% shooting from the foul line indicates that he could become a promising shooter in time. He's a project, but one worth investing in at this stage of the draft.
#47. Orlando Magic: With the 47th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Orlando Magic selecting Kentucky sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis. Tyler Ulis is only 5'10" and 150 pounds, but he really exploded last season, averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 85.6% from the foul line. He is lighting quick and has a good combination of scoring and distributing that you like to see in a point guard. The only concern is whether or not he can overcome his size.
As far as the Magic are concerned, Ulis is intriguing since he could provide them an offensive spark off the bench and also be a backup to Elfrid Payton.
#48. Chicago Bulls: With the 48th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Chicago Bulls selecting Oklahoma senior point guard Isaiah Cousins. Isaiah Cousins has a solid body on him for a point guard (6'4", 190 pounds) and he shoots a really good 41.1% from beyond the arc. My only concern with Isaiah Cousins is whether or not he'll get much better since he is a four-year player at the Division 1 level. Still, he could prove to be a nice backup guard/sixth man kinda guy. NBADraft.net compares him to CJ Watson, which is encouraging. He'd be a good fit in Chicago.
#49. Detroit Pistons: With the 49th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Detroit Pistons selecting UConn sophomore small forward Daniel Hamilton. Daniel Hamilton has good size for an NBA wing (6'7", 200 pounds) and he averaged 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 86.0% from the foul line. His ability to rebound the basketball and knock down foul shots gives him a good foundation as he heads into the NBA. He also averaged 12.5 points per game, which is solid.
#50. Indiana Pacers: With the 50th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Indiana Pacers selecting Indiana junior small forward Troy Williams. At 6'7", 215 pounds, Troy Williams has a good body on him for an NBA wing and he rebounds well for his position (5.8 rebounds). His 13.3 points per game is solid, indicating that he has an ability to put the ball in the basket
#51. Boston Celtics: With the 51st pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting Kansas junior shooting guard Wayne Selden, Jr. Wayne Selden, Jr. is 6'5" and 230 pounds, which is a solid size for an NBA wing. He shot 39.2% from 3-point range last season while averaging 13.8 points per game. I keep having the Boston Celtics select backcourt guys, but keep in mind that they are unlikely to keep all of these picks.
#52. Utah Jazz: With the 52nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Utah Jazz selecting UC Irvine junior center Mamadou Ndiaye. Madame Ndiaye is 7'6", 300 pounds. So, his size is not a concern. His mobility and quickness is, but I've watched him play live against Cal. I found his feel for blocking shots to be really good and he wasn't a klutz on offense.
The Utah Jazz have had abnormally large centers in the past (I'm thinking about Mark Eaton). Don't be surprised to see the Jazz draft Mamadou and make him Mark Eaton's project. Mark Eaton leads the NBA all-time in blocks per game, so he could certainly help Mamdou Ndiaye turn into an absolute defensive wall.
Note: Mark Eaton isn't an assistant coach with the Jazz, but he has worked with their big men in the past. I'm sure he'd be happy to work with Mamadou.
#53. Denver Nuggets: With the 53rd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Denver Nuggets selecting Greek center Georgios Papagiannis. At 7'2", 275 pounds, Georgics Papagiannis has great size for the center position. He'd be an ideal draft and stash guy who the Nuggets could develop overseas.
#54. Atlanta Hawks: With the 54th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Atlanta Hawks selecting Turkish center Egemen Güven. NBADraft.net compares Egemen Güven to Pau Gasol, which is why I'm confused about his low draft stock. Obviously a project, but his 6'11", 220 pounds body frame indicates that he could someday develop the strength to hang in the NBA. If he lives up to the Pau Gasol billing, the Hawks could have the steal of the draft at #54.
#55. Brooklyn Nets: With the 55th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Brooklyn Nets selecting Purdue senior center AJ Hammons. AJ Hammons has good size for an NBA center (7'0", 260 pounds) and he put up solid numbers in his senior year at Purdue (15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks). He'd be a low-risk, high-reward player at this stage of the draft.
#56. Denver Nuggets: With the 56th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Denver Nuggets selecting Oakland junior point guard Kahlil Felder. The major concern with Kahil Felder is size (5'9", 175 pounds). But, 24.4 points and 9.3 assists on 84.8% foul shooting isn't a bad thing to gamble on in the late second round. This kid could be the second coming of Isaiah Thomas.
#57. Memphis Grizzlies: With the 57th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Memphis Grizzlies selecting French center Petr Cornelie. Petr Cornelie is 6'11", 210 pounds and he appears to know how to use his size well. He might be a draft and stash guy, which would make sense at this stage of the draft. This is the territory that those guys start to get selected.
#58. Boston Celtics: With the 58th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Boston Celtics selecting Florida senior power forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Finally, I have the Celtics selecting something other than a wing! Dorian Finney-Smith can score and he can rebound (14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season). He could be a nice player to have in training camp and Brad Stevens likes guys who work hard on the glass.
#59. Sacramento Kings: With the 59th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Sacramento Kings selecting Wyoming senior point guard Josh Adams. Despite being 6'2", 190 pounds, Josh Adams is fearless. He averaged 24.2 points per game last season and isn't afraid to take big shots. If the Kings regret letting Isaiah Thomas go after getting him so late, Josh Adams could be another one of those guys who gets drafted late but blossoms in the NBA. He'd be worth grabbing at this stage of the draft.
#60. Utah Jazz: With the 60th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I have the Utah Jazz selecting Arizona senior center Kaleb Tarczewski. I've seen Kaleb Tarczewski play many times during his Pac-12 career and he is a high character, hard-working young man with a great physical profile (7'0", 245 pounds). His 9.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season is a little underwhelming in terms of his scoring, but his rebounding numbers were solid.
He could become another Mark Madsen type of player who stays in the league for 8 or 9 years because of his work ethic and ability to be a quality practice player. If there's anything that I know about Kaleb Tarczewski it is that he works extremely hard and is a good teammate. Guys like that are very valuable in the NBA. As for how he fits with Utah, he'd be a nice, big body to practice against Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. They could use a quality big man to go up against in practice that will make them work.
Training camp/Summer League/Other possible NBA Draft candidates (List courtesy of NBA Draft.net)
6-4
|
210
|
PG/SG
|
Seton
Hall
|
So.
|
6-4
|
215
|
SG
|
Wichita State
|
|||
6-5
|
180
|
SG
|
Denain
|
|||
6-10
|
240
|
PF
|
Notre Dame
|
|||
6-9
|
200
|
SG/SF
|
Mega Vizura
|
|||
6-7
|
190
|
SF
|
UNLV
|
|||
6-8
|
220
|
SF/PF
|
St. Joseph's
|
|||
6-7
|
215
|
SG/SF
|
Texas A&M
|
|||
6-2
|
165
|
PG
|
North Carolina
|
|||
6-9
|
240
|
C
|
UNLV
|
|||
6-9
|
200
|
SF/PF
|
Boise State
|
|||
6-2
|
180
|
PG
|
Texas
|
|||
6-8
|
240
|
PF
|
Kentucky
|
|||
6-9
|
210
|
SF
|
Maryland
|
|||
6-6
|
210
|
SG
|
Louisville
|
|||
6-10
|
245
|
PF
|
Gonzaga
|
|||
6-0
|
180
|
PG
|
Indiana
|
|||
6-6
|
200
|
SG
|
Miami
|
|||
6-8
|
200
|
SG/SF
|
Cibona Zagreb
|
|||
6-8
|
250
|
PF
|
Maryland
|
|||
6-6
|
190
|
SG
|
LSU
|
|||
6-9
|
220
|
SF
|
Stanford
|
|||
6-10
|
215
|
PF
|
Iowa
|
|||
6-8
|
210
|
SF
|
Bayern Munich
|
|||
6-9
|
250
|
PF
|
Wake Forest
|
|||
6-4
|
175
|
PG/SG
|
Aquila Basket Trento
|
|||
6-9
|
235
|
PF
|
Arizona
|
|||
6-10
|
245
|
C
|
Louisville
|
|||
6-8
|
230
|
SF/PF
|
Iowa St.
|
|||
6-8
|
230
|
PF
|
Virginia
|
|||
6-10
|
250
|
PF
|
Louisiana Lafayette
|
|||
6-7
|
225
|
SF
|
Texas A&M
|
|||
6-3
|
180
|
PG/SG
|
Iona
|
|||
6-9
|
220
|
PF
|
Auburn
|
|||
6-2
|
205
|
SG
|
Washington
|
|||
6-4
|
185
|
PG/SG
|
Minas
|
|||
6-11
|
260
|
C
|
Texas
|
|||
6-7
|
210
|
SG
|
BYU
|
|||
6-11
|
255
|
C
|
South Florida
|
|||
6-11
|
215
|
C
|
Caja Laboral
|
|||
6-7
|
215
|
SG/SF
|
Kansas
|
|||
6-3
|
215
|
PG/SG
|
Georgetown
|
Note: I want to give a special thanks to NBADraft.net and DraftExpress.com. Without their AMAZING NBA Draft profiles, videos, and breakdowns, my mock draft would not be possible. Check out both sites to get the best possible coverage of the NBA Draft year in and year out.
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