In the 30 years of the NBA Draft Lottery, 2016 was the first season every team got their projected pick. The Philadelphia 76ers are on the clock. They are on the clock until June, 23, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., the day of the NBA Draft. Followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the NBA’s three most historic franchises own the top-3 picks for the first team ever. Who will your favorite team select? Check out my recent mock draft below.
1.) Philadelphia 76ers- SF Ben Simmons
College: LSU, Height: 6-10, Weight: 240
2.) Los Angeles Lakers- SF Brandon Ingram
College: Duke, Height: 6-9, Weight: 195
3.) Boston Celtics- SG Buddy Hield
College: Oklahoma, Height: 6-5, Weight: 215
4.) Phoenix Suns- PF Dragan Bender
College: International, Height: 7-0, Weight: 220
5.) Minnesota Timberwolves- SF Jaylen Brown
College: California, Height: 6-6, Weight: 225
6.) New Orleans Pelicans- PG Kris Dunn
College: Providence Height: 6-4, Weight: 220
7.) Denver Nuggets- SG Jamal Murray
College: Kentucky, Height: 6-4, Weight: 220
8.) Sacramento Kings- PF Henry Ellison
College: Marquette, Height: 6-11, Weight: 245
9.) Toronto Raptors- PF Skal Labissiere
College: Kentucky, Height: 7-0, Weight: 215
10.) Milwaukee Bucks- C Jakob Poeltl
College: Utah, Height: 7-1, Weight: 240
11.) Orlando Magic- PF Marquese Chriss
College: Washington, Height: 6-10, Weight: 235
12.) Utah Jazz- PG Demetrius Jackson
College: Notre Dame, Height: 6-1, Weight: 195
13.) Phoenix Suns- PF Domantas Sabonis
College: Gonzaga, Height: 6-10, Weight: 240
14.) Chicago Bulls- PG Wade Baldwin
College: Vanderbilt, Height: 6-4, Weight: 200
15.) Denver Nuggets- SF Timothe Luwawu
College: International, Height: 6-7, Weight: 195
16.) Boston Celtics- PF Deyonta Davis
College: Michigan State, Height: 6-10, Weight: 240
17.) Memphis Grizzlies- PG Dejounte Murray
College: Washington, Height: 6-5, Weight: 170
18.) Detroit Pistons- SG Malik Beasley
College: Florida State, Height: 6-5, Weight: 190
19.) Denver Nuggets- SG Furkan Korkmaz
College: International, Height: 6-7, Weight: 175
20.) Indiana Pacers- C Damian Jones
College: Vanderbilt, Height: 6-11, Weight: 245
21.) Atlanta Hawks- SF Taurean Prince
College: Baylor, Height: 6-8, Weight: 220
22.) Charlotte Hornets- SG Denzel Valentine
College: Michigan State, Height: 6-5, Weight: 210
23.) Boston Celtics- PF Thon Maker
College: International, Height: 7-1, Weight: 215
24.) Philadelphia 76ers- SF DeAndre Bembry
College: St. Josephs, Height: 6-5, Weight: 205
25.) Los Angeles Clippers- PF Brice Johnson
College: North Carolina, Height: 6-10, Weight: 210
26.) Philadelphia 76ers- SG Chris LaVert
College: Michigan, Height: 6-7, Weight: 190
27.) Toronto Raptors- PF Cheick Diallo
College: Kansas, Height: 6-9, Weight: 220
28.) Phoenix Suns- C Diamond Stone
College: Maryland, Height: 6-10, Weight: 255
29.) San Antonio Spurs- PF Zhou Qi
College: International, Height: 7-2, Weight: 215
30.) Golden State Warriors- C Stephen Zimmerman
College: UNLV, Height: 6-11, Weight: 235
Best Fits
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are in the hunt for a small forward and a franchise player. With winning the lottery, they get both with Ben Simmons. Simmons has great size and strength for a power forward and can pass like a point guard. He is great in one-on-one situations which he will do early and often in Philadelphia. Simmons will be one of the NBA’s best players in a few years.
Jaylen Brown, Minnesota Timberwolves
With Tom Thibodeau at head coach, the Minnesota Timberwolves focus turns to defense. Since Jaylen Brown is loaded with defensive potential, he would reach that potential on the Timberwolves. Brown has a nose for the basket and possesses a massive body for a 19 year old. He would move Andrew Wiggins back to shooting guard and give the Timberwolves a massive lineup for the future. The Timberwolves could take Jamal Murray, but Brown is the best Thibodeau style player in the draft.
Domantas Sabonis, Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns will look big in this draft. Since Dragan Bender may not start right away, Domantas Sabonis will get a lot of playing time his rookie season. Sabonis is a rebounder who is aggressive on the offensive glass. He gives the Suns a dangerous rebounding team next to Tyson Chandler. With the rise of Alex Len at the end of 2016, the Suns have a low post three-headed monster. Sabonis would give Phoenix stability at an unstable position.
Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
Stan Van Gundy’s coaching style is to surround a big man with three-point shooters. Malik Beasley would give the Detroit Pistons another three-point shooter surrounding Andre Drummond. Beasley is an effort player who can’t be left open. He is the best three-point shooter in this draft. The Pistons bench would be Beasley, Jodie Meeks and Stanley Johnson. Van Gundy would be wise to not let Beasley pass #18.
Brice Johnson, Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are in desperate need of depth on the roster. The Clippers only have six players under contract for next season. Their biggest need is power forward depth with Blake Griffin out for extended time twice last season. Johnson gives the Clippers a durable power forward off the bench with great speed for his size. He can knock down mid-range jumpers and plays tough on defense. Johnson would help with the Clippers depth issue.
Best Draft And Stash
Furkan Korkmaz, Denver Nuggets
Furkan Korkmaz is a natural three-point shooter. He will find success in the NBA if he adds some weight. He currently weighs 175 pounds. If he played next season, he would get beat up and ruin his development. The advantage of the Denver Nuggets having four first-round picks is the ability to draft and stash. They can let Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler play out their contracts and plug in Korkmaz in two seasons. Korkmaz has the potential to give Denver a knock-down three-point shooter.
Thon Maker, Boston Celtics
Thon Maker is lucky he found a loophole in the NBA’s eligibility rules. Now that he is eligible, his draft position is up in the air. He is most likely to go to a team loaded with picks. The Celtics are one of those teams. Maker is a lanky center who can ball handle and shoot three-point shots. With how the Boston Celtics roster looks today, they need a center and a three-point shooter. Since Maker is only 19 years old, he would play a few years in the D-League. The Celtics are very good at utilizing their D-League.
Zhou Qi, San Antonio Spurs
Zhou Qi is a very San Antonio Spurs like pick. The Spurs draft based off potential and Qi has a lot of it if given the time. Qi stands 7-2, but only weighs 215 points. He is very lanky center but has blocking instincts. If he gets drafted by the Spurs he will have plenty of time to develop. The Spurs don’t need to draft a plug-and-play player because their roster is fine how it is. San Antonio’s success with international players would bode will for Qi.