Now that the NBA Finals are complete, congrats to the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers for a gem of a series, we can focus exclusively on the NBA Draft for the next week.
My latest intel is that while Karl-Anthony Towns will be the first pick – which I have been saying since the NBA Combine – the second pick is seeing some last-minute movement. The Los Angeles Lakers like Jahlil Okafor and DeAngelo Russell. I’ve even heard Kristaps Porzingis attached to them. I’m told the buzz in Tinseltown is more about Russell of late and – combined with the vibes from the Okafor camp – I see Russell joining and eventually replacing Kobe Bryant.
With the news regarding canceled workouts, Joel Embiid’s recovery, and the Philadelphia 76ers’ history, I’m feeling that Okafor is a very real possibility on draft night if he falls to third. But if not the 76ers love Porzingis, and this assumes Russell is off the board.
At No. 4, Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks are infatuated with Okafor, Towns and Russell and will take any of them if they fall. But they won’t. My sources tell me that the Knicks instead will look to trade this pick and accumulate more assets. Based on the names I’m hearing most often, I think the Knicks are targeting a mobile big that can face the basket, such as Porzingis, whom we will have more on later this week.
With the recent hire of coach Mike Malone and GM Pete D’Alessandro in Denver, I’m hearing from sources that the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings have engaged in talks centered around draft picks and DeMarcus Cousins. While I would be surprised to see the Kings move Cousins, the possibility of adding Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried is awfully tempting. I also hear if that deal is not consummated, the Nuggets are looking to deal the seventh pick. The same can be said for the Kings at No. 6 if Mudiay is not there, but it is certainly possible he falls into their lap.
The Boston Celtics are the most aggressive team in talks right now, exploring ways to move up in the draft. GM Danny Ainge is loaded with picks and wants to make a splash. Watch for a possible deal with the Knicks 
involving multiple first-rounders. If that falls through, I think Ainge targets a move to No. 7 with Denver. I am hearing the Celtics’ target in a possible trade up would be Porzingis, but they also are very intrigued by Willie Cauley-Stein as they lack a rim protector in their stable of bigs.
With the trade of Lance Stephenson, look for the Charlotte Hornets at No. 9 to target Kentucky guard Devin Booker – assuming he is there – as they want to replace his scoring. If Booker is gone, Georgia State’s R.J. Hunter, who is skyrocketing up the draft, is the next likely name. However, I am told the Hornets would prefer to trade down a few spots in that case.
You may have noticed Porzingis linked with nearly every team. The 7-1 Latvian forward has been very impressive in workouts, and his game impresses a lot of executives. One team not currently in position to take Porzingis has him as the top prospect on their board. Right now, Porzingis’ range is 2-5 as I hear Magic GM Rob Hennigan has scouted Porzingis four times in person.
In this latest Mock Draft, we see some movement in the mid-to-late lottery and a few new names in round one.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky
According to multiple sources, the Timberwolves favor Towns over Okafor and Russell and it’s not really close. Towns has the best combination of size, athleticism, offense and defense.
It’s easy to see Towns running in transition alongside Andrew Wiggins, giving Minnesota fans hope of ending their playoff drought.
While some suggest Jahlil Okafor is worthy of the first pick, his lack of athleticism and style of play does not mesh with Wiggins and the club Flip Saunders envisions building.
Towns has shown the ability to play inside but still lacks the polish for that to translate immediately to the NBA. He played limited minutes in the Wildcats’ platoon system, averaging 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
Towns has great footwork, nice court vision for a player his size and a decent touch that should become very essential to him stretching the court. Towns reminds some scouts of Chris Bosh with his offensive versatility. Due to his size and athleticism, his upside is higher than Okafor’s. Learning under Kevin Garnett next season could be the perfect situation for Towns. The future is bright in Minnesota.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State
Phil Jackson will be crushed if this pick rings true. There are several scouts and executives that believe Russell is the best prospect in this draft and will have the biggest impact as a rookie. There is growing speculation that Russell’s camp received a promise and in turn canceled a workout with the 76ers, although he rescheduled that for today.
Russell has been drawing comparisons to James Harden as a guard who can run the offense and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Russell needs to hit the weight room, but in time he might be the prospect with the highest ceiling in this draft.
Specifically, the Lakers have become enamored with the idea of the talented Russell becoming the primary ballhandler and learning under Kobe Bryant, who is in the twilight of his career. With Julius Randle returning healthy next season, the Lakers would have a nice 1-2 combo for the future while pairing them with Kobe and whomever they attract via free agency. Jahlil Okafor may be seen as an elite prospect by some, but I believe the Lakers feel that Russell could end up being the best player in this draft.
3. Philadelphia 76ers – Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke 
Expect Okafor’s name to be linked to Philly, who along with Kristap Porzingis are the other options for Sam Hinkie if Russell is not available. Despite Mudiay being available here, the 76ers would be getting a perfect complement to Nerlens Noel. While Joel Embiid is still part of the plans, he has yet to play and there are some concerns over his long-term health as evidenced by recent reports. No question he could be traded.
Scouts have raved about Okafor’s advanced post skills and that he could be the next great prospect with a dominant back-to-the-basket game. Okafor has a great post presence and is very sound fundamentally, and if he can add some range to his repertoire, watch out. For now, he is an atrocious free throw shooter— 51 percent— but a beast in the paint, averaging 17.3 points on 66.4 percent shooting in his lone season at Duke.
Okafor’s lack of conditioning and explosion are concerning, but he has been trying to explain some of his shortcomings based on the system he played in and being young. While Okafor’s camp might prefer he slide to the Knicks at 4, it is unlikely and they feel there is a real shot of the Sixers taking him. Even if Philly chooses to pass, there should be some intriguing trade proposals from teams wanting to jump the Knicks for Okafor.
4. New York Knicks – Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guangdong (China) 
The Knicks are realistic about their chances of landing Russell, but if he falls here its a no-brainer. The Knicks would also be ecstatic if Okafor dropped to them, but if he is gone then this pick will be traded. The current discussion in New York revolves around Porzinigis, Trey Lyles and Sam Dekker. The front office is reportedly sensitive to fans’ desire to get a player that will be contributing next season.
The Knicks were hoping to get one of the top three prospects, but landing Mudiay is still a coup. He gets the edge here by a nose over Justise Winslow because he has a defined position.
Mudiay is interchangeable as the lead guard or shooting guard, much like Eric Bledsoe. At 6-5, Mudiay is long and explosive, a combination that’s very difficult to find in many PG prospects. Another aspect of Mudiay’s game that scouts love is his tenacity on defense. At his best, Mudiay is a facilitator who is deadly off the pick-and-roll when attacking the rim, reminding some of John Wall.
Giving Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson a lead guard to build around is a great foundation piece for the future. The Knicks reportedly are actively looking to move down though and could target Porzingis, Cameron Payne or Lyles.
5. Orlando Magic – Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Sevilla
With Scott Skiles as coach and with GM Rob Hennigan trying to replicate the success he had under Sam Presti in Oklahoma City, it will be interesting to see what direction the Magic go. Already with Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon, the Magic are going to be targeting 3-point shooting and a rim protector.
Hennigan has scouted Porzingis four times in person, which is a strong signal of Orlando’s interest in him. After withdrawing from last year’s draft, Porzingis comes in even more polished and ready to contribute in the NBA as a rookie. Some scouts believe Porzingis could go in the top three, but if he falls here, this should be a great get for the Magic.
Reminiscent of Nikola Mirotic with his diverse offensive repertoire, Porzingis will have some GMs salivating at the thought of a 7-footer who can have the offense run through him in the mid-range and post area or step out and knock it down from the arc.
Porzingis sounds like the perfect complement to Vucevic in Orlando and could be a great foundation piece moving forward. I’m hearing Philly likes him a lot as well.
Mitnick profiled him as an “under the lottery” prospect a year ago.
6. Sacramento Kings – Mario Hezonja, SF, Barcelona
There is a scenario where the Kings could see Mudiay slip to them at 6, and if so they would be racing to make their pick. While an upgrade at PG is needed, I think the Kings will look for veteran help in that area as they try to win now.
The Kings are in need of wing help, so I expect them to look heavily at Hezonja and possibly Porzingis, who is a very skilled scorer with the versatility to play multiple positions. While Winslow and Stanley Johnson could also be under consideration, Hezonja makes sense because of his offensive versatility.
With Vlade Divac now in charge of Sacramento, the Kings are a bit of an unknown. A year ago, Nik Stauskas was the pick, and with Ben McLemore already blossoming, the Kings will need more of longer wing like Hezonja. While Rudy Gay is signed long term, he is getting up there in age and could slide over to PF if the Kings want to play smaller.
Hezonja is a prospect who could stay overseas for an additional season or two, then come over and begin his development. Like many European prospects, the biggest knock on Hezonja is that he can be soft and not a great defender, but he will have a chance to squash those doubts during his pre-draft workouts.
With Sacramento set to open up their new arena in 2016, the Kings are trying to change the culture of losing after their ninth straight lottery appearance. So a player like Hezonja could be a great value and make an impact whenever he arrives. Rumors are swirling that Detroit is enamored of Hezonja, since newly hired exec Arn Tellem was a member of the agency that represents him.
For more on Hezonja, check out this fine column from colleague A.J. Mitnick.
7. Denver Nuggets – Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
The Nuggets have an interesting summer ahead, as they could entertain offers for Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried and shake things up from a team that has plateaued the last two seasons.
Fortunately for the Nuggets, they will be in a position to grab a prospect that falls into their laps, whether that is Hezonja, Porzingis or Winslow. Winslow looked physically advanced for the college game and should be a clear top-10 pick with his offensive versatility.
Where Winslow needs to prove himself is playing against bigger and longer defenders after struggling against them at times. He is a great potential glue guy who can get blocks and steals on defense and hold his own on offense. Winslow also is not a knockdown shooter and could really flourish if he improves in that category.
The Nuggets could target more of a scorer, but with all the pieces they currently have, a player like Winslow would be a great addition as more teams look for players with his skill set. Winslow is the epitome of efficiency when it comes to shot selection. There were only three games all season in which he shot poorly from the field for the Blue Devils.
8. Detroit Pistons – Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
The Pistons are very fond of Hezonja but if he fails to drop to them, I could see Stan Van Gundy opting for an insurance policy with Greg Monroe set to hit free agency. He needs someone who can play off of Andre Drummond and learn under new acquisition Ersan Ilyasova.
Lyles came into his freshman season as arguably the most hyped prospect in this year’s class for Kentucky. While he had an up-and-down campaign, Lyles really took off around tourney time and showcased why his skill set for a 6-10 player makes him an intriguing choice who could be a steal in several seasons.
With Detroit looking to rebound and challenge for the playoffs with a veteran group, Lyles could get plenty of minutes as a rookie. If the Pistons can exercise patience with Lyles, they could have a potential All-Star as he has unique skills and athleticism for a player his size.
The Pistons could target a wing here as well, but with Monroe’s future in doubt I think this pick is more likely.
9. Charlotte Hornets – Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
The Hornets are in dire need of more shooting, and grabbing Booker if Hezonja is off the board makes sense. Booker’s stock has blown up after his combine performance in which he showcased great athleticism, touch and range. Teams are now re-thinking Booker’s ceiling and whether he was pigeonholed at Kentucky because of the roster.
Looking at the bigger picture, playing on a deep team like Kentucky might have actually helped Booker as he was more efficient and is prepared for a similar role in the NBA coming off the bench. The Hornets are looking to rebound and return to the playoffs next season, and adding a knockdown shooter would certainly help.
When watching game tape, Booker seems to lacks the length and explosion you want in a starting wing, but there is no denying his combine performance could be an eye-opener to teams looking for a starting shooting guard.
10. Miami Heat – Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
The Heat are in unfamiliar territory, drafting in the lottery after four straight NBA Finals appearances. But this is an opportunity for Pat Riley to infuse the franchise with some talent and youth.
With reports of Dwyane Wade’s displeasure with the organization over his contract and an aging Luol Deng, the Heat might want to find a wing to groom. However, if Cauley-Stein falls all the way to 10, it’s hard to see the Heat passing on him.
Cauley-Stein has established himself as an elite post defender and rim protector. The comparisons to DeAndre Jordan are accurate, and in a draft this wide open, any lottery team looking for an impact big will be looking hard at Cauley-Stein. He might not be an ideal fit from a personality standpoint (similar to Hassan Whiteside), but his talent and skill-set allow that to be looked past.
For a team looking to return to the playoffs, Cauley-Stein is a more mobile and active version of Whiteside and could play right away — if not start — as a rookie.
CONTINUE READING: PICKS 11-20 | PICKS 21-30
after going 0 for 30 in your 2013 mock draft, why do you still describe yourself as an expert?
you have no sources. you’re a joke.
The BS in your articles is utterly disgusting. Would love to know your “source” for the Cousins trade.
RE: Mario Hezonja
“Like many European prospects, the biggest knock on Hezonja is that he can be soft and not a great defender, but he will have a chance to squash those doubts during his pre-draft workouts.”
What? This entire write-up is just flat out not accurate.
No one has called Hezonia “soft”… in fact the knock seems to be he is too aggressive and too competitive and overconfident. This is just lazy journalism. Read any article or scouting report on Hezonia… the adjective soft is never used to describe him.
And Hezonia won’t participate in pre-draft workouts because Barcelona is still playing games and he is contracted to the team. I’m not sure why this mock discusses pre-draft workouts when it is common knowledge that Hezonia can’t leave his team to participate in workouts or interviews.
Furthermore, Hezonia’s buyout situation is not similar to other european players who have stayed overseas like Mirotic or Saric. He plays limited minutes and most scouts/analysts expect him to come over to the NBA next season. It would be shocking if he stayed with Barcelona for 2 more years like the write-up suggests.