2016 TSL NBA Mock Draft 1.0

It’s that time of year again! The ping-pong balls have fallen, and teams’ fates revealed. Now it’s time to see which teams land their future stars. Here is my first 2016 NBA Mock Draft:

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons (PF) – LSU: The 76ers have the luxury of picking first overall this year, and really have two choices: Simmons or Brandon Ingram. Ingram may be a better fit, but I am more inclined to believe Simmons is the better player and inevitable pick. Look for the 76ers to listen for trades regarding both Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, but expect Noel to be the likely trade candidate.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram (SF/PF) – Duke: The Lakers have their own luxury, being that both Simmons and Ingram fit needs, and they can pick whoever is left. Ingram will be an interesting complement to the shooting prowess of Lou Williams and D’Angelo Russell. He will also have room to develop with no clear wing presence and a city yearning for a star.
3. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn): Buddy Hield (SG) – Oklahoma: The Celtics missed on a top two pick, but there is still value to be had. While the Celtics may trade this pick, they shouldn’t pass on the tremendous shooting of Buddy Hield, whose experience, exceptionally quick release, and the ability to create shots, could take the Celtics’ offense to new heights. Hield would be a terrific compliment to the defense of Marcus Smart off the bench and could work his way into the starting lineup easily if needed.
4. Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender (PF) – Croatia: Bender would be an interesting draft pick for the Suns because of his tremendous upside and profile is largely similar to pending free agent Mirza Teletovic. Bender would be a great compliment both offensively and defensively with Tyson Chandler. The pressure is also not as immediate on Bender in Phoenix, as opposed to LA and Boston, who want to win now. Bender can reach his full potential in a smaller market with less pressure.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray (PG/SG) – Kentucky: The Timberwolves are putting together an impressive young core. Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Shabazz Muhammad are all coming together nicely. If LaVine is the point guard of the future, Ricky Rubio could be available, and they could be looking for an athletic pairing by adding Murray. Murray and LaVine both came in without a defined position, and they can mold the 6-foot-5 Murray into a true number two.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn (PG) – Providence: The Pelicans imploded last year with injuries and poor personnel decisions throughout the year. The team would be better off by cutting loose some of the failed projects (Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, and Jrue Holiday) and starting to replace them. Dunn may be the best point guard in the draft. If everything checks out medically, the Pelicans should look for him to take the reins and be a tremendous offensive piece to pair with Anthony Davis.
7. Denver Nuggets (via New York): Jaylen Brown (SF) – California: The Nuggets have just invested a top pick in their point guard of the future in Emmanuel Mudiay and saw Nikola Jokic have a terrific rookie season at the center position. Now it’s time for them to swing for the fences for some offensive upside. Brown has top-five athleticism and top-three upside in this draft.  While he isn’t as refined as he should be, he has some time to learn behind Danilo Galinari.
8. Sacramento Kings: Marquese Chriss (PF) – Washington: Chriss is a terrific athlete, and because there isn’t a great fit for the roster here, he would be an excellent project for the Kings. He will continue to impress in workouts thanks to his crazy length and overall athleticism. He is the type of player that can get Kings fans excited for the future and would be a fascinating pairing with someone like Willie Cauley-Stein.
9. Toronto Raptors (from Denver via New York): Jakob Poetl (C) – Utah: The Raptors don’t have many glaring needs, but with a top ten pick, they can add serious value and depth. Poetl could be insurance if Bismack Biyombo leaves in free agency and fits the mold as the most polished center in the draft. Masai Ujiri is known to look at projects in the draft, and while Poetl doesn’t necessarily fit that mold, he is worth a top-ten pick. Teams may clamor to move here, like the Celtics, who could also use Poetl and have the picks to spare.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Skal Labissiere (PF) – Kentucky: The Bucks could use a player whose talent can have him play multiple positions and leave room for development. Since Marquese Chriss is off the board, the pick here is Labissiere. There is no question that Labissiere is tremendously athletic and has big upside. He also wasn’t very effective in college considering his recruitment hype. This is a classic boom or bust pick, and the Bucks are the type of team to take that chance.
11. Orlando Magic: Timothe Luwawu (SG/SF) – France: The Magic are at an interesting place in their rebuilding process. The young core is there and they have the money to pay for free agents. But as they realized throughout the year, Victor Oladipo is more of a sixth man, and Evan Fournier should be the starter. Now they need a better wing presence without Channing Frye and Fournier in those spots. Luwawu is slowing rising up draft boards and could find himself here at number 11.
12. Utah Jazz: Furkan Korkmaz (SG/SF) – Turkey: The Jazz should have been a playoff team this season, but Dante Exum, Alec Burks and Rudy Gobert all suffered injuries that kept them out for various lengths of time. As a result, they can acquire a lottery talent to add to their playoff core. Korkmaz is young (18 years old) and has already made an impression with his scoring prowess and intangibles. Korkmaz would provide the offensive punch from the bench, and mold himself behind Gordon Hayward, with whom he shares many characteristics.
13. Phoenix Suns (via Washington): Denzel Valentine (SG/SF) – Michigan State: With their second lottery pick, the Suns should address the wing. The best player left at this point is Denzel Valentine. He is experienced, versatile and could be just what Phoenix needs. P.J. Tucker and Archie Goodwin aren’t great options, and thanks to Devin Booker, they can get another versatile player to play small ball with him and Eric Bledsoe/Brandon Knight.
14. Chicago Bulls: Deyonta Davis (PF/C) – Michigan State: Back to back MSU players come off the board here as the Bulls need to draft a big man in case either Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol walk in free agency. Davis is a great athlete, solid shot blocker and will add to a very explosive bench with Bobby Portis. Davis can develop into an interesting big man and is another potential boom or bust pick. But Chicago is a team that should consider someone like him.
15. Denver Nuggets (via Houston): Wade Baldwin (PG) – Vanderbilt: The Nuggets second pick in the draft should be used to address scoring. While the team just added Emmanuel Mudiay, Baldwin feels like an ideal candidate for a sixth man scoring punch. Baldwin isn’t tall enough to play the two, but is versatile and can share the floor with more than one guard if necessary. He has tremendous length (over a 6-foot-11 wingspan) and can defend multiple positions. He would be great in Denver and could be an athletic compliment to Will Barton.
16. Boston Celtics (via Dallas): Domantas Sabonis (PF/C) – Gonzaga: If Sabonis does fall to the Celtics here, he should be snapped up in a heartbeat. His physical gifts are much like his father Arvydas, and his low post presence is just what the Celtics need. The Celtics like Mark Few’s work at Gonzaga and took Kelly Olynyk around this spot three years ago. Sabonis has a great feel for the game, is efficient and physical and feels like a prototypical Brad Stevens’ player.
17. Memphis Grizzlies: Henry Ellenson (PF/C) – Marquette: Ellenson could be a top-ten player according to some people, but I am not as high on him. Nevertheless, he has many good qualities including his ability to score/shoot and run the floor. He needs to get stronger and work on his passing. The Grizzlies have been searching for big men to develop and Ellenson gives them a different type of athlete to look at.
18. Detroit Pistons: Demetrius Jackson (PG) – Notre Dame: The Pistons could really use an upgrade at the backup point guard spot, which is currently held by Steve Blake. Who better than Demetrius Jackson, who had a great career at Notre Dame, and can now pack a scoring punch off the bench behind Reggie Jackson. He is very quick and would be another athletic addition to the Pistons backcourt.
19. Denver Nuggets (via Portland): Thon Maker (PF/C) – Australia: The Nuggets can go for boom or bust here. Maker is clearly a rare breed. A big man who can dribble and shoot but also has crazy length. However, he’s still 19-years-old, with no college experience and is exceptionally raw. All his tools project well to the NBA but its unclear if they can be unlocked. The Nuggets are a team that could let him develop and not rush him to the forefront.
20. Indiana Pacers: Malik Beasley (SG) – Florida State: Beasley is an ideal pick for the Pacers here. He’s young, exceptionally athletic, and has plenty of NBA qualities. He can be a very effective scorer and work on his defense while coming off the bench behind Monta Ellis. He will need to refine his game, but has the raw talent to be a steal at No. 20.
21. Atlanta Hawks: Diamond Stone (C) – Maryland: The Hawks need to develop a young big man, and if Al Horford walks in free agency, the need will be even greater. Stone would be a great addition to the Hawks because he may be the most physically gifted big man in the draft, and has plenty of room to grow. Stone needs to work on his outside shooting, but has a solid stroke and if Horford could develop a three-point shot out of nowhere, Stone can become a mid-range shooter. Mike Budenholzer will also be able to curb the issues of his lack of motor/character issues.
22. Charlotte Hornets: Damian Jones (C) – Vanderbilt: Stone and Jones could be flipped on draft day, but it’s more likely that Jones finds a home with the Hornets. The Hornets miss Bismack Biyombo and Jones can fill that role with more upside. He’s a gifted finisher at the rim and can block shots in a talented SEC, where shot blockers have come out and had success in the NBA. Jones can become more polished behind the leadership of Al Jefferson.
23. Boston Celtics: Ante Zizic (C) – Croatia: The Celtics can’t possibly find a roster spot for all of their eight picks in this draft. As a result, they should look at an international center that they can stash overseas. Zizic is a traditional center and scores a lot on cuts to the basket, which is something that Brad Stevens loves. He is still young, but he doesn’t have a ton of upside. That has never been a problem for Danny Ainge, who has found success in guys like Tyler Zeller and Jae Crowder.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami via Cleveland): Tyler Ulis (PG) – Kentucky: This feels like a perfect fit. The Sixers have no clear point guard of the future and they have an opportunity to take the best point guard left in the draft at this point. Ulis can score and while the comparisons to Isaiah Thomas are easy, Ulis has a legitimate scoring punch that can max out as a starter and at least will be a very scary sixth man like Thomas was the first few years of his career.
25. Los Angeles Clippers: Taurean Prince (SF) – Baylor: If Prince is available here, it would be a major coup for the Clippers. It is my belief that someone will make a move to get him before this pick, because an athletic wing can fit almost any team. Prince is also an active defender and will bring something back to what they lost in Matt Barnes and didn’t make up for with Jeff Green. This would be the ideal draft pick for a Clippers team that needs to begin thinking about the future.
26. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City via Cleveland and Denver): DeAndre Bembry (SF) – St. Joseph’s: For their third pick in the first round, the 76ers should address the wing. After drafting Simmons and Ulis, Bembry would represent not only a good development process on the wing, but also a hometown kid from the Philadelphia based St. Joe’s. Bembry may end up being more of a two guard because of his size, and lack of three-point shooting, but he can add a lot to the team because of his ability to do many things well but not spectacularly. Fans will love his energy and creativity.
27. Toronto Raptors: Juan Hernangomez (SF/PF) – Spain: The Raptors are never afraid to take a chance on an international player who needs some seasoning. Hernangomez would be an interesting pick for a wing that still needs some work. He can shoot, but also needs to work on a post game that can be refined in the next few years. Defensive positioning is also an issue, but he can work on that overseas. Masai Ujiri has taken on bigger challenges before and he could be an interesting draft and stash.
28. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland via Boston): Brice Johnson (PF) – North Carolina: The Suns could be looking for an athlete to mold and who better at this stage than Johnson. He’s a high-flying, lengthy athlete who can finish above the rim. Despite this description, he’s also surprisingly efficient and has a high basketball IQ. He’s also still thin, and either needs to bulk up to defend larger players, or work on his three-point shooting. He’s a bit of a tweener, but the explosiveness is too much for the Suns to pass on.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Zhou Qi (C) – China: Tim Duncan may be nearing the end of his historic career and Boban Marjanovic is a pending free agent. Why not go for another massive player, this time the 7-foot-2 big man from China. Qi has a wingspan over 7-foot-7 (!!) and is a tremendous shot blocker. He also has a soft touch and mobility the Spurs will love. He needs to bulk up, but he could be a steal in this draft at No. 29 overall.
30. Golden State Warriors: Dejounte Murray (PG/SG) – Washington: Murray would be interesting for the defending champions because he reminds me of Shaun Livingston, a current Warrior. He’s a tall and lanky point guard, who can run the floor very effectively. He’s very skinny, but takes contact better than you would think. If he stops taking floaters and works to utilize his strengths, this could be a nice pick for the Warriors.