2015 NBA Mock Draft - Kevin Hanson
- Updated: Wednesday, June 24thHere are picks 16-30 in my 2015 NBA Mock Draft:
16. Boston Celtics: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Power forwards Brandon Bass and Jonas Jerebko are both free agents this offseason and Jared Sullinger will be a restricted free agent next offseason. The SEC Player of the Year, Portis averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Razorbacks last season.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
The versatile power forward actually played point guard as a senior in high school (in Milwaukee, coincidentally) and had a solid freshman season for the Bruins -- 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game and shot 41.5 percent from three-point range. In fact, no freshman had more double-doubles than Looney (15) last season.
18. Houston Rockets (via New Orleans Pelicans): Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
The son of Harvey Grant and brother of Jerami Grant, Jerian has an NBA pedigree and the versatility to play either guard spot. Grant, who turns 23 in October, averaged more than 12 points and five assists in all four seasons at Notre Dame with 16.5 points, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season. While the knock on Grant is his age (compared to most prospects), the senior has the ability to come in and contribute right away, which could make him more desirable to a talent-rich team like the Rockets. Houston's starting point guard Patrick Beverley will be a restricted free agent this summer and he was backed up by Jason Terry (37 years old) and Pablo Prigioni (38).
19. Washington Wizards: Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
Not only is he an excellent athlete, Dekker has good range on his jumper, but he needs to knock them down with more consistency. Dekker could also fill a need as small forward Paul Pierce has a player option for the 2015 season.
20. Toronto Raptors: Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
The biggest knock on Harrell is that he's undersized (6-7) for a power forward and he's a horrible shooter (53.3-percent free-throw shooter over three seasons at Louisville), but he possesses a non-stop motor with excellent strength and athleticism. Harrell averaged 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals per game as a junior.
21. Dallas Mavericks: Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
It's fair to say that the trade for Rajon Rondo did not go as planned for the Mavs. Rondo is an unrestricted free agent and there's no chance that the Mavs bring him back. Jones may lack the physical tools teams covet, but he has tremendous court vision and led Duke to a national championship as he was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
22. Chicago Bulls: Delon Wright, PG, Utah
The senior point guard for the Utes, Wright does it all -- 14.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game -- but is already 23 years old. One area in which he really improved this past season was with his three-point shooting -- 22.2 percent in 2013-14 to 35.6 percent this past season. In addition, backup point guard Aaron Brooks will be a free agent this summer.
23. Portland Trail Blazers: R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
Wesley Matthews will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and so will Arron Afflalo next summer. An outstanding shooter, Hunter may have had the best individual moment of the entire NCAA Tournament:
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
With excellent strength and athleticism and a high motor, Hollis-Jefferson is an elite defender although he needs some work on the offensive end.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
Vaughn led the Runnin' Rebels in scoring (17.8 PPG) although his season was cut short due to a knee injury on February 10th. One of the youngest players in this year's draft class, Vaughn is only 18 (turns 19 in August) and has generated plenty of buzz in draft workouts. Only the Timberwolves (5.0/G) made fewer three-pointers than the Grizzlies (5.2/G) last season.
26. San Antonio Spurs: Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
Anderson (6-6, 222) is an outstanding athlete and defender that possesses good range on his shot. Anderson improved his three-point percentage to 45.2 percent this season after shooting just 30.3 and 29.4 percent in his first two seasons, respectively.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston Rockets): Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
In 35 minutes per game last season, Rozier averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game for Rick Pitino. With excellent quickness and athleticism, Rozier needs to be more consistent as a shooter as he shot only 30.6-percent from behind the arc last season after converting 37.1 percent as a freshman.
28. Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers): Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
Although he tore his ACL in January, if McCullough had waited to declare for the 2016 NBA Draft, he would have likely been a lottery pick based on his upside. At this point in the draft, he's worth the gamble.
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks): Jarell Martin, PF, LSU
Martin averaged 16.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season and possesses good size (6-10, 240) and athleticism. Considering Ben Simmons, a potential No. 1 pick in 2016, is heading to Baton Rouge this fall, it made sense for Martin to declare this year, but he's a solid value at the tail end of Round 1.
30. Golden State Warriors: Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
Still only 19 years old (turns 20 in September), Wood needs to get stronger, but there is plenty of upside at this point in the draft due to his athleticism and length. Wood averaged a double-double (15.7 points and 10.0 rebounds) with 2.7 blocks per game as a sophomore. Power forward Marreese Speights will be free agent after the 2015-16 season and David Lee is likely to play somewhere else this season.
- Go back to picks 1-15 in our 2015 NBA Mock Draft
For more mock drafts, check out our 2015 NBA Mock Draft Database.
In addition, check out our 2015 NFL Mock Draft, our 2016 NFL Mock Draft and/or 2015 NFL Mock Draft Database.
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