Courtesy: Basketball Insiders
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl Anthony-Towns (C Kentucky)
The Timberwolves get the most complete low post presence in the draft. His defensive ability makes his the top overall prospect, while he is still developing as an offensive threat.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Jahlil Okafor (C Duke)
Okafor is a dominant offensive player, that can control the paint with his mix of size and athleticism. The Lakers need help taking attention away from Kobe Bryant if they are going to make one last run at a title before he retires.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: D’Angelo Russell (G Ohio State)
Russell may have the highest star potential of anyone in the draft with his size and complete offensive game. He can fill in at either of the Sixers two major needs in either guard position.
4. New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis (F Lativia)
The Knicks need to acquire as much talent as possible over the next couple seasons to get back into contention. Porzingis has good length and is a great shooter that can play off the ball next to Carmelo Anthony.
5. Orlando Magic: Mario Hezongia (SF Croatia)
The Magic need more offense and could use Hezongia’s shooting ability from the outside. He is a natural scorer that the Magic lack at this point.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
6. Sacramento Kings: Emmanuel Mudiay (PG China)
The Kings have been trying to figure out their PG position for years now. With a roster with a decent amount of talent, finding a distributor to get DeMarcus Cousins the ball has to be their top priority.
7. Denver Nuggetts: Willie Caulie-Stein (C Kentucky)
After another disappointing season, the Nuggetts are again in rebuild mold. Caulie-Stein is not only the best player on the board but will give them a defensive presence in the middle, with an underrated offensive game.
8. Detroit Pistons: Justice Winslow (SF Duke)
After the failed experiement with Josh Smith, the Pistons need a wing that be an offensive threat. Winslow is still developing as a shooter, but is arguably the best overall athlete in the entire draft.
9. Charlotte Hornets: Devin Booker (SG Kentucky)
The Hornets simply cannot score enough on offense and need to find consistent shooters. Pairing Booker with Kemba Walker could give them a dynamic offensive backcourt to build upon.
Courtesy: FOX Sports
10. Miami Heat: Kelly Oubre (SF Kansas)
After last year’s disaster and the impeding Dwayne Wade situation, the Heat need to add talent on the wing. Oubre is still raw but has the athletic ability to be a top scorer on a team in the future.
11. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Payne (PG Murray State)
With a change to a more uptempo offense, the Pacers needs a floor general to run the court. He is a good distributor that can also put up points when needed.
12. Utah Jazz: Myles Turner (PF/C Texas)
With the amount of talent they have on the wing, the Jazz need a offensive presence down low. Though he still needs to develop his post moves, his upside is great value at this point in the draft.
13. Phoenix Suns: Stanley Johnson (SG/SF Arizona)
Though they have good depth in the low post, the Suns lack scoring on the wing. Johnson is a good athlete that fits well in their uptempo offense.
Courtesy: RANT Sports
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Trey Lyles (PF Kentucky)
The Thunder need to add scoring in the post to compliment their outside threats of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He also could replace Serge Ibaka in the future, if they do let him go to clear money for both of their superstars.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Sam Dekker (SF Wisconsin)
Dekker is the type of player that does everything well and fits into Mike Budenholzer’s mold of team player. He offers scoring and defense to a deep roster that lacks an offensive star.
16. Boston Celtics: Rashad Vaughn (SG UNLV)
After taking Marcus Smart last year, the Celtics should be looking for a shooting guard that can create his own shot. Vaughn will need to develop his shooting ability, but can a solid secondary scorer.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Frank Kaminsky (C Wisconsin)
The Bucks have added a lot of talent the past couple seasons in the back court and on the wing. Kaminsky would give them a low post scoring presence to open things up on the outside.
Courtesy: FOX Sports
18. Houston Rockets: Jerian Grant (G Notre Dame)
Though Eric Beverly has done an admirable job at the point, the Rockets need another ball-handler. Grant will aleviate a lot of pressure off of James Harden as not only a distributor, but secondary scorer as well.
19. Washington Wizards: Bobby Portis (PF Arkansas)
Portis offers the Wizards another big body to open up shots on the outside. The Wizards need to look into eventually replacing Nene at PF that can bang down low.
20. Toronto Raptors: Kevon Looney (PF UCLA)
Almost all of the Raptors scoring comes from their backcourt and need to find more post players. Looney has a lot of upside and a lot of risk, but is worth the chance with his skill set.
21. Dallas Mavericks: Tyus Jones (PG Duke)
The Mavericks are another team in desperate need of finding a true PG. Jones may be undersized, but has a great basketball IQ and can shoot from the outside.
22. Chicago Bulls: R.J. Hunter (G Georgia State)
With the team’s philosphy in transition, they could use depth at both guard positions. Hunter is more athletic than Kirk Hinrich and can fill his role off the bench.
23. Portland Trailblazers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF Arizona)
The Trailblazers need help on the wing and should look to one of the many players with high upside. Hollis-Jefferson is a slasher that can provide help on defense as well.
Courtesy; Zimbio
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Justin Anderson (SF/SG Virginia)
If the Finals proved anything, the Cavaliers need more scoring off the bench. Anderson is a great shooter, that would fit well as a role player on the wing with LeBron James.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Chris McCollough (PF Syracuse)
The Grizzlies are an interior built team with aging Zach Randolph as a centerpiece to their offense. Providing depth behind him will ease his workload on the downside of his career.
26. San Antonio Spurs: Joseph Young (G Oregon)
With questions on the return of Manu Ganobli, the Spurs need to add more outside scoring. Though Young is small, he can light up a scoreboard as a 6th man off the bench.
27. Los Angeles Lakers: Delon Wright (PG Utah)
Wright is the perfect fit to play with this roster as a pass-first PG. His ability to create shots for others will help their new low-post duo in Okafor and Julius Randle.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
28. Boston Celtics: Montrezl Harrell (PF Louisville)
At this point in the first round, teams are looking for upside and role players. Harrell could provide depth down low off the bench as a banger and defensive fill in.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Terry Rozier (PG Louisville)
The Nets are in full rebuild mold and hoping to unload PG Deron Williams. Rozier has the skill set to be a starter in the NBA if he can develop more consistency.
30. Golden State Warriors: Rakeem Christmas (PF Syracuse)
Their title run proved they are a team with little holes. They could use more depth behind Draymond Green, as they plan to move David Lee to give him an opportunity with another team to play more.
