The NBA draft is coming up on Thursday, so we continue to predict where everyone will get drafted. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available”, but we will try to focus on team needs: for example, if a non-playoff team like Minnesota already has Karl-Anthony Towns in the post, then they are probably not selecting a center with the #5 overall pick. So, please see our 1st round predictions below, and then let us know in the comments section what looks good and what might need a re-pick.
# TEAM: NAME (POSITION, SCHOOL/COUNTRY)
1. Philadelphia: Ben Simmons (SF/PF, LSU)
2. LA Lakers: Brandon Ingram (SF, Duke)
3. Boston: Buddy Hield (SG, Oklahoma)
4. Phoenix: Dragan Bender (PF, Croatia)
5. Minnesota: Marquese Chriss (PF, Washington)
6. New Orleans: Kris Dunn (PG, Providence)
7. Denver: Jamal Murray (PG/SG, Kentucky)
8. Sacramento: Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, California)
9. Toronto: Jakob Poeltl (C, Utah)
10. Milwaukee: Domantas Sabonis (PF, Gonzaga)
11. Orlando: Henry Ellenson (PF/C, Marquette)
12. Utah: Furkan Korkmaz (SG, Turkey)
13. Phoenix: Skal Labissiere (PF/C, Kentucky)
14. Chicago: Deyonta Davis (PF/C, Michigan State)
15. Denver: Timothe Luwawu (SG/SF, France)
16. Boston: Cheick Diallo (PF/C, Kansas)
17. Memphis: Dejounte Murray (PG/SG, Washington)
18. Detroit: Denzel Valentine (SG/SF, Michigan State)
19. Denver: Malik Beasley (SG, Florida State)
20. Indiana: Damian Jones (C, Vanderbilt)
21. Atlanta: DeAndre Bembry (SG/SF, St. Joseph’s)
22. Charlotte: Brice Johnson (PF, North Carolina)
23. Boston: Taurean Prince (SF, Baylor)
24. Philadelphia: Wade Baldwin IV (PG, Vanderbilt)
25. LA Clippers: Malachi Richardson (SG, Syracuse)
26. Philadelphia: Demetrius Jackson (PG, Notre Dame)
27. Toronto: Stephen Zimmerman (PF/C, UNLV)
28. Phoenix: Ivica Zubac (C, Croatia)
29. San Antonio: Ante Zizic (C, Croatia)
30. Golden State: Thon Maker (PF/C, Australia)