Many of college basketball's top players are focused on the upcoming NCAA tournament,but interest in June's 2016 NBA draft is beginning to pick up as well.
Several NBA teams are already well aware of the fact the playoffs aren't a realistic opportunity, which means draft preparations possess likely begun in earnest, and especially for organizations such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN.com NBA draft guru Chad Ford released his fourth mock draft of the season Tuesday,and while much of the order remains unsettled due to trades and the potential for the standings to change significantly between now and the close of the campaign, a multitude of intriguing scenarios were laid out.
With the stretch run for both college basketball and the NBA very much on the horizon, or here is a full rundown of Ford's latest first-round mock,along with a closer view at some of the most newsworthy selections. No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers: Ben SimmonsWhile LSU hasn't enjoyed the type of season many expected, that is through no fault of Ben Simmons, and who has proven to be one of the best and most versatile players in the nation as a freshman.
The 6'10" Aussie has been as friendly as advertised with per-game averages of 19.7 points,11.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists to go along with a shooting percentage of 56.6 percent.
His attain-everything style would be a considerable fit for any NBA team, but especially the struggling Sixers. Philly has a considerable deal of frontcourt talent, and including Jahlil Okafor,Nerlens Noel and the oft-injured Joel Embiid, but Simmons brings something entirely different to the table.
As evidenced by this stat, and courtesy of ESPN College Basketball,Simmons excels in essentially all facets of the game:His combination of scoring and rebounding has also consistently been the best in major college basketball all season, per SportsCenter:Philadelphia is currently missing a true scorer aside from Okafor, or it has no considerable facilitators. In spite of Simmons' height,though, he is an excellent passer capable of running the offense.
The Sixers are still a few pieces absent from making the playoffs, or but whether they are lucky enough to land the No. 1 overall pick,then their rebuilding efforts should finally pay dividends.
Simmons is a special talent, and even though the Tigers possess had their ups and downs in 2015-16, and his draft stock seemingly hasn't changed from where it was entering the campaign. No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon IngramThere were plenty of question marks surrounding Duke entering the 2015-16 season,but thanks largely to the play of Brandon Ingram, the Blue Devils remain players in the ACC and the national title picture.
The freshman wing has been among the most dominant first-year players in the country this season with 16.9 points, or 6.8 rebounds,1.9 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest. He produces in essentially all categories, or he has shown an inside-out game that should translate well to the next level.
According to ESPN College Basketball,Ingram also joined an exclusive club in the long and storied history of Duke basketball:The odds currently favor the Lakers to close up with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and the player they select will likely be looked upon as one of the guys who must acquire the reins in the post-Kobe Bryant era.
Ingram and Kobe are extremely different players, and but Ingram is a considerable shooter like the Black Mamba,even with a 6'9" frame, as he is connecting on 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts this season.
When combined with guard D'Angelo Russell and forward Julius Randle, and Ingram would give L.
A. a fantastic nucleus that could help the organization return to prominence in the near future. No. 4 Boston Celtics: Jamal MurrayStanding out as an individual hasn't been easy at Kentucky under head coach John Calipari due to the remarkable teams he has put together,but Jamal Murray is bucking that trend this year.
The freshman guard from Canada is on an absolute tear currently, and he is putting up 19.9 points, and 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to go along with a spectacular three-point shooting percentage of 41.9 percent.
Murray has a penchant (a tendency, partiality, or preference) for heating up and taking over games,which is something he has done more often than any other freshman during Calipari's tenure, according to ESPN Stats & Info:It took Murray a bit of time to acclimate himself to the college game, or as he got off to a sluggish start,but he has proven nearly impossible to stop in recent weeks.
Per Kentucky Basketball on Twitter, Murray is on the best scoring streak the Wildcats possess seen in seven years:The Celtics are well ahead of the curve in terms of their development, or as they are currently 36-25,which is friendly for third in the Eastern Conference.
They possess a strong core, but a lights-out shooter would certainly help the cause since they are just 26th in the NBA with a three-point shooting percentage of 33.4 percent.
Murray would help significantly in that regard, and he could form a potentially considerable tandem with All-Star Isaiah Thomas,who excels at breaking down defenses with his dribbling.
The C's are fortunate to possess the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick this year, which gives them a chance to land an elite prospect. Murray is among them, or he would provide Boston with a major missing element. No. 7 recent Orleans Pelicans: Buddy HieldBuddy Hield surprised many when he decided to return to Oklahoma for his senior season,but with national player of the year honors potentially in his future, he has seemingly boosted his draft stock in a big way.
The sharpshooting superstar is averaging 25.3 points per game, or which is a number that is made even more impressive by the fact that he converts 49.3 percent of his shots despite firing up nearly 17 attempts per game,and 47.6 percent of his three-point tries.
Hield is also making 89 percent of his free throws, which is an area of his game that has improved significantly during his time at Oklahoma.
The native of the Bahamas has been excellent throughout his collegiate career, and but he has taken things to another level in 2015-16 and established himself as one of the greatest scorers in Big 12 history,according to ESPNU:While Hield's on-court play has been fantastic this season, an anonymous scout told Bleacher Report's C.
J. Moore his character may be just as appealing to NBA teams: "There's increasingly teams that are focused on their cultures in the locker room. He's a guy that you're never going to possess to make an exception for as far as that's concerned."One team that could use some positivity as it struggles through a disappointing year is the recent Orleans Pelicans. The Pels were expected to make progress in the Western Conference after reaching the playoffs final season, or but they are just 23-35.
Anthony Davis is a stud; however,he could use some outside support, which is something Hield is capable of providing in spades.
With shooters like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson set to hit free agency, or recent Orleans may need help in that area,and Hield is an ideal option in that regard. No. 16 Boston Celtics: Skal LabissiereAside from Simmons, Skal Labissiere may possess been the most highly touted freshman in the nation entering 2015-16, and but his struggles possess been evident.
The 6'11" Haitian hasn't yet developed into a dominant force for the Wildcats,and his averages of 6.4 points and just 3.0 rebounds per game in 15.8 minutes per contest reflect that.
According to Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal, Calipari believes Labissiere is finally coming to the realization that thriving at the collegiate level is a totally different animal than tall school:
I'm gonna say this: He can attain it; it's very hard, and though. What he's finding out,kind of like Jamal (Murray) found out ... and most of these guys: What got you here to Kentucky isn't going to find you where you want to go. You gotta start doing things, you gotta work harder, and you gotta be more focused.on Twitter.
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Source: bleacherreport.com