2016 NBA 1st round Mock w/ a TRADE

1.) 76ers – Ben Simmons; They need someone that they can build around and can be there team around. They need to draft the guy with the best potential that’s already a elite passer, the best in the class.

2.) Lakers – Brandon Ingram; Lucky for the Lakers that they don’t have to make the tough choice in drafting Ingram or Simmons. I actually believe Igram is a much better fit than Simmons due to ability to play off the ball and D’Angelo Russell is a ball dominate guard.

3.) Celtics – Dragan Bender; Celtics do need a guy that can play right away, but there are no one outside of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram that possesses the kind of ability to do that. Why not draft a draft hidden gym. Rumor 2 years ago that they was going to draft Porzingis before he pulled his name out the draft.

4.) Suns – Marquese Chriss; The Suns are not about to win now and they are not close to becoming a winning team. Chriss possesses the most upside the most upside outside the top 2. While the Suns need to try to hit home runs with this pick. **** This pick could be trade bait.

5.) T’Wolves – Kris Dunn; I would’ve had Dunn to the Suns if he reportedly won’t workout and give them his medial info. Dunn fits what Coach Thibs likes at the position and he’s his ideal player. Rubio hasn’t shown enough to warrant him staying. Dunn is already a better shooter and scorer than Rubio have ever shown.

6.) Pelicans – Buddy Hield; Dunn vs. Murray for the Pelicans is a tough decision, but the deciding factor is the Pelicans wants to win now and that Hield can have more of an early inpact. 

7.) Nuggets – Jamal Murray; Murray realistically can go as high as 3, but he fell to the Nuggets at 7. Murray says he’s a better playmaker than he had shown at Kentucky. If so he can fit right in with Mudiay, who is more of a combo guard than a true point. He can take pressure off of him if he is true. 

8.) Kings – Jaylen Brown; This pick is also in play. The Kings seem to want to win right away and the Kings didn’t land in the Great 7. Jaylen Brown possesses so much talent and I believe he can work on the weaknesses that he shown at Cal. He’s the type of person/player that will want to improve. He’s the type of player/person that can begin the culture change for the Kings.

9.) Raptors – Henry Ellenson; This is the most logical choice and maybe the most logical choice outside Ben Simmons to the 76ers and Brandon Ingram to the Lakers. He have legit size and he can really can run the court. He’s pretty good free throw shooter and have the form that suggest that he can be an outside threat in the NBA. 

10.) Celtics- Forkan Korkmaz; *****Trade with Bucks***** This is a draft and stash pick. The Celtics didn’t need three picks and this draft, not even 2. Korkmaz is a modern day wing that have some Evan Fournier in his game. This might not be the most popular trade, but the Celtics kill two birds with one stone.

11.) Magic – Deyonta Davis; Davis might be the best defensive player in this draft, and hey, the Magic might have lacked that in the past couple years. Yes, he is a bit raw, but Frank Vogel have a great track record in develop players. Why not draft the best defensive prospect with the most potential?

12.) Jazz – Jakob Poeltl; The Jazz already have their core guys, the just lack talent on the bench. They don’t need to draft for potential, but for players that can play right away, Poeltl is a very solid player and does tons of things well. 

13.) Suns – Dejounte Murray;  Like I said in the Chriss descrition, the Suns need to try to get stars. Two of the players that have the best chance is Chriss and Murray. Murray have the second/third most upide in this years draft after Dunn. 

14.) Bulls – Malik Beasley; It seem like the Bulls like him a ton, working him out for two straight days seems to give that up. Malik Beasley have great potential to be a very good three and defense wing in the mold of Courtney Lee. 

15.) Nuggets – Skal Labissiere

16.) Bucks – Wade Baldwin; *****Trade with Celtics***** I made a post earlier that Baldwin fits in perfectly with the Bucks, but drafting him at 10 seems to be too high. How about trading down and kill 2 birds with two stone (more on that w/ their next pick). Baldwin have the second/third most potential for a point guard in this class. I like him under Jason Kidd wing.

17.) Grizzlies – Malachi Richardson

18.) Pistons – Denzel Valentine 

19.) Nuggets – Timothe Luwawu

20.) Pacers – Demetrius Jackson

21.) Hawks – Domantas Sabonis

22.) Nuggets – DeAndre Bembry

23.) Bucks – Thon Maker; *****Trade with Celtics***** The Bucks like to take risk in the draft and trades, drafting the Greek Freak and trading Brandon Knight. Picking up Thon Maker makes perfect since for the Bucks and he the type of player that they need, shot blocker and shooting potential. At worst he will be a energy guy that impacts the game by running the court and being active on the glass. He hve great potential. These two picks fill two of the Bucks primary needs with Baldwin defensive potential, three point range, and offensive potential, And Maker shot blocking potential, motore, and three point potential. 

24.) 76ers – Isaiah Whitehead 

25.) Clippers – Tyler Ulis 

26.) 76ers – Patrick McCaw

27.) Raptors – Cheick Diallo

28.) Suns – Diamond Stone

29.) Spurs – Ante Zizic

30.) Warriors – Damion Jone