Complex Sports' 2015 Stone Cold NBA Draft Locks

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Name: Russ Bengtson

Prediction:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Kristaps Porzingis, Philadelphia 76ers

4. Jahlil Okafor, New York Knicks

5. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic

Why I'm right: 

The draft is less than 12 hours away, and all anyone really seems to know—like, absolutely KNOW—is that the Timberwolves will take Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns first. (Honestly we don't even know that, but it's as close to a sure thing as there is.) Towns can shoot from three as well if not better than he can play in the post, he can protect the rim, and outside of Anthony Davis is as close as you'll find to a perfect big for today's NBA. Towns and Wiggins playing together for the next decade should make Timberwolves fans very happy (and, for that matter, make more Timberwolves fans).

As for the rest? Who knows? But let's speculate: The Lakers have apparently been quite impressed by D'Angelo Russell's workouts, and need a guy with that extra something to succeed Kobe Bryant as the Star Who Fills Seats. Russell seems more suited to that role than anyone else in this Draft. Meanwhile, the Sixers can afford to take a guy who might need a little more time to develop in Porzingis, and if he happens to overlap with Dario Saric (who isn't coming over quite yet anyway), that's just another chip to trade for another future pick.

Which means the Knicks, stuck with the fourth pick in a three-player draft, have one of those three players fall in their lap at four. Jahlil Okafor, he of the giant mitts, was projected to be the first pick for damn near the entire college basketball season, but concerns with his defense could see him slip right into the triangle. Where, it seems, he can flourish. Well—provided Carmelo Anthony passes him the ball.

The Magic will then have some tough choices to make with the five pick. Emmanuel Mudiay? They've already got Elfrid Payton. Justise Winslow? His offense needs work. Why not Barcelona's Mario Hezonja, a 6-8 forward whose range extends to way deep and whose confidence extends even deeper than that? We'll find out soon enough.

Name: Angel Diaz

Predictions:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Jahlil Okafor, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Kristaps Porzingis, Philadelphia 76ers

4. D'Angelo Russell, New York Knicks

5. Willie Cauley-Stein, Orlando Magic

Why I'm right: 

Towns and Okafor going back-to-back is a lock, as they should. L.A. is taking Okafor whether they trade the pick or not. Now to the interesting part. The 76ers are into compiling assets, and aren't in a "win now" situation, so I can see them taking a guy like Porzingis even though reports have said they like Russell. Joel Embiid's foot is still a concern, so why not take a kid with tremendous upside? They're in tank mode for the foreseeable future anyway. This is the best case scenario for the Knicks which probably means it won't happen. Russell is the best guard in the draft and can help Melo on the scoring tip for da low. If D'Angelo doesn't fall to them, I can see New York trading down to get Trey Lyles, Frank Kaminsky, or Willie Cauley-Stein. I hope they don't make that rumored deal for Eric Bledsoe, though. He's an injury-prone Rodney Stuckey on steroids. I want no parts of him. However, I'm all for getting two ballers for the price of one. I will be doing a lot of praying today. Finally, Orlando is going to take Willie Cauley-Stein. They have enough guards and forwards. The Magic can really use his defense and versatility. Justice Winslow is a great player, but I feel Willie is a more valuable commodity.

Name: Chris Yuscavage

Prediction:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves

2. Jahlil Okafor, Lakers

3. D'Angelo Russell, 76ers

4. Justise Winslow, Knicks

5. Kristaps Porzingis, Magic

Why I'm right:

I love Duke, and Duke won the NCAA Championship this year, didn't they? Yes, Duke haters, they did. So OBVIOUSLY they should have two guys picked in the top five of the draft! Hell, if the Magic didn't have so many guards on their roster already, I'd stick Tyus Jones in the fifth slot here and make my predictions #allbluedevilseverything.

But seriously: Barring any blockbuster trades, I'm confident in four of my five picks (does anyone, Phil Jackson included, actually know who the Knicks are going to take at No. 4?!). You can try to tell me that the Lakers are going to shock everyone by passing on Okafor or that the 76ers are going to force middle-aged men across the Delaware Valley to learn the proper pronunciation of "Porzingis" (I've heard a lot of really interesting variations of that name on Philly sports talk radio this week, including just call him "the foreign guy") or that the Knicks are going to trade all of their first-round picks between now and 2035 to move up to the third slot to take Russell, but I just don't see it happening. I didn't fall for all of the Marcus Mariota rumors leading up to the NFL Draft…and I'm not going to fall for any of the Okafor/Russell/Porzingis rumors today.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it. After all, I did have Duke winning the title in my NCAA Tournament bracket this year (shocker, right?) so I'm on fire when it comes to predictions in 2015. Ride the hot hand!

Name: Gus Turner

Prediction: 

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Jahlil Okafor, Los Angeles Lakers

3. D'Angelo Russell, Philadelphia 76ers

4. Emmanuel Mudiay, New York Knicks

5. Kristaps Porzingis, Orlando Magic

Why I'm right: 

Karl-Anthony Towns has been the presumptive No. 1 pick for weeks now. You know it, I know it, and your grandmother knows it: Towns is going to Minnesota. He better get used to cold weather, funny accents, and fried cheese curds. 

The Lakers need so much help down low, and with Towns off the board, Jahlil Okafor is the one to give it to them. Los Angeles was starting guys like Ed Davis and Carlos Boozer last season. It hurts to watch that, much less think about it, much less type it. Yes, it's possible the Lakers will end up trading this pick (and Julius Randle) in exchange for DeMarcus Cousins. Regardless, since they've already traded their 2016 first-rounder, and the NBA's rules stipulate that a team can't blindly trade two first-rounders in the row, they'll need to make a selection here. Okafor is the logical pick, with or without a deal in place. 

The Sixers, as usual, are going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the top five. No one really knows whether they'll simply take Russell, who has been slated as Philly's pick ever since the Lottery, or if all of the pre-Draft chatter about their love for Kristaps Porzingis will actually result in the selection of the Latvian seven-footer. With Sam Hinkie, who can really say? I'm of the opinion that the Sixers are simply trying to goad the Magic—who love Porzingis—into some sort of trade. Either way, I think Philly ultimately ends up with Russell. 

If the first three picks shake out like I think they will, then the Knicks would be crazy to select anyone other than Emmanuel Mudiay. The guy is a 6'5" point guard who weighs more than 200 pounds. He can dish or drive to the basket with ease. A year ago, he was the unanimous No. 1 pick from this class. Mudiay's possible slide is one of the reasons that we should never listen to the endless hype cycle that accompanies any and every draft. We're seriously overthinking this process if we believe that Mudiay doesn't deserve to be selected in the top four or five. Somehow, because he played in China and sprained his ankle, he's less qualified to dominate in the NBA than he was a year ago? It boggles my mind, but it shouldn't confuse New York. Take Mudiay. 

It's known that Orlando and Kristaps have mutual interest in one another. Like I said, a trade may be needed to facilitate this pairing, but a lanky forward with range from deep is the exact type of player that GM Rob Hennigan—formerly of Oklahoma City—would like. Hopefully, Kristaps is more Dirk than Darko. 

Name: Maurice Peebles

Prediction:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Jahlil Okafor, Los Angeles Lakers (Later traded to Kings as part of Boogie Cousins deal)

3. D'Angelo Russell, Philadelphia 76ers

4. Willie Cauley-Stein, New York Knicks

5. Justise Winslow, Orlando Magic

Why I'm Right:

I'm probably not, so if you're taking this list and texting your bookie afterwards, you're about to lose money. Probably more money if you're the type of person to immediately place bets based on the opinion of strangers on the Internet. 

Towns is the best prospect in this draft, and even if Minnesota loves Okafor's offensive game, they're not dumb enough to pass on him. Really simple.

This is where it gets interesting. I think the Lakers will select Jahlil Okafor as has been predicted, but I think the Lakers offer the best opportunity for the Kings to unload DeMarcus Cousins. Trade Cousins, and immediately get his replacement in Jahlil Okafor PLUS Jordan Hill and/or Julius Randle and/or whoever you want with the Kings' No. 6 pick. Lakers get an established star and the Kings get enough of a haul to keep their fans sane. Win/win.

D'Angelo Russell is just too perfect of a fit for my Sixers, and unless Towns or Okafor falls, GM Sam Hinkie is gonna take Russell and run. Or maybe Hezonja. But probably Russell. The Joel Embiid "not healing as fast" smokescreen didn't fool anyone into trading for their pick, so having D'Angelo destroy opponents running pick-and-roll with Rihanna's future Cameroonian husband will be enough to make Sixers fans like myself ignore the fact that our team still can't win 40 games in a terrible Eastern Conference.

Knicks fans won't be enthusiastic about the Cauley-Stein pick, but the guy is an athletic freak and has the potential to be one of the world's best defenders. Plus it's a totally safe pick. Remember when the Knicks were competent and had Tyson Chandler? WCS is another 7-foot rim protector, only he can also guard every other position on the floor as well. Phil Jackson takes the 7-footer who can defend point guards and calls it a day. Free Agency can handle the scoring problem. They hope.

And lastly, the Magic are happy to take the next best player on their board. They already have Nikola Vucivic as their giant foreign-born forward/center, so regardless of what mock drafts have been saying Kristaps Porzingis isn't their guy. They take the Duke wing player with a ton of upside and keep on chugging. 

Book it. (Don't).