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David Kay’s 2016 NBA Mock Draft
Past Mocks From David Kay
2015 NBA Mock Draft
2014 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 23, 2016.
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Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, SF, LSU. 
Ben Simmons is the best prospect in at least four years to me. He is also a perfect fit for the 76ers, who have poor talent at forward and truly need a franchise player. Simmons is an incredible talent who can score, rebound, distribute and defend. Yes, Brandon Ingram is a stronger fit, but Simmons is a talent who can take Philadelphia to relevance by himself. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke. 
Ingram is a big, athletic, scorer who had an excellent freshman season, and he would give the Lakers a young 1-through-4 of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle, which could become a championship contender. A lot of people think the Lakers should make trades and sign their foundation, but they would be foolish not to try and build with elite young players. Location isn’t what it once was in the NBA, so players aren’t going to sign with them just because it is Los Angeles. The Buss family needs to learn this. Ingram can be the Lakers’ go-to-scorer and make an elite duo with Russell. -
Boston Celtics: Jamal Murray, G, Kentucky. 
I think this pick will be traded, I really do. Why? This is really a two-man draft when talking about the truly elite and the Celtics have pick No. 3; they can use it – and more of their ridiculous amount of assets – to trade for a stud player and want to win now. However, if they keep it, the Celtics, who really have no holes on their roster, should take the best player. Although Boston has a number of nice guards, Murray is the third-best prospect. He is an elite shooter and scorer, and although I doubt that he will become a franchise point guard, he has play-making talent. There are at least five players the Celtics could take here, but again, I am going with the best player. -
Phoenix Suns: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington. 
The Suns have a big need at forward, and although I am no fan of Chriss as a lottery pick and it makes me sick having him at No. 4, from what I am hearing there is a real chance he will be one of the first five picks. He is a pathetic defender and will have trouble playing 20 minutes because of fouling issues, but he is tall, athletic, blocks shots and can shoot the three, which makes him the type of power forward teams want in today’s league. -
Minnesota Timberwolves: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma. 
Buddy Hield is arguably the best pure scorer in the 2016 NBA Draft, and although he is just 6-4, he has the athleticism and talent for his smallish size not to hinder him in the NBA. What the Timberwolves really need is shooting and Hield is probably the best in the 2016 NBA Draft, but he much more than just a shooter; he is a scoring savant.
This pick is perfect if Minnesota is willing to move Andrew Wiggins to small forward, as Hield fits with Ricky Rubio at the one and Wiggins at the three in the starting five. With Wiggins, the team would have two elite perimeter scorers, and if the Timberwolves did start Hield, they could keep Zach LaVine on the bench, where he can be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. They already have the best young talent in the NBA, and they would be drafting the National Player of the Year. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence. 
Kris Dunn is an excellent scorer, distributor, rebounder and defender, and will be a triple-double threat in the NBA. As for the Pelicans, they seem to be replacing all players, other than Anthony Davis and maybe Jrue Holiday. Although Holiday is a point guard too, these two players can play off the ball and defend, so they could work well as a duo. If not, New Orleans could just trade Holiday. -
Denver Nuggets: Jaylen Brown, SF, California 
The Nuggets need to take who they think is the best player that isn’t a point guard or center at No. 7 and Brown fits. Brown reminds me a lot of Stanley Johnson, who the Pistons drafted eighth last year. Brown is a hard-working small forward who defends, but is more athletic and likely a stronger offensive player. He wouldn’t need to start as a rookie, but he could develop with Denver’s young core. -
Sacramento Kings: Dragan Bender, PF/C, Croatia. 
Bender could go anywhere between pick No. 3 and pick No. 8, but the recent move of Chriss on team’s boards could hurt Bender, who didn’t play much this year and is also a four. Bender is a 7-foot-1 teenager who is an excellent shooter and scorer, plus he would fit well with DeMarcus Cousins or Willie Cauley-Stein. -
Toronto Raptors: Deyonte Davis, PF, Michigan State. 
Davis has excellent athleticism and size, and per minute was dominant as a freshman. Meanwhile, the four is arguably the biggest need for the Raptors. He is a very strong fit with franchise center Jonas Valanciunas and could start as a rookie for one of the East’s best teams. If the Raptors lose Bismack Biyombo, Davis can also be their second center. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Skal Labissiere, C, Kentucky.
This would be a smart choice for the Bucks. Skal Labissiere was considered prospect No. 2 to Ben Simmons’ No. 1 coming into the 2015 season, but Labissiere’s poor season at Kentucky made him a mid-lottery pick, but he still is an elite prospect. Labissiere is too thin and may take years to get the body he needs to, but he is tall, athletic, is an excellent shot-blocker and has a lot of skill on offense. The Bucks need a franchise center, but have the players now where Labissiere could slowly develop into the elite player he can be. He can also play with Greg Monroe or John Henson, Milwaukee’s two best big men. -
Orlando Magic: Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette. 
I think that Ellenson is one of the five best players in this draft, so this would be an excellent choice at No. 11. The Magic could use an offensive big man who can shoot, and Ellenson is a nice fit with their best player, center Nikola Vucevic. They have few needs, but power forward is their weakest position, so this works well for them. -
Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray, G, Washington.
I really thought about the Hawks picking the best center in the 2016 NBA Draft, Jakob Poeltl, as they may lose Al Horford, but Poeltl’s not the best fit for them as they like their big men to shoot, so I will give them Murray. As Atlanta now needs a second point guard, Murray has all-star potential, and he gives the team strong depth at guard. In short, he fits. -
Phoenix Suns: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah.
The Suns have Alex Len and Tyson Chandler, but Len has just one season left on his rookie contract and the team is very likely to trade Chandler, so taking Jakob Poeltl would be smart, more so as he is easily the best prospect available – I have him ranked seventh. He is an excellent scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker who was one of the best players in the country this season. I just cannot find a fit for him in the No. 7-12 range. -
Chicago Bulls: Denzel Valentine, G/F, Michigan State.
The Bulls need to take the best player who makes sense, which is Denzel Valentine, who he is the ninth-best prospect to me. With his ability to guard multiple positions, run an offense, score and shoot, he would be a versatile talent the Bulls could pair with Jimmy Butler to give them an elite two-three combo in the starting five. -
Denver Nuggets: Demetrius Jackson, G, Notre Dame
The Nuggets are young, but they really don’t have any big needs, and Jackson is the best prospect on my board. He scores, is a play-maker who defends at guard and could become an elite second-unit player. As Denver’s starting point guard, Emmanuel Mudiay, has size, Jackson can play with him in small-ball units and also share the second unit with stud sixth man Will Barton. I love the fit.
Go to Mike’s 2016 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
Go to Mike’s 2016 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
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By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
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