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2016 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
2016 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
2017 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 21, 2016.
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Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, F, LSU, 6-10, Fr. 
There will be Simmons or Brandon Ingram debates up until draft night, but Simmons is the clear-cut No. 1 pick in my opinion. The Aussie is an extremely versatile offensive weapon who ultimately plays a point forward-type role. Add him to a young frontcourt of Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid – if he ever gets healthy – and Philadelphia adds a huge piece to its ever-struggling and elongated rebuilding project. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke, 6-9, Fr. 
Long and wirey, Brandon Ingram boasts a smooth stroke from the perimeter, but adding muscle to his thin frame is a must. The Lakers have a hole at small forward, and Ingram would be a solid building block along with D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson. -
Boston Celtics: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence, 6-4, Jr. 
The Celtics will continue to actively shop this pick in hopes of landing a proven player who can help them right now. If are unable to swing a deal, Boston has a decision to make and plenty of names are in play; Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, Dragan Bender, and more recently Jaylen Brown and Marquese Chriss. I’m plugging the Providence point guard in for now.
Boston owns the Nets’ pick from the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2016 NBA Draft Trades. -
Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender, PF, Bosnia, 7-0, 1997 
The Suns should be ecstatic if Bender drops to them at No. 4 since they have a glaring need at power forward, plus he is someone who can add versatility to the frontcourt since he is a multi-dimensional forward with great skill for his size. Marquese Chriss would be another option here. -
Minnesota Timberwolves: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma, 6-4, Sr. 
The Timberwolves need to add a shooter to their young roster, and so they would be in a great situation here with both Hield and Murray on the board. It would come down to a case of preference for Minnesota, and for now, I am giving Hield the edge. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky, 6-5, Fr. 
The Pelicans should be thrilled if either Murray or Hield fell to them since they need depth at shooting guard with Eric Gordon entering free agency. Murray is a terrific scorer whether shooting it from the outside or driving to the bucket. -
Denver Nuggets: Marquese Chriss, SF, Washington, 6-10, Fr. 
The Nuggets are a tough team to figure out since they need an upgrade in talent all across the board. Therefore, they likely take the best player on their board. Though still developing his all-around game, Chriss has the ideal size and athleticism coveted at the next level.
Denver has the rights to swap first-round picks with the Knicks from the Carmelo Anthony trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2016 NBA Draft Trades. -
Sacramento Kings: Jaylen Brown, SF, California, 6-7, Fr. 
The Kings could go in a number of directions, so taking the best available player is likely their best option. Jaylen Brown has the ideal combination of size, strength and athleticism for the next level, and would add some physicality and aggressiveness on the wing. -
Toronto Raptors: Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette, 6-11, Fr. 
Outside of Jonas Valanciunas, the Raptors don’t have a whole lot of depth or talent inside. Ellenson’s multi-dimensional offensive attack would add some diversity and needed depth to the Raptors’ frontcourt.
Toronto owns the Nuggets’ pick (via New York) from the Andrea Bargnani trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2016 NBA Draft Trades. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah, 7-1, Soph. 
With O.J. Mayo, Jarryd Bayless and Grevis Vazquez are all heading for free agency, guard play should be a priority for the Bucks this summer. I have had Denzel Valentine being the pick here for a while, but he is a bit of a reach at this point with so many post players available. Poeltl is a skilled big man, but also brings good size and physicality inside to provide some frontcourt depth in Milwaukee. -
Orlando Magic: Skal Labissiere, C, Kentucky, 7-0, Fr.
The Magic could use a boost in talent inside next to Nikola Vucevic. Labissiere is a still-developing big man who has the tools to be a major factor on both ends of the floor. He is a project and won’t be a major contributor right away, but could pay huge dividends down the road. -
Utah Jazz: Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga, 6-10, Soph. 
With an already young core intact, the Jazz don’t have any glaring needs, but could use some depth inside. The son of former NBA big man, Arvydas; Domantas Sabonis is an aggressive rebounder and fairly skilled offensive threat as well. -
Phoenix Suns: Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse, 6-6, Fr.
Malachi Richardson has a smooth-looking jump shot and good size for the next level. His play during Syracuse’s run to the Final Four really helped his stock, and the Suns could use some perimeter shooting help on the wing to help out last year’s first-round pick, Devin Booker.
Phoenix owns the Wizards’ first-round pick from the Markieff Morris trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2016 NBA Draft Trades. -
Chicago Bulls: Dejounte Murray, G, Washington, 6-5, Fr.
With Joakim Noah and possibly Pau Gasol heading for free agency, the Bulls should be looking for size inside or depth at guard. Murray is a versatile combo guard who makes his mark in numerous different ways on the court and is a better prospect than any big left on the board. -
Denver Nuggets: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey, 6-7, 1997
Since the Nuggets have three first-round picks, assuming they keep them all, expect them to draft at least one foreign prospect. In the mold of many Euro wings, Korkmaz has solid handles and can score from anywhere on the floor.
Denver owns the Rockets’ first-round pick from the Arron Afflalo trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2016 NBA Draft Trades.
Go to 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 2016 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
Go to 2017 NBA Mock Draft
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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