NBA MOCK DRAFT

1 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky

Flip Saunders could opt for the more polished offensive game of Jahlil Okafor, but Towns could get the edge as the more well-rounded prospect.

2 LOSANGELES LAKERS

Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

Kobe Bryant has won with low-post centers, but a pick this early has to be about finding the star to succeed him. Okafor can be both.

3 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State

Joel Embiid’s ongoing injury issues could have Sam Hinkie looking at a big man, but Hinkie has shown he will ignore immediate needs to take the best prospect.

4 NEW YORK KNICKS

Kristaps Porzingis, F, Baloncesto Sevilla/Latvia

Phil Jackson could trade out of the pick if Russell or Okafor are gone as expected. Porzingis’ upside should be the priority after such an awful season and will draw offers.

5 ORLANDO MAGIC

Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky

The Magic would love to have Porzingis slip one more spot, but if not, Orlando might make the slight reach to fill a need. Cauley-Stein otherwise could slip multiple spots or out of the top 10.

6 SACRAMENTO KINGS

Emmanuel Mudiay, G, Guangdong/ Prime Prep Academy

There was some talk about Mudiay slipping and he had been thought to be a top-five prospect, but he would make a good choice for George Karl’s retooling of the Kings.

7 DENVER NUGGETS

Justise Winslow, F, Duke

Winslow’s combination of solid defense and a versatile offensive game fits well with Michael Malone’s description of what he wants to develop as he takes over the Nuggets.

8 DETROIT PISTONS

Mario Hezonja, G, Barcelona/Croatia

Hezonja has an aggressive, attacking offensive style, and his skills have too much potential to let him slip past Detroit. Stan Van Gundy might be tempted by Devin Booker’s shot, but Hezonja is a bargain at eight.

9 CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Devin Booker, F, Kentucky

The Hornets could have a wing spot open after moving Lance Stephenson and the likely release of Matt Barnes. Booker is so young, he might not step right in but could bring the shooting the Hornets long have needed.

10 MIAMI HEAT

Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona

Johnson has a long way to go offensively, but that won’t scare off the Heat, whocould use his athleticism and defensive talents.

11 INDIANA PACERS

Cameron Payne, G, Murray State

Payne has been rising throughout the process and would bring a strong pick-and-roll point guard to an offense that needs more punch off the dribble in the backcourt.

12 UTAH JAZZ

Frank Kaminsky, C/PF, Wisconsin

Dennis Lindsey has done well in the draft since moving from San Antonio and could go in a variety of directions, but Kaminsky’s mature offensive game could be a good addition to Utah’s blossoming defense.

13 PHOENIX SUNS

Myles Turner, C/F, Texas

Turner moved up well in the process but has to develop, particularly as an inside threat. Looking for size anyway, the Suns would happily give him time to make steps most believe he will.

14 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Kelly Oubre, F, Kansas

For all the pain of the injury-filled season, the Thunder could come away with a talent with potential greater than a spot at the end of the lottery. With confidence in their ability to develop prospects, the Thunder would celebrate having Oubre in their system.

15 ATLANTA HAWKS

Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas

Portis could rise, but his energy and versatile offensive game are typical of the frontcourt style Mike Budenholzer has sought.

16 BOSTON CELTICS

Kevon Looney, F, UCLA

Danny Ainge would be willing to gamble on as much upside as he can get, with several players on the board who inspire huge differences of opinion. Looney is raw but worth developing.

17 MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky

Overshadowed at Kentucky, Lyles is more of a project at power forward but has shown signs of developing a reliable shot to go with his competitiveness and feel for the game.

18 HOUSTON ROCKETS

Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame

The Rockets pay zero attention to immediate need, choosing players they believe will eventually be best. They most often take experienced players from the big conferences, such as Grant and several others, but rarely have taken a traditional point guard.

19 WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin

Opinions vary as much about Dekker as his play did in the NCAA Tournament, but if he can become a reliable shooter, he could be an outstanding pickup this late.

20 TORONTORAPTORS

R.J. Hunter, G, Georgia State

The Raptors could go in any direction, but Hunter’s heady style and shooting touch will be difficult to allow him to slip much more.

21 DALLAS MAVERICKS

Tyus Jones, G, Duke

Jones likely would develop running Rick Carlisle’s offense with some good tools around him.

22 CHICAGO BULLS

Chris McCullough, F, Syracuse

McCullough went out this season with a knee injury and would have been a gamble given his inconsistent play, but he also could be an outstanding value for a team like the Bulls willing to gamble and wait.

23 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F,

Arizona

An outstanding defensive player with potential to be elite, Hollis-Jefferson is a strong finisher, especially on the break, but otherwise will need to improve offensively.

24 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville

Harrell’s length and great energy make up for the lack of height with a style of play necessary to fit in with a contender.

25 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Rashad Vaughn, G, UNLV

There will be several wings to consider, but Vaughn’s versatile offensive game could be worth developing, especially on a team that can wait.

26 SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Justin Anderson, F, Virginia

Anderson’s improved shot could move him ahead of several players whocould have been expected to be gone by now. His toughness and defense would fit the Spurs.

27 LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Delon Wright, G, Utah

Wright’s strengths — unselfishness, playmaking and defensive tenacity — could help him play early either behind or with Jordan Clarkson, and he’s a good value for the Lakers’ use of the Rockets’ pick acquired in the deal to take Jeremy Lin.

28 BOSTON CELTICS

Christian Wood, F, UNLV

Coming off a breakthrough sophomore season, Wood showed good potential as a scorer on the perimeter and off the dribble but likely will need to add strength.

29 BROOKLYNNETS

Rakeem Christmas, F/C, Syracuse

Though he does not have good size for a center or the shot for a forward, his defense and rebounding can make him effective.

30 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Willie Hernangomez, C, Sevilla/ Spain

The Warriors would be happy to wait to make an addition to their NBA championship or D-League championship rosters, but Hernangomez could fit well with their tastes as a particularly heady player whois an unusually effective passer.

31 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Terry Rozier, G, Louisville

An outstanding athlete with good length for the position, Rozier likely will have to be more of a scoring point guard, though he has the ability to be a good defender on the ball.

32 HOUSTON ROCKETS

Jonathan Holmes, F, Texas

Holmes might not have helped himself as a senior as much as he expected, but his improvement as a range shooter could help him get past a tweener label with an otherwise well-rounded game.

NBA draft

6 p.m. Thursday; Brooklyn, N.Y.; ESPN