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Top-10 Mock Draft: What if 76ers win No. 1 (and get the Lakers' pick)?
Should the Sixers take Ben Simmons No. 1? What if they get the Lakers' pick, too? And how does the rest of the top 10 shake out? Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
May 5, 2016

Chad Ford
Kevin Pelton

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The NBA draft lottery is less than two weeks away.

The Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn) have the best odds of winning the lottery.

There is a debate among teams about whether Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram should be the No. 1 pick. After that, Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield are projected to be among the next college stars off the board.

Starting Thursday, we will conduct a series of mock drafts based on different outcomes from our lottery generator.

First up: The Sixers, followed by the Kings and Timberwolves.

Here is how the first 10 picks could play out under this scenario (ESPN Insider Chad Ford will select first and alternate with Kevin Pelton):

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons
LSU
freshman
forward

Ford: Sixers fans have been waiting patiently not only to win the lottery but to draft their first real star.

While I understand the "draft Brandon Ingram" movement and see him as potentially a better fit in Philly than Simmons, I still believe Simmons is the right player here.
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Yes, concerns about his shooting and intensity are there. But he does things as both a passer and rebounder that few prospects could ever do. And given that the Sixers actually desperately need a point guard, is it weird to consider Simmons filling that position?

Pelton: It's not weird, but I'm not sure my Sixers' co-GM is going to love that plan once he finds out I'm picking a point guard at No. 4. Either way, I agree Simmons is the pick for Philadelphia.
2. Sacramento Kings

Brandon Ingram
Duke
freshman
forward

Pelton: This is the best possible draft pick for the Kings, who would have to swap with Philadelphia if they are awarded a higher pick.

I think Vlade Divac would be tempted to swing for the fences with Dragan Bender, but ultimately there's no way he can pass on Ingram given the consensus that there's a jump down after the top two prospects.

Ford: Knowing the Kings, I think they'd grab Hield here. Seriously. I hear Vlade loves him. He loves Bender, too, but with any other team, I think there's no way Ingram falls below No. 2.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves

Jamal Murray
Kentucky
freshman
guard

Ford: A lights-out shooter seems to be the biggest need for the Wolves.

While Hield might be a better shooter overall (at least this past season), Murray was terrific from 3-point range and has the versatility to play both guard spots. For the most talented young team in basketball, the rich keep getting richer.

Pelton: I'd strongly consider Bender here since he fills a greater positional need at power forward. However, this pick is growing on me since I think Murray could play with both Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)

Kris Dunn
Providence
junior
guard

Pelton: This is the dream scenario for the Sixers, who land both the No. 1 pick and the highest possible pick from the Lakers (which is top-three protected).

That said, with Murray off the board, the best talent is in the frontcourt, and I don't think Philadelphia can afford to take another big man. So I think Dunn is the play.
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Ford: Agreed that Dunn seems like an obvious fit, Kevin. And he's a very good one.

The Sixers can no longer play without a real point guard. But I wonder whether Hield might be the better fit if you're going to use Simmons as your de facto point guard. They desperately need shooting and a dynamic scorer, and Hield fits both needs.
5. Boston Celtics

Buddy Hield
Oklahoma
senior
guard

Ford: The Celtics could also use more shooting in their backcourt. In the postseason, no one who saw regular minutes cracked 35 percent from 3, and the guy who got closest, Marcus Smart, isn't a great shooter.

Hield is a dynamic player. And while the backcourt may already be crowded with Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, adding an elite shooter can't hurt things.

Pelton: Agreed. Bender is again in the mix if Danny Ainge wants to swing for the fences, but you're spot on about Boston's need for shooting.
6. Phoenix Suns

Dragan Bender
Croatia
Age: 18
forward/center

Pelton: Hey, finally a team that needs Bender! I don't think where he goes in this mock should be a reflection on his talent. Phoenix should be thrilled to still get Bender despite sliding a bit in the lottery.

Ford: This is a good fit for Bender. With Markieff Morris shipped off to the Wizards at the trade deadline, I could see him filling a similar role.
7. New Orleans Pelicans

Henry Ellenson
Marquette
freshman
forward/center

Ford: I can see Ellenson doing a lot of the same things that Ryan Anderson has done for the Pelicans -- but at a fraction of the cost.

With Anderson hitting free agency this summer, he'll command a monster deal somewhere. Ellenson has the same ability to stretch the floor, and I think his versatility offensively may make him, in two or three years, the better player.

Pelton: Well, I wouldn't say the same ability to stretch the floor. Ellenson made less than 30 percent of his 3s from the college line as a freshman.

I do think Ellenson is a better shooter than that, though, and he's definitely a cheaper alternative.
8. Denver Nuggets

Marquese Chriss
Washington
freshman
forward

Pelton: I think most mock drafts will have Jaylen Brown in this spot. That's not the worst idea, though I'm skeptical of Brown's potential. His athleticism would be highlighted in transition and the Nuggets could essentially play him at power forward in smaller lineups alongside Danilo Gallinari.

Still, I think Chriss is the better fit, bringing a combination of athleticism and shooting Denver doesn't have that would complement Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic.

Ford: I'm a huge fan of Chriss and personally I'd be tempted to take him ahead of both Bender and Ellenson. There's a higher risk there, but after Simmons and Ingram, I'm not sure there's a guy with a higher ceiling.

To me he's an obvious choice if he lasts this long -- especially on a team that could really use an upgrade at the 4.
9. Toronto Raptors

Skal Labissiere
Kentucky
freshman
forward/center

Ford: Labissiere is a big risk here, but Toronto GM Masai Ujiri is a big risk taker and the talent makes him an intriguing fit long term for the Raptors. They need help at power forward, and a stretch 4 seems especially appealing.

On the downside, Ujiri has always been a fan of tough players. There doesn't seem to be much of that in Labissiere, and that could cause Ujiri to perhaps go with someone like Domantas Sabonis instead.

Pelton: If Labissiere hits, I could see him fitting well with Jonas Valanciunas. The question is: How likely is that scenario?
10. Milwaukee Bucks

Jakob Poeltl
Utah
sophomore
center

Pelton: There's no more obvious meeting of talent, need and availability in the top 10 than the Bucks ending up with Poeltl. None of the teams ahead of Milwaukee really needs a center, so the Bucks will likely have the option of adding the skilled 7-footer to their center rotation.

Ford: Totally agree. I think Poeltl being a Buck is the closest thing I can find to a lock in this lottery.
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