Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, April 17, 2015
The 2015 NBA Draft is more than two months away, but it's never too early to speculate.
Chris Mannix of SI.com recently released his 2015 NBA Mock Draft 1.0, which features four Big Ten names.
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Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell is the first name to appear on the list, going No. 6 overall to the Sacramento Kings.
"Questions about Russell?s athleticism are drowned out by praise for his playmaking and brilliance in the pick-and-roll," Mannix says. "Russell is an ideal complement to DeMarcus Cousins."
Russell has not formally declared for the draft, but experts have him as a lock to go in the lottery, if he does choose to declare.
Frank Kaminsky is the next Big Ten star who Mannix believes will come off the board. He has the former Wisconsin All-American pegged as going No. 9 to the Charlotte Hornets.
"A forgettable Hornets season was highlighted by an ugly stat: No. 28 in the NBA in offensive efficiency," says Mannix. "Enter Kaminsky, an NBA-ready big man whose inside-out game could complement Al Jefferson in the post. It will be up to Steve Clifford to iron out any defensive deficiencies out."
Sam Dekker, No. 18 to the Houston Rockets, and Caris LeVert, No. 25 to the Memphis Grizzlies, are the other two Big Ten names to appear in Mannix's mock draft.
Dekker made the decision to forgo his senior season and enter the draft, while LeVert has yet to decide if he will make the move to the NBA this year.
Other names to consider: Dez Wells (Maryland), Branden Dawson (Michigan State), Aaron White (Iowa), A.J. Hammons (Purdue).