I have an unhealthy love for the NBA Draft Lottery, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s not like I enjoy sitting and laughing at the shortcomings of NBA teams that weren’t quite good enough to make the playoffs; I think I just absolutely love the way the system is set up. Just because you were the worst team doesn’t mean you get the number one pick. Sorry, NFL. I know it’s easier to do it that way, but it takes away all the suspense and the fun.

When the Milwaukee Bucks were in the lottery last season with a legitimate shot at the first overall pick, I was so excited and giddy. Did it suck that Milwaukee didn’t get the first pick? Absolutely. Was I furious with the NBA for once again finding a way to give Cleveland the first pick? I was yelling in disgust at the TV the whole time Dan Gilbert was on screen. Did the NBA have my undivided attention for 30 minutes as they revealed who managed to get lucky enough to jump up in the draft order? They sure did.

With the Bucks out of the lottery this year, I didn’t have a single horse in this race, but my interest was as high as ever. This year’s talent, though not as strong as last year, is incredibly intriguing to me. The surefire prospects aren’t there this year, but the blend of personalities and talent is what has me paying close attention. With both the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers (two franchises I’m really not a fan of) having a strong chance at the first pick, I was rooting for the underdogs in Minnesota the whole way. Thankfully, Minnesota won and the Knicks dropped. To my despair, the Lakers moved all the way up to number two, and they have a great chance at grabbing a franchise player. Now that the 2015 NBA Draft order is officially set, here is my post-lottery mock draft.

For all picks, I tried to address team needs, and tried putting myself in the shoes of the GM. This is a combination of both what player I think best fits team needs, and who the team might realistically pick.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves-Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Kentucky With the current roster that Minnesota has, Towns would be a perfect fit to slide in with the other young talent. As a stretch four who excels on defense, he will transition very well into the starting lineup and be an impact player from day one. With one of the highest two-way ceilings in the draft, Towns is slowly starting to look like the unanimous number one pick.
2. Los Angeles Lakers-Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke Chamberlain. Abdul-Jabbar. O’Neal. Okafor? Every time the Lakers have been the premier team in the NBA, they have had an All-Pro Center as their most dominant player. Enter: Jahlil Okafor. With a post game that is full of a myriad of go-to moves and counters, he will be a force to reckon with from day one, and will likely be the favorite for the Rookie of the Year. He fills a need, and he will likely be the franchise cornerstone for years to come.
3. Philadelphia 76ers-D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State Sam Hinkie’s draft pick hoarding is going to pay off soon, right? With a front line next year of Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, the Sixers are in desperate need for a lead ball handler and playmaker. At this point in time, I think Russell fills this role much better than Emmanuel Mudiay, but that could change in the next month. With D’Angelo Russell at the point, Philly has an above average shooter, a great playmaker, and a versatile guard.

4. New York Knicks-Justise Winslow, SF, Duke The Knicks have a lot of holes that need to be filled, so I think the best choice for them here is Winslow. After an incredible NCAA Tournament, Winslow saw his stock skyrocket and he now could be a top five pick. An intense defender, and a physically strong offensive player, he will fit well into the Knicks’ triangle offense. If he is able to continue to develop his offensive game, and become a consistent threat from the three-point line, he could have a long and successful NBA career. If New York drafts Winslow, expect him to make a switch to shooting guard so he can play next to Carmelo Anthony.
5. Orlando Magic-Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia Between Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic, not a lot of threes are made in Orlando. Hezonja is an above average athlete with a sweet shooting stroke that could play either the two or three in the NBA. He might not be an immediate impact player, but his game shows a lot of promise and should translate once he gets his feet wet.
6. Sacramento Kings-Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky Sacramento has a few very promising, young players at the guard positions that they have picked up in the draft in recent years. Additionally, they also have their franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is capable of playing both power forward and center, and by drafting Cauley-Stein, Sacramento could make that move to power forward happen. Between Cousins and Cauley-Stein, who is widely regarded as the best defender in the draft, Sacramento would have a very intimidating defensive back line.
7. Denver Nuggets-Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China Denver is at a crossroads. With no go-to player or someone to build the roster around, they would likely be salivating at the chance to grab Mudiay. Mudiay is an explosive athlete with an inconsistent jump shot. In addition to struggles with his shot, he missed significant time while playing in China due to an ankle injury. Despite all the promise surrounding Mudiay and his ability to translate his game to the NBA level, it’s very possible that teams with picks 3-6 could pass on him. If that happens, expect Denver to draft him and look to trade Ty Lawson.
8. Detroit Pistons-Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona Stanley Johnson is one of the more NBA-ready players that will come out of this draft. With a strong body, an advanced offensive skill set, and a willingness to play hard-nosed defense, Detroit should jump on Johnson without hesitation. With the possible departure of Greg Monroe looming, Detroit will need to grab all the offensive firepower they can get.
9. Charlotte Hornets-Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky The Charlotte Hornets love to chuck up threes. The problem, though, is that most of them don’t go in. Charlotte had the lowest three-point percentage in the entire league, and that’s exactly why Devin Booker will help. Booker has one of the sweetest shots in this draft class, and he also possesses NBA range. With Kemba Walker creating chances in the half-court, and Al Jefferson constantly drawing double-teams, Booker will get plenty of open looks in year one.
10. Miami Heat-Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas A lot has been made about Turner’s underdeveloped back to the basket offense and his awkward running style. You know who doesn’t care about either of those things? Pat Riley. If Turner is able to bulk up and improve his offensive arsenal, he could have a long NBA career. As it stands right now, Turner’s calling card is his shot blocking. With Hassan Whiteside’s Miami future up in the air after next season, Turner would be the ideal candidate to replace him and anchor the Miami defense.
11. Indiana Pacers-Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia You know what kind of players have a hard time adjusting to the NBA game? Tall European players who don’t possess the physicality to bang around down low. Porzingis, like a lot of European bigs before him, has a sweet shooting stroke, but he is not even close to prepared for the NBA physicality. In a lot of ways, he is similar to Myles Turner, but his offensive game is more developed, and his defense isn’t as good. With David West nearing the end of his career, and Roy Hibbert doing Roy Hibbert type things, Porzingis is the best option available for Indy at 11 as he has top five potential.
12. Utah Jazz-Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Wisconsin Utah has two monstrous shot blockers in their frontcourt in Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. Favors is the superior offensive player, as Gobert basically has nothing outside of four feet at this point. Utah’s roster is dangerously close to cracking into the Western Conference playoffs, and Kaminsky might be the piece to push them over the brink. Kaminsky’s overall offensive game is the most complete out of any big in the draft: he can post up, dribble drive, and shoot the three. With this skill set he will be able to play either the stretch four or five in Utah, and he will always have a reliable defender on the floor with him.

13. Phoenix Suns-Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky Trey Lyles showed his versatility this past year at Kentucky by having to playing small forward (a position he wasn’t accustomed to) the majority of the time he was on the court. Jeff Hornacek will value this aspect of Lyles’s game because of all the unique lineups he throws out. If Phoenix plays small ball, Lyles is capable of playing power forward; if they play big, he can slot in at small forward. Lyles has a great shot from midrange and makes a lot of the plays that are necessary for winning, which is exactly what a team picking at 13 is looking for.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder-Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin Sam Dekker is falling into the perfect situation. He will get at least a year to learn under one of the best players in the world in Kevin Durant, and he will be one of the lead contributors off the bench for a team making a push for a championship. Dekker does everything well, but nothing great. On certain nights, he will be asked to score 15 points, and on other nights he might have to be physical on the opposing team’s best player. If Dekker ends up in OKC, he could be the piece that puts them over the top and helps them achieve an NBA Championship.
15. Atlanta Hawks-Kelly Oubre, SG, Kansas Once Oubre figures it all out, he could be a very good pro player. At times, Oubre either looks lost or disengaged on both ends of the court. With exceptionally long arms and a smooth shooting stroke, he is the ideal three and D candidate to fill in for DeMarre Carroll if he leaves Atlanta this summer.
16. Boston Celtics-Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA Boston needs strong low post defenders, but unfortunately no player like that is available here. In Kevon Looney, Boston is getting a player with a nose for getting rebounds, but in a slender frame. His offense is solid, but still developing. With a few years under Coach Brad Stevens, Looney will only add to his offensive game and he could possibly turn into a pesky defender because of his long frame.
17. Milwaukee Bucks-R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State If Milwaukee is able to spread the floor more with three point shooting, they will be a team to watch in the next few years. At number 17, R.J. Hunter is probably the best shooter left in the draft, and the kid can absolutely stroke it. Anyone who didn’t know of R.J. Hunter before his shot to knock out Baylor in the NCAA Tournament knows who he is now. With some time in the weight room, he could turn into a three and D specialist in the NBA.

18. Houston Rockets-Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State To play for the Houston Rockets, a player needs to be able to either get to the hoop and score, or hit threes. Patrick Beverly is a restricted free agent this summer, and if he doesn’t resign with Houston, Payne would be the perfect player to step in at point. His ability to drive and dish and hit the three is perfect for the style the Houston Rockets play.
19. Washington Wizards-Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas The paint is often very clogged in Washington with both Nene and Marcin Gortat spending the majority of their time in that area. By drafting Bobby Portis, the Wizards will hopefully add a stretch four into their rotation that will open up more room on the block for Gortat and driving lanes for John Wall.
20. Toronto Raptors-Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville High motor, high intensity. Every time I watch Montrezl Harrell, I get a little worried, because I’m legitimately scared that he might dunk on someone from the other team so hard it might knock them out. For a Raptors team that struggles to play hard at times, Harrell might be just the type of player who can come in and push everyone on the roster to a new level. Harrell has a very limited offensive game, but a team that picks him isn’t looking at him to be a go-to scorer.
21. Dallas Mavericks-Delon Wright, PG, Utah Rajon Rondo is all but gone, so that leaves only Devin Harris and JJ Barea to play the point in Dallas. Delon Wright is another player who doesn’t do anything great, but he does everything well. He has a high basketball IQ, which Coach Rick Carlisle will admire. In drafting Wright, you are not expecting to see eye-popping play, but rather safe and intelligent play.
22. Chicago Bulls-Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame It’s impossible to guess what we will see from Derrick Rose going forward. In the playoffs he showed signs of returning to his old self, but with his injury history he could easily regress again. Jerian Grant is a player who is very similar to Rose with his athletic gift; he also has a knack for making shots, but I wouldn’t call him a shooter. When he steps out on the court, he finds a way to make plays happen, which is something that Chicago can value whether they use him as a backup or a starter for when Rose is out.

23. Portland Trailblazers-Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV Rashad Vaughn can shoot the ball, and he won’t have any problem adjusting to the NBA three-point line. With Wes Matthews due for a big payday this summer, it is likely that Portland will be in the market for a shooting guard. At the 23^rd pick, Vaughn is one of the best options available.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers-Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona In a lot of ways, Hollis-Jefferson is very similar to Montrezl Harrell: exceptional athlete, high motor, limited offense. With LeBron James on the wrong side of 30, Cleveland will need to look for small forwards who are capable of guarding the other teams best player to give LeBron a few breaks. Hollis-Jefferson is the perfect player to come in, learn the ropes from LeBron and provide tough defense for a title contender for 15-20 minutes a night.
25. Memphis Grizzlies-Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia Another exceptional athlete from this draft class who will likely be a three and D player in the NBA. Anderson’s athleticism makes many believe that he could be an elite defender at the pro level, and his ever-improving three-point shot is even more encouraging. In a lot of ways he projects to be Tony Allen with a better shot and not quite as good of a defender. Anderson seems to be a perfect match for the hard-nosed Memphis Grizzlies.
26. San Antonio Spurs-Tyus Jones, PG, Duke Tyus Jones always seemed to have his best games when the lights were on. Every time he was in a marquee game, his killer instinct kicked in and he seemed to hit every shot he took. With Tony Parker’s game regressing quickly, it might be smart for San Antonio to find a point guard now and give him a few years to learn behind Parker. Jones is undersized and not a great athlete, but I find it hard to bet against him at the next level.
27. Los Angeles Lakers-Christian Wood, PF, UNLV Christian Wood is long, gangly, and fun to watch. At 6’11, he has a lot of filling out to do yet, but for now he is able to compensate with his athleticism and smarts. His offensive game has progressed greatly in the last year, and he is a confident and capable shot-blocker. For now, he could be a good option as a backup power forward behind Julius Randle.

28. Boston Celtics-Robert Upshaw, C, Washington Boston’s front line offers zero rim protection. Jarred Sullinger plays hard, but he’s not a shot blocker. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Kelly Olynyk even come close to blocking a shot. If there’s one thing that Robert Upshaw does well, it is block shots. There are obvious character issues here (been kicked off of two college teams in as many years), but at the 28^th pick, he’s definitely worth the risk if he pans out. You don’t just accidentally block 4.5 shots a game.
29. Brooklyn Nets-Rakeem Christmas, PF/C, Syracuse Rakeem Christmas really helped his stock at the Draft Combine in the 5 on 5 games. In these games, he showed off his ability to score in the low post and midrange, and also his ability to guard centers taller than him. With Brook Lopez possibly opting out of his contract this summer, it would probably be smart for Brooklyn to replenish their front line ASAP.
30. Golden State Warriors-Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas I loved watching Cliff Alexander’s high school mixtapes because he was one terrifying dude. When he came to Kansas and struggled from the start, I wasn’t surprised at all. His game, which depended on bullying players much smaller than him, didn’t translate that well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t translate well to the NBA, either. He’s only 6’8”, but he has a massive wingspan, and he’s incredibly strong. The potential to succeed is still there if he can diversify his game some, and I think Golden State takes a chance on him because when he’s engaged, he’s a monster down low. If he wants to succeed as a pro, he’s going to have to consider himself a DeJuan Blair-type player.

The NBA Draft is a little more than a month away. During this next month, player stock will rise and fall. Team needs will change. Coaching staffs and team management will be adjusted. This next month is the most important month of many of these players’ lives. They can either build their future or damage it without even trying. Even if they help themselves as much as possible, it is still not up to them. The unpredictability provides the joy. No one knows what is going to happen; they just know something is going to happen. Good luck to all the draft candidates, and hurry up June 25^th.

Jim Marose is an NBA Draft nerd. He loves watching player highlights, reading scouting reports, and breaking down team needs. For tweets regarding prospect information, trades, draft risers, and draft sliders, follow him on Twitter @jmarose47.