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NBA Mock Draft 2016: Dragan Bender to Suns, Buddy Hield to Timberwolves – Metro US
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NBA Mock Draft 2016: Dragan Bender to Suns, Buddy Hield to Timberwolves

NBA Mock Draft 2016: Dragan Bender to Suns, Buddy Hield to Timberwolves
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For weeks, I’ve liked Ben Simmons – Brandon Ingram – Jaylen Brown to go 1, 2, 3 to the Sixers, Lakers and Celtics. Of course, that will all be thrown out of whack when there’s movement at the top in the NBA Draft Lottery – which is this Tuesday. Things rarely stay the same up top. The Lakers moved up two spots and the Knicks fell two spots last year. The Cavs moved up eight spots two years ago to get to No. 1. The Wizards moved up five spots to get to No. 3 in 2013.

We’re about to get some concreteanswers here soon, but nonetheless,we’re mocking:

The only big change in the mock this week is that I now like the Suns to takeDragan Bender at No. 4. Alex Len needs some help in the Phoenix frontcourt and Bender would complement him nicely. The Timberwolves seem like a prime candidate to make a trade at No. 5, but if they stay put look for them to land Buddy Hield.

The Wolves are in an odd spot because they’ve got a strong starting lineup on paper and seemingly have every position covered. The odds on that entire starting five growing up together are impossibly slim though.

1. Philadelphia 76ers:Ben Simmons, PF, LSU

2. Los Angeles Lakers:Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke

3. Boston Celtics:Jaylen Brown, SG/SF, California

4. Phoenix Suns:Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia

5. Minnesota Timberwolves:Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

6. New Orleans Pelicans:Kris Dunn, PG, Providence

7. Denver Nuggets:Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Gonzaga

8. Sacramento Kings:Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Kentucky

9. Toronto Raptors:Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State

10. Milwaukee Bucks:Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan

11. Orlando Magic:JakobPoeltl, CB, Utah

12. Utah Jazz:Skal Labissierre, PF/C, Kentucky

13. Phoenix Suns:Deyonta Davis, PF/C, Michigan State

14. Chicago Bulls:Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, Washington

15. Denver Nuggets:Henry Ellenson, PF/C, Marquette

16. Boston Celtics:Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey

17. Memphis Grizzlies:Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina

18. Detroit Pistons:GuerschonYabusele, PF, France

19. Denver Nuggets:Stephen Zimmerman, PF/C, UNLV

20. Indiana Pacers:Daniel Hamilton, SG/SF, UConn

21. Atlanta Hawks:Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse

22. Charlotte Hornets:Diamond Stone, C, Maryland

23. Boston Celtics:Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington

24. Philadelphia 76ers:Denzel Valentine, SG/SF, Michigan State

25. Los Angeles Clippers:Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor

26. Philadelphia 76ers:AJ Hammons, C, Purdue

27. Toronto Raptors:TimotheLuwawu, SG/SF, France

28. Phoenix Suns:Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt

29. San Antonio Spurs:CheickDiallo, PF/C, Kansas

30. Golden State Warriors:Tyler Ullis, PG, Kentucky

Second Round

31. Boston Celtics:Thon Maker, PF/C, Australia

32. Los Angeles Lakers:Anthony Barber, PG, NC State

33. Los Angeles Clippers:Michael Gbinije, SG/SF, Syracuse

34. Phoenix Suns:Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame

35. Boston Celtics:DeAndre Bembry, SF, St. Joseph’s

36. Milwaukee Bucks:Wade Baldwin, PG/SG, Vanderbilt

37. Houston Rockets:Joel Bolomboy, PF, Weber State

38. Milwaukee Bucks:Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain

39. New Orleans Pelicans:Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland

40. New Orleans Pelicans:James Webb, SF/PF, Boise State

41. Orlando Magic:Ante Zizic, C, Croatia

42. Utah Jazz:Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV

43. Houston Rockets:Ron Baker, SG, Wichita State

44. Atlanta Hawks:Tyrone Wallace, PG/SG, California

45. Boston Celtics:Gary Payton II, Oregon State

46. Dallas Mavericks:Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas

47. Orlando Magic:Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia

48. Chicago Bulls:Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Clemson

49. Detroit Pistons:Perry Ellis, PF, Kansas

50. Indiana Pacers:Isaiah Cousins, PG/SG, Oklahoma

51. Boston Celtics:Josh Hart, SG, Villanova

52. Utah Jazz:Ben Bentil, PF, Providence

53. Denver Nuggets:Zach Auguste, PF, Notre Dame

54. Atlanta Hawks:Isaia Cordinier, SG, France

55. Brooklyn Nets:RadeZagorac, SG/SF, Serbia

56. Denver Nuggets:Damion Lee, SG, Louisville

57. Memphis Grizzlies:Zhou Qi, C, China

58. Boston Celtics:Petr Cornelie, PF/C, France

59. Sacramento Kings:Danuel House, SG/SF, Texas A&M

60. Utah Jazz:Pascal Siakam, PF, New Mexico State