NBA Mock Draft: Dragan Bender, Jamal Murray stock rising

This past week, John Calipari and Jamal Murray himself both made the case that Murray was the best player in this year’s draft. The sharp-shooting Kentucky guard may very well turn out to be just that, but both the Sixers and Lakers are in no position to gamble right now. Simmons and Ingram are going Nos. 1 and 2 unless there is a trade.

At No. 3 with the Celtics is where this thing’s going to get mighty interesting. Murray made the most 3s in Celtics pre-draft workout history, which is worth noting, despite the fact that the Celtics probably just made up the record in an effort to try and boost the stock of pick No. 3. (Do we know who had the record before?)

The Jeff Teague to Philadelphia trade seems dead after Teague said in an Instagram post that he played last season with a torn patellar tendon. Therefore, that much-discussed Celtics – Sixers Jahlil Okafor swap at No. 3 may be back on the table.

Outside of lottery-land, one name to keep tabs on is the other Murray in this draft, Dejounte – the combo guard from Washington. Dejounte Murray was initial a fringe lottery pick but many mocks now have him going in the second round. Right now we have him going to the Sixers at No. 26 but he really could go anywhere from No. 15 to No. 50 overall.

Our latest NBAmock with the draft just 10 days away:

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

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

3. Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, SF, California

4. Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky

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

7. Denver Nuggets: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

8. Sacramento Kings: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington

9. Toronto Raptors: Skal Labissiere, PF, Kentucky

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette

11. Orlando Magic: Jakob Poeltl, PF, Utah

12. Utah Jazz: Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State

13. Phoenix Suns: Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga

14. Chicago Bulls: Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina

15. Denver Nuggets: Timothe Luwawu, SG, France

16. Boston Celtics: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey

17. Memphis Grizzlies: Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan STate

18. Detroit Pistons: Tyler Ullis, PG, Kentucky

19. Denver Nuggets: Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor

20. Indiana Pacers: Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse

21. Atlanta Hawks: Thon Maker, C, Australia

22. Charlotte Hornets: Wade Baldwin, SG, Vanderbilt

23. Boston Celtics: Diamond Stone, Maryland

24. Philadelphia 76ers: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain

26. Philadelphia 76ers: Dejounte Murray, SG, Washington

27. Toronto Raptors: Cheick Diallo, C, Kansas

28. Phoenix Suns: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia

29. San Antonio Spurs: Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia

30. Golden State Warriors: DeAndre Bembry, SF, St. Joe’s

Second round

31. Boston Celtics: Ben Bentil, PF, Providence

32. Los Angeles Lakers: Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State

33. Los Angeles Clippers: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt

34. Phoenix Suns: Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV

35. Boston Celtics: Stephen Zimmerman, PF/C, UNLV

36. Milwaukee Bucks: Guerschon Yabusele, PF, France

37. Houston Rockets: Pascal Siakam, PF, New Mexico

38. Milwaukee Bucks: Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan

39. New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Barber, PG, NC State

40. New Orleans Pelicans: Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia

41. Orlando Magic: Kahlil Fielder, PG, Oakland

42. Utah Jazz: Joel Bolomboy, PF, Weber State

43. Houston Rockets: Isaiah Coustins, PG, Oklahoma

44. Atlanta Hawks: Julian Jacobs, SG, USC

45. Boston Celtics: Michael Gbinije, SG, Syracuse

46. Dallas Mavericks: Zhou Qi, C, China

47. Orlando Magic:Gary Payton II, PG, Oregon State

48. Chicago Bulls: Perry Ellis, PF, Kansas

49. Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Whitehead, SG, Seton Hall

50. Indiana Pacers: Petr Cornelie, PF, France

51. Boston Celtics: AJ Hammons, C, Purdue

52. Utah Jazz: Daniel Hamilton, SF, UConn

53. Denver Nuggets: Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas

54. Atlanta Hawks: Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, Florida

55. Brooklyn Nets: Rosco Allen, SF, Standford

56. Denver Nuggets: Damion Lee, SG, Louisville

57. Memphis Grizzlies: James Webb, SF, Boise State

58. Boston Celtics: Tyrone Wallace, PG/SG, California

59. Sacramento Kings: Ron Baker, SG, Wichita State

60. Utah Jazz: Troy Williams, SF, Indiana