NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks select Duke star

Mar 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Emmanuel Mudiay of Prime Prep Academy poses for a portrait. He is a finalist for the USA Today Player of the Year Award. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

6. Sacramento Kings

One of the more interesting prospects in the NBA Draft is point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. He decided to play professionally in China last season, so he is a bit of an unknown after being highly touted after high school. The Kings have their franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins and a very good side kick in Rudy Gay already in place. Darren Collison is the starting point guard as of now, but that won’t stop the Kings from selecting Mudiay, who has elite potential. Mudiay will be a lot of athletic ability into the Kings’ backcourt, and if he improves his jump shot, he could be the best guard in the draft.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets like to run and they need a center. Arguably the best athletic big man in the draft is Willie Cauley-Stein from Kentucky. Cauley-Stein won’t offer the Nuggets much on the offensive end of the court other than dunks, but he will be able to run the floor with Ty Lawson. Cauley-Stein is a great rim protector, but like many other college players will need to add some strength.

8. Detroit Pistons

The second foreign player that will be drafted is Mario Hezonja from Croatia. The Detroit Pistons have a need for some shooting, and Hezonja is one of the better shooters in the draft. Hezonja will provide the Pistons with an elite scoring prospect who has great range, size and strength for a young player. He is not the greatest of defenders which will likely make Stan Van Gundy lose some of his hair, but he will provide the Pistons with a much needed scoring option.

9. Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets were able to recently rid themselves of guard Lance Stephenson in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. With Stephenson now gone, the Hornets will almost surely be drafting a shooting guard, and that makes Devin Booker a perfect fit. Overshadowed at Kentucky, Booker is one of the best shooters in the draft, and will help a Hornets team that struggled to shoot the ball in 2014-15. Booker isn’t a super athletic player, but is an above average defender and would be a good piece to the puzzle in Charlotte.

10. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are still looking to pick up the pieces left from the departure of LeBron James. Chris Bosh missing a large chunk of the season did not help the Heat last season. Having a lottery pick, the Heat will be looking to add some good young talent around Bosh, Dywane Wade and Goran Dragic. To replace James, the Heat signed forward Luol Deng last offseason. Deng’s best days are behind him, and in the NBA Draft, the Heat will be drafting an athletic wing player in Kelly Oubre. At Kansas, Oubre was a great all-around player, and he will be a great addition to the Heat.

Next: Picks 11-15