2016 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Picks for Every Team and Players to Watch

With the first round of the NBA playoffs approaching its end, a few more teams have officially begun their respective offseasons. 

That means there are a few more teams that can set their focus on the NBA draft, which is on June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

The order of the draft has not been set yet, as the lottery will take place on May 17 to decipher the top portion of the board, but here is my latest mock draft followed by some lesser-known players to watch out for.

Players to Watch

Dragan Bender, 7’1″ PF/C, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)

International picks are always met with unease given the track record of some of these selections. On one hand, a prospect could become the next Dirk Nowitzki or, to a lesser extent, Kristaps Porzingis. On the other hand, he could be the next Darko Milicic. 

At 7’1″, Dragan Bender brings the size of a dominating center with the movement of a much smaller player. His transition game is excellent in terms of his ability to run the floor.

He has solid court vision to find the open man and has the handles to create opportunities when covered. 

Bender has a decent shot, but it needs a good deal of work before fans start comparing him to a player like Porzingis.

Another thing he needs to work on is his strength, as his below-average rebounding game will only improve as his body fills out. After all, he is only 18 years old. 

At 16, he was …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com