NBA Mock Draft 2016: Projections for Where 1st-Round Prospects Will Land

It’s understandable if the NBA playoffs hog the spotlight and keep the 2016 NBA draft pushed aside—for now.

Even though the majority of teams watch the postseason from home, Stephen Curry’s return, a strong performance by a hobbled Miami Heat team, Tim Duncan’s potential retirement tour, Kevin Durant’s possible farewell tour before leaving Oklahoma City and so much more demands attention.

For now. In the coming weeks, the majority will seize the spotlight back with the combine and lottery set to go down. Pair one of the most interesting classes in a long time with those events, and it’s inevitable.

Before the combine gets underway on May 11, here’s a look at an updated mock draft.

2016 NBA Mock Draft

Best Landing Spots for Intriguing Names 3. Boston Celtics (via BKN): PF Dragan Bender, Croatia

A year removed from the Kristaps Porzingis hype train, it’s not hard to see why Dragan Bender stands tall in helping to make this an interesting class.

Bender is a monster of a player at 7’1″ and 216 pounds who can play any of the forward spots on the floor thanks to his ability to knock down shots from range. A lack of efficiency on the boards hurts, but an ESPN.com scouting write-up from November says a lot about upside:

With Kristaps Porzingis making the Lakers and Sixers second-guess passing on him in the draft and Nikola Mirotic moving into the starting lineup in Chicago, big Euros who can play multiple positions and stretch the floor are back in fashion. And some scouts believe that the athletic, versatile Bender could end up being better than Porzingis and Mirotic.

And upside is the name of the game with the 18-year-old star.

It’s a game the Boston Celtics should want to play. General manager Danny Ainge has the franchise loaded with draft picks after a surprise playoff …

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