2016 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions and High-Risk Prospects Who Will Be Taken Early

The NBA Draft Combine has begun, causing some basketball fans to shift their attention from the postseason toward the upcoming draft.

The combine will teach scouts a few things about the players who participate in it, but most of what they need to know has revealed itself in the game action we’ve already seen. It’s never a good idea to set aside a player’s basketball talents in favor of his physical attributes or interview skills.

Let’s come up with a first-round mock draft and predict a few high-risk prospects that teams will scoop up early on draft night based on their potential.

Gambles Who Will Go Early

No. 9, Toronto Raptors: Skal Labissiere, F/C, Kentucky

Few prospects have seen their stock fall as far as Skal Labissiere’s in the past six months. Heading into the 2015-16 season, he was billed as one of the best freshmen in the nation and someone who would contend for the No. 1 pick in June.

Fast-forward to May, and Labissiere isn’t even close to being in the discussion for the top pick. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for Kentucky last season, numbers most people expected him to double.

So why is he still going to be drafted in the mid-lottery? One word: Potential.

There’s going to be at least one front office that remembers what it thought of Labissiere at this point last year and will let that influence its decision on draft night. And it’s not like he lost all of his skill; the 7’0″ big man is still a fluid …

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