NBA Mock Draft 2016: Opening-Round Predictions and Rising Prospects to Watch

Outside of Cleveland and the Bay Area, basketball fans have started turning their full attention to the 2016 NBA draft.

The draft, held on June 23 in Brooklyn, New York, is just over two weeks away, and teams are starting to schedule their final workouts with prospects to piece together their draft boards.

The most dramatic shifting of prospects occurred back in May at the NBA Draft Combine, but there are still some late risers climbing up the boards.

Here’s a look at an updated mock draft, followed by a closer view of three prospects on the rise: 

 

Marquese Chriss, F, Washington

NBA teams have become increasingly interested in putting the best athletes on the floor rather than strictly defining positions, and this strategy is benefiting prospects such as Washington’s Marquese Chriss. 

Chriss, who played just one season at Washington, is raw, but his athleticism and size (6’10”) give him the versatility teams covet.

Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Sharp recently described Chriss as “likely the best athlete in the draft, with shooting touch out to three-point range.”

Chriss has been a late riser in the draft process but now appears to be a top-10 lock and could potentially go higher. Steve Kyler of Basketball …

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