2015 NBA draft position preview: Point guards

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We begin our position previews with a look at the top five point guards in the 2015 NBA draft. This is a strong crop of floor generals, highlighted by two players that could be sporting a 76ers jersey in the very near future. Look for my profiles of the top five shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers leading up to the NBA draft on June 25. But we begin where it all begins on the basketball court — the point guard position.

1. D'Angelo Russell, 6-5/180, Ohio State
Russell gets the nod over Emmanuel Mudiay as the top point guard in the 2015 NBA draft thanks to a more polished offensive game. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his one season at Ohio State. Russell shot 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. He's a very efficient outside shooter, but his best attributes are his passing and court vision. Russell excels at finding the open man and setting his teammates up for easy baskets. There are questions regarding his athleticism and ability on the defensive end, but his offensive skills overshadow those concerns.

The NBA is a point guard's league, and Russell has all the makings of a future star. Russell will fill up the box score for whatever team selects him, and those numbers should translate into plenty of wins over the years.

Draft projection: Russell will be a top-four pick. He could go as high as No. 2 to the Lakers, and won't fall any lower than the Knicks at No. 4. Russell appears to be a perfect fit for the Sixers with the No. 3 pick.

2. Emmanuel Mudiay, 6-5/190, China
Mudiay has the most upside of any point guard in the draft. He is a bit of an unknown for a projected top-five pick after playing only 12 games in China last year. Mudiay planned to play his college ball at SMU, but had issues qualifying academically. So he packed his bags for China, where he suffered an ankle injury early in the season. Mudiay's numbers were impressive when he was healthy — he averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists in those 12 games overseas.

Mudiay's ankle injury is a thing of the past and he will bring star power to the team that drafts him. He is more athletic and explosive than Russell, but less polished on the offensive end. His skills mirror those of John Wall — proficient at driving to the basket and setting up his teammates but shaky in terms of shooting from the perimeter.

Draft projection: Mudiay will be selected in the top five of the draft. His ceiling is the Lakers with the No. 2 pick, and he shouldn't slip past the Knicks at No. 4. Mudiay is an intriguing option for the Sixers with the No. 3 pick. Russell has been linked to the Sixers more frequently, but Mudiay fits the mold of what Sam Hinkie looks for in a prospect. He's long, rangy and very athletic. Don't be surprised if Hinkie decides Mudiay is the better option for the Sixers.

3. Cameron Payne, 6-2/185, Murray St.
Payne has been soaring up draft boards in recent weeks. He really helped himself at the NBA Draft Combine, which solidifed what he put on tape last season at Murray State. Payne is a score-first point guard with a very good shooting stroke. Between his small-school pedigree and offensive skills, Payne has been compared to Damian Lillard. He averaged 20.2 points and 6.0 assists and shot better than 37 percent from three-point range last season as a sophomore in college. There were questions whether Payne would decide to enter the draft, but he thinks he is ready to make an impact at the pro level. Judging by the early reviews from NBA scouts and executives following the combine, he made the right decision.

Draft projection: Payne could sneak into the back end of the lottery, but is more likely to be selected somewhere in the 15-20 range.

4. Tyus Jones, 6-1/185, Duke
Jones became a household name during Duke's run to the national championship. His college teammates Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow will be drafted much higher, but it was Jones who made the bulk of the crunch-time plays for the Blue Devils. There are concerns about Jones' size, but his offensive skills and late-game moxie would make him a welcomed addition to any NBA backcourt. Jones averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals during his lone season at Duke. He shot 38 percent from three-point range and punctuated his college career with 23 points against Wisconsin in the national championship game.

Draft projection: Jones should be drafted anywhere in the 15-23 range. If he lands in the right spot, he could contribute immediately at the NBA level.

5. Jerian Grant, 6-4/200, Notre Dame
Grant is the older brother of the Sixers' Jerami Grant and he was also one of the top players in the country last season as a senior at Notre Dame. Grant is a point guard who can score as well as create opportunities for his teammates. He averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists for a Fighting Irish team that won the ACC Tournament and fell two points short of upsetting then-undefeated Kentucky and advancing to the Final Four. Grant has above average athleticism and won't shy away from NBA competition. He needs to work on his outside shooting — Grant connected on just 31 percent of his three-point attempts last season.

Draft projection: Grant should be selected in the back end of the first round, anywhere in the 20-30 range.

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