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2016 NBA Mock Draft: Drafting For Need

By Maxwell Ogden

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
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How would the 2016 NBA Draft look if every team were drafting for need? Let’s take a pre-lottery look.

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016. (JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016. (JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

In those eyes, the opportunity is not to win a championship, but instead to reach the NBA.

There are varying beliefs on how a team should approach the NBA Draft. Some believe that general managers should always go after the best player available, while others find that a team drafting based on team needs is one that succeeds.

In this mock draft, the latter approach will be utilized.

Some of these selections will be a shining example of how, at times, taking the best available talent is more rational than drafting for need. Others will be a shining example of how helpful the NBA Draft can be for a team that needs to complete the construction of its rotation.

The question is: how would the Top 30 play out if every NBA team picked based on team needs?

Next: Philadelphia 76ers

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