Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Thursday night is almost upon us.

Franchises will be made. Franchises will be set back years.

The NBA Draft begins Thursday night with the Minnesota Timberwolves on the clock. Don't bother watching. I have it all 100 percent correct right below.

That's a fib. Draft night is unpredictable. Trades will be made. Lying and games have occurred and teams will shock us. Here's an educated guess:

1. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, Kentucky

Count me among those who believed up until a few weeks ago, this was a race between Towns and Jahlil Okafor of Duke. Towns is a better athlete, shooter and defender. That makes it enough for him to line up with Andrew Wiggins for a long time on Minnesota's front line.

2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - JAHLIL OKAFOR, Duke

The draft becomes interesting immediately. Are the Lakers really going to make a legitimate play for Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins? If they don't get him, and I'm among the few who believe someone in Sacramento will use his or her brain and keep him, then the Lakers go with the safe bet in Okafor. He doesn't do as much as Towns, but he's a better low-post scorer and could come into the league and be a force on the interior. All other flirtations, public or otherwise, will be for naught.

3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - D'ANGELO RUSSELL, Ohio State

Speaking of interesting, Sam Hinkie could draft his cat and it shouldn't shock anyone. There's a growing interest with Kristaps Porzingis, and if that's who Hinkie really likes, he'll take him. Hinkie is a talent-first, fit-second kind of general manager. Nothing wrong with that. However, Russell is the third- or maybe even second-best prospect in this draft. He can shoot, handle and pass. He fits a Sixers' need, which is guard play and scoring. The drawback to Russell for Philly is that he's healthy.

4. NEW YORK KNICKS - EMMANUEL MUDIAY, China

If LA or Philadelphia don't do anything drastic, Phil Jackson and the Knicks could pick up the slack. Reports say, if Towns, Okafor or Russell is unavailable, the Knicks will look to shop the pick. That's a very likely scenario, so if New York can get a young, strong veteran and a later pick, then the Zen Master should do it. If the Knicks stand pat, Mudiay is a solid choice. He can't shoot, but his physical skills are otherworldly. Mudiay is ready to defend in the NBA. Shooting can be taught. Just because Mudiay doesn't have a big sample size, don't be scared.

5. ORLANDO MAGIC - KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, Latvia

Porzingis has a massive upside. He's a 6-foot-11 shooter with athletic ability. Porzingis might have the best chance of becoming a superstar and that's rare, especially at No. 5. Porzingis could go higher, maybe as high as the Lakers at 2. However, Orlando wants him badly, so it could move up to secure his rights.

6. SACRAMENTO KINGS - WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN, Kentucky

There's no way to predict what the Kings are going to do. According to reports, head coach George Karl wants to trade Cousins, but owner Vivek Ranadive and new grand poobah of the Kings Vlade Divac are opposed. Big men like Cousins, who is 24 with a reasonable contract for a few years, don't grow on trees. If the Kings keep him and both Karl and Cousins can get along (big if), Cauley-Stein would be a great piece alongside Cousins. He could do the dirty work and keep Cousins out of trouble on the court. The Kings probably hope Mudiay falls, but if not, Cauley-Stein could provide an odd stability to this organization.

7. DENVER NUGGETS - JUSTISE WINSLOW, Duke

The Nuggets hired Mike Malone as their head coach despite not running the up- tempo style the front office wanted. Oh well. It's not an important job. Winslow is NBA-ready defensively, which will make Malone happy. With an improvement in shooting, Winslow will be a steal at No. 7.

8. DETROIT PISTONS - MARIO HEZONJA, Croatia

Stan Van Gundy got the stretch four he wanted this offseason in the form of Ersan Ilyasova. That means Greg Monroe is no longer going to be on the Pistons. Detroit needs more shooting and Hezonja provides that. He'll be a candidate to step right into the small forward spot upon arrival.

9. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - DEVIN BOOKER, Kentucky

The Hornets are prime trade target to move down for more. They were the worst- shooting team in the league and their offseason trade of Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers creates a need for a shooting guard. If they stand pat, Booker is the best shooter in the draft.

10. MIAMI HEAT - STANLEY JOHNSON, Arizona

Luol Deng is not going to be the long-term solution at small forward. The Heat, assuming this foolishness with Dwyane Wade gets settled, could be a mini-force in the Eastern Conference with Wade, Deng, Chris Bosh, Hassan Whiteside, Josh McRoberts and, they hope, Goran Dragic. Johnson is a two-way player with tremendous pride in his craft. He's a hard worker.

11. INDIANA PACERS - CAMERON PAYNE, Murray State

I've loved this fit since the NBA Lottery. The Pacers want to push the offense and who better than a lead guard? He makes the Pacers more athletic instantly and is great on the pick-and-roll. Payne might end up being the sleeper of the draft. Watch if Cauley-Stein slides because team president Larry Bird loves him.

12. UTAH JAZZ - MYLES TURNER, Texas

The Jazz don't really have a ton of needs. They had one of the league's best second-half records and have a starting five plus backup guards in place. Turner presents an interesting option. He has more of a perimeter game than either Derrick Favors or Rudy Gobert. Turner can protect the rim as well. The only thing keeping him from a top-10 choice is a possible foot issue.

13. PHOENIX SUNS - FRANK KAMINSKY, Wisconsin

Kaminsky can come in and make an impact immediately, which might entice Phoenix. The Suns come up just short of the playoffs every season and backup center is an issue. Kaminsky can shoot. He might struggle defending NBA centers, but that's nothing some weight and whey protein shakes can't cure.

14. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - SAM DEKKER, Wisconsin

Dekker is the best player available on the board and OKC has the deepest roster in the sport. He can provide backup minutes for Kevin Durant. Dekker could very easily go earlier. The Thunder need a second-unit point guard behind Russell Westbrook, but once Payne goes, so goes that. Fourteenth is too early for the next flight of point guards.

15. ATLANTA HAWKS - TREY LYLES, Kentucky

This is great value for one of the league's best teams. They moved to 15th thanks to their fleecing of the Brooklyn Nets in taking Joe Johnson's astronomical albatross of a contract. Lyles never truly showcased his star power under John Calipari at Kentucky. Lyles showed he's willing to do a lot of little things. That kind of professionalism the Hawks should love. Paul Millsap is a free agent, so Lyles could see early time, but Millsap's probably not going anywhere.

16. BOSTON CELTICS - KELLY OUBRE, Kansas

Danny Ainge is going to try to move up. Who he covets, that's a question. It may be Cauley-Stein, but no matter who it is, Boston wants to get higher in this draft. If the C's stay put, Oubre is probably the next-best value on the board. He disappointed in Kansas his freshman season, but Oubre has defensive ability and the Celtics are a little thin at the small forward spot.

17. MILWAUKEE BUCKS - R.J. HUNTER, Georgia State

I know. I overvalue his ranking among scouts and front offices. I like him because he's not afraid of any situation and can shoot. This might be too high, but Milwaukee needs a shooting guard. There are better prospects, but Hunter won't disappoint at the next level.

18. HOUSTON ROCKETS - TYUS JONES, Duke

The Rockets' only two point guards last season, Patrick Beverley and Jason Terry, are free agents. Houston will probably make a play to bring both back, but Jones is the top prospect left at the position. He worked out for them and few other teams, so this seems like a zeroing-in situation from an early point in the process.

19. WASHINGTON WIZARDS - BOBBY PORTIS, Arkansas

Portis can do a lot. He's a rebounder, shot-blocker and has some range from the perimeter. Washington would be ecstatic if he fell to them. The Wiz will need a replacement for Nene eventually. They slow-played Otto Porter his first two years and Porter was sensational in the postseason. Portis would help keep this group good for a while.

20. TORONTO RAPTORS - KEVON LOONEY, UCLA

Amir Johnson is a free agent and both forward spots could use an upgrade in Toronto, so Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson might be an option. Looney is rugged, like Johnson, but is decent from distance. ESPN's Chad Ford said a hip injury might scare some teams off Looney. He's long and worth a risk.

21. DALLAS MAVERICKS - JERIAN GRANT, Notre Dame

Point guard is a dumpster fire for the Mavericks. Rajon Rondo was such a disaster, the National Weather Service should've warned Mark Cuban. Raymond Felton opted in and that actually doesn't help. Grant is the best point guard available. Grant is NBA-ready and tough. He's a sleeper.

22. CHICAGO BULLS - RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON, Arizona

Hollis-Jefferson can't shoot very well. But he can defend at a NBA level and his athleticism can afford him rotational minutes. Sounds like a poor man's Jimmy Butler and Hollis-Jefferson could be insurance if Butler bolts in free agency.

23. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - RASHAD VAUGHN, UNLV

Wesley Matthews and Arron Afflalo are free agents. Matthews also is coming off a late-season torn Achilles, so the Blazers could use help at shooting guard. Vaughn can score, score, score. He has good size, so he might be a nice little steal at 23.

24. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - JUSTIN ANDERSON, Virginia

Anderson got hurt during his final year at Virginia, but this kid's a winning basketball player. He is a stud defender, shot great last season in the ACC and can play both wing spots. That's a valuable commodity for Cleveland, which lacks depth thanks to (most likely) three max contracts.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - MONTREZL HARRELL, Louisville

Zach Randolph isn't a kid. Harrell is a brute in the same vein of Randolph. Kosta Koufos is a free agent, so Harrell could fill a pair of needs. Memphis could use more scoring, but there isn't a lot available at this time of the draft.

26. SAN ANTONIO SPURS - DELON WRIGHT, Utah

This is strictly a best-available player move. Wright has great size for a point guard and San Antonio would probably love a crack at Anderson or Harrell, but they both figure to be gone by now. Always watch R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich pegging a foreign stash player.

27. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - TERRY ROZIER, Louisville

If the Lakers go big early, as I suspect, then Rozier can provide backcourt depth behind Jordan Clarkson. Rozier can score. He has got some size, so he might be able to spell Kobe Bryant for stretches as well.

28. BOSTON CELTICS - JARELL MARTIN, LSU

Boston could add some much-needed athleticism to its front line with Martin. Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller are plodding. Martin has some athletic abilities that make him an easy choice this late. He's a bit of a tweener, but that athleticism ... it's there.

29. BROOKLYN NETS - CHRIS MCCULLOUGH, Syracuse

He tore his ACL at Syracuse, so he might not be available the first part of the 2015-16 season. McCullough is long and can shoot a little. The morale of this tale is - take a long while before you add aging veterans with massive contracts in a far-fetched bid to win a title.

30. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - CEDI OSMAN, Macedonia

Osman's a play-making three. His shooting is something of a question, but there are some very solid tools. Osman will need strength, but a versatile playmaker is right in the Warriors' wheelhouse. He may not come right away, but he's worth the stash.