NBA Mock Draft: Predicting the Entire First Round
It's never to early to begin thinking about the NBA Draft.
Many future NBA prospects will be putting their talents on display shortly, in the NCAA Tournament, and I'm letting you know which players will be hearing their names called during the first round on draft day in June.
Keep in mind, however, that these are very early mock selections and lot can still change between now and June.
I've also included early entries into my selection, and there is still a chance that some of these players could return to school rather than make the jump to the league.
30. Kenneth Faried, Morehead State. San Antonio Spurs
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San Antonio is solid at every position and they use this pick to simply bolster their frontcourt depth.
The 6’8" 215 pound Faried recently made news by breaking Tim Duncan’s NCAA rebounding record.
The senior out of Morehead State has pulled down 1,576 rebounds throughout his NCAA career in addition to scoring over 1,800 points.
San Antonio takes on the power forward and moves him behind starting power forward DeJuan Blair in the frontcourt for 2012.
29. Demetri McCamey, Illinois. Boston Celtics
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Obviously Demetri will not be taking Rajon Rondo’s starting position anytime soon, but the playmaker from Champaign, Illinois is definitely a good fit for the Celtics.
McCamey is shooting 48 percent from three point range and dishing out 6.2 assists as a senior for the Illini; two statistics that Boston would love to see.
Boston will receive a high energy distributor that can stretch the defense from beyond the arc in McCamey. Of course it should also be noted that Demetri will get to hone his skills by watching the aforementioned Rajon Rondo's play.
28. Klay Thompson, Washington State. Miami Heat
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Miami has plenty of raw talent and athleticism already, but Thompson would add a feathery touch from the three point range and an all around scorer who can play on the perimeter.
Klay is averaging 21.2 points per game for the Cougars and is shooting 81 percent from the free throw line and 42 percent from the three point range.
Obviously, Miami won’t rely on Thompson to do nearly as much scoring as Washington State does, but there is an opportunity for Klay’s skill set to be utilized immediately in South Beach.
James Jones is a marksman from the perimeter, and Thompson could step in immediately and become another outside shooter for Erik Spoelstra and “The Big 3”.
27. Markieff Morris, Kansas. Chicago Bulls
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I am sure that Chicago would love to have Marcus Morris if given the chance, but in all likelihood he will be long gone by this time in the first round and Chicago will choose his brother Markieff.
At 6’10" 245 pounds, Markieff is still a promising prospect for the Bulls, and his rebounding prowess can be utilized immediately in the Windy City.
Markieff’s 13.4 points per game are solid, but it’s the power forward’s 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks this season that are truly impressive.
Markieff Morris wouldn't be counted on as a franchise saving prospect, but the junior from Kansas would be given time to develop under the guidance of Joakim Noah and the other frontcourt big men for Chicago.
26. Trey Thompkins, Georgia. Dallas Mavericks
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An athletic big man that knows how to run the floor like Thompkins does is just the kind of talent that Mark Cuban loves.
Trey is averaging 16 points per game for Head Coach Mark Fox this season at Georgia, and he's got the kind of game that translates well to the NBA.
Thompkins still shows lingering effects of a past ankle injury, but his ability to score cannot be denied. Thompkins should definitely be around at this late stage of the first round and could develop into a nice complementary player for Dallas in the frontcourt.
25. Tristan Thompson, Texas. Los Angeles Lakers
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The freshman forward from Texas is still very young and has a lot of upside—which should whet the Lakers' appetites.
Tristan is averaging 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game with the Longhorns this season, and is already one of the crucial pieces of a highly ranked Texas team.
Thompson has received praise for his rugged rebounding prowess, and this is an area where he could contribute immediately to an already powerful Los Angeles team.
Some might say that his one season at Texas isn’t enough to judge him on, but it’s clear that Tristan has the potential to be a productive NBA talent.
There are other forwards available here—such as Trey Thompkins and Markieff Morris—but look for the Lakers to choose the youngster from Texas in the end.
24. Nolan Smith, Duke. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Russell Westbrook is the established floor general for the Thunder, but Smith’s skill set allows him to play either the point guard or shooting guard position.
This is advantageous for the Thunder because Smith can either allow Westbrook to catch a break by playing point, or play him off as a shooting guard.
Nolan Smith has proven to be a competitor and winner at Duke. These characteristics, along with the fact that he scores 21.7 points per game, make Nolan a good pickup for Oklahoma City.
With Nolan Smith, the Thunder add talent to their backcourt—along with a proven competitor.
23. Travis Leslie, Georgia. Atlanta Hawks
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Josh Smith has become a fan favorite in the Atlanta for his outstanding athleticism and jaw dropping dunks.
Travis Leslie would resemble Smith in that he would provide more “Showtime” moments for Hawks fans.
The 6’4" 202 pound Leslie will fit well into the Hawks up-tempo style of play, and should provide some exciting moments while running the fast break.
Leslie is averaging 14 points per game this season for Georgia, and is at his best when he is in transition. It should also be noted that Travis is collecting 7.1 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, which shows tenacity on the boards.
22. Josh Selby, Kansas. New Orleans Hornets
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Selby has proven to be more of a shooting guard than a point guard, and could be the perfect complement to Chris Paul in New Orleans.
Selby’s 10.7 points and 3.1 assists aren’t overly impressive numbers, but Selby’s raw talent and potential cannot be denied.
His game is more conducive to a transitional style of basketball, which the Hornets play with Paul. There are certainly questions regarding the freshman from Baltimore, but Selby has too much going for him to pass on at this point in the first round.
21. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State. Orlando Magic
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Leonard is a productive forward that can put the ball in the basket and control the boards.
As a sophomore at San Diego State, Kawhi is averaging 15.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season for the Aztecs.
Some will say that Kawhi’s accomplishments aren’t as impressive because of the fact that SDSU plays in the Mountain West Conference, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Leonard’s allure is in the fact that he can play either small forward or power forward. Kawhi’s ability to play multiple positions, coupled with high productivity, makes him the choice for an Orlando squad that could use some help at the three and four positions.
20. Jordan Hamilton, Texas. Denver Nuggets
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Carmelo Anthony is gone, and Denver picks up the smooth forward out of Texas to try and fill some of the void left at the small forward position.
The 6’7" 220 pound Hamilton is averaging 18.7 points per game for Texas and is skilled in transition, as well as shooting from behind the arc.
It would be unreasonable to think that a rookie could replace the production left behind by Carmelo Anthony, but in Hamilton, Denver gets a promising prospect that has a scorer’s mentality.
As with many other players on this list Hamilton has the height and skill set that translate well to the NBA.
19. Brandon Knight, Kentucky. Utah Jazz
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There are questions regarding Deron Williams’s future with Utah, and the Jazz taking Knight out of Kentucky is an asset and an insurance policy.
Brandon isn’t the type of NBA prospect that John Wall was, but Knight is definitely worth the selection for pick 19.
Brandon Knight is averaging 17.4 points per game for Kentucky this season, and looks to now be adjusted to John Calipari’s up tempo style of play. Playing in this way at Kentucky should benefit Brandon at the next level. The fact that Knight will have low post talents such as Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Mehmet Okur to pass to won’t hurt either.
18. Alec Burks, Colorado. Portland Trail Blazers
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Brandon Roy has the starting shooting guard position locked down, but Burks provides depth at the position and a solid backup for the Trail Blazers' franchise talent.
Burks doesn’t get a lot of publicity playing for the Buffalo, but he has been extremely productive during his two seasons in Boulder.
This season, as a sophomore, Alec is averaging 19.4 points and 6 rebounds per game for Colorado. These statistics, coupled with size as a 6'6" shooting guard, makes the lesser known Burks the play here.
17. Marcus Morris, Kansas. New York Knicks
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The Knicks lost Danilo Gallinari when they made the move to bring Carmelo to New York, so drafting a similar prospect in power forward Marcus Morris is an obvious choice.
Morris runs the floor well and has an assortment of low post moves that make him one of the most sought after power forwards in the 2011 draft class.
Marcus is averaging 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds as a junior for Kansas this season, and is showing definite promise for the next level. Morris’s three point shooting ability is somewhat overstated considering he is only shooting 36 percent from behind the arc this season.
Nevertheless, Morris is a big man that can play in the paint or in the open court and is ready to contribute immediately to the NBA.
16. Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt. Philadelphia 76ers
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Philadelphia has pieces, but they could certainly use some help at the small forward position.
Taylor is the man to provide the assistance.
The junior from Sweden has a smooth game and fills up the stat sheet for Vanderbilt. Taylor is averaging 14.5 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Commodores in 2011, and is really starting to come into his own.
Jason Kapono is starting to show his age, and while players such as Evan Turner, Elton Brand, and Andre Iguodala are solid, the 76ers need a small forward.
Taylor gives Philly some youth at this position, as well as a scorer who can contribute sooner rather than later.
15. Tobias Harris, Tennessee. Charlotte Bobcats
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Tyrus Thomas is solid for the Bobcats, but besides that, Charlotte’s frontcourt is lacking.
The 6’8" 226 pound Harris bolsters Charlotte’s frontcourt depth and possibly gives them a valued future prospect.
Tobias is drawing rave reviews for averaging 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds as a freshman in Knoxville, and appears ready to take the jump to the NBA sooner rather than later.
A commitment to fitness and staying in shape has taken Tobias’s game to an entirely new level and his potential is coming out in full. It’s not clear yet as to whether Tobias will stay for his sophomore season or declare, but if he does come out, then Harris could be a solid play for Charlotte.
14. Chris Singleton, Florida State. Memphis Grizzlies
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At 6’9", 225 pounds, this long, athletic swingman out of Florida State will make a great addition to the Grizzlies roster.
Yes, Rudy Gay logs the majority of the club’s minutes at the small forward spot, but Singleton can play the small forward, and even some power forward.
Chris is having his best season yet—as far as production goes—at Florida State this year, scoring 13.8 points and grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game.
The aspect of Chris’s game that is really gaining him notoriety is his strong defense; that'll be a trait that Singleton will certainly be able to carry over to his time at Memphis.
Memphis doesn’t have great depth at the forward position, and a player with as much to offer as Chris Singleton can’t be passed up.
13. Jimmer Fredette, BYU. Phoenix Suns
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Steve Nash is now in his fourteenth season in the NBA, and while Jimmer certainly shouldn’t be compared to Nash, it’s become time for Phoenix to make an investment in the future at point guard.
That, combined with the fact that the Suns are thin in the backcourt altogether, is the reason that this pick makes more sense.
Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Fredette is his scoring and shooting marksmanship. Jimmer is averaging 27.2 points per game for BYU and is shooting 42 percent from the three point range and 90 percent from the foul line.
As I stated earlier with Kawhi Leonard, some will hold that Fredette’s accomplishments are diminished because he plays in the Mountain West Conference, but that shouldn’t stop people from noticing Jimmer’s skills.
I’m not going to compare Fredette to anybody and I will only say that he has the potential to have a long term impact in the league.
12. Donatas Motiejunas, European Prospect. Houston Rockets
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This seven footer from Lithuania shoots 46 percent from the three point arc, and has an inside-outside game that has scouts drooling.
Motiejunas could contribute as a power forward or center for a Rockets team that could use some fresh blood in the post.
This big man’s skills are reportedly improving, and the fact that he can shoot from the perimeter at seven foot makes him a matchup problem for other NBA teams to deal with.
11. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina. Golden State Warriors
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Barnes took on criticism for his poor play in the early part of his freshman campaign with North Carolina, but Barnes now appears to have come into his own.
At 6’8", this forward from Aimes, Iowa has good size to go along with a solid skill set.
Scouts love Harrison’s potential for growth and his penetrating ability, but the word is that Barnes could stand to improve his outside shooting—which is only at 32 percent.
The Warriors have a couple of skilled centers in David Lee and Andris Biedrins, but Barnes would be a solid complement at the power forward position.
10. Jan Vesely, European Prospect. Indiana Pacers
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Vesely is drawing a lot of interest because of his unbridled athleticism and potential, but some wonder if the prospect can harness all that athleticism and become a productive NBA player.
At 6’11" and 240 pounds, Vesely is being projected as a potential small forward who can play either on the outside or roam the paint.
Jan Vesely is certainly a gamble, and it looks as though Indiana might be the team to throw their chips in on this kid.
9. John Henson, North Carolina. Milwaukee Bucks
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Henson could eventually slide into the power forward position next to center Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee.
John Henson came into North Carolina with little bulk and a lot of athleticism, and while Henson has certainly put on muscle during his time at Chapel Hill, he could still stand to put on some more.
The intriguing things about John are the athleticism he's got with his 6’10" body, and the potential inside of him.
John is averaging 11.2 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Tar Heels this season, and has definite next level potential.
This selection may be a tad too high at pick nine, but considering the need and the boom factor, look for Milwaukee to pull the trigger on Henson.
8. Terrence Jones, Kentucky. Los Angeles Clippers
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The Clippers already have a freakish athlete with an extremely high motor at the power forward position in Blake Griffin, but Jones could prove to be a similar type of athlete at small forward.
Terrence is playing big time basketball in his freshman season in Lexington for Coach Cal, averaging 17.1 points and 9.1 rebounds.
During his time at Kentucky, Terrence Jones has shown off a relentless motor, plus an ability to score via powerful drives and hustle.
Jones isn’t going to light it up from the perimeter—he is only shooting 31 percent from behind the arc at UK—but his other qualities make him well worth the play here. The Clippers have some pieces in place with Blake and Eric Gordon, and Terrence Jones could be the next domino for the Clips.
7. Kemba Walker, Connecticut. Detroit Pistons
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Rodney Stuckey is great as a shooting guard for the Pistons, but Detroit lacks a true long-term point guard, which is why Walker is the easy choice here.
Kemba is an intense competitor who has no problem with taking the last shot in the clutch.
Walker has gotten a lot of attention for his 22.9 points per game this season, but his other qualities—like his leadership and ability to get others involved (4.6 assists per game this season) are what makes him truly special.
The Pistons have fallen on hard times, and Kemba Walker immediately gives the franchise a shot in the arm for the short term, and could be a valued floor general for the long term.
6. Jonas Valanciunas, European Prospect. New Jersey Nets
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The Nets use their first round selection to build for the future, and find a big man to match with budding star power forward Derrick Favors.
Valanciunas is only 18 years old and already getting rave reviews from scouts for his long, lanky body and steadily improving skills.
Jonas is 6’11" 240 pounds, and figures to still be growing. Couple that with the fact that scouts love his transition game and athleticism, and you will see why Mr. Valanciunas is up near the top of draft boards.
Jonas needs to bulk up more, but this doesn’t seem like much of a concern. Jonas Valanciunas is an intriguing prospect with a lot of upside, and could become a big part of the New Jersey Nets future.
5. Derrick Williams, Arizona. Washington Wizards
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The Warriors have good players in the backcourt with Wall and Heinrich, and appear to have solid frontcourt presence for the future in Javale McGee, but they are missing an explosive player on the wing.
Derrick Williams fills this void, and then some, for Washington.
Williams is averaging 19.7 points and 8.1 rebounds for Arizona, and is simply a scoring machine.
Derrick can obviously finish in transition, and also has the athleticism to be a strong presence on defense. At 6’8" 241 pounds, Williams definitely has NBA size on the wing along with solid skills to boot.
The Wizards have solid players on the wing, but they don’t have anyone who is cut in the mold of Williams.
4. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State. Sacramento Kings
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This fabulous freshman from Ohio State has everything you could want in a post player from an array of post moves, strength, and size.
Sullinger is averaging 17.8 points per game and 9.9 rebounds for the Buckeyes. DeMarcus Cousins is the future center for Sacramento, and Sullinger is a dynamic power forward to match him with.
Jared knows how to move his 280 pound frame around well, and should be able to contribute right away in the NBA. Some might question Jared because he is only a freshman, but he has shown more than enough promise to warrant this high selection.
3. Enes Kanter, Kentucky. Toronto Raptors
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College basketball coaches drew a big sigh of relief when the NCAA made Kanter’s seat on John Calipari’s bench permanent.
Unfortunately for NBA coaches, there will now be nothing to hold this Turkish big man back.
Enes was dominant while playing on the World Select Team, and despite the fact that he never saw the floor at Kentucky, there is still a lot of hype surrounding this prospect.
Kanter has an ever expanding offensive skill set to go along with his defensive prowess, and is rapidly improving his game. Kanter could team up with current Raptor big man Andrea Bargnani to form a dynamic low post combo.
2. Perry Jones, Baylor. Minnesota Timberwolves
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This 6’11" 235 pound big man from Duncanville, Texas has an NBA body and some solid skills to go with it.
Jones is currently playing what presumably will be his only year at Baylor, where he is scoring 14.3 points and seven rebounds per game. Jones combines his size with a finesse that allows him to make plays offensively. Additionally, he has proven to be a disruptive force on the defensive end.
Kevin Love is the established power forward for Minnesota, and Perry would be a great young prospect to match him with. One of the few concerns regarding Jones is that he may be too unselfish—it will be interesting to see if he becomes more assertive at the next level.
1. Kyrie Irving, Duke. Cleveland Cavaliers
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Irving had his college days at Duke derailed by a toe injury that was heard round the world, but that shouldn’t sideline his NBA prospects.
During the eight games that Kyrie played for Duke, he dominated on the collegiate scene—scoring 17.4 points per game and shooting 45 percent from behind the arc.
There will be many questions surrounding Kyrie, based on the fact that he wasn’t able to play any ACC games and likely won’t participate in the NCAA tournament. Despite that, Irving still can be the scoring guard that Cleveland so desperately needs.
This pick could change sometime between now and June, but for right now, Kyrie Irving is the play here.
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