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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Chicago Bulls Finding Another Big Man

The Chicago Bulls have two of the final three picks in the first round of the NBA draft. The first is the No. 28 pick, and I see them using it to solve their shooting guard issues by taking Duke's Nolan Smith.

As for the No. 30 pick, Chicago's options are going to be wide open. I for one wouldn't rule out the idea of them taking another shooting guard, but they could also add a combo guard or another big.

It's a tricky situation, but I'm going to go with that last option. And of all the bigs that are going to be available, the one guy that intrigues me the most is Purdue power forward JaJuan Johnson.

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Johnson is coming off a season that saw him score 20 points and pull down eight rebounds per game, but experts and scouts are on the fence about his pro prospects. Sure, Johnson is 6'10," but he's a little too skinny for a true four, and he doesn't have much of a low post game.

All of this is true, but Johnson is not entirely devoid of talent. He's a pretty decent shooter, and he certainly has plenty of athleticism.

If Johnson can add some bulk to his frame, chances are he's going to be more willing to mix it up in the paint. if he can do that, there should be some minutes for him coming off the bench.

2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Spurs Going International Once Again

Tony Parker doesn't think that the San Antonio Spurs are still playing for championships.

Tell us something we don't know, Tony. You guys proved as much by losing to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nevertheless, the Spurs are going to keep adding pieces, and one assumes they are not going to abandon their philosophy just yet. As such, we can expect them to take smart, versatile players, possibly from overseas.

That's why I'm thinking they might go for Serbian forward Nikola Mirotic with the No. 29 pick.

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Technically speaking, Mirotic is a small forward. But because he's 6'10," he can be used at both forward positions, and he definitely has the skills to handle the responsibility. He can shoot, he can handle, and he can pass. He is also supposed to be a very aggressive player.

In addition, Mirotic does indeed have a very good basketball IQ, which helps him overcome the limits of his thin frame.

The one potential problem with this pick is that Mirotic just signed an extension with Real Madrid, which could bar him from coming over after his name is called. Obviously, that makes picking him something of a roll of the dice.

Is Mirotic going to make the Spurs championship contenders once again? That's highly doubtful. He projects as nothing more than a role player, and the Spurs are already chock-full of those.

But hey, he can't hurt.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Chicago Bulls Adding a Much-Needed Shooting Guard

As good as the Chicago Bulls are, it's pretty obvious at this point that they are in desperate need of a shooting guard that can actually provide some offense to help take some pressure off of Derrick Rose.

To give you an idea, Chicago's most productive two guard this year was Kyle Korver, and he's coming off the bench. That's not going to get it done.

Because the Bulls have the No. 28 pick, finding a potential starter is obviously a pretty trick proposition. However, there is one guy that makes sense, and that's Duke's Nolan Smith.

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Smith earned ACC Player of the Year honors last season, scoring 20 points and dishing out five assists per game. He was the guy who carried the Blue Devils after Kyrie Irving went down in December.

Smith is slightly undersized for a two guard at 6'2," but he certainly has plenty of ability. He's a perfectly capable shooter, and he can get to the rim when his shots aren't falling.

The one thing about Smith that should intrigue the Bulls is the fact that he's an outstanding defender, which means that there will be minutes for him one way or another as long as Tom Thibodeau is in charge.

In order for Smith to become a starter, he's going to have to become a more consistent shooter. Driving through the lane is Rose's job, so Smith needs to be a guy who can knock down an outside shot if Rose kicks it back out.

If Smith can become that guy, he'll end up being a great value pick.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the New Jersey Nets Taking the High-Flying Travis Leslie

The New Jersey Nets have Deron Williams and they got a career year from Brook Lopez, but they still have plenty of pieces to find.

Unfortunately for the Nets, pickings are going to be slim when they're on the clock with the No. 27 pick. No doubt they would love to have a capable backup for Kris Humphries, but finding another shooting guard to back up Anthony Morrow is a bigger priority, as both Sasha Vujacic and Mario West are free agents.

The Nets are going to be hard-pressed to find a great shooter, but they can have themselves a heck of a dunker if they go for Georgia's Travis Leslie.

Well, why not?

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Leslie is probably one of the most athletic players in this year's draft class. He can run the floor as well as anyone, and he can throw it down like it's nobody's business. He is not afraid of contact at the rim, and he is strong enough to fight through it. He's also a very good rebounder.

Other than that, Leslie's shot could use some work, especially when it comes to three-point land. But because the Nets have one of the better shooters in the NBA in Morrow, they can afford to draft Leslie just to have him come off the bench and provide a spark.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Dallas Mavericks Taking Justin Harper

It's looking more and more like the Dallas Mavericks have a legit shot at landing that elusive title this season, but there eyes will be on the future on draft night one way or another.

As you can clearly tell, the Mavericks don't have that many holes, but what they do have is a lot of age. Nine guys on their roster are over the age of 30, and four of them are in the starting lineup.

Because these guys aren't going anywhere any time soon, adding youth to the bench is the best the Mavericks can do with the No. 26 pick. This is particularly true of the frontcourt, and a guy like Richmond power forward Justin Harper fits the bill quite nicely.

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Harper was one of a plethora of deadly three-point shooters that made the Spiders such a dangerous team this past season. Because Harper goes 6'10" and 225 pounds, that means he has a gift that not many other big men have.

The problem with Harper is that he can be afraid to mix it up in the paint, choosing to settle for jumpers instead. He also isn't much of a rebounder, and he has a reputation for being a little soft.

Yup, he's a Maverick.

All joking aside, Harper will fill in nicely when Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion need a rest.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Celtics Adding a Much-Needed Big Man

The Boston Celtics are getting old fast, and they have some serious issues at the center position, but you have to think their days as contenders are not quite over as long as the Big 3 (or Big 4) remains intact.

When it comes to the draft, the Celtics absolutely have to go big with the No. 25 pick in the draft. Somebody like Maryland center Jordan Williams would be ideal, but I'm thinking he could come off the board sooner than expected on draft night.

Instead, the one big man that seems like a good fit for the Celtics is Georgia power forward Trey Thompkins. He should be available, and the Celtics should take him.

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Thompkins is by no means an elite prospect, but he does do enough things well to warrant a first-round pick. He has a pretty big frame at 6'10" and 245 pounds, and he can play both inside and outside. He also has a surprisingly good jump shot, with range that extends to the NBA three-point line.

In a way, Thompkins is a lot like Glen Davis, except slightly taller and with a better shot. Davis is probably going to be elsewhere next season, so replacing him is a priority.

Thompkins is not going to be an heir apparent for Kevin Garnett, and he's certainly not going to be the answer at center. But at the very least, he'll give Doc Rivers some good minutes off the bench.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Oklahoma City Thunder Adding a Combo Guard

As you may have noticed, the Oklahoma City Thunder are pretty good.

This obviously has a lot to do with Kevin Durant (and to a lesser extent, Russell Westbrook), but it's also because they have depth and talent at all five spots on the floor.

Thus, the Thunder really aren't going to have any priorities when they're on the clock with the No. 24 pick in the draft. However, one thing that I think they could use is a combo guard that could give them some valuable minutes off the bench. After all, Nate Robinson isn't doing much for them.

There are going to be plenty of options available for the Thunder, but I think the best choice would be Boston College's Reggie Jackson.

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It's not every day you come across a 6'3" guard with a seven-foot wingspan, but that's what the Thunder would be getting in Jackson. He thrives primarily because of his quickness and his explosive leaping abilities, but he developed into a pretty good shooter last season, particularly from distance.

Jackson's shortcomings are tied to his questionable shot selection and his status as a tweener. But because the Thunder are going to be bringing him off the bench, these things really aren't going to kill them. Jackson will give them good minutes, and will fill in nicely for Russell Westbrook when he needs a breather and/or a timeout.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Houston Rockets Doubling Up on Small Forwards

The one thing the Houston Rockets need more than anything else is a center.  

The same could be said of every other team in the NBA, and we all know how hard it is to find a good center.

Instead, the Rockets are better off filling out their depth chart, particularly as far as the small forward position is concerned. I have them taking Texas' Jordan Hamilton with the No. 14 pick, and he should be a capable scoring threat.

With Hamilton in the mix, the Rockets could draft a backup point guard or a combo guard, but I'm going to go ahead and have them double up on small forwards by taking UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt.

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Honeycutt is not going to wow you with his offensive abilities, but he is a very smart player that can move the ball and create offense for everyone else. He is also a very good shot blocker and a perfectly capable rebounder.

If the Rockets do add both Hamilton and Honeycutt, both of them would likely be at the top of Houston's depth chart. Honeycutt is not the kind of guy that projects as a consistent starter for years to come, but he is going to be a very effective role player off the bench.

One could certainly do worse in the lower third of the first round.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has Tobias Harris Going to the Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets definitely surprised after they traded away Carmelo Anthony, and the wealth of pieces they got in return were a big reason why. They allowed the Nuggets to be more than a one-man show, and they should be legit contenders if the team chemistry they developed is still there next season.

The Nuggets don't have many glaring holes, especially not as far as the point guard position is concerned. Because of this, the best idea for them is probably just to take the best player available, preferably one that fits their scheme.

A power forward would be a good option, and one of the more intriguing possibilities for the Nuggets is Tennessee's Tobias Harris. If he's available with the No. 22 pick, the Nuggets should take him.

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Harris is not a great athlete, and he's slightly undersized for a power forward at 6'8." What makes him worthwhile is his natural basketball savvy. He's a very versatile player in his own right, but he knows how and when to share the ball.

Offensively, Harris can shoot the ball pretty well for a big guy. He made 46 percent of his shots, and even dropped a few in from distance.

Obviously, these things will play well in a system like Denver's. He won't start, especially if Kenyon Martin comes back, but he's just the kind of guy George Karl wants coming off his bench.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has Jordan Williams Ending Up with the Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers were not quite up to the task of upsetting the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the playoffs, but they shouldn't have any problems getting back to the playoffs next season.

In the draft, the Trail Blazers pretty much have two options with the No. 21 pick: they can either take a point guard to back up and eventually take over for Andre Miller, or they can reach for a center.

While I certainly wouldn't rule out the first option, I'm thinking the second option is more likely. And at No. 21, the only true center worth taking is Maryland's Jordan Williams.

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Because he's a hair under 6'10," Williams is slightly undersized for a center. He also isn't a great athlete, and he doesn't have much of an offensive repertoire.

However, Williams is a very physical player that is not afraid to throw his weight around under the basket. This obviously allows him to get some cheap, point-blank buckets, but it also allows him to be a terrific rebounder. He averaged nearly 12 per game last season.

That last part is what should intrigue the Trail Blazers. Statistically, they were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league last season, averaging fewer than 40 per game. Williams is going to help fix that problem, which is why the reach is justified.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Marshon Brooks Ending Up with the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves did not get the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, but I think they'll end up getting their man with the No. 2 pick anyway. That would be Duke's Kyrie Irving, who should be the point guard that the Timberwolves have been trying to find for years.

With the No. 20 pick, the Timberwolves can either fill a need or they can look for the best value.

Either that, or they could try to kill two birds with one stone. And at No. 20, the only guy that fits that particular bill is Providence shooting guard Marshon Brooks.

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Once the draft gets into the lower third of the first round, Brooks is probably the most athletic player that can be had. He's 6'5" with a seven-foot wingspan, and he is one heck of a scorer. He averaged better than 24 points per game last season, and he did it while shooting an impressive 48 percent from the field.

Brooks is not the most polished shooter you're going to find, but he can get to the basket at will and he knows how to finish when he gets there.

Right now, the Timberwolves have Wesley Johnson slated in as their two guard. He's a good talent, but he's more of a forward. This is not to say that Brooks would start over him right away, but the situation would certainly be worth monitoring going forward.

2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Charlotte Bobcats Adding a Seven-Footer

The Charlotte Bobcats have a pretty good young backcourt, but their frontcourt could stand to get a little younger, not to mention a little more talented.

With the No. 9 overall pick in the draft, I have the Bobcats taking Texas forward Tristan Thompson. He's a tough, physical forward who is going to be a very good player if he can round out his offensive bag of tricks.

With the No. 19 pick, I'm thinking the Bobcats should add yet another body to their frontcourt. A true center would be ideal, but somebody like Lithuanian power forward Donatas Motiejunas would be a great value pick if he's still available.

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Motiejunas is skinny as a rail, but he is a true seven-footer. He is also very athletic, running the floor and finishing around the basket with ease. He's still pretty raw, but he's supposed to be a very intelligent player that knows how and when to pass the ball.

Because Motiejunas is not a true center, the question is naturally how he would fit into the mix in Charlotte. As I see it, just because he's not a center doesn't mean he can't start over Kwame Brown, who really doesn't bring anything to the table at this point in his career.

If not, adding him to Charlotte's collection of power forwards will have to do. In time, he'll probably be better than any of them.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the Washington Wizards Adding a Stud Defender

Earlier on in this humble little mock, I have the Washington Wizards grabbing Turkish center Enes Kanter with the No. 6 overall pick. If that actually happens, they Wizards will have themselves a steal.

However, Washington would still need a small forward. A super-athlete like Kawhi Leonard strikes me as a good fit, but they obviously won't be able to get him with the No. 18 pick.

Instead, somebody like Florida State's Chris Singleton seems like a good fit. And if he's available, the Wizards should consider taking him.

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As an offensive player, Singleton is still pretty raw. He has a decent jump shot with range out to the three-point line, but he's very inconsistent. If he racks up a lot of points, chances are he's doing it with transition buckets.

Where Singleton really shines is on defense. He is a true lock down defender, and he can guard as many as three different positions. But most importantly, you have to think he would be a good argument for LeBron James when the occasion arises.

Could the Wizards use more offense? Sure, but probably not as much as some would have you believe. They have youth up and down their roster, and they have to trust that youngsters like Nick Young and JaVale McGee are only going to get better.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the New York Knicks Adding Markieff Morris

The New York Knicks have a franchise big man, and they have a franchise forward. Chauncey Billups is old, but he's going to contribute as long as he stays healthy.

Elsewhere, the Knicks are not so well off. They could use a shooting guard, and they could certainly use a center. Unless, of course, they are happy with Ronnie Turiaf as their starting center.

When the Knicks are on the clock with the No. 17 pick, they're probably going to have to reach to fill either need. Marshon Brooks is a possibility, as is Donatas Motiejunas.

But I'm going to think outside the box here. How about Kansas power forward Markieff Morris?

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Much like his twin brother, Marcus, Markieff is a very athletic big man with plenty of assets in his bag of tricks. He can finish around the rim just fine, and he can rebound and defend as well as any 6'10" big. However, he can also knock down shots from distance.

So how would Markieff Morris fit with the Knicks? Well, if the Knicks were so inclined, they could start Amare Stoudemire at center, opening up a spot for Morris at power forward (one supposes vice versa would also work). That would give them some pretty decent size and athleticism in the paint, which in turn would make their outstanding offense even better.

This is not to say their defense would be drastically improved. But I think Mike D'Antoni has proven that he could care less about that.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has Marcus Morris Ending Up with Philadelphia 76ers

If the Philadelphia 76ers choose to hang onto Andre Iguodala, they should be able to build on their strong 41-41 season.

Obviously, this doesn't mean the 76ers aren't in need of a few more pieces. For example, they could use another forward, preferably one that can play both the three and the four if called upon.

At this point, it's a good bet that any team in the market for a versatile forward is going to have its eyes on the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff. The two Kansas standouts are among the most intriguing prospects in this year's draft class, and the 76ers could very well have their shot at either one of them with the No. 16 pick in the draft.

Both would be a good pick, but I'm going to go with Marcus for the Sixers.

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Marcus is slightly smaller than his twin brother, but he is definitely more athletic. He moves well for a guy who's 6'9" and he can score in a variety of ways. Perhaps his most impressive attribute is his ability to shoot the three, which has the potential to give the 76ers a significant advantage.

If the 76ers were to go big with a lineup of Morris, Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand/Thaddeus Young, Morris' perimeter game would mean they wouldn't be losing much with Iguodala out of the lineup. For teams that don't have much size and/or talent in their frontcourt, that would be a nightmare.

You've been warned, Miami Heat.