NBA Draft 2011: Kyrie Irving and the 50 Best Prospects on the Big Board
The 2011 NBA Draft is just a month and a day away, and with Kyrie Irving going number one as the only thing that is pretty much a done deal at this point (although the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking at a few other players), there's no reason not to take a look at the rest of the field.
That's right ladies and gents, it's time to put together a big board. Chad Ford and Jay Bilas be the big names when it comes to big boards, but there's no reason why I can't throw my hat into the ring.
Now, of course I haven't seen some players like Bismack Biyobo play in a full game, so it will be hard to compare some of these guys to others, but there is a lot out there for most of the players in this draft. So some of my rankings are based on hearsay and conjecture, but what isn't when it comes to drafts these days?
I've taken my time and compiled a top 50 prospects list, so let's start at number 50 and count all the way down to number one shall we?
50. Gary Flowers, Southern Miss
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A big body who could potentially play either power forward spot in the NBA, Flowers is an efficient scorer from inside and outside, shooting 52 percent inside the three-point line and 44 percent outside in his senior season.
Flowers has matured after running into legal troubles at Oklahoma State and has turned into an offensive machine.
He definitely needs work on his defense, but he could be a steal late in the second round, or even undrafted for a team willing to take a chance.
49. Greg Smith, Fresno State
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Not to be confused with Greg Smith of Colorado State, Greg Smith of Fresno State is built like a Mack truck.
He has measured anywhere between 6'9" and 6'10.5", and is probably suited size-wise to be a power forward in the NBA, but could be an undersized center.
Smith has some low-post moves, but needs to work to keep developing, but he is just 20 years old, so he has plenty of room to grow.
Something that must be mentioned about Smith is about his hands. They are the size of car doors. Go to a grocery store, and pick up a grapefruit; that's what Smith looks like with the ball in his hands. He actually has the biggest hands in the history of the combine.
48. Chris Wright, Dayton
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A team drafting Chris Wright will be drafting his body in hopes that his skills develop enough to justify drafting him.
Wright is the perfect combination of athleticism and size to play small forward in the NBA, but when he has an off day, it is incredibly off, and that is mostly due to the fact that his main move (a lightning fast slash to the rim) is almost all he has in terms of a perfected move.
Otherwise, he is as raw as they come.
47. LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor
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Where Chris Wright was all size and no skill, LaceDarius Dunn is just the opposite.
Dunn was one of the most potent scorers in the nation last season. Dunn can make nearly any shot on the floor, and is a capable slasher and at creating his own shot, but he has blinders on at times, looking like he is in it for the stats over the team's victory.
Defensively he needs work, so he does come with a handful of flaws, which teams will have to watch out for.
46. William Buford, Ohio State
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Coming from an Ohio State fan, I would be mortified if my team drafted William Buford, but he would probably eventually do something to make me forget that mortification.
Buford may be the most overconfident player in nation when it comes to his abilities, which makes him confident enough to take the shot at the end of the game (see OSU vs. Kentucky 2011 Sweet 16), but he is also willing to take any other shot you're willing to give him.
That's not to say he doesn't make some of those shots, it's just that he misses enough throughout the game to make you want to scream when you see him jack up a shot at the end of a game...until it goes in.
OSU fans nicknamed him Big Shot Bill this year, so there's got to be something in that.
45. Travis Leslie, Georgia
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I have seen him as high as 21st in some mock drafts and as low as a late second-rounder, so there is some uncertainty when it comes to Travis Leslie, but there is one thing I am certain of. Travis Leslie can jump.
Possibly the most athletic prospect in this year's draft, I could see a team taking a chance on him as high as the late first round just because of his athleticism and despite his skill set, which is minimal on offense and defense.
44. Justin Harper, Richmond
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When you talk about the most efficient scorers in college basketball last season, you expect to hear names like Derrick Williams and Jon Diebler, but Justin Harper?
Isn't he supposed to be the guy that led Richmond to the A-10 title by scoring in bunches? Well, yes, but he did so efficiently. He shot 59 percent from inside the three-point line and 47 percent from outside.
At the very worst, you could have yourself a fine three-point shooter at the next level, or he could turn into a legitimate producer.
43. Demetri McCamey, Illinois
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The picture above basically describes McCamey to a tee.
McCamey isn't athletic (in the NBA sense at least), and he doesn't possess that jet-like speed that other guards have, but he is a hustler and is determined.
As the season dragged on, and Illinois faltered, McCamey seemed to get dejected and slow down, but he also feuded with Bruce Weber, which didn't help things.
If a team can help him get his head on straight, and keep him hustling all year long, you could have a decent bench guard in McCamey.
42. Nikola Vucevic, USC
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Nikola Vucevic may have benefited the most from the official measurements at the combine, as he measured a quarter of an inch under 7-feet with a wingspan of 7'4". In other words, he's a legit center.
Before this he was projected as a power forward at the NBA, as teams wondered about his actual height, but he should now jump a few spots in most mocks, possibly into the first round.
41. Keith Benson, Oakland
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Keith Benson spent his senior season adding muscle to his frame and blooming as a basketball player and a low-post presence.
Benson has good footwork in the low-post, and moves fluidly, giving him the ability to average a double-double in college, but will need to beef up some more for the NBA.
He has little legs (for a guy looking to play center), which would make it easy for bigger, stronger big men to back him down and push him off, so that is the biggest question with Benson.
40. Chandler Parsons, Florida
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I've got a rule against drafting white guys to play shooting guard or small forward (I call it the Adam Morrison Rule), but Chandler Parsons almost makes me rethink it, especially considering how late he could be available.
Parsons has the tools you would look for in a long-shot player, he can pass, he can knock down shots, he can scrap down low for rebounds and he can post-up players to score down low.
The bad part is that he can't do any of these things exceptionally well, so he needs to either get better at everything, and be good all-around, or focus on one thing and become a role player that could be around for the next decade or so.
39. Norris Cole, Cleveland State
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For the first two years of his college career, Cole became a better shooter and scorer in general. The latter half of his junior and his senior season saw Cole focus on his point guard skills, which have increased dramatically in the past two years.
His basketball IQ is quite high, as he can work out of the pick-and-roll as good as many of the guards in BCS conferences, with the ability to read defenses, pass out of tough double-teams (which he faced a lot of), and just know what's going on in general.
Cole also has a killer work ethic, which NBA scouts should love.
38. Malcolm Lee, UCLA
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Malcolm Lee has the physical features that are desired in an NBA combo-guard, but his skill set is still catching up.
In a slow offensive system, Lee didn't do much to create his own offense this season, turning into a spot-up shooter and rolling out for a pick-and-pop.
Where teams should be intrigued is when it comes to his defense, as Lee is a superior perimeter defender, which should keep whoever drafts him patient while he develops his offense more.
37. David Lighty, Ohio State
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The last remaining member of the Thad Five, Lighty isn't the most talented of the 2006 Ohio State recruiting class, but he may be the smartest.
His explosiveness has been limited due to an ACL injury, but this has turned him into a methodical, defense reading guard and a good creator with or without the ball.
He is also a good perimeter defender when guarding less-explosive players, and could easily match up with some small forwards on the wing if need be.
Yea, I know, I'm an OSU fan talking up an OSU guy. Sue me.
36. Jon Leuer, Wisconsin
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His lack of athletics and slender frame (traslation: uber-whiteness) have hurt his draft stock some, but he has plenty to make up for this.
Leuer has good size (6'10") to play power forward in the NBA, even if he is a bit slim and nonathletic, plus he has a sky-high basketball IQ and a sexy set of low-post moves.
He is still a below-average defender, however, which he could help by beefing up a bit and being more physical on D.
35. Jimmy Butler, Marquette
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For some reason, I love players from Marquette. I don't particularly like the school, and I don't have any favorite NBA players from Marquette, but I just like them whenever there is a Marquette guy in a draft (which may be bad or good here).
That being said, I love Jimmy Butler as a second round pick for any team. He isn't athletic, he isn't highly skilled, and he isn't highly consistent (way to raise expectations right?), but he is a team guy.
He is an average player in the NBA at best, and he knows that, so the way he plays makes him seem like he could be above average (if that makes sense at all).
Butler is a great defender, he chases every loose ball and every offensive rebound, he keeps balls alive and makes extra passes, so I would love to have him on my team.
34. Lucas Noguiera, Brazil
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All you need to know about Lucas Noguiera is that he is basically a taller, longer Anderson Varejao at 18 years old with the exact same skill set.
He is a hustler with a developing jumper who will be a high-energy guy at best for the first two or three years of his career, but if a team sticks with him, and develops him right then he will be a key component of a good team.
33. Jeremy Tyler, International
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Jeremy Tyler was a hyped prep school product who decided to opt for Europe over college, desiring money over education.
Tyler has the ability to become a good NBA player, and with a little luck, he could be great, but he has had off the court issues that have many teams questioning whether or not he is worth the risk.
32. Nikola Mirotic, Montenegro
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Nikola Mirotic was on nobody's mind about a year ago, but now that he has worked his up the depth chart for Real Madrid, teams are taking notice.
Mirotic has good size (6'10") and is pretty strong for a European big man, but he brings what most Euro bigs bring, a good jumper and three-point range.
He can be an offensive threat, but word is that he doesn't put much effort forth on offense.
31. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
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JaJuan Johnson is long and lean, and is turning into a long and strong player with a righty hook, fade-away jumper and a perimeter shot that he could easily use in the NBA.
Johnson is also a good defender who excels in nearly every situation but the pick-and-roll, where he will need some work.
As long as he keeps adding muscle, Johnson should be able to crack the top-eight in most NBA lineups.
30. Nolan Smith, Duke
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Nolan Smith is the guy that helped keep Duke afloat without Kyrie Irving, and could translate into a decent combo-guard.
Smith can create for his teammates with the ball, with good vision of the guys in the same jersey as he, but he can't create much for himself once he gets into the meat of the defense.
Smith has also steadily improved on defense, learning how to more efficiently play the passing lanes while keeping tight on his man.
29. Shelvin Mack, Butler
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Can't you just hear Marv Albert calling out his name late in the first quarter when the starters have gone to the bench as the guy that wows people against most teams' B-squad?
Mack would be a good sized point guard, and would out-muscle many in the NBA, but he isn't quite quick enough to compete with the starters.
He also boasts a good jumper and a physical defensive game, which allows him to cover small forwards at times.
28. Reggie Jackson, Boston College
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What's that? No it's not Mr. October, but he is an impressive basketball talent and has been on a meteoric rise up the big board in the past few weeks.
Jackson, once considered a mid-second round player is now up to the middle of the first round in many mocks, and his skill set along with his size are a big reason why.
The former Boston College guard is 6'3", which is a good size for a guard, but he also has a wingspan of 7'0", which is almost unheard of.
27. Marshon Brooks, Providence
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This seems to be the guy that a lot of teams are starting to like late in the first round, which means someone will probably overreach and try to get him in the middle of the round.
He's the size of a shooting guard (6'4") with a power forward's wingspan (7'1"), which makes my head hurt just thinking about it.
Brooks is a creator with the ball, with the ability to get to a spot on the floor that he wants and put up a shot. He is also a shifty dribbler with smooth moves and great control.
Teams will need to work with him on his shot selection and his effort on defense, which can be lax at times despite his eight rebounds a game in his senior season.
26. Davis Bertans, Latvia
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You could tell me that Davis Bertans is 13 years old and I would believe you, but he is actually going on 19.
He is a smooth shooter with Reggie Miller range (he can make shots from the sideline logo, usually saying the name of the arena, in Indiana's case it's the "Conseco Fieldhouse" logo) with the court vision to be more than just a spot-up shooter.
He can see the cutting player once he gets the ball on the three-point line off a pick-and-pop, so he isn't automatically putting the ball up once he gets it.
Bertans is a sloppy ball-handler at times with average defense at best due to his short arms for his size.
25. Jordan Williams, Maryland
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Jordan Williams is listed as a center, but he is only 6'9", but if Chuck Hays has taught us anything this season, it's that a small guy can play center as long as he has the skill set.
Williams seems to know that he is small, so he worked on his game, trimming down from last season, and adding tons of confidence to his game from last season.
He has a great jumper for a physical center, which gives him pick-and-pop potential, which could drive some defenses crazy.
I really think he's going to surprise some people at the next level.
24. Trey Thompkins, Georgia
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Trey Thompkins has plenty of room to improve his game. Unfortunately, that's what people said about him a year ago.
Tompkins, a good shooter a season ago has seemingly lost his jumper, but traded it in for a post game, which is catching the eye of some scouts.
Just like on offense, Thompkins is a work in progress on defense, with the weapons to turn into a good defender, but he just needs the reps to get there.
23. Josh Selby, Kansas
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At the beginning of the season, Josh Selby was the talk of the nation in terms of freshmen point guards who were likely to be one-and-done.
Well, is suspension shortened freshman season was up-and-down, with the year starting up, and ending way down.
His extreme athletic ability should be enough for teams to give him a shot in the middle of the second round, but he is a work in progress, needing work in almost every aspect of his game.
22. Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
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I'm not saying this is an exact comparison, but who else was an undersized big man who couldn't shoot a lick and was an absolute monster on the glass and on defense? Sound like Ben Wallace a bit?
He has a long way to go before he gets to that point, with some footwork down low needing improvement, but his high-energy style of play and grittiness should be enough for teams to keep him around until he shows signs of that improvement.
21. Tobias Harris, Tennessee
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I have been racking my brain to think of another Tobias in NBA history, and I just can't come up with one. The fact that we will finally have one excites me just because of the potential for Arrested Development jokes in the coming years.
He measured in at just 6'6" at the combine, despite being listed at 6'8" all year, but he is versatile enough to play either forward spot, so that shouldn't hurt him too much.
Harris is an exceedingly smart basketball player with a good jump shot and a strong work ethic.
20. Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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Jordan Hamilton is built pretty much exactly like Joe Johnson, but that's where the comparisons end between the two.
Hamilton does have a nose for the basket, with the ability to score and knock down some impressive shots, and is full of impressive finesse moves.
However, Hamilton has almost no defensive presence, as Texas was always trying to conceal him on the defensive end of the floor.
19. Darius Morris, Michigan
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One guy that is skating by on potential at this point before the draft is Darius Morris.
Morris is perhaps the strongest, most aggressive pure point guard in this draft, and has superb height (6'4") considering the fact that he has very good point guard skills.
He can get into the paint with his size and make one of many moves once he is there, kind of like Rajon Rondo (but nowhere near as good).
His biggest weakness is that he has trouble on defense with the pick-and-roll, usually having difficulty deciding between going under or over the screen, ending with him running right into it.
18. Markieff Morris, Kansas
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I am not very high on either of the Morris brothers at this point, as they both seem to have aspirations to be big men, but neither are particularly big.
On the positive side of his abilities, 'Kieff is strong, physical and explosive, which were enough to help him get by in the NCAA, but he'll need to do more on the next level.
My biggest beef with 'Kieff is that he doesn't seem to have a very high basketball IQ, frequently fouling out, as he was the eighth most foul prone player in the NCAA last season.
17. Jimmer Fredette, BYU
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The answer to everyone's question is no, I do not consider Jimmer Fredette to be a quality lottery pick in this draft or any draft.
Jimmer has the ability to make some freakish shots, as we have seen this year, and could run well with the second squad on many teams, but he needs the ball in his hands to get to the point to make these shots, which won't happen for him in the NBA.
He could be a good spot-up man in the NBA, but drafting a guy like that in the top-15 doesn't seem smart to me.
16. Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
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Tyler Honeycutt reminds me so much of Tayshaun Prince that at one point during the season I had the urge to punch Malcolm Lee in the face so Honeycutt would play alongside a guy in a face-mask a-la Rip Hamilton.
He is a long-armed small forward (6'8") with a lot of athleticism, he just needs to hone his basketball skills to produce in the NBA.
Honeycutt has many things he needs to work on to make it in the NBA, but he has the tools a player would need to develop those skills.
15. Chris Singleton, Florida State
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Chris Singleton may be the best defender in this draft, and I could see him being a top-five defender with some hard work.
Singleton is an absolute pest when he is on the ball, pressuring the handler with his great size, length and lateral quickness so that he is nearly impossible to get around. He is also tremendous in the passing lane and blocking shots down low guarding shooting forwards.
He gets his team multiple extra possessions game in and game out, and just plays the defensive side of the ball like it should be played.
For those teams who think there isn't much to be had in this draft, pick Chris Singleton and I promise you will be happy.
14. Klay Thompson, Washington State
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Klay Thompson is a pure shooter, and is ready to be one right now in the NBA, as he knows what he is capable of and doesn't try to overreach himself.
He can also dribble to create his own shots and drive to the rim and finish righty or lefty, depending on which way he is forced.
The downside is that he is a below the basket player, which hasn't been a top priority for teams since 1964, so his lack of athleticism will probably hurt him a bit.
13. Bismack Biyombo, Congo
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I am absolutely entranced by Bismack Biyombo, mostly because I know so little about the guy.
Word is that he is around 6'9" or 6'10", but has a wingspan of 7'7", so he could probably block me if I tried to post him up (which I would love to try).
He lives around the rim, and with his sneaky quickness and athleticism for a guy his size, he collects blocked shots like crazy old ladies collect old newspapers.
Having said all of this, Biyombo is raw, and probably won't be state-side if he is drafted this year, as he is years behind players his age, which may not be what it is listed as (he's 18, but people think he may be 20 or older).
12. Tristan Thompson, Texas
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First, he is lefty, which is a huge plus. Second, he is turning from a chubby teenager to a strong, cut guy in his 20s, putting all kinds of muscle onto his frame.
His size may be a concern, as he is pretty much tethered to the low block, but is a bit short (6'9") to be there all the time in the NBA.
11. Marcus Morris, Kansas
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The more talented of the Morris brothers 'Cus is shorter than 'Kieff, but is much more NBA ready with a better jumper and more awareness when he is on the floor.
Otherwise, he has the same criticisms as his brother, meaning he is too short, has little length that could make up for his height and is a poor rebounder and free throw shooter for the NBA.
10. Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
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Donatas Motiejunas has a very high ceiling, but it will take some work for him to get there, so a team will have to take that into consideration.
He is a finesse big man, but has some size so that he can bang down low with some of the bigs in the NBA, plus he is relatively quick for someone nearly seven feet tall.
Motiejunas has a jumper, but it isn't refined at this point, plus his drive has been criticized, as he takes plays off and gets lazy at times, something a young player just can't do in the NBA.
9. Alec Burks, Colorado
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Alec Burks has excellent ball handling for a guy who has the athleticism and size to be a shooting guard in the NBA. He also has a knack for scoring, as he is developing into a perimeter player to go along with his ability to drive to the hoop and put up a mid-range jumper.
The biggest problem with Burks is that he usually needs the ball to score, as he isn't a great off-ball mover and can't shoot well off the catch-and-shoot.
8. Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
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Another Lithuanian big man, Jonas Valanciunas has extremely soft hands that allow him to easily catch passes and dish them out when he's in the post.
Valanciunas is a fluid mover with agility and finesse for a man his size. He is also a hard worker and a guy with a high basketball IQ.
His post moves aren't as polished as teams would like, and he is a bit skinny and lanky at this point, but all of that can change with some reps both on the court and in the weight room.
7. Kemba Walker, UConn
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Kemba Walker took the country by storm in the NCAA Tournament when UConn won the National Championship.
Walker showed off his ability to take a team on his back for stretches at a time and showed that he can hit clutch shots while being the leader of a team, which are definite NBA qualities. He also has a fine jumper and blazing fast speed, something that every team wants in their point guard at this point.
The biggest knock on Walker was his size, but he measured in at 6'1" at the combine when people were questioning whether or not he would even crack 6'.
6. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
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Kawhi Leonard is quickly becoming one of my favorite players in this draft just because of his measurements.
Leonard is 6'7" with shoes, perfect for the small forward position, but he has the arms of a center, with a 7'3" wingspan. Besides that, he has the second biggest hands of anyone measured at the combine, which come in at 11.3", beat out only by Greg Smith, the foot-wide hand man.
At the very least he can be a high energy guy for seven or so years and then settle into a smart veteran role.
He will be a good player at the next level, it is one of the few things I am at least halfway sure of in this draft.
5. Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
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I would feel weird about having a 6'11" guy playing small forward on my team, but if the rest of the world is this high on him, I can't really argue can I?
Vesely would be one of the biggest small forwards in the league right off the bat, so size isn't an issue, plus he has tremendous athletic ability and loads of potential.
He needs to continue to develop his offensive game, add bulk to his frame and work on his rebounding, as he should be grabbing oodles of them with his height.
4. Brandon Knight, Kentucky
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Brandon Knight is an exceptionally fast point guard who can push the ball up the court with lightening speed, plus he has a lights-out jump shot that can get hot at any time.
The best part about him is that he is such a smart player, otherwise his point guard skills wouldn't be much to speak of.
Knight isn't a great passer for a point guard, and he needs to improve his patience when he is working in the half court.
3. Enes Kanter, Kentucky
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I would have to say if he would have played this year he would be the consensus number one pick, but here we are with not much of an idea of what to do with him.
Kanter should be a top three pick, if not he will go in the top five easily, so there is no question that he's one of the best in this draft.
He is a big, solid man with the ability to knock down a mid-range jumper, and even venture out to the perimeter, plus he has some good post moves.
Kanter has had a history of knee problems, which could keep him out of the top three if one of the other teams have their heart set on someone else.
2. Derrick Williams, Arizona
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Derrick Williams is one of the best athletes in this draft, has a good jumper and post moves, he has decent speed and strength and has a high IQ on both ends of the floor.
The biggest problem with him is that he is a 'tweener, not big enough for the power forward position, but not fast and athletic enough for the small forward position.
If he can transition well, then he will be a potential all-star, but if he doesn't it could be a hard time for Williams in the NBA.
1. Kyrie Irving, Duke
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He only played 11 games in college this year due to a toe injury, but he is the number one pick with only a few doubts.
Kyrie Irving has the skill set to become a franchise point guard, but it won't be as easy as some of the franchise guards that have been drafted in the past handful of years.
Irving has great speed, and natural point guard skills, as he can grab control of a team, he can handle the ball and is a good passer.
Besides the obvious durability and experience questions, Irving needs to work on his strength to compete defensively in the NBA and he needs to be able to control himself better when driving to the lane.
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