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NBA Mock Draft 2011 Has Marcus Morris Facing Questions Whether He Can Be an NBA Small Forward

Kansas forward Marcus Morris, at 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, is adamant he can be an NBA small forward.

But it doesn't matter what he thinks; it matters what NBA scouts think.

And Chad Ford of ESPN recently noted that some teams are hesitant in tabbing Morris as a small forward:

Marcus is right on the borderline right now. He's been insisting in interviews that he's a 3, but not every team is buying it. It will be interesting to see how it ultimately affects his stock.

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Of course, being an undersized power forward can tend to drop your stock quite a bit. If teams really are questioning Morris' ability to play the "3" spot in the NBA, his brother, Markieff, may actually be considered a better NBA prospect based on his size, despite not being as talented in college.

I personally believe Morris can be a "3" in the NBA. He has the explosiveness for it, and he has been shooting the lights out in pre-draft workouts, according to Ford.

Wrote Ford:

I thought Marcus had quicker feet and was more explosive off the bounce than I saw at Kansas.

That in itself could make over for the reservations NBA teams apparently have with him. I actually think he should go later than Markieff because I don't see the Warriors going with another scorer and instead going with Markieff at No. 11.

But it shouldn't be based on if Morris can be an NBA small forward or not.

What else does this guy have to do to prove that?

-Ryan Rudnansky

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NBA Mock Draft 2011 Sees Marcus Morris Going to Warriors at No. 11

The general thinking in most mock drafts appears to be the Golden State Warriors selecting Kansas star Marcus Morris with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Chad Ford of ESPN called Morris a “great fit,” citing his “ability to play multiple positions and score the basketball both on the perimeter and in the post, plus his maturity level.”

But Morris, despite being all of these things and dominating in college, is not a great fit for the Warriors. He’s not even a good fit.

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The Warriors have been known throughout the years for being one of the top offensive teams in the league. But that hasn’t helped them. They are still a bottom-feeder, even with the addition of forward David Lee last season.

Why?

Because they can’t defend anybody.

Given Congo forward Bismack Biyombo will likely be off the board, the better fit for the Warriors at No. 11 is actually Markieff Morris, not Marcus.

Despite Markieff being a bit of a stretch at No. 11, he’s the best defending big man at that spot. I know the Warriors have reached for big men throughout the years with horrifying results, but the difference with Markieff is he actually has NBA size for a power forward. Using him off the bench behind Lee would provide a needed defensive lift for the Warriors.

The Warriors don’t need more offense, they need more defense.

Markieff Morris, not Marcus, would give them that.

-Ryan Rudnansky

NBA Mock Draft 2011 Has Jan Vesely Likely a Lottery Pick

A lot has been made recently about Czech Republic forward Jan Vesely given he’s one of the best combinations of size, athleticism and shooting ability in this year’s draft.

It also doesn’t hurt that college stars Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger didn’t declare for the draft.

But is Vesely’s rise to a potential top-seven pick more based on his ability or the lack of prospects that really excite?

Let us examine.

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Vesely is 21 years old, but one thing he does have going for him is he played the last three seasons at the Euroleague level, going against older European players, former NBA players and former college stars.

He also has the athleticism at 6-foot-11 to play small forward, similar to a taller Andrei Kirilenko.

He has the outside shooting we’re usually accustomed to from European prospects, but he also has the rare gleam in his eye driving to the hoop that we’re not. This guy loves dunking the basketball, and he can do so rather forcefully if you give him a lane to drive.

His ability to run the floor, along with his leaping ability, also projects him as a nightmare defender, particularly at the small forward spot.

Vesely is also a smart player and can move without the ball fluidly and effectively, meaning he doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands at all times.

He still has some growing to do on the court, but overall a lot of NBA teams appear to like this guy.

It’s hard to project him as a Shawn Marion-type player, but he could certainly be somewhere in between Marion and Kirilenko and be a legitimate impact player as a starter in the NBA.

-Ryan Rudnansky

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NBA Mock Draft 2011 Has Teams Still Awaiting Reggie Jackson’s Appearance in Workouts

Boston College guard Reggie Jackson, who’s been reportedly rising in the hearts of several NBA teams, has yet to work out for anybody after withdrawing from the pre-draft combine in Chicago, citing injury.

Said Chad Ford, via ESPN:

Jackson has a legit injury. He had a minor procedure on his knee on May 17th (the day after school ended), a source close to Jackson tells me. Jackson is currently rehabbing and should be ready for workouts on the second week of June.

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For now, with the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats all reportedly showing interest, teams will have to wait Jackson’s return to the hardwood.

Jackson truly distinguished himself last season at Boston College, averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Not only that, his shooting percentages jumped off the charts. In his sophomore season, Jackson shot 43 percent from the floor and didn’t even hit 30 percent of his 3-point attempts. Fast forward to last season, when Jackson shot 50 percent from the floor and 43 percent from 3-point land.

Jackson also has good speed and willingly penetrated the lane in college. Beyond that, he’s long, with an impressive 7-foot wingspan.

The concerns with him lie in if his junior season was a fluke and he at times made poor decisions on the court. He also needs to add strength to legitimately compete in the NBA.

Regardless, he needs to prove first and foremost that his knee injury hasn’t slowed him leading up to the draft.

-Ryan Rudnansky

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NBA Mock Draft 2011 Has Some Comparing Washington State’s Klay Thompson to Knicks Star

Washington State’s Klay Thompson is one of the best pure shooters in this year’s draft, averaging 21.6 points last season with the Cougars while shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range.

Most mock drafts have him going before No. 20.

Given Chad Ford of ESPN said a member of the New York Knicks organization compared him to former star Allan Houston, there’s now a chance he could go as early as No. 17 overall.

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Thompson and Houston’s measurements are nearly identical. Thompson, like Houston in his playing days, is a little over 200 pounds and is one inch taller than Houston was. What’s also intriguing is he has an impressive wingspan, at 6-foot-9.

The difference for me, however, is the ability to handle the ball.

There were only a couple seasons in Houston’s 12-year career where turnovers were a problem for him. I believe Thompson will always be plagued with the propensity to turn the ball over. He averaged 3.4 turnovers in his last two seasons with the Cougars and it’s a legitimate concern.

If he takes better care of the ball in the pros, Thompson has the shooting ability to be understandably be compared to Houston.

Of course, he’d have to hit a historic game-winner in the final seconds of the Eastern Conference finals.

-Ryan Rudnansky

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Focuses On Jimmer Fredette and His Draft Stock

When you hear people talk about Jimmer Fredette, the discussion always starts with what and offensive powerhouse the BYU star is.

Fredette has range beyond the three-point arc and dominated college basketball during his final season with the Cougars, but once the discussion about his offense ends, the same thing always arises.

"Yeah, but..."

It's well-known that Fredette is a horrible defender, yet, there is this perception that he will need to be hidden by whatever team drafts him. Somehow, Fredette, despite his prodigal scoring gifts, will need to be a roleplayer coming off of the bench, simply because he can't play defense.

I didn't hear that about Stephen Curry when he came out of Davidson. In fact, Curry was a lottery selection, and a high one at that. He is a starter for the Golden State Warriors and he is still a poor defender to this day.

At some point, it's time for us to open our eyes and realize that there have been plenty of stars in this league who were mediocre defenders at best.

People love to talk about Allen Iverson and his game, but when it came to defense, he was great at reading passing lanes and nothing else.

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I'm not saying that Fredette will have an Iverson-type career, but there is a long history of players who have had major impacts on this league that don't have the greatest defensive skill set.

If I'm a team that's in desperate need of scoring, I take a serious look at Fredette and worry about the defense later.

You can always teach defense, but it's hard to train someone to score the ball the way Fredette did at BYU.

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NBA Mock Draft Sees Suns Hesitant About Selecting Jimmer Fredette at No. 13

Most mock drafts have Jimmer Fredette a possibility to be selected by the Utah Jazz or Phoenix Suns at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively in the 2011 NBA Draft.

But with the Jazz likely taking a guard in Kentucky’s Brandon Knight or Connecticut’s Kemba Walker at No. 3, it’s highly unlikely they’d take another guard at No. 12.

So that leaves the Suns at No. 13.

Now, with point guard Steve Nash on his last legs, it would seem Fredette, one of the best point guard prospects in the draft, would be a lock.

But, as Chad Ford of ESPN notes, Suns president Lon Babby is steadfast on adding defense to the offensive-minded Suns.

Said Ford, via ESPN:

While Babby didn't rule out taking Fredette at 13, he didn't sound like a man whose heart was set on taking him.

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What the Suns could do is go with Florida State forward Chris Singleton, who’s widely the best perimeter defender in this year’s draft class.

That is, if he’s available.The Jazz could very well take him at No. 12.

The next best thing defensively could be Kansas forward Markieff Morris at that point. He has NBA size at the power forward position and prided himself on his defense in the Jayhawks’ run last season. He’s not considered the better prospect, but he’s certainly a better defender than Fredette at his respective position.

-Ryan Rudnansky

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Focuses On Kemba Walker and His Potential At the Pro Level

With all of the talk about Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Enes Kanter, Kemba Walker has gotten lost in the shuffle.

Walker took the Connecticut Huskies on a dream run, starting in the Big East Tournament, putting his team on his back, and helped lead the program to an NCAA Championship, hitting big shots and improving his draft stock by the minute.

It was amazing to watch how he took over games, and with his ability to create his own shot, there is no denying how well that translates to the pro level. However, Walker won't land in the top five picks of the draft, most likely being taken somewhere in the bottom end of the top 10 selections.

While there may be questions about his game, there is no denying his playmaking abilities and that is what is going to carry him once he gets to the NBA. Some players need to be set up in the course of the offense, but for Walker, he can create things off of the dribble and has a knack for hitting big shots in big games.

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Some team is going to end up very happy with Walker and we're going to remember some of the guys drafted ahead of him and laugh that he ever fell that far on draft night.

Right now, ESPN.com's Chad Ford has Walker being taken seventh-overall by the Sacramento Kings (Insider), and could you imagine a backcourt of Walker and Tyreke Evans? 

Talk about a nightmare for opposing defenses.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Examines The Teams With No Idea of the Future

Not every team can be in a position to win a championship.

In every sport there are doormats and teams that seemingly have no idea of what it takes to win a championship. 

One such franchise is the Toronto Raptors. 

Think about it, when was the last time you thought a Raptors team had any chance of competing in the Eastern Conference?

It has been decades since Toronto has even thought about being a championship contender, going all the way back to the days when Vince Carter wore a Raptors uniform.

Toronto continues to stay in a downward spiral of mediocrity that centers around a group that considers Andrea Bargnani the franchise player. When that happens, you know you're in big, big trouble as a team.

Another franchise with no clue about what it takes to win is the Detroit Pistons, which sounds weird, especially considering that Joe Dumars built his former team that won a championship and made it to another Finals, losing to San Antonio in seven games.

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Since then Dumars, has paraded an endless line of coaches through Motown, and made countless horrible personnel decisions, including the trade for Allen Iverson and the signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

Now there's a logjam at the shooting guard position and few, if any, playmakers on the roster. Detroit has the eighth pick in the first round and there is slim chance the Pistons will find someone to change the fortunes of the franchise.

At some point, Dumars either has to turn things around or he's going to find himself on the unemployment line with the rest of the coaches that failed to get the most out of his roster. 

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Could Give Some Teams The Chance To Make the Leap

Not every team uses the draft to become relevant again.

For some franchises, all they need is one piece to help push them over to top between a team that may win one-or-two games in the first round, and those that can really make a deep playoff run and become a contender.

A couple of teams could use pieces to do just that, even in a weak draft class.

The most obvious choice is the Chicago Bulls. We saw in the postseason that the Bulls lacked a legit shooting guard and that the extra scoring would have been the ingredient needed to push Derrick Rose and company into the NBA Finals.

Another team that needs an extra piece is the New York Knicks, who are in desperate need of some additional scoring outside of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. A player like Jimmer Fredette is exactly what a team like New York, who focuses on the offensive side of the ball, needs to become a well-rounded squad.

MUST READ: 2011 Final Report Cards for Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and All 30 NBA Teams

Finally, a team that you may not associate with an up-and-coming unit is the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost in five games to the Miami Heat, but fought the whole way.

If Doug Collins can get a viable big man, this is a young team that could surprise in the Eastern Conference.

While most people will focus on the top of the draft, the middle of the first round is where things can get really exciting for teams on the cusp of contention.

2011 NBA Mock Draft Takes A New Twist As Jan Vesley Will Not Work Out Before the Draft

If you're a prospect, you want as many of the top teams to see what you have to offer as humanly possible before the draft.

Well, unless you're Jan Vesley.

The young forward out of the Czech Republic is one of the top prospects in the draft, but unlike most players in his position, he will not take part in any workouts before draft night.

Per HoopsHype.com:

According to his agent, Aleksandar Raskovic, Vesely will not take part in workouts with NBA teams. Raskovic said his client will be in New York on June 17, though, to go through physical tests akin to the ones draft prospects had at the Chicago combine earlier this month.

Vesely deflects all questions about what he would do in the event of a lockout to his representation, but there’s little question he would land a big contract with a top European club if it came down to it.

None of that sounds good to me if I'm a pro team that has an interest in Vesley.

If I'm going to draft a guy, especially one that is coming from overseas, I want to know what I'm getting before he puts on a uniform and steps out on the court for my franchise. There were just too many risk factors involved with drafting someone who has nothing more than videotape to his name.

Most players go through the grind of working out and Vesley should be no different. It can't help his draft stock as we get closer to the big night, and if I'm a team in the early-to-mid first round, I would pass on him, especially with the bust potential of some of the selections in that area of the draft.

It's most certainly buyer beware for those teams interested in Jan Vesley. 

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Discusses What Utah Jazz Will Do With Two First Round Picks

The Utah Jazz are one of seven teams with two first round draft picks this year. The others are Cleveland, Washington, Charlotte, Houston, Minnesota, and Chicago. 

Cleveland and Utah are the only teams with two lottery picks. It's pretty certain that the Cavaliers will be using both the No. 1 and the No. 4 picks, but the Jazz have a ton of options with No. 3 and No. 12. 

Should the Jazz keep their lottery picks, or should they consider trading up or down? 

MUST READ: 2011 Final Report Cards for Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and All 30 NBA Teams

I believe the Jazz should keep both picks. They are clearly in a rebuilding mode after trading away their best player in Deron Williams. They have talent on the team, but they are far away from being a serious contender in the Western Conference.

Using both picks will greatly help the Jazz in their process to get better. ESPN's Chad Ford states that the Jazz are weighing all their options.

The Jazz are looking at everything at this point. Trading up, trading down, trading out and then looking at a number of prospects at No. 3. Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Jan Vesely, Jonas Valanciunas and Enes Kanter are all in the mix here.

Of those players I think Enes Kanter would be the best fit for them. To get a solid big man to anchor the team for the future is a strong move. It's possible they could move up, but it doesn't benefit them all that much.

Trading down is an option as well, but they'll get better talent at No. 3. They could move from No. 12, but the better talent is in the lottery.    

In the end I believe the Utah Jazz will keep both picks. It is in their best interest to use both lottery picks to start fresh. 

-Eric Bowman 

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Could Change At Any Moment, But Will Derrick Williams Slide?

Since the draft class was set, it was just assumed that Derrick Williams would be the second-overall selection in the first round.

Now that the field is set, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have that pick, you have to wonder if Williams will be the guy for David Kahn.

Michael Beasley and Kevin Love hold the positions that the Arizona prospect could realistically play at the pro level, and with Cleveland all but locked into Kyrie Irving, the Utah Jazz might want to prepare for a scenario where he is on the board.

Enes Kanter would make a lot of sense for the Timberwolves, especially if the team is interested in trading down, as has been reported. However, if Minnesota can't pull off a swap, it would pull the trigger on the Turkish big man and pass on the man who is the second-best player on everyone's draft board.

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Some may call that blasphemy, but I would rather draft for need than take a guy just because he's highly rated. The only way I see Williams being taken second-overall is if the Timberwolves trade their selection to a team that is dying to get a game-changer on the wing.

Cleveland could also decide to go for Williams with the first pick, but I have a hard time believing that would happen with all of the hype around Irving and him being the next savior of the franchise.

One thing is for sure though, we are in store for a wild ride, because this is a thin draft class, and no one knows how to handle their draft pick.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Has Top Point Guard Talent, But Have We Changed Our Views on the Position?

When we think about the top point guards in the league, few are pass-first talents.

In fact, the only player that does come to mind is Rajon Rondo, and possibly Chris Paul, but even he has a prominent offensive game.

Players like Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook have turned into some of the biggest names at the position, and these are the type of point guards who look to get their own shot and pass only as a last resort.

Now, Kyrie Irving is the top player in the draft, and he also happens to run the point, and we love to focus on his ability to slash to the basket and get his shot, but when I look for a point guard, I want a guy who can run my offense.

I don't want people to think that I don't believe Irving can do that, because I do believe he has that gene in him, but the focus on his offensive game should come secondary to his ability to actually run an NBA offense.

For example, take a look at this year's playoffs. People destroyed Westbrook for his lack of passing, but yet, somehow, Rose escaped such criticism, despite constantly turning the ball over and barely getting any assists. Both players deserved to be crucified, but in the end, it was the Chicago supporting cast that took the blame, despite Rose's failure to run a true offense.

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Now players like Brandon Knight are at the top of the point guard power rankings in this draft, and while he may be a playmaker, but he's not a true signal caller for the offense.

Knight and players like him are nothing more than shooting guards masquerading as floor generals and it's only a matter of time before these types of players become commonplace at the position. It started with the rise of guards like Allen Iverson and it's only going to get worse from here.

Enjoy players like Rondo while he lasts, because they will slowly start to become a dying breed in the NBA.

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2011 NBA Mock Draft Is Still Changing, But Will A Lockout Set This Year's Rookies Back?

When you have a draft class full of players that are projects, you want to get them into camp as quickly as possible.

However, the sobering reality is that with the NBA's unstable labor situation set to dominate the basketball landscape, there is a good chance that a lot of these players will have to work out on their own as the players and the owners try and figure out a way to get back to the business of playing the game.

Just look at what has happened in the NFL since the draft. Teams like Carolina, Minnesota and Tennessee, franchises that gambled with young quarterbacks in the first round of the draft, haven't been able to work with their prospects and it will inevitably set them back once the two sides come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.

There are a lot of flawed players in this draft, especially the foreign prospects, and when you take someone like that, the hope is that you can get them into camp early, cultivate their game, and get them ready to take on the best competition basketball has to offer.

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Now, these guys are going to sit around on their own, and in all likelihood, be rushed into the lineup once the two sides settle on terms, because this is not going to be a civil debate.

The real losers are the prospects, who under more stable league conditions, might have had a chance to thrive.

Some will emerge from this and have healthy careers, but those players who are on the fence, those are the ones that will find themselves two steps behind everyone else once the teams take the court.