2011 NBA Mock Draft: Why Jimmer Fredette Will Not Be a Bust and All 60 Picks
Over the last several months, Jimmer Fredette has attacked every bit of criticism headed his way without using any actual words.
He's allowed his game to do the talking—from huge performances against supposedly more athletic players during the past season, to posting great numbers at the NBA pre-draft camp.
The arguments against Jimmer were entirely objective to begin with, but now, his detractors wouldn't have any evidence even if they did attempt to provide some.
Assuming he plays for a coach who isn't afraid to ignore the stigma that white American guards can't play at this level, Jimmer can and will be very productive.
He's still the hottest topic in this year's draft, but he's not the only one. There is a lot of chatter over draft-day trades, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Derrick Williams and more.
A lot of this is bound to shake up over the next two weeks when the draft officially goes down on June 23rd, but here are all 60 picks as I see them now...
You can follow Andy Bailey on Twitter @_Andy_Bailey
1: Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Position: PG
Age: 19
Comparison: Chris Paul
A lot of people are ranking Irving as the top overall prospect right now.
While I realize he has the potential to be great, I'd say he's No. 2 for one reason—point guards have not been hard to come by lately.
Over the last few years, several players with starting point guard talent have been drafted, and there are a few more this year.
A lot of teams are building around point guards right now, and I don't think it would be a bad decision to take him first overall—but I think Cleveland should go with Williams.
Right now, it doesn't look like that's going to happen. However, if the reports about Cleveland looking to add the second pick turn out to be true, they'll get them both.
2: Minnesota Timberwolves - Enes Kanter
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Height: 6'11"
Weight: 260 lbs.
Position: C/PF
Age: 19
Comparison: Luis Scola
We didn't get a chance to see Kanter at all this year because he played professional basketball overseas before he came to play for Kentucky.
Even still, it looks like he's almost a lock to be selected in the top five of this year's draft.
Think of him as a longer, more athletic version of Luis Scola.
He helped himself at the pre-draft camp by participating in all the workouts and performing pretty well in them.
Now that Minnesota has finally come to terms on a deal with Ricky Rubio, they can address some of their other needscenter is a big one for them.
Kanter is listed at 6'11", but his 7'1" wingspan makes him a legitimate center. A frontcourt of Kanter, Kevin Love and Michael Beasley could become a nightmare for other teams.
3: Utah Jazz - Derrick Williams
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 248 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 20
Comparison: Michael Beasley/Thaddeus Young
Derrick Williams officially became a legitimate top overall pick possibility after he thrashed Duke.
In that game, he scored 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting (including 5-of-6 threes) and grabbed 13 rebounds.
That was his signature game, but he was nothing short of spectacular all season long.
For the year, he averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. Plus, he shot 60 percent from the field and 57 percent from three-point range.
He's athletic, smart, has a great attitude and is extremely versatile.
Williams is the most NBA-ready player in this class. He can be a major contributor as early as next season.
With Andrei Kirilenko's contract expiring, Williams could step into the small forward role for the Jazz. The organization would certainly be excited to see Minnesota take Kanter.
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4: Cleveland Cavaliers - Jan Vesely
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Height: 6'11"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Position: PF/SF
Age: 21
Comparison: Tyrus Thomas/Andrei Kirilenko
Vesely has great size and length for a small forward, but he's still very unpolished at this point. He needs a lot of work on his post offense.
From the perimeter, he's actually pretty solid for a player his size. He handles and shoots the ball well.
Right now, it's tough to see exactly what position he'll play in the NBA. If he adds some strength, he could eventually even play center.
5: Toronto Raptors - Brandon Knight
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 177 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 19
Comparison: Tyreke Evans/Jason Terry
John Calipari has sent four freshmen point guards to the NBA in the last three years. Athletically, Knight is similar to those guys, but he's a better outside shooter than any of them.
He really showed off that ability against North Carolina in the Elite Eight.
Knight's stock has been rising steadily over the last severalweeks, and some are starting to think he may end up being the best point guard from this draft.
If he falls all the way to No. 5, I'm sure Toronto would be excited. He and DeMar DeRozan could develop into a fantastic backcourt duo.
6: Washington Wizards - Kawhi Leonard
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Height: 6'7"
Weight: 228 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 19
Comparison: Shawn Marion/Gerald Wallace
Kawhi Leonard is anything but polished on offense, but his athleticism (some say he wasn't warmed up for his combine testing), intensity and defensive prowess could get him drafted in the lottery.
Plus, he's an elite rebounder for a 6'7" player (he averaged nearly 11 a game this year).
If he plays with a great distributor like Shawn Marion did for much of his career, he could put up some solid numbers.
John Wall is just that kind of distributor. Averaging over eight assists a game as a rookie is extremely impressive.
Leonard would see plenty of open looks at the rim if he wound up on the Wizards.
7: Sacramento Kings - Kemba Walker
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Height: 6'1"
Weight: 184 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 21
Comparison: Brandon Jennings/Ben Gordon
Kemba Walker led his Huskies on one of the most ridiculous runs in the history of college basketball. He did so with more than just his scoring.
He's a solid distributor, an underrated rebounder and he works hard on defense.
On the season, he averaged 23.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
He's not a very efficient scorer (43 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range), but he has a hunger that may be unparalleled in this draft class.
He's proven to be a great leader, and his success in March and April could very well get him drafted in the top five.
If he slips to Sacramento at seven, he could be a steal. They need a point guard to permanently move Tyreke Evans to shooting guard (yes I know, Walker is a shoot-first guy).
The biggest thing he'd bring to the young Kings roster is a great deal of positivity and maturity to a team that just went through a heart-wrenching season.
8: Detroit Pistons - Jonas Valanciunas
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Height: 6'10"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 19
Comparison: Nenad Krstic
He still needs to add a lot of strength, but his solid fundamentals should help him transition into the NBA.
He runs, defends and rebounds fairly well. Plus, he has a very solid basketball IQ for a 19-year-old player.
He may not be the kind of dominant center Detroit would like to place alongside Greg Monroe in the frontcourt, but the potentially high reward is worth the high risk..
9: Charlotte Bobcats - Alec Burks
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Height: 6'6"
Weight: 193 lbs.
Position: SG
Age: 19
Comparison: Brandon Roy
Alec Burks is my dark horse for 2012 Rookie of the Year (for a lot of the same reasons I thought Brandon Roy would win it).
He's a very polished, complete scorer. He has a prototypical NBA shooting guard's build. He's long and athletic. In addition to being a great scorer, he does just about everything else well, too.
The Bobcats could use his scoring on the wing after dealing Gerald Wallace last season.
10: Milwaukee Bucks - Marcus Morris
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: PF
Age: 21
Comparison: Al Harrington/Carlos Boozer
Marcus Morris is considered by most experts to have more upside than his brother Markieff. What's clear is that Marcus has the more polished offensive game.
He handles and shoots the ball well for a big man. Plus, he's proven that he can be a solid rebounder. He had his best rebounding games in the biggest moments.
Milwaukee has a decent nucleus with Brandon Jennings at point guard and Andrew Bogut at center, but they can probably upgrade at all three positions in between.
Morris could come in and compete for the starting power forward role right away. A frontcourt of Morris and Bogut could be very difficult to defend (assuming Jennings gets them the ball).
11: Golden State Warriors - Tristan Thompson
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 227 lbs.
Position: PF
Age: 20
Comparison: Brandon Bass
First he was in the draft, then he was out. Now, he's back in. If his status stays the same, he'll almost certainly be a lottery pick.
Thompson is a bit undersized for an NBA big man, but he has a wingspan (7'2") that makes up for his lack of standing height.
He plays hard, and that helps him on defense and on the offensive glass.
He still has to work on his perimeter game a bit, but that will come in time. If he can develop a reliable mid-range jumper, he could become very effective.
The Warriors spent a lot of money on David Lee but still haven't figured out their frontcourt. Thompson could easily become a part of that frontcourt rotation.
12: Utah Jazz - Jimmer Fredette
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Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 22
Comparison: Stephen Curry/Deron Williams
Fredette put up huge numbers in the tournament, but he missed a lot of shots in BYU's loss to Florida.
His critics focus on his 11-of-29 shooting and ignore some good things he showed.
The experts have been telling us all year that Jimmer wouldn't be able to get his own shot off against quicker defenders, but he blew by Florida's Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker whenever he wanted to.
Then he showed the ability to finish over legitimate big men. If only someone on BYU's coaching staff could have compelled him to keep attacking, the result of that game may have been different.
The legitimate question mark on Fredette has to do with defense. I'm not sure if he can guard anyone at the next level, but that's the same thing all the experts said about Steve Nash when he entered the league.
Utah desperately needs shooting and playmaking from the perimeter. They were 20th in the league in three-point percentage and 24th in threes made.
Jimmer could start his career as a combo guard who provides instant offense off the bench for the Jazz. I think he may finish his career as a franchise point guard.
This could very well end up being the steal of the draft.
13: Phoenix Suns - Klay Thompson
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Height: 6'7"
Weight: 206 lbs.
Position: SG/SF
Age: 21
Comparison: Martell Webster/Marco Belinelli
Thompson needs to add some strength and improve his ball-handling, but he does have some very important foundational skills in place.
Most importantly, this guy can really shoot. In his three years at Washington State, he's averaged 18 points a game while shooting 39 percent from three-point range. And he's shown he can hit from NBA range.
The Suns are on the precipice of a total rebuilding. I think they'd love a point guard here, but I have none left that warrant a lottery pick.
Finding Nash's successor is probably a pretty big priority, but adding talent on the wings may be just as important.
Vince Carter and Grant Hill are both way beyond their primes, and Phoenix needs someone to fill in when they're gone.
14: Houston Rockets - Bismack Biyombo
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 243 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 18
Comparison: DeJuan Blair/Ben Wallace
Biyombo has burst onto the scene of this draft class in the last couple weeks.
After a very impressive triple-double at the 2011 Nike Hoops Summit, he's become a very legitimate first-round possibility.
The Brazilian center scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 10 shots against the young American team.
He's long (7'7" wingspan) and athletic, but like most 18-year-old prospects, he is very raw.
Houston started 6'6" Chuck Hayes at center this past year. They need a legitimate replacement for Yao Ming, and Biyombo may be it.
15: Indiana Pacers - Marshon Brooks
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Height: 6'5"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Position: SG
Age: 22
Comparison: Jordan Crawford/Josh Howard
Brooks needs to work on his shooting and his ability to get his teammates involved, but he definitely has a ton of skill.
You can't help but be impressed by Brooks' college numbers. As a senior playing in the Big East, he averaged 24.6 points and seven rebounds a game while shooting 48 percent from the field.
He's a little undersized for his position, but his length should help him overcome that. He has a crazy 7'1" wingspan.
A few weeks ago, many experts thought Brooks might not even get drafted this year. But he's been soaring up the draft boards lately.
World-renowned trainer Tim Grover has been working with Brooks and has compared him to Kobe Bryant.
The Pacers tried to acquire a shooting guard at the trade deadline, but their deal for O.J. Mayo was submitted to the league office a bit late. Brooks could step in and contribute right away for Indiana.
16: Philadelphia 76ers - Markieff Morris
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 241 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 21
Comparison: Carlos Boozer/Al Harrington
Markieff Morris is a great rebounder and defender and was a huge part of Kansas' great season. He averaged almost 14 points and just over eight rebounds a game.
Plus, he shot 42 percent from three-point range.
Philadelphia is pretty set in terms of perimeter players with Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks. They can almost certainly upgrade at center (Spencer Hawes is their current starter).
17: New York Knicks - Josh Selby
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 20
Comparison: Jerryd Bayless
Most experts loudly questioned Selby's decision to skip his last three years of college by declaring for the NBA draft as a freshman.
His stock plummeted throughout his freshman season but now seems to be impressing a lot of scouts in pre-draft workouts. His 42-inch vertical at the pre-draft camp was particularly surprising.
If his rollercoaster ride keeps heading in this direction, he could be a first-round pick in June.
The Knicks need to upgrade at point guard and center, and Selby may have enough upside to convince management to take him here.
18: Washington Wizards - Kenneth Faried
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Height: 6'8"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 21
Comparison: Paul Millsap/Louis Amundson
He may be undersized, but he has everything else that a great rebounder needs (work ethic, wingspan, explosiveness).
He led the nation in rebounding at nearly 15 a game (after averaging 13 in each of the last two years).
He should follow the example of Paul Millsap and work hard on every aspect of his offensive game.
Add Faried to Washington's first pick of Kawhi Leonard and the core they already have in place with John Wall, Nick Young and JaVale McGee, and this team could be in the playoffs real soon.
19: Charlotte Bobcats - Donatas Motiejunas
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Height: 7'0"
Weight: 220 lbs.
Position: C/PF
Age: 20
Comparison: Andrea Bargnani/Kevin Durant
His game is a lot like Andrea Bargnani's, and his toothpickish arms and legs are reminiscent of Kevin Durant's (when he was a freshman at Texas).
He needs to get a lot stronger and needs to develop every part of his game, but he could become a decent big man.
He may not be the kind of dominant center Charlotte would like to replace Kwame Brown and Joel Przybilla, but I think they'd be excited to see Valanciunas fall to them.
20: Minnesota Timberwolves - Jordan Hamilton
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 228 lbs.
Position: SF/SG
Age: 20
Comparison: Kyle Korver/Martell Webster
Hamilton has been a fantastic offensive player this year, averaging 19 points and eight rebounds a game. He shot 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range.
His numbers are pretty similar to what Kyle Korver put up in college (plus they have similar builds), however, I think he might develop into a better all-around player.
If Minnesota does indeed take Kanter with the No. 2, they'll address their need on the wing here. This would be a long fall for Hamilton, and the T'Wolves would be lucky to land him this late.
21: Portland Trail Blazers - Nikola Vucevic
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Height: 7'0"
Weight: 260 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 20
Comparison: Kevin Love
Don't read too much into the comparison to Kevin Love. I see Vucevic being a good rebounder, but he's not on Love's level.
The comparison makes sense when you consider their size, fundamentals and range.
He averaged 17 and 10 as a junior at USC and could immediately step in and contribute for a lot of teams picking in the second round.
One of his most underrated qualities is his length. His 7'5" wingspan should help him develop into a great asset around the basket.
Portland has been bitten by the injury bug after taking three premier big men in the past (Bill Walton, Sam Bowie and Greg Oden). Perhaps Vucevic can break the curse.
22: Denver Nuggets - Jordan Williams
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 247 lbs.
Position: C/PF
Age: 20
Comparison: Marc Gasol
In terms of his size, body type and the way he plays right around the rim, Williams is very reminiscent of the kind of player Gasol was a couple years ago.
If he can develop in the same ways that Gasol did, he could be a solid center in a couple years.
As a sophomore, Williams averaged a very solid 17 points and 12 rebounds per game at Maryland.
Denver is set for perimeter players. They have a lot of young talent out there. They would be wise to add some youth to the frontcourt as well.
23: Houston Rockets - Chris Singleton
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 21
Comparison: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Singleton could become a great perimeter defender at the next level. He's very long and athletic and could give some of the league's small forwards a few headaches.
His offensive game needs a lot of work, but his defense could help him be an impact player early. In fact, he may be the best defensive player in this draft.
Chase Budinger did a great job as Houston's starting small forward, but replacing him with Singleton could make them a much better defensive team.
24: Oklahoma City Thunder - Tyler Honeycutt
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Height: 6'8"
Weight: 186 lbs.
Position: SG/SF
Age: 20
Comparison: Josh Childress/Landry Fields
In terms of numbers, Honeycutt's season at UCLA has been very similar to Chandler Parsons' at Florida.
He rebounds and passes well but is never terribly aggressive as a scorer.
His game is a bit like fellow Pac-10 guy Landry Fields', while his physical tools are similar to Childress'.
The Thunder are pretty much set at every position, but they could use a more reliable backup small forward to relieve Kevin Durant. Honeycutt can play both wing positions.
25: Boston Celtics - Justin Harper
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Height: 6'9"
Weight: 228 lbs.
Position: PF
Age: 21
Comparison: Channing Frye
Harper has a great outside game for a big man but still needs a ton of work on his rebounding, defense and low-post skills.
On the year, he averaged 18 points and seven rebounds a game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range.
The Celtics biggest need is young big men to displace aging former stars like Kevin Garnett and Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal.
Learning from Garnett for a couple years could help Harper become a great player.
26: Dallas Mavericks - Tobias Harris
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Height: 6'8"
Weight: 223 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 18
Comparison: James Johnson
Harris does just about everything well, but nothing really well.
He could very well be drafted in the first round but may have a hard time finding his way onto the court during his rookie season.
Dallas needs a forward to come off the bench and relieve Nowitzki from time to time. He probably won't be ready to do that next year, but learning from Dirk could help him develop into a good player.
27: New Jersey Nets - Nikola Mirotic
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Height: 6'10"
Weight: 226 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 20
Comparison: Linas Kleiza/Andrea Bargnani
It seems like people are looking for the next Dirk Nowitzki every year. Unfortunately, that has led to a lot of Nikoloz Tskitishvilis.
That's sort of the best-case/worst-case scenario for Mirotic.
Talent-wise, he could very well be a first-round pick this year. However, he does have some contract issues that would make a lot of teams hesitant to select him.
He may be stuck on his European team for a while.
New Jersey's biggest hole is at small forward, and Mirotic could be a nice addition to an already talented front line that includes Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez.
28: Chicago Bulls - Nolan Smith
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 188 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 22
Comparison: Kyle Lowry/Devin Harris
Nolan Smith had a fantastic senior season. He averaged career highs with about 21 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
He played point guard for most of this season but has a skill set that may be more suited for shooting guard.
He could be a perfect fit for the Bulls, who have two picks at the end of the first round.
29: San Antonio Spurs - Charles Jenkins
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 216 lbs.
Position: SG/PG
Age: 22
Comparison: Kyle Lowry/Stephen Jackson
Jenkins was a fantastic scorer this year. He averaged 22.6 points a game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.
His position and body are a bit like Lowry's (only wider), but he plays fairly low to the ground like Jackson.
He's extremely tough and could play differently in the league than just about any other guard.
Following San Antonio's early playoff exit, the team could be in store for some changes. They need to get younger, especially in the backcourt. Jenkins can help them there.
30: Chicago Bulls - Jon Leuer
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Height: 7'0"
Weight: 223 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 22
Comparison: Donte Greene/Matt Bonner
Leuer moves, shoots and handles the ball from the perimeter better than any big man in this class. Just watch the video at the bottom of this slide to see how he operates like a guard.
The reason for Leuer's smooth game: he played guard for most of his high school career. An insane 10-inch growth spurt prior to his senior year moved him to the post.
He could cause matchup problems for a lot of the league's big men next year.
Leuer may never be a star at the next level, but in a league almost devoid of elite centers, he could easily develop into a starter.
With the Bulls, he could be a very solid backup big behind Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
Plus, he could make it possible for Chicago to trade Taj Gibson for someone like Ray Allen.
Second Round Picks 31-40
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31. Miami Heat
Jeremy Tyler (6'11" C, USA)
Tyler is on an interesting path to the NBA. After passing on his senior year of high school, he struggled overseas. A lot of executives still see him as a guy with a lot of potential.
32. Cleveland Cavaliers
Travis Leslie (6'4" SG, Georgia)
33. Detroit Pistons
Reggie Jackson (6'3" PG, Boston College)
34. Washington Wizards
Darius Morris (6'5" PG, Michigan)
35. Sacramento Kings
Davis Betrans (6'10" SF/PF, Latvia)
36. New Jersey Nets
JaJuan Johnson (6'10" PF, Purdue)
37. Los Angeles Clippers
Chandler Parsons (6'10" SF, Florida)
To me, this is one of the most underrated prospects of this class. He could become a great point forward and would fill a gaping hole in the Clippers' roster.
38. Houston Rockets
Malcolm Lee (6'6" PG, UCLA)
39. Charlotte Bobcats
Norris Cole (6'2" PG, Cleveland State)
40. Milwaukee Bucks
Lucas Nogueira (6'11" C, Brazil)
Second Round Picks 41-50
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41. Los Angeles Lakers
Shelvin Mack (6'3" PG, Butler)
42. Indiana Pacers
Ben Hansbrough (6'3" PG, Notre Dame)
Hansbrough is a perfect fit in Indiana. They need a backup point guard and uniting with his brother would cause some buzz.
43. Golden State Warriors
Keith Benson (6'11 C, Oakland)
Benson seems like a perfect fit here. They need size and defense, and he provides those things in addition to outside shooting.
44. Chicago Bulls
Iman Shumpert (6'6" PG, Georgia Tech)
45. New Orleans Hornets
Bojan Bogdanovic (6'7" SF, Serbia)
46. Los Angeles Lakers
Kyle Singler (6'9" SF, Duke)
47. Los Angeles Clippers
Scotty Hopson (6'7" SG/SF, Tennessee)
48. Atlanta Hawks
Cory Joseph (6'3" PG, Texas)
49. Memphis Grizzlies
Jimmy Butler (6'8" SF, Marquette)
50. Philadelphia 76ers
Trey Thompkins (6'10" PF/C, Georgia)
Second Round Picks 51-60
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51. Portland Trail Blazers
Isaiah Thomas (5'9" SG/PG, Washington)
52. Denver Nuggets
E'Twaun Moore (6'4" SG, Purdue)
53. Orlando Magic
Tomislav Zubcic (6'11" PF, Croatia)
54. Cleveland Cavaliers
Demetri McCamey (6'3" SF, Illinois)
55. Boston Celtics
Augusto Lima (6'10" PF, Brazil)
56. Los Angeles Lakers
Matthew Bryan-Amaning (6'10" PF, Washington)
57. Dallas Mavericks
Robin Benzing (6'11" PF/SF, Germany)
58. Los Angeles Lakers
Jamie Skeen (6'8" PF/SF, Virginia Commonwealth)
Skeen took himself from complete unknown to legitimate draft prospect during his team's run through March Madness
59. San Antonio Spurs
Malcolm Thomas (6'9" PF, San Diego State)
60. Sacramento Kings
Jacob Pullen (6'0" SG/PG, Kansas State)
More on the NBA Draft
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You can follow Andy Bailey on Twitter @_Andy_Bailey
With the NBA Draft approaching, NBA Mock Draft season is here. Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated mock drafts, along with the latest NBA Draft news, analysis, rumors and predictions.
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