2011 NBA Draft Big Board: Top 20 Players and Teams They Fit Best On
The NBA Draft is just one week away.
In just seven days, we'll finally know exactly where Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette and the rest of the 2011 class is headed.
Until then, there's still tons of speculating to be done.
This slideshow isn't predicting where the top 20 prospects will land, but rather, where they fit best.
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20. Bismack Biyombo
1 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 243 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 18
Best Fit: New York Knicks - Bismack Biyombo is awful on offense right now, but the Knicks don't need offense.
Good Fit: Detroit Pistons - Some people think the Pistons may take a chance on this potential Ben Wallace-like big man. After his Eurocamp workout, No. 8 looks like a stretch, but his potential may still make it worth it.
Bad Fit: Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks definitely need a power forward, but they need offense as well. They were the worst offensive team in the league last year.
19. Markieff Morris
2 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 241 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 21
Best Fit: Philadelphia 76ers - They need a young power forward to eventually replace Elton Brand.
Good Fit: New York Knicks - Morris could provide New York with defense, rebounding and toughness in the paint.
Bad Fit: Houston Rockets - They may try to take him to fill the hole left by Yao Ming, but he'd simply be another undersized center for them (last year's starter was 6'6" Chuck Hayes).
18. Chris Singleton
3 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 21
Best Fit: Houston Rockets - They have plenty of offense with Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola. They could use a solid defender on the wing.
Good Fit: Phoenix Suns - Essentially the same reasoning for why he'd be good with the Rockets. Plus, Phoenix's current starting wings (Vince Carter and Grant Hill) are at the tail end of their careers.
Bad Fit: Utah Jazz - Some feel the Jazz should take him to replace Andrei Kirilenko, but I think it would be a horrible waste of the 12th overall pick. Jazz seriously lacked perimeter scoring last year.
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17. Kenneth Faried
4 of 21
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 21
Best Fit: Washington Wizards - It may be time for Andray Blatche to go, and Faried would be in upgrade in terms of rebounding, defense and attitude.
Good Fit: Portland Trail Blazers - He wouldn't be a perfect fit here, but he'd be a solid backup big who could relieve both LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby.
Bad Fit: New York Knicks - New York needs a legitimate center. If anything, Faried may just shift Amare Stoudemire to the 5, which is not the answer.
16. Josh Selby
5 of 21
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 20
Best Fit: New York Knicks - New York has talked about trading up to get Jimmer Fredette. If they can't do that, Selby may be the best point guard available at No. 17.
Good Fit: Portland Trail Blazers - The Blazers can definitely get younger at point guard (Andre Miller is 35). A young core of Selby, Wesley Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge could have us all talking about this team again.
Bad Fit: Phoenix Suns - Yes, the Suns need a point guard, but the No. 13 pick is too much of a stretch for Selby.
15. Klay Thompson
6 of 21
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 206 lbs.
Position: SG
Age: 21
Best Fit: Indiana Pacers - Indiana needs to add perimeter scoring, and Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters in the draft this year.
Good Fit: Utah Jazz - Ditto with the above explanation.
Bad Fit: Houston Rockets - They're talking about upgrading on the wing, but it doesn't make as much sense with them since Chase Budinger has the potential to be great himself.
14. Marcus Morris
7 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: PF
Age: 21
Best Fit: Milwaukee Bucks - Milwaukee was the league's worst offensive team last year, and they need a forward. Morris may be the best scoring 4 in this class.
Good Fit: Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers - Both teams need depth down low and Morris could be a starter a couple years down the road.
Bad Fit: Golden State Warriors - They need size as well but not another 6'9" player not known for defense.
13. Jordan Hamilton
8 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 228 lbs.
Position: SF/SG
Age: 20
Best Fit: Phoenix Suns - Point guard is a priority but the four lottery-quality ones will likely be gone by the time Phoenix's No. 13 pick rolls around. Grant Hill and Vince Carter are old and a young wing like Hamilton come up behind them.
Good Fit: Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors - Both teams that could use more depth and talent on the wing (especially Golden State if they trade Monta Ellis).
Bad Fit: Denver Nuggets - The Nuggets need size and are plenty deep on the wings right now.
12. Marshon Brooks
9 of 21
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Position: SG
Age: 22
Best Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - They could use a serious upgrade at the 2, and Brooks may end up being the sleeper of this draft.
Good Fit: Utah Jazz, Charlotte Bobcats - Both these teams could use more offense from the perimeter.
Bad Fit: New York Knicks - Landry Fields has plenty of talent and should be given a chance to be a little more aggressive next year.
11. Tristan Thompson
10 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 227 lbs.
Position: PF
Age: 20
Best Fit: Toronto Raptors - He's from the area and could be a solid frontcourt mate for Ed Davis. Plus, the team is rumored to be shopping Andrea Bargnani.
Good Fit: Charlotte Bobcats - A center would be nice, but Tyrus Thomas has the length and athleticism to play that position for now. Thompson would be a good addition to this frontcourt.
Bad Fit: Golden State Warriors - They need a true center, not another 6'9" power forward.
10. Kawhi Leonard
11 of 21
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 228 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 19
Best Fit: Washington Wizards - If the Wizards land Leonard and Kenneth Faried (which I have them doing in my latest mock draft), they'd have a fearsome foursome on defense with those two, John Wall and JaVale McGee.
Good Fit: Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons - He could be the Gerald Wallace replacement for Charlotte and the Tayshaun Prince replacement for Detroit.
Bad Fit: Utah Jazz - Same reason this is a bad fit for Chris Singleton. They need perimeter scoring.
9. Jonas Valanciunas
12 of 21
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: C/PF
Age: 19
Best Fit: Detroit Pistons - Greg Monroe had a solid rookie season, but the Pistons can still add depth down low, and Monroe and Valanciunas could eventually start together.
Good Fit: Golden State Warriors - Andris Biedrins had one good season a few years ago but seems to have steadily regressed since 2009. Depth down low would help balance this team.
Bad Fit: Utah Jazz - If he falls to Utah at No. 12, they may be tempted to take him. But they should be satisfied enough with their current bigs to address their needs on the perimeter.
8. Alec Burks
13 of 21
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 193 lbs.
Position: SG
Age: 19
Best Fit: Charlotte Bobcats - The Bobcats could slide Stephen Jackson over to small forward and plug Burks in at shooting guard right away. He's my Rookie of the Year dark horse.
Good Fit: Utah Jazz - If Jimmer Fredette is off the board when Utah picks at No. 12, Burks would be a solid pick for them. They were pretty bad at shooting guard last year.
Bad Fit: Golden State Warriors - This might make some sense if they trade Monta Ellis. If not, drafting Burks would just add to what makes this team unbalanced.
7. Kemba Walker
14 of 21
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 184 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 21
Best Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers - Right now, it looks like No. 4 is too much of a stretch for Walker, but I think he'd be great for this team. He's a proven winner and a high-character guy.
Good Fit: Sacramento Kings - Drafting Walker would permanently move Tyreke Evans to the 2, and that would make for a very exciting, young backcourt.
Bad Fit: Detroit Pistons - I wouldn't be surprised to see Walker become a better player than Rodney Stuckey or Will Bynum, but this team is already crowded with combo guards.
6. Jimmer Fredette
15 of 21
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 196 lbs.
Position: PG/SG
Age: 22
Best Fit: Utah Jazz - This seems like kind of a "well, duh" situation. Utah needs perimeter scoring and Jimmer is better in that regard than anyone else in the draft.
Good Fit: New York Knicks - A lot of people think this would be a bad idea because Jimmer supposedly lacks the athleticism to defend in the NBA. He's proving all that nonsense wrong during pre-draft workouts.
Bad Fit: Golden State Warriors - Some have speculated on the possibility of the Warriors drafting Jimmer. They already have two of him in Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. They don't need a third.
5. Jan Vesely
16 of 21
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Position: SF/PF
Age: 21
Best Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers - Their biggest need is at small forward, and if they pass on Derrick Williams at No. 1, Vesely could land here and make an impact real early.
Good Fit: Toronto Raptors - I still think James Johnson can become a good NBA player, but Vesely would add depth for them at the forward positions.
Bad Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - I think Vesely could help a lot of teams in a year or two, but No. 2 is too much of a reach.
4. Brandon Knight
17 of 21
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 177 lbs.
Position: PG
Age: 19
Best Fit: Sacramento Kings - He probably won't fall this far, but Knight looks like a great backcourt mate for Tyreke Evans. This Calipari-coached combo would be very exciting.
Good Fit: Utah Jazz - I'm not sold on the Jazz using their No. 3 pick on Knight. If they do, there's still a good chance he'd pan out.
Bad Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - They can upgrade at point guard, but Ricky Rubio's coming in next year, and they're already crowded at that position.
3. Enes Kanter
18 of 21
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 260 lbs.
Position: C/PF
Age: 19
Best Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - Some feel they should take Derrick Williams and move Michael Beasley, but that seems very hasty to me.
Beasley proved last year that he can be a very effective small forward (especially on offense). What they really need is a center or shooting guard.
Since no shooting guard in this class warrants a No. 2 pick, Kanter should go here. A front line of Beasley, Kevin Love and Kanter fits well in my mind.
Good Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers - They need a center as well and good ones are few and far between these days. There's no guarantee Kanter will be great, but he may be worth the risk.
Bad Fit: Honestly, pretty hard to say. He almost certainly won't fall further than No. 4 and the three teams with those four picks could all use him.
2. Kyrie Irving
19 of 21
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 191 lbs.
Position: PG
Age: 19
Best Fit: Utah Jazz - There's still an outside chance he falls to No. 3. A pass-first point guard is a critical component to a Jerry Sloan-style offense (assuming Ty Corbin runs one).
Good Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers - I think they should take Derrick Williams, but building around point guards is all the rage these days, and Cleveland will make him fit if they take him.
Bad Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - Again, the incoming Rubio makes this a bad fit for any point guard.
1. Derrick Williams
20 of 21
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 248 lbs.
Position: PF/SF
Age: 20
Best Fit: Cleveland Cavaliers - They obviously never found anyone to replace LeBron. While Williams is more of a power forward than point forward, he looks like the kind of player a team can build around.
Good Fit: Utah Jazz - They're pretty loaded at power forward, but he could play the 3 until they know for sure what they're going to do with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors.
Bad Fit: Minnesota Timberwolves - Like I said in an earlier slide, it's too early to be looking for Michael Beasley's replacement.
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