2011 NBA Mock Draft: Playing GM for All 30 Picks in the First Round

Only a select few lucky people in this world get the dream job of becoming a general manager of a sports franchise.

Every sports fan plays general manger whether they know it or not—it is one of the greatest pleasures of being a sports fan.

As we mock our brains out seemingly every second of our day leading up to the draft, we all assume the roles of 30 different general managers. We try to decide which player would be the perfect fit for each NBA franchise to help them achieve their championship goal.

This year’s draft class is not littered with superstar talent, but it is littered with solid players who can fill specific needs for every team at every spot.

Today, we play GM for all 30 teams to decide who they should select in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Clippers): Kyrie Irving, Duke PG

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 180 lbs

2010 Stats: 27.5 min, 17.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.3 ast, 2.5 to, 1.5 stl, .5 blk

As much as Dan Gilbert may be infatuated with Derrick Williams’ leaping ability, Kyrie Irving is the man Cleveland needs to usher in the post-LeBron era. He is a humble, quiet superstar who has the confidence and skills to back it all up on the court. He will instantly improve this teams offense with his vision, passing skills and ability to shoot the rock.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, Arizona SF

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 241 lbs

2010 Stats: 30.0 min, 19.5 pts, 8.3 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.6 to, 1.0 stl, .7 blk

Derrick Williams is an explosive talent and will provide the Timberwolves with excellent depth for their young frontcourt. He will attack the rim and become a fan favorite due to his hops and finishing abilities. I could see the T’Wolves trading Michael Beasley or Williams, but at the very least, Minnesota will have a quality frontcourt.

3. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey): Brandon Knight, Kentucky PG

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 185 lbs

2010 Stats: 35.9 min, 17.3 pts, 4.0 reb, 4.2 ast, 3.2 to, .7 stl, .2 blk

Brandon Knight is a dynamic the player, the type of player who can get the fans of Utah excited following the Jerry Sloan-Deron Williams disaster last season. With the two faces of the franchise inexplicably gone, Utah is searching for somebody to take the reins to ease the pain.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, Turkey PF/C

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 255 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

Cleveland is looking for a superstar, and they land two in this year’s draft. Enes Kanter is a charismatic and vibrant young man who will become an instant fan favorite among Cavaliers fans. He will put on the pregame show fans were accustomed to seeing when LeBron James was there. More importantly, he can back it up on the court, as he is the most talented player in the draft—he can defend, rebound and score from all over the court.

5. Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State SF

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 225 lbs

2010 Stats: 32.6 min, 15.5 pts, 10.6 reb, 2.5 ast, 2.1 to, 1.4 stl, .6 blk

Toronto desperately needs to add toughness to their squad. Kawhi Leonard is one of my personal favorites in the draft, as he is a gritty player who can do it all. He is a very good rebounder and defender but is also a solid scorer. He can post his man up but also has a nice midrange game as well. For a team lacking toughness and intensity up front, Leonard is a prime selection.

6. Washington Wizards: Kemba Walker, Connecticut PG

Class: Junior

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 172 lbs

2010 Stats: 37.6 min, 23.5 pts, 5.4 reb, 4.5 ast, 2.3 to, 1.9 stl, .2 blk

Kemba Walker is not a true point guard, as he creates shots for himself and will not hesitate to shoot the rock. John Wall needs help in the backcourt, but Washington needs star power even more. Walker is one of the premier stars in the draft following the NCAA tournament. He is a solid ball player with experience, confidence and winning mentality. Washington fans will have two stars in the backcourt to root for.

7. Sacramento Kings: Jan Vesely, Czech Republic PF

Class: N/A

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 240 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

I moved Jan Vesely into the No. 7 slot in my last mock and am sticking with the selection, as Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker are off the board. Bismack Biyombo previously held his ground here, but with his stock slipping, Vesely is taking the crown for the Kings.

He is a great shooter and will attack the basket to take pressure off Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. He is a matchup nightmare with his size, strength and quickness. Sacramento needs a star, but they also need quality ball players, which Vesely certainly is.

8. Detroit Pistons: Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania PF

Class: N/A

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 230 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

Joe Dumars is not afraid to take an international player, as evident by him passing on Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for Darko Milicic in 2003. This is a bit different, as none of the following men in the draft project to be on the superstar level of ‘Melo, Wade or Bosh.

Valanciunas could stay overseas for another year or two, but he should be a legitimate threat once he enters the Association. He is loaded with untapped potential and would create a solid offensive front court with center Greg Monroe.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Marcus Morris, Kansas PF

Class: Junior

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 235 lbs

2010 Stats: 28.3 min, 17.2 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.6 ast, 1.8 to, .8 stl, .6 blk

Marcus Morris was excellent at Kansas last year and became a star as he matured and honed his craft. He is a very good offensive power forward, which the Bobcats need. They already have Tyrus Thomas for the defensive side of the court at the position and can now have somebody to rely on offensively.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Texas PF

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 218 lbs

2010 Stats: 30.9 min, 13.1 pts, 7.8 reb, 1.3 ast, 1.8 to, .9 stl, 2.4 blk

The Bucks pride themselves on their defense, and Tristan Thompson is one of the best defensive power forwards in the class. He has great defensive prowess with quick, strong hands to steal the rock and long arms to swat shots. He is still developing after coming in as a freshman, but will certainly make an impact in Milwaukee.

11. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Hamilton, Texas SF

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 220 lbs

2010 Stats: 32.2 min, 18.6 pts, 7.7 reb, 2.1 ast, 2.1 to, .9 stl, .6 blk

I wouldn’t expect new head coach Mark Jackson to tone down the Warriors’ high-octane offense much. Although this team desperately needs defense, they need to fill the small forward position. It only makes sense at this point to play to the team's strength and select one of the best pure scorers in the draft to fill the void.

12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young G

Class: Senior

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 195 lbs

2010 Stats: 35.8 min, 28.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.3 ast, 3.5 to, 1.3 stl

Utah secures its backcourt for the next decade by selecting Jimmer Fredette after grabbing Brandon Knight earlier. Jimmer likes to have the ball, but he can play shooting guard as well with his unlimited range behind the arc. As Knight penetrates the defense, he can kick it back out to Jimmer for the trey. Jimmer will become the face of the franchise and should stay in Utah for the entirety of his career.

13. Phoenix Suns: Alec Burks, Colorado SG

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 195 lbs

2010 Stats: 31.4 min, 20.5 pts, 6.5 reb, 2.9 ast, 2.6 to, 1.1 stl, .3 blk

Vince Carter is certainly not the answer in Phoenix, and I expect him to be gone by midseason. Alec Burks is one of the biggest boom or bust players in the class, but the Suns need his offensive production. He is worth the risk for this rebuilding franchise.

14. Houston Rockets: Bismack Biyombo, Congo PF

Class: N/A

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 243 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

The Rockets will attempt to figure out their true identity in 2011—offensive or defensive minded. For now, every team in the league could use an explosive talent of Bismack’s caliber. He has extraordinary leaping ability, which allows him to excel on the glass and the defensive side of the court. He will not start, but he is the spark Houston needs off the bench.

15. Indiana Pacers: Klay Thompson, Washington State SG

Class: Junior

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 202 lbs

2010 Stats: 34.7 min, 21.6 pts, 5.2 reb, 3.7 ast, 3.4 to, 1.6 stl, .9 blk

Indiana made excellent strides last year, as they made the postseason and competed with the Chicago Bulls. This is a gritty young team that plays very well on the defensive side of the court but needs more production on offense. Klay Thompson is fantastic behind the arc and will help the Pacers stretch the floor further.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Chris Singleton, Florida State SF

Class: Junior

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 225 lbs

2010 Stats: 29.1 min, 13.1 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.2 ast, 2.2 to, 2.0 stl, 1.5 blk

Philadelphia could trade Andre Iguodala this offseason, which means they need to make sure they have his replacement locked up. Speaking of locked up, that is exactly what Chris Singleton does to his man, as he is the premier lock down perimeter defender in the draft. Doug Collins wants to build his 76ers brand on stout defense, and Singleton is the perfect fit.

17. New York Knicks: Markieff Morris, Kansas PF

Class: Junior

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 245 lbs

2010 Stats: 24.4 min, 13.6 pts, 8.3 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.1 to, .8 stl, 1.1 blk

New York desperately needs to add size up front to help Amar’e Stoudemire down low. The Knicks need another body to improve the team’s rebounding and defense, which Markieff specializes in. He is still developing offensively, but heading to New York to play in Mike D’Antoni’s up tempo system will certainly help him progress quicker.

18. Washington Wizards (via Atlanta): Kenneth Faried, Morehead State PF

Class: Senior

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 225 lbs

2010 Stats: 34.7 min, 17.3 pts, 14.5 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.6 to, 1.9 stl, 2.3 blk

Kenneth Faried is a dynamic player with great leaping ability, rebounding and defensive skills. He has a nonstop motor and will help spark the rest of his teammates off the bench. Washington is building a great core group, and he will play a major role for this young team.

19. Charlotte Bobcats (via New Orleans): Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA SF

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 188 lbs

2010 Stats: 35.0 min, 12.8 pts, 7.2 reb, 2.8 ast, 3.0 to, .9 stl, 2.1 blk

Michael Jordan needs to trade Stephen Jackson away to a contender, which would leave playing time open for a potential facilitator like Tyler Honeycutt. He is an unselfish player who will get teammates involved, is solid defensively and improving offensively.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis): Marshon Brooks, Providence SG

Class: Senior

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 190 lbs

2010 Stats: 36.5 min, 24.6 pts, 7.0 reb, 2.5 ast, 3.1 to, 1.5 stl, 1.2 blk

With Ricky Rubio finally coming to terms with playing for the Timberwolves, Minnesota now has the brightest young point guard in the world committed. Now, David Kahn doesn’t have to search for another point guard and can focus on putting more talent around Ricky. Marshon Brooks is an excellent scorer and will thrive as Rubio’s sidekick.

21. Portland Trail Blazers: Donotas Motiejunas, Lithuania C

Class: N/A

Height: 7’

Weight: 220 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

Portland always has issues with their centers, which is why they need to draft another. Donotas Motiejunas is by no means the toughest or strongest, but he has a nice touch around the rim. The Trail Blazers need offensive help, and Donotas can stretch the paint, and the floor, with his range.

22. Denver Nuggets: Jeremy Tyler, Japan PF

Class: N/A

Height: 6’11”

Weight: 263 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

George Karl loves to have athletic big men, and very few in this draft have the size, strength and athleticism of Jeremy Tyler. He is still fairly raw, but Denver is a fine destination to better hone his skills. Denver’s bigs are declining, aging or injury prone, so they need to grab somebody immediately to help out down low.

23. Houston Rockets (via Orlando): Reggie Jackson, Boston College PG

Class: Junior

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 208 lbs

2010 Stats: 34.1 min, 18.2 pts, 4.3 reb, 4.3 ast, 2.4 to, 1.1 stl, .5 blk

After adding a defensive stud in Bismack Biyombo earlier, the Rockets provide Kevin Martin with some help in the backcourt. Reggie Jackson is greatly improving offensively and is solid from three-point range. He and K-Mart would create a lethal duo from behind the arc.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tobias Harris, Tennessee PF

Class: Freshman

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 226 lbs

2010 Stats: 29.2 min, 15.3 pts, 7.3 reb, 1.3 ast, 1.8 to, .7 stl, .9 blk

Every team needs more depth up front, and Tobias Harris has more upside than just about any power forward in the class. He is still developing his skills but will develop into a very good player soon enough. He will help the Thunder crash the boards in his rookie season.

25. Boston Celtics: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue PF

Class: Senior

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 221 lbs

2010 Stats: 35.4 min, 20.5 pts, 8.6 reb, 1.0 ast, 1.6 to, .9 stl, 2.3 blk

Boston desperately needs size up front, and JaJuan Johnson is the perfect man for the job. He is very good on the defensive side of the court and will learn from one of the best in the business in Kevin Garnett. He can help stretch the paint with his shot but can also score around the rim with his touch.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Davis Bertans, Latvia SF

Class: N/A

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 210 lbs

2010 Stats: N/A

Davis Bertans is a lights out shooter with the size and quickness to be a matchup nightmare for most defenders in the league. He reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki, which is why I want to see him land in Dallas. Dirk would be an excellent mentor for Davis. Together, they would be a deadly combination on the offensive side of the court.

27. New Jersey Nets (via L.A. Lakers): Shelvin Mack, Butler G

Class: Junior

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 215 lbs

2010 Stats: 32.1 min, 16.0 pts, 4.5 reb, 3.4 ast, 2.4 to, .8 stl, .1 blk

At this point in the draft, Shelvin Mack is one of the highest-profile names left. He displayed great leadership and defensive prowess. He is not a true point guard, but is NBA-ready and has the size to compete. He would be able to start alongside Deron Williams to form a solid backcourt duo that can shoot from long range and attack the rim.

28. Chicago Bulls (from Miami): Justin Harper, Richmond PF

Class: Senior

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 225 lbs

2010 Stats: 31.8 min, 17.9 pts, 6.9 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.5 to, .6 stl, 1.2 blk

The Bulls have solid depth up front, but they need a big man who can score. Justin Harper can stretch the paint with his midrange game to give Derrick Rose another scoring option. I project him to be more of a tweener in the Association with his style of play, which makes him a fine fit in Chicago.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Trey Thompkins, Georgia PF/C

Class: Junior

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 245 lbs

2010 Stats: 31.2 min, 16.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.5 to, 1.1 stl, 1.7 blk

Trey Thompkins will continue to add toughness and intensity to a solid frontcourt in San Antonio. He is an athletic big man who can finish around the rim but is also solid defensively. He will help limit the minutes of aging stars Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess.

30. Chicago Bulls: Charles Jenkins, Hofstra PG

Class: Senior

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 220 lbs

2010 Stats: 37.3 min, 22.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.8 ast, 2.2 to, 1.7 stl, .7 blk

Chicago needs another point guard who can take the pressure off Derrick Rose. Charles Jenkins is one of the most underrated in the draft. He is good defensively, but can stroke it from behind the arc and will be another spark plug for the Bulls.

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.