2011 NBA Mock Draft: T'Wolves Take UNC's Barnes #1

2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery (1-14)

1.      Minnesota Timberwolves:  Harrison Barnes SF, 6’7/212, North Carolina

Barnes is the consensus #1 pick in the 2011 draft, and for good reason.  He has a great combination of size, length, and athleticism.  He has a very nice jump shot, and can pull up off the dribble and knock down shots.  He’s a solid ball handler and makes good decisions on the court.  Barnes can really lock down and play defense as well.  He is the complete package.  Yes, Minnesota just drafted Wes Johnson, who plays the same position as Barnes, but you cannot pass on this kind of talent.

2.      Toronto Raptors:  Perry Jones SF/PF, 6’11/220, Baylor

The first thing that jumps out at me is that Jones is 6’11 and can play on the perimeter.  He can handle the ball very well for a guy his size and has the ability to knock down outside shots.  He is very long and very athletic.  He looks kind of like a 6’11 version of Tracy McGrady.  The Raptors are in the process of revamping their roster, and Jones would fit in very nicely with Ed Davis and Andrea Bargnani on the front line.  Also, he and DeMar DeRozan would make for a very athletic combination on the wing.

3.      New Jersey Nets:  Kyrie Irving PG, 6’2/180, Duke

Irving is a lightning-quick point guard with great handles and has the ability to run a team.  He does a nice job of getting into the lane and either scoring or finding a teammate.  He is very dangerous in transition.  He has a nice pull up jumper, but he still needs to develop a consistent jump shot.  Irving has a lot of athleticism and can really get up off the floor.  Yes, New Jersey has Devin Harris.   However, he’s had trouble staying healthy recently and won’t be around forever.

4.      Golden State Warriors:  Terrence Jones SF, 6’8/226, Kentucky

I am higher on Jones than most people, because I am intrigued with his size, length, and overall craftiness.  He has a smooth lefty shooting stroke and can get to the basket and score in traffic.  He uses his length to his advantage and is a good shot blocker.  Jones is not an exceptional athlete, but he still has the ability to score/dunk in traffic because of his length.  He’s actually a pretty good passer and could play the role of a point forward like Lamar Odom.  The Warriors are set with their backcourt of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, and the addition of David Lee will give them a low post presence (even though he will not help their horrendous defense).  Jones would be a nice fit on the wing in that run-and-gun system.

5.      Sacramento Kings:  Jared Sullinger PF, 6’9/261, Ohio State

Sullinger is a bruising big man with an array of low post moves for someone of his age.  There are some questions about exactly how tall he is, but he has long arms and uses his big frame well.  He is a good rebounder and has a solid mid-range jumper, but it still needs some work.  He is not the most athletic guy, so he will need to prove that what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with his other skills.  Sacramento really needs some help on the wing, but nobody fits that bill at #5.  They could go point guard, and shift Tyreke Evans to the 2, but I think I’d leave Evans right where he’s at.  A Jared Sullinger-DeMarcus Cousins frontline could be very scary.

6.      Cleveland Cavaliers:  Brandon Knight PG, 6’4/183, Kentucky

Knight is a big point guard with excellent speed and scoring ability.  He has the ability to get to the basket and score in traffic.  He is a very good passer and quick decision maker.  He’s a pretty good shooter, who steps up when it matters most (hit the game-winning 3 in the McDonald’s All-American game).  Knight is a good defender who knows how to use his length and speed on defense.  He can be a bit streaky at times, but he’s very dangerous when he’s on.  The Cavs are officially in the post-LeBron era and need a potential star to step in and revitalize the franchise, and Knight is that guy.  Mo Williams is not the long-term answer for the Cavs at the point.

7.       Detroit Pistons:  Patric Young PF/C, 6’9/235, Florida

Young is a powerful low post player.  He uses his athleticism and length to throw down thunderous dunks in traffic.  Young is a solid rebounder and should develop into a nice shot blocker.  He’s still raw, and will need some time to develop a little more of an offensive game, but his power makes him a very intriguing prospect.  The Pistons need to trade Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and go into rebuilding mode.  They have some nice, young pieces already (Stuckey, Bynum, Daye, Monroe) and Young would add to that group.  He and Monroe would complement each other well and make for a dynamic front court.

8.      Philadelphia 76ers:  Enes Kanter C, 6’10/255, Kentucky

Kanter is a very strong low post banger.  He uses big body very well around the basket to draw contact.  Kanter is also an outstanding rebounder.  He was named MVP of the 2009 U18 European Championships after averaging 18.6 PPG and 16.4 RPG.  Philadelphia has a lot of talent on the perimeter, but not too much to speak of under the basket.  Elton Brand’s Achilles will limit him for the rest of his career and the jury is still out on Spencer Hawes.  Kanter will give them a big body and a legit center.

9.       Indiana Pacers:  Jan Vesely PF, 6’11/240, Czech Republic

Vesely is the top European prospect in the 2011 Draft.  Not only is he a good shooter, he is athletic and can finish around the basket.  Vesely is a solid ball handler and good in transition. He has good length and uses it to his advantage on the defensive end.  He is an energy player, but with legit tools and could develop into much more than just a hustle guy.  The Pacers have a load of talent on the perimeter (Granger, Collison, George, Stephenson), but outside of Roy Hibbert, they lack much inside.  I do not see Tyler Hansbrough as the answer at the 4, but maybe Vesely could be.

10.   Washington Wizards:  C.J. Leslie SF/PF, 6’9/205, N.C. State

Leslie is one of the most athletic players in the 2011 Draft, and has the ability to play well above the rim.  He has tremendous length and has the skills to become a shot blocker.  He runs the floor well and can score around the basket.  He’s still very raw, and doesn’t have much of a jump shot, but he has the potential to develop one.  Washington would be a great fit for Leslie because he would be able to show off his athleticism in transition with John Wall.  The Wizards have Al Thornton at the 3, so Leslie would not be needed to step in right away and contribute.

11.   Los Angeles Clippers:  Donatas Motiejunas PF, 7’0/220, Lithuania

Motiejunas seemed like a lock for the lottery in the 2010 Draft, but decided to pull out.  He has a very nice shot and has the ability to score inside as well.  He is starting to develop some more offensive moves and will need to continue to do so.  He does lack some strength, and he will need to bulk up a little to be able to contend with NBA 4’s.  The Clippers have a talented roster, but they never seem to put it all together.  They have young talent at almost every position, but Motiejunas will give them a big man who can stretch the floor and knock down outside jumpers.

12.   Memphis Grizzlies: Josh Selby PG, 6’3/188, Kansas

Selby is a very, very athletic guard; he put on a clinic at the McDonald’s All-American Game Dunk Contest.   He’s a good ball handler and solid passer.  He has a little combo guard in him, so he may need to improve his overall game management if he wants to be a point guard at the next level.  Mike Conley has not stepped up and really taken control as the Grizzlies point guard, so bringing in Selby would be a good idea.  They don’t have much depth in the backcourt either, and Selby has the upside to become very good.

13.   New Orleans Hornets:  John Henson PF, 6’10/200, North Carolina

Henson is a very long and athletic 4 who has the ability to mix it up in the paint despite his weight.  He has a soft touch around the basket, and has the potential to develop quite a nice low post game.  He uses his length on defense to rebound and block shots.  The biggest knock on Henson is that he is very skinny, and he will need to add strength to play in the NBA.  The Hornets starting 5 is pretty solid, so they might as well add a young big man with a load of potential.  If David West decides to leave via free agency, they will have his replacement waiting in the wings.

14.   Phoenix Suns:  Trey Thompkins PF, 6’9/247, Georgia

Thompkins is a polished big man with a very good offensive game.  He has the ability to back down his defender or face up and knock down shots.  He’s a very smart player and really understands what to do on the block.  He has a good repertoire of offensive moves and a soft touch to go along with it.  Thompkins is not an elite athlete, but he makes up for it with his overall skill level.  Phoenix lost Amare Stoudemire to free agency, and there is no clear replacement for him on the roster.  Hakim Warrick is a nice player, but not a guy you plan to have as your power forward-of-the-future.  Thompkins is very effective in the half court game, but he also excels in transition, which will fit in well in Phoenix.