2011 NBA Mock Draft: Has Harrison Barnes Cemented His Stock as a Top 5 Pick?
Well, we're not too far away from that time.
The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is just about ready to kick off, which means some of the best college players in the country are getting ready to play for a championship. All the while, NBA scouts will watch intently as they make their reports for their respective war rooms.
Yes, the NBA Draft is not that far away either.
So with that in mind, it's time to start taking a look at the prospects who will be recited over and over again in the days and weeks leading up to draft night in New York and see where they might land. Where will Harrison Barnes be? What about Kyrie Irving? Who will be the top pick?
All these questions will have answers eventually, but for right now we can only predict. So with that in mind, here's the latest NBA Mock Draft.
(Note: Since the draft order has not been secured yet, we will use the order that NBADraft.net used to make their latest mock draft)
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
1 of 30
Team Needs: Point Guard, Shooting Guard
To be honest, the Cavaliers have a lot of needs other than just at the guard position. They just don't need a player, they need an impact player who wants the ball at the end of the game.
Irving can have that potential. He can be a point guard who can distribute and find open teammates, or he can also be a scorer who can slice to the basket and also has a very strong outside shot. He hasn't played since suffering a season-ending injury back in December, but he would be a strong player to rebuild the franchise around—which is what the Cavs need more than anything.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Enes Kanter, C, Kentucky
2 of 30Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Center
The biggest need for the Timberwolves might be a shooting guard, but according to some of the experts, the shooting guard class in this draft isn't exceptionally outstanding.
So enter Kanter, who was ruled ineligible at Kentucky and still hasn't played in a game this season. I'm guessing we'll see footage of Kanter making post-up moves around a chair a la Yi Jianlian around the draft. But he's still a talented big man who has some nice post moves and can also use his size to rebound.
But of course, there's always the fear he could be the next Darko Milicic.
3. Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
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Team Needs: Center, Shooting Guard
The Kings are in a position where they can take the best available player in this spot, whether that's Sullinger or one of the small forwards destined for the top 10.
Sullinger's proving to be a man amongst boys in the Big Ten for how he can back down forwards with his low-post game, his rebounding ability and his moves to the basket. He won't find it that easy in the NBA, considering he'll face outright bigger forwards who he won't be able to get leverage on, and maybe that will force him to develop a post-up game.
But a frontcourt of Sullinger and DeMarcus Cousins looks pretty good.
4. Washington Wizards: Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Arizona
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Center
The Wizards have some young players at each position that have the ability to develop, but the Wizards would have a great find in Williams.
He's broken out of a shell to become a star with the Wildcats with his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He can also explode at times for huge games, and from all accounts, he is rapidly improving from the outside as a shooter.
The way the Wizards are built, he might be more of a power forward because of the log jam at small forward and Nick Young at the shooting guard position. But he's the type of player you make room for.
5. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
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Needs: Small Forward
Point guard could be an option here as well, but the Raptors have a glaring need at small forward. Andrea Bargnani is still the starting center, Ed Davis is the future at power forward and DeMar DeRozan is having a breakout year.
Small forward could use an upgrade, and Barnes is the best player available here. He started to show glimpses of his potential with that 40-point game against Clemson in the ACC Tournament, but he's been playing better of late. He's a scorer who can either get to the basket or can step outside and knock down a shot if he has to.
6. Utah Jazz: Jan Vesely, PF
6 of 30Needs: Shooting Guard, Small Forward
With Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors now in Utah, power forward isn't really a big need. And while Terrence Jones of Kentucky might be a better fit because of his position, his lack of an outside game might hurt him and not make him a great fit in Utah.
Vesely can play the small forward and has the shooting touch the Jazz would require, especially with long-time swingman Andrei Kirilenko probably moving on after the season. He might not be the inside player or the defender that Kirilenko is, but he would be a good fit as a secondary scorer in Utah.
7. Detroit Pistons: Donatas Motiejunas, PF
7 of 30Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard
Shooting guard is the more pressing need, but the market for shooting guards in the draft class is pretty slim as we've previously mentioned. And since the Pistons have a few small forwards on the roster, power forward is the next option.
International picks are always risky, and the Pistons know that better than anyone for taking Darko Milicic over Carmelo. But from the video I've seen from him, Motiejunas has the ability to be a special type of player. He's athletic, can score from anywhere on the floor and he's not a bad shooter for his size.
I'm not going to directly call him the next Dirk, but his game is similar.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Small Forward
After the Cavaliers take Kyrie Irving with their first pick, they then get another pick that would've belonged to the Clippers in the Baron Davis trade.
So with that, the focus then goes to finding a scoring guard or a small forward. And at this pick the best choice is Jones, who has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. NBADraft.net compared him to Lamar Odom, which might not make him a star, but it'll make him very valuable.
There are some questions about his jumpshot, specifically his mechanics. But if he can get that worked out, then he can be a very good player.
9. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard
Chad Ford of ESPN raised an interesting point while breaking down Burks' game:
"In a draft devoid of great shooting guard prospects, Burks offers a bit of a quandary," Ford wrote. "He has the requisite size and athleticism for the position—but how interested are you in a shooting guard who can't shoot?"
There's no question Burks can be a scorer (he's averaging 20 points per game), but he's not a great shooter. If Milwaukee can live with having an Andre Iguodala-type player at the shooting guard position, then he's a nice pick. But one would think they'll try to work on his shooting.
10. Charlotte Bobcats: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
10 of 30Team Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard
When I watched Perry Jones, I saw a lot of Josh Smith in him.
He's a tremendous athlete who can get to the basket and just jump out of the building. He's also a physical specimen who can get to the hoop with his back to the basket and has a nice post-up game. If he's going to be a small forward, which some are projecting him to be, he'll have to start improving his outside game.
But he's definitely a strong prospect.
11. Golden State Warriors: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Center
The Warriors could use a big body to try and gain some length down low, especially since Andres Biedrins is possibly on the way out again.
According to Chad Ford of ESPN, Henson hasn't developed a perimeter game and is still very raw offensively. But he's also averaging almost 10 rebounds a game, which is hard to turn away from. He's a project offensively, but the defensive instincts are there.
12. Houston Rockets: Jonas Valanciunas, C
12 of 30Team Needs: Small Forward, Center
There's a distinct chance the Rockets could walk away from Yao Ming at the end of the season, which means the Rockets will be looking for a center of the future. They traded for Hasheem Thabeet at the trade deadline, but he's a reclamation project at this point.
Valanciunas has the same kind of game as Yao Ming in that he's a long, lanky center who has the ability of just beating teams inside with his size and has a post-up game as well as a spot-up game. He's a project as well, but the Rockets haven't been afraid to take international players before and it's worked out for them.
13. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, PG/SG, Kentucky
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Team Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard
With the Jazz already getting the swingman they need in Jones, the Jazz address their other need at guard by taking another Wildcat in Knight.
NBADraft.net lists Knight as a combo guard who could play point or shooting guard for the Jazz who can use his agility and shooting ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He's still a little raw, but he has all the tools to be a pretty good player for the Jazz. Having Knight and Jones gives Utah a ton of athleticism they didn't have before.
14. Phoenix Suns: Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut
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Team Needs: Point Guard, Center
If you watched any of the Big East Tournament, you saw how special a player Kemba Walker can be.
He can score from anywhere, inside and outside, and he can also distribute the ball when he needs to. The play he made for UConn's game-winning bucket last night proved that. Plus, could you imagine seeing Steve Nash and Walker in the same backcourt?
15. Indiana Pacers: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Swingman
At this spot, I could see the Pacers taking a look at a swingman and a shooter like Jordan Hamilton of Texas. But they can also use a rebounder down low to help supplement Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert.
But it's hard to turn away a player who is averaging 17 points and seven boards for a very good Kansas team. It's also hard to turn away a power forward who can step out and hit a couple of shots from the outside to boot.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Center
The 76ers are stacked at shooting guard and small forward, so I'd expect them to go forward here. They could use a scorer down low, which Thompson has the size and ability of being.
His numbers this season are not phenomenal, but 13 points and seven boards for a freshman is not a bad line at all. His athletic ability might remind some people of Tyrus Thomas, but he looks to be a more polished player, especially on offense and on the rebounding side of things. He'd be a project, but a very nice piece for the Sixers to have.
17. New York Knicks: Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU
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Needs: Point Guard, Center
Everything says the Knicks should take a center or a power forward. Kenneth Faried is still on the board at this point, and he's a phenomenal rebounder according to Chad Ford of ESPN. But these are still the Knicks and this is still James Dolan's team.
And something tells me he's wowed by Jimmer hitting half-court shots and scoring 50 points in the Mountain West Tournament. Fredette can do so many things, whether it's hitting shots from anywhere on the floor or distributing the ball to his supporting cast. Plus, the Knicks now have an older point guard in Chauncey Billups and Fredette would be the type of guard Mike D'Antoni loves.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Nolan Smith, PG/SG, Duke
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Team Needs: Center, Shooting Guard
After addressing the center with the second overall pick with Enes Kanter, the next need for the Timberwolves is to find a guard on the outside who can score and shoot the ball. Smith can do that.
He's taken over the Blue Devils and made it his team, taking over games and continuing to improve with his outside game and his dribble-drive game. He's averaging 21 points per game, and he's quickly becoming the No. 1 scoring option on his team. Plus he offers versatility at both guard positions, and we all know the Timberwolves can never have enough point guards.
19. New Orleans Hornets: Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Power Forward
The Hornets face the possibility of losing possibly Carl Landry and David West to free agency in the offseason, so restocking the cupboard in terms of power forwards might be a possibility.
According to Chad Ford of ESPN, Faried is still raw on offense and needs to improve. But he also has been singing his praises as one of the best rebounders in the country. He may have to improve his game offensively, but put him in the same frontcourt as Emeka Okafor. All of a sudden, it's hard to grab a rebound against the Hornets.
20. Washington Wizards: Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Center
The Wizards already picked up Derrick Williams earlier in the draft, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the Wizards go after another big man to help supplement the defense down low.
Chad Ford of ESPN said the other Morris from Kansas is still a little raw offensively, although he is improving. His real worth is on the glass as a rebounder and also as a low-post defensive force, something the Wizards have lacked for a while. He's still a prospect and a project, like a lot of the players this year are.
21. Portland Trail Blazers: Jordan Hamilton, SG/SF, Texas
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Center
The Trail Blazers could very well look for a center and a possible insurance policy for Greg Oden considering he's a restricted free agent this year. But considering the health of Brandon Roy, a scoring guard might be the other option.
With that in mind, Hamilton is a great find for the Blazers here. He's a very good shooter with the ability to light it up every time he touches the ball. He still can be streaky at times, but the potential is there to be a nice shooter. He will have the possibility of either starting at the three-spot or help taking the pressure off of Brandon Roy when he's healthy.
22. Denver Nuggets: Trey Thompkins, PF, Georgia
22 of 30Team Needs: Point Guard, Power Forward
Thompkins is an absolute beast down low for the Bulldogs. He's an athlete at 6'10", but he's so dangerous because of what he can do. Obviously, he can do the down low things and can play a low post game. But he can also do a lot of other things.
He's a much better outside shooter than people give him credit for, and his size to be able to play a face-up game will draw some Dirk Nowitzki comparisons. But Thompkins is a much better athlete than Nowizki.
He'll be a perfect fit for the Nuggets' up-tempo style.
23. Phoenix Suns: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego Stte
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Team Needs: Small Forward
NBADraft.net had the Suns taking Leonard with their first pick, so Leonard wouldn't be a bad pick here if he slips that far. But the scouts and experts seem to love him, as he's moving up the draft boards.
He hasn't developed his outside game, which might clash with what the Suns like to do offensively. But he can get to the basket and get his points there. Plus he's a hard-nosed player who averages 15 points and 10 rebounds, and that's something the Suns can always use. Plus they like versatile players and Leonard could play the three or the four.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
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Team Needs: Power Forward, Center
The Thunder don't have a lot of holes, but then again having two of the best young players in the game will do that. If there is any weakness to the Thunder, it's down low at the forward and center position as the team tries to get tougher and improve its defense. But they've addressed that somewhat with Kendrick Perkins.
That means the Thunder can afford to take a flyer on the best player available. And while Chris Singleton might be an interesting prospect here, Robinson adds more athleticism and another rebounding presence to an already very good team. Plus with their players, they can afford to take a prospect to develop.
25. Chicago Bulls: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
25 of 30Team Needs: Shooting Guard
The Bulls need a shooter to complement Derrick Rose, and while Luol Deng is a very nice player, he's not a true No. 2.
Singleton might be a luxury at this point as a swingman, but he does bring a lot of athleticism and defense to the Bulls with an improving jumpshot and perimeter game. Plus at this point in the Draft, teams are more likely to take flyers on players and take the best available.
26. New Jersey Nets: Tyler Honeycutt, SG, UCLA
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard
The Nets could use a shooting guard to team up with Deron Williams in the backcourt and also give the Nets an outside game to complement Brook Lopez inside. Honeycutt could still be a streaky shooter, as a lot of young shooters can be at this point in their careers, but he can be a very nice fit for the Nets.
Deron Williams will need some sort of reason to stay in New Jersey, and while Honeycutt might not be a great player, it at least shows the type of commitment the Nets will need to keep Williams around.
27. Chicago Bulls: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard
If the Bulls want a shooter, they won't have to look farther than Brooks. He's an absolute beast at Providence who can score from anywhere on the floor.
He can drive, he can shoot, he can play a perimeter game. He's an absolute player who will be a steal at the end of the first round. Let's face it, he's averaging 24 points per game for a reason. If the Bulls can add a player like him and put him in that backcourt with Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, all of a sudden that team looks very good.
28. Dallas Mavericks: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State
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Team Needs: Shooting Guard
Chad Ford of ESPN called him one of the best shooters around, and looking at the stats, it's very hard to prove him wrong.
Thompson is averaging better than 22 points a night while also shooting better than 40 percent from the floor and from three. Now think of that, and think about the system the Mavericks use. Dallas has very specific things that they look for in a shooting guard: they have to be able to shoot the lights out and they have to have range (Devin Harris, Michael Finley, Jason Terry).
Thompson would be a great fit here.
29. Boston Celtics: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
29 of 30Team Needs: Small Forward
It's not coming for a while, but eventually the Celtics will have to find a replacement for Paul Pierce. With that in mind, Taylor might be a player to look at in this scenario.
He's an extremely athletic forward who can slash and score, and he can also defend, which will make the Celtics perk up considering the focus they put on defense. The only thing that might hold him back is a lack of a perimeter game, but the tools are there for him to improve.
30. San Antonio Spurs: Jon Leuer, PF, Wisconsin
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Team Needs: Power Forward
The Spurs will eventually have to find a replacement for Tim Duncan, and Leuer can be an interesting heir apparent.
NBADraft.net had the Spurs taking him here, and he's the type of players the Spurs like. Leuer can step outside and knock down a shot, which is something Duncan has done over his career. Plus, he's a solid low post player who can play defense and rebound.
So basically, he's the type of player the Spurs love.
