NBA Draft 2011: The Position Every NBA Team Needs to Shore Up Through the Draft
Whether a team is in complete rebuilding mode or needs just one piece to bolster their roster, every NBA franchise has a draft strategy this year. This year's draft is full of quality players, ones who are sure to impact the NBA from day one.
Depending on where every team is slated to pick can drastically change who they will target on draft day.
Some teams, like the San Antonio Spurs, tend to have very conservative draft strategies. While other franchises, like the Sacramento Kings, are often very aggressive when drafting top talent.
Here are the biggest needs for all 30 teams in the NBA.
30. Orlando Magic
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The Magic have the least impact on this draft of all 30 NBA teams. They don’t have their first pick until late in the second round, almost making them irrelevant.
After losing their first round pick Daniel Orton to season ending surgery, the Magic are hopeful that he can rebound in a big way in 2012.
Orlando will select the player with the most potential left, hoping that he is able to make the 15-man roster next season.
29. Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks have one of the most balanced starting lineups in the NBA. There are not a lot of holes in their lineup, but there isn’t a whole lot of flash either. The Hawks overpaid shooting guard Joe Johnson last year, leaving them with very little financial room.
Small forward Marvin Williams has been one of the biggest busts in recent memory. After being a top three pick out of UNC, Williams has had a very tough transition to the pro level. He still plays plenty of minutes, but he is as streaky and inconsistent as they come.
If there is a viable small forward available the Hawks will certainly take him.
However, Atlanta will likely be selecting someone to provide bench depth. Possibly snagging a snubbed college standout or overlooked foreigner is where Atlanta should look with their first pick.
28. Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies first pick comes midway through the second round, which severely limits their options.
With the impending departure of Zach Randolph the Grizzlies need to find a power forward. However, midway through the second round they are unlikely to find a suitable replacement.
Big men Keith Benson or Greg Smith may have slipped to this point in the draft—players who could be good insurance.
Small forward Shane Battier also has an expiring contract this summer.
A guy like Chandler Parsons would be a great fit for Memphis. He has the versatility and all around impact Memphis could seriously use. He is also 6’10”, which creates for serious matchup problems.
27. Los Angeles Lakers
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The Lakers roster is completely stacked, except for one position. L.A. is in desperate need of a small forward who can score as well as defend. Ron Artest has been a big disappointment this year, causing serious concern for the Lakers.
The Lakers will be looking for a scoring wing this draft. Guys like Nikola Mirotic, Scotty Hopson, David Lighty and Ravern Johnson will all be on their radar.
All of those guys bring various elements to the table. Whether the Lakers will look for athleticism, shooting, raw talent or a foreign factor will be up to them.
26. Los Angeles Clippers
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Besides power forward and shooting guard, the Clippers need help everywhere. They have DeAndre Jordan and Chris Kaman at center, though Kaman has been in trade discussions all year long.
The “other” team in L.A. has two big needs, which are small forward and quality bench play. The Clippers drafted small forward Al-Farouq Aminu last year, who was very slow to progress in his rookie season.
The Clippers first pick will come in the 35-40 range, making it that much more important they find quality talent.
The smartest pick for L.A. might be finding a solid backup for star power forward Blake Griffin. Whether it’s Rick Jackson, Justin Harper or Nikola Mirotic, the Clippers need a go-to bench player.
Rick Jackson is a big time banger down low, further showing why he should be in Los Angeles. The Clippers don’t play a finesse game, meaning Harper and Mirotic probably won’t fit in.
If Jackson is around at this point in the draft, fully expect him to be a Clipper next season.
25. Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat have been all over the national spotlight this year. After signing Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Lebron James to multi-year deals, Miami has been up and down all year.
Various additions to the roster this year have yet to settle Miami. The Heat signed veteran point guard Mike Bibby, who has been less than impressive so far.
With quality point guards possibly slipping into the second round, don’t be surprised to see Miami snatch them up.
Miami could draft Norris Cole, Darius Morris or Malcolm Lee in the second round. Morris has the most upside and should be at the top of Miami’s draft board.
24. San Antonio Spurs
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The Spurs have one of the most obvious draft strategies in the NBA. Year in and year out, the Spurs take very accomplished and proven college players.
In the last three years the Spurs have selected James Anderson, DeJaun Blair and George Hill.
This year it all comes down to who is available. With utmost certainty the Spurs will take JaJuan Johnson, Kyle Singler or Jon Leuer.
Since Tim Duncan is getting older and older, the likeliness of San Antonio selecting a power forward is great. Whether the Spurs prefer Johnson or Leuer is something we will find out on draft night.
23. New Jersey Nets
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The Nets need to start taking some chances. If they want to keep star point guard Deron Williams in town, New Jersey will need to select a pick with high potential.
Their riskiest options include Jeremy Tyler and Nikola Mirotic. Tyler famously made news a few years ago, when he decided to skip his senior year of high school and head overseas instead.
Tyler’s overseas career has generally been a bust, but his size and raw talent make him an intriguing prospect. At 6’10”, 250 pounds, Tyler has the ability to impact the NBA, all the while proving the doubters wrong.
On the other hand, Mirotic is a 6’10” shooter who has high potential. Mirotic can square up from anywhere on the court, making Deron Williams’ job that much easier.
22. Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks have a quality roster top to bottom. They have depth at nearly every position, besides power forward.
With franchise player Dirk Nowitzki playing power forward, the Mavs need to get some insurance.
Dallas will have their option of versatile power forwards at the end of the first round. Whether they want the shooting stroke of Justin Harper, finesse game of Jon Leuer or bruising body of Jordan Williams will be up to them.
Harper would be the best fit for Dallas. He has the inside-out game that the Mavs play, making the movement to their rotation that much easier.
21. Boston Celtics
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With a team chalk full of veterans, the Celtics need some back ups. They have a loaded front court, along with a solid back court between Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce.
However, the Celtics lack a trustworthy point guard behind Rondo.
Since Boston plays an incredibly high IQ brand of basketball, Duke point guard Nolan Smith would fit in great.
Smith is extremely smart, being able to run an offense without hesitation. He is very smart player, who would require little learning time to adapt to the NBA.
Boston could have a career back up for Rondo if Smith can fall to them in the first round.
20. Chicago Bulls
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Like the Knicks, Chicago has a huge gap they need to fill. The Bulls are in desperate need of a shooting guard to help Derrick Rose in the back court.
Fortunately for Chicago, a quality shooting guard could fall to them towards the end of the first round.
That shooting guard is scoring machine Shelvin Mack. Mack is very undersized at just 6’2”, but he scores with the best of them.
The Bulls currently have shooting guards Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer on the wing, something that will surely haunt them in the playoffs.
Expect the Bulls to take Mack here, if not they will take the next best shooting guard available.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Besides Kevin Durant, the Thunder do not have a legitimate small forward on the team. Even though Durant has been extremely durable, it’s time for the Thunder to pick up some insurance.
Athletic forward Chris Singleton could excel in Oklahoma City.
Playing limited minutes, Singleton is seen as a great defender. Being able to disrupt passing lanes, block shots and pick people’s pockets are Singleton’s specialties. At 6’9”, Singleton is also a very underrated passer and rebounder.
Singleton isn’t completely one dimensional either. He has developed his shot over the years, now able to hit threes at a solid rate.
18. Denver Nuggets
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With the aging front court of Denver, the Nuggets are almost certain to grab a big man. Trey Thompkins to Denver makes sense for a variety of reasons.
He is extremely skilled, smooth and has the high IQ to excel as a role player.
Thompkins has a big body that he knows how to use down low. The Nuggets love to play a physical brand of basketball, which is right where Thompkins belongs.
17. Portland Trail Blazers
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Like many teams drafting at this point, the Blazers' biggest needs will likely be off the board. They need a point guard as well a center, but certainly won’t get a good one without trading up.
With their biggest needs off the board, Portland needs to look other ways.
Versatile swing man Tyler Honeycutt will likely be available at this point. Honeycutt is extremely flexible and can impact the game in just about every way.
With Rudy Fernandez’s well documented unhappiness in Portland, Honeycutt could step in and play his role. Honeycutt doesn’t have the offensive prowess of Fernandez but he can guard with the best of them.
Honeycutt could a great addition to an already very diverse Portland lineup.
16. New Orleans Hornets
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The Hornets have several needs to fill if they want to keep Chris Paul in town.
They need a shooting guard, but there won’t be many left at this point. If New Orleans wanted to go with a risky selection here they could take Shelvin Mack from Butler. Mack is extremely undersized at shooting guard, but knows exactly what it takes to put the ball in the basket.
With the terrible year of Trevor Ariza, the Hornets could use another small forward. New Orleans could target Tyler Honeycutt, Jordan Hamilton or Chris Singleton. Singleton and Honeycutt are formidable on defense, while Hamilton can do a little bit of everything.
Last, the Hornets could use a power forward if David West is to leave town. High energy power forward Kenneth Faried might make the most sense for New Orleans. He attacks the boards, explodes from the floor and hustles like no one else in this draft.
Once again, New Orleans pick all comes down to what they believe is the best to keep Chris Paul in town.
15. Philadelphia 76ers
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The 76ers desperately need front court help. The aging Elton Brand is nearing the end of his career, so the 76ers need a power forward of the future.
With centers Mareese Speights and Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia needs some stability.
In the middle of the first round Philadelphia should have several options at power forward.
Guys like Tristan Thompson, Kenneth Faried and Trey Thompkins should be available for the 76ers picking.
Philly should go with Thompson in the first round, who clearly has the most potential of the three. Thompson can be inconsistent, but his overall presence in the paint should make him a good player in the NBA.
14. New York Knicks
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There might not be a team in the NBA with a more obvious need than the Knicks. New York desperately needs a viable center to take some pressure off of Amar’e Stoudemire.
The major problem is that a legit center probably won’t be available when it’s New York's turn to draft.
If Jonas Valanciunas is somehow available, New York will be jumping with joy. Considering he likely won’t be there, the Knicks will have to look elsewhere.
The Knicks love to run and gun, so two players in particular should be on the radar here. Undersized players Kemba Walker and Kenneth Faried would fit in great with Mike D’Antoni’s system.
They are both quick, energetic players who try as hard as anyone. Even though these guys would succeed in New York, the Knicks still need to fill the void of center at some point.
13. Indiana Pacers
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The Pacers are desperate for two positions. They need a good shooting guard, as well as a formidable power forward.
Over the past few seasons the Pacers have failed in drafting those positions. They have picked Josh McRoberts, Tyler Hansbrough, Brandon Rush, Lance Stephenson and recently Paul George.
Indiana needs to keep plugging away at these positions. Whether the top player available is power forward or shooting guard, the Pacers have to pull the trigger.
Indiana needs to have their sights set on Markieff Morris, Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton, Terrence Jones or Tyler Honeycutt.
For the sake of Indiana basketball, Larry Bird needs to make one successful draft choice.
12. Houston Rockets
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With the departure of Yao Ming, the Rockets are left searching for a center to clog the paint. They role with Chuck Hayes and Brad Miller right now, something that certainly has to change.
Houston could make somewhat of a “project pick” here, selecting foreign big center Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas is somewhat raw at this point, but has the potential to be a dominant big man.
The Lithuanian native has good potential to grow well over seven feet, which adds to his value. Adding to his case, Valanciunas is smooth, quick, has long arms, huge hands and a soft touch around the basket.
It’s a risky pick for the Rockets, but they might have their next franchise center if it works out.
11. Phoenix Suns
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With the aging roster of the Suns, Phoenix needs to find an instant impact player.
Phoenix has a glaring weakness at the small forward/power forward slot. While they aren’t terrible here either, there is certainly room for improvement.
Fortunately for them, they might be able to select a player who can do both.
Versatile forward Marcus Morris from Kansas would fit perfect here. Marcus is seen as somewhat of a “tweener,” which could work to his advantage in Phoenix.
Marcus is "pro ready," can play both positions, is smooth with his game and doesn't make many mistakes.
The fact that he can play with Steve Nash definitely won’t hurt either.
10. Golden State Warriors
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Golden State has a few options here. They need a center very badly, but there aren’t instant impact guys in this draft.
The Warriors front office stated earlier this season they planned to trade Stephen Curry. This came as shocking news to many, but Golden State wants to go forward with Monta Ellis.
If Golden State wants to go forward with Monta Ellis, a guy like Jimmer Fredette could be a great partner alongside him.
The Warriors would then be able to trade Stephen Curry for either a viable wing or center.
However, if Golden State chooses to avoid Jimmer Fredette they can draft a wing. Studs like Marcus Morris, Kawhi Leonard or Jordan Hamilton should be available at their pick.
9. Charlotte Bobcats
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On a team with no superstar or “franchise” player it’s hard to say who Charlotte should go with. They have the dangerous Stephen Jackson, who is going on 33 years old. Point guard DJ Augustin had a good season, but shouldn’t be the point guard of the future.
Whoever is the top talent on the board is who Charlotte should select. Between Marcus Morris, Terrence Jones, Kawhi Leonard, Perry Jones or Jimmer Fredette, Charlotte needs the best long term option.
It will be interesting to see how Charlotte drafts this year considering it’s Michael Jordan’s first draft as the owner.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
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Outside of Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut, the Bucks are open for business. Milwaukee has found their franchise point guard and center, so this draft will be important to fill the spots in-between.
Milwaukee could go several ways with this pick.
Versatile players like Marcus Morris, Kawhi Leonard or Terrence Jones could fit here best. Brandon Jennings loves to have versatile guys around him, meaning any of those three would be best suited for this pick.
Terrence Jones helped guide Kentucky to a Final Four appearance this year, all but guaranteeing a boost in draft stock.
7. Detroit Pistons
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Besides Greg Monroe, the Detroit Pistons are one of two years away from starting over completely. After incredibly overpaying Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon two summers ago, the Pistons are in deep trouble.
They are about to lose former franchise players Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, so the roster will explode at any moment.
While Detroit could select any position, their biggest weakness is center.
If Enes Kanter is somehow available, the Pistons should definitely take him. If not, Detroit should go with a foreign big man in Donatas Motiejunas or Jonas Valanciunas.
6. Utah Jazz
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After a blockbuster trade with New Jersey, the Jazz came away with the Nets' first round pick. Likely to be in the range of 6-8, Utah will have some options with it.
Utah already boasts a loaded front court, meaning the back court needs a face lift.
The Jazz need to select Alec Burks, Brandon Knight, or possibly Perry Jones.
For Utah, Alec Burks will fit in the easiest. He is smooth, athletic, quick and can score in a ton of ways.
The Jazz are known for their smart draft selections, so picking Burks makes sense. He is seen as a “pro ready” player, with little risk involved.
5. Sacramento Kings
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The Kings have done a great job of selecting quality talent in the first round the last two years. After picking rookie of the year Tyreke Evans in 2009, the Kings picked up dominant big man DeMarcus Cousins this past year.
Sacramento looks to continue that streak this draft. The Kings have holes at shooting guard, small forward and center.
With talented players like Perry Jones, Alec Burks, Jan Vesely and Enes Kanter possibly still on the board, the Kings should should take Jones.
Jones is a once in a lifetime type of talent. He possesses extreme athleticism, quickness and dribbling skills to become a huge NBA stud.
4. Toronto Raptors
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Outside of Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors have plenty of minutes to disperse to quality talent. Toronto is trying to load up on young talent, adding Ed Davis and DeMar DeRozan over the past couple years. Besides those three, Toronto needs top talent.
Toronto is in line for the fourth pick, so top talents Derrick Williams and Kyrie Irving should be gone. After that, Toronto should go with the best available.
Whether it’s selecting point/forward Perry Jones, smooth big man Enes Kanter, versatile wing man Jan Vesely, or break through point guard Brandon Knight, the Raptors can’t go wrong with this pick.
At this stage in Toronto’s development they need the most immediate and long-term impact player they can find.
3. Washington Wizards
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The glaring weakness to the Washington Wizards is the perimeter.
The only solid pieces Washington has are John Wall, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee and, somewhat, Nick Young.
While Young is a solid wing player, he does little besides score. His defense and passing can be a liability, which really hurts Washington when they need him.
The best options for Washington and their first round pick are between Derrick Williams, Harrison Barnes, Alec Burks or Jan Vesely.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves biggest areas of need are shooting guard and center. Although those are their biggest needs, Minnesota could certainly use help across the board.
Between Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams, the T-Wolves are likely to take one of the available two. However, these guys would help them out more in the immediate run.
Harrison Barnes could be great playing on the wing along with Michael Beasley. They both are great at getting to the rim, meaning they could find each other for open shots routinely. On top of that, Barnes is an underrated defender and could make up for Beasley’s lack of effort.
Enes Kanter could be the biggest help to Kevin Love down low. Both are very well rounded, smart, smooth and hard working players in the front court. Kanter could easily make the transition to center, all the while transforming Minnesota into one of the toughest front courts in the NBA.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
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With likely the first overall pick, and then the Clippers first pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to fill some serious holes.
The Clippers pick is likely to land inside the top 10, meaning Cleveland needs to step up and hit a home run this draft.
The Cavs roster is currently point guard and front court heavy. Cleveland has Ramon Sessions and Baron Davis at point guard. In the front court the Cavs have Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, JJ Hickson and Samardo Samuels.
Cleveland is likely to take Derrick Williams over future-stud point guard Kyrie Irving, which could be a huge mistake. Williams does have the top end potential, but the risk could be too much. Williams will have to transition to the wing in the pros, something that doesn't always work out for every player.
By drafting Irving, Cleveland would have the option of trading Sessions or Davis for considerable value.
With the other pick, Cleveland needs to go for a center or wing. Even though Cleveland has many good front court players, none are true centers.
Cleveland's second pick needs to be Alec Burks, Perry Jones, Marcus Morris or center Jonas Valanciunas.
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