2011 NBA Mock Draft: Should the Cavaliers Take Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams?
Derrick Williams of Arizona and Kyrie Irving of Duke are franchise players in what has been labelled a weak NBA draft pool by league scouts and general managers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have the best chance to secure the top overall pick in the draft lottery this May, after making the playoffs the last several seasons with LeBron James.
Since LeBron took his talents to the Miami Heat, Cleveland has struggled, and needs help in every area.
With many NBA teams losing money, several teams may choose popularity over talent when making their selections.
BYU star Jimmer Fredette may not be the best guard in the draft, but he will sell tickets and help generate more revenue with jersey sales.
Even though this draft is said to be weaker than those in years past, it may be the most important draft in a long time for many teams looking to start the new CBA-era on the right foot.
1) Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams
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Derrick Williams is a tremendous player, who uses his athleticism to benefit himself on both ends of the floor.
Williams would give the Cleveland Cavaliers solid rebounding and consistent scoring. His athleticism and length enable him to guard multiple positions on the floor.
His offensive game, while already NBA-ready, has room for improvement.
If Williams can improve his shooting range, he will be very difficult to defend, since he can take the ball to the basket with great quickness and strength.
Derrick Williams offers the Cavs the most help in one player, and still has plenty of room for improvement.
2) Minnesota Timberwolves: Harrison Barnes
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Harrison Barnes lived up to his Preseason All-American hype this year for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and is one of the most gifted offensive players in the draft.
Barnes' scoring ability, with his ability to shoot well from the outside and at the basket, makes him a smart choice for a Timberwolves team without a good shooting guard.
Barnes has the ball-handling ability and shooting skills of a shooting guard, but his length and quickness allow him to defend small forwards.
Minnesota and Barnes are a good fit because he can give the Timberwolves scoring right away, and has the potential to improve defensively.
3) Washington Wizards: Enes Kanter
3 of 30The Washington Wizards already have a top point guard in rookie John Wall, so selecting Kyrie Irving does not make sense for them.
A big man, such as Enes Kanter of Turkey, does make sense for Washington.
Enes Kanter was ruled ineligible by the NCAA prior to this season, and was not allowed to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.
But Kanter has plenty of experience against quality competition, having played lots of games with the Turkish team in international play.
Kanter is a true center, and his post game is very polished.
He can score in a number of ways inside, and is also a good defensive player.
The Wizards need a real center, someone who can score and be an imposing figure in the paint. Kanter can fill all of those needs.
4) Toronto Raptors: Kyrie Irving
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The Toronto Raptors need a spark on the floor, and in ticket sales. Kyrie Irving of Duke can provide help in both areas.
Irving's freshman season with Duke was dampened by a injury, but his health is not a short- or long-term concern.
He is a very good scorer, and is quite capable of running the point guard position.
The Raptors current point guard, Jose Calderon, is unlikely to improve much more, and Irving would bring a more exciting style of play to Raptors fans.
5) Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker
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Kemba Walker led the UConn Huskies to an improbable national title this season, thus helping his draft stock tremendously.
Walker is a versatile scorer who can shoot from the outside with consistency and take the ball to the basket strongly.
Sacramento could use a point guard to allow Tyreke Evans to move to shooting guard permanently.
Evans is more offensive minded than what is wanted in a point guard, and he and Walker would give the Kings a very exciting, young and talented backcourt for years to come.
6) Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight
6 of 30Utah received this pick, which would have been New Jersey's, as part of the Deron Williams trade earlier this season.
Brandon Knight is a very good point guard, who has shown the ability to be clutch in late-game situations. His game-winner versus Ohio State in the Sweet 16 was quite impressive, and showed his composure in big games.
Knight is a good scorer, but can run an offense very well too.
Devon Harris is not the answer in Utah at the point guard spot, and has not shown the ability to take his game to the next level.
Knight would add scoring and toughness to Utah's guard corps.
7) Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones
7 of 30Perry Jones is a great talent, and would be a very athletic addition to the Detroit Pistons roster.
He is a great passer, and has a very high basketball IQ.
Jones needs to polish his offensive game, but he has great potential.
Given the current situation in Detroit, Jones will have the time he needs to become a good NBA player. There is no pressure to win now in Mo-Town.
8) Cleveland Cavaliers: John Henson
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The Cavaliers acquired the Clippers' first-round pick this season in a midseason trade that also netted them Baron Davis in exchange for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
I had the Cavs taking Derrick Williams with the first overall pick, and with Davis holding down the point guard spot for a few more seasons, Henson would be a solid addition to their front line.
Henson is a raw talent, and made a smart decision in returning to North Carolina for his sophomore season.
Henson is very athletic and is a solid defender. He has great length, and is also quick enough to defend small forwards.
His rebounding, defense and steadily improving scoring ability will help the Cavs for many years.
9) Milwaukee Bucks: Jonas Valanciunas
9 of 30Jonas Valanciunas is one of Europe's top players, and has improved at a good rate the last few seasons.
He averaged over 20 PPG and 10 RPG this season in Europe, and is very athletic around the rim.
The Bucks need an athletic power forward that can push the tempo with exciting point guard Brandon Jennings.
Valanciunas and Bucks center Andrew Bogut would complement each other nicely, with Bogut offering more defensively each night.
10) Charlotte Bobcats: Kawhi Leonard
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When the Bobcats traded Gerald Wallace to Portland in the middle of this season, they created a hole at small forward.
Leonard will fill that hole, and offer similar skills that Wallace gave Charlotte.
Leonard is a very good rebounder, and is a good inside scorer. He does not have the same shooting range as Wallace, but he has shown signs of becoming a better shooter.
11) Golden State Warriors: Jordan Hamilton
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Jordan Hamilton is a solid all-around player who will fit in nicely with Golden State's high-scoring offense.
Hamilton will be a welcomed offensive addition to a team with potent scoring guards Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry.
Hamilton is a better defensive player than Ellis or Curry, and also adds toughness to a soft Warriors squad.
12) Utah Jazz: Alec Burks
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Alec Burks can play minutes at both guard positions and small forward for the Jazz. He is a very good scorer who has improved his shooting this season at Colorado.
He improved his defense in his sophomore season with the Buffaloes, after deciding not to turn pro after his freshman season.
Burks would be able to contribute right away for the Jazz.
13) Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette
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Jimmer Fredette led BYU to an impressive 2011 season, and showed fabulous scoring ability all year.
Fredette can score in any way, and has NBA-range from the outside. He also can take contact and still get off a shot when fouled.
But Jimmer is a terrible defender, and is not a true point guard.
However, he will create a buzz with whoever drafts him, and is sure to sell tickets and jerseys.
Phoenix won't have Steve Nash for many more seasons, so taking Fredette now and letting Nash mentor him might be a good idea for the future.
14) Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones
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The Houston Rockets traded small forward Shane Battier to Memphis around the trading deadline, and Kentucky freshman sensation Terrence Jones would fill his void nicely.
Jones is a very good offensive player, and has the length and quickness to defend the shooting guard and small forward positions.
Jones is also very athletic, which would fit well on a Houston team getting younger and faster.
15) Indiana Pacers: Tyler Zeller
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Center is not the most pressing need for the Pacers, but Tyler Zeller fits the rough-and-tough mold of Indiana.
He is a very good rebounder, and can defend well too. His offensive game is also well developed.
His style of play is similar to that of former Tar Heel Tyler Hansbrough, who has been a nice addition to the Pacers lineup in his two NBA seasons.
16) New York Knicks: Kenneth Faried
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Kenneth Faried played a huge role in Morehead State's first-round upset of Louisville in this year's NCAA tournament, and is one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the draft.
Faried is a super-athletic rebounder who can score very well in the paint. His outside shooting has improved too.
He would work well with Knicks center Amar'e Stoudemire, and add toughness to the Knicks frontcourt.
17) Philadelphia 76ers: Jan Vesely
17 of 30Jan Vesely has great size and strength for a forward, and his versatility will allow him to play both forward positions in the NBA.
At 6'11" tall, Vesely is a great outside shooter, but can also score efficiently from the low post.
The 76ers have plenty of guards, so Vesely would be a nice addition to their frontcourt.
18) Memphis Grizzlies: Marcus Morris
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Marcus Morris is a physical forward who can contribute right away at the NBA level. The Grizzlies have built a solid frontcourt, and Morris would be a nice addition to that depth.
Morris has a good offensive game, and also excels defensively. He is also a smart player, and plays with great energy.
The Grizzlies are ready to contend, so a player like Morris who can play minutes right now would be ideal in the middle of the first round.
19) Charlotte Bobcats: Thomas Robinson
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Robinson is a tremendous rebounder who is a prototypical power forward.
He played very good defense for Kansas this season, and can block shots well too. Robinson will give the Bobcats a good defensive forward who has the potential to be a decent offensive player at the NBA level.
Charlotte acquired this mid-first-round selection from the Portland Trailblazers in the Gerald Wallace trade earlier in the season.
20) Washington Wizards: Donatas Motiejunas
20 of 30Donatas Motiejunas is a very polished center, who passes very well for a big man. His court vision and low-post scoring would really help the Wizards, who need inside scoring.
He also has great range from the outside, and has been frequently compared to Dirk Nowitzki.
His stock has been rising of late, and in the future, Motiejunas may be seen as the steal of the 2011 NBA draft.
The Wizards received this pick from Atlanta as part of the Mike Bibby trade this season.
21) Portland Trail Blazers: Tobias Harris
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Tobias Harris is an all-around offensive talent, who can score inside with ease, or beat defenders from outside with his improved shooting touch.
He is a very smart player as well, and handles the ball extremely well for a forward.
Harris would give the Trail Blazers a bit of everything at the small forward spot.
22) Denver Nuggets: Jeff Taylor
22 of 30Jeff Taylor was an important part of Vanderbilt's impressive 2011 season.
Taylor is a very athletic player who would make a solid wing player in the NBA.
He can score inside the paint and with a mid-range jumper, and has the potential to improve defensively.
The Denver Nuggets need a wing player with J.R. Smith likely to leave this summer in free agency.
23) Phoenix Suns: Mason Plumlee
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Mason Plumlee is a fundamentally sound player, who will provide toughness and defense to a Phoenix Suns team that lacks defensive skill.
Plumlee has a high basketball IQ, and shows great passion and hustles hard every night.
Plumlee has experience in big games from his years at Duke, and would be able to contribute right away on the defensive end.
His game is similar to that of Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough. You never have to wonder if Plumlee will give you energy; he brings it every night.
24) Oklahoma City Thunder: Chris Singleton
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Chris Singleton's injuries this season have caused a bit of concern over his NBA-readiness, but if healthy, he could help the OKC Thunder.
He was huge for Florida State this season; the Seminoles struggled in his absence.
Singleton can score in a variety of ways, and can rebound very well.
If Singleton can be healthy in the NBA, he will give the Thunder another good rebounder who can play good defense as well.
25.) Dallas Mavericks: Patric Young
25 of 30As you can see by the dunk-video above, Patric Young is quite athletic, and used that athleticism to help Florida to a very good season in 2011.
Young can drive to the basket well, and shows potential as a good wing player.
He would give much-needed youth and energy to an aging Mavericks roster that could benefit from a faster-paced tempo.
26) Boston Celtics: Nolan Smith
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Nolan Smith played four years of college basketball—a rarity in today's game—and his polished skills show it.
Smith is a winner who played well in many big games for Duke, helping them win the 2010 national championship.
Smith can score, pass and defend very well. When Kyrie Irving went down with a serious injury early in the season, Smith became the No. 1 offensive option for the Blue Devils.
He improved his skills each season at Duke, and would be a perfect backup to Celtics All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.
27) Chicago Bulls: Markieff Morris
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Chicago receives this pick from Toronto in a deal involving James Johnson.
Chicago would be wise to select the other Morris twin from Kansas—Markieff—late in the first round.
Like his brother, Markieff is a very good rebounder, and will bring a physical style of defense to the Bulls, who improved mightily on defense this season under rookie head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Morris' style of play is similar to Bulls front-line players Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer.
28) New Jersey Nets: Justin Harper
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Justin Harper was instrumental to Richmond's Sweet 16 run in this year's tournament, and is ready to compete at the NBA level.
He has great length and athleticism, and thrives in an up-tempo style of play.
He and Nets point guard Deron Williams would team nicely in New Jersey.
Harper's shooting has improved greatly, and he could become a solid three-point shooter at the pro level.
The Nets received this pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade.
29) Chicago Bulls: Kyle Singler
29 of 30Kyle Singler was a four-year college player, and plays with great passion and hustle. He is the type of player that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau would love to coach.
Singler has very good shooting range, and is a decent low-post scorer.
He would be a solid bench player for the Bulls, and would give Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer the breaks they need each night.
30) San Antonio Spurs: Reggie Jackson
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Reggie Jackson is a proven scorer in college basketball, but can also handle the playmaking role of a point guard very well.
He has great shooting range, and can score off the dribble. His passing skills are NBA-ready, and he would make a nice backup to Tony Parker.
Jackson could also fill in at shooting guard for the Spurs.
