2011 NBA Mock Draft: Jared Sullinger and Freshman Packed Top Five
Many people are saying that the 2011 NBA draft is one of the weakest drafts in recent history. There are claims that the talent is minimal and that there is no player that has that “star power” that NBA teams crave.
In my opinion, this is an extremely fundamental draft, filled with players that smart teams can draft to greatly improve their teams. They might not be flashy, but there are some solid basketball players available.
The freshman class came out very strong during this past college basketball season and one could argue that some of the best players coming out in this draft are freshman.
Let’s take a look at the top five freshmen in the 2011 NBA draft and where they could end up going.
5. Perry Jones
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Jones is the one freshman in this class that is not getting all of the press, but you could make an argument that he has the most potential to make an impact at the next level.
He has incredible raw talent that still hasn’t been tapped to its full potential. He has exceptional size and athleticism and can jump right out of the gym.
Jones could be a dominant player, but it hasn’t been brought out of him yet.
His ceiling is extremely high, though.
Projection: Washington Wizards
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The Wizards took care of the point guard position in last year’s draft, so addressing the frontcourt would make plenty of sense in the 2011 draft.
Jones is a guy who could blossom into a star, but at the very least he is going to be a very good player that will put up points for your team.
He could become part of a really explosive combo when put together with John Wall.
4. Brandon Knight
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Brandon Knight is a pure athlete and scorer. He is also very big for a point guard, which gives him an advantage on both sides of the floor.
Knight is more of a score-first pass-later type of point guard, which can be a negative for some teams, but to others, he is exactly what they need.
He can finish at the rim and has very good range from the outside.
He is quick and athletic, which gives him the ability to impose his will on smaller players.
The two biggest knocks on Knight are that he is not a pure point guard and that he is sometimes a very streaky player.
That being said, I believe he is a lottery pick.
Projection: Sacramento Kings
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The Kings could become a very interesting team if they are able to add Brandon Knight to their roster.
Put Knight together with DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans and you could potentially have a new Big Three!
Perhaps there is hope for Sacramento after all.
3. Harrison Barnes
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Barnes is a very dangerous big man because of the combo of length and athleticism that he possesses.
He played at a school that is known for producing big-time players, and more importantly, winners. He can score from anywhere on the court, but he is most effective in the mid-range game.
His basketball IQ and off the court behavior, both of which are exceptional, are going to make him a very desirable player in today’s NBA.
I believe he is a top five pick.
Projection: Toronto Raptors
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Toronto is in desperate need for something to re-charge the spark for basketball up north, so going for the athletic and explosive Barnes would be a great pick.
He has the ability to be a great role player for the first few years and could bud into a star if given the proper time and coaching.
2. Kyrie Irving
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In my opinion, Kyrie Irving is the best freshman in the draft. He is a natural leader and more importantly, he is a natural point guard, which is extremely valuable to NBA teams.
He displays everything that you want in a NBA point guard. He understands the balance between passing and scoring. He can penetrate to the basket and shows the wherewithal to know when to kick it out or take it up strong.
He is very quick offensively and defensively, allowing him to stay in front of his opponents.
The only negative that you can say about him is that he lacks that “superstar” quality. He is incredibly solid as a player and is good at almost everything, but does he have that next level?
That’s the question when it comes to Irving.
Projection: Minnesota Timberwolves
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The T-Wolves would love to pick up a point guard that could facilitate their young and athletic team. Having Irving as your one-two punch with Kevin Love would make this team a very attractive sell and, at the very least, will put some butts in the seats.
1. Jared Sullinger
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Sullinger has come out and declared that he will not enter his name into this year’s NBA draft, but I’m not so sure that this is the final word.
Even though he says he is coming back, I still think it’s reasonable to expect him to be in the NBA next year.
He has exceptional size and low-post presence for such a young player and that alone could put him in contention for the No. 1 overall pick.
Going No. 1 is going to mean lots of money for the young man and you could argue that his draft stock might not ever get higher than it is this year.
He would need to bulk up to be an elite big man in the NBA, but it is no stretch for a team to take him and build him up to be the best.
Projection: Cleveland Cavaliers
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I believe that if Sullinger does indeed enter the draft he is going to be taken No. 1 overall.
Ironically enough, the team that will have the best chance at him would be the Cleveland Cavaliers and this could be their shot at starting to redeem the franchise.
Even if the Cavs don’t have the first pick, I think that they would be the only team to take the shot on the hometown guy in the top few picks.
Sullinger would be the guy to replace LeBron and he already has a huge fan base in Ohio.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AKonSports
