2011 NBA Draft Preview: Top Three Possibilities for Each Lottery Team
Many people are starting to produce mocks for the 2011 NBA Draft.
The problem with mock drafts is that one crazy pick can change the whole look of a draft. But that is precisely why teams target a few different players for each pick and then make a decision when the time comes.
The most intriguing scenarios come within the lottery, where the pressure to make an impact pick is high, and the team needs are typically many.
Keeping in mind all these scenarios, let’s take a look at the top three possibilities for each lottery team.
Houston Rockets
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3. Terrence Jones
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If the Rockets get enough luck and Jones falls to them, he would be an automatic fit for their lineup.
As a small forward, he can get in down low and play a physical style, but he can also step out and display his three-point range.
The problem is I don’t see Jones dropping that low, but he would be a great fit in Houston.
2. Jordan Hamilton
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If the Rockets are lucky enough to be in the position to draft Hamilton, he will be the guy they go for.
He can get down low and bang around in the low post, but can also do his fair share of scoring from the outside.
I think he could come in and be an instant addition to the Rockets offense.
1. Kenneth Faried
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Faried is heralded as a great rebounder with raw skills to develop on the offensive end.
He is a tough and gritty player, though, which would be a nice change for the Rockets front court.
Phoenix Suns
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It’s incredible how much things have changed in Phoenix in the past year or so.
A team that was once heralded for their speed is now populated with over-the-hill players struggling to hold on to the fabric of their careers.
The Suns need to get younger. It’s plain and simple.
3. Kawhi Leonard
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Leonard would be an interesting fit for the Suns.
He can score at most spots on the court and would work well within the team's system. That being said, I think they are going to look at some other targets before they consider Leonard.
2. Jimmer Fredette
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At this point in the draft, they might have to go for the best player available.
1. Jordan Hamilton
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Hamilton would be a perfect fit for the Suns. I can almost guarantee you that if he is on the board when Phoenix picks, the Suns are going to snap him up.
Let’s be honest: Grant Hill is not going to hold up much longer, so why not get Hamilton in the lineup and start the youth movement in earnest?
Golden State Warriors
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Golden State is in a very interesting position entering the draft. They have a roster packed with talent, but they are still looking for a couple of key pieces to perhaps be the glue that will gel the team together.
I think they have enough pieces to make a playoff run if they draft well.
3. Jimmer Fredette
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Fredette would be more of a luxury pick for the Warriors, being that they already have a fair amount of scorers with very long range.
I think they need to focus a little bit more on their needs, but Fredette is still an interesting option.
2. Jordan Hamilton
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Many consider Hamilton to be the best small forward in the draft.
He has great range and has matured to the point where he makes excellent choices in his shot selection.
He is very aggressive and can shoot from just about anywhere on the court.
Hamilton would bring instant offense to a team that already has plenty of scoring potential.
1. Kawhi Leonard
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Milwaukee Bucks
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The Bucks are a team that is just a few pieces away from being a factor in the Eastern Conference.
Brandon Jennings is one of the better point guards in the league, and Andrew Bogut is more than adequate down low.
If they draft the right players, they might just be able to fill in the gap between good and great.
3. Jimmer Fredette
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This might be a good situation for Fredette because many people doubt his ability to be a point guard in the NBA.
With Brandon Jennings more than holding down that position, it would free Fredette up to just concentrate on what he does the best.
Score.
2. Bismack Biyombo
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If you put Biyombo at the four with Andrew Bogut at center and Brandon Jennings running the show, all of a sudden you have the makings of a very dangerous team.
Biyombo would open up room for Bogut to work offensively and take a lot of pressure off of Bogut on the defensive end.
The only problem with this scenario is that he might be taken by the time the Bucks get to choose.
1. Terrence Jones
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Jones would be a great complement to Brandon Jennings. He can be a number-two option in the offense, but could do so much more for a team than just score.
He’s definitely going to be the Bucks' No. 1 target in this draft.
Charlotte Bobcats
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Charlotte might fall victim to its own mediocrity. They are not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a prime spot in the draft.
Michael Jordan showed he can win on the court, but his general manager days have left much to be desired, so this is going to be an important draft for the Bobcats.
3. Terrence Jones
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Jones has been heralded as the most versatile player in the draft. He can be a powerful threat down low and possesses the range of an NBA three-point shooter.
At this point, Jones would be more of a luxury player than a franchise changer, but if he is the best available he will go to Charlotte.
2. Bismack Biyombo
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Biyombo could be a player that the Bobcats could rely on to be a cornerstone of their defense and paint presence.
Even though he is raw and nobody really knows how he will transition, the Bobcats have to pull the trigger on talent, even if it is just potential.
1. Brandon Knight
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Obviously, if Brandon Knight falls to the Bobcats, they are almost obligated to take him. At this point, they need to draft the best player on the board, no matter the position.
Detroit Pistons
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The Pistons are a team with more needs than they have positions, and unfortunately Joe Dumars has painted them into quite a corner with his previous moves.
They have a stockpile at the small forward position but barely have anybody worthwhile to put down low. Recent actions by point guard Rodney Stuckey have raised questions about his future with the team as well.
3. Bismack Biyombo
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Biyombo is a hot name right now coming out of Congo, and at 6' 9" he is pulling lots of comparisons to Ben Wallace, which would be a draw for the Pistons.
He has a 7' 7" wingspan and incredible leaping and rebounding skills.
His lack of name recognition might be a negative point, though, especially in Detroit, which is very desperate for a shakeup.
2. Brandon Knight
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If Walker is off the board then Knight has to be the next logical point at point guard for the Pistons.
He is big and strong, which gives him a huge advantage even against NBA point guards, and he displayed ferocity and clutch ability in the tournament.
The only question is whether he can be a leader on a team like the Pistons.
1. Kemba Walker
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In my opinion, the Pistons really need to find somebody who can legitimately run the point. Kemba Walker will be the best player available for that position.
He has the explosiveness to score and could be more of a combo guard, but I think he is good enough to mold into a true point guard in time.
Sacramento Kings
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The Kings are an extremely interesting team with a few big time names on the roster, but they suffer from playing in the Western Conference.
That being said, if the Kings are able to pick up another impact player, they might just be able to up their talent level enough to start making a dent in the West.
3. Derrick Williams
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Derrick Williams would excel on this athletic team, and it might give him the biggest chance to shine out of any team that could draft him.
He already has a good presence out west, and might have a chance to make a huge impact on this young team.
2. Brandon Knight
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Drafting Knight would be pretty much the same concept for the Kings as drafting fellow point guard Kemba Walker. He would be a big point guard that can run the floor with this athletic team.
Truthfully, he might even be a better fit for this team just in terms if his size and athleticism.
1. Kemba Walker
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Putting Walker on the same roster as Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins would be awesome, quite frankly.
I’m not sure how much the Kings would be able to do, but seeing the three of them together would at least make things interesting, and could perhaps lead to a new “Big Three.”
Utah Jazz
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Needless to say, Utah had a very rough year, losing both their franchise player and franchise coach.
The needs on this team are vast, but things may not be as desperate as they seem. The Jazz have two lottery picks and both will presumably be within the top 10.
They have the ability to draft for both need and for want.
3. Jimmer Fredette
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Jimmer Fredette would be the obvious fan favorite pick here for Utah, and he does make sense from a pure basketball standpoint as well.
Utah has had success in the past with players that are known for pure shooting and filling it up from behind the three-point line.
I think the Jazz would be a great fit for Fredette, and he would be a great fit for them.
2. Kemba Walker
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I doubt that Walker will be available for the Jazz, but if he is I don’t see why they wouldn’t want him.
He would bring star power back to their lineup, and at the very least will sell tickets.
1. Jonas Valanciunas
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Valanciunas is the type of player that Utah likes in the low post and I think that he would thrive within their system.
He would have the opportunity to grow into a star with Utah, but not have to face the pressure that he would in other NBA cities.
Washington Wizards
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The Wizards are a young team with tons of talent, but they might not be able to get it all clicking for another year or two.
At their projected spot in the draft, they would be smart to go with a center or power forward who can add scoring ability to their front court.
3. Derrick Williams
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Williams would be the obvious favorite if the Wizards were lucky enough to be in a position to pick him.
He is a naturally athletic guy to put in the front court and could instantly become one of the best one-two punches in the league when matched with John Wall.
2. Jonas Valanciunas
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Valanciunas would bring his athleticism to the front court to match John Wall's explosiveness in the back court.
If given time, he could be a great complement.
1. Enes Kanter
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Canter is a big, virtually unproven center out of Turkey. But the reports on him are that he has tremendous ball-handling and scoring skills for a big man. That toolbox, along with his natural height, makes him a valuable pick for this struggling franchise.
Toronto Raptors
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Ever since Toronto lost Chris Bosh, they have been suffering in the low post.
The lack of depth in the front court has forced the Raptors to move players around out of their natural positions in an attempt to almost materialize a natural big man.
Finding somebody to dominate the paint is going to be a high priority.
3. Kyrie Irving
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The Raptors have a decent chance at getting the No. 1 pick, so if they do I think Irving will be the guy.
They do have needs up front, but the prospect of a solid point guard like Irving can’t be passed up on easily.
2. Jonas Valanciunas
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Valanciunas is a young European big man with a ton of upside.
He lacks the strength that you are looking for in a power forward and might be somewhat of a project. That being said, he has a huge ceiling and lots of natural raw talent that can be molded into something great.
1. Derrick Williams
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Williams really showed the NBA what he could do during Arizona’s run through the NCAA Tournament. Even though his team got bounced, he displayed great leadership as well as some thunderous play-making ability.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Obviously, the Cavaliers had a big drop in talent after the departure of LeBron James, and their play on the court during this abysmal season speaks for itself.
The Cavs can pretty much go in any direction in the draft, but they need to solidify a franchise player with their first pick in the lottery, and then find a complement player with the pick they received from the Clippers.
3. Jan Vesely
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I think that Cleveland might take a look at Jan Vesely with the pick they acquired from the Clippers, which will most likely be seventh or eighth.
He is a big man from Europe which means that he is naturally going to find a perimeter game, but he is also athletic enough to run the floor on the fast break.
2. Harrison Barnes
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The Cavs are the second worst team in the NBA right now after Minnesota, so the chances of them getting the second pick are also very high. Then again, it’s the lottery, so you never know.
Harrison Barnes would be a huge addition to this team, though. He is athletic and can dominate on both ends of the floor.
His length gives him an advantage on the offensive end, and he has a variety of moves that allow him to score from anywhere.
He would bring a much-needed boost for this team.
1. Kyrie Irving
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Cleveland has a great shot at getting the No. 1 pick if the ping-pong balls fall just right. If they do get the top spot, I think their consensus choice is going to be Kyrie Irving.
He is the consummate NBA point guard and is a proven leader. I don’t think he is necessarily a superstar, but in this draft he is the best you can get.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves are starting to put it all together.
They have a very strong presence in the front court with Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and, yes, Darko Milicic.
Out of all the teams in the lottery, the Timberwolves have the best chance at getting the first pick, so I expect them to permanently meet a need in their starting lineup.
3. Kemba Walker
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If the Wolves get shafted out of the first two picks then I think they will need to stay consistent with their needs rather than going for the best player available.
Walker would be able to play the 1 or 2 for Minnesota, and his explosiveness as a scorer could put the Timberwolves into the playoffs.
2. Harrison Barnes
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If Minnesota can’t snag Irving at No. 1 they are most likely going to go with Harrison Barnes. They have a weakness at shooting guard and Barnes could definitely be worth his salt in their backcourt.
He is extremely athletic and would fit very nicely on this young and explosive team.
1. Kyrie Irving
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If Minnesota gets the No. 1 pick, which is likely, I believe they will happily draft Kyrie Irving.
He is a natural point guard and many consider him to be the best player in the draft.
He would make perfect sense for the T-Wolves because he will be more than able to facilitate the team of young playmakers that they have put together.
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