2011 NBA Mock Draft: How Far Will Jimmer Fredette Fall?
Jimmer Fredette was one of the hottest stories in sports this year. He dominated the college level so much that he is already being dubbed a legend.
The question now become whether or not Jimmer will be able to succeed at the next level. Most people answer this question with a resounding no, but still would not mind having the sharpshooter on their team.
How far will he fall before someone decides to take a chance on the Jimmer?
This a way too early NBA mock draft.
Note: The lottery teams are in the order of how likely they will be to win the first overall pick. This order is very unlikely, but will be used for the sake of this mock draft.
30. Chicago Bulls: Charles Jenkins (Hofstra)
1 of 30Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight 6’3” / 220
The Bulls are in need of a big time shooting guard and Charles Jenkins might be as good as it gets this late in the draft.
Jenkins has flown under the radar throughout his college career at Hofstra, but teams would be crazy to let this guy find his way out of the first round.
He is a pure scorer that can hurt you equally with his jump shot and his drive. Last season for Hofstra, he averaged 22.6 points per game and shot 42 percent from beyond the arch.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Lucas Nogueira (Brazil)
2 of 30Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’11” / 218
San Antonio seems like the top spot in the NBA for foreign players to thrive. At this point, it is nearly a requirement that you are not born in this country to play for them.
Lucas Nogueira is a true Spurs player. He is a tough big man that is recognized for his defense and rebounding.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Spurs were dominated by the Grizzlies post players. They need a new interior defender like Nogueira if they want to be true contenders again.
28. Chicago Bulls: Klay Thompson (Washington State)
3 of 30
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’6” /220
Klay Thompson is a terrific shooter that plays the game with a lot of intelligence. He doesn’t have the athleticism to be a superstar, but looks like a solid NBA talent.
I already stated that the Bulls need a shooting guard. Thompson would be a good first pick for them because he is as close to a sure thing as you will get.
Last season, Thompson averaged 21.6 points per game and 5.2 for his Washington State Cougars.
27. New Jersey Nets: Davis Bertans (Latvia)
4 of 30Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 210
Davis Bertans has what it take to be a big time player in the NBA.
He is a Dirk Nowitzki type player because he passes well and is a dead eye shooter for his height. However, he desperately needs to add some strength to avoid being shoved around at the next level.
The Nets need to give point guard Derron Williams pieces to work with. Nothing helps a point guard more than a talented big man, especially one that has shooting range like Bertans.
26. Dallas Mavericks: JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
5 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 221
Other than maybe Tyson Chandler, the Mavericks don’t any athletic big men that they can throw at other teams. JaJaun Johnson provides them with one.
Last season, he was very impressive for the Purdue Boilermakers. Johnson averaged 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
He is fast for his size and has great dunking ability. He also possess a solid mid-range jumper, making him a very tough person to guard.
25. Boston Celtics: Nolan Smith (Duke)
6 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 185
The Celtics need to find a reliable and smart back up for Rajon Rondo. Nolan Smith is probably the best available in the draft that fits that mold.
Smith has what it takes to run an NBA offense. He is a smart player, with no overwhelming weakness. He can effectively score and create opportunities for others.
I could see him coming off the bench for 15-20 minutes a night, and providing consistent minutes while Rondo and Ray Allen rest.
Last season at Duke, he averaged 20.6 points and 5.1 assists per game.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Mirotic (Serbia)
7 of 30Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 226
Nikola Mirotic is one of the most NBA ready international players in this draft and he could provide an instant impact for the Thunder.
He gives the Thunder size and a respectable interior defense off the bench. He has been labeled a tweener forward, but that could work as a back up to Kevin Durant for Oklahoma City.
Along with providing the Thunder's size, he also improves their mediocre outside shooting.
23. Houston Rockets: Darius Morris (Michigan)
8 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’4” / 190
The Rockets need a long term solution at point guard. Kyle Lowry is solid, but an upgrade could be available here.
Darius Morris might have the best vision and playmaking ability in this draft. He also brings strong defense and athleticism to his team.
Like a many of the top point guards in the league today, Morris is not an elite shooter. He is also known to be turnover prone at times, but that should improve with experience.
22. Denver Nuggets: Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA)
9 of 30
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8 / 188
The Nuggets appear to have a solid core with Ty Lawson and Aaron Afflalo in the backcourt, while Nene and Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler patrol the front court. Now, they just need pieces to build around them.
Sixth man shooting guard J.R. Smith is expected to walk this offseason, so they will need a wing off the bench to take his spot.
I like Honeycutt because he is athletic, smart and a phenomenal defender. He may not be quite the outside shooter Smith is, but he makes up for it with hustle plays.
21. Portland Trail Blazers: Trey Tompkins (Georgia)
10 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 245
The Trail Blazers could really use some help inside behind LaMarcus Aldridge and the aging Marcus Camby.
With his large frame, Trey Tompkins is a very versatile big man. He is a solid rebounded and defender, and has surprisingly solid range with his jump shot.
Camby might only have another year or two left in the tank, it is time to start searching for replacements. Tompkins might be as good as it gets this late in the draft.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
11 of 30
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8” 226
Tobias Harris is thought to be the most underrated player in the draft by many. He is listed as a small forward, but can play multiple positions effectively.
At Tennessee last season, Harris averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
I like Harris going to the Timberwolves because he is a good hustle player that can help with the team’s defense, or lack of.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Reggie Jackson (Boston College)
12 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’3” / 208
Reggie Jackson’s draft stock is rising by the day and chances are it will continue to improve once the draft inches nearer.
Jackson has all the components of a NBA point guard. He is an excellent athlete that can penetrate the lane, and sees the floor well.
The Bobcats don’t really have much to work with moving forward. Hopefully they can strike gold with Jackson and build a team around the young point guard.
18. Washington Wizards: Kenneth Faired (Morehead State)
13 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8” / 225
Kenneth Faried is one of my favorite players in the draft. He is a tad undersized, but makes up for that with his toughness and unrelenting motor.
Faried is the best rebounder in the draft and has a solid work ethic. I cannot see a kid like Faried failing in the NBA.
With the inconsistency of Andray Blatche, it might be smart for the Wizards to draft another power forward.
17. New York Knicks: Markieff Morris (Kansas)
14 of 30
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 245
The Knicks are more desperate for a center than any team in the NBA. They need someone that can help Amar’e Stoudemire down low on the defensive end.
Markieff Morris is a tough, big and solid defensive player, but his offensive game is underdeveloped. However, this works for the Knicks.
They don’t need him dropping 20 points a night, they just need 10 rebounds and six good fouls out of Morris.
This is a perfect match for both Morris and the Knicks.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State)
15 of 30
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’7” / 225
The Philadelphia 76ers don’t really have a true small forward playing consistent minutes on their roster.
They don’t need a prolific scorer at that position, they just need a player that rebounds well and has potential.
Kawhi Leonard would be a perfect fit for the Sixers. He is a good scorer and an outstanding rebounder, but has been known to disappear offensively at times.
This should not be a major issue on this team because they have plenty of solid scorers.
15. Indiana Pacers: Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
16 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 195
Finally, the Jimmer!
I see Fredette falling all the way to the 15th spot because I believe the teams ahead of the Pacers will be afraid of what looks like the second coming of the Adam Morrison bust.
Fredette, however, fills the Pacers needs fairly well. They are searching for a guard who can lighten the scoring load currently carried by forward Danny Granger.
Jimmer was the best scorer in college basketball a season ago, so he would be perfect. In Indiana, he will not be forced to run an offense and should enjoy being the second option on a solid Pacers squad
14. Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris (Kansas)
17 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight 6’9” / 235
The Rockets need to stock up on young inside players, because Yao Ming is done and Brad Miller is past his prime.
Marcus Morris is a great scoring big man that can beat you in many different ways. He is a solid shooter and handles the ball well for his size.
Last season, he averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds a game for Kansas.
13. Phoenix Suns: Alec Burks (Colorado)
18 of 30
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’6” / 195
After acquiring Marcin Gortat, the Suns have actually become a decent rebounding and defensive team. Now the issue is that they need a consistent scorer at the shooting guard spot.
It would be a godsend for the Suns if Alec Burks could drop to them at the 13th pick.
Burks is an athletic guard that is nearly unstoppable when he drives. His outside jumper has been inconsistent at times, but I feel it would improve with Steve Nash feeding him open looks.
12. Utah Jazz: Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
19 of 30
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’7” / 220
The Utah Jazz are a team without a superstar. They have a lot of nice players, like Devin Harris and Al Jefferson, but no “take charge” type of guy.
Jordan Hamilton is the type of player with potential to be that guy. He is an excellent shooter, good ball handler and has a knack for making big plays.
His weakness is that he can get selfish at time. If he can shake this, he could be a star in this league.
11. Golden State Warriors: Terrence Jones (Kentucky)
20 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8” / 244
Terrence Jones is a big man that loves to run the floor, shoot the deep ball and he doesn’t exactly place a huge priority on defense.
His strengths fit exactly what the Warriors do.
Jones and the Warriors are a match made in heaven. They fit each other’s styles so well.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania)
21 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 7’0”/ 224
Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut are two young players that the Bucks can build their team around. The only problem is that is just about all they have.
For a team with potential to get better, I would love to see a prospect with great potential, like Donatas Motiejunas, land with the Bucks.
Motiejunas has it all. He is athletic, a good shooter, very tall and is a solid passer for his size. Now he just needs to piece it all together.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Tristan Thompson (Texas)
22 of 30
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8” /235
When I look at Tristan Thompson, I see potential. He has potential to be a superstar, but is just not there yet.
He is an athletic big man that is versatile offensively and is one of the best rebounders in the draft.
Another year in college would probably be good for Thompson, but I don’t see him passing up a top ten selection.
The Bobcats need anything they can get. They should not be very good for a while, so waiting for Thompson to develop would not be a huge deal.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kemba Walker (UConn)
23 of 30
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kemba Walker (Uconn)
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’1” / 172
After the decision broke Cleveland fans’ hearts, they had to watch their go through a dreadful starless season. There was no reason be be excited about 2010/2011 Cavaliers basketball.
So Cleveland should draft one of the biggest named in the entire draft, Kemba Walker.
Walker brings personality, a well-known name and heart to a team that is in desperate need of all those things.
A lot of people doubt Kemba at the next level, I disagree. Walker would be a steal at this pick.
7. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo (Congo)
24 of 30Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’9” / 243
Bismack Biyombo could be the start of a new generation of the Bad Boy Pistons.
He is vicious players in the post. He is an unrelenting defender and probably the best rebounder in the draft behind Faried.
His offensive game is still raw, but has room for improvement. Biyombo might still be a few years away, but so is the rest of this Pistons team.
6. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
25 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight: 6’3” / 185
After the trade that sent away Deron Williams, the Jazz need a point guard that can lead their team.
He was inconsistent last season with Kentucky as a freshman, but he showed flashes of brilliance. He is arguable the most talented player in the draft.
To become an elite point guard in the NBA, Knight will need to work on his playmaking ability. His excellent jump shot, tough defense and his competitive nature will make teams very interested in Knight.
5. Sacramento Kings: Jan Vesely (Czech Republic)
26 of 30Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’11” / 240
Head Coach Paul Westphal is trying to implement a fast break offensive in Sacremento and could use a power forward like Vesely.
He is great athlete who finishes extremely well at the rim. His combination of size, speed and his ability to hit the outside shot makes him a matchup nightmare.
Vesely would be a perfect compliment to DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans. These three together could make the Kings serious contenders in a few years.
4. Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania)
27 of 30Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’10” / 230
Jonas Valanciunas is different from most of the other foreign players in this draft because he is not a shooter.
Valanciunas is more of a highflying post player that gets his points in the paint. If he can improve his strength and his perimeter shooting, he could be a dominant NBA big man.
The Wizards are now John Wall’s team. Valanciunas give him a big man in which he will be able to run the pick and roll with. If they can both live up to their hype, this could be a deadly combination.
3. Toronto Raptors: Enes Kanter (Turkey)
28 of 30Position: Center
Height/Weight 6’10”/ 255
A good way to describe Enes Kanter is that he is tougher version of Andrea Bargnani.
Like Bargnani, he is tall and has a good jump shot. However unlike Bargnani, Kanter likes to score more by using his physicality.
I see the two teaming up and making a deadly duo in Toronto. Both have three-point range and it would be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams Arizona)
29 of 30
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight 6’8” / 241
Derrick Williams would attempt to fill the void left by LeBron James.
The Cavs would probably rely on him to be the team’s leading scorer from day one.
Williams is surprisingly quick for his size and might be the best in the draft when it comes to finishing at the rim.
He can beat you in plenty of different ways. Williams is known for his monster slams, but he also possess a deadly long range jump shot.
Tweener or now, Williams has what it takes to be a great NBA player.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kyrie Irving (Duke)
30 of 30
Position: Point Guard
Height/Weight : 6’2” / 180
I know what you are think, and yes Minnesota is going to draft yet another point guard.
Kyrie Irving might have more potential than any point guard that has rolled through Minnesota thus far and could finally be the guy that saves the franchise.
Irving has electrifying quickness and elite playmaking ability. I could see him as a 20 points and eight assists per game player with a similar style to Derrick Rose.
The only doubt I have about Kyrie is that he lacks experience. It may be a few years until Irving plays up to his potential and starts to prove he is worth a first overall pick.
