2011 NBA Mock Draft: Where Do Jan Vesely and Other International Players Go?
Czech forward Jan Vesely is at the top of a fantastic international contingent in this year's NBA Draft.
Vesely, the 6'11", 240-pound power forward, along with Donatas Motiejunas and Jonas Valanciunas, represent a new kind of European big man that is characterized by aggressiveness, strength and toughness to accompany the usual polished fundamental skills.
These three forwards are consensus top 10 picks, but experts differ greatly on the order in which they'll be taken.
One thing is for sure: the neo-European big man is en vogue, and with a weak 2011 NBA draft class, could go surprisingly high.
Let's check out the current positions of Vesely, Motiejunas and Valanciunas and the other first-rounders in the latest NBA mock draft.
30. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
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Many players in this draft, like Josh Selby, Tyler Honeycutt and Kawhi Leonard, are controversial for leaving college before being NBA-ready.
Johnson, the 6'10", 221-pound explosive forward, is not. If anything, he waited too long, four years, to jump to the NBA.
Johnson excelled in his final season, notching 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
He is still raw and has a developing body, but he projects nicely and could rise up draft boards with strong workouts leading up to the day.
NBA Comparison: (Less physical and skilled) Amar'e Stoudemire
29. Lucas Nogueira, Brazil
2 of 30Due to his dominance of Spain's third tier and the U18 FIBA World Championships, the 6'11", 218-pound Brazilian shot up mock drafts a few months ago.
He's slipped a bit lately, but only because early entrants, uncertain until now, have been solidified. Teams are getting a better idea of each player's value, and the giant center projects right at the turn of the round. The San Antonio Spurs are undoubtedly searching for a new defensive-minded young center with the imminent exit of Tim Duncan.
The 18-year-old possesses great athleticism and shot-blocking ability down low, not to mention complementing those with lots of energy.
Nogueira just needs to add weight to his frame to become valued contributor. He'll get pushed around at just 218 pounds, but if he bulks up, he will make it very hard for players to score on his team.
NBA Comparison: (A thinner) Anderson Varejao or Hasheem Thabeet
28. Josh Selby, Kansas
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Josh Selby made one of the most-ridiculed draft decisions by remaining in the draft after posting a catastrophic freshman year.
The Jayhawks freshman was a top-three recruit in the class of 2010, but we never really saw what he can do. We heard that he is really good, but we didn't get to see that play out.
Josh Selby is essentially Kyrie Irving without having proven himself.
Experts project the 6'2" guard as a first-round pick, even though they think he should go back to Kansas for another year or two. There's no question Selby's aggressive style and NBA body belong in the league, but when?
This pick represents Selby's median. A team could surprise by taking a risk on him as high as the 25th pick, or he could fall out of the first round.
He fits here with the Chicago Bulls as a backup point guard that can spark the rest of the bench with explosive scoring ability, which the Bulls moderately need.
NBA Comparison: Jrue Holiday
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27. Justin Harper, Richmond
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Justin Harper, the senior from Richmond, is a newcomer to the first round.
The 6'10", 225-pound power forward is off the radar in the A-10, but scouts love him for his size and three-point shooting.
At 27, the New Jersey Nets could go with a guard, but that just creates a logjam with Travis Outlaw and Anthony Morrow. Plus, there's no good value for a guard at this point in the first round.
Harper makes sense as a second or third-string complementary player that can provide explosiveness and scoring to the bench. He doesn't rebound all that well and is rail-thin, but as long as Kris Humphries or Brook Lopez are in, he won't be counted on to hold down the middle and play physically.
NBA Comparison: Rashard Lewis
26. Trey Thompkins, Georgia
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The draft stock of the 6'10" senior from Georgia is sliding as a consequence of the early-entry decision deadline. This, to be sure, is no fault of his, but the natural outcome of higher potential underclassmen remaining in the draft.
Trey Thompkins is an experienced and polished big man who has developed an effective inside-outside attack.
Even though his strength is playing in the post, he possesses NBA range that will challenge defenders. His skills are on par with those about 10-15 picks above him, but his draft stock is hampered by an injury that suppressed stats in 2010-2011. Under different circumstances, Thompkins could be talked about as a lottery pick right now.
A dearth of big men is continual in the NBA, so Thompkins could go higher based on need and scarcity.
NBA Comparison: Jeff Green
25. Jordan Williams, Maryland
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Another late-riser to the first round, the 6'10", 260-pound center from Maryland is just what the Boston Celtics need to regain their rightful territory in the paint.
Trading Kendrick Perkins was a move that the Celtics could not have anticipated regretting, but it has done unquantifiable damage to the team persona and chemistry. Perkins was the purveyor of the team's physicality and rough-around-the-edges style.
Back to Williams. The sophomore early-entry averaged a strong double-double on 54 percent shooting this year. He scores primarily by bull-rushing his way to the basket then using his soft touch to finish shots. He is an excellent rebounder, but will never be mistaken for explosive, quick or athletic down low.
If he improves his immature perimeter shooting and passing, he could be a productive pro for years.
NBA Comparison: An undersized Brendan Haywood
24. Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
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Tyler Honeycutt, the UCLA sophomore, is being held out of the lottery by one thing: his broken jumper.
The biggest knock on the exceptional athlete is his shooting and raw scoring ability, the demonstration of which was just showing itself during his second year in Westwood.
Scouts are concerned Honeycutt is kissing away the opportunity to stay at UCLA another year to improve his offensive game and jump-shooting.
It becomes a lot harder to improve at shooting while transitioning from the college game to the NBA game.
Honeycutt and Chris Singleton are similar in that they both have defensive-minded, athletic styles of play. They both have good basketball smarts and can block shots from the perimeter, but they both struggle shooting the ball from the outside.
Honeycutt will go around this point because of his incredible awareness and cerebral game. Once his skills catch up, he should be a nice NBA player.
His fit here at 24 with Oklahoma City is snug, given the Thunder's recent vacation of the small forward by the traded Jeff Green. Honeycutt is tall enough to not be undersized at the three, but still skilled enough to move down to the two when needed.
NBA Comparison: Shawn Marion
23. Chris Singleton, Florida State
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Adding Chris Singleton, an elite defender of two positions, would alleviate a lot of Houston's concern about defending the perimeter in the absence of Shane Battier.
The 6'9" small forward's defining assets are great athleticism and lock-down defense. His 3.5 combined blocks and steals also show his high level of defensive effort and versatility.
Singleton's offense needs work (he's never shot better than 43 percent in a season), but he can contribute immediately to a team defensively while his offense catches up.
His stability and workman attitude fit the identity of the Rockets here at 23.
NBA Comparison: Josh Smith
22. Klay Thompson, Washington State
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Klay Thompson was a late addition to the list of early entries, but he adds depth and offensive skill to the first round of the draft.
He is steadily rising up draft boards as scouts reassess the class with his name in the group. Thompson rivals Jimmer Fredette as the best shooter in the draft, which at 6'6" is a great advantage heading into the NBA. It will be important for him to get his shot off quickly, as bigger and longer players stretch to alter it.
The junior is the antithesis of his hyper-athletic, but raw colleagues. He will earn his draft position with highly-developed skills and smarts.
His dad is former No. 1 overall pick Mychal Thompson, so the son most certainly knows his way around the basketball court.
Heading to Denver at No. 22 helps fill in the hole left at small forward by Carmelo Anthony. The guard positions are well taken care of by the Ty Lawson/Raymond Felton duo at point and Arron Afflalo at the two, while Danilo Gallinari and Nene will run the post. This leaves the small forward as the question mark, which Thompson fills with dead-eye shooting and size.
NBA Comparison: Mike Dunleavy or Richard Jefferson
21. Darius Morris, Michigan
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Darius Morris, the 6'5" Michigan point guard, was a late decision to stick in the draft, but he is a surefire first-rounder with the improvement he has made overall in the last two years.
Though many scouts agree that Morris needs another year in school to hone his game, the package he brings with his size, passing skills and defensive tenacity is too good to pass on. He uses his size to accentuate his powerful style, but also possesses arguably the best court vision in the entire draft.
Questions surround his jump shot, but his passing and defense are enough to get him to Portland at 21, which is a nice fit.
NBA Comparison: Andre Miller
20. Nikola Mirotic, Serbia
11 of 30Everything you want from a big man comes easily to the 6'10" Serbian Nikola Mirotic, yet he plays the game like someone who is several inches shorter than he is.
The NBA especially loves his jump shot (all the way past the three-point line), his IQ (great awareness and instincts) and his size (6'10" on the perimeter).
The 20-year-old makes up for a relative lack of athleticism with a unique combo of size and guard skills.
He'll need to put on roughly 20 pounds, but upon doing so, he will be an imposing player on the wing that can do it all.
This pick works well for the Minnesota Timberwolves at 20 because Mirotic can fill in for Kevin Love at the four or allow Kurt Rambis to bump Love to center and play them together. There are a lot of scenarios for the Wolves involving these two and Darko Milicic.
NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu
19. Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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Jordan Hamilton is only a sophomore, but, unlike many underclassmen, he doesn't need any more time in college to prep for the jump.
His improvement over two years at Texas was excellent. As he transitioned into a primary scoring role, Hamilton ably doubled his scoring and rebounding output without sacrificing efficiency.
He showed that he can shoot the three (38 percent), use his size to grind out dirty plays and handle the ball.
Because his weaknesses are few, he'll be able to spend most of his time accentuating his strengths, which could result in instant results.
At 19, the Charlotte Bobcats are essentially getting a young Stephen Jackson while trying to get rid of the old Stephen Jackson. Hamilton will always look to shoot when he can, but has the versatility and ball-handling to run the fast break when needed or to go inside to rebound or score.
NBA Comparison: Jason Richardson (with better ball-handling)
18. Tobias Harris, Tennessee
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Tobias Harris surprised many by coming out this year, but the 18-year-old has the intelligence to survive the NBA even as his skills are still forming.
If he doesn't return to Tennessee, an NBA team in the high teens will receive an unselfish forward who can play in multiple spots. He can shoot, though not well from the three, and handles the ball admirably for someone who is 6'8".
Harris seems to be a power forward in a small forward's body, which is the knock on him. He's not big enough to play power forward, but not athletic enough to play outside.
Are his skills and smarts good enough to cover the size and athletic holes he has?
For the Washington Wizards at 18, any player with half a brain, some (un)common sense and an ounce of unselfishness will be a great addition. Harris' stability and court smarts will help to set a culture in the locker room that will get this team back on the right track.
NBA Comparison: Luol Deng
17. Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
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I'll say it again: NBA teams can never accumulate too much talented size.
I don't care that Kenneth Faried played four years at Morehead State against Little Bo Peep and her sheep or that he's undersized to play in the post at 6'8".
The guy's motor and heart are unmatched, and his athleticism is certainly NBA-quality.
How many high-energy power forwards in the NBA can completely take over a game on the boards? You can count them on one hand, and Faried is that type of player, though his offensive game is not fully furnished.
With the New York Knicks' dire need for shot-blocking, rebounding and physicality in the paint, Faried comes not a moment too soon.
NBA Comparison: Kris Humphries
16. Markieff Morris, Kansas
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At 6'10" and 245 pounds, Markieff Morris is bigger than his twin brother, but behind him developmentally as a player.
He is raw offensively and plays more like an interior big man than his brother does, though he is just as athletic and explosive. His offensive game is coming along, so NBA teams have hope that he'll be as good as his brother someday.
Markieff has Tyrus Thomas-type potential and could emerge as a solid pro if his offense matches his defensive ability.
At 16, the Philadelphia 76ers don't need another guard because the backcourt is stacked. What they need is a physical forward who can protect the rim and suck in rebounds in the absence of a capable center. Morris' size, strength and athleticism could earn him valuable minutes in the Philly rotation if he's selected here.
NBA Comparison: Tyrus Thomas
15. Reggie Jackson, Boston College
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The freakish athletic exploits of the 6'4" junior point guard have won me over.
I talk about Reggie Jackson's improving draft status every time I do a mock. I love his game and am curious how he'll be seen in the draft.
He does a lot of things well, such as see the court, rebound and catch-and-shoot, but there are concerns about his strength and his basketball intelligence.
The latter could be a real hangup for someone who's projecting as a point guard; teams can't waste high picks on point guards who can't make the decisions necessary to run the team.
Don't get me wrong, the fact that he's reached this high in the draft is a major win for him and a testament to his ability.
The sky is his limit athletically, but he needs to improve on some of the finer points of the game and learn discipline with shot selection before he truly makes the jump.
If the Indiana Pacers can't get the Darren Collison situation figured out soon, Jackson could be an investment that cashes like a former UCLA teammate of Collison's: Russell Westbrook.
NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook
14. Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
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The 7'0" big man might be one of the best-scouted international players in the draft, so teams know what he can do.
Aside from the fact that his 220 pounds aren't close to adequate for the rugged NBA front court, Motiejunas has few weaknesses.
Word is that he doesn't play enough to have great experience with his team in Italy, and his jump shot is inconsistent. These are trivial in comparison to the potential strengths he has.
Nothing sticks out as superior to anything else in his game. He runs the floor, has insane court vision, scores aggressively, is smart and shoots from mid-range.
He has the look of a dependable front-court scorer who isn't the primary option, but can carry the team for a quarter or two per game.
The Houston Rockets are looking for a power forward/center in light of Yao Ming's career descent. Motiejunas must add weight, but his ability to run the floor and score with intentionality make him an ideal fit for the new fast pace that the Rockets play.
NBA Comparison: (Taller, thinner and less physical) Zach Randolph
13. Jimmer Fredette, BYU
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Jimmer Fredette's strengths and weaknesses are well-documented, but nobody really knows where he'll go. Some think he's a mid-lottery pick, while others think he'll be outside the lottery or top 20 altogether.
Fredette isn't an outstanding athlete, but I was wowed by plays he made several times over the course of the year, and not just for deep shots; he frequently broke down more athletic defenders with a quick first step and deathly crossover to finish over bigger players at the rim.
To call Jimmer's athleticism a weakness probably means you haven't watched him play at all.
There's no mistaking that his game isn't dependent on athleticism though, and every team needs a great shooter. He doesn't have to do much else or be explosive. He just has to have that one bankable skill.
Jimmer showed that he has that and more on the college level. What will happen to him on the pro level?
The Phoenix Suns have the 13th-best shot at winning the lottery, so we'll slot them here and hand Jimmer to them. Wherever the Suns pick, Jimmer is sure to be their guy for obvious reasons.
NBA Comparison: Gary Neal or Kevin Martin
12. Alec Burks, Colorado
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Colorado's Alec Burks entered the draft fray late, but the athleticism he has will put him around the top 10 immediately.
He is considered by many to be the best athlete in the draft, which masks some legitimate concerns.
He's too thin at 195 pounds and has limited range on his three-pointer. Also, he doesn't play offense very well without the ball, which makes him easy to guard.
In spite of these things, Burks is coveted for his athleticism, length and scoring knack. He scores in many ways, but loves to slash into the lane and finish explosively.
There's debate as to whether his game translates to the pro level, but it should remain intact in some form, based on his athleticism and natural scoring tendencies.
With the projected 12th pick, the Utah Jazz's eyes light up at the prospect of nabbing a pure scoring two-guard, something they've acknowledged lacking for years.
NBA Comparison: Jamal Crawford
11. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
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If you're a lottery team looking for a safe prospect to develop slowly, don't pick Kawhi Leonard.
I say this because the 6'7" sophomore small forward from San Diego State was not a great scorer in the Mountain West Conference and never shot the ball well in spite of ridiculous athleticism and great length.
But he plays hard and isn't afraid to get physical with his 225-pound frame, which will serve him well in the draft and in his career.
Leonard will need to develop an outside shot because he's about to lose his ability to blow past, jump over and out-muscle other players.
With the 11th pick, the Golden State Warriors don't need another player who demands the ball to play well. Leonard does not project as an offensive star in the NBA, so why not sticking him on the team that has a ton of scorers and let him do what he does best, run the floor, dunk, rebound and play lockdown defense?
NBA Comparison: Wilson Chandler
10. Marcus Morris, Kansas
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The smaller and more skilled Morris brother, Marcus finds himself a few spots higher than Markieff because of his versatility and scoring.
Marcus plays more as a guard and is comfortable on the perimeter, which affords him frequent size advantages at 6'9" and 235 pounds.
Though he spends more time outside, he's still a strong rebounder who puts in a lot of effort to make plays.
His lack of explosive athleticism is masked by his ability to shoot the ball as well and put it on the floor to attack.
Marcus' improvement has been steady through his time at Kansas, and there's no reason to think it won't continue when he dons the NBA logo.
Though the Milwaukee Bucks present a complicated forward equation, Morris' arrival as an athletic perimeter scorer and rebounder could limit the negative impact of the Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/Ersan Ilyasova/Larry Sanders/Drew Gooden quartet at power forward.
NBA Comparison: Danny Granger
9. Tristan Thompson, Texas
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Tristan Thompson is a prospect who is as can't-miss as any freshman in this draft.
Scouts love the 6'8" Thompson for his relentlessness on the offensive glass and elsewhere, as well as his 7'2" wingspan.
That kind of length allows him to change shots taken by bigger players and to get his own shots off.
He can hang with bigger guards and centers alike because of his unique mix of ball-handling, athleticism, rebounding and shot-blocking.
A breakout March showed that the freshman possesses the maturity to continue the improvement he made in his year at Texas, which is a quality NBA general managers need to see from a young player whose talent demands a lottery pick.
With so little going on offensively in the low-post, isn't this exactly the kind of player that the Charlotte Bobcats need at the perfect time in the draft?
NBA Comparison: Elton Brand
8. Jonas Valanciunas
23 of 30Jonas Valanciunas is another highly-skilled European forward. He is the top international player on many draft boards, though I think that he'll go behind Jan Vesely and Enes Kanter.
Valanciunas breaks the mold of the lanky international forward with his toughness and experience. He's only 18, but he's played with tenacity for Lietuvos Rytas in the Lithuanian league.
At 6'10" and 230 pounds, Valanciunas boasts a polished inside game, which is where he spends most of his time. He has a soft touch offensively and rebounds/blocks well when defending.
He needs to improve his perimeter game with the mid-range jumper, but there's no doubt he'll develop that with time. What he has now is enough to warrant a top five-to-eight pick.
At eighth, the Cavs just need promising talent. Valanciunas might be the best international talent in this draft and he's only 19. Regardless of fit, this kind of potential cannot be passed up in the top 10.
NBA Comparison: Joakim Noah (with more offensive polish)
7. Bismack Biyombo, Spain
24 of 30The 18-year-old Bismack Biyombo's meteoric rise to the top 10 of this draft says two things:
One, that this draft isn't that great.
Two, that again, quality players with size are at a premium.
The fact that a team will spend a top-10 pick on a teenager who they might have never seen in person until recently speaks to that fact.
The 6'9", 243-pound forward is known for being raw and green, while possessing elite rebounding and shot-blocking, plus a ridiculous 7'7" wingspan.
With the delicacy of the seventh pick, the Detroit Pistons would be taking a risk with such an unknown commodity, but the reward could be worth it. He is defensive-minded and physical, which complements the offensive whiz Greg Monroe down low and allows the Pistons to replace Ben Wallace gracefully and without missing a beat.
NBA Comparison: (A young) Ben Wallace with Tayshaun Prince's length
6. Brandon Knight, Kentucky
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The 6'3" Brandon Knight struggled early in his freshman year before emerging late in the season. Most of his struggles are attributable to the fact that John Calipari had him out of position at the point.
In reality, Knight is better characterized as a combo guard. He has the intelligence and handling to play the point, but he's a volume shooter and big athlete who can make his mark in the paint.
He's a good rebounder, so you don't want to send him back on defense if he could be playing his high-effort game on the offensive glass.
He does need to finish forming his game and shore up the inconsistency with his outside shooting, but the leadership and athletic potential Knight showed in leading Kentucky to a surprise Final Four berth are a pleasant occurrence to unsuspecting general managers.
Never a cancer or chemistry problem by any means, Knight visibly matured right before our eyes on college basketball's biggest stage, when it matters most.
The Utah Jazz like Devin Harris, but they're looking for a franchise point guard, not a borderline All-Star. Brandon Knight has superstar potential and would play off Al Jefferson very well down low. Utah would have major threats to score on the perimeter and in the paint, eliminating opponent double-teams or over-focus on Jefferson.
NBA Comparison: Tyreke Evans
5. Kemba Walker, Connecticut
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I've already said what I want to say about National Champion point guard Kemba Walker, so I'll just pipe it in:
"You've seen the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament play by now. You know about the incredible quickness and creativity around the basket. You know about the long-range shooting. You know how Walker put a very young team on his back and showed them how to compete and get better in-season.
What you couldn't know before the Big East and NCAA tournaments is that Kemba Walker was a competitor and a winner.
The 6'1" junior and his Huskies made history by winning five games in five days from the nine-seed to win the Big East, then turned around and won six more to claim an improbable National Championship. Without Walker, they don't get out of the play-in round of the Big East.
Originally projected near the bottom of the lottery, Walker has shot up because of the maturity he displayed in the NCAAs. You know what you're getting with him, but that doesn't mean he's not worth the pick here at No. 6.
"
The Sacramento Kings didn't need very long to figure out that Tyreke Evans isn't a point guard and that he needs to play the off-guard. Kemba Walker is the best true point guard in this draft short of Kyrie Irving dropping to fifth. The Kings could complete their youth movement with another impact player in Walker at point.
NBA Comparison: (Smaller, better-passing) Monta Ellis
4. Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
27 of 30At 6'11" and 240 pounds, Jan Vesely has ridiculous size for a small forward.
He has incredible range and athleticism for a 6'11" player; an ideal combination of size, skill and toughness.
If you combined the desired skills of each spot on the NBA floor, you'd probably end up with something close to Vesely.
His best strengths are his jumping ability, which comes out in his ferocious dunks, and his relentless motor. He plays hard all the time and isn't afraid to play physical, as many Europeans are.
NBA scouts are convinced of his maturity, which is why he's projected in the top five. He shocked many general managers when he skipped last year's draft, as he was considered ready for the NBA.
This time around, no one is shocked to see him in the top five.
The Washington Wizards grabbed their franchise cornerstone at point guard last year, now they need an athletic and confident forward to run with John Wall.
NBA Comparison: Blake Griffin (with a great perimeter game, but minus the power
3. Enes Kanter, Kentucky/Turkey
28 of 30The 6'10" Enes Kanter hasn't played competitively in more than a year due to an improper benefits suspension at Kentucky.
It doesn't matter for this extremely polished center, who is slotted third overall despite the fact that no scouts have seen him play lately.
The only criticism of Kanter is his lack of athleticism. Otherwise, he's got the post game of a five-year veteran All-Star at a tender 18 years of age.
He handles and passes very well for a big man and can shockingly hit his jumper all the way out to the three-point line.
He will make his living in the paint though, where he uses a physical body to his advantage and finishes creatively.
There is concern over his ability to transition from Europe to the NBA without a college buffer, but he's expected to make the jump smoothly because of his experience and maturity from playing pro overseas.
The Toronto Raptors make this an easy pick for two reasons: one, because Kanter provides the muscle to complement Andrea Bargnani's finesse, and two, Kanter has No. 1 overall talent and would not fall to three in less top-heavy drafts.
NBA Comparison: Al Jefferson (with more range)
2. Derrick Williams, Arizona
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You saw him play.
So, is there anything you can find to criticize in Derrick Williams' game?
The only gripe that can be made about the Arizona sophomore is that he's undersized to play the NBA four. That's OK because he could make a fantastic small forward with elite athleticism, intelligence, power, outside shooting and active defense.
Williams has the physical/mental makeup and maturity to play in the NBA right away. He won't be a No. 1 scorer on either team he gets selected by, the Cavs or Timberwolves, so he could immediately contribute offensively while defenses pay attention to primary scorers.
Defensively, he can play a position above or below his natural one, which will allow him to stay on the court longer and improve through game experience.
His career trajectory is almost vertical right now and there's likely more to come from a player with Williams' work ethic.
Look for him to make an All-Star team within four years.
The Cleveland Cavs need a lot of things, but drafting a potential cornerstone in Williams fills a gaping hole at forward and makes this team a whole lot tougher and confident. Williams' versatility can be Cleveland's fall-back when it gets to crunch time because he can and will do whatever they need him to do to win a game.
NBA Comparison: Rudy Gay (with a better three-pointer)
1. Kyrie Irving, Duke
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Kyrie Irving's short 11-game college career is about the only weakness he has and will be enough to keep him from the No. 1 pick.
Because of this, teams are uncertain what exactly he will be. Is he primed to be the next Derrick Rose or just Aaron Brooks?
He certainly has the talent of Rose, though not the same class of athlete, and intelligence to develop as quickly.
Irving is a true point guard who has a good feel for the scoring/passing balance and excels at moving past his defender into the lane. From there, he deftly keeps his shooters and bigs in sight while maintaining a great handle on the ball. He can kick out, dump down or pull up for the short jumper.
Nobody really knows Irving's ceiling, but we do know that his floor is second overall.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have drafted so many point guards of late that it's amazing they still have a need at the position. Irving is not an obvious pick over Derrick Williams at No. 1, but the positional need tips the pick in favor of Irving. This move gives GM David Kahn the freedom to trade Ricky Rubio for a truckload of assets and find a taker for Jonny Flynn before his stink hits the noses of other teams.
NBA Comparison: Rajon Rondo (with a better jumper)
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