2011 NBA Draft Lottery: Mock Draft Predicting How the Lottery Will Play Out
While on Tuesday things will become a little clearer after the NBA Draft Lottery, that doesn't mean we can't have any fun right now.
The NBA playoffs have proven to be exciting thus far; it also proved that a youth movement is in and that the older teams are, well, just too old...
With teams getting younger and more athletic, the teams set to have first pick at this year's rookie class, pending they make the right selection, may not be that far off from being playoff contenders.
Who's going where in this year's draft? Here's my guess.
14. Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris, Kansas
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The Houston Rockets have proven to be savvy drafters, and here will be no different.
While Morris isn’t the sexiest pick on the board, he would be a terrific pick at 14 as the Houston Rockets take the “best available” player left on the board.
For a team that could use help everywhere, Morris can contribute in a number of ways and will certainly help in getting the Rockets over the playoff hump.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
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I think he lands in the ideal place here.
He doesn’t have to contribute right away, and he gets to learn from Steve Nash.
The Suns get a potential replacement for Nash, and Jimmer is put in a system that should allow him to thrive.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
12. Utah Jazz: Alec Burks, Colorado
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With their first pick going to defense, the Jazz go offensive and land Burks with their second pick.
I think he would be a great fit alongside Devon Harris and Gordon Hayward.
With Hayward’s ability to shoot it from outside and Burks' ability to take it to the rim, the Utah Jazz’s backcourt would be a lot more exciting.
11. Golden State Warriors: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
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A rebounding machine, Faried became a household name against Louisville in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
He will bring to the Warriors exactly what they need, a tough, high-energy guy who will bring it every night, especially on defense.
If he ends up on the Warriors, I think he will become an instant fan favorite.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Texas
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Another team that will be looking to draft the best available, and that player is Tristan Thompson.
He would provide excellent depth for a team that needs it and he has the potential to be a high-level player in the NBA.
A monster on the offensive glass, he would be able to put back some shots for a team that was dead last in field-goal percentage.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
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The Bobcats get Gerald Wallace 2.0, who may actually turn out to be even better than the original.
Leonard has wowed the scouts so far in the pre-draft camps, as he is shooting the ball extremely well. Not bad for someone who the scouts said had a weak jumper.
Leonard is a high energy forward who can defend, rebound and run the floor. If his shot is coming along as the scouts are saying, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets picked a lot higher than the ninth pick.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
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They had great luck with one Lithuanian (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), so why not try their luck again here with their second pick in the lottery?
A big man who does a lot of damage around the basket and who has a tremendous upside would be an excellent pick at No. 8.
While Valanciunas might be a few years away, it wouldn't be the worst thing on this team, because the Cavs are a few years away themselves.
7. Detroit Pistons: Kemba Walker, UConn
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Don't you think they could have filmed "The Hangover Part 2" about the Detroit Pistons?
One minute they are contending for NBA championships, then Joe Dumars passes out, wakes up three years later and now has Rodney Stuckey at point guard, $100 million committed to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, and the Pistons' normally stand-up guys quit on the coach.
Leaving us all wondering what happened?
Joe Dumars must be thinking the same thing.
Hey, maybe some roofied him; how else can we explain the deals to Ben Gordon and Villanueva, even Allen Iverson would make a cameo in the movie.
The best player left on the board is Kemba Walker, and I have the Pistons taking him. One, because it makes no sense, which would fit in with everything else they have done the last three years; and two, Dumars seems to have a thing for UConn players.
6. Utah Jazz: Bismack Biyombo, Congo
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The Utah Jazz have two picks in the lottery this year, meaning they will be able to take a gamble.
With the Jazz finally getting out from under Andrei Kirilenko's contract, I think that if Biyombo is the real deal, there is no way the Jazz let him slip by the sixth pick, finding Kirilenko's replacement immediately.
All I know about Bismack is that if I had to two picks, I would use one on him.
In five years, I wouldn’t want to be the team that passed on the guy who turned into a better Ben Wallace while drafting twice in the lottery.
5. Sacramento Kings: Brandon Knight, Kentucky
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The Kings need a point guard and here they get one.
With Brandon Knight coming on board to pair with fellow Kentucky alum DeMarcus Cousins alongside Tyreke Evans, the Kings would look a lot more formidable.
More than anything, the Kings need a healthy Evans and with Knight now being the primary ball handler, Evans can go back to focusing on scoring.
Like he wasn't doing that already, but now they get someone who can really distribute the ball.
4. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
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The Wizards should be on their way up.
John Wall is going to be a star, Nick Young was looking great alongside him once he was given the chance, Andray Blatche had a little trouble but is a talented scorer, and JaVale McGee is a defensive presence to say the least.
If Rashard Lewis could be at least 75 percent of the player he once was, they might start winning their way out of the lottery.
With no real glaring needs and with Wall being the future of this team, what better time to pick a guy that will complement your best player?
That man is Jan Vesely.
How often will any team be able to pair one of the fastest guards in the league with a 6'11" athletic freak who can run the floor like a gazelle and throw down anything that John Wall will throw up anywhere near him?
3. Toronto Raptors: Enes Kanter, Kentucky
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While most of us have never seen him play, if you don't have the NBA league pass, you may never get the chance if he is headed to Toronto.
Kanter would help fill the huge void that Chris Bosh left. Kanter can bring toughness to a team that is lacking just that and despite his young age, he seems ready to contribute right away.
If the Raptors take him and he is everything the scouts are saying, then we may be seeing Toronto Raptors games on national television sooner than later.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, Duke
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With two lottery picks and a top heavy East, the Cavaliers might not be that far off.
Especially if Baron Davis is happy and playing well, as he actually looked good the last couple weeks of the season.
Although Irving had a limited college experience, he looks like the real deal. In a league where everyone competitive seemingly has a great point guard, the Cavaliers shouldn't pass up on one who has star potential.
We can debate whether it's a good or bad thing that he learns from under Baron Davis, but taking Irving given the chance would be the absolute right move and would be a great piece in building a post-LeBron era.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, Arizona
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The Timberwolves couldn't take a point guard for a third time in as many years, could they?
David Kahn has his fate sealed to Ricky Rubio; if he plays well, then he may keep his job.
If he drafts another point guard, they are going to do what they should have done a while ago and send him packing.
The addition of Derrick Williams to pair with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley should look appealing enough to make Rubio happy, and want to come and play in Minnesota.
Getting Rubio to Minnesota is just as important as getting a great player with their pick.
If Wesley Johnson can improve and they can find a trade partner for Jonny Flynn, the Timberwolves might actually be decent and fun to watch next year.
