NBA Mock Draft 2011: One Player Each Lottery Team Should Not Draft
Quick, what do these players all have in common?
LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, John Wall
Even before they played a minute in the NBA, they were superstars. They year that they entered the draft, all eyes were on them, and the team winning the lottery was going to strike it rich.
This is not the case this year.
With no instant superstar and no single player that lottery teams are hoping to be able to draft, the strategy for drafting players will be different.
Due to this draft class not being as strong as in the past. NBA General Managers are going to be forced to use a different draft strategy.
For the most part, team executives draft the best available player. This year they are going to have to draft more for the positions that each individual team needs than they have in the past.
Over the last few weeks, we have seen hundreds of mock drafts.
Without knowing the true order of the draft until Tuesday, many of the predictions are similar and have close to the same players being drafted in the same positions. There is not a lot of variation between them.
I want to take a different perspective with this mock draft.
Rather than predicting which player each team will take based on who is the best available, I will put a twist on it and identify which player each team should not take even if they are the best available, and predict the draft order based on team need.
Like other draft predictions, this too will go in the order of final record, and will involve players projected to be drafted with a lottery pick.
Keep in mind that the actual draft position of each team could change depending on outcome of the lottery.
The Minnesota Timberwolves
1 of 12
Although his stock has risen in this years draft, Turkish PF/C Enes Kanter is a poor fit for the Timberwolves.
This is a team that already has several front court options, including Michael Beasley and All-Star double double machine Kevin Love.
Drafting another big man would clog the middle and reduce Love's effectiveness. There are also questions about Kanter's ability to adjust to the NBA game.
The Wolves do not have time to wait.
If the team does end up with the first overall pick, the Timberwolves will not have to worry about this. The team would do better to draft a point guard or small forward to compliment Beasley and Love.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2 Lottery Picks)
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have two lottery picks in this years draft.
While they are in desperate need of players at all positions, they need to look to someone who has more playing experience than Kyrie Irving.
Despite Irving's high rankings, Cleveland needs to recover as quickly as possible from losing LeBron James. It is vital that the Cavaliers pick the right player or players in this years lottery. If not, the rebuilding process could drag on for years.
Picking a solid power forward or center and then possibly look to a guard later in the draft if one is available will better serve the team.
The two lottery picks afford the team several options, but taking Kyrie Irving may not be the best for them.
Cleveland has to evaluate whether Irving's potential and talent outweighs lack of experience.
Toronto Raptors
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The Raptors are a team that selected Andrea Bargnani with the first overall selection a few years ago.
Selecting another European big man in Jonas Valanciunas may not be the best option for them.
Although he is skilled and would create a very big front court, his age and lack of experience could create a situation where the Raptors will have to wait for him to develop.
Toronto is another team that needs to win now, and is already feeling the pressure of Bargnani not panning out as they had expected. They also have Ed Davis who showed promise in his rookie season.
The Raptors would do better to draft one of the more experienced small forwards or guards in this year's draft.
Washington Wizards
4 of 12
The Washington Wizards hit the lottery jackpot in the 2010 draft by selecting point guard John Wall.
This year, they are not in need of a player at that position. Even if Brandon Knight were the best player available when they draft, the Wizards should not select him.
They would do better in drafting for a position that they lack in. Perhaps one of the European big men would fit nicely with the Wizards. An international four or five may serve as a good compliment to JaVale McGhee and free him up to focus more defensively.
Sacramento Kings
5 of 12
The Sacramento Kings are a young team that is trying to build around DeMarcus Cousins.
Selecting another front court player in Bismark Biyombo would not work well for them. Although he is a skilled international player, the Kings desperately need to draft a player that the fans recognize and can rally behind.
There are few players in this draft that can energize a fan base, but the Kings have to work to get back to the level of support they had in the late 90's.
They would do well to draft a shooting guard or small forward that can work well with DeMarcus Cousins.
Utah Jazz (2 Lottery Picks)
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The Utah Jazz do not need to be looking for small forwards, power forwards, or centers. They already have Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Derrick Favors competing for time and Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans, CJ Miles and Andrei Kirilenko—if he returns to the team—taking up all of the minutes.
They must focus on guards.
They are in desperate need of a shooting guard who can stretch the floor and open up space underneath. they also need to find a talented back up to Devin Harris.
With two lottery picks, the Jazz have plenty of options, but San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard should not be one of them.
Even though his stock is consistently rising, he would have a hard time competing for minutes.
Many have projected guards Kemba Walker, Alec Burks, or local hero Jimmer Fredette to fill the Jazz lottery spots.
Detroit Pistons
7 of 12
Regardless of who they draft this year, the Detroit Pistons are stuck until they can get rid of the big contract held by Tayshaun Prince.
Selecting Tristan Thompson out of Texas would not be a wise choice for the Pistons. He does have tremendous upside and can play multiple positions, but the Pistons seem to have several players that don't fit a specific position.
His age and lack of experience is not something the Pistons can afford to wait to have catch up.
They would do better to look for a quality guard that could help calm things down and bring some consistency to the team. If they have a little bit of luck, Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker might help them out.
Charlotte Bobcats
8 of 12
After trading away Gerald Wallace to the Trailblazers, the Bobcats were left with a team of misfits and outcasts.
More than almost any other team in the league, Charlotte can benefit from the lottery in a big way. If they do they need to draft a player that can bring some recognition to the team.
They would do well to stay away from lesser known guard Alec Burks out of Colorado. While it does look like Burks has solid NBA skills, he is not as flashy and will not bring the excitement to a team that is in desperate need of a rebirth.
For the Bobcats, the rebuilding process has already been too long.
Milwaukee Bucks
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The Bucks are one of a few lottery teams that may not benefit as much from drafting Kemba Walker. They already have Brandon Jennings who early in his career has shown signs of being a solid point guard.
Walker would be better off with a team who needs him right away instead of waiting behind Jennings.
He does bring more experience to the court than other players do, but the Bucks need to look at other positions.
Maybe one of the young power forwards or center would be a better choice for the Milwaukee who can afford some time developing players.
Golden State Warriors
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With a highly successful collegiate career behind him, former BYU Point Guard Jimmer Fredette looks to play in the NBA.
If the draft turns out how it should, he will not be playing for the Golden State Warriors.
Many of Jimmer's strengths on the court do fit into the Warriors style of play, but Golden State does not need a third scoring threat on their roster.
What they need is some type of inside presence to play some defense and make life easier for David Lee. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry already fill the role of highlight reel scorers.
They do not need to add another one by drafting Jimmer Fredette.
Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns would not be making a good choice in selecting either of the Morris brothers.
Both are projected to be drafted in the first round, but it should not be by the Suns.
The best thing that they could do would be to draft a point guard to back up and learn from Steve Nash before he retires.
Depending on where they end up drafting, Kemba Walker might be a good student for Nash to tutor.
Houston Rockets
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Although it is likely that he will be selected before the Rockets get a choice, Derrick Williams would not fit well with what Houston needs to do.
They need to focus on no other position but center. With Yao Ming not being able to play last season, and possibly not return to the team, they need some size underneath.
At 6' 6", Chuck Hayes is undersized to play under the basket and is not a long term solution at center. Even though they did well piecing it together this season, the Rockets need size and height underneath the basket to return to the playoffs.
Kevin Martin and Chase Budinger have the outside shooting an scoring covered. They need a defensive stopper in the middle, and Williams is not that man.
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