2011 NBA Mock Draft: First Round Mock, Kawhi Leonard a Fit for the Bobcats
The Cleveland Cavaliers were the big winners Tuesday night by winning the first selection in the 2011 NBA draft, and really, who deserved it more than them?
What was even more lucky was that it was the pick the Los Angeles Clippers traded to them in the Baron Davis deal.
The Minnesota Timberwolves "fell" to the second pick, and the Utah Jazz, through a trade with the New Jersey Nets, get to select third.
With the order now set, here is how I think the draft will play out.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams, Arizona
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If the Cavaliers had only one pick, I might say that they should draft Kyrie Irving, but they have two picks inside the top four!
Wouldn't it make sense to grab Derrick Williams first and then get their point guard of the future and choose between Kemba Walker and Brandon Knight with their fourth pick? If they take Irving, who do they turn to with their next pick? I think Walker or Knight has higher potential than anyone that the Cavs would pair with Irving.
Unless Enes Kanter fell to them, I think any combination of Williams with either Walker or Knight would be a safer bet than Irving and anyone else.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kyrie Irving, Duke
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With Williams gone, assuming the Timberwolves don't trade the pick, they would have to take Irving, making him their third point guard selected in the lottery in the last three years.
In this case Ricky Rubio would finally get his wish, and the Timberwolves would trade him and move on with Irving and hopefully get a nice piece in return for Rubio. Maybe they would be able to find a taker for Jonny Flynn too.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, Turkey
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The Jazz were very fortunate to land a top-three pick, and I don't think they will be able to pass up on a center like Enes Kanter.
Pairing him with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors, the Jazz could form a devastating front line.
Having another lottery pick lets them address their backcourt situation later.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Brandon Knight, Kentucky
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After taking Williams with their first pick, the Cavs now get their point guard of the future in Brandon Knight. I think the Cavs take him over Walker because he is more of a prototypical point guard.
Once Knight learns the NBA game, with his ability to defend they can move what is left of Baron Davis to more of a scoring guard and have Williams at small forward with J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao in the post.
Things are looking up in Cleveland.
5. Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
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The Raptors were among the biggest losers on lottery night, falling out of the top three and ending up selecting at No. 5.
The Toronto Raptors have to fill the gap left by Chris Bosh, Valanciunas looks like their best option at five. The Raptors need help down low, and with their history of developing foreign players, Valanciunas' potential and his ability to play near the rim make him the pick for Toronto.
6. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
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The Wizards also moved down, but they still get their man in Jan Vesely.
Vesely is a tremendous athlete and has the ability to spread the floor, which would benefit John Wall and his ability to get slash into the lanes.
He can also run the floor and keep up with Wall on the fast break. How many 6'11" players can say that?
7. Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker, UConn
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The Kings get their point guard as Walker falls to them at the seventh pick.
Walker will give the Kings exactly what they are lacking: a point guard and a winning attitude.
I would be a little concerned about how he will fit playing alongside Tyreke Evans, but I could say that about any player. However, Walker is good enough to make it work.
8. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, Congo
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The Detroit Pistons get this year's draft darling in Bismack Biyombo.
The Pistons have lost most of what they were about as a hard-working, tough, physical team. Maybe Biyombo can help restore what has been missing in Detroit.
We have heard about how this guy is going to be the next Ben Wallace. Well, who better to learn from than...Ben Wallace?
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kawhi Leonard, SDSU
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If anyone is going to be moving up on my mock draft, it's going to be Leonard.
I don't see any scenario where he falls lower than nine to Charlotte.
As the Bobcats just traded their franchise's best player in Gerald Wallace, they would be lucky to get the guy who everyone is comparing him to.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson, Texas
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The Milwaukee Bucks were last in the NBA in field goal percentage.
Tristan Thompson is an excellent offensive rebounder.
Makes sense to me.
Thompson can also score and should be a great fit alongside Andrew Bogut and should provide excellent frontcourt depth to a team that needs it.
11. Golden State Warriors: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
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I would love it the Warriors got any of the players I have already mentioned, and while it may be a little bit of a reach, I think Faried would be a great fit for the Warriors.
He is an excellent rebounder and has a high motor, and while his offensive game needs some work, it wouldn't really be detrimental to the Warriors.
He will bring the energy that the crowd will love, and I can see fans wearing fake dreads in the stands already.
12. Utah Jazz: Alec Burks, Colorado
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I think the Jazz are going to take Jimmer Fredette here. You probably think the Jazz are going Jimmer. Even my mom thinks the Jazz are going to take Jimmer.
One thing I've learned over the years is that if everyone is thinking the same thing, nobody's thinking.
While it would be a little surprising if the Jazz passed on Jimmer, I do think that Burks, with his ability to get to the rim, is the better fit alongside Gordon Hayward and Devin Harris.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
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I really think this is the ideal landing spot for Jimmer and don't think the Suns will pass on him.
I think he will be a strong pro, and learning the game from Steve Nash in a system that would allow him to play freely is only going to enhance his chances of becoming a star.
14. Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris, Kansas
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Morris would be a great value pick at 13 and would provide a replacement for the departed Shane Battier.
Morris' strong offensive game would provide the Rockets with another scoring threat, and he will be able to stretch the floor with his shooting ability. I think he fits in well in Houston.
15. Indiana Pacers: Klay Thompson, Washington State
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The Pacers needs someone else besides Danny Granger that can score the basketball.
Thompson was suspending for a drug arrest late this past season, and if he were entering the NFL draft, he would have fallen to about the third round.
In the NBA, it means he falls just short of the lottery.
That aside, I am a big fan of Thompson's game and believe he will be an offensive threat in the NBA.
Thompson is an excellent shooter, and he can take it to the rim too. He has a solid all-around offensive game and would provide scoring relief for Granger and the Pacers.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Markieff Morris, Kansas
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The Sixers need another body down low, as Elton Brand isn't getting any younger.
The "other" Morris twin is a solid defender, and he would provide the Sixers with a defensive presence in the post.
Bonus: He is from Philadelphia. That couldn't hurt, could it?
17. New York Knicks: Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
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Just because the Knicks are without a European player, and Mike D'Antoni can't have that, can he? Plus he played pro ball last year in Italy, D'Antoni's old stomping grounds.
Motiejunas can run the floor, which will fit in D'Antoni's system. He also is a poor defender, which will also fit in D'Antoni's system. Sounds like a match to me.
Kidding aside, getting Motiejunas at pick No. 17 would be a steal here, as he has the potential to be one of the better players in the entire draft, but that's what the Knicks would be drafting on—potential.
18. Washington Wizards: Chris Singleton, Florida State
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The Wizards get a scorer with their first pick and go defensive with their second pick in Chris Singleton.
The Wizards could use somebody to defend on the perimeter, and with JaVale McGee defending in the post, the Wizards a defender inside and outside.
If they draft Vesely and Singleton, re-signing Nick Young is an absolute must.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Tobias Harris, Tennessee
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Charlotte adds some beef down low with Tobias Harris at 19.
He is a smart player who has the potential to be a solid post presence in years to come. For a team lacking a real scoring threat, Harris could turn into that guy for the Bobcats.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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The Timberwolves get a perimeter shooter and get a guy who can put some pressure on last year's first-round pick, Wesley Johnson.
For a team that needs help almost everywhere, adding a scorer like Hamilton would be a good fit at 20.
21. Portland Trail Blazers: Reggie Jackson, Boston College
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If Brandon Roy can really only play for about 20 minutes a game, wouldn't Jackson be a great fit to play the other 20, allowing Roy to rest?
This way they would only have to worry about eight minutes a game from one position. Plus, with Andre Miller's future in doubt, perhaps Jackson could be groomed as his replacement.
22. Denver Nuggets: Lucas Nogueira, Brazil
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An offensively raw center from Brazil—sound familiar, Nuggets fans?
With the future of Nene in doubt, now would be a perfect time to draft his replacement.
If Nene decides to come back long-term, how would it hurt to have another seven-foot center to back him up?
23. Houston Rockets: Marshon Brooks, Providence
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Brooks would be a fantastic addition to the Rockets with his scoring ability and ball-handling skills to provide depth at both guard positions.
He can really score the basketball and would be an ideal sixth man for this team, providing instant offense off the bench.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Davis Bertans, Latvia
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The Thunder are turning into the New England Patriots of the NBA, aren't they?
It would not surprise me if they traded this pick to some team left out of the first round and turned it into a lottery selection next year.
Picking here and not needing any immediate help, I think they go with a guy with a high ceiling who could be Dirk Nowitzki light.
25. Boston Celtics: Jordan Williams, Maryland
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The Celtics do their best here in finding a replacement for Kendrick Perkins by taking Jordan Williams.
The Celtics are going to need some size, as Shaquille O'Neal is on the verge of retirement and Jermaine O'Neal should be. Williams is a big body who will be able to take up space down low and has the potential to turn into a solid NBA big man.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
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The Mavericks get a lot deeper here and add a player like Honeycutt, who would be able to come in and play shooting guard and small forward.
A solid all-around player, I think he would be an excellent get here for the Mavericks here at 26.
27. New Jersey Nets: Nikola Mirotic, Serbia
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The Nets are a few years away anyway, so why not take a gamble on player that has the potential to be great down the road?
Mirotic falls because of contract issues, but if the Nets are able to land him in a couple of years, they could be getting a lottery pick at No. 27.
28. Chicago Bulls: Josh Selby, Kansas
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Amazingly, if Selby didn't play one college game, he could be looking at being selected in the lottery.
Joining the Jayhawks halfway through the season, he never really caught on and now finds himself as a late first-round pick.
If he lives up to his potential and the hype that once surrounded him, he could end up being a steal for the Bulls.
29. San Antonio Spurs: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
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The Spurs were pushed around in the post against the Memphis Grizzles, and adding an athletic big man would only help.
Johnson is a terrific shot blocker. He can also run the floor well while providing another big body (or a big body) for the Spurs down low.
30. Chicago Bulls: Shelvin Mack, Butler
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When Butler was making noise again in the NCAA tournament, I was shocked to see that Mack's regular season numbers were as low as they were.
He really stepped up his game big-time when it mattered, and teams shouldn't overlook that.
I think he would be terrific coming off the bench and relieving Derrick Rose, and he would be able to play both guard positions at times.
With the Bulls being in the playoff picture for years to come, I can see Mack having some big playoff games for a long while.
With the NBA Draft approaching, NBA Mock Draft season is here. Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated mock drafts, along with the latest NBA Draft news, analysis, rumors and predictions.
