2011 NBA Mock Draft: The Best Pre-Lottery Order Mock Draft on the Web
With the day of ping-pong balls quickly approaching, it's time for one last mock draft before the lottery order is officially set. After all, this is the most likely order that we'll see once the balls fall.
So who will your team take?
Will they reach for a player who is projected to be drafted way lower? Will they find a nice draft-day gem after a guy slips down the boards?
How will they handle the ongoing debate about drafting based on need or talent?
Well, I guess you'll have to read to find out.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kyrie Irving
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If they end up with the first selection, the Minnesota Timberwolves shouldn't even think twice before making Kyrie Irving the first player drafted. The Duke point guard is a very talented basketball player and fits with the Timberwolves much better than either Derrick Williams or Enes Kanter, the other two potential picks at No. 1.
Drafting Williams would essentially be like giving up on last year's No. 4 overall draft pick, Wesley Johnson. Besides the former Syracuse player, the Timberwolves also have Kevin Love and Michael Beasley at forward.
I'd rather replace Jonny Flynn with Irving than mess with the forward lineup.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams
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The sophomore forward from Arizona was the nation's most efficient scorer, as he shot well over 60 percent from the field during the now-finished season. Derrick Williams was even in contention for the all-time three-point field-goal percentage record, but fell a bit short in the end.
The Wildcat then took the nation over in the first few rounds of the NCAA tournament, as he seemed to be in on each-and-every big play at the end of games. Williams couldn't manage to carry the Wildcats to a title, but he did go from relatively unheralded college prospect to highly-coveted NBA prospect in just two seasons.
Williams is the second-best player in this draft class and also plays a position at which the Cavs literally don't have a single, rostered player.
3. Toronto Raptors: Enes Kanter
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Enes Kanter was declared permanently ineligible before ever putting on the blue-and-white jersey of the University of Kentucky, but that can't take away from his potential for greatness. The only thing holding Kanter back is the fragility of his knees, but even with those, he's still the best big man available.
The Turkish center is 6'11", strong for his size and possesses marvelous skills that he can use all over the court. If his knees were completely healthy, Kanter may be the overwhelming favorite to be picked at No. 1. But now he'll have to settle for joining the Raptors at No. 3.
4. Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas
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The 18-year-old center still has a bit of work to do on his underdeveloped game before he's entirely ready to play in the NBA, but a lot of teams would love to add Jonas Valanciunas' skills to their system and look on with pride as he progresses.
The Lithuanian big man is already 6'11", but he doesn't appear to be done growing yet and shows a lot of potential. No international pick is ever safe in the draft, but Valanciunas' ridiculously high ceiling outweighs the risks here.
5. Sacramento Kings: Brandon Knight
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Perhaps no player in the nation improved his draft stock more at the end of the season than Brandon Knight, thanks to his ridiculous knack for making shots in the closing seconds of games, even on the heels of rather dreadful performances.
The talented freshman point guard for the Kentucky Wildcats made a lot of people forget about John Wall as he shot up boards on his way to becoming the second-best guard in this year's draft class. Knight improved drastically as the season went on, and NBA teams are going to hope that the trend will continue.
6. Utah Jazz: Jan Vesely
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Formerly calling the Czech Republic home, Jan Vesely is now ready to take his talents across the Atlantic Ocean to the NBA. Vesely is a 6'11" small forward, so he's not exactly lacking in the size department. But does he have the skill to go along with the size?
Most scouts are saying that he does, as Vesely is very athletic and not just a lanky, Shawn Bradley-esque big man. Once again though, the international picks are not safe. With two picks in the lottery, Utah can afford to use one in a rather risky fashion.
7. Detroit Pistons: Kemba Walker
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Now to be a little bit self-promoting while at the same time giving you a more detailed view on Kemba Walker: NBA Draft 2011: 10 Bold Predictions for Kemba Walker and His Career as a Pro.
Once you read through that, you'll realize that I think Kemba is going to be pretty darn good at the next level. Detroit would be more than happy to let Rodney Stuckey slide over to shooting guard or play less minutes with this guy on the squad.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Donatas Motiejunas
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The seven-footer from Lithuania has a ton of potential, and he is fully aware of that fact. Unfortunately though, sometimes Donatas Motiejunas gets a big head and thinks he's a bit better than he currently is.
Being drafted by Cleveland might not help that fact because, other than the Cavs other lottery selection, Motiejunas might still be the best player on the team. But as soon as he lets his mental game catch up with his physical skills, Donatas Motiejunas has the ability to dominate no matter where he plays, much like Dirk Nowitzki.
Motiejunas might not be the most sexy pick at No. 8, but it's the smartest one.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Alec Burks
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When the selection committee snubbed Colorado, the entire country missed out because no one really had a chance to see Alec Burks do what he does best. Fortunately, I've seen him play in person when the Buffaloes visited Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. From that experience, I can tell you that Burks truly stands out.
The sophomore guard for the Buffaloes scored 20.5 points, pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game and stands 6'6". He's got a lot going for him, and teams are starting to recognize that. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him turn out to be one of the best players from this draft class.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Tristan Thompson
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Tristan Thompson is a great player inside the paint, but as soon as he steps outside the colored area, problems arise, mostly having to do with his lack of shooting ability. There's a reason that you really only see these kind of pictures of Thompson.
What does him in is his awkward-looking, inconsistent, high release. Coaches at the NBA level will spend countless hours trying to fix that problem. Even when no one guarded him, Thompson had problems, as was quite evident in his 49-percent shooting from the foul line.
The forward averaged 13.1 points, 1.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game during his most recent season. He's quite athletic, though, and possesses boatloads of potential, so Thompson still manages to round out our top 10.
11. Golden State Warriors: Marcus Morris
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The more talented of the two twins on the Kansas Jayhawks squad, and trust me, that's saying something. Marcus Morris is a 6'9" forward who seems to be able to beat up on almost anyone in the low post. Marcus proved that time and time again throughout both the regular season and the postseason, averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
He's not as much of a sure thing as Markieff, but he has a very high ceiling. Subscribing to the best-player-available philosophy while filling a need, this is the right pick for Golden State, which is already set at guard and center.
12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette
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Can Jimmer Fredette's scoring prowess carry over to the NBA?
Does he play defense well enough to stay on the court?
Is he athletic enough to play professional basketball?
All of those are legitimate questions, but they pale in comparison to one major inquiry about Jimmer's draft status: Can the Utah Jazz possibly avoid succumbing to the pressure of using their second lottery pick on the in-state hero?
The answer to that final one is no. The rest of the answers remain to be seen.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kawhi Leonard
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The do-everything forward for the upstart San Diego State Aztecs managed to lead his team in both points and rebounds this season, with 15.5 and 10.6, respectively. Not too many non-centers can boast that.
Leonard plays quite well when his head is in the game and often shows brief flashes of potential, but fails to put it together many times. To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Kawhi Leonard, and I think he's going to go down as one of the bigger busts of this year's draft class.
But some team has to disagree with me and select the very talented forward. That team is going to be the Phoenix Suns.
14. Houston Rockets: Markieff Morris
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Supposedly the worse of the two Morris twins, which I repeat is still impressive, Markieff is an incredibly talented player who should be very successful at the professional level. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a forward for Kansas and should immediately post similar stats in the NBA.
Markieff doesn't have quite as high an upside as his brother, but he has a lower floor and is a more solid player across the board. When he is selected at No. 14, finishing the lottery portion of the draft, Markieff will help himself and his brother make history as the first set of twins to be selected in the same draft lottery.
15. Indiana Pacers: Klay Thompson
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Klay Thompson is making the right decision by leaving behind Washington State for the NBA. In fact, he's one of the very few players that I would ever say that about.
Thompson stands at 6'6", but still plays guard and was the leading scorer for his team. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during his junior season.
However, questions exist about his character and his quickness, the former because of a citation for marijuana possession and the latter because he's simply not that fast. Ignoring the red flags that blend in with the Washington State unis, Indiana will take a risk on him.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Trey Thompkins
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The best player on the Georgia Bulldogs roster during the 2010-2011 college basketball season, Trey Thompkins can literally do everything. He can shoot threes, pull down rebounds, pull off incredible post moves and pass the ball effectively. The only thing that Thompkins couldn't do during his collegiate career was prevent the Bulldogs from underachieving.
Other than that, the only problems I have with Thompkins are that he often seems unmotivated and disinterested. Plus, he really isn't that athletic. Thompkins' draft stock has fluctuated wildly throughout the year as a result of his flaws. I've seen him called a sure-fire top-10 pick at the beginning of the year and a second rounder later on.
He'll settle for a happy medium here.
17. New York Knicks: Bismack Biyombo
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With point guard, shooting guard, small forward and power forward taken care of by Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, it's time to find a center that can complete the team.
A new name to many thanks to his recent explosion onto the draft scene, Bismack Biyombo has taken the hype machine, especially after his 12-point, 11-rebound, 10-block triple-double at the Nike Hoops Summit, the first such game in that contest's history.
With ridiculous athleticism, a 6'9" frame and a 7'7" wingspan, Biyombo may appear to some as a top-10 pick, thanks to the precedent set by Serge Ibaka, but he won't go that high.
Biyombo's offensive game is rawer than any other player in the draft. If his offensive game were a cut of fish, it would be dangerous to eat before it was cooked at least a little bit. Additionally, there is some controversy over his age.
But the positives should outweigh the negatives for the Knicks.
18. Washington Wizards: Chris Singleton
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Chris Singleton was the best defensive player in college basketball this past year, so it's only logical that he's viewed as the best defensive player in this draft. Even though he's viewed as that defensive stopper, similar to the way Ron Artest was perceived a while back, Singleton still managed to average 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Florida State Seminoles.
Because of his defensive prowess and offensive potential, Singleton is going to be a very appealing prospect for a bunch of NBA teams. Don't be surprised when the Washington Wizards bite here.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Tyler Honeycutt
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Tyler Honeycutt is ready to make the jump to the NBA. The UCLA forward with the sweet name was a good all-around player, putting up 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during his sophomore season.
One of the better prospects to come out of UCLA in recent years, Honeycutt is going to be a good player, and maybe a very good one, but he's not polished enough yet for me to think of him as a great player.
There's still a lot of work to be done, but isn't that the case with every single one of Charlotte's players with the slight exception of point guard D.J. Augustin?
His athleticism will wow immediately, but we'll see for how long.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Tobias Harris
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Tobias Harris managed to average 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game from the power forward spot during his freshman season for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Despite being only a freshman, Harris was not afraid to step up in the big moments, and his game is sound across the board. He only got better as the season progressed and didn't appear to be afraid of the bright lights of March Madness.
In my opinion, Harris still needed a good bit more seasoning before making the leap to the NBA. But he's put all his eggs in this basket and will be rewarded by a team selecting him in the first round.
21. Portland Trail Blazers: Jordan Hamilton
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The sophomore guard and forward for the Texas Longhorns was the team's best player over the course of the 2010-2011 season. Yes, better even than the Longhorn you already saw taken, Tristan Thompson.
Jordan Hamilton ended up averaging 18.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and consistently used his 6'7" frame quite well throughout the year, including during the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament.
I still have yet to figure out exactly why, but Hamilton keeps slipping down the draft boards further and further as we approach the NBA draft. Rest assured that he won't fall past Portland, which would love for him to become the missing piece in the puzzle.
22. Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried
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If a double-double machine was created, it would have worn baby blue and gold in college, been represented by an eagle, sported the dreadlocks look and been undersized for its position. In other words, it would have looked exactly like Kenneth Faried.
The rebounding stalwart passed Tim Duncan this season for the all-time collegiate lead in rebounds, and his ability to crash the glass should carry over from the Ohio Valley Conference to the NBA. Unfortunately, though, Faried has no offensive game to speak of.
In college, the small center relied on put-back dunks and alley-oops for the majority of his points. A similar strategy will not work at the next level.
With Nene Hilario potentially leaving in free agency, though, the Nuggets will need a new long-haired glass-crasher to call the Mile High City home.
23. Houston Rockets: Nolan Smith
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In my opinion, Nolan Smith became the single-best player in college basketball as soon as Kyrie Irving was hurt and the senior had to play on the ball. Think how incredible that transition was. Smith went from catch-and-shoot basketball to having to create plays for both himself and his teammates. Most players would have seen their skills decline, but Smith actually got better!
But then Kemba Walker turned on the jets and carried his team to a championship, so Smith will have to settle for having been the best player during the 2010-2011 regular season.
With a ridiculous crossover, a great shot and wonderful passing skills, Smith reminded me a lot of a young, slightly smaller Kobe Bryant. He doesn't seem to have the same mentality, but Houston will hope that is a late development.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: JaJuan Johnson
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The tall, lanky forward stands 6'10", and he can still play outside just as well as he can play inside. An All-American after the 2010-2011 season, JaJuan Johnson deserved the honor thanks to his 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, most of which he got in various ways along the court, both in fast breaks and half-court sets.
Johnson is an absolute matchup nightmare for any player. Oftentimes, that is true in college, but not in the pros; however, Johnson should prove to be the exception to that rule. The Purdue standout has been rising higher and higher on draft boards, so Oklahoma City will thank their lucky stars (I had to go with a sky reference for the Thunder) if he falls this far.
25. Boston Celtics: Jordan Williams
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During Jordan Williams' sophomore season, the 6'10" forward for the Maryland Terrapins averaged 16.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. A virtual lock for a double-double, though not quite as big a lock as Kenneth Faried, Williams was both big and skilled, and that's usually a deadly combination.
I felt as though Williams could have used another year back at Maryland to hone his game a little more, though. He's still undeveloped and would have had the opportunity to be a lottery pick in a year or two.
For now, Williams will have to settle for being a youth infusion on an aging contender.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Darius Morris
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Jason Kidd can't play forever, can he? Eventually, the Dallas Mavericks will need a new point guard.
A very talented sophomore guard for the Michigan Wolverines, Darius Morris almost managed to engineer an unbelievable upset of No. 1 Duke in the NCAA tournament, but fell two points shy in the end. An incredible talent, Morris averaged 15.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game during his 2010-2011 campaign.
I remember a few months ago when Morris was being projected to go to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. As a Hawks fan, I was thrilled about this before I realized it would never happen.
First of all, the Hawks recently saw Jeff Teague emerge. Secondly, Morris is way too talented to fall out of the first round. Teams are just now starting to realize that.
27. New Jersey Nets: Shelvin Mack
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During Butler's magical run back to the NCAA championship game, Shelvin Mack was simply unstoppable. There's no way around that fact.
Truthfully, he was better at scoring than any player not named Kemba Walker during the season-ending tournament, especially during his 30-point game against Pittsburgh. It wasn't enough in the end as Butler fell heart-breakingly short for the second-straight season, but it was enough for Mack to make himself a lot of extra money.
One of the better guards in this draft, Mack's size and sub-par passing skills might keep him from going too high, but his scoring and ball-handling abilities will keep him from dropping too low as well.
28. Chicago Bulls: Kyle Singler
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Kyle Singler possesses a very unusual skill set because there is literally nothing that he can't do on the basketball court. Singler had the spotlight taken away from him by Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving during his senior season at Duke, but he still managed to average 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.
It's weird to consider that a disappointing season, but this one has to be since Singler was hailed as a potential Player of the Year candidate before the first game tipped off.
I'm not entirely sure yet where Singler will fit on an NBA squad, but I also feel confident that he will find his role. No team is better suited to take a chance on him than the Chicago Bulls, which seem to be pretty solid at every position already, and have two of the final three picks in the first round.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Chandler Parsons
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The definition of a matchup nightmare, just like JaJuan Johnson, Chandler Parsons was the SEC Player of the Year, and for good reason. A threat on the offensive glass, Parsons handles the ball, drains three-pointers like a guard, is a great leader and still doesn't seem to know what in the world a hairbrush is.
His size will be helpful when he makes the transition to the NBA, but I don't think that Parsons will be too successful because of his lack of any elite qualities. He'll find his niche, but that's about it.
30. Chicago Bulls: Willie Reed
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Willie Reed has been off the radar for quite some time after sitting out the entirety of the 2010-2011 season thanks to a sex scandal, but he's back on the map now that NBA scouts are realizing his ridiculous athleticism and potential still exists.
Reed, a forward for the Saint Louis Bilikens, averaged 12.4 points and 7.9 assists two seasons ago, his last foray into competitive basketball. Once again, let's see if the Bulls take a flyer and how well it will pay off.
