2011 NBA Draft Lottery: Which Prospects Are Lottery Worthy?
The NBA draft lottery drawing will be held tonight to determine the order of the first 14 picks in this year’s draft.
The drawing marks the true beginning of draft festivities as we begin to count down the days to draft night, which will be held on June 23rd.
The NBA draft combine starts tomorrow in Chicago and that will officially kick off a month’s worth of workouts and meetings.
Over the coming weeks, we should really start getting a good grasp on which prospects are ready to step up and become this year’s top picks.
We already know that the two top players in this year’s draft are Arizona SF Derrick Williams and Duke PG Kyrie Irving. But after them, the field is a bit murky.
Many analysts have declared this to be one of weakest draft classes in recent memory, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t a couple quality players to be had early on.
While there may not be a LeBron James or a Dwight Howard-type of franchise-changing player available this year, there are more than a few intriguing prospects who appear to have considerable upside.
Things are sure to change as we get closer to draft night, but let’s have a look at the 14 players who, right now, look like they have the best shot to be lottery selections.
1. SF Derrick Williams, Arizona
1 of 15
If you were given the task of building the perfect NBA forward from scratch, your finished product would probably look remarkably similar to Arizona’s Derrick Williams.
Williams rose to the occasion as a sophomore this past season, averaging 19 points and eight rebounds per game.
The reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year has the perfect combination of size, strength, athleticism and scoring ability and he should become an immediate difference maker for whichever team is lucky enough to get its hands on him.
The 6'9", 240 lb. forward is one of the few leading candidates to become the No. 1 overall pick and it’s hard to fathom that he could drop any lower than No. 2 on draft night.
Williams has the talent to turn into a perennial All-Star.
2. PG Kyrie Irving, Duke
2 of 15
An unfortunate toe injury kept Kyrie Irving off the floor for the majority of his only season at Duke but it may not be enough to keep him from being the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.
Irving, a former superstar recruit at New Jersey’s St. Patrick’s High School, is a premier player at a premier position and he’s got all the skills to become a true floor general in the NBA.
The 6'2", 180 lb. point guard is a creative scorer and a savvy facilitator who has what it takes to spearhead an offense to success.
Before Irving got injured, he was playing better basketball than any other player in America, displaying top-notch decision making skills and producing at a rate that should have almost been considered criminal.
NBA front offices know what type of effect an elite point guard can have in today’s NBA and Irving may be just as good, if not better, than last year’s No. 1 overall pick, John Wall.
3. PG Kemba Walker, UConn
3 of 15
This past season turned out to be the "Year of Kemba," as Kemba Walker took his game to the next level and helped guide UConn on an improbable run to the national title.
Walker, who averaged 23 points per game, became the hottest name in college basketball during the NCAA tournament and he was able to give his draft stock a major boost with his performance throughout the month of March.
At just 6'0", 175 lbs., Walker is sure to have his size second-guessed by scouts but his lack of height definitely didn’t stop him from taking over games in college.
Many times there was just no defensive solution to stop Walker from doing whatever he wanted.
Although he still has a long way to go to become a complete point guard, Walker has the elusive speed and devastating quickness to fly all over the court and he has the look of a natural playmaker.
4. SF Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
4 of 15
Outside of Derrick Williams, San Diego State’s Kawhi Leonard is without a doubt my favorite prospect in this year’s draft.
Leonard was the main reason I picked the Aztecs to go to the Final Four this year (and if it weren't for a game-changing Kemba flop they probably would have).
The versatile 6'7", 225 lb. small forward averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game this season and he demonstrated all the skills it takes to be a successful 3 at the NBA level.
Leonard was the key player for a San Diego State team that finished with a school-record 34 wins and his play as a sophomore really caught the eyes of scouts.
From just a pure physical standpoint, Leonard is as impressive as any other prospect in this year’s class.
The bottom line is Leonard’s a terrific athlete who gets it done on both ends of the court and he’s sure to be a name that you hear rising up the board over the next month.
5. C Enes Kanter, Turkey
5 of 15
It was a shame we didn’t the get the opportunity to see what Enes Kanter could have done at Kentucky this past season.
The 6'11", 270 lb. center is a force of nature who can simply overpower his opponents with his awe-inspiring brute strength and it would have been fun to see him dominate college basketball, where there are basically no premier big men left.
Kanter is sound at both ends of the court and he’s the type of physical specimen that teams could easily fall in love with.
The Turkish native should be one of the most interesting prospects to follow in the weeks leading up to the draft.
6. PG Brandon Knight, Kentucky
6 of 15
Even though we didn’t get to see what Kanter had to offer this year, we were treated to another talented Kentucky freshman, Brandon Knight.
Although his season got off to a rocky start, Knight righted the ship and ended up averaging 17 points and four assists per game and really looked like a natural as the point man for Coach Calipari’s crew.
Right now, it remains to be seen whether Knight will fit in best as a 1 or a 2-guard in the NBA but wherever he ends up, his scoring skills are sure to shine through.
At 6'3", 185 lbs., Knight has the size and the speed to be a dangerous offensive player in the NBA and if he continues to mature physically and develops a better basketball IQ, he should ultimately be one of the best players to come out of this class.
7. PF Bismack Biyombo, Spain
7 of 15
It seems like every few years, a prospect from Africa with some incredibly off-the-charts wingspan will catch everybody’s attention.
This year, that player is Congo native Bismack Biyombo.
Biyombo’s name has caught fire these past few months, as he’s been dominating in Spain’s ACB League.
The 6'9", 240 lb. center is a shot-blocking extraordinaire with unusual athleticism for his size.
Biyombo is still a raw prospect who doesn’t look like he’s ever going to offer much on the offensive side of the floor, but scouts are going to fall in love with his potential to develop into a dominant defender.
Questions about his age and his overall skill set could hurt his stock a bit but Biyombo has surely made a definitive impact recently and he’s now got a shot to continue flying up draft boards with solid workouts.
8. PF Marcus Morris, Kansas
8 of 15
Marcus Morris is like the Maurkice Pouncey version of the Morris twins.
He may be identical to his twin brother Markieff but it's Marcus who is the undisputed standout of the two.
In terms of pro potential, Marcus doesn't have an extremely high ceiling but he does have one of the highest floors in this class.
The 6'9", 220 lb. power forward is the type of young player who can come in, contribute right away and be a reliable part of a rotation as a rookie.
Morris, who averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior this past season, was the leader for a Kansas team that was one of the most dominant in college basketball.
The former Jayhawk has the skills and the intangibles to develop into a dependable NBA frontcourt player.
9. PF Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
9 of 15
Considering Jan Vesely plays for Serbia’s KK Partizan of the Euroleague, I can’t say that I’ve followed much of his career. But from the highlight videos I’ve seen and the scouting reports I’ve read it looks like Vesely is one of this year’s premier international prospects.
The 6'11", Czechoslovakian native could have been a lottery pick had he decided to enter the 2010 NBA draft but he ultimately felt another year of development was in his best interests.
Although Partizan struggled this season and Vesely’s statistics stayed relatively the same, it was obvious he was making strides in the areas he needed to improve.
Vesely’s standout trait is his incredible athleticism for his size. He’s a highlight-reel dunker who can jump out of the gym.
Although he will take some time to become a complete player, Vesely’s height/hops combination is sure to make him a fan favorite from day one.
10. PF Tristan Thompson, Texas
10 of 15
Like every first-year freshman, Tristan Thompson experienced his fair share of highs and lows this past season.
Thompson, who arrived at Texas as one of the most coveted high school recruits in the country, showed the types of flashes of greatness that make you realize just what a true talent he really is.
Still, there were also the many stretches of inconsistencies that remind you that he’s also just a 20-year-old kid who is still trying to figure it all out.
The 6'8", 235 lb. power forward may not possess any elite traits but he’s a versatile player who can make his presence known in a variety of different ways.
The fact that Thompson had a knack for not showing up in some of the biggest games that Texas played this season could raise a few red flags but his potential is obvious and there’s no reason he should drop out of the lottery in such a weak draft.
11. PF Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
11 of 15
Morehead State’s Kenneth Faried may not have gone up against much elite competition, playing in the Ohio Valley Conference, but you can’t just gloss over all that he accomplished during his collegiate career.
Faried, the back-to-back OVC Player of the Year, is a prolific rebounder who holds the modern-era Division I record with 1,673 career boards.
His work on the glass is what sets Faried apart from the rest of players in this year’s crop but don’t be fooled into thinking he’s just a one-trick pony.
The 6'8", 225 lb. power forward has continually improved his offensive game and there’s no questioning his prowess as a defender.
Although he’s considered by many to be a mid- to late-first-round pick at this point, Faried is the type of prospect who could really flourish in the postseason evaluation process and work his way up draft boards.
12. SG Alec Burks, Colorado
12 of 15
If you’re looking for a player who can come in add some instant offense to your team, look no further than Colorado sophomore Alec Burks.
After averaging 17 points per game as just a freshman, Burks took his game up a notch this past season, averaging 20 points per game for the Buffaloes, as he led the team all the way to the NIT semifinal.
The 6'6" shooting guard is one of the best wing players in this year’s class and he’s the type of scorer who knows how to create and make things happen when he has the ball in his hands.
If he can continue to improve his jump shot, Burks has a chance to be a very effective shooter at the NBA level.
13. PF Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
13 of 15
Like Jan Vesely, Donatas Motiejunas could have entered the 2010 draft and he likely would have been a first-round pick. But instead, he opted to wait and it appears that decision is going to pay off.
Motiejunas added some much-needed weight to his frame this past summer and he really solidified his all-around offensive game.
The 7'0", 225 lb. power forward has an uncanny ability to score from all over the court and his real value as an NBA player is going to be on the offensive end.
His rebounding does leave a lot to be desired and his defense will have to get better if he ever wants to be an efficient starter in the NBA but it’s hard to ignore what Motiejunas brings to the table offensively.
Saying he’s the next Dirk Nowitzki is definitely a stretch but Motiejunas has the potential to develop into a great offensive weapon if he’s coached properly.
14. PG Jimmer Fredette, BYU
14 of 15
BYU’s Jimmer Fredette is certainly going to be this year’s most discussed and debated about prospect.
Fredette is coming into the draft fresh off a remarkable senior season, in which he averaged nearly 29 points per game and helped carry the Cougars to a 32-5 record and a top 10 national ranking.
Still, there are going to be plenty of critics and doubters who attack Fredette, saying he doesn’t have what it takes to make a successful transition to the pros.
While there's no denying that he's one of the best shooters and pure scorers available this year, there are a lot of other facets of Fredette’s game that are primed to be attacked.
Can he guard NBA-caliber athletes night in and night out?
Will he struggle to create his own shot?
Is he strictly going to be a bench player in the NBA?
These are legitimate questions that will be asked time and time again over the next month.
We’ve seen plenty of great college scorers fail to ever materialize at the next level and you have to wonder if Fredette fits into the Adam Morrison mold or if he actually has what it takes to defy his critics.
Only time will tell.
Ten Other Prospects To Watch
15 of 15
1. SF Jordan Hamilton, Texas
2. C Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
3. PF Markieff Morris, Kansas
4. PF Tobias Harris, Tennessee
5. SG Klay Thompson, Washington State
6. SF Chris Singleton, Florida State
7. SF Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
8. PG Nolan Smith, Duke
9. PF Justin Harper, Richmond
10. SF Davis Bertans, Latvia
