2011 NBA Draft Lottery: Latest Draft Buzz Around Irving, Fredette and More
The 2011 NBA draft lottery will be held on Tuesday May 17th, as 15 teams await to see what selection they will have in the upcoming NBA draft.
With the Minnesota Timberwolves having the greatest chance at the number one pick, experts suspect Duke’s young talent Kyrie Irving will be the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft.
This year’s draft features the likes of Kentucky’s Brandon Knight, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and other young prospects who could make noise early in the league.
Join B/R and myself in getting the scoop on the latest buzz surrounding the top 25 NBA draft prospects.
25. Lucas Nogueira, Center, Brazil
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Lucas Nogueira, standing at 7-feet tall, could prove as a significant selection to an NBA team that lacks depth in the front court. The 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy plays in the Spanish league and has declared for the 2011 NBA draft.
The buzz surrounding Nogueira has teams like the Portland Trailblazers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers wanting the 7-footer. ESPN.com currently has the San Antonio Spurs taking the center with the 29th selection in the first round.
24. Travis Leslie, Guard, Georgia
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The 6'4" guard out of Georgia should be an effective acquisition for any team in the draft, as his athletic ability and 210 pound frame give him size that most his size don’t have.
Travis Leslie, an athletic, explosive guard, is projected by ESPN to be a late first-round selection. Teams like the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and even the Chicago Bulls could be in the running for Leslie in this year’s late stages of the draft, as they can use the type of versatility and size that Leslie can bring for these teams off the bench.
23. Tyler Honeycutt, Forward, UCLA
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Tyler Honeycutt will be entering this year’s NBA draft after two solid seasons with the UCLA Bruins. The sophomore averaged over 12 points and seven rebounds per contest.
Honeycutt is a 6'8", slender forward that likes his share of looks from distance and offers a balance of offense and defense that most in this year’s draft don’t possess.
In the latest buzz surrounding the young talent, ESPN.com has projected Honeycutt to go 24th to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Don’t be surprised if teams like the Boston Celtics or Dallas Mavericks grab them with their selections late in the first round.
22. Kenneth Faried, Forward, Morehead State
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Forward Kenneth Faried was a force for his Morehead State troops in his final season with the team. The 6'8" senior offers a scoring ability and aggressive play on the glass that will help his stock dramatically in this year’s NBA draft.
The nation’s top rebounder last season, the latest projection has Faried going to the New York Knicks with the 17th selection. Don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old makes an unexpected jump in the draft, as Faried may easily be the best rebounder of any player entering the NBA draft.
21. Chris Singleton, Forward, Florida State
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The junior out of Florida State played exceptional ball for the Seminoles late, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds in his last outing of the season against the VCU Rams who would unexpectedly make the 2011 Final Four.
Singleton is an explosive athlete, who offers tremendous size at the small forward position at a height of 6'9". What most people don’t know is that Singleton underwent foot surgery this season, and teams should be aware of potential health issues in the future.
ESPN.com has Singleton going 23rd to the Houston Rockets.
20. Klay Thompson, Guard, Washington State
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Klay Thompson averaged over 21 points and five rebounds per game in his third and final season with Washington State.
What most basketball fans do not know about Thompson is his ability to shoot the ball as well as anyone in entering the NBA draft this year (with the exception of Jimmer Fredette). Thompson has also had his issues with the law, after being suspended after being caught with possession of marijuana.
The run-in with the law might affect his draft stock, yet Thompson is quite the player.
19. Reggie Jackson, Guard, Florida State
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Jackson is not only a player who puts up the numbers, but one who helps a team win ball games. Florida State went from being a bottom-of-the-pack ACC team to finishing 21-13 on the season, thanks to step-up play from the 6'3" guard from Colorado.
Jackson averaged 18.2 points per game and shot better than 50 percent from the field.
With the ability to shoot the ball and strap-up defensively, look for Jackson to potentially get selected even higher than expected. A younger player from the field entering the draft, the 21-year-old will get looked at early, as he offers versatility unlike most in the 2011 NBA draft class.
18. Nikola Mirotic, Forward, Serbia
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Mirotic is one of three Serbian players who are entering this year’s 2011 NBA draft. Unlike the other two players from Serbia, Mirotic is the only Serbian projected to be taken in the first round.
A small-forward with a 6'10", 226-pound frame, Mirotic is arguably one of the bigger players at his position that NBA teams can select from.
17. Tobias Harris, Forward, Tennessee
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Harris may end up being an immediate impact off the bench in the pros, as his ability to get the cup and quick first step makes him marketable to NBA teams.
The problem with Harris: he may be a tad flimsy. At times Harris seemed tentative on the glass, most especially early on. Yet in his last five games, Harris was aggressive as he had been all season offensively, scoring over 20 points in three of his last five appearances.
16. Markieff Morris, Forward, Kansas
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Who doesn’t like the production the Morris twins provide?
Despite what most considered an early-exit in the NCAA tournament, Markieff Morris made quite a showing this season with Kansas as a whole.
Morris recorded 13 double-doubles on the season, including two in his final three games. Although a projected 15th selection by the Indiana Pacers according to ESPN.com, look for Morris and his brother to possibly be picked earlier on draft day.
15. Dontas Motiejunas, Center, Lithuania
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A projected 16th-selection by the Philadelphia 76ers in an ESPN.com mock draft, Motiejunas seems like a “hit-or-miss” selection for teams in the NBA draft.
His footwork and post-moves in the paint are predicted by many like draftexpress.com, to be a player with a plethora of potential. Motiejunas offers great size at 7-feet but lacks efficiency in the rebounding department.
14. Marcus Morris, Forward, Kansas
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The better brother as some might say, Marcus Morris was a key component to a top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks team in their run in the NCAA tournament.
His 17.2, 7.6 rebounds per game edged out his brothers performance as far as number go on the season. As with most players his size, Morris lacks a consistent shot from the line, as well as a consistency in his scoring ability.
Despite the weaknesses, expect Morris to be a top-10 selection in the draft despite being predicted as more of a top-15 selection.
13. Jimmer Fredette, Guard, BYU
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If there’s one thing that known about Jimmer’s games, it’s the ability for Fredette to shoot the three-ball from NBA range. Seldom did Fredette take a three-point shot that wasn’t from what is considered NBA distance.
What many critics have as his weakness is his ability to play defense against players in the pros and just how effective his shot will be when bigger, more athletic defenders play defense on him. Arguably one of the more talented scorers in the field, there is no question Fredette is a top-15 pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
12. Jordan Hamilton, Forward, Texas
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The sophomore, stud talent out of Texas will be a player to reckon with when making his debut in the NBA.
The buzz around Hamilton is his ability to get to the rim, finish at the rim and draw contact offensively. On defense his size ups his marketability tremendously. The hype will likely prove true, as Hamilton could potentially make noise in the NBA.
11. Alec Burks, Guard, Colorado
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Alec Burks is as athletic a guard a team could pick up in this year’s NBA draft and has the scoring ability that might translate well in the NBA.
Burks attacks the basket and is known as one of the better scorers coming into the draft. In his final season with Colorado, Burks averaged over 20 points a game and shot just under 47 percent from the field.
Despite the hype around Fredette, Burks might just be the better scorer in the NBA.
10. Tristan Thompson, Forward, Texas
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The former Longhorns forward offers as much talent as any player in this year’s NBA draft, yet he isn’t exactly a scorer at the power-forward position.
The buzz around Thompson is that he can score the ball but is much more a prolific defender. Thompson averaged over seven rebounds a game, while also blocking 2.4 shots a contest.
9. Jonas Valanciunas, Center, Lithuania
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Ranked as the second-best Center entering the 2011 NBA draft, Valanciunas is a 6-10 center that has as much up-side as any player in the field.
The issue surrounding Valanciunas is his smaller frame and young-age. At only 19 years of age and a skinnier athlete, Jonas Valanciunas will try to could find himself struggling in the NBA.
He also averaged just 14 minutes a game playing in Europe this season, which gives him little experience on the court in regards to playing time.
8. Kawhi Leonard, Forward, San Diego State
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Kawhi Leonard played a key role in the winning ways of San Diego State last season. Despite finding themselves knocked out of the NCAA tournament earlier than projected, Leonard played an integral part in the team’s success last season.
A projected ninth selection in the draft by ESPN.com, Leonard is a rebounding machine that makes his living in the paint. Last season he would finish averaging a double-double, posting 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds a game.
Aside from Arizona’s Derrick Williams, teams are looking at one of the more complete forwards in the NBA draft when considering Kawhi Leonard as a selection.
7. Jan Vesely, Forward, Belgrade
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In the mock draft from ESPN.com, Vesely finds himself as a No. 4 selection to the Washington Wizards. A team like Washington could use his size and strength on both ends, as last season spelled loads of trouble for the Wizards with interior defense.
In 23 minutes a game last season, Vesely posted just 4.4 rebounds a contest. Despite much potential for the lengthy, 6'11" forward, Vesely could be a potential bust for NBA teams.
Maybe another Darco Milicic?
6. Kemba Walker, Guard, Connecticut
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Kemba Walker was arguably the best player in college basketball last season, along with BYU talent Jimmer Fredette.
Walker can score the ball as well as any player in the NBA draft and has the ability to close games out down the stretch that most players dream of. The buzz surrounding Walker is that despite his gift offensively, being an undersized shooting guard at 6' might hurt his play in the pros.
Teams will still take the risk, but it must be noted that with Walker there is great risk for NBA teams in this regard. It must also be noted that Walker offers a plethora of talent, that might just be too good to look past.
Not to mention, Walker has proved his worth as a winner, bringing home his UConn Huskies a national title in 2011.
5. Brandon Knight, Guard, Kentucky
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First there was Derrick Rose, then John Wall and now Brandon Knight.
Kentucky head John Calipari has had three of the better point guards in the last five seasons in the NBA draft. Despite having great shoes to fill in Wall and Rose, Knight will be a productive player in the NBA.
His tremendous athletic build and explosive first step will likely land him a starting job as a rookie in the league. Expect big things from another Calipari bred point guard.
4. Bismack Biyombo, Forward, Spain
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Although projected by most to be a top-10 pick in the first round of the NBA draft, don’t be surprised if Spain’s Biyombo doesn’t make his way into the top five.
He is known as a lock-down defender, as his 9'3" reach and 7'7" wing-span helps him play solid low-post defense and get hands in passing lanes.
Entering the NBA draft at 6'9", most may consider the power forward undersized, yet his jaw-dropping wing-span and reach will help the Spanish forward succeed in the pros.
3. Enes Kanter, Center, Kentucky
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Only one year of college-ball under his belt and no games played, yet Kanter has plenty to bring to the NBA.
Enes Kanter comes in as the No. 1 center in the 2011 NBA draft and offers a plethora of size as a big-man. His 6'11", 250-pound frame will be much for defenders to handle both on the offensive and defensive ends.
The Turkish center is projected by ESPN to go No. 3 in the draft.
2. Derrick Williams, Forward, Arizona
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Williams was a force to reckon with last season playing for the Wildcats, and will be a force to reckon with in the NBA.
Last season with the Wildcats, Williams averaged 19.5 points per game to go along with just over eight boards a contest.
A potential No. 1 selection in this year’s draft along with Duke guard Kyrie Irving, Williams offers rebounding as well as talent scoring the basketball. He is arguably the best shooter at the forward position in the draft this year and has the style of play that can make immediate impact for NBA teams.
Don’t be surprised if Williams earns himself a starting spot come tip-off the NBA season in late October.
1. Kyrie Irving, Guard, Duke
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Despite missing a good portion of his one and only season with Duke, Kyrie Irving is projected to go No. 1 in the 2011 NBA draft.
His ability to beat his defender on the perimeter while also being a great passer, makes him the best point guard in his class. There is no arguing that his potential to be a great talent in the NBA is there, yet Irving knows as well as anyone he has plenty to prove.
As well as being arguably the most talented player in the pool, Irving also has a great deal of expectations to meet after barely playing one season with the Duke Blue Devils.
