2011 NBA Lottery: Odds That Each of the Top 25 Players Will Be Taken in Lottery
The 2011 NBA Lottery order is set to be announced on Tuesday night.
The half-hour special will immediately precede Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, while the rest of the teams from out west will sit and watch from their homes.
Will there be any surprise selections? Which hyped-up prospects will endure the dreaded fall on the evening of the draft?
That's exactly what we're here to explore.
25. Tyler Honeycutt, SF UCLA
1 of 25
Odds: 35 percent
Honeycutt is an intriguing talent for a team willing to take a gamble in the middle of the first round.
Had he stayed in school for another season, it's likely his chances of going in the lottery would be elevated, but Honeycutt felt that he was ready to make the leap now.
24. Reggie Jackson, PG Boston College
2 of 25
Odds: 20 percent
Jackson is one of the fastest rising prospects over the last few weeks, but it's probably not enough to propel him into the lottery.
He reminds me a lot of Ty Lawson, and teams looking for a scoring point guard toward the end of the first round should take a hard look at the Boston College product.
23. Marshon Brooks, SG Providence
3 of 25
Odds: 5 percent
There's almost no chance that Brooks elevates into the lottery, but he's a prospect that several teams picking at the end of the first round should monitor closely.
Although he played in a small program, Brooks' impressive scoring ability and insane 7'2" wingspan should intrigue plenty of pro clubs.
22. Darius Morris, PG Michigan
4 of 25
Odds: 10 percent
Morris isn't receiving the attention that he deserves considering his soundness as a basketball player, and that will likely prevent him from being a top-14 selection.
His excellent defense won't show up on many highlight reels, but it'll be on plenty of scouting tapes that plenty of front office executives will surely watch.
21. Josh Selby, PG Kansas
5 of 25
Odds: 25 percent
Selby was the most highly sought after recruit coming out of high school, so it'd be foolish to assume that he's going to be ignored by the teams picking highest.
He battled issues of inconsistency and injury during his freshman campaign, and he'd almost surely be a lottery pick had he waited until after his sophomore season to enter the draft.
20. Klay Thompson, SG Washington State
6 of 25
Odds: 45 percent
Thompson is going to be an impact player sooner rather than later for a team looking for an solid wing player.
He has a very impressive basketball IQ and a seemingly natural knack for the game of basketball, but his lack of elite athleticism may hold him back in the NBA.
19. Jimmer Fredette, PG BYU
7 of 25
Odds: 95 percent
Fredette isn't one of the draft's more talented players, yet he's a near lock to be drafted alongside the top-tier talent.
Some team will undoubtedly go overboard with Jimmer-mania, and that very same team may be sorely disappointed.
18. Donatas Motiejunas, PF Lithuania
8 of 25
Odds: 90 percent
Motiejunas was supposed to enter the draft each of the last two seasons, only to withdraw days before the official deadline to do so passed.
Now, he's locked in and ready to begin his NBA career and will almost undoubtedly be selected in the top 10 picks.
17. Markieff Morris, PF Kansas
9 of 25
Odds: 90 percent
The Morris twins would like to be drafted by the same team, but that's rather unlikely to happen considering how talented the pair of ballers truly are.
Markieff may take a slight backseat to Marcus, but with Marcus likely to go in the lottery, Markieff may not be very far behind.
16. Jordan Hamilton, SF Texas
10 of 25
Odds: 30 percent
Hamilton is one of those players that general manager's regret passing up on once they see how much talent this kid possesses.
He's one of the more polished prospects of the class, but the lack of upside may prevent him from being selected too highly.
15. Kenneth Faried, PF Moorehead State
11 of 25
Odds: 70 percent
Faried made a name for himself when Moorehead State enjoyed some success in the NCAA tournament, and now there are several NBA teams interested in acquiring his services.
He's the best rebounder in the country and has an insane work ethic, both of which are qualities that can help a needy team from Day 1.
14. Tobias Harris, PF Tennessee
12 of 25
Odds: 45 percent
Harris would have been a no-brainer lottery pick had he waited until after his freshman season to declare for the draft, but he's decided to come earlier than expected.
He can do almost anything on the court, but he's between positions and is going to need to add serious bulk if he's going to play either forward position in the NBA.
13. Chris Singleton, SF Florida State
13 of 25
Odds: 25 percent
Long, athletic and an extraordinary defender, it's kind of incredible that Singleton is one of the least talked-about prospects in the incoming draft class.
The major item holding him back is his seemingly apathetic attitude on the court at times, but hopefully he'll kick that habit at the next level.
12. Marcus Morris, PF Kansas
14 of 25
Odds: 95 percent
Marcus is the more talented of the Morris twins, and after a very successful tenure at Kansas, will look to make a seamless transition to the NBA.
I'm surprised that there aren't more comparisons drawn to Lamar Odom, who carries a very similar skill set to Morris and has made a very nice living using it.
11. Jonas Valanciunas, PF Lithuania
15 of 25
Odds: 85 percent
Valanciunas looks like a surefire lottery selection, but there's always some doubt surrounding European prospects and how NBA talent evaluators make their decisions about them.
Regardless, his huge wing span coupled with his strong motor, work ethic and defensive skills will be talents too obvious for most to ignore.
10. Alec Burks, SG Colorado
16 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
While some might not be all that familiar with Burks' game considering he played for Colorado, that shouldn't be held against him.
When playing against lesser competition, lottery prospects should absolutely dominate, and that's typically what Burks did.
With still plenty of room to grow, he could be the biggest steal of this draft.
9. Bismack Biyombo, PF Congo
17 of 25
Odds: 90 percent
Like some of the international prospects before him, there is some uncertainty surrounding Biyombo's age which may serve to stunt his draft stock.
He's raw, and he's going to need time to develop, but this kid has a chance to turn into a defensive stalwart that dominates the paint for seasons to come.
8. Jan Vesely, PF Czech Republic
18 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
Although Valanciunas is considered the top European talent in the 2011 draft, Vesely may be the first of the group drafted.
The Wizards are thought to be targeting Vesely in a big way, and there's little doubt that any team in need of a forward should be taking a long, hard look at the imported talent.
7. Tristan Thompson, PF Texas
19 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
If Thompson had stayed at Texas for his sophomore season, he would've been a legitimate candidate to go first overall in 2012.
As it stands, he'll be draft eligible this season and will look to prove that he didn't declare too early like so many of his doubters said.
6. Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State
20 of 25
Odds: 55 percent
Leonard was instrumental in San Diego State's emergence this season, and there's no doubt that a plethora of NBA teams took notice of that.
His body is still developing (as is his offensive game), but he's already an elite rebounder despite his 6'7" stature and is certain to be a very coachable player at the highest level.
5. Kemba Walker, PG Connecticut
21 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
He dominated the NCAA tournament, and he dominated the headlines all season long before his impressive performance during March.
If there is any doubt that Walker is going to fall out of the lottery, there simply shouldn't be.
4. Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky
22 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
Knight, like former Calipari point guard Tyreke Evans, is even better than what he displayed during his time in college.
And like Evans, he's more of a pure scorer and combo guard than he is true point guard.
Regardless, he'll man the point as the starter in some team's lineup next season, and that team will rely on him to do quite a bit in his inaugural campaign.
3. Enes Kanter, C Turkey
23 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
Despite Kanter being declared ineligible for Kentucky, there's going to be plenty of interest in this big man from Turkey.
Already 6'10" and 255-lbs. before his 19th birthday, Kanter has the chance to be a force in the middle for several seasons to come.
2. Derrick Williams, SF Arizona
24 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
Williams, a legitimate candidate to go first overall, is the type of versatile forward that a majority of bottom-feeding NBA teams may covet.
He made the right choice declaring for the NBA early, as he'll be an impact player from day one.
1. Kyrie Irving, PG Duke
25 of 25
Odds: 100 percent
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Irving is one of the favorites to go first overall depending on how the ping pong balls come out, and there's little doubt that his game will translate well at the next level.
