NBA Draft Order 2011: Projecting the Lottery Picks for Each Team
We are now less than 24-hours away from the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery.
As anticipation mounts to see where teams will be picking in the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23, let's take a close look at what the order could look like.
Here are predictions for the NBA Draft Lottery and a full first round NBA Mock Draft.
30. Chicago Bulls: PF Justin Harper
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The man who played the primary role in Richmond's run in the NCAA tournament this season was Justin Harper.
Harper showed a large jump in his play from his junior season to his senior campaign.
He became a better shooter and defender from the forward position.
The surge in play and run in the tournament is enough to make him the last overall pick in the first round in this mock draft.
29. San Antonio Spurs: PF Kenneth Faried
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Before the NCAA tournament, not too many people knew who Kenneth Faried was.
He was the top player on the Morehead State team and was a primary reason for their run in the NCAA Tournament.
The power forward may be undersized for his position, but he makes up for it with his athleticism and desire.
Faried is slowly slipping down draft boards, but we still have him slated as a first-round selection.
He averaged a double-double with 17.3 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.
28. Chicago Bulls: SF Nikola Mirotic
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Nikola Mirotic's stock has been fluctuating recently. He once was flying up the draft boards, but has recently leveled off.
The Montenegro native may have the best jump shot of any player in this year's draft class.
He has good size and good height, but not to the point where he'll stand out amongst the rest of prospects. He will need to improve his defensive play at the next level.
27. New Jersey Nets: PG Shelvin Mack
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Shelvin Mack doesn't seem to get enough love across the nation.
He was one of the primary reasons for Bulter's back-to-back championship-game runs.
In terms of playing style, Mack is more of a pure shooter than anything else. He has a fantastic ability to create shots, even with only average athletic ability.
Due to his recent change to the point guard position, Mack will likely fall a lot further in this draft than his talents would indicate.
26. Dallas Mavericks: PG Darius Morris
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Over the last few months, sophomore Darius Morris was unsure about whether or not he would enter the NBA Draft.
Finally, it has become official, and chances are, Morris will land somewhere in the first round.
Morris has the entire skill set needed to succeed at the professional level, but he will need to improve on his three-point shooting and shot selection.
25. Boston Celtics: PF JaJuan Johnson
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JaJuan Johnson has fantastic athleticism with great length, body control and leaping ability.
However, he lacks the strength to play on the inside and has shown just average skills on the outside.
He has quickness and fluidity to make the easy plays on offense but lacks the natural skills of a shooter.
His seven-foot wingspan made him a huge threat on defense, allowing him to register 2.3 blocks per game at Purdue this year.
He was also the Big Ten Player of the Year.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: C Lucas Nogueira
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Lucas Nogueira has really taken scouts by surprise in Spain.
He is a phenomenal talent with shot-blocking and rebounding prowess and has played well in tournament play.
He is dangerous inside the paint, and he has a solid hook shot and won't hesitate to go in for a dunk. He's a physical player and should only get better as he develops.
23. Houston Rockets: PG Nolan Smith
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Nolan Smith is a solid talent. There is no one aspect of his game that stands out, but he is very efficient in almost every category.
Smith lacks the athleticism of a top-tier player, so he may struggle getting away from defenders at the next level.
However, he has a very high basketball IQ, which he utilizes to separate himself from the defense.
He shows top-end ability when attacking the rim on offense, and his shooting ability may be the best of all his attributes.
22. Denver Nuggets: C Bismack Biyombo
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Bismack Biyombo is a defensive monster with a 7'7" wingspan.
He is a long way from being considered NBA-ready. He is a raw talent with huge upside and a lot of athleticism.
He has become an instant hit with scouts due to his tremendous size and explosiveness.
He could very likely ride that hype to a top-five selection. He could also slip out of the first round, but we don't see that happening.
Somewhere right in the middle seems to be a perfect fit for Biyombo.
21. Portland Trailblazers: PF Jon Leuer
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Although he stands in a 6'10”, Leuer presents a match-up problem due to his finesse style of play.
He shot .470 on the season and averaged 18.3 points per game. He was one of the best shooters on the Wisconsin team.
Prior to this season, there were doubts about Leuer's strength and ability to play defense.
Although he still won't be a dominant defensive player, he did show improvement when fighting for rebounds.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: SF Chris Singleton
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Chris Singleton suffered a foot fracture on February 12 and had surgery on it shortly after.
Despite this, he still should go in the first round of the draft.
Singleton may lack the ball-handling skills and shooting ability to be a natural wing player, but he makes up for it with his athleticism.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: SF Tyler Honeycutt
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The biggest problem with Tyler Honeycutt's game is that he isn't selfish enough. Many times, he looks to pass instead of shooting.
Honeycutt is an interchangeable player between the guard and forward positions. He is a versatile player who can help a team with post play and shooting beyond the arc.
Any team can use a versatile player like Honeycutt who could help out at multiple positions.
18. Washington Wizards: SF Tobias Harris
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Although he only played his freshman year for the Volunteers, Tobias Harris quickly proved that he had what it took to play in the NBA.
In 2011, he averaged 15.3 points per game, along with 7.3 rebounds.
Harris has a high basketball IQ and is a versatile player.
He can play down in the post or even pull up for the occasional three-point shot with success.
17. New York Knicks: SF Jordan Hamilton
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Jordan Hamilton is a player with a flurry of talents, though he's still searching to find what his exact role could be on a team.
He likely could play guard or forward at the next level.
There are many possibilities, and it is hard to predict how he will develop as a player.
He has a strong body and is a solid shooter, and he also has a knack for coming down with rebounds.
Hamilton could go very early in the draft, but he also could slide into the late teens.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: PF Markieff Morris
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One of the two Morris brothers from Kansas will land in The City of Brotherly Love.
Markieff Morris is known more for his ability as a defender, but during his years at Kansas, he has grown into a much better shooter.
Albeit, he may take easy shots, Morris still hit 58.9 percent of his shots this season. He averaged 13.6 points per game.
15. Indiana Pacers: SG Klay Thompson
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There are some question marks, but it likely won't effect Klay Thompson's stock dramatically in the draft.
Thompson was one of the better pure shooters on the collegiate level last season.
He is an overall solid player who is more NBA-ready than most players in the draft.
There are some concerns about his athleticism, and he was also suspended one game due to charges of marijuana possession.
14. Houston Rockets: SF Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard has shown tremendous progression from his freshman to sophomore year.
He has become a better shooter and rebounder. This season, he averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Leonard will need to become more consistent with his play on the next level, as he tends to disappear in games.
13. Phoenix Suns: PF Trey Thompkins
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Trey Thompkins' stock has been shooting up over the last few weeks.
Since Thompkins is such an agile player for his size, he showcases a versatile skill set on the court.
Listed as a power forward, Thompkins could also play small forward if necessary.
He isn't the most athletic player, but he is very skilled. He can create shots, pass, block shots and even score from beyond the arc.
12. Utah Jazz: PG Jimmer Fredette
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If you don't know who Jimmer Fredette is, chances are you have been living under a rock.
Fredette was the top scorer in the nation last season at BYU, averaging 28.9 points per game.
However, there are some questions about Fredette, heading into the NBA Draft. He does lack the natural athleticism of a star point guard, but luckily, he makes up for it with his shooting.
His defensive play is suspect as well.
Fredette is known for being a hard worker. He will need to make improvements to be a complete success at the next level.
11. Golden State Warriors: SF Marcus Morris
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The other Morris from the Kansas Jayhawks could possibly go higher than 11th overall to the Golden State Warriors.
Marcus Morris doesn't quite have the size for a natural power forward. He lacks the bulk and strength to overpower top post players. He will likely play small forward in the NBA.
Morris is more of an offensive-minded power forward. He averaged 17.2 points per game this season, shooting 57 percent and is very effective with his mid-range shooting.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: PG Kemba Walker
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There are two main concerns about Kemba Walker that will keep him out of the top five of the draft.
The first is his size. At 6'0” and only 170 pounds, Walker is one of the smallest players in this year's draft class.
Next, is his decision making. Too many times he pulls up for a shot when he shouldn't. He will need to improve his shot selection in the pros .
Despite these two flaws, Walker was still one of the best college basketball players this year. He probably won't have the same success as a pro, but he is still an amazing talent.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: PG Alec Burks
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Alec Burks is a sophomore, and at just 19 years old, he is showing a very promising future. He is drawing comparisons to Evan Turner from last year's class.
Due to his young age, he still lacks the body frame of an NBA player. That strength should come as time passes.
The team that takes him will just need to be patient as he matures. If they are, he could develop into a wonderful talent.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: PF Tristan Thompson
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As a freshman, Tristan Thompson was one of the better forwards in all of college basketball.
He was inconsistent at times but has a major upside.
Thompson is extremely athletic and is just discovering how to utilize his athleticism to finish and crash the glass.
7. Detroit Pistons: PF Donatas Motiejunas
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What makes Donatas Motiejunas such an intriguing prospect is his high ceiling. He has a lot of room to improve his already impressive game.
He is very versatile, with a solid mix of strength, size and speed.
Right now he is more of an offensive talent, but at 7'0” and 224 pounds he has the frame to become a strong defensive presence as well.
6. Utah Jazz: C Jonas Valaciunas
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Jonas Valanciunas is a big, exciting prospect out of Lithuania.
The only worry is his strength. He lacks the bulk and strength that is needed to be a star center in the NBA.
Valanciunas makes his living off of dunks, rebounding and swatting away shots.
5. Sacramento Kings: PG Brandon Knight
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Brandon Knight was one of the top talents on the Kentucky roster in only his freshman year, averaging 17.3 points per game.
He knows when to shoot and how to set up teammates and has a very bright future.
Knight is a well-rounded player, with excellent speed, scoring ability and size.
4. Washington Wizards: SF Jan Vesely
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Jan Vesely has terrific size and will likely be able to play either forward position in the NBA.
In Europe, he outmatched almost every opponent he faced.
Vesely is more of a defensive talent and can shut down big-name players inside the paint.
The chances of Vesely sliding out of the top five are very slim.
3. Toronto Raptors: C Enes Kanter
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Kanter is a power forward/center from Turkey who was set to play at Kentucky this season.
However, he was ruled ineligible for the 2010 season. Despite this, he will be a top-three pick in the draft.
Kanter is a fascinating basketball player. He has size, strength, speed and all the athleticism in the world to go with it.
There are some concerns about his knees. He has suffered injuries in the past.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: PG Kyrie Irving
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Kyrie Irving sat out nearly his entire freshman year at Duke, and still he is considered to be one of the best players in this year's draft.
That says it all about Irving.
When he was off the floor, Duke was a very good team. When he was on the floor, Duke was great.
Irving is a true point guard and is one of the most likely players from this draft class to succeed in the NBA.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: SF Derrick Williams
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With all the talk about Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette, Derrick Williams was often overlooked.
However, I found him to be the most exciting player in college basketball last season.
Williams proved time and time again in the NCAA Tournament that he is a big-time player who could make plays when they mattered most.
He is slightly undersized for a power forward, but makes up for that with his speed.
He simply makes it happen on the court.
