2011 NBA Mock Draft: What the First 14 Picks Look Like After the Lottery
Tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft via the lottery. After a long and horrible season, the Cavs will get a chance for redemption.
The draft is only six weeks away, and it will be interesting to see who the Cavs will pick.
There has been some controversy about who will be the first overall pick: Duke's Kyrie Irving or Arizona's Derrick Williams.
Here's a look at the newest mock draft after tonight's lottery order was revealed.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving
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Duke point guard Kyrie Irving is exactly what the Cavs need to try to rebuild their struggling team. Irving was a freshman last year at Duke but only played in 11 games due to a toe injury. However, Irving has impressed enough to potentially be picked first overall in this year's draft.
The 6'2" point guard was averaging a healthy 17.4 PPG and 5.1 APG before the toe injury sidelined him for the rest of the regular season. Irving showed great skills before he was injured and even had people comparing him to Chris Paul.
While his numbers aren't the flashiest, he was only a freshman last season, and it looks like he has the talent to possibly lead the Cavs back to the playoffs in a couple of years.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams
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Wow.
The Minnesota Timberwolves might actually be an exciting team to watch next year.
The T-Wolves received the second overall pick in the draft, and there is little doubt that they will select Derrick Williams.
The explosive small forward out of Arizona really showed the basketball world his talent during the NCAA tournament, leading Arizona past No. 1 seed Duke and barely losing to UConn in the Elite Eight. The 19-year-old showed flashes of brilliance throughout, including a 32-point outburst versus Duke in the Sweet 16.
Pairing Williams with the high-flying Michael Beasley and the beast under the boards, Kevin Love, could potentially give the Timberwolves one of the most exciting frontcourts in the NBA.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter
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The Utah Jazz have had their fair share of international players over the years, including Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko. Most have done very well for the usually consistent Jazz team.
Enes Kanter hopes to keep the tradition going come June 23.
The 6'11", 272-pound center out of Turkey absolutely dominates when he plays basketball. At the the Nike Hoop Summit, Kanter scored 34 points and collected 13 rebounds. The man is an absolute monster.
Kanter supposedly tried to enroll in two prep schools in America, but the attempts were abandoned because other schools refused to play against a team with him on it. He will bring a new mental and physical toughness to the Jazz, a toughness needed if they want to return to the playoffs next year.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jan Vesely
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To many, Czech Jan Vesely is known as the "Dunking Ninja." His amazing, high-flying dunks have led him to become a fan favorite in the Serbian league where he played last year.
Vesely may not have the same kind of toughness as fellow 6'11" international player Enes Kanter, but he is still a great all-around player. He's exciting to watch and should fit in very well with the young Cleveland Cavaliers if they choose to select Kyrie Irving. Who knows—maybe the Cavs will get back to the playoffs next year.
Cavaliers fans everywhere should be excited for the future if the franchise decides to pick the dunking ninja.
5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight
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Kentucky guard Brandon Knight put on a show during the NCAA tournament in March. The 6'3" freshman was the epitome of clutch during March Madness, leading fourth-seeded Kentucky all the way to the Final Four, where it lost to eventual champion UConn.
Knight is an extremely versatile scorer but may not have the size to compete with other shooting guards in the NBA. Hopefully he will bring a solid scoring talent back to the Raptors, something that the franchise has been missing ever since the loss of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
6. Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas
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Yet another 6'11" international player joins the mix.
Jonas Valanciunas, a highly coveted prospect out of Lithuania, combines skills that both Enes Kanter and Jan Vesely possess. Valanciunas is extremely long and agile, making him very difficult to guard. He can hurt you in the low post, as well as run the fast break like a small forward.
He is only 19 years old and is predicted to be well over seven feet tall by the time he finishes growing.
Valanciunas will be a great addition to the Wizards and will provide support for fellow big men JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche off the bench.
7. Sacramento Kings: Tristan Thompson
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Tristan Thompson is a 6'9" freshman who led Texas to a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. He didn't put up amazing numbers last season, but there were times when it was easy to see Thompson could be a great player one day.
The kid is an absolute beast on the offensive boards, and it looks like he could be a great low-post scorer with a variety of moves.
His 2.4 BPG and 7.8 RPG were solid numbers for a player of his size, and he could be a great addition for a young Sacramento Kings team.
8. Detroit Pistons: Kemba Walker
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This may seem like a very bold prediction, but Kemba Walker is exactly what the Detroit Pistons need to get back to the top.
Just about everyone knows the story of how the six-foot Walker almost singlehandedly led his UConn Huskies to the NCAA tournament Final Four. The Huskies knocked off Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, Arizona, Kentucky and Butler en route to winning their third national title.
Walker averaged 23.4 PPG during the season and appears to be the perfect fit for the Pistons. He has been criticized for being too small to play in the NBA, but there is no doubt he has the speed and explosiveness to boost the aging Pistons to a playoff spot.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Donatas Motiejunas
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Surprise, surprise, another international big man entering the 2011 NBA draft.
Donatas Motiejunas, out of Lithuania, is a left-handed seven-footer who has really shown some promise while playing for Benetton Treviso in the Italian league. He has a solid number line, putting up 10.9 PPG and 5.6 RPG, while also drawing 4.4 fouls per game.
Motiejunas would bring great size and a true post presence to the Charlotte Bobcats, two things they seem to lack. His wide variety of post moves could possibly turn him into a dominant player one day. Plus, Motiejunas has a fire to win, something the Bobcats need in their players to get them back to the playoffs after losing Gerald Wallace.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks
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Alec Burks out of the University of Colorado has quickly become one of the most underrated prospects entering the NBA draft. This may be because Colorado didn't make the NCAA tournament, but trust me when I say the kid can play.
The 6'6" guard shows a great mixture of athleticism and shooting ability, something the Bucks need since they probably won't be re-signing the injury-prone Michael Redd next season. Burks put up great numbers last season, including 20.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 2.6 APG.
Despite not being able to qualify for the NCAA tournament, Burks has shown great leadership and will one day be a solid player in the NBA.
11. Golden State Warriors: Marcus Morris
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Marcus and Markieff Morris led Kansas to the Elite Eight virtually on their own, where they fell to the VCU Bulldogs. Marcus, my favorite of the twins, has proven to be one of the most NBA-ready players in the whole draft.
He has what it takes to be a great player: size, athleticism, scoring ability and a love for the game. Marcus can bang down low like a power forward, as well as run the floor and shoot from long range like a guard. This is why he's the perfect small forward.
Uniting Morris with Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis could form one of the best young scoring trios in the NBA for years to come.
12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette
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What could I say about Jimmer Fredette that hasn't already been said?
For the last three months, critics and sportswriters everywhere have been criticizing Jimmer, saying he doesn't have what it takes to make it in the NBA. I say Fredette led an unknown BYU team to the No. 3 seed in the nation and a spot in the Sweet 16.
Fredette led the country in scoring with 28.9 PPG, winning national player of the year awards including the Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, the Adolph Rupp Trophy and the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Sure, he isn't the greatest defender, but he is still one hell of a player, and he can make it in the NBA.
Stats don't lie, and neither do highlights—two things Jimmer definitely has. He also has the fire to win, a kind of fire that I've seen in other great players such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. I'm not saying he's going to be an MVP-caliber player, but I do believe Fredette will be an All-Star.
If you don't believe me, just look at some of his memorable performances.
In the first round of the NCAA tournament against Wofford, Jimmer scored 32 points. In the second round versus Gonzaga, he scored 34 points. In the third round, facing second-seeded San Diego State, he scored 43 points!
Just look at these numbers and say Jimmer is a bad player. Sure, he took a lot of shots, but that's what he believed he had to do if BYU were to advance to the next round.
Fredette was a leader at BYU, and he will be the leader for the Utah Jazz when he plays in the NBA.
13. Phoenix Suns: Markieff Morris
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Markieff Morris is the second of the Morris twins. He is taller, heavier, stronger and may just become a better player than Marcus one day.
Like Marcus, Markieff improved a lot between his sophomore and junior years. In his sophomore season, he averaged 6.8 PPG and 5.3 RPG. The following year, he averaged 13.6 PPG and 8.3 RPG. His numbers aren't the flashiest, but just like Marcus, he has proven he is ready for the NBA.
Markieff helped the Jayhawks reach a No. 1 seed in the tournament, as well as a spot in the Elite Eight, by using his strengths to the team's advantage. He is a fantastic pick-and-pop player, using his excellent perimeter shooting ability to get easy buckets.
If he is drafted by the Phoenix Suns, the pairing of Markieff and Steve Nash could soon become one of the more dangerous pick-and-roll tandems in the NBA.
14. Houston Rockets: Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard led a virtually unknown San Diego State team to the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. At 6'7", he led the Mountain West Conference in rebounding and has certainly shown he has what it takes to make it in the NBA.
Leonard has drawn comparisons to Gerald Wallace with his knack for rebounding, blocking and giving up his body for his team.
Leonard is an athletic player who plays with a ton of energy and would definitely be a great addition for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets lack a good post player, and the combination of Luis Scola and Leonard could soon get them back to the playoffs.
With the NBA Draft approaching, NBA Mock Draft season is here. Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated mock drafts, along with the latest NBA Draft news, analysis, rumors and predictions.
