NBA Draft 2011: 10 Ways Lottery Order Will Change the Draft
After the 2011 NBA Lottery was all but set earlier this week, teams now look on the NBA draft in June.
The lottery was filled with ups and downs for many teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves were favorites to end up with the No. 1 pick and fell to No. 2 behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Utah Jazz meanwhile unexpectedly would creep up into the No. 3 spot.
Arguably the most significant news of the night, the Cavaliers would end up with the first and fourth picks in the 2011 NBA draft. After going through one of the least successful seasons of any team in NBA history, the Cavaliers were rewarded with the luck of the draw on lottery night.
With the order of the first 14 selections now said and done, teams may now have to take different perspectives on who they will select in the early stages of the first round.
Join B/R and myself in going through the 10 ways the lottery order will change the outcome of the 2011 NBA draft.
No. 10 : Wizards Take Kawhi Leonard with the No. 6 Pick
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After having the third-best chance to land the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Washington Wizards would find themselves with the number six pick in the NBA draft.
With Josh Howard going into the free-agent market as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, expect the Wizards to go with the arguably the top prospect at the small forward position in Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard was a part of the San Diego State team that took a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and made noise in the college basketball world last season. His strength and size at the small forward position will be something the Wizards front office will not pass up on.
No. 9: Cleveland Cavaliers Pick Irving and Kanter with the 1st and 4th Picks
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Arguably two of the top three prospects will be selected by Dan Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
The Cavaliers will take Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick to improve at the point guard slot and end up with Kentucky's Enes Kanter with the No. 4 selection.
With two of the top three prospects in the draft, look for Dan Gilbert to possibly make moves for current talent with one of the two picks (not to give away anything later in the article...)
No. 8: Kemba Walker Finds His Home in Toronto, Goes Fifth to the Raptors
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Not expected by most to be a top-five selection in the upcoming 2011 NBA draft, Walker will find himself going to the Toronto Raptors with the number five pick.
Walker was key for the UCONN huskies in their run at a national championship earlier this year. He would average a whopping 23.5 points per game and seem to come up as clutch as any player in the nation in the closing seconds of basketball games.
With the Raptors in need of consistent play at the point guard position, look for Walker to help fill that void.
No. 7: Marcus Morris Falls to the Indiana Pacers with the 15th Selection
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With the order now set for the top 14 picks in the draft, Marcus Morris will now fall to the Pacers with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Morris has a world of potential in the pros, as his athleticism and skill around the rim is something teams will have to consider. At 6'9", Morris is a shorter power forward, which will be just enough to push him back to a 15th pick.
Ranked fifth on ESPN Chad Ford's board of top 100 prospects, Morris faces plenty of competition at his position, and as a result, will not be a lottery selection.
No. 6: Detroit Pistons Select Tristan Thompson out of Texas
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A player with a plethora of talent, Tristan Thompson is a beast waiting to unleash at the next level.
As the Detroit Pistons find themselves likely going with Thompson with the No. 8 pick in the 2011 NBA draft. His rebounding and ability in the block is unmatched by many of the top prospects, and he will get drafted higher than expected by most.
The Pistons are in need of size, and in a decision between Thompson and Morris, will go for the talented prospect out of Texas.
No. 5: Cavaliers and Gilbert Trades the No. 4 Pick to the Grizzlies
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After grabbing Kyrie Irving with the first pick and Enes Kanter with the fourth selection, the Cleveland Cavaliers will trade Kanter to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Trading Enes Kanter and guard Daniel Gibson to the Grizzlies, the Cavaliers will receive Marc Gasol, Tony Allen and a first-round selection in 2012.
The Cavaliers will be desperate to turn things around in Cleveland, trying to trade some young talent for size and proven talent in Marc Gasol.
No. 4: Minnesota Misses out on Kyrie Irving
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After having the best chance at the No. 1 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves would end up with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft.
More importantly, the Timberwolves missed out on taking Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the draft, who likely be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In an interview following the lottery, Timberwolves president had some words for the league which suggested the draft was rigged, and that is why they found themselves out of luck on lottery night.
All in all, the Timberwolves won't be picking Irving, yet Derrick Williams might just be the better fit for a team that still has Johnny Flynn at the point guard position.
No. 3: Jan Vesely Falls to the Sacramento Kings
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Jan Vesely may be the best international-talent in the NBA draft and will find himself in Sacramento at No. 7 when it's all said and done.
The forward out of Czech Republic is a force in the middle, known for his skilled offensive arsenal and athletic build.
The Kings will have Cousins and Vesely as threats in the frontcourt, as Vesely solidifies the big-man rotation for the Kings.
No. 2: Jimmer Fredette Solidifies Himself as a Lottery Pick
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The best scorer in college basketball and the 2011 Naismith Player of the Year, Jimmer Fredette is a lock at either at pick No. 12, No. 13 or No. 14 in this year's NBA draft.
The Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets are all in need of a two-guard that can make noise off the bench and score at the rate Fredette can. Last season with BYU, Fredette was able to take three-point shots consistently from NBA-range.
Despite having his share of doubters, Fredette will be a key player for either one of these three teams, as he is a lock to be picked in either spot.
No. 1: Brandon Knight Will Be a Top 3 Pick, Utah Picks Knight at No. 3
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Arguably the best point guard in the 2011 NBA draft (Yes, I said it, better than Irving), Brandon Knight will go third to the Utah Jazz.
The Utah Jazz are in need of a point guard after the departure of Deron Williams and subpar play of Devin Harris they received in return.
This also sends Enes Kanter, who is arguably worthy of being a top three pick, out of the top three. The Jazz have size inside in Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur, and therefore, will not need the contributions that a player like Kanter brings to the team.
Expect Knight to go to the Jazz at No. 3 come draft time, as he will make an immediate impact at the next level in place of Williams and Harris in Utah.
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.
