2011 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Mock, Who Will Be John Wall's Running Mate?
If John Wall is known for anything, it's that he can bust a mean dougie, can’t he? The overall first pick in the NBA draft last season, he averaged a pretty noteworthy 16 points per contest during his rookie campaign.
The Wizards, or maybe Bullets judging by their latest uniform change, have two first-round picks in the 2011 NBA draft and will have a great opportunity to improve their young squad.
Wall needs another star if the Bull, errr, Wizards are to ever make it back to the playoffs and become serious contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The Thunder have Westbrook and Durant, the Magic have Nelson and Howard, the Heat have James and Wade, and so on and so forth.
The Wizards know that they’ll need to add another scorer for Wall, and this is the draft where that goal can be accomplished.
Here is a quick post-lottery full first-round NBA mock draft.
1st Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving, PG
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I’m not sold that Irving is going to sky rocket as soon as he steps foot onto an NBA floor. Irving played about 10 minutes for Duke due to a foot injury last season and he there is no guarantee that his foot is totally healed.
Dan Gilbert needs a superstar in Cleveland and if he can get his paws on Irving to fill up that arena of his I’m sure he’ll do it.
2nd Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves – Derrick Williams, PF
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6’8” and 235 pounds, Williams showed himself in the NCAA tourney this year. The Wolves are kind of set at forward with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley but one has to believe that Williams won’t fall past Minnesota at number 2.
Williams is great on the high or low post as he’s a great shooter and can post up pretty well.
He’ll have to cut down on the turnovers when he makes it to the NBA but I think that’s something he’ll improve upon before his rookie season is completed.
3rd Pick, Utah Jazz – Enes Kanter, PF
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Just 20 years old and Kanter already has pro game experience. Well, its Turkish pro game experience but he’s a pro nonetheless.
Kanter’s footwork is pretty good and he has a nice jumper on him as well. The knock on Enes is that he lacks explosiveness around the hoop and prefers the high post over the low post.
Either way Kanter will go high and looks to have a pretty good NBA career ahead of him.
4th Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers – Kawhi Leonard, SF
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I think of Leonard as a shooting forward. He’s trying to improve his shooting prowess and become a full-time wing player.
If the Cavs are able to nab Leonard and Irving in the 1st round then they’ll have a pretty nice foundation for the years ahead.
5th Pick, Toronto Raptors – Kemba Walker, PG
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Walker did himself a huge favor by playing so well in the Big East tournament and leading the Huskies to a National Title.
Walker’s passing ability will have to improve at the next level if he’s to become a true point guard but he obviously has a little chip on his shoulder and that will serve him well in Stern’s league.
6th Pick, Washington Wizards – Alec Burks, SG
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Wall needs another scorer in D.C. and Burks is just that. He has a pretty creative game and likes to drive the lane, an aggressiveness that will serve him well.
He’ll have to put on some weight as he’s only 200 pounds but as his game matures so will his body.
7th Pick, Sacramento Kings – Brandon Knight, PG
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This pick is pretty much synonymous across the board since Evans will continue to play the 2 for the Kings.
Knight comes from an NBA assembly line type of system from Kentucky and struggled at times last season with turnovers and decision making. But he’s way to talented not to fix those issues in Sac town and he’ll have a budding star in Tyreke Evans to play along with.
8th Pick, Detroit Pistons – Bismack Biyombo, PF
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Another international player Bismack is a budding defensive guru who will bring needed blocked shots and defensive rebounding to a fractured Pistons team.
Like Ben Wallace don’t expect Biyombo to much of anything on the offensive side of the ball.
9th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats – Jonas Valanciunas, PF
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If we’re to listen to some scouts Jonas will only flourish if he plays with a good point guard. NO matter, he has some pretty good athleticism and his body isn’t finished filling out.
If he’s able to add some creativity to his game then he’ll turn out to be a pretty good NBA player.
Hmm, if.
10th Pick, Milwaukee Bucks – Tristan Thompson, PF
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Texas can produce some pretty good basketball players and maybe Thompson will down that same successful sidewalk.
The Bucks are inconsistent but they’re still missing a few pieces. Tristan has a great motor and can snag a pretty tough offensive rebound if need be.
The Bucks need a nasty player down low and maybe Thompson is just what they’re looking for.
11th Pick, Golden State – Marcus Morris, PF
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Morris has a nice frame on him as he’s NBA size ready. He can be aggressive and has nice open jump shot.
He’ll have to improve on that jumper when he has a hand in his face but he should eventually develop into a starter.
12th Pick, Utah Jazz – Jimmer Fredette, PG
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Here is why I say Fredette before you shut my article down. I think his shooting ability alone won’t allow him to slip to far down.
The Jazz aren’t in need of a point guard but I like the way Fredette makes those nets move son.
13th Pick, Phoenix Suns – Chris Singleton, SF
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Singleton’s size and what he does with his frame make him an attractive pick here.
His offensive game will have to improve by leaps and bounds but with the way the Suns run an offensive I don’t think he’ll have a problem in that area for to much longer.
14th Pick, Houston Rockets – Jordan Hamilton, SF
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Another Texas product Hamilton has an ok mid range game but he can score the ball pretty well.
The Rockets are a few pieces away from a chip but Hamilton will add needed depth.
15th Pick, Indiana Pacers – Trey Thompkins, PF
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From what I understand about Thompkins he seems to have a patient shot and has a pretty healthy jump shot.
He’ll have to add some creativity to his game but Thompkins is a great pick here for the Pacers.
16th Pick, Philadelphia 76ers – Markieff Morris, PF
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Improvement and potential seem to be the words used to describe Morris.
Another aggressive type of player Morris needs to work on that jumper a little more and he should be a nice bench player to start his career.
17th Pick, New York Knicks – Maolcom Lee, SG
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Like the Knicks need anymore scorers on their team. Lee has issues with shot selection and that’s something Knicks struggled with as well.
But he’s very athletic and will add youth and depth to a Knick team ready for a breakout.
18th Pick, Washington Wizards – Tobias Harris, PF
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A player with great vision he should match-up well with John Wall. He’s been compared to Glen Rice and if he develops a nasty enough jumper the Wizards will be more than happy to pick Harris at number 18.
19th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats – Josh Selby, SG
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The Bobcats made it to the playoffs last season and missed out on the postseason this year. Selby has a quick first step and can be really creative around the rim.
Selby is quick but he’s to fast to look for his shot first. Some development will be needed but youth and talent will serve this Charlotte team well.
20th Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves – Klay Thompson, SG
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An outside scorer who has great accuracy Thompson will need to add some muscle to his frame when he’s drafted.
He has great athleticism and he’s a great free throw shooter.
21st Pick, Portland Trailblazers – JaJuan Johnson, PF
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A big guy who’ll add depth, JaJuan is lengthy and his ability suits him well in Portland.
Standing at 6’10” he will mos def have to add weight to his frame if he plans on pushing himself around in the low post.
22nd Pick, Denver Nuggets – Tyler Honeycutt, SF
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Tyler has some pretty decent handles for a 6’9” guy. He’s quick and rebounds the ball pretty well.
Like so many NBA prospects he’ll have to add some weight to his frame but his athleticism should allow him a little room in the NBA.
23rd Pick, Houston Rockets – Nikola Mirotic, PF
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He’s young, has a great wingspan, and has a pretty disciplined game.
He has a decent set shot and has a pretty nice burst to the basket.
24th Pick, Oklahoma City Thunder – DeAndre Liggins, SG
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Liggins is a pretty good defensive player as he led Kentucky with 46 steals and added 28 blocked shots.
He scored almost 9 points per last season but he’s athletic and big enough to add to his offensive game once he’s drafted.
25th Pick, Boston Celtics – Nolan Smith, PG
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Dukies haven’t turned out to be great NBA players. There are a few here and there but overall they don’t average out well.
Smith is a pretty good defensive player and maturing under Doc Rivers will serve him well.
26th Pick, Dallas Mavericks – Shelvin Mack, PG
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Being picked by the Mavericks will be great for Mack because he’ll be a part of a winning franchise.
He comes from Butler so questions about his ability are sure to continue until he proves the doubters wrong.
27th Pick, New Jersey Nets – Jeremy Tyler, PF
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He’s 6’10 and seems to be athletic enough at his height to do some damage in the league.
He’s still a really young kid and will need to mature greatly before he makes a great impact for New Jersey.
28th Pick, Chicago Bulls – Kyle Singler, SF
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The Bulls are known for their defense and aren’t a fast, always in transition type of squad.
Single will benefit from that type of play which will give him time to continue to develop.
29th Pick, San Antonio Spurs – Darius Morris, PG
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Morris is quick and from what I understand he’s expected to grow into the roll of a floor general.
He’s not the fastest or the quickest and that’s just fine in the Spurs system.
30th Chicago Bulls – Justin Harper, PF
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Harper will need time to develop and he’ll get that chance in Chicago.
He’s a decent outside shooter but standing at 6’10” the Bulls will have to figure where he fits best in their system.
