2011 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st-Round Mock, What's Jimmer Fredette's Future?
With the draft lottery now complete and the the Cleveland Cavaliers the big winner, it is now time to get on with some serious draft projections.
While everybody knows who is going No. 1 and No. 2, one of the most intriguing questions of the first round is where will Jimmer Fredette go.
Fredette was arguably the best player in college basketball last season, and while some do not think he will translate well to the NBA, his scoring ability and ball skills are tough to defend at any level.
Here is a first-round NBA draft projection that answers the much anticipated question of where will Jimmer go?
No. 1) Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (Duke)
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Irving is far and away the most talented player in the draft. Most scouts consider him the only player guaranteed to be a perennial all-star.
After only one season at Duke, Irving will be one of many freshmen drafted on June 23.
He missed most of last season because of an injury, but if he had been healthy, he was a lock to be an All-American.
Irving is a true point guard who can score like a two. In what many consider a weak draft, Irving is the closest thing to a future superstar, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will not pass up on that.
He has a chance to turn the Cavaliers franchise back around, and his game is comparable to Chris Paul.
No. 2) Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams (Arizona)
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Derrick Williams is an animal. After Kyrie Irving, he is far and away the next best player in the draft.
Williams shined last season, particularly in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Just ask Irving and his Duke teammates.
The Timberwolves are young and would love to have Irving to run the point, but Williams is the next best selection.
While he is slightly undersized at 6'7", he has the ball skills, shooting range and strength the play the three or the four.
Williams is talented enough to step into a starting role and be a force for Minnesota next season.
No. 3) Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
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With the trade of Deron Williams last season, Brandon Knight will be a perfect fit in Utah as the future point guard of the Jazz.
Knight is a very gifted point guard who, at 6'3" and 185 pounds, has NBA size for a point guard.
He is an excellent jump shooter who can step in and start at point guard immediately for Utah.
His speed and ability to take people off the dribble make Knight as explosive as anybody in the draft and the perfect selection for the Jazz at No. 3.
No. 4) Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuiana)
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The Cleveland Cavaliers had big time success with a Lithuanian big man named Zydrunas Ilgauskas from 1997-2010 and will try to duplicate that success with another big Lithuanian.
Jonas Valanciunas stands 6'11" and 240 pounds. While he may not be quite as big as 'Big Z', he is a much better athlete with a huge wingspan.
Valanciunas just turned 19 and will team with Irving to give Cleveland a very talented young duo.
With the selection of these two youngsters, things may be turning around in Cleveland once again.
No. 5) Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
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Kemba Walker's stock has never been higher. After leading Connecticut to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship, Walker jumped to the NBA draft and will be the third point guard taken off the board.
Walker may be slightly smaller than the guards taken ahead of him, but his speed and quickness are unmatched by anybody in the draft.
His shooting range improved drastically last season, and that made him one of the toughest players in the country to defend.
The Raptors most talented players are their big men, and Walker will be an assist machine for Toronto for years to come.
No. 6) Washington Wizards: Enes Kanter (Kentucky)
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Enes Canter is a Turkish born player who was ruled ineligible last season while at Kentucky.
At 6'11" and 261 pounds, he will join last season's No. 1 pick and another former Wildcat John Wall.
Wall is an explosive point guard who needs a big man to help take some of the pressure off.
Kanter has a smooth offensive game with a very high basketball IQ. He has a standing reach of nine feet, which makes him very intriguing for many teams.
No. 7) Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard (San Diego St.)
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Kawhi Leonard is similar in size and game to Derrick Williams.
The Sacramento Kings took Demarcus Cousins last season and could use a wing man alongside him to provide some scoring and defense.
Leonard is a high energy player with great length. He can play with his back to the basket or face up and take defenders off the dribble.
Leonard is a California kid who will fit in well with a young, rebuilding Sacramento team.
No. 8) Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo (Congo)
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The Detroit Pistons are in need of some help down low, and Bismack Biyombo will bring just that.
While he is only 6'9", Biyombo is a true center with a 7'7" wingspan. He is a native of Congo and is far and away the best shot blocker in the draft.
He is also the best overall defender in the draft and can run the floor for somebody with his size and build.
Biyombo is a young raw talent who will need to develop his offensive game, but will make an immediate impact on defense.
No. 9) Charlotte Bobcats: Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuiana)
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Like many other teams in the draft, the Charlotte Bobcats are in need of a big man, and 7'0" center Donatas Montiejunas will satisfy their need.
Montiejunas is a versatile lefty with as much potential as anybody in the draft.
He has quick feet and strong legs. He also has the ability to knock down long range jump shots as well as post up smaller defenders.
His versatility will allow him to play the power forward position as well at the next level.
No. 10) Milwaukee Bucks: Jan Vesely (Czech Republic)
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The Bucks have a talented point guard in Brandon Jennings and a true center in Andrew Bogut.
The versatile 6'11" Jan Vesely will give them a wing who can guard three positions.
Vesely could be a steal at No. 10 for Milwaukee. He has great hands around the basket and will need to improve his post up game for the next level.
His jump shot could also use some work, but you can not teach the size and versatility Vesely brings to the table.
No. 11) Golden State Warriors: Tristan Thompson
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Tristan Thompson is a lefty post player with an extremely long wingspan. He only spent one season at Texas and was extremely hard to stop at the collegiate level.
He is very young like most of the other players in the draft, but at 6'9" is a slightly undersized power forward for the NBA.
It may take Thompson a few years to develop enough ball skills to get consistent playing time, but he has a chance to be a contributor off the bench immediately for Golden State.
No. 12) Utah Jazz: Alec Burks (Colorado)
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With Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson up front, they could potentially be joined by a rookie backcourt of Brandon Knight and Alec Burks.
Burks is a very talented combo guard who can finish around the hoop as well as anybody in the draft. He has a quick first step and can beat opponents off the dribble.
A future backcourt of Knight and Burks could lead to a lot of success for the Utah Jazz in years to come.
No. 13) Phoenix Suns: Marcus Morris (Kansas)
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Marcus Morris is a true power forward and is just the presence the Phoenix Suns need down low.
He has the potential to be a solid NBA big man and could help fill the void left with the departure of Amare Stoudemire.
Morris has decent range and is more NBA ready than most of the younger players in the draft.
He has a chance to come in and contribute right away for Phoenix, possibly in a starting role.
No. 14) Houston Rockets: Markieff Morris (Kansas)
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The Rockets are backcourt heavy and in need of a big man due to the continued absence of Yao Ming.
Since his twin brother is already gone, why not take Markieff Morris. Morris is experienced and NBA ready like his twin brother.
Morris is slightly taller than his brother and at 6'10" and 245 pounds, he has the size and ball skills to finish around the rim.
Like his brother, he will have a chance to step into a starting role immediately and be a rebounder and defender down low for the Rockets.
No. 15) Indiana Pacers: Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
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The Indiana Pacers are more balanced than most other teams in the NBA, but could use help at every position.
At No. 15, they will take the best player on the board and that is Jimmer Fredette.
Fredette is a scoring machine and could serve well in Indiana as one of the best sixth men in the game next season. He is far and away the best shooter in the draft.
He will be instant offense off the bench and is a great value pick halfway through the first round for the Pacers.
This answers the question of what the future holds for Jimmer Fredette.
No. 16) Philadelphia 76ers: Lucas Nogueria (Brazil)
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Lucas Nogueira is one of the youngest players in the NBA draft and is a relative unknown.
He is only 18 and stands 7'0" tall to go along with a 7'6" wingspan.
Nogueira has as much raw potential as almost anybody in the draft, and with Elton Brand getting longer in the tooth, the 76ers will need to start looking for a big man.
Now is the time and at only 18, Nogueira is a raw talent who could be the steal of the draft.
No. 17) New York Knicks: Klay Thompson (Washington St.)
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The New York Knicks could use a scorer from the two guard position to help take some of the pressure off Carmelo Anthony.
Klay Thompson could be just that guy. He was one of the top pure shooters at the college level last season and is an excellent passer for someone 6'6".
He has great size for an NBA shooting guard and will be an great complement to the duo of Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
No. 18) Washington Wizards: Kenneth Faried (Morehead St.)
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Kenneth Faried is the leading rebounder in the history of college basketball and is a monster down low.
He is just what the Washington Wizards need.
With the selection of Enes Canter earlier in the first round, Faried will be an excellent complement who will help give the Wizards a young nucleus, led by John Wall at point guard.
Faried played at small Morehead St. University, but showed how good he can be in leading his team to a victory over Louisville in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
No. 19) Charlotte Bobcats: Chris Singleton (Florida St.)
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Chris Singleton is an athletic forward who can play either the three or the four.
Charlotte is in need of big men, but with the selection of 7'0" center Montiejunas earlier in the first round, Singleton is the best available player at this spot.
He has the ability to lock down multiple players on the defensive side of the ball and is very experienced compared to many other players in the draft.
Singleton is the most NBA-ready defender in the draft and will have an instant impact off the bench for Charlotte.
No. 20) Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Selby (Kansas)
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Minnesota could use some help at both guard spots, so why not go for a guard who can do both?
The super-talented Josh Selby could be just what the T-Wolves need.
He can do a little bit of everything and is athletic enough to guard the point guards, while tough enough to hang with the bigger two guards.
Selby has a chance to contribute in Minnesota next season, but may need a year or two to develop his game.
No. 21) Portland Trailblazers: Darius Morris (Michigan)
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Like Selby, Morris is a combo guard with excellent size.
At 6'4" and 190 pounds, he can play either guard position.
Andre Miller is up there in age and Portland may be looking to draft his potential replacement. Morris could be just that.
He helped lead Michigan back to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and at the ripe age of 20, he has an enormous amount of potential.
No. 22) Denver Nuggets: Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
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The Denver Nuggets are a high-flying fast-paced offensive team who can put up points in a hurry.
Harris will fit right in with them on both sides of the ball.
The Nuggets are deep all around and at 6'8" and 225 pounds, Harris can play either the three or the four.
He is only 18 and will need some time to develop, but with the talent on Denver, he will have time to do that and could develop into a very solid NBA player in a few years.
No. 23) Houston Rockets: Davis Bertans (Latvia)
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After getting their big man earlier in the round, the Rockets will be looking for a scorer at the wing position.
At 6'10", Davis Bertans provides more size and excellent scoring ability from the small forward position.
He has one of the best jump shots in the draft along with excellent range and the ability to shoot over smaller players.
He is only 18, and will need time to develop, but in a few years, he could be a solid starter for the Rockets.
No. 24) Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
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Jordan Hamilton has an excellent jump shot that could help clear some openings for the talented duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder could use a scorer at the two-guard position and Hamilton will provide just that.
At 6'7", he can shoot over smaller players and will provide a scoring punch off the bench upon his arrival in Oklahoma City.
He is also a solid defender who can guard multiple positions.
No. 25) Boston Celtics: Justin Harper (Richmond)
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The Boston Celtics could go a number of ways on this pick. They are old at virtually every position, except point guard.
They are especially old down low and could be looking for a young big man.
Justin Harper out of Richmond may be their guy.
At 6'10" and 225 pounds, Harper has the size to bang down low, but also tremendous ball skills for a big man.
He has a solid jump shot and can even play the three spot.
At 21 years old, he is one of the more mature players in the draft and will help Boston immediately down low.
No. 26) Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA)
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The loaded Dallas Mavericks will take the best available player at this spot.
That would be UCLA swingman Tyler Honeycutt.
Honeycutt has excellent size at 6'8" and is one of the best athletes in the draft.
His athleticism allows him to guard multiple positions. Dallas could use a solid two-guard to go along with veteran Jason Terry and Honeycutt would provide that.
No. 27) New Jersey Nets: Trey Thompkins (Georgia)
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The Nets need help everywhere, particularly down low.
Trey Thompkins, a 6'10" power forward from Georgia, will help them on both sides of the ball.
Thompkins is graceful down low with an excellent touch. He has great size at 6'10" and nearly 250 pounds.
He has excellent skill and athleticism for his size and a very high basketball IQ. He can also knock down the mid-range jump shot.
Thompkins is an excellent value pick late in the first round.
No. 28) Chicago Bulls: Marshon Brooks (Providence)
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Marshon Brooks is probably the best scorer in the draft not named Jimmer Fredette.
He is very experienced and averaged nearly 25 points per game last season.
Brooks could step onto a very talented Bulls team and contribute immediately off the bench next season.
His length at 6'5" makes his a Kyle Korver type coming off the bench.
No. 29) San Antonio Spurs: JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
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JaJuan Johnson was quite possibly the best big man in college basketball last season.
There is not a shot inside the arc he can't knock down.
Johnson would be a welcomed player to an aging front line in San Antonio.
He would have a chance to learn behind future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan for a few seasons before stepping into the starting role.
No. 30) Chicago Bulls: Nolan Smith (Duke)
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Nolan Smith was a first team All-American last season and starred for four seasons at Duke.
He could step in and give minutes off the bench to spell Derrick Rose.
Smith is a scorer who can also dish out the rock.
He would be a solid value pick for the Bulls at the end of the first round.
