2011 NBA Mock Draft: Complete Mock Draft, Plus the Orlando Magic's Options
The Orlando Magic just make you want to exhale. The squad has a bona fide superstar in Dwight Howard and a pretty good point guard in Jameer Nelson. But this season they just couldn’t seem to get right, like Darryl’s Jenk's Jheri Curl in Coming to America.
Howard had a career year and team general manager Otis Smith made a knee-jerk trade before the deadline by adding money and injured talent to a team ready to win a championship.
Since the Magic are without a first-round pick this year, what options will the team have in the 2011 NBA Draft?
Let’s take a look at the first and second rounds.
First 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 (give or take) for Duke due to a foot injury last season, and there is no guarantee his foot is totally healed.
Dan Gilbert needs a superstar in Cleveland though, and if he can get his paws on Irving to fill up that arena of his, I’m sure he’ll do it.
Second Pick, Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, PF
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At 6’8” and 235 pounds, Williams showed himself in the NCAA tournament this year. The Wolves are somewhat set at forward with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, but one has to believe Williams won’t fall past Minnesota at No. 2.
Williams is great on the high or low post, as he’s a great shooter who can post up pretty well.
He’ll have to cut down on turnovers when he makes it to the NBA, but I think that’s something he’ll improve upon before his rookie season is completed.
Third 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 him is 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.
Fourth 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 to become a full-time wing player.
If the Cavs are able to nab Leonard and Irving in the first round, they’ll have a pretty nice foundation for the years ahead.
Fifth 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 Championship.
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.
Sixth 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 since he’s only 200 pounds, but as his game matures, so will his body.
Seventh 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 two 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 too talented not to fix these issues in Sac town, and he’ll have a budding star in Tyreke Evans alongside him..
Eighth Pick, Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, PF
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Another international player. Biyombo is a budding defensive guru who will bring needed blocked shots and defensive rebounding to a fractured Pistons team.
Like Ben Wallace though, don’t expect Biyombo to do much of anything on the offensive side of the ball.
Ninth 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. Either way though, he has pretty good athleticism, and his body isn’t finished filling out.
If he’s able to add some creativity to his game, 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, so maybe Thompson will walk down that same successful sidewalk.
The Bucks are inconsistent, and they’re still missing a few pieces. Thompson has a great motor and can snag a pretty tough offensive rebound if need be.
The Bucks need a nasty player down low, so 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, and he’s NBA-size ready. He can be aggressive and has a 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 too far down. The Jazz aren’t in need of a point guard, but I like the way Fredette makes those nets move.
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 offense, I don’t think he’ll have a problem in that area for too 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, not to mention 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 this Morris brother.
Another aggressive type of player, Markieff 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: Malcolm Lee, SG
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Like the Knicks need more 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 Knicks team ready to break out.
18th Pick, Washington Wizards: Tobias Harris, PF
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19th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats: Josh Selby, SG
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The Bobcats made it to the playoffs in 2010, but 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 too 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 with 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 Trail Blazers: JaJuan Johnson, PF
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Johnson is lengthy, and his ability would suit him well in Portland as a big man who can add depth.
Standing at 6’10”, he will most definitely 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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Honeycutt has some pretty decent handles for a 6’9” guy. He’s quick and rebounds the ball pretty well.
Like so many NBA prospects though, 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 a pretty disciplined game.
Mirotic also has a decent set shot and 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; he led Kentucky with 46 steals and added 28 blocked shots.
He scored only approximately nine points per game 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 though, 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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Jeremy Tyler is 6’10 and seems to be athletic enough to do some damage in the league.
He’s still a really young kid though and will need to greatly mature before he makes an 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.
Singler will benefit from that type of play, which will give him time to continually 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 role of a floor general.
He’s not the fastest or the quickest, and that’s just fine in the Spurs' system.
30th Pick, 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.
31st Pick, Miami Heat: Greg Smith, C
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Smith’s hands are truly amazing; about the size of a basketball. Well, it seems that way at least.
He needs to develop his footwork and a better post game, but he should work out well for Miami.
32nd Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: Chandler Parsons, SF
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The Cavs have a great chance to create a really good team in this year’s draft with the first and fourth picks in the first round, plus the second and 24th picks in the second round.
They’ll have to choose carefully, and going with the lengthy Parsons is a great start. He needs to improve his post game, but his set shot will serve him sell at the next level.
33rd Pick, Detroit Pistons: Iman Shumpert, PG
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The Pistons need a lot of help, and adding Shumpert to the fold will help.
He can be aggressive with the ball to drive the lane and has a pretty decent jump shot. He may not have the skills to run an NBA offense very fluently, but Shumpert can add depth to the Pistons' bench.
34th Pick, Washington Wizards: Jon Leuer, PF
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Another team poised to improve via the draft, The Bulle—errr, I mean Wizards should pick Leuer, who has great footwork and can shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor.
He needs to add some weight to his frame though.
35th Pick, Sacramento Kings: Jimmy Butler, PG
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From all accounts, Butler is a smart guy who will rely on his IQ to bring him along in the league over athletic ability.
He’s an inconsistent shooter, but he can fix that with enough practice, can’t he?
36th Pick, New Jersey Nets: Jereme Richmond, SF
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A smaller guy standing at 6’6" and 195 pounds, Richmond is a great defensive player who plays bigger than his height.
He usually plays around the rim, and the Nets could use a defensive-minded player on the squad.
37th Pick, L.A. Clippers: Keith Benson, C
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What team needs depth and the presence of another big man?
The L.A. Clippers, that's who!
38th Pick, Houston Rockets: Davis Bertans, F
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There is no guarantee Bertans will come to the NBA if he's drafted in this spot, so Houston would be taking a huge chance by picking him.
He is a great outside shooter the Rockets could sorely use though.
39th Pick, Charlotte Bobcats: Reggie Jackson, PG
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Jackson has an amazing seven-foot wingspan for a guy who only stands 6’3". He’ll play taller though, and relying on his athleticism in the beginning will be a plus as he learns an NBA system.
He’ll need to get better from downtown and improve his turnover ratio though.
40th Pick, Milwaukee Bucks: Willie Reed, PF
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Another athletic player who’ll rely on that skill at the beginning of his career, Reed has a decent turnaround and a nice set of hands.
He needs to continue to fill out his frame and improve his jump shot.
41st Pick, L.A. Lakers: Norris Cole, PG
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The Lakers didn’t make it to the Finals so it’s the end of the world in Southern California, isn’t it?
L.A. needs a new center, small and power forward, two-guard and an entirely new bench.
That won’t happen, but in the interim, the Lakers should pick Norris Cole.
He’s a decent three-point shooter and has a great level of explosiveness.
42nd Pick, Indiana Packers: Cory Joseph, PG
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The Pacers took the Bulls to the mat in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs and seemed to respond well to interim head coach Frank Vogel.
Adding Cory Joseph to point guard is a great way to add another offensive-minded player to the fold. He’s a great jump shooter and will add depth to a budding Pacers team.
43rd Pick, Golden State Warriors: Charles Jenkins, PG
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Jenkins is a consistent, efficient shooter, and he’ll fit right in with Golden State.
He has great vision and will be solid for the Warriors off the bench.
44th Pick, Chicago Bulls: Bojan Bogdanovic, SF
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Bojan has great balance and footwork, which will serve him well in the NBA.
He has a decent jump shot, but will need to improve his quickness in the league.
45th Pick, New Orleans Hornets: Andrew Goudelock, PG
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Will the Hornets still have Chris Paul in the nest next season? Nobody knows, but building toward the future is a good idea in the interim.
Goudelock won’t replace Paul, but he’ll add depth to the Hornets' bench with his three-point shooting and jump shot.
46th Pick, L.A. Lakers: David Lighty, SG
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We know Lighty will not replace Kobe, but the Lakers' bench was called into question more than a few times this postseason.
He’s a pretty good defensive player and will be a great role-player for L.A.
47th Pick, L.A. Clippers: E’Twaun Moore, SG
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You just get the feeling that no matter what the Clippers do, it just will not work out in the end.
He isn’t that athletic, but is a good wing defender and has a decent three-point shot.
48th Pick, Atlanta Hawks: Demetri McCamey, PG
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The Hawks are a riddle wrapped inside a Big Mac with extra special sauce.
You have no clue what you’ll get out of the one the NBA’s most athletic teams. McCamey seems to fit the Hawks' mold of inconsistency, as he’s not that athletic and can sometimes disappear.
He’s a good shooter, but like the rest of the Hawks team, his play on the defensive side of the ball needs to improve.
49th Pick, Memphis Grizzlies: Jamie Skeen, PF
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The Grizzlies made a nice playoff run this season and seem to need just a few pieces to make it back next year.
Skeen is strong and has nice size, but he’ll need to improve his rebounding.
50th Pick, Philadelphia 76ers: Joffrey Lauvergne, PF
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The Sixers could use height and depth, so adding an international player like Lauvergne wouldn't be bad.
51st Pick, Portland Trail Blazers: Scotty Hopson, SG
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Hopson’s athleticism may fit will in Portland. Who knows what may happen with Brandon Roy, and the Blazers have to continue to have an eye toward the future.
Hopson is a great shooter, but inconsistency is his greatest enemy.
52nd Pick, Denver Nuggets: Norris Cole, PG
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Cole is great off the dribble and has a great work ethic.
He’s a decent three-point shooter and also has a great level of explosiveness.
53rd Pick, Orlando Magic: Brad Wanamaker, SG
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The Orlando Magic are out to find another shooting guard. GM Otis Smith will probably allow Jason Richardson to get away in free agency, and head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t trust J.J. Reddick enough to start him.
Adding Wanamaker will be for depth and not an immediate start. He has a great jump shot and comes off screens really well. The Magic live and die on the perimeter, and Wanamaker will develop nicely within Van Gundy's system in the Magic Kingdom.
54th Pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: Gary Flowers, SF
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Cleveland is back again, and if they fail to get better this year, Gilbert may as well sell that squad.
Flowers has great perimeter play, and his athleticism helps him off the dribble.
55th Pick, Boston Celtics: Isaiah Thomas, PG
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Doc feels the team still has another run in them, but maybe he’s living in the past.
Either way, they’ll need to add youth, and Thomas will do just that. He isn’t a consistent shooter, as he sometimes relies on floaters for points. He’ll need to improve his jump shot immensely going to the next level.
56th Pick, L.A. Lakers: Ben Hansbrough, SG
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Tyler's brother is a nice shooter who can add more depth to an aging Lakers team.
57th Pick, Dallas Mavericks: Rick Jackson, PF
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The potential 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks maybe?
Jackson will need time to develop his offensive game, but his work ethic will allow him to learn fairly quickly.
58th Pick, L.A. Lakers: Jon Diebler, SG
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Are the Lakers trying to build a team in the draft too?
Diebler is a wing type of player and will be a bench player in the NBA—sounds about right for the Lakers.
59th Pick, San Antonio Spurs: Ravern Johnson, SG
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The Spurs aged even more in the playoffs, and adding Johnson is just another building block toward the future.
60th Pick, Sacramento Kings: Robin Benzing, SF
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The Kings won’t get much on the defensive side of the ball from Benzing, but he has a mean jump shot and can be pretty deadly from beyond the arc.
