2011 NBA Mock Draft: Complete 1st Round Mock, Combine Edition
The 2011 NBA Draft Combine just wrapped in Chicago, leaving private workouts for teams as the last remaining temporal obstacles standing between this year's class of draft prospects and their big day.
No player who participated in the athletic drills and interviews at the combine hurt himself, though the absence of Kyrie Irving raised some concerns among observers as to whether the frosh point guard out of Duke is ready to be the first player taken.
On the flip side, scouts finally got an extended look at forward/center Enes Kanter, who was banned by the NCAA from playing at Kentucky due to benefits he received while playing in his native Turkey.
So now that all the measurements are in and the wingspans have been properly documented, how might the first round of the 2011 NBA draft shake out?
Read on!
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving
1 of 30
The Cavs need a new star around whom to rebuild, and in a league increasingly dominated by brilliant point guards, Duke's Kyrie Irving would be the best option.
There are some questions about his athleticism and his health, especially after Irving played in only 11 games during his lone season in Durham, though that won't likely be enough reason for Cleveland to pass on a kid who some say is the next Chris Paul.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams
2 of 30
Derrick Williams is definitely the second best prospect in this draft class, but he's far from the best fit for a Minnesota team that already has Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson at the wing/forward positions.
As such, don't be surprised if this pick becomes trade bait for the Timberwolves.
3. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight
3 of 30
Devin Harris is far from a fair replacement for Derron Williams, which should lead the Jazz to pick up another point.
Brandon Knight makes the most sense here as a guard who can play either backcourt position alongside Harris before Utah figures out how best to proceed from there.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter
4 of 30
Enes Kanter is, in essence, another European man of mystery, though he seems to be the best one available in this draft.
The Cavs have a pretty solid history of employing international bigs—Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao come to mind—and could use some more beef inside, making Kanter the best choice to fill out their future.
5. Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker
5 of 30
The Raptors could use a dynamic playmaker to bring some excitement back to Toronto, and Kemba Walker is the best such prospect they'll find with the fifth pick overall.
Fans in Canada can only hope that he'll be able to do for the Raptors what he did for UConn basketball—lead an improbable run to the top.
6. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely
6 of 30
Kawhi Leonard would be a great pick for the wing-hungry Wizards at sixth overall, though Washington's front office is reportedly leaning toward Jan Vesely of the Czech Republic.
The seven-footer is an exceptional athlete who brings with him a plethora of developing perimeter skills.
7. Sacramento Kings: Bismack Biyombo
7 of 30
Sacramento could really use a point guard to take some pressure off the immature Tyreke Evans in the backcourt, but the Kings aren't likely to find one worth taking with the seventh pick overall.
Hence, general manager Geoff Petrie will likely turn his attention to Bismack Biyombo, the Congan big man who would give the Kings an athletic defensive presence to complement the more offensive-minded DeMarcus Cousins.
8. Detroit Pistons: Kawhi Leonard
8 of 30
The Pistons will be in search of some help on the wing with Tracy McGrady and Tayshaun Prince gone to free agency.
As such, Kawhi Leonard makes a ton of sense here, especially considering he's the closest thing to Tayshaun Prince in this draft class.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Jonas Valanciunas
9 of 30
The Bobcats need some serious frontcourt help to make up for trading away Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers this past season.
Jonas Valanciunas represents the best option for Charlotte at this point, though he may not be so inclined to jump across the Atlantic just yet.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Klay Thompson
10 of 30
Michael Redd and Chris Douglas-Roberts are set to hit the free-agent market this summer, which will leave the Milwaukee Bucks woefully shallow on the wing.
Enter Klay Thompson, the 6'6" guard from Washington State whose dead-eye shooting will help basketball fans in Wisconsin forget about Redd in a hurry.
11. Golden Status Warriors: Marcus Morris
11 of 30
The Warriors have some pretty good big bangers on the inside, between David Lee, Andris Biedrins and Ekpe Udoh.
Adding Kansas' Marcus Morris to the mix would give Golden State a forward with some serious perimeter skills and a killer turnaround jumper that he can knock down over either shoulder.
12. Utah Jazz: Donatas Matiejunas
12 of 30
The Utah Jazz have had some pretty good luck with international big men, and with one such player (Andrei Kirilenko) headed for free agency, they could look to continue that tradition with Donatas Matiejunas.
The 7-footer from Lithuania is a versatile forward with a distinctly European repertoire who could give the Jazz a solid threat on the wing to open up space for Al Jefferson down low.
13. Phoenix Suns: Alec Burks
13 of 30
If there's any player in this draft who fits the Phoenix Suns' up-and-down style of play, it's Alec Burks.
The athletic guard from Colorado would fit in beautifully running the wing alongside Steve Nash on the fast break, especially with Grant Hill, Vince Carter and Mikael Pietrus all possibly leaving via free agency this offseason.
14. Houston Rockets: Chris Singleton
14 of 30
Despite missing the playoffs this year, the Houston Rockets really don't have any glaring needs on their roster.
Hence, they'll probably opt for the best talent they can nab, which, at this point, figures to be Chris Singleton, the do-everything forward from Florida State whose defensive prowess will have many Rockets fans wondering whether Shane Battier has mysteriously returned.
15. Indiana Pacers: Jimmer Fredette
15 of 30
The Indiana Pacers could use an outside threat to open things up for their ever-improving frontcourt, which makes Jimmer Fredette the ideal choice for Larry Bird at this point.
Jimmer can play either backcourt spot, providing whoever ends up coaching the Pacers with some relief for Darren Collison who can hit some deep, deep three's with regularity for good measure.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Markieff Morris
16 of 30
Markieff Morris isn't quite the dynamic offensive force that twin brother Marcus is, but his additional bulk and ability to bang inside make him an excellent fit for Philadelphia.
The Sixers have plenty of skill and athleticism to which the rough-and-tumble Markieff would add some serious energy and toughness.
17. New York Knicks: Kenneth Faried
17 of 30
With Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony at the forward positions, the New York Knicks need everything but scoring to fortify their front line.
Kenneth Faried was never a big scorer in college while at Morehead State, but he has proven himself to be a tremendous energy player and rebounder—something the Knicks could use in abundance.
18. Washington Wizards: Jordan Hamilton
18 of 30
The Washington Wizards have a bright future with John Wall and JaVale McGee, but they need some more scoring to go along with him in the backcourt.
Texas' Jordan Hamilton is one of the few players in this draft who can create his own shot on a regular basis, which makes him that much more attractive to a team like the Wizards, who may or may not re-sign restricted free agent Nick Young.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Tobias Harris
19 of 30
Tobias Harris may be the closest thing to Gerald Wallace in the 2011 NBA draft, which is exactly why the Charlotte Bobcats should take him with the 19th pick overall.
The Bobcats have missed Wallace's energy and athleticism ever since they traded him to Portland, and Harris just so happens to have those assets in abundance.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lucas Noguiera
20 of 30
The Minnesota Timberwolves would seem to be the last team inclined to select an international player who won't be coming across the Atlantic anytime soon after the problems they've had with getting Ricky Rubio to play for them.
But, then again, Brazilian center Lucas Noguiera could be a boon for a franchise without a true center or any sort of defensive force in the middle.
21. Portland Trail Blazers: JaJuan Johnson
21 of 30
The Portland Trailblazers have long had their issues with big men, from Bill Walton to Sam Bowie to Greg Oden, which makes the possibility of selecting JaJuan Johnson that much more dangerous.
But with Oden a perennial liability and Marcus Camby not getting any younger, the Blazers could use a frontcourt player with Johnson's experience and defensive ability to fortify an already strong and talented team.
22. Denver Nuggets: Tristan Thompson
22 of 30
Kenyon Martin and Nene could both be gone from the Nuggets' roster next season, which would leave a huge hole in the middle for a changing Denver team.
Texas freshman Tristan Thompson, as an undersized power forward, may not be ready to fill in for those two right away, but he most certainly has the tenacity and rebounding ability to be a frontcourt cornerstone for the Nuggets for years to come.
23. Houston Rockets: Davis Bertans
23 of 30
The Houston Rockets can certainly afford to stash a player or two abroad, making Davis Bertans a worthwhile pick for the franchise on the rise.
The 6'10" forward from Latvia isn't likely to make it across the Atlantic anytime soon, but taking him at the bottom of the first round is a worthwhile risk for a team like Houston that isn't in need of any immediate help at any particular position.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Singler
24 of 30
Though their series against the Dallas Mavericks may suggest otherwise, the Thunder are a terrific team as is.
That being said, Oklahoma City would be wise to spend their first-round pick on a player like Duke's Kyle Singler, who comes ready with winning experience and a wide array of useful skills.
25. Boston Celtics: Jordan Williams
25 of 30
The downfall of the Boston Celtics might most easily be attributed to their lack of front court depth—a direct consequence of the midseason trade that netted Jeff Green while sacrificing Kendrick Perkins in the process.
Maryland sophomore Jordan Williams won't solve that problem all by himself, but adding him to the roster would represent a significant step forward for a franchise in need of some youthful exuberance all around.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Honeycutt
26 of 30
The Dallas Mavericks better enjoy their current playoff run while they can because, with so many players destined for the free market this offseason, they might not so readily return to championship contention.
As far as adding players through the draft is concerned, the Mavs would do well to pick up Tyler Honeycutt, the athletic forward from UCLA whose skill set and bounce on the boards would help, at least in part, to mask the departures of players like Tyson Chandler, DeShawn Stevenson and Caron Butler.
27. New Jersey Nets: Reggie Jackson
27 of 30
There's no guarantee that Deron Williams will remain with the Nets when his deal comes due, even if they've moved on to Brooklyn from New Jersey by then.
As such, adding a player like Reggie Jackson, who has the ability and versatility to man either the point or the off guard positions effectively, makes a ton of sense for the Nets.
28. Chicago Bulls: Travis Leslie
28 of 30
Championship or no, the Chicago Bulls need to find someone to play alongside Derrick Rose who can contribute on offense, at least more so than Keith Bogans.
Georgia's Travis Leslie isn't a scoring machine, per se, but his ability to attack the rim and step out for a jump shot or two make him an attractive option for a team lacking backcourt support for its league MVP.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Darius Morris
29 of 30
The resurgence and late season disappointment experienced by the San Antonio Spurs may well be attributed to the health of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, who were terrific for Gregg Popovich's squad before succumbing to a myriad of injures once again.
Seeing as how neither player is getting any younger—especially Ginobili, who will be 34 in July—the Spurs would be well-advised to invest in someone like, say, Michigan's Darius Morris, who has the size and skill set to play both backcourt positions.
30. Chicago Bulls: Nikola Mirotic
30 of 30
As one might expect, the Chicago Bulls won't have many needs to address in the draft, especially if they can land a scoring guard with the 28th pick.
That position of strength will allow general manager Gar Forman to risk his second first-round pick on Nikola Mirotic, a 20-year-old forward from Montenegro whom the Bulls can afford to let develop in Europe a bit longer before bringing him stateside to play in the NBA.
