2011 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Edition, Post-Combine
With the Draft Combine at an end, the lottery order set, and individual team workouts on the rise, we take a look at the most likely scenarios for teams picking 1-14 in the 2011 NBA Draft (takes place June 23).
Many basketball experts and analysts have deemed this year a "weak draft". There are, obviously, a shortcoming of super-stars, and only one or two locked-in picks. Although, there are a lot of great prospects that have potential to become great in the NBA.
Next, we look at the NBA Draft Lottery (1-14) and try to determine the outcome of this year's mysterious draft.
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1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are in an excellent position to return to playoff contention with two high picks in the lottery (1 and 4). Although I strongly believe that they will not be in the playoffs for the 2011-12 season, I can see the potential and future status of this franchise.
Drafting the assumed No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving will be a huge step in the direction of success for the Cavaliers. A lot of people like to argue that they should draft Derrick Williams first, and then select either Kemba Walker or Brandon Knight, but having the luxury of a proven and elite point guard in Kyrie Irving is a much better choice.
Walker and Knight are score-first point guards whereas Kyrie Irving has the ability to make every single person on the roster a better player.
He has amazing court vision and passing ability, makes great decisions, and combines those traits with a smooth jumper. Placing Kyrie with players like J.J. Hickson, Baron Davis, Antawn Jamison, and their future No. 4 overall pick creates an opportunity for this team to become elite.
Add a few more missing pieces via free agency, let the roster develop for a couple seasons, and the NBA will see playoff-series results from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Arizona
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This explanation will be short and sweet. I see the Timberwolves giving really hard thought on trading the No. 2 overall pick. Otherwise, they take the best player available in Derrick Williams; moreover, they will probably set him on the trade block as well.
With Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Wesley Johnson, it's not likely that Minnesota will try to keep all four of them around with the selection of Derrick. Williams and Beasley are virtually the same player, no one is taking the ball out of Love's talented hands, and they need to give Wesley Johnson the time he needs to develop into a great player.
Minnesota's biggest needs are currently at point guard and center. Enes Kanter is a reasonable selection for them if they keep their draft position.
3. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
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Utah is another team landing two picks in the lottery and having been given the opportunity to do something about it (3 and 12). The Jazz entered a season of utter and complete disappointment with the departure of all-star guard Deron Williams, and retirement of the legendary Jerry Sloan.
Picking up Devin Harris and Derrick Favors was a smart move on behalf of the Jazz, who foresaw bad dealings in the future with Deron's contract. Harris is a proven veteran in this league and has some nice moves and occasionally a deadly shot.
The one-time All-Star hasn't seemed to fit quite right in Utah's offense so far, but I suspect that with the changes of replacement coach Ty Corbin, and with time to get the plays down, he will be a key role in the future success of the Utah Jazz.
Enter Brandon Knight. The 6'3" point guard out of Kentucky University is a stunning basketball player with promising skill and athleticism. He has the body of an elite NBA point guard, and can continue to grow and mature at only 19 years of age. Knight has a very nice shooting touch, and ability to penetrate the lane. Not to mention his passing ability, and great defensive play.
Knight will fit perfectly in Utah's style of play, and seeing as they have a history of choosing bigger guards (Utah selected Deron Williams over Chris Paul), they will almost definitely choose him over Kemba Walker. Giving him a mentor in Devin Harris will also be a great benefit to the franchise. With one of the best front courts in the league, Knight will have the opportunity to rack up a few assists per night while passing to big men Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, and Mehmet Okur.
Although Brandon Knight has a ways to go in development, he is an awesome pick at no. 3 and an admirable basketball player nonetheless.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, PF/C, Kentucky (Istanbul, Turkey)
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The Cleveland Cavaliers select Turkish center Enes Kanter at No. 4. Kanter has been showing immense skill at team workouts and impressed a lot of scouts at the combine.
He has soft touch around the basket and a decent 5 to 10-foot jumper. He has a preference to play power forward, but I doubt he will be awarded much playing time there at the next level.
The combination of Kyrie Irving and Enes Kanter is by far the better scenario for Cleveland than a Derrick Williams and Knight/Walker combo.
5. Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker, PG, UCONN
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Kemba Walker led his team to the NCAA title this year and showed off his talents along the way. Walker is very small at just 6'0" tall, but has quick moves and a great jump shot.
His compassion for the game and competitive drive are traits of a true champion.
Toronto is in dire need of a legitimate point guard. Jose Calderon just doesn't compete at the elite level that Kemba could. Maybe the acquisition of Walker will also motivate teammate Andrea Bargnani to play to his true abilities.
The combination of Walker and Bargnani is a great asset to have during the season and should get Toronto fans very excited for the upcoming season!
6. Washington Wizards: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego
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Washington picks up a very athletic small forward here in Kawhi Leonard. With the acquisition of John Wall last year, the Wizards give the team a slashing, shooting, rebounding, and passing big man.
Kawhi measured the largest hands of all players attending the draft combine, and impressed analysts and scouts with his superior athletic ability and his surprisingly smooth shot.
The Wizards have a long ways to go to gain playoff status, but with a young core of guys like John Wall, Kawhi Leonard, Javale McGee, and Nick Young, you can bet that they'll be the Oklahoma City Thunder of the future!
7. Sacramento Kings: Jan Vesely, SF/PF, Czech Republic
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Jan Vesely has risen substantially on the draft boards on almost one reason alone: this kid can dunk it! Adding a physical talent like Vesely to a team like the Kings would be, in essence, a great move in part by the Kings officials.
He has shown a promising outside shot, possibly extending to the NBA three-point line. Vesely runs the floor exceptionally well for his size, and if the ball gets to his hands in transition he's going to take it to the rim and slam it home.
Jan Vesely is a great fit on Sacramento's roster, with the combination of DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, and Omri Casspi they have a team not to be taken lightly on any given night.
There is a possibility for Kemba Walker and Jan Vesely to essentially "flip-flop" (switch places) in the draft. In which case, Sacramento gains another great guard and Toronto gains another great international big.
8. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, Congo
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Bismack Biyombo seemed to come out of nowhere to gain a lottery pick status this year. The international prospect reportedly sports a 7'7" wingspan—now those are some seriously long arms.
His freak athletic ability allows him to defend multiple positions and block every shot thrown at the basket. At the Nike Hoop Summit, Biyombo recorded a triple double: 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks. Yes, 10 blocks. Bismack's main offensive game consists of offensive rebounds and dunks.
His jump shot has nice form, but isn't quite a useful weapon yet. Many see him as a Ben Wallace type of player.
Detroit has serious problems within their franchise right now, and it hurts to admit that they won't be in the playoffs any time soon. Upcoming players such as Rodney Stuckey, Austin Daye, and Greg Monroe are promising, but huge contracts given to Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, and Charlie Villanueva just about cancel that out.
I'm an avid Pistons fan, and I believe that this pick will work out wonderfully. Bismack is another young, strong player to add to the promising lineup of Stuckey, Daye, and Monroe.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
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Charlotte is in desperate need of a lot of things, and Tristan Thompson helps in the effort to return this team to playoff contention.
With the departure of Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats need a presence on both ends of the floor, and a flat out scorer. Thompson provides in those categories quite nicely.
At 6'9" and still growing, Tristan is a true power forward who can play with the best of them. His defense is superb and his offensive game shows flashes of greatness.
Putting him on a team with D.J. Augustin gives him a chance to win games and get opportunities with the basketball in his hands. Not to mention that the Bobcats' owner is Michael Jordan, who will undoubtedly groom the young forward and push him to excel on the offensive end.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado State
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When you train personally with Chauncey Billups, you know you're going to be great. That is exactly what Alec Burks has been doing the past couple of weeks. Having been critiqued to no end about his shooting ability, Burks called on Billups to help him.
Other than that, Alec has been a great scorer on the collegiate level, averaging just over 20 points per game. He is widely regarded as the best shooting guard in the draft, although I personally believe shooting guard Marshon Brooks will turn out to be one of the best players taken in this year's draft.
Milwaukee has been in the headlines lately for marketing second-year point guard Brandon Jennings. Apparently Jennings said the wrong things about the team's management, and now he's up for grabs.
Yet if somehow he ends up back on the roster, the back court combination of Burks and Jennings is a nightmare for a lot of teams. I see Burks potentially becoming an all-star, presuming he will work hard and get the right publicity.
11. Golden State Warriors: Jonas Valanciunas, C/PF, Lithuania
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The hype about Jonas Valanciunas will come to its peak at his selection by the Warriors. Jonas is said to be one of the best centers in the draft class, and have enormous potential.
David Lee needs help down low, and Andris Biedrins isn't quite the elite player they need at the center/power forward positions.
The one downside on Valanciunas is his contract issues with his team in Europe. The Warriors may have to be willing to buy out his contract to bring him over or let him develop for a few seasons and play out the remaining years on his contract.
With a back court of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, you can be sure that the Warriors will be looking to go big on this pick. Enter Jonas Valanciunas.
12. Utah Jazz: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence
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Marshon Brooks has drawn comparisons to Kobe Bryant from almost every analyst and scout in the league. The way he shoots, moves, and rebounds are identical.
Marshon was the second leading scorer in the NCAA last season. He sports an incredible 7'1" wingspan...while playing the shooting guard position. That's a nightmare match up no one wants to deal with.
With Utah's serious need at the shooting guard position, Brooks is a no-brainer. He can get his shot off over any defender, create for himself, and penetrate the lane. He averaged 24.6 points, 7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game last season (his senior year).
With the addition of Brandon Knight with their previous pick, Utah bolsters yet another promising young player for the future.
Utah stands now with upcoming players Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Brandon Knight, and Marshon Brooks. Throw in Devin Harris, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, and Mehmet Okur, a few years of development, and you have a championship contending team.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette, PG, Brigham Young
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Naismith Award winner Jimmer Fredette is selected by Phoenix at no. 13 overall. Fredette led the nation in scoring at just under 29 points per outing.
Almost everyone knows the debate of whether Jimmer will be an all-star or a huge bust. I think he'll land somewhere in the middle.
Jimmer has the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor and uses that fact to draw the best opposing defender out to guard him. This, in turn, opens up the game for every other player on the floor. That transition to the NBA will be a great asset for any team willing to land him.
Phoenix is a great fit for Fredette, seeing as their offense consists of a "run-and-gun" style of play. Also, Jimmer will be able to learn from the best: Steve Nash. The fact that he causes mismatches for the other team will allow players like Channing Frye and Hakeem Warrick to have break-out seasons.
The three teams most suited for Fredette are Utah, Phoenix, and Indiana. Look for him to be picked up at no. 12, 13, or 15 overall in this year's draft.
14. Houston Rockets: Jordan Hamilton, SF/SG, Texas
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With a player like Hamilton still on the board, Houston will indefinitely pick him up. Jordan Hamilton averaged just under 19 points and eight rebounds a game this year while dishing out two assists.
He has a nice stroke, but at the same time has the ability to take it to the rim with his athletic ability. Hamilton will be a valuable asset to Houston seeing as he has the ability to grab rebounds as well.
With the talents of Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola, and Chase Budinger, Jordan Hamilton joins the Rockets to form an upcoming team in the NBA that could more than likely reach playoff contention, seeing as they are the last team in the lottery this year.
