2011 NBA Mock Draft: Will PGs Rule the Day or Will the Draft Be a Bust?
The NBA is on the verge of being locked out, with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on July 1st. This comes after a season of unseen parity, both in the East and West.
We've been down this road before, haven't we?
Of course, NBA fanatics still have something to look forward to: The 2011 NBA Draft.
This draft, in particular, though, is pretty guard-heavy, with 11 combo-guards and nine point guards expected to be taken in the draft, with a total of seven widely regarded to be taken in the first round.
This draft is also considered one of the worst drafts of the decade, which is daunting, considering NBA fans are in a lockout year.
Will point guards be the subject, or will this entire draft be subordinate in comparison to the past ten NBA drafts? Let's take a look, shall we?
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams, SF, Arizona
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It only makes sense that the Cavaliers get lucky enough to pick first and fourth in one of the worst drafts in the past decade following LeBron James' departure.
However, this kid, Derrick Williams, can play.
There's no doubt that the Cavaliers will take Williams. He and Kyrie Irving are the two best players on the draft board, and with Baron Davis proving to be a point guard worth starting, Derrick Williams is the safe choice.
Williams provides versatility and size, at 6'8''. His athleticism isn't scary, but it is fairly good. He's explosive at the rim, and is extremely aggressive on the offensive end, something the Cavaliers desperately needed last season.
Williams also has handles, and can drive when playing the wing; additionally, he has range, and can knock-down triples when left open. He plays a lot like Lamar Odom, but doesn't have the size, unfortunately.
During a time when the Cavaliers are in need of some help, Derrick Williams can provide just that, but won't be able to bring Cleveland back to prominence, by himself.
It's the smartest pick the Cavs can make, but it won't make anyone forget about LeBron.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonas Valanciunas. C, Lithuania
2 of 30A ton of mock drafts have Kyrie Irving going, at the very least, to the Timberwolves with the second pick of the NBA draft.
In case you didn't know, though, the Wolves are still holding out for point guard Ricky Rubio. Why that is, is beyond me.
Regardless, Jonas Valanciunas isn't a horrible pick at No. 2. He's 6'11'' and has extremely long arms. Oh, and he turned 19 just a couple of weeks ago.
Granted, he's scrawny, and in a league that loathes "soft," that won't go over well with general managers across the league. Still, he's only 19 so you can expect him to build some muscle mass and grow into his frame.
The Timberwolves could use a center to compliment Kevin Love, who has been an absolute rebounding machine. Add length to the big position, and you have a center who has soft hands, and can finish at the rim in Valanciunas, while Kevin Love can stretch the floor with his shooting range.
With this front-court, rebounding won't be difficult. Add that to the fact Michael Beasley will add athleticism and versatility at the three, and you have a hell of a front-court.
Overall, this pick makes a ton of sense if you're the Minnesota Timberwolves. Valanciunas is heavily underrated, and could prove to be one of the better European big men since the Gasol brothers.
3. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, PG/SG, Kentucky
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Kyrie Irving should stay on the draft board.
The Utah Jazz should take Brandon Knight, if they're smart. Devin Harris is an established, young point guard, so it wouldn't make sense to take another true point guard unless Harris isn't in your future.
Brandon Knight's the smart choice. Knight has awesome shooting range, and can move—and score—off the dribble. He's cerebral enough to zig zag his way to an open position on the court and take a long- to mid-range jumper, where he's deadly.
Knight can also play off the dribble, and coupled with Devin Harris, can give the Jazz a dangerous back-court combo, with Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap anchoring the front-court.
What it will also do will bump Raja Bell back to the bench, because though he's a formidable defensive player, he lacks the offensive know-how and skill that Knight will provide.
Knight isn't one to take you off the dribble all the time—in fact, it's best if he stays playing as a two-guard, where he'll be most effective.
With the depth the Jazz have, Knight could give them a strong, offensive presence.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, PF, Kentucky
4 of 30The Cleveland Cavaliers, as you know, don't have any pieces to build around. J.J. Hickson is arguably their best player, and that's not something to be proud of.
Enes Kanter can relegate Hickson to a bench role. Kanter is a 6'11'' big man, who can play both the four and the pivot. He has soft hands, and can finish at the rim beautifully. He's got amazing length, and used it fairly well at Kentucky.
He's already a bulky guy, but he doesn't play with the strength the Cavaliers could use. The Cavaliers need that length to push themselves to a near-.500 level.
This makes sense, when you consider that the Cavs—in this mock draft—take Derrick Williams. Couple Williams' athleticism and ability to get to the basket off the dribble and Kanter's ability to use his length on the inside (and occasionally take a long jumper), and you have a versatile frontcourt.
That is, if Baron Davis can play at the level he had after getting traded from the Clippers.
5. Toronto Raptors: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
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Kyrie Irving has taken a pretty big drop, for being considered by some to be the best player in the 2011 NBA Draft.
It's a drop, though, mitigated by the fact that other teams don't really need a point guard. Why are the Toronto Raptors different? Because they don't have a point guard. Or a center. Or a power forward. Or a small forward. Or a shooting guard.
The Raptors are set to build from the ground up. No player is indispensable, and their best player—Andrea Bargnani—could very well be gone, if there's a deal in place to send him elsewhere.
If the Raptors believe enough in Kyrie Irving, they'll build around him immedately. If they use their brain, they'll draft him and evaluate his performance at the NBA level.
Regardless, Kyrie Irving offers a lot to the Raptors. He's a true point guard, who looks to pass first, score second. That's important, because a lot of point guards nowadays are focused on scoring, and Irving's type are necessary to distribute the ball.
He's explosive, sometimes, and the Raptors could use that aggressiveness for dribble penetration and kick-outs. If Andrea Bargnani is sticking around, this is crucial to get him open jumpers.
Overall, the Raptors are starting from the ground up. Kyrie Irving is the best way to go if they're starting with this year's draft.
6. Washington Wizards: Donatas Motiejunas, PF, Lithuania
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The Washington Wizards have a building piece, and though there wasn't very many players to choose from in this draft, they should be satisfied if Donatas Motiejunas is still on the board.
John Wall proved to be quite the animal in his rookie year, registering 16 points (albeit at a rate of 40 percent of his shots) and eight assists per game. He was explosive, and had awesome vision, which only got better.
What does that have to do with Donatas Motiejunas?
Motiejunas is extremely talented and can play big at 6'11''. He's cerebral enough to play the post effectively, and can run fast-breaks.
John Wall could benefit from having a big man who can finish at the rim, especially a big man at that length. Motiejunas is offensively sound, and seems to be pretty coachable.
If he can learn the NBA-style game in his first year in Washington and excel, he and John Wall could be quite the dynamic duo.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker, PG, UConn
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The Sacramento Kings have quite a few pieces in place. Tyreke Evans is still All Star-level talent, despite having a flighty sophomore season.
DeMarcus Cousins showed a ton of promise in his rookie season as the team's top rebounder; even Marcus Thornton had a hell of a season in Sacramento, especially in the final four games.
Kemba Walker is a perfect fit for the Kings, who were nearly re-located to Anaheim. Walker brings a lot to the table for the kings—he's an aggressive scorer, and has an oh, so, sweet step-back jumper.
He's quick and has amazing speed, and that's something the Kings could use; if Kemba Walker can keep his aggressive mentality and distribute the ball better, the Kings could implement a high-octane offense full of young, athletic players.
Walker, in a sense, has the same mentality that Derrick Rose has—attack and score, and if the option to do so isn't available, pass and either 1) restart the possession, or 2) kick-out to an open shooter on the wing. With the talent that could surround Walker, this would be quite the potent offense.
This pick makes sense for the Kings, and it could be the one small piece they need to become quite the surprise to NBA fans across the country.
8. Detroit Pistons: Kawhi Leonard, SF, SDSU
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The Detroit Pistons are in a whole lot of trouble.
Last season, drama was abundant. Reports came out that Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and other Pistons protested against head coach John Kuester by not showing up to their shoot-around before a game against the Sixers.
Players are not content that they're still in Detroit, namely Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. And knowing that is hard to pin-point what the Pistons' needs are in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Regardless, Kawhi Leonard is the safe pick.
By the eight selection, Leonard will be the best available player in the draft.
Leonard brings a lot of things to the Pistons. He's athletic and is a hustle player, who can defend reasonably well. He has become a better shooter, but shouldn't be relied upon for his offense. The Pistons could use a solid defender after allowing the 16th most points in the league last season.
Leonard isn't a building piece, and it may be worth the trouble to try and trade the pick away for either cash or a future draft pick, but if they're going to take this pick, they might as well get the best player available.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Marcus Morris, SF/PF, Kansas
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No one knows if Michael Jordan is ready to blow up the Charlotte Bobcats entirely. At this point, it seems that way, and this draft depends on his mindset.
If the Bobcats decide to make this pick and deal from there, Marcus Morris is the smart choice. Morris is crafty, and is an intelligent ball player who has a good blend of athleticism mixed in.
He won't be a building piece, by far, but Morris will be a solid role player for the Bobcats should they decide to keep him.
Regardless, it'll be tough to keep any player at the ninth pick in the draft if you're the Bobcats, who could be in absolute, commando re-building mode after the first re-building mode failed terribly.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jimmer Fredette, PG, ByU
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Jimmer Fredette. Ah, yes, the Jimmer. You almost forgot about him, didn't you?
Hopefully, the nine teams before the Bucks do.
The Milwaukee Bucks struggled mightily offensively last season, which led to their inability to make the playoffs. The Bucks were a top-tier defensive team last season, finishing with the third least points-per-game allowed in the league.
If you want offense, Jimmer Fredette has offense.
No one knows how Fredette will transition into the NBA. He was a natural (and beastly) scorer last year at BYU, putting up points in the 30s regularly. He has an amazing ability to shoot, and uses the approach of substance over style, shown by his ball-handling.
The Bucks could use this. Because while there are uncertainties surrounding Brandon Jennings, Fredette could, at the very least, provide instant offense off the bench.
If his talents translate, and he can learn to become a facilitator much like the way Russel Westbrook is learning to become a facilitator, Fredette can play the one, with Brandon Jennings taking over at the two-guard position.
If Jennings is traded, though, expect Jimmer Fredette to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately.
11. Golden State Warriors: Bismack Biyombo, C, Congo
11 of 30The Golden State Warriors are on the right track.
The team has quite a few pieces in place to build around, and need only for these players to improve and grow together. Stephen Currey, Monta Ellis, David Lee, and Dorrell Wright are proving to be an awesome set of starters.
Their weak spot? The same weak spot that existed in 2007 during their magical playoff run: Defense.
Adding Bismack Biyombo could address such a problem. Biyombo is very Ben Wallace-like, with his extreme commitment and energy put forth to defend, and lack of the offensive skills required to score.
Biyombo could anchor the Warriors' interior, especially with questions surrounding Andris Biedrins and his nagging injuries.
At 6'9'', Biyombo won't provide the size that the Warriors so desperately need to anchor them defensively. But there won't be another true center worth taking in the first round of the draft, anyway, and Biyombo is the best pick at the position.
The Warriors are already potent as hell offensively, so sacrificing offense for defense in a draft that boasts a lot of players with "great motors" and no offensive skill-sets isn't such a bad thing.
12. Utah Jazz: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
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The Jazz are in prime position to really build off of their current core of players (as they should) and put together a deep, playoff-contending team in the post-Deron Williams era.
Add Alec Burks, and the Jazz have exactly that.
There's some positional issues, though, that the Jazz must figure out.
If Devin Harris stays—and all indications are that he will—and the Jazz draft Brandon Knight and use him as a two-guard, Alec Burks would be lucked out, right?
Wrong.
Burks is 6'6'' and his athleticism and strength could permit him moving up to a forward wing, rather than a guard wing. Imagine having an explosive back-court headed by Burks, Devin Harris and Brandon Knight? Yikes.
If Burks is still available -- and he very well could be -- then everything works out, and the Jazz become a scary, scary team.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jan Vesely, SF/PF, Czech Republic
13 of 30Everyone expects Jan Vesely to be a top-10 player. Considering the needs of other teams, he should fall in the lap of the Phoenix Suns.
As of right now, there are no pieces for the Suns to build around. Steve Nash is still an all-NBA talent, despite his age, but there's no way the Suns are willing to give him up for younger talent.
To contend right now, Jan Vesely is the best choice. He provides a wide-ranged offensive skill-set, as he has solid post skills and footwork to play off and on the dribble.
At 6'11'', though, taking players off the dribble isn't exactly feasible.
He'll need to put on a lot of weight and build some strength for him to convert into a true power forward. A near seven-footer shouldn't be playing a wing, no matter his range in shot.
If Jan Vesely can make the transition and get strong quickly, the Suns could very well be in place to make one last playoff run.
14. Houston Rockets: Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas
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The Houston Rockets could use some defense, because despite ranking in the top five in nearly every statistical offensive cateogry, the Rockets failed to make the playoffs because they allowed the eighth most points per game in the league.
Markieff Morris is extremely physical, and pretty athletic. Think Kendrick Perkins, but smaller. He can anchor the Rockets' defense and, coupled with Chuck Hayes, can provide a different degree of difficulty to opposing players' big men on the offensive end.
The Rockets have all the offense they need, with Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic providing enough offense to catapult the team into high offensive rankings.
But the defense needs work, and Morris will provide just that—aggressive, physical defense. The problem, of course, is that Morris has little offensive know-how. Again, this may not be necessary, and drafting Morris will allow the Rockets to take another step away from needing Yao Ming.
15. Indiana Pacers: Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Tennessee
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The Indiana Pacers proved to the NBA world that they have a good group of guys that can compete at a high level when they took the Bulls to a tough, five-game series.
So for this draft, Tobias Harris should be the Pacers' first-round pick.
Tobias Harris is a long, athletic player who is cerebral in his offensive mindset. He isn't an aggressive offensive athlete, but he can spot up and shoot when called upon. This is something the Pacers could use more of, as they shot the lights out of the Bulls for the first four games of the first round.
Tobias Harris provides outside shooting, but he also possesses tremendous length and strength, which helps him on the defensive end. These are characteristics that the Pacers seem to be building upon, and Tobias Harris fits the bill, perfectly.
If the Pacers want to stay the course by keeping this core intact, Tobias Harris is the perfect fit for them, hands down.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State
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The Philadelphia 76ers proved to be a team that, if given enough time, could become a force in this league someday. Evan Turner and Jrue Holliday provide a core that's led by veteran Elton Brand; this team, with experience, has awesome potential.
To build upon this, the 76ers need to address their offense, which struggled for the majority of the season. Klay Thompson is a solid offensive role player, with a fluid, silk-smooth shot.
The 76ers needed desperately for someone to step up and take jump-shots consistently in the series against the Miami Heat, and Klay Thompson seems to be that guy.
On the defensive end, the kid isn't a total loss—he averaged almost two steals per game in his sophomore year at Washington State, and he has enough length to give opposing players some trouble.
The 76ers could use him as a solid bench contributor, much like the way Arron Afflalo has played in Denver.
17. New York Knicks: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence
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The New York Knicks should shift their focus to adding defensive talent.
Should, but won't.
The Knicks are coached by Mike D'Antoni, a guy who loves the Run 'N Gun offense, implementing an offense-first, offense-always philosophy. His Phoenix Suns and 2010 New York Knicks have never paid enough attention to detail on the defensive end, so why would they start picking up defensive talent now?
Marshon Brooks fits the bill for such a philosophy. He won't be a second (or even third) option in New York, with Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups accounting for a majority of their offense.
Brooks is an awesome wing player who can create shots on and off the ball, and those are always a good type of player to have in a system which almost entirely ignores the defensive side of the ball, and puts undying focus on the offensive end.
Brooks can spot-up to shoot, too, and with Amar'e and 'Melo having the seemingly-innate ability to get to the rim, Brooks could be left open often to take advantage of a vacuumed defense.
18. Washington Wizards: Tyler Honeycutt, SG/SF, UCLA
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The Washington Wizards are one of those teams that seem to have a good amount of pieces in place to build a team almost directly from the draft, and succeed.
However, looking at their depth chart, they need a wing player like Tyler Honeycutt.
Honeycutt provides a good blend of offense and defense, which is always useful. The Wizards lack a wing at the three position with the ability to take a dribble, step up, and launch an open shot. Maurice Evans lacks any sort of offensive know-how, although he's a solid defender.
Honeycutt, though, has the ability to be a top-tier defender. His length is daunting, and at 6'8'', he's liable to frustrate opposing wings with his long arms.
The Wizards weren't so awesome on either sides of the ball, but struggled much, much more on the defensive end, and Honeycutt's length could solve a lot of the Wizards' problems in terms of matchups.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
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Tristan Thompson has a ton of potential.
Sadly, it's difficult to imagine this potential being realized.
Thompson has, throughout the year, looked flighty at times, not-so-bad at others. He has little offensive know-how outside of within about six feet of the basket, despite being athletic as hell.
Still, his athleticism doesn't make up for his short stature. At 6'9'', he doesn't have the length you'd like from your typical power forward, especially one that's better suited to be a backup defender in the middle.
What's more is that he's horrifyingly inconsistent, and that's something you never want from a first-round draft pick.
The Bobcats could use him, should they decide to keep the draft pick. They nearly made the playoffs despite giving up Gerald Wallace to the Blazers, and the Bobcats are already a defensive-minded team, and a good one at that.
Regardless, Tristan Thompson is projected by many mock drafts to fit in the top ten, somewhere. Not here. Not with all the red flags.
20. Chris Singleton -- Minnesota Timberwolves, SF/PF, Florida State
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The Minnesota Timberwolves proved to be a team that has a potent enough offense to put them in position to win games. They ranked tenth in the league in scoring, and, of course, ranked first in rebounding (thanks to Kevin Love).
Kurt Rambis is in a lot of hot water out in Minnesota. He was heavily criticized for not playing Kevin Love more, and he was criticized even more for not improving upon the team's outing in 2009-10, when they finished as the worst team in the league.
To solve his problem, the Timberwolves could use a guy like Chris Singleton.
Chris Singleton is, at heart, a power forward. He lacks any sort of offensive skill-set suitable for the professional level, especially anything mid-range and beyond. Athletically, Chris Singleton will provide a solid defensive presence inside off the bench, to relieve Kevin Love.
Anything more than that, though, is sketchy.
21. Portland Trailblazers: Darrius Morris, PG, Michigan
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The Portland Trailblazers over-achieved this season, considering the injury issues they've dealt with in Brandon Roy's knees, and Greg Oden's, well, everything. Both were set to be the franchise's cornerstone building pieces, and both are out of the loop in Portland.
What's odd is that the Blazers may very well have some pieces to build around.
LaMarcus Aldridge was an absolute monster last season, and Andre Miller, Wesley Matthews, and Gerald Wallace played exceptionally well as starters.
How will Darrius Morris help, considering the team already has Andre Miller?
Morris has proved to be a true point guard, who looks to find open teammates and create plays for them, rather than look for his own shot. In fact, this draft has Darius Morris' NBA comparison as Andre Miller, himself.
Morris will be the youth at the point guard position that seems to be the requirement among NBA point guards. His ability to pass, and his awesome court vision, should push the Blazers' offense a step further to become legitimate contenders rather than just a pesky, low-seeded team no one wants to face in the first round.
22. Denver Nuggets: Jordan Hamilton, SG/SF, Texas
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The Denver Nuggets have a ton of depth and a player at each position who is a worthy starter. The Nugs have an easy, 10-deep rotation, with each young player possessing a skill-set that can contribute.
So, it only makes sense that, considering the only thing the Nuggets need is a superstar, Denver takes the best player available at this point in the draft.
Jordan Hamilton fits the bill.
Jordan Hamilton is highly versatile, and has a wide-ranged offensive skill set that, if coached properly, can be tough to defend.
He has a good outside shot and can take a defender off the dribble, and penetrate; however, he's a streaky shooter, and he needs work on his ball-handling, since the Nuggets employed a lot of penetration and kick-outs last season, post-'Melo.
It'll be interesting to see if the Nuggets even keep this pick. They have a ton of trading pieces, and if Jordan Hamilton falls in their lap, some teams may have a disgruntled superstar that could become a free agent in 2012.
23. Houston Rockets: Davis Bertans, SF, Latvia
23 of 30The Houston Rockets are potent as hell on offense, and though I have the Rockets picking up Markieff Morris earlier in this draft, the team should build off of what it's already really good at.
Bertans is a true shooter, and has a good release and arc on his shot. His range is incredible, and he'll definitely remind you of a guy like Sasha Vujacic in 2008 with his skill-set and style of preferred play, which involves a quick dribble to step up and shoot, and spot-ups.
The Rockets have somewhat of an inside presence, and a slasher like Kyle Lowry could use penetration to Bertans' advantage, finding him open for an outside shot.
This Houston Rockets' projected selection is, to tell you the truth, something I'm still shaky about. Kevin McHale's the new coach, reportedly, in Houston, and he could influence the selection of a strictly-defensive-minded rookie.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Trey Thompkins, PF, Georgia
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are the definition of a complete team that just needs to mature.
Against their recent playoff exit against the Dallas Mavericks, the Thunder had out-played Dallas for the majority of the final three games.
In each one, the Mavericks were able to cut the Thunder's leads late in the fourth quarter. That, quite possibly, is due to lack of maturity.
However, it's not as if they will skip their pick entirely. And Trey Thompkins makes sense, anyway, because while the Thunder have one of the best defensive big-man rotations in the league, the fours and pivots the Thunder have signed aren't offensively potent.
Thompkins provides an outside-oriented big man who can shoot well and play the mid-range game exceptionally.
This was especially needed in the playoff series against the Mavericks (and at other times, throughout the season) because it was seemingly just a two-man show between Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook (although, it looks as if James Harden could be more involved in the Thunder's offense in the upcoming season).
Adding Thompkins could add a much-needed offensive threat on the perimeter.
25. Boston Celtics: Malcolm Lee, PG/SG, UCLA
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The Boston Celtics desperately need athleticism and offense, and after 24 picks, there isn't much left.
Malcolm Lee is the smart choice, if Lee's available. He's not horrifyingly athletic, but he possesses enough speed and talent to give the Celtics another push off the bench at a two-guard position.
The Celtics struggled mightily with offensive firepower all season long, and they especially struggled with that in their series against the Miami Heat.
But what's more is that this team struggled on an athletic level, and had no true athletes to rotate out, and help guard, guys like Dwyane Wade or LeBron James.
Malcolm Lee has enough length to become a formidable defender, if coached properly. And with Doc Rivers at the helm for another few years, Lee could get the coaching he needs to become just that.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Kyle Singler, SF, Duke
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The Dallas Mavericks are in the NBA Finals because of their ridiculous, lights-out jump-shooting ways.
Kyle Singler should add to that tremendously.
That's not all that Singler possesses, though. He's an extremely smart basketball player with solid vision, displayed by his astute passing ability. If you're looking for comparisons, think Luke Walton (with minutes) or Hedo Turkoglu (but not as gifted to run as a point forward).
The Mavericks' style of play suits Singer perfectly, because of the constant ball movement and outside shots created by such ball motion.
Further, Singler would benefit greatly from playing in Dallas, and it would allow him to become a much smarter basketball player, overall.
If the Mavericks can finally get their hands on a ring, they might consider building around their current core and adding youth, and this kid brings offensive know-how, intelligence, and, of course, youth.
27. New Jersey Nets: Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State
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The New Jersey Nets are in appeasement mode, right now, with Deron Williams.
However, Kenneth Faried actually makes a lot of sense. The Nets don't have the defensive presence on the interior, because Brook Lopez doesn't commit to defense on every possession. Faried does, and doesn't seem to have an off-switch.
He's a hustle player, and he scraps endlessly, and aggressively. His commitment to defense is incredible, and it could be something the Nets could use off the bench, should they somehow pick up another superstar to compliment Deron Williams.
Of course, Faried has a very limited set of offensive skills, which makes sense, since his attitude and aggression are a response to his awareness of such.
The Nets may not need him to be an astute offensive player, though, should Brook Lopez and Deron Williams start clicking.
28. Chicago Bulls: Shelvin Mack, PG/SG, Butler
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The Chicago Bulls desperately need a two-guard.
Shelvin Mack, though, isn't that two-guard.
Mack is under-sized to play the wing guard, at just 6'2''. He has a good enough shooting range and some ball-handling skills to play off the dribble, or on the dribble, when needed; however, his size is damning in this situation, because one problem that the Bulls have had at that position is not having enough offensive firepower with size.
Derrick Rose has learned to make other players of sub-par offensive talent look like formidable offensive threats, but at 6'2'', it doesn't look like Shelvin Mack can benefit in that sense.
What Mack could provide, though, is solid relief for Rose off the bench, and he could learn a great deal, although Rose is a shoot-first point guard, rather than one who looks to involve teammates.
If Mack can get better with his ball-handling and passing skills, he could prove to be a constant in the Bulls' guard rotations.
29. San Antonio Spurs: JaJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue
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The San Antonio Spurs lacked a ton of size and athleticism in their surprising first-round exit, which came at the hands of the size-y, physical Memphis Grizzlies.
Tim Duncan has lost seven steps, Gary Neal is under-sized, and DeJuan Blair shouldn't ever play center. Adding a guy like JaJuan Johnson could help the new breed of big men in San Antonio, starting with Tiago Splitter.
Johnson could compliment Splitter, because Johnson has a solid mid-range game, offensively, and has some offensive craft, despite his scrawny frame.
The Spurs need Johnson's athleticism, too, though it isn't much. He's long enough and active enough to get solid minutes by his second year under Gregg Popavich.
If the Spurs can stay healthy, and they begin the re-building process while the Big Three (Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan) help with development, Johnson will be a smart pick.
30. Chicago Bulls: Chandler Parsons, SF, Florida
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It's hard to justify why Chandler Parsons is a first-round pick.
Considering the circumstances, though, it only makes sense.
The Chicago Bulls are in desperate need for offensive firepower, because while Derrick Rose can carry a load for a while, an entire postseason can, and will, burn him out, just as it did against the Miami Heat, who had the athleticism and size to build walls around Derrick Rose and force his teammates to beat them, which they didn't.
Chandler Parsons isn't exactly the scariest offensive weapon in the draft, nor is he very athletic.
Rather, Chandler Parsons reminds me of John Paxson. Maybe not the style of play, but the gutsy demeanor, something Parsons showed in his time at Florida. He's not afraid of the moment, and he has a decent outside shot.
Outside of that, it's going to be hard to measure Parsons' level of success in the NBA without actually seeing how he'll match up against pro-level talent.
