2011 NBA Mock Draft: Is There Another Derrick Rose in This Year's Class?
Today's NBA has become a point guard's league. Athletic floor court generals like Russell Westbrook are taking over the league. This year's MVP award even went to Derrick Rose, who was drafted first overall in the 2008-2009 season. In three years, he went from Rookie of the Year to Most Valuable Player, and will be a player making a long lasting impact for years to come.
Now, with the 2011 NBA Draft approaching, this year may not be riddled top to bottom with Derrick Roses, however it does have some players who are capable of making a "Derrick Rose" impact on their prospective teams. Here's a run through of how much of an impact these projected first-round picks could be.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving
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What better way to restart a broken franchise than to draft a player who will essentially be running the team? The Cleveland Cavaliers will most likely take Duke freshman and talented point guard Kyrie Irving with the first pick and they'll be making the right choice.
Irving has the potential to be a great player in the league and would be an excellent building block to help rebuild a team and a city that was basically left in shambles after losing superstar LeBron James. Irving has an all-around game, but his ability to facilitate and lead a team will be most important, seeing as this team needs some direction.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams
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Next to Duke's Kyrie Irving, Arizona forward Derrick Williams could make a big splash in Minnesota. Already anchored by Most Improved Player award winner and All-Star Kevin love, Williams' huge wingspan and tenacity can give the T-Wolves a shot blocking threat and a defensive presence.
Add to that his already NBA-caliber ability to score in the paint and Minnesota could add another strong piece to complement Love's game. He may be small for the power forward position, but he could easily slip into the small forward spot and be a big threat.
3. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight
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Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight has some big shoes to step into in Utah, but the Jazz need Knight to replace All-Star guard Deron Williams. Knight is quick and can get by defenders and has the right size for an NBA point guard at 6'3". Most importantly, the freshman is a superb jump-shooter and can bring some good offense to the Jazz.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter
4 of 30The Cavaliers landing both the first and fourth picks may be suspect, however, big man Enes Kanter's impact In Cleveland alongside Kyrie Irving wouldn't be. The 6'11" big man is strong enough to bang in the paint and has the ability to put points on the board with his soft touch. Both he can Kyrie Irving could be Cleveland's new one-two combo.
5. Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker
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Despite being a bit on the shorter side (6'0"), Kemba Walker's explosiveness and speed make him a headache on court for defenders. He can take the ball into the lane or he can step back and shoot from outside the paint and back. Walker also has the ability to facilitate the offense and would be a solid playmaker on the offensive end as well. Big man Andrea Bargnani and athletic guard/forward DeMar DeRozan could only benefit from Walker's shot creating.
6. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely
6 of 30Forward Jan Vesely would be great for the Wizards. At 6'11", Vesely is tall, but has the ability to move from power forward down to small forward. His height advantage at small forward allows him to post up smaller defenders and his quick first step allows him to get back slower big men. Wizards star John Wall could benefit from a guy who could take some of the offensive pressure off of him as well as give a boost to his assists.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard
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The addition of wing man Kawhi Leonard to big man DeMarcus Cousins and guard Tyreke Evans would make a pretty deadly triple threat. Athletic and filled with energy, Leonard can slash to the basket and has an improved jump shot to match. If the Sacramento Kings take Leonard, they'd have a guy who could very well have been taken a couple spots earlier.
8. Detroit Pistons: Jonas Valanciunas
8 of 30At 6'11", Jonas Valanciunas can move well around the basket and is long and agile. He could offer some real low post scoring for the Detroit Pistons, who had looked to load up with Charlie Villenueva and Ben Gordon, but were ultimately disappointed.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Tristan Thompson
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Long and athletic, the 6'9" Tristan Thompson is a solid defender and is an able shot blocker. A hard worker in his single year at Texas, his high energy and hustle gives him easy scoring opportunities even in traffic. With Joel Pryzbilla and Desagana Diop out due to injuries, Thompson and the athletic Tyrus Thomas would be better than Thomas and Kwame Brown.
Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks
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The Milwaukee Bucks are set with big man Andrew Bogut and point guard Brandon Jennings, however former All-Star Michael Redd is no longer what he used to be. That's where guard Alec Burks comes in. Burks can play both the point and shooting guards and can score, rebound and is a great finisher. With his improving shot, his outside shot will only get better, adding to his capable passing and ability to attack the rim.
11. Golden State Warriors: Bismack Biyombo
11 of 30The Warriors are have enough scoring options in Monta Ellis, let alone the rest of the team, so a 6'9" power forward with a 7'7" wingspan like Bismack Biyombo would be a nice change from the running, scoring Warriors' fast pace, score first attitude. Biyombo can explode and defend the rim with his shot blocking.
12. Utah Jazz: Klay Thompson
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With Kyle Korver gone, the Jazz can once again gain back a pure shooter in Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson. Thompson moves well off screens and would be good coming off the bench for C.J. Miles.
13. Phoenix Suns: Marcus Morris
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While Marcus Morris is small enough to play small forward, Phoenix would benefit from him playing power forward. Around the post, Morris can score efficiently and makes up for his size with a nice jump shot and some ability to beat his defender. Steve Nash could end up dropping him a few dimes soon.
14. Houston Rockets: Markieff Morris
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With Yao Ming gone, Markieff Morris gives the Rockets what they need, a tough inside presence. He can finish inside the paint and can bring an intensity that the Rockets lack under the rim.
15. Indiana Pacers: Jimmer Fredette
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Jimmer Fredette is a deadly sharpshooter and while he may not make any franchise altering impact, in Indiana he seems like he'd make a pretty good fit. With Darren Collison starting at point guard for the Pacers, Fredette would be a weapon coming off the bench, giving them the kind of three point shooting you'd expect to see in Indiana basketball. As a point guard he makes solid decisions and can pass well enough. He uses his strong frame to create shots and drive compared to the speed that Collison utilizes. The two point guards would be a nice contrast.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Donatas Motiejunas
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With Elton Brand not getting any younger, 7-footer Donatas Motiejunas is a versatile talent who can score an rebound but is not a pushover under the rim either. Quick on his feet, with a few offensive weapons, he could make a good impact playing with a young Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala.
17. New York Knicks: Darius Morris
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Darius Morris is a point guard in one of the truest senses of the word. He may not be quick or fast, but he is a confident team leader. He sees the floor well and is just as skilled a passer, which would make him a gift for Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
18. Washington Wizards: Tyler Honeycutt
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Tyler Honeycutt can attack the rim and even score in the post and is a good defender as well. If the Washington Wizards take Jan Vesely early, then they have two long versatile guys who can score, allowing John Wall to move the ball around. It's also nice that Honeycutt also crashes the boards.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Chris Singleton
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A lockdown defender, Chris Singleton gives the Bobcats a defender at more than one position as well as a guy who's athletic enough to drive to the basket and finish.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Davis Bertans
20 of 30A true European shooter, the 6'10" Bertans already has a height advantage over a lot of perimeter players, but his catch to release process clean and quick. He can even pass and hustles on both ends. When he is eventually ready, he'd be deadly off the bench when the Timberwolves are looking to maybe spread the floor.
21. Portland Trailblazers: Jordan Hamilton
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Good shooting ability and good range could make guard / forward Jordan Hamilton a nice edition to the Trailblazers. He is capable of pushing the floor on fastbreaks and is a decent rebounder. With Brandon Roy possibly never regaining 100% of his old form, Hamilton might be another scoring option off the bench, maybe behind Rudy Fernandez.
22. Denver Nuggets: Tobias Harris
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While the Denver Nuggets came out with a team fueled by good chemistry after the Carmelo Anthony trade, it couldn't hurt for them to add power forward / small forward Tobias Harris to their squad. He can handle the ball, pass and hit the mid-range jumper. He may be young, but he has potential.
23. Houston Rockets: Josh Selby
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The Houston Rockets would benefit from a point guard like Josh Selby. Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry can play the position, but at least he can move over to shooting guard alongside one of them and provide some offense.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Lucas Nogueria
24 of 30Lucas Nogeria is only 18 years old at 7'0" tall, with a 7'6" wingspan. The Thunder were able to acquire big man Kendrick Perkins to match the size in the West, however, a raw 7 footer with talent could only help out West.
25. Boston Celtics: Jordan Williams
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After trading away Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics lost some of their toughness down under the basket. With the Celtics missing Perkins' presence down below, Maryland's Jordan Williams grabs boards and makes sure to box out when he does it. He has soft hands under the rim and is still a work in progress, but maybe under the tutelage of big men like Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal, he could definitely improve.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Justin Harper
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Justin Harper is a big man with a shooting touch. He can shoot from beyond the arch as well as after he's beaten his defender off the dribble. On a team full of shooters, you may expect him to be forgotten, but he could really learn from all of them and end up coming off the bench instead of an aging Peja Stojakovic for instance.
27. New Jersey Nets: Trey Thompkins
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With a refined offensive game, and some nice moves / footwork in the post, Trey Thompkins has offensive ability that would make for a good fit in New Jersey alongside center Brook Lopez and Deron Williams.
28. Chicago Bulls: Marshon Brooks
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The Bulls are in need of a capable scoring shooting guard, and Marshon Brooks can do that. Averaging almost 25 points per game his senior year at Providence, Brooks has proven he can score. He can create his own shot and is a handful when dribbling and can step out to the three point line as well.
29. San Antonio Spurs: JaJuan Johnson
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With an aging Tim Duncan on his last legs, he would more than appreciate a little help from big man JaJuan Johnson. His shot blocking ability would take a lot of pressure off of Duncan on defense and his offense, while improving, could take the next step under Duncan's guidance.
30. Chicago Bulls: Shelvin Mack
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After the Eastern Conference Finals loss to Miami, Chicago needs to find scoring options besides MVP Derrick Rose. Shelvin Mack is a scorer and would take some of the load off of Rose off the bench. While only 6'2", Mack has a reach long enough to hang with bigger guards.
