2011 NBA Draft: Top 10 Forwards and Their NBA Comparisons
There are only two teams left battling for the right to call themselves NBA champs.
The Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks.
As for the rest of the NBA franchises, targeting potential stars in the upcoming draft serves as their main off-season focus.
With great talent coming out of college every year, scouts and coaches make it a challenge to find potentially elite options that could eventually turn out to be a draft steal.
Over the past few years, a lot of players have been compared to current NBA players, providing them with a lot of unneeded pressure that usually culminates into a disappointing start to their careers.
However, 2011 features some of the best forwards in recent past that are more than capable of living up of being compared to a current All-Star.
With that said, here are the top 10 forwards in the upcoming NBA draft and their current player comparisons.
10. Chandler Parsons, PF, Florida
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Parsons is a questionable first-round pick.
However, his high basketball IQ and outside shooting presence makes him a perfect sleeper pick for an NBA team willing to take a chance.
Parsons averaged nearly 12.0 PPG over his last two season with Florida, also able to consistently rebound and dish the ball.
He's skilled, a potentially deadly shooter, and has enough athleticism to get to the rim and finish.
NBA Comparison: Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy
9. Tobias Harris, PF, Tennessee
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I've personally seen Harris play through his one-year career as Tennessee's power forward, and I can tell you he's a legit scoring option.
Granted, Harris is only 18-years-old and will surely need to develop off the bench or in the D-League, he still has enough ability to consistently score and handle the ball with ease.
The problem for Tobias is the fact that he's anything but aggressive.
With nearly a 7'0" wingspan, you'd think Harris would be quite aggressive when he's around the basket.
He's in fact the exact opposite.
Harris will be a high value pick for any team that takes him, offering a good on-court IQ, great ball handling for a player of his size, and the ability to shoot a consistent mid-range jumper.
But, his lack of physicality and inability to defend bigger athletes at his position will offer some questions for NBA franchises come draft night.
NBA Comparison: Boris Diaw
8. Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas
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Hamilton sometimes looks like a guard when he attacks the basket.
That's exactly what many NBA teams will be looking at when they decide to draft the forward or not.
Hamilton is an excellent shooter from anywhere on the court, offering the ability to run the floor like a guard and spread the offense.
After averaging 18.6 PPG last year with Texas, the 20-year-old has become one of the best scoring prospects in the draft.
Rightfully so.
However, he can sometimes take questionable shots and fail to get his teammates into the mix.
Look for a team to draft the young talent with the intention of using him as an off the bench scorer.
NBA Comparison: Wilson Chandler and Richard Jefferson
7. Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
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Singleton has become one of the best defensive forwards in this year's draft.
He averaged 2.0 SPG and 1.5 BPG for Florida State in 2010, limiting his personal fouls while doing so.
The 21-year-old can also score, offering the ability to run the floor and finish at the rim.
However, he's been questioned about his dedication on and off the court, but should be pushed in the right direction by whichever team drafts him.
Singleton isn't going to make any All-Star teams anytime soon, but his lock down defense and solid mid-range shooting will be enough for any franchise to select him on draft night.
NBA Comparison: Ron Artest
6. Bismack Biyombo, PF, Spain
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Biyombo is an excellent defender.
However, with a nonexistent offensive game, the 18-year-old prospect will rely strictly on his ability to lock down fellow forwards in order to get him drafted.
Biyombo will bring his big man athleticism over from Spain and he'll try to work on his offensive potential with some top-notch trainers and teammates.
NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka
5. Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas
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Morris is going highly underrated.
After scoring 17.2 PPG in 2010 with Kansas, the 21-year-old forward has shown that he's one of the best all-around offensive threats in this year's draft.
Morris has a surprisingly good ability to shoot from the outside, adding to his already promising ball handling and basket attacking skills.
The only negative towards Morris is his lack of size.
Being a 6'9 power forward in the NBA may make it difficult for him to get inside and separate himself for open shots.
But for the most part, Morris offers some serious scoring potential.
He's an athletic compliment to any current defensive center in the league today, giving his squad another option for their offensive schemes.
NBA Comparison: Carlos Boozer
4. Jan Vesely, SF, Czech Republic
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The only reason Vesely isn't a little higher on this list is because small forwards from Europe have struggled in the recent past to adapt to the physicality of the NBA.
Think of an early Danilo Gallinari.
But Vesely does have some serious talent, offering good size at the small forward position with rim finishing ability and solid athleticism.
However, the 21-year-old will be a work in progress.
He hasn't exactly been a veteran of the Euroleague, unable to fully become a prominent offensive presence during his career.
NBA Comparison: Omri Casspi and Andres Nocioni
3. Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State
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Leonard should be and is moving up the ranks as one of the better forwards in the 2011 NBA draft.
Even at 6'7, the 19-year-old was able to average a double-double in 2010 with San Diego State, putting up 15.5 PPG and 10.6 RPG.
But he does still need to develop as an overall scorer, lacking a solid mid-range game.
However, Leonard's outstanding ability to grab difficult boards, last long into games, and provide freakishly long arms, an NBA franchise is going to be very pleased to draft him.
NBA Comparison: Gerald Wallace
2. Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
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I personally think that Thompson could be a top-five option in the draft.
He's offensively gritty, provides substantial blocking ability, and sports a 7'2 wingspan.
The 20-year-old averaged 13.1 PPG and nearly 8.0 RPG with Texas in 2010.
He's quite young, only one season in college, and even though he's a little undersized at his position, Thompson is going to be an NBA starter sooner rather than later.
NBA Comparison: J.J. Hickson
1. Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona
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This was a no-brainer.
Williams could arguably be the no. 1 overall pick if the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't so convinced that Kyrie Irving is the next Derrick Rose.
The 20-year-old from Arizona does it all. Great athleticism, high basketball IQ, inside and outside scoring ability, and an all-around great talent.
Williams could potentially be undersized as an NBA power forward, but testing the waters at small forward could be in the books.
His versatility and outside shooting will be enough to solidify him as the No. 2 overall pick, no questions asked.
If I was Cleveland, I would consider taking the soon-to-be elite forward instead of the flashy Irving.
Remember when the Houston Texans passed up Reggie Bush for Mario Williams?
This could be the NBA version. Just saying.
NBA Comparison: Al Horford and LaMarcus Aldridge
