2011 NBA Mock Draft: Prospects Each Team Must Select in the First Round
The 2011 NBA Draft is, overall, pretty weak. There isn't a whole lot of star potential, and the draft is thick in rotation-type players rather than quality starters.
That said, teams have needs and holes in their rotations. There's no team that's perfect and adding a player who can fill that need -- if even by the slightest amount -- can mean the difference between an NBA title and an early playoff exit. Just ask Sasha Vujacic, the former Laker who left and, coincidentally, seen his team crash and burn in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
Guys like that are the difference, people.
Regardless, there's something for every team here, and with the impending lockout, teams are going to draft through needs rather than talent because free agency won't occur until a deal gets done.
Thus, here is the mock draft that each team needs to select in the first round of this year's draft.
Hit it!
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Derrick Williams, SF
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Derrick Williams won't make anyone forget about LeBron James.
Williams is a versatile forward and, at 6'8'' has size to be a problem.
His ball-handling abilities are good, but not great, meaning he's liable to take defenders off the dribble, just not too often. He looks like he has a solid mid-range to inside game and could be a mess to deal with on the offensive glass.
This is what the Cleveland Cavaliers needed. Williams provides aggressive offense and since Baron Davis is running the point, well, don't expect your backcourt to be aggressive enough.
I know this should be about why the Cavaliers should take Williams. Let me switch it to tell you why they shouldn't pick the consensus first pick Kyrie Irving.
Kyrie Irving is a distributor, a facilitator. He can score, but his mentality is pass-first.
Let me ask you, reader: If the Cavaliers don't have a scorer established, why the hell do they need a ball distributor?
Derrick Williams is the smart choice, based on need. Baron Davis isn't Kyrie Irving, but he isn't Smush Parker, either.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonas Valanciunas, C
2 of 30I'm going to stay consistent.
I still don't think Kyrie Irving goes as early as people think.
As I noted in my last mock draft -- and at the beginning of this article -- this draft is going to be selected by all teams based on need.
And though the Timberwolves don't currently have a star facilitator, they did just recently sign Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio.
The 'Pups have been Rubio fans since they drafted him (despite knowing Rubio didn't want to be a Timberdawg). To draft Kyrie Irving would be horribly complicating, because Rubio wouldn't exactly be happy with the pick.
Regardless, the right pick here is Jonas Valanciunas. And though the Wolves already have Kevin Love, adding another big would make things much more difficult for opposing defenses.
Valanciunas is a near-7-footer with range and amazingly soft hands; dude can lay it up with his tremendous length and has awesome footwork in the post.
He lacks the size and strength in the sense that he doesn't have a ton of weight on that scrawny frame.
However, he's only 19 so that should tell you he's got quite the body to fill up.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, PF
3 of 30The Utah Jazz need size.
Al Jefferson is a step away from being an elite big man, but let's be honest: At 6'10'' his size isn't going to make him a threat at the five.
Enes Kanter is about 7-feet tall and can finish around the rim, something not a lot of centers can do. He uses his body size and weight well to cause havoc in the paint, though he's not the kind of guy who'll push defenders out of the way.
What this does is give Al Jefferson a shot at his natural position -- his stature and style of play is better suited for the four-position and giving him more room can make the dude far more dangerous.
If Devin Harris can continue to be the point guard he's been since his last season in Dallas, expect this team to get dangerous should they make this pick.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG
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I know I said the Cavaliers shouldn't pick him at number one overall. I know that the Cavaliers don't necessarily need a point guard.
In this case, though, it's either Brandon Knight or Kyrie Irving.
Take Irving, Cavaliers.
As I've said before, Kyrie Irving is a pass-first point guard, and he plays that role with extreme skill. Not a lot of guards like that are always available and Irving is ripe for the taking.
What will give people the chills? Putting Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams on the same team and letting them develop.
Together.
The Cavaliers have a young group, minus Anderson Varejao and Baron Davis. Both, though, can be quite potent off the dribble and Kyrie Irving can have a ball if Derrick Williams and crew can knock down shots and make plays.
5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight, PG/SG
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Brandon Knight won't be a huge boost for the Toronto Raptors.
Let's be real: The Raptors have zero pieces to build off of. With the exception of Andrea Bargnani, every Raptor is a trading piece and Bargnani isn't even safe.
Ed Davis is a solid four for the Raptors and adding Brandon Knight would bolster both of these young guys' development.
Knight isn't the pass-first point that Kyrie Iriving is, but he has a solid ability to score. His ball-handling skills are a bit too flighty to be ball-dominant, which makes him better at the wing.
If Knight can learn to play off the ball, he's going to be dangerous all the time. He may not have the size at 6'3'' to defend most other wings, but offensively, he's going to be difficult to defend.
6. Washington Wizards: Donatas Motiejunas, PF
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This is where the draft gets bad.
I'm sorry, but it's true. After Brandon Knight, things go downhill.
That's not to say Donatas Motiejunas isn't a smart pick.
Motiejunas out of Lithuania is another big man with soft hands and a bit of a scrawny frame. He's long enough to keep his arms up and finish at the rim, ala Pau Gasol.
He's also terrifically smart and has a decent basketball IQ.
John Wall could have a tun of fun with this kid, if Motiejunas works hard enough to keep up with his game.
7. Sacramento Kings: Jimmer Fredette, PG
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The Sacramento Kings need Jimmer Fredette.
And not for the reasons you think.
Fredette is a damn good scorer; he has the capabilities of Steve Nash with an aggressive attitude towards putting up points.
But what he brings to the Kings that they so desperately need is money.
Fredette was a hot commodity in college; he gained nationwide recognition for putting up points at a high rate.
In his senior year, he became an icon, and marketable as hell.
The Kings need marketable. Because while this is a proud franchise with rabid fans that love their team, they struggled financially.
Adding Fredette could bring people to stadiums just to see if he'll make it.
That's why the Kings need Jimmer Fredette.
8. Detroit Pistons: Marcus Morris, SF/PF
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The Detroit Pistons are a mess, to the point where their needs are going to be difficult to establish aside from the point position, where Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum are playing well.
Every other position? The Pistons are in deep trouble, because pretty much half the entire roster protested against John Kuester, who is now fired. Don't expect Detroit to keep more than half of that group.
Of course, they need to start somewhere, possibly building around Stuckey.
Marcus Morris makes sense, here. The Pistons could use Morris' basketball IQ, and he is crafty as hell down on the block.
He also epitomized what the Pistons are about when they're successful -- staunch defense and a mean demeanor.
Smart pick, if you want to see the Pistons get back on track.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker, PG
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There's no telling what the Charlotte Bobcats' current path is. As of now, it looks like this team is building for the future ... again.
And with that, you can expect owner Michael Jordan to help the team start from the ground up. Meaning young guns like D.J. Augustine are gone and the team willing to make any and all trades.
With this pick, though, should they keep it, has to be dedicated to Kemba Walker.
There's no telling how great Walker could be. His size is damning because, at 6'0'' he isn't going to be a major offensive threat unless he gets even more craftier than he already is.
Of course, that's definitely within his capabilities. He's proven to be an awesome offensive force and has a sweet step-back jumper.
Walker's an exciting dude, and if MJ is smart, he'll bring Kemba Walker to Charlotte as a building piece; maybe not the cornerstone player, but, for sure, a pivotal piece to a team in rebuilding.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG
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The Milwaukee Bucks, despite popular belief, have something to build off of.
I'm sorry, but this team ranked as the third best team in points allowed and were the fourth best team in defensive rating (which accounts for the pace the Bucks play).
If they're a losing team and their defense is this stingy, then it's clearly the offense, right?
Wrong.
OK, actually, I lied. That's completely true, and we know it.
The Bucks were the worst offensive team in the NBA offensively and couldn't score consistently if their collective lives depended on it.
Which is why Alec Burks is a perfect fit.
Burks is a versatile two-guard who has scoring savvy and possesses enough athleticism and length to be a matchup problem. At the wing position, he provides a good enough range to scare teams and has the strength to drive inside when needed.
If Brandon Jennings stays (despite his shoddy sophomore year in Wisconsin) this team goes from horrible offensive team to so-so when they have the ball.
That small boost could do wonders for a team that is so, so good on the defensive end.
11. Golden State Warriors: Bismack Biyombo, C
11 of 30The Golden State Warriors have a metric ton of potential.
Offensively. Not defensively.
Bismack Biyombo could be the defensive anchor this team needs to push them over the edge. Andris Biedrins has been frustratingly disappointing since 2007 and though his defensive prowess is solid, Biyombo is a defensive monster.
In this sense, he emulates the game of Ben Wallace. He thrives off doing the dirty work on the inside and has a nasty demeanor to go along with it, ala Dikembe Mutumbo.
The Warriors have a ton of offensive firepower, with their "Big Three" in David Lee, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry heading the offensive monster which will now be headed by a should-be offensive-minded coach in Mark Jackson. So for them to go after another player offense would be drafting outside their needs.
Biyombo's size could be damning; he's only 6'9'' but Ben Wallace was just 6'9'' and he pushed the early-2000s Detroit Pistons over the top.
Make this pick, please, Golden State Warriors.
12. Utah Jazz, Kawhi Leonard, PF
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At this point, I'm stuck as to how the Utah Jazz should pick.
Because to these lovely, mesmerizing brown eyes, Utah has a lot of options at nearly every position.
Kawhi Leonard makes sense because he provides further defense, something the Jazz always seem to be lacking for whatever reason. He's a high energy guy, and though Andrei Kirilenko is pretty much the same, Leonard provides an improved source of offense, better than other wings like AK47 or Raja Bell.
Leonard won't be a huge threat on offense, though: Expect him to lack confidence in his shooting at first, since that's what's been criticized most.
Either way, this is a safe pick because not most thought Leonard would fall this far.
Here he is, Utah. Take him.
13. Phoenix Suns: Jan Vesely, PF/SF
13 of 30The Phoenix Suns are a bit stalled in re-building mode, right now. They're clearly in that direction and it'd be greatly beneficial if the Suns traded away superstar Steve Nash for some young talent.
Sadly, Steve Nash's loving ability to be loyal (and the Suns' appreciation of such) is hurting Phoenix.
For now, the team is stuck with picking Jan Vesely.
Don't get me wrong: He's not a terrible pick. In fact, Steve Nash or not, the Suns need a guy like Vesely, who is versatile thanks to his size and offensive skill-set. He can post up and has solid footwork (although his ball-handling is far too flighty for him to play wing).
But the painful reality is that this is the only draft pick the Suns get that's worth building around. And while Steve Nash could help Vesely develop, much like he aided Amar'e Stoudemire's development, the Suns will get delayed in the re-building process.
Regardless, this is a smart pick. The Suns lack in skilled big men and could use one to get over losing Amar'e to the Knicks.
14. Houston Rockets: Markieff Morris, PF
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The Houston Rockets showed huge strides without their once-superstar center Yao Ming. They narrowly missed the postseason and finished as one of the better offensive teams in the NBA.
Of course, just like any other team that missed the playoffs despite being proficient on one side of, they have to address the opposite, weak side.
Markieff Morris fits the bill of a dude with a chip on his shoulder, until he ate it.
Seriously. Morris has a very mean demeanor, much like the way Kendrick Perkins' face looks. He plays aggressive defense and thrives on getting under opponents' skin.
Morris won't anchor the defense, but he'll bring it up another level, and that's exactly what the Rockets need.
15. Indiana Pacers: Marshon Brooks, SG
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The Indiana Pacers have a solid amount of building pieces in place, starting with Darren Collison and Danny Granger, all the way to Roy Hibbert.
The team is one that's sound offensively, and could use a bit more help to push them even further.
Marshon Brooks can do wonders for the Pacers if used correctly. Brooks is a sound, offensive player and at 6'5'', he's got the size to play efficiently at the two-guard on both sides of the ball.
Brooks can slash but is better suited as an outside shooter. He does, though, have the offensive know-how to get into the paint and make some plays, something the Pacers wouldn't have minded in their five-game series against the Chicago Bulls.
The Pacers need to draft Brooks if they want to continue moving forward in the rebuilding process.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Klay Thompson, SG
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The Philadelphia 76ers desperately need offense.
The 76ers placed in the top ten in defensive rating in 2010 (again, which accounts for pace by number of possessions) and proved to be a stingy defensive team when they gave the Miami Heat a hell of a lot more than what many had expected.
What they missed, though, was a scorer. They lacked a player who can take over a game with his play alone.
They needed more buckets.
Klay Thompson isn't that guy. (I know, I know: Buzz-kill.)
But what Thompson provides is offense on the perimeter. Dude can shoot fluidly, and can score when called upon in semi-big moments. He won't wow you off the dribble, but he's a scary good shooter and the Sixers could use that.
17. New York Knicks: Tristan Thompson, PF
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The New York Knicks hate defense.
Think about it: Their head coach is Mike D'Antoni, the innovator of the 7-seconds-or-less offense. Their starting power forward is Amar'e Stoudemire, who is too lazy to play defense 99 percent of the time. Their starting wing is Carmelo Anthony, an amazing offensive talent but lackluster on the defensive end.
They hate defense so, so much.
Adding Tristan Thompson could change this. Thompson doesn't play well when on offense. He lacks enough offensive know-how to play outside of within three feet of the basket.
But, man, this guy is athletic.
He's athletic enough to be a pesky defender in the middle. He's physical and could cause trouble down low when called upon. He won't be their starting center, no, but he'll come off the bench to create a solid defensive rotation.
The Knicks need the defense Thompson could bring, no matter how much they try to resist.
18. Washington Wizards: Tyler Honeycutt, SF
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The Washington Wizards can build around John Wall, as it's been established, because of his superstar capabilities and willingness to be the pass-first point guard that's so coveted in this league.
But he needs help.
Tyler Honeycutt could provide such help. At 6'8'' Honeycutt is supremely long, enough to slash to the basket and shoot over defenders, much like his UCLA predecessor Trevor Ariza.
He's also a smart defender and uses his length well, getting the most bang for his buck. The Wizards were particularly awful on that side of the ball, and Honeycutt could begin to balance things out with his balance.
This is the smartest pick the Wizards can make. Don't blow it, guys.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Tobias Harris
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Based on need, Tobias Harris should fall this low.
The Charlotte Bobcats would be lucky enough for this to happen.
The Bobcats are a supremely defensively-minded team and Tobias Harris adds a perfect dynamic with his blend of offensive and defensive skills. He's strong and athletic and can be a nightmare for opposing offenses because of his shot, although his ball-handling is far too flighty for him to be a consistent offensive threat.
Additionally, he's also somewhat-long and strong enough to be a solid defender for the Bobcats, something they love to have at all times.
Tobias Harris fits the typical player that the Bobcats would be after.
Stay consistent. Make the smart move, Charlotte.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Chris Singleton, SF/PF
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have the right idea.
Kevin Love and Michael Beasley make a hell of a tandem at the forwards, helping to push the team into the top spot in rebounding while leading the team to the top ten in offensive efficiency.
They lack defense, though.
Calling Chris Singleton.
Singleton can't play offense; he's proven to be shoddy on the offensive end, and his style won't translate to success in the NBA.
Rather, he's best suited to be the dude with the "high motor" and defensive presence on the perimeter to mid-range game.
Sadly, dude's a liability on the offensive end. If he can contribute by working on getting to the inside and scoring minimally, this becomes a huge plus for the Timberwolves.
21. Portland Trailblazers: Darrius Morris, PG
21 of 30The Portland Trailblazers have a lot to work with.
Despite Brandon Roy's shoddy knees. And despite Greg Oden's shoddy ... knees.
The Trailblazers proved to be a team that's worthy of being a perennial playoff contender despite a ton of injury blows. Wesley Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge are worth building around, and Marcus Camby and Nicolas Batum are still solid starters.
Andre Miller is good, but let's be honest: 34-year-olds aren't liable to last this long.
Bringing in a young point could be terrifically beneficial for the rook and the team. Darrius Morris, in fact, has been compared to Andre Miller, and has a similar skillset. He has the capability to be a true pass-first guard while being an aggressive crafty scorer.
The Blazers could use this to add another threat to their offensive attack, which is in good balance with their defensive abilities.
22. Denver Nuggets: Jordan Hamilton, SG
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The Denver Nuggets are so, so stacked.
Their rotation, as it was in 2010-11, was 10-men deep, filled with quality starter-worthy players.
Of course, there's a possibility that J.R. Smith finally leaves Denver while Raymond Felton gets traded away.
If this happens, expect the Nuggets to be a little short in the backcourt.
In comes Jordan Hamilton, a well-rounded player.
Hamilton is a solid player on the offensive end, and not-so-terrible on defense. It's a safe pick, because while the Nuggets seem like a team that's built on offense, George Karl has begun the moulding process of turning them into a defensive-minded team, meaning Jordan Hamilton can learn the ropes quickly.
This is a safe move for an already-stacked team. Let's hope they make it.
23. Houston Rockets: David Bertans, SF
23 of 30The Houston Rockets can't have too much offense.
As it is, the team is stacked offensively, even without Yao Ming, whom most of you have completely forgotten about.
The Rockets have a quality wing at the three in Kevin Martin. But adding David Bertans gives Houston depth and a relief man for Martin, who carries a good load of the Rockets' offense.
Bertans is an offensive-minded player, who can shoot the lights out and has a silk-smooth shot.
While the Rockets aren't awesome at dribble penetration, kicking out to a good shooter would only make them a hell of a lot more potent.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Singler, SF
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are championship-ready, if this team stays intact.
However, more weapons can't hurt, can they?
Kyle Singler is an awesome shooter with tremendous intelligence on the court. He provides maturity and composure, straight out of Duke, and that's something the Thunder could use.
The Thunder are complete; but adding an outside shooter to add to the perimeter threats of Kevin Durant and James Harden would make this team scary, even if Singler has to come off the bench to see significant playing time.
The team needs Singler, and Singler could learn a lot behind a budding, young team.
Make the pick, and make this mutually beneficial, OKC.
25. Boston Celtics: Malcolm Lee, PG/SG
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The Boston Celtics need offense and athleticism.
This team was torched by the Heat, and that's thanks to their lack of athleticism and total reliance on team defense, which won't work in today's league.
Malcolm Lee has to be the best solution. You know the Celtics are going to look to try and add bigs to their rotation via free agency (whenever that happens), but Lee provides a dynamic to the backcourt in Boston.
Coming off the bench, Lee could learn a lot from Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. And the Celtics could use Lee's length and athleticism to play defense as well as score from the perimeter off dribble-penetration.
The Celtics need youth and speed, and Lee provides both.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Trey Thompkins, PF
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As I write this, the Dallas Mavericks tied this series the way they've done things this entire postseason.
Shoot, shoot, shoot.
Trey Thompkins does just this.
Thompkins could add to the shooting barrage that the Mavericks boast as their strong-hold. He has the range to draw out defenders, too, opening up the paint for a Jason Kidd-Tyson Chandler hookup when needed.
Other than that, there isn't much any rookie can do to make this team better.
27. New Jersey Nets: Kenneth Faried, PF
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The New Jersey Nets don't have a ton of aggressive, physical presences inside. Brook Lopez is arguably their best big man, and he's proven to be quite the terrible rebounder.
That's why Kenneth Faried makes sense. Dude's a tough defender on the block and knows how to push out opposing big men from the paint.
What he lacks is offensive know-how, something the Nets don't really have outside of Deron Williams and Brooke Lopez.
Regardless, this is the smartest pick the Nets can make. They desperately need an inside presence and Faried provides that on the defensive end.
28. Chicago Bulls: Shelvin Mack, PG/SG
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As you know, the Chicago Bulls desperately need a solid, offensively-minded two-guard.
The answer in the draft: Shelvin Mack.
Mack is a bit undersized for a shooting guard -- he's just 6'2''. Despite his size, though, Mack is crafty as hell on the offensive end, and is well-rounded. He's shown awesome leadership ability, something the Bulls don't have outside of Derrick Rose.
The problem is that he'll be undersized to guard anyone else outside the point, which could work anyway, since Rose has the ability to cover two-guards with his speed and athleticism.
Regardless, the Bulls need to make this pick, based on their needs.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Chandler Parsons
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It's going to be difficult to justify Chandler Parsons as a first-round pick, albeit late.
However, the San Antonio Spurs could use him. With Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker aging, Parsons could step in as a crafty baller for San Antonio, adding some youth and an insane sense to take over as a leader.
Parsons lacks athleticism, but he still has a deathly shot, something Greg Popavich implemented as part of his game-plan in 2010-11, to the dismay of many Spurs' fans.
This draft is a bit weak to start re-building, but they need to take a solid rotation player and hold out for a superstar at some point.
Until then, enjoy learning from the best, Chandler.
30. Chicago Bulls: Nolan Smith, PG/SG
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Nolan Smith is the right pick for the Chicago Bulls for the reasons aforementioned.
The team needs a two-guard; and while Smith is under-sized at 6'3'', he brings high basketball IQ and awesome intelligence that he picked up at Duke. That'll come in handy when he becomes a crafty player in the NBA.
He also does well working off the dribble. And in case you didn't know, Derrick Rose is the ball-handler, so Smith will be working off the dribble a lot.
Smith would add offense to a Bulls' team that's stacked defensively, but has little offensive firepower.
Couple this draft pick with Shelvin Mack, and you have a hell of a backup backcourt.
If they develop as they should, and in this draft, everything is a question.
