NBA Draft Preview 2011: Kyrie Irving vs. Derrick Williams
Kyrie Irving is no doubt the favorite to be selected as the Cavalier's No. 1 overall pick in the nearing NBA draft.
But Derrick Williams isn't trailing too far behind.
Predictions of the Cavs appointing Irving may be a bit raw—according to Fox Sports Ohio, Cleveland has invited both prospects for workouts this week.
Cleveland could be generously giving Williams his dues just because of his great potential and polished game. It has shown great partiality to Irving, asserting interest in the Duke point guard for weeks.
It wouldn't be absurd to say that the Cavaliers will take Williams with the first pick. He had much more of an illustrious college career than Irving, playing both his freshman and sophomore seasons. Irving missed a large part of the season with a lingering toe injury.
Cleveland is in need of a true point guard. But it could still select Williams and settle for another elite PG like Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker with its No. 4 overall pick.
The Cavs are expected to take Irving, but don't be surprised if things change from now and June 23.
If you were given the decision, which potential superstar would you pick?
Kyrie Irving
1 of 2
Irving is a can't-miss player. He works the court with ease and makes difficult passes effortlessly, living up to his position as a ball handler by getting everyone involved (4.3 assists per game). He also averaged just one giveaway per 11 minutes of playing time. Irving did an unbelievable job of putting a team full of veterans on his back while even-handedly making those around him better.
Duke had a 10-1 record when Irving was in the lineup.
The New Jersey native shows a high basketball IQ and great team leadership despite being just 19 years of age. His fearless attitude is perfect for the point guard position in the NBA. Irving stands at a solid 6'3", 190 pounds and has plenty of time to grow and get stronger.
The freshman averaged 17.5 points per game during his eight-game regular season at Duke. He missed the next 26 games with a right toe injury before returning to score 53 points in just 72 minutes in the Blue Devils' three NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament matches.
Not only is Irving flashy on offense, but he is a driven competitor on defense and does anything in his power to dominate his opponent. He ripped the ball away from the other team 16 times in 11 games played.
Irving can distribute the ball like every PG is expected to, but he's also an exceptional shooter.
He can knock it down from close, mid- and deep range. He shows great shot selection—the young Blue Devil made 52.9 percent of his shots, including 18-of-39 (46.2 percent) from behind the arc.
Irving displays his fondness to the fast break as he loves to take it himself inside and create contact. He can make the great pass in transition as well.
With Baron Davis beyond his prime and cursed with an abundance of injuries, Irving seems to be the perfect fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers' No. 1 selection.
Derrick Williams
2 of 2
Derrick Williams was definitely the best player in the Pac-10.
He was the reason Kyrie Irving didn't get to see the Elite Eight, too.
The 6'8", 240-pounder has the versatility to play either forward position but will have to rely mostly on his athleticism. He's a solid rebounder and can score at will with his greatest strength at the mid-range shot, although he can hit from downtown. Williams is also very strong inside and has been known to come up with three-point plays.
Derrick Williams was an All-American his freshman and sophomore year at Arizona. He is an explosive athlete who flourishes around the basket. He is effective using both hands and handles the ball well for the power forward position. He is strong around the perimeter and controls his opponents with authority.
Williams scored 19.5 points per game last season while grabbing 8.3 boards. He made almost 60 percent of his attempted shots and hit 56.8 percent of his three-pointers. The Wildcat also showed his greatness from the free-throw line, knocking down 75 percent.
He scored 22.8 points in four games during the NCAA tournament this year. He added 9.3 rebounds and had 42 free-throw attempts.
Williams averaged 22.1 points per game against Top 25 opponents in the 2010-11 season, showing his maturity in big-time matchups.
He is unselfish and stays competitive—something the Cavaliers could use.
A late bloomer, Williams is a hard prospect to study. This guy could either be a Blake Griffin-like player and has the potential to be an easy pick for Rookie of the Year. He could also end up being a role player for the early part of his NBA career.
However, Williams has no extensive weaknesses. He needs to work on his overall defensive approach, but he has shown that improvement is not too tough of a task. He has the ability to be an asset in the NBA for years to come.
I guess there's only one thing to do—sit back, relax and watch everything pan out.
