2011 NBA Mock Draft: Is Derrick Williams the Right Choice for the Cavaliers?
Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight, and Enes Kanter have been the best four players in the draft since the lottery selection. The question is, which player will go where?
All the draft experts have Kyrie Irving going first to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but with the erratic Dan Gilbert running the Cavs, who knows who he'll take with the first pick?.
If Irving doesn't go first, the order of the draft will change dramatically.
The team with the second overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves, could draft someone to pair with Kevin Love, go for another point guard.
Anything can happen on June 23rd, but here's what I think will go down.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cavaliers will select Derrick Williams.
Derrick Williams has worked harder than anyone else in this draft to get where he is today.
Coming out of high school as only a three star athlete, Williams was considered the worst player in the 2009 Arizona Wildcats' recruiting class. He's had no choice but to work harder than everyone else just to see the floor for the Wildcats.
Because of his proven work ethic, I would choose Derrick Williams over Kyrie Irving. Irving may be a hard worker, but we don't know that for sure. We know Williams is a hard worker, and he's proven it by coming out of nowhere to establish himself as one of the best players in the draft.
In the NBA, hard work is what helps the greatest players stand out in a league where everyone is incredibly talented.
There are three solid point guards in the draft, and the Cavs know that at least one of them will be around at number four.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves select Kyrie Irving.
The Timberwolves have many holes to fill to create a championship contender, but they can only fill one with this draft pick...Or can they?
Trading away the number two pick could give the Timberwolves more than one player to help out a team with many needs. No player in this year's draft will come in and contribute the way the stars available in the 2003 draft did. Trading for a few veteran players could help the Timberwolves right away.
David Kahn can't draft for the future, because he doesn't know if he has a future with the team. Kahn needs to win now. All the rookie point guards will need a year or two to learn how to play in NBA, and the prospect of a lockout could make the adjustment even harder.
Whoever the Timberwolves draft won't be able to come in and practice with the team until the labor dispute is resolved. The lockout could create a shortened season like it did in 1999, which hurts the development of the rookies in this years draft.
Because there's no way of knowing who the Timberwolves would trade for, we have to assume they would select the best player available, Kyrie Irving.
3. Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz select Brandon Knight.
The Jazz need a replacement for Deron Williams. They traded him to the Nets for this pick, so it would make sense for them to use it to go after a point guard.
A recent graduate of Kentucky, Brandon Knight played under John Calipari and could be the next-best point guard in the draft after Kyrie Irving.
Kemba Walker has more to prove than Brandon Knight because of his size and the fact that he was only dominant in single elimination tournaments. The heightened level of competition in the NBA and the lack of single-elimination play more to Knight's strengths than Walker's.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cleveland Cavaliers select Kemba Walker.
Just as I said before, if the Cavs select Derrick Williams first, they'll draft Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker with the fourth pick.
In this mock draft, Irving and Knight are off the board, so the Cavs will go for Walker.
Remember, though, the Minnisota Timberwolves could trade away the second overall pick or draft Enes Kanter.
There are a huge number of possibilities for how the first few picks in the draft could play out.
5. Toronto Raptors
5 of 30The Toronto Raptors select Enes Kanter.
The departure of Chris Bosh didn't have as much of an impact on the Raptors as the loss of of LeBron James did for the Cavaliers. Still, the Raptors are a long way from the playoffs, let alone championship contention.
The Raptors need to pick the best player available and not worry about areas of need right now. Having star players leads to wins in the NBA, and Enes Kanter could be the next foreign star in the league.
6. Washington Wizards
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The Washington Wizards select Kawhi Leonard.
John Wall is already an explosive point guard, but he needs help out on the wings. The Wizards also need players who can help out on the defensive end.
At 6'7", 225, Leonard can guard the two, three, and four positions as well as give other teams fits on offense if he continues to improve his jump shot. With the addition of Leonard, the Wizards can model their future on what Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have done in Oklahoma City.
7. Sacramento Kings
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The Sacramento Kings select Klay Thompson.
Thompson can play point guard, but because of his size can also move up to play shooting guard as well.
At 6'6", Thompson has a huge height advantage against most point guards in the league. His long arms are a huge advantage on defense, and he towers over smaller guards, hindering their ability to see the floor. The Kings need a player to pair with Tyreke Evans in the backcourt, and Thompson could be their answer.
8. Detroit Pistons
8 of 30The Detroit Pistons select Jonas Valanciunas.
When the Pistons are on the board, they need to pick the best player available. At this point in the Mock Draft, that player is Jonas Valanciunas.
The Pistons need a star player to build a team around. Since they traded for Allen Iverson, they've had very little success, and Valanciunas could be the player that turns the team around.
If Valanciunas turns out to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Dumars could replicate what the Dallas Mavericks have done in recent years. The Mavericks won a championship this year with Dirk as the only star player on the team, and to fit that model all Detroit needs is a veteran point guard.
Remember, the Pistons still have championship experience on their squad with with Tayshaun Prince and the aging Rip Hamilton. With the addition of Jonas Valanciunas, the Pistons could be just a good point guard away from returning to title contention.
9. Charlotte Bobcats
9 of 30The Charlotte Bobcats select Bismack Biyombo.
Is Biyombo a huge risk for the Bobcats? Absolutely. Biyombo is still a major question mark, but with big risks come the possibility of big rewards.
Remember, Michael Jordan has taken risks in the NBA draft in the past.
In the video clip of Biyombo, you can see him coming out of nowhere to block shots and rotating extremely well on defense.
He could be a more athletic Dikembe Mutombo.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks select Alec Burks.
Outside of the point guard and center positions, where Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut are solid, the Bucks could use help at every position.
Adding Alec Burks, an exciting shooting guard out of Colorado, could help the Bucks establish one of the most explosive backcourts in the NBA.
11. Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors select Kenneth Faried.
New head coach Mark Jackson is going to bring some new ideas and a defensive emphasis to the Golden State locker room.
In an interview with ESPN after being hired, Jackson was clear in his belief that defense is what wins championships.
The Warriors need a big man, but won't be able to pick up someone who can contribute on both ends right away like Mark Jackson wants. As a result, Kenneth Faried will go much higher than anyone expected.
12. Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz select Chris Singleton.
The Jazz will need to replace Andrei Kirilenko, who will most likely leave as a free agent.
The Jazz are entering a period of uncertainty. Jerry Sloan was the leader in Salt Lake City for so long that some of his players were born after he started coaching there.
Chris Singleton will step in nicely for the Jazz and will become a great running mate for whichever point guard they end up taking. According to this mock draft, Singleton would pair up with Brandon Knight.
13. Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns select Tristan Thompson.
The Suns don't have any glaring needs that need to be fixed by next year. What they need to do is get younger.
Tristan Thompson will be the best player left on the board, and can add some defense to a team that desperately needs it. Thompson can keep up with the fast-paced offense that Steve Nash likes to run.
14. Houston Rockets
14 of 30The Houston Rockets select Jan Vesely.
Touted as the next Dirk Nowitzki, this 6'11 power forward could be a great addition to the Houston Rockets. They could easily put him at power forward next to Yao Ming, and if Yao gets injured again they can slide him over to the center spot.
When Dallas comes to town, it'll be interesting to see how Vesely matches up with Nowitzki. Since neither player is much of a stopper on defense, both could end up shooting the lights out.
15. Indiana Pacers
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The Indiana Pacers select Jimmer Fredette.
The underdog Pacers gave the top-seeded Chicago Bulls a run for their money in the first round of this year's playoffs, similar to what Oklahoma City did against the Lakers the year before.
Oklahoma City followed up their strong playoff debut by earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference, and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
Will the Indiana Pacers make it to next years Eastern Conference Finals? It's impossible to say, but adding Jimmer Fredette is a great start. If Fredette can score in the NBA like he did in college, the Pacers will be an entirely different team on offense.
The tandem of Fredette and Danny Granger will be tough for any team to defend.
16. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Philadelphia 76ers select Marcus Morris.
One of the Morris twins will be going to the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia needs a big man to clog up the middle of the lane. They need a player who can redirect shots, get rebounds, and play great post defense. Morris can do all this and more.
Marcus Morris would be a great pick for the Philadelphia 76ers.
17. New York Knicks
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The New York Knicks select Josh Selby.
Selby never quite lived up to expectations at Kansas. During his time with the Jayhawks, he felt he was limited as a player and was never allowed to compete at his full potential. To spread his basketball wings, there's no better place for Selby to go than a Mike D'Antoni system.
D'Antoni is a point guard's dream coach. If Selby can't succeed in D'Antoni's offense, he won't find success anywhere in the NBA.
Josh Selby wants to shine and be a star. Steve Nash won two MVP's under Mike D'Antoni's guidance, and Josh Selby has the tools to follow in his footsteps.
18. Washington Wizards
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The Washington Wizards select Marshon Brooks.
At this point ,the Wizards already took Kawhi Leonard with the sixth pick of the draft. Adding this 6'5 shooting guard can complete a young, but incredibly athletic backcourt.
As evidenced by the two teams in this year's NBA Finals, having a player who can be dominant with his back to the basket is no longer a requirement for winning an NBA title.
The Wizards may choose to take a page out of the Oklahoma City Thunder's playbook and worry about getting a big guy later. The Wizards had seven rookies on the team last year, so they have plenty of young talent to spare.
Marshon Brooks was one of the best players in the Big East Conference last year, but in Providence he unfortunately found himself on one of the worst teams in the league.
19. Charlotte Bobcats
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The Charlotte Bobcats select Jordan Hamilton.
Hamilton will be a great fit for the Bobcats.
A 6'7" small forward who can shoot and play defense, Hamilton will be able to come in and make an immediate impact.
Hamilton will be considered a steal if he drops this far to the Bobcats. He fits an immediate need and was a proven winner in college, and players of this caliber are rarely left this late in the first round.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Minnesota Timberwolves select Tyler Honeycutt.
If the Cavaliers take Derrick Williams with the first pick in the draft, the Timberwolves will be in need of a small forward. That's where Tyler Honeycutt comes in.
Honeycutt is obviously not as good of a player as Williams is, but he can still be a dynamic contributor in Minnesota.
Honeycutt will be able to stretch the floor, allowing Kevin Love to dominate in the low post.
21. Portland Trailblazers
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The Portland Trailblazers select Markieff Morris.
Marcus Camby is getting very close to retirement. With the selection of Morris, the Trailblazers will be able to move forward without much of a hiccup.
Morris has experience playing next to another dominant big man, because he's played with his brother Marcus for his entire life. Just switch in LaMarcus Aldridge for Marcus Morris, and Markieff will play like he always has.
22. Denver Nuggets
22 of 30The Denver Nuggets select Donatas Motiejunas.
A 7'0 power forward, Motiejunas brings more questions than answers. He can shoot the international three, but that doesn't mean he can shoot consistently from the NBA three-point line. He can rebound and block shots in Euroleague competition, but can he replicate that in the NBA?
George Karl will be a great coach for him to grow under and learn from.
Also, having Danilo Gallinari, another foreign player, will help get him accustomed to the NBA game, Denver will be a good fit for Motiejunas.
23. Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets select Reggie Jackson.
Even though Reggie Jackson stands only at 6'3, he has a seven foot wingspan. He brings unique physical talents and a solid skill set, and the Rockets will gladly take him with the 23rd pick.
Kyle Lowry had a great year last year, but looking at the success of the Dallas Mavericks, teams can win playing two point guards together at the same time.
J.J. Barea and Jason Kidd started games together deep into the playoffs and were terrific. Lowry and Jackson could do the same.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
24 of 30The Oklahoma City Thunder select Jeremy Tyler.
Jeremy Tyler skipped his senior year of High School to play overseas, saying he was tired of getting fouled constantly by high school players who couldn't guard him.
Tyler ended up not playing very well in Europe, but after all, he was just a 17-year-old kid.
The ability that made him such a hot prospect is still there. If Jeremy Tyler had gone to college, he very easily could have been a lottery pick. He didn't, and as a result the Thunder will be taking a risk on him with the 24th pick.
It could turn out to be the best risk they've ever taken.
25. Boston Celtics
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The Boston Celtics select Jordan Williams.
The Celtics need a replacement for Kendrick Perkins as soon as possible. Perkins is not the best player in the world, but his departure was a huge blow to the team chemistry that had been so carefully established in Boston.
That chemistry is what Jordan Williams needs to bring. Yes, he needs to play well and fill the hole in the frontcourt, but more importantly, he needs to fit in in the Celtics' locker room.
Williams can do that, and if he can make up for the loss of Perkins, the Celtics could give the Heat a little more trouble than a five-game series.
26. Dallas Mavericks
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Dallas Mavericks select DeAndre Liggins.
The Mavericks couldn't stop Dwayne Wade in the NBA Finals.
Yes, they ended up winning the NBA championship, but only when they started J.J. Barea and went to a zone defense. If the Heat had continued to hit three-pointers, the zone wouldn't have worked.
The solution to that problem is to draft a player whose sole purpose is to shut down opposing guards. If the player can hit some three-pointers of his own, that's an added bonus. EHarmony couldn't find a better match than Liggins for the Mavericks.
One of San Antonio's key players that helped them win three championships was Bruce Bowen. I'm not saying DeAndre Liggins is Bruce Bowen right now, but he could get there someday.
27. New Jersey Nets
27 of 30The New Jersey Nets select Davis Bertans.
The Nets need a big man to help out Brook Lopez. Bertans can shoot, and has drawn comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki.
I can't help but wonder if every foreign big man that can shoot the ball will forever be referred to as the next Dirk Nowitzki. Is it a fair comparison? Probably not, but Dirk's recent success is going to keep scouts looking for European players who can replicate what he does on the court.
28. Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls select Travis Leslie.
The Chicago Bulls need a shooting guard who can help Derrick Rose score, so that Rose isn't Chicago's only option when games come down to the last shot.
Even if Rose ends up taking that final shot, it helps if there's another player on the floor that other teams have to account for. During the Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat knew that Rose was Chicago's only option in crunch time, and when they shut him down the Bulls had nowhere to turn.
With Leslie on the floor, teams can't put all their eggs in one basket. They'll have to respect Leslie as well.
29. San Antonio Spurs
29 of 30The San Antonio Spurs select Lucas Nogueira.
The San Antonio Spurs have had a good string of success with foreign players. Manu Ginobili has been one of the Spurs' most reliable players for years, Tony Parker was the 2007 NBA Finals MVP, and you could even argue Tim Duncan, who was born in the Virgin Islands, is "foreign" to some extent.
Could Lucas Nogueira be the Spurs' next great foreign player?
Nogueira could help immediately at the center position, and at 6'11 he and Duncan could be the Twin Towers 2.0.
30. Chicago Bulls
30 of 30The Chicago Bulls select Charles Jenkins.
Jenkins has the ability to play point guard or shooting guard. He could come in as a substitute for either Derrick Rose, or the 28th pick, Travis Leslie.
Charles Jenkins is a scorer, and the Bulls could potentially put Rose, Leslie, and Jenkins all on the floor for in crunch-time situations. If LeBron James is shutting down Rose, the Bulls can create shots for Leslie or Jenkins.
This pick could prove to be be the difference between Chicago playing in the finals or watching from home.
