NBA Draft 2011: Re-Examining Enes Kanter and the Rest of the Top Centers
In a league that is physical and athletic, the center position is needed to be the imposing force on the defensive and offensive end of the court.
It is a very important position because of the easy points that come from put backs and strong post play.
The 2011 NBA Draft has many guards, but it is not a center heavy draft. The candidates that are in the draft have a lot of talent and upside.
Enes Kanter leads the center position, but here is an examination of him and his top peers in this upcoming draft.
Enes Kanter
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Enes Kanter is an athletic and strong big man that will give any NBA team legitimacy at the center position.
He certainly has center size at 6’11” and 250 plus pounds.
His size and strength gives him the ability to finish through contact. He is also a more then capable free throw shooter, which will be a big part of why he will be good in the NBA.
There are some question marks due to not playing this season for the University of Kentucky after the NCAA found him ineligible for not being an amateur athlete.
Jonas Valanciunas
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Jonas Valanciunas is a Lithuanian center in the draft. He is a 6’ 11” center and weighs 240 pounds.
He is a great rebounder who seems at home around the rim on the offensive and defensive end.
He gets second chance opportunities for himself and his team, which will help any NBA team.
His only true downside is that he is a bit lost once he leaves the post. His offense relies on post moves.
If he has to create space for himself or try to take a shot, he might as well just let someone else handle it.
Jan Vesely
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Jan Vesely is a versatile player that can play small forward, power forward and as a center. He is 6’11” and weighs 230 pounds.
Vesely does not have enough strength yet to defend NBA centers, but he has the height.
For a center, he has an incredible ability to run the floor and can score well on the fast break.
He is a player that is developing a post game and uses his size when there is a mismatch in so he can score over a smaller player. He is also a player that gets in good positions to get put backs on the offensive boards.
Bismack Biyombo
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This center from Congo does not have the height of most centers at 6’9”, but he certainly has the strength, weighing in at 240 pounds.
He can run the floor, and his quickness allows him to be an important player if a team is trying to play a smaller line-up.
He has many things to work on before he can be a prominent force in the NBA.
He cannot use his left hand down low. He also needs to work on his footwork for his post game to develop.
Nikola Vucevic
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He is a 6’11” center weighing 260 pounds. The size is definitely there to be a good center in the NBA, and there is a buzz around him.
He averaged a double-double in his junior season at USC and brought them to the NCAA tournament.
Vucevic’s only real knock is that his athleticism is not there. In a league where this is a valued quality, it has some people wondering.
His size and potential will not let him fall past the first round of the NBA draft though.
Vucevic will be a welcomed presence to any team that takes him.
