2011 NBA Draft: 50 Surprises No One Will See Coming
Every year, the NBA Draft gives us tons of surprises. With all the trades, crazy selections and rookie suits, draft night is always one of the best for basketball fans.
This year, I have a feeling we could see a flurry of activity on draft night. With an impending lockout that would halt all transactions on June 30, a lot of teams may look to get deals done before then.
Personally, I can't wait to see how the next week and a half unfolds and how the things that are happening right now will shape the NBA's future.
Here are 50 possible (and in many cases, crazy) surprises for the 2011 NBA Draft...
You can follow Andy Bailey on Twitter @Andy_Bailey
Surprises for Draft Night
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Here are some potential surprises for the actual draft night, June 23, 2011. Bear in mind: These may be off the wall...
Kyrie Irving Goes No. 1 but Struggles to Live Up to the Hype
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No one will be surprised when Irving goes No. 1 to the Cavs. Many will be surprised when he doesn't live up to the hype that is automatically attached to every year's top overall pick.
Minnesota Trades the No. 2 Pick
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The T'Wolves already seem to be going all-in with Ricky Rubio and some think they'll trade the No. 2 pick for that reason.
The Suns Trade Steve Nash and Move Up in the Draft
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The T'Wolves will pick up the aging point guard as a super-mentor for Ricky Rubio and the Suns will keep Derrick Williams in state.
Derrick Williams Goes No. 2... to the Suns
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Derrick Williams will go No. 2. No one will be surprised by that. What will surprise people? He won't go No. 2 to the T'Wolves.
Enes Kanter Goes No. 3
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This one will surprise tons of people who think that Brandon Knight is a lock to go to the Jazz at No. 3. Something tells me they're going to wait til their No. 12 pick to fill the need at point guard with some guy that played for BYU.
Cavaliers Reach for Jan Vesely at No. 4
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With Kanter and Williams gone, and the Cavs need at the point met by Irving, Jan Vesely will be the first true international prospect off the board (Kanter was technically at Kentucky last year).
Brandon Knight Falls to the Raptors at No. 5
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Right now, most people think the Jazz are going to snatch up Brandon Knight with the No. 3 pick. So when he falls to Toronto at No. 5, they'll be surprised (he may fall even further than that).
The Kings Avoid Jimmermania by Selecting Kemba Walker
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The Kings are thinking about drafting Jimmer Fredette at No. 7, and will keep floating it out there to make teams consider trading up.
On draft night, they'll put the rumors to rest by snagging Kemba.
Kemba Walker Is the Best Dressed Prospect on Draft Night
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One of the storylines in every draft is which prospect is sporting the best suit. This year, it will be Kemba Walker.
Jonas Valanciunas Joins Greg Monroe in the Pistons Frontcourt
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Jonas Valanciunas falling all the way to No. 8 would be surprising in itself and a team with a promising young big like Greg Monroe taking him adds to the surprise.
If they make this pick, they'll be banking on the two being able to co-exist.
Knicks Trade Up to Get Jimmer Fredette
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The Knicks will have to find someone with a better pick than Utah's No. 12 and I think they'll make it happen.
The Bobcats (No. 9), Bucks (No. 10) and Warriors (No. 11) are all reportedly open to shopping their pick.
Knicks Fans Won't Boo the Team's Selection
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The draft is held in Knicks' territory, so their fans always come out in droves. When they're unhappy with the team's selection, they make it known.
This year, response to New York's pick will be met with cries of jubilation.
Monta Ellis for Andre Iguodala Deal Finally Goes Down
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Andre Iguodala's name has been all over the rumor mill for the last few weeks. The deal that makes the most sense for both sides is Iguodala for the Warriors' Monta Ellis.
Portland Trail Blazers Make Good on Another Promise and Take Reggie Jackson
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HoopsReport's Ryan Feldman has reported that Reggie Jackson has a promise from the Trail Blazers. So a guy who really didn't do anything during this pre-draft process may go No. 21. That would be surprising, but Portland has done this before.
Bismack Biyombo Falls out of the Top 20
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Just a couple weeks ago, Bismack Biyombo was a top-10 pick in 2011 NBA mock drafts all over the internet.
Scouts, analysts and fans were all blown away by his length (6’9” with a 7’7” wingspan), athleticism and an impressive triple-double (points, rebounds and blocks) he posted at this year’s Nike Hoops Summit.
Then, video of Biyombo working out at this year’s Adidas Eurocamp surfaced and the big man’s stock has been in virtual free-fall ever since.
You can check out the video for yourself here, but I can save you some time by just telling you what has people buzzing. Biyombo misses countless jump and hook shots right around the rim and looks to be seriously lacking basic basketball coordination.
While the video has hurt his stock, he’s still almost certainly a lock for the first round. After all, it was his potential as a defensive player that got him noticed in the first place.
Kyle Singler Still Goes in the First Round
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have the 24th overall pick in this year’s NBA draft and most think they’ll look for help on the wing.
Much of the speculation surrounding this pick has centered on overseas prospect Nikola Mirotic, but ESPN’s Chad Ford is now reporting that they may have interest in Duke’s Kyle Singler.
When the 2010-2011 NCAA season began, Singler was widely regarded as a surefire first-round pick. After being overshadowed by teammates Kyrie Irving and Nolan Smith all year long, most see Singler as a second-rounder now.
He may be a good enough fit for the Thunder to warrant a first-round pick though. They really don’t have a legitimate backup small forward for Kevin Durant and Singler would bring a host of intangibles to that role.
He’s experienced, has a great basketball IQ and has shown the ability to be a leader.
The Dallas Mavericks Go with a Point Guard
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I've been thinking for months that the Mavs would go for a forward to put some depth behind Dirk and Shawn Marion. But Jason Terry recently told me that he hopes the team takes Isaiah Thomas with the No. 26 pick.
Chandler Parsons Sneaks into the First Round
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One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2011 NBA draft class is former Florida Gator Chandler Parsons. The 2011 SEC Player of the Year is well-known for his all-around game, his outside shooting and his almost Bieber-esque hairstyle.
After the pre-draft camp, he became known for something else—his size. He measured a surprising 6’10” (with a 6’10” wingspan) at the camp and has emerged as perhaps the best point forward prospect this year.
LeBron James and Lamar Odom are the pioneers of what may be something of a new era in the NBA. A lot of teams like to run their offense through taller players who can perhaps see the floor better than a typical point guard.
Everyone knew about Parsons’ ability to pass the ball when he played at Florida. Adding that to the new revelations on his height seems to have excited several teams.
ESPN’s Chad Ford is reporting that he’s drawing serious interest anywhere from pick No. 18 (Washington) to No. 32 (Cleveland).
Jon Leuer Becomes Sneaks into the First Round
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Leuer has a very enticing set of skills for a guy who measured a legitimate 7'0" at the pre-draft camp. He can handle and shoot the ball like a guard because that's what he was for most of high school before he hit a crazy 10-inch growth spurt.
The Bulls Don't Fill Their Void at Shooting Guard
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The Bulls are going to bank on being able to address their need on the wing through free agency or trades.
They're going to surprise all of us by drafting bigs. That will pave the way for them to be able to trade Noah and Boozer in an effort to bring in Dwight Howard.
Miami Heat Land Their Center
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Some think Miami will go with a point guard at No. 31, but Chalmers did enough in the Finals to solidify his spot as the team's starting point guard.
With that in mind, I expect Miami to take a chance on the kid who ditched his senior year of high school to play overseas.
JaJuan Johnson Falls to the Second Round
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For a player who dominated the Big 10 the way Johnson did, his status as a late first round pick is shocking. Seeing him slip to the second round will be even more surprising.
Josh Selby Falls out of the First Round
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For a little while there, a lot of people thought the Knicks might take Josh Selby with the No. 17 pick. When they move up and nab Jimmer, there won't be anyone else willing to take the risk of selecting Selby until the second round.
The Lakers Find Their Point Guard of the Future in the 2nd Round
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The Lakers have four second-round picks in this year's draft. They need a point guard, so no one will be surprised when they use one of those picks on that position. What will be a bit surprising is when they use two, hoping that at least one pans out.
The Lakers and T'Wolves Swap Pau Gasol and Kevin Love
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This would be an insane draft night deal that would surprise the heck out of me. It does make a little sense though.
Ben Hansbrough Heads to Indiana to Play with His Brother
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This one is obviously a huge stretch, but it would fit the bill as a surprise. Plus, it makes an awful lot of sense.
Someone Drafts the Unknown Julyan Stone
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ESPN's Chad Ford currently has Julyan Stone at No. 71 in his top 100 prospects. So Stone hearing his name called looks like a long shot at best. Someone is going to make it happen though.
David Stern Wears Velvet
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David Stern could send a bold message to the players union by going all Christopher Walken SNL on draft night.
Washington Wizards Win the Draft for the Second Year in a Row
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Like I said before, I have the Wizards taking Kawhi Leonard and Kenneth Faried. Neither one is great offensively, but their potential as defenders makes up for that.
Plus, playing with John Wall will make them much look better on offense.
Someone Will Show Up with a Lap Dog
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I would certainly to be shocked to see someone in the green room sporting something like this in their lap.
2011 Draft Surprises That Will Happen in the Future
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With some of the players involved in this year's draft, we won't be surprised until we see them play in the NBA.
The Players and Owners Get a CBA Done
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They'll be meeting more than a few times between now and the June 30 deadline when the current CBA expires. It may not go down on draft night, but let's all keep our fingers crossed, hoping it does go down.
Derrick Williams Makes the Cavs Regret Passing on Him in His Rookie Year
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Derrick Williams is going to be much more productive than Kyrie Irving in year one.
Kemba Walker's Long-Term Position Is Shooting Guard
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Anyone who watched UConn’s historic run through the Big East and NCAA tournaments knows that the Huskies became a much more dynamic team when Shabazz Napier was at the point and Kemba Walker played off the ball.
Walker is a great player with the ability to handle the ball and score inside and out. His mentality is geared toward scoring and without a seismic shift in personality he’s going to come into the NBA as a scorer as well.
Walker averaged a solid 4.5 assists a game, but that number could be chalked up to how often he had the ball and how solid his teammates were at finishing. A player with a true point guard’s mentality could have averaged six or seven assists a game in Walker’s situation.
I’m not saying he won’t be a good pro, I just see him developing into more of a Jason Terry-like shooting or combo guard than a true point.
Jimmer Fredette Will Be End Up Being the Best Point Guard from This Class
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Who doesn't love an underdog story? Countless fans and analysts are counting on, nay, hoping Jimmer will fail. Jimmer developing into a star will send shockwaves through the basketball establishment.
Tristan Thompson's Lack of Size Will Hurt Him
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Tristan Thompson's length, athleticism and "upside" may get him drafted in the top 10, but I don't see him being much more than the next Brandon Bass.
Alec Burks Develops a Jump Shot and Becomes Solid
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Burks has a hard time scoring from the perimeter (29 percent from three-point range) and made a killing at the free throw line in college (scored 32 percent of his points from there). He’s not going to be able to just put his head down, drive and get the calls in the NBA.
Klay Thompson Ends Up Being the 3rd Best Shooting Guard from This Class
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Klay Thompson has shot up draft boards over the last few weeks and may be the first shooting guard taken.
As things all shake out over the next couple years, we'll look back on this draft and realize Thompson was a late-first round pick at best.
Chris Singleton Is the Next Corey Brewer
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Chris Singleton's painfully obvious lack of offense won't keep him out of the top 20 picks, but it will make it hard for him to spend much time on an NBA floor.
Morris Brothers Struggle to Adjust to the NBA
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The Morris twins had solid junior seasons at Kansas and both will be selected in the top 20 of this year's draft.
Plenty of people think their success in college will translate directly to the NBA, so they'll be surprised when it doesn't.
Jordan Hamilton Is the Next Martell Webster
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Maybe not in terms of Webster's history of injuries. As it concerns style and production, Texas fans will be surprised to see how similar those two are.
Marshon Brooks Ends Up Being the Best Shooting Guard from This Class
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When Klay Thompson and Alec Burks are generally seen as potential top-10 picks, it’s difficult for me to figure out why Marshon Brooks is seen as a borderline lottery pick at best.
Brooks played in the much-ballyhood Big East and averaged 24.6 points and seven rebounds a game as a senior at Providence. He hit 48 percent of his field goal attempts and 34 percent of his threes.
Statistically, he’s more impressive than Thompson or Burks. Plus, he tested better athletically than those two and had better physical measurements (Brooks is 6’5” with a 7’1” wingspan) at the pre-draft camp.
Brooks has apparently been very impressive in workouts over the last couple weeks, but most still have him as the third shooting guard selected.
If that holds true, the teams who pass on Brooks may regret it as early as next year.
Tobias Harris Ends Up Being the 2nd Best Vol from This Year's Class
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Tobias Harris may be selected in the top 20 this year. Scotty Hopson will be picked in the second round (if at all). Hopson will be better.
Donatas Motiejunas Is This Year's International Bust
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It seems like we get an international prospect every year who has an extremely difficult time adjusting to the NBA game.
This year's international bust will be Motiejunas.
Nikola Vucevic Becomes Yao Ming's Long-Term Replacement
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Nikola Vucevic is one of the most underrated prospects in this year's class and almost no one sees him going in the top 20.
The Rockets will take him at No. 23, and even they'll be surprised at how productive he can be.
Travis Leslie Will Not Be as Good as Tony Allen
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This actually wouldn't be a surprise to me, but something tells me it will shock the heck out of Leslie.
Norris Cole Ends Up Being the 2nd-Best Point Guard from This Class
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It would definitely surprise me.
Kawhi Leonard, Kenneth Faried and John Wall Lead the Wizards to the Playoffs
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In my latest mock draft, I have the Wizards landing Kawhi Leonard and Kenneth Faried in the first round.
Led by John Wall, this athletic and exciting unit will surge at the end of the 2011-12 season and snag the east's No. 8 seed.
This Class Turns out to Be Better Than Expected
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For the last couple months, this class has received a lot more criticism than praise. Most think this crop features two potential stars and a bunch of possible role players.
I feel like this class could have five or six stars and a handful of late-round sleeper picks.
Jimmer Fredette Will Become an All-Star
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This will surprise the vast majority of NBA fans. Within five years, the Jimmer will make an All-Star team.
Picks 11-60 Will Have More NBA Success Than the Top 10
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Almost every prospect in this class is "boom or bust." So I'll take the odds and assume the last 50 picks will produce more "booms" than the top 10.
