NBA Draft 2011: 5 Picks with the Biggest Sleeper Potential
The NBA draft is a bit like going down to the local liquor store to look for a bottle of wine.
There are different vintages, styles and flavors, all for different purposes. Sometimes you need something that pairs well with a Chicken Parmesan, other times you need a dessert wine and sometimes you just need something that takes the pain away from years of losing seasons.
Unlike the MLB and NFL drafts, which are like shopping at a gigantic big box store, you really need to know your wine, or you're going to be stuck with something that resembles month-old pear juice.
Your Kyrie Irvings and your Derrick WIlliamses are going to be knockout hits no matter what, but after that, it gets a little fuzzy.
Let's take a look at the bottom of the wine cellar and see which picks could end up being stellar selections...
Center: Bismack Biyombo
1 of 5Granted, he is not a true sleeper due to all the buzz about him, but the big man from the Congo is projected to go anywhere from pick eight to pick 20.
Biyombo's sheer size is a major plus for him. He is 6'9" with a 7'7" wingspan and a 9'3" reach. He weighs in a 243 pounds. He is a force to be recokened with on the glass and swats shots like mosquitos.
He is a raw talent and needs an experienced big man to show him the way. His offense game is also little to none.
If he refines his amazing skill set, he could scare anybody and anything away from the paint.
Power Forward: Donatas Motiejunas
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The bumper crop of Euro players in this year's draft have a lot of GM's trying to convert Euro Ball stats in to NBA numbers. Motiejunas is one of those guys.
His athleticism and basketball IQ have impressed many scouts. He dominated his competition while playing for Benetton Treviso and has drawn comparisons to Pau Gasol.
Scouts have been turned off by his poor attitude and skinny frame. They are also worried about his lack of competition.
The thing is that Motiejunas knows he is good. He has fierce desire to win. If he is paired with a mentor, he has the potential to put up big numbers.
Small Forward: Tobias Harris
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Tobis is the guy who can do it all, which means who ever drafts him will have a difficult time plugging him into one role.
Harris averaged 21.4 points for a Vols team that was in turmoil. He also was praised for his high basketball IQ and ability to score in a number of ways.
Teams are worried about his size and mediocre defensive skill set. If Harris is put with the right coach, he could become a proficient scorer who is a headache for teams to guard.
Shooting Guard: Alec Burks
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The first thing people say about Alec Burks is that he can score. He finds ways to the basket and has a pretty good mid-range game. The biggest upside for Burks is that he is that not many people are talking about him.
He stepped up his game when it mattered in college by averaging 24.7 points and 7.9 rebounds during the Big 12 and NIT tournaments.
The biggest knock against him is his size and lack of a three-point shot. Both of which can be fixed with hard work and a lot of heart. Burks has repetedly shown that he owns both those qualities.
Point Guard: Reggie Jackson
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Jackson is a player that is flying under every ones radar. He has not worked out for many teams due to a knee injury.
Jackson's improvement over his career at Boston College raises a few eyebrows. He shot a respectable 42 percent from the three-point line his final year (a 15 percent improvement from freshman year). His athleticsicm brought is outstanding and was a go to guy at BC.
Scouts are worried about his small size and lack of ball handling ability. Once he grows in to his NBA role, both of these problems can be corrected.
