NBA Draft 2011: How the Lottery Will Play out from Start to Finish
Come Thursday, the NBA Draft can serve as any team's reboot program.
Franchises such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors will use the draft to select the future of their city.
Throughout the first 14 picks in the Draft, elite college players such as Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Brandon Knight, will be taken with the hopes of excelling at the professional level.
The Lottery selections could entail some interesting trades, worthwhile sleepers, and other Draft Day quirks.
Here's how the Lottery will play out from start to finish.
1st Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
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Pick: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has already expressed much interest in Duke point-guard Kyrie Irving, making it almost certain the team will draft him No. 1 overall.
The Cavs will be looking to select the future of the franchise, the "New Lebron."
Now while Irving has no shot of becoming another Lebron James, the young guard will be counted on to rescue Cleveland from the depths of the NBA.
If Irving doesn't get drafted here, it may be the biggest Draft Day surprise in recent memory.
2nd Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves
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Pick: Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona
As it is with Kyrie Irving going No. 1, Derrick Williams is surely going to be selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 2.
While there was an outside chance of the team drafting point guard Brandon Knight at this spot, the news of European sensation Ricky Rubio coming to play for the T-Wolves next season, dispelled any rumors of Williams falling to No. 3.
By drafting Williams, Kevin Love would more than likely move to center, forming one of the best big men, dual-scoring threats in the NBA.
This selection is a near lock.
3rd Pick: Utah Jazz
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Pick: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
This is a great pick for the Utah Jazz. And an easy one at that.
Kentucky point-guard Brandon Knight is going to be drafted with the hopes of filling in the shoes that were left by former Utah front-man Deron Williams.
The Jazz do have Devin Harris, but Knight has too much scoring potential and future All-Star qualities to be left out of the mix at No. 3.
The only way Utah passes on Knight is if another team like the Toronto Raptors or Detroit Pistons trade up to select the 19-year-old.
The Jazz have another lottery pick at No. 12.
4th Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
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Pick: Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
There's been a lot of speculation as to which big man the Cleveland Cavaliers will draft at No. 4.
Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, and Jan Vesely are all plausible options, but Kanter could prove to be the second coming of Zydrunas Ilguaskas.
Cavs fans know all about the success of Ilgauskas and his formidable play on the court.
Kanter possess a similar repertoire.
He's a great passer, plays with a high basketball IQ, and can knock down long-range looks.
While it's possible the Cavs could go a different way, Kanter makes an excellent choice.
5th Pick: Toronto Raptors
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Pick: Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut
This will probably be the biggest surprise in the lottery.
Not because Kemba Walker doesn't deserve to be a No. 5 draft pick, but because the Toronto Raptors will be passing up on two 7'0" centers to do so.
It makes perfect sense.
The Raptors already have a serviceable front court with Andres Bargnani and Amir Johnson, so drafting a guard could make the team more dimensional.
A scoring guard at that.
Walker could easily take over for Jose Calderon, showcasing superior athleticism and outstanding basket penetration while doing so.
The reigning national champion could be the best value pick of the draft.
6th Pick: Washington Wizards
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Pick: Jan Vesely, SF/PF, Czech Republic
This is a situation where the Washington Wizards are going to take the best player left on the board.
The Wizards currently have two solid big men, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, but Jan Vesely offers too much scoring potential at 6'11" to be passed up.
Washington could potentially shock everybody and pick Jimmer Fredette or Kawhi Leonard, but Vesely is a no brainer.
7th Pick: Sacramento Kings
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Pick: Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania
The Sacramento Kings need a big man.
Well, Valanciunas is going to be left and the Lithuanian center had top-five potential before this whole thing started, making him a tremendous value pick at No. 7.
After drafting DeMarcus Cousins in 2010, the Kings could round out a youthful front court to ensure they'll be competitive for the next 10 years.
Valanciunas has a great motor, a solid basketball IQ, and a scorer's touch around the rim.
The 19-year-old could go before the Kings pick, but this scenario makes more sense than not.
8th Pick: Detroit Pistons
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Pick: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State
The Detroit Pistons need youth.
It's been speculated over the past month or so that Detroit would draft Kemba Walker with the No. 8 pick, but considering I have Walker going earlier, Kawhi Leonard is on deck.
With an aging Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons need a young scorer who can not only play solid defense, but rebound and give the squad quality playing time.
Leonard has the ability to start for the Pistons, giving the team options to trade Prince or Hamilton and get some value for the aging stars.
9th Pick: Charlotte Bobcats
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Pick: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas
Just like the Sacramento Kings, the Charlotte Bobcats need a big man who can score.
Marcus Morris is just the guy for the job.
The Bobcats, led by owner Michael Jordan, haven't made a significant splash in the Draft since 2005 when they selected Raymond Felton, and arguably 08' when they drafted current point-guard D.J. Augustin.
Considering their recent Draft Day woes, Charlotte needs to make the obvious pick and take Morris at No. 9.
They could go with point-guard Klay Thompson, but considering the before mentioned Augustin averaged 14.4 PPG and 6.1 APG in 2011, they'd be better of taking a power forward.
Morris would replace the aging Boris Diaw, making him a threat to begin his NBA career in the Bobcats' opening day lineup.
10th Pick: Milwaukee Bucks
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Pick: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State
Klay Thompson could go earlier and go could co later, but I'm going to squeeze him in here to round out the top-10 picks.
With much speculation revolving around point-guard Brandon Jennings being traded this offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks could decide to draft Thompson as a means of insuring their back court.
If the Bucks decide to keep Jennings, Thompson could still be an excellent shooting guard choice at 6'7" 206 lbs.
He's a great passer, has excellent court vision, and can knock down free-throws with the best of them.
Thompson would be a solid choice at No. 10 or any pick after that.
11th Pick: Golden State Warriors
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Pick: Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, Congo
With new head coach Mark Jackson leading the way, the Golden State Warriors could easily decide to take a defensive player with the No. 11 pick of this year's draft.
There's no better defensive player than Bismack Biyombo.
With nearly a 7'7" wingspan, the power forward from Congo would provide the Warriors with sufficient shot blocking abilities, excellent rebounding, and a high ceiling for NBA improvement.
By drafting Biyombo, David Lee could move back to center where he has a better chance of outplaying other big men on the offensive side of the ball.
12th Pick: Utah Jazz
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Pick: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
This is one of the most interesting selections in the entire Draft.
If everything goes as plans, or as I just listed it, the Utah Jazz would be set up to have multiple options with the No. 12 pick.
The Jazz would already have Brandon Knight so drafting another scoring guard could compliment the team's back court even more.
Alec Burks, Jordan Hamilton, Jimmer Fredette, and Chris Singleton are all possible scenarios in which Utah drafts scoring with their second pick.
Even Marshon Brooks has an outside chance of going early with this pick.
But more than likely, Utah will take Burks who is the best pure shooting guard among the guys just listed.
The 19-year-old has an unlimited amount of scoring potential at the NBA level, possessing explosive slashing abilities and natural scoring instincts.
Burks would team up with Knight to help make the Jazz and Al Jefferson more of a threat in the western conference.
13th Pick: Phoenix Suns
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Pick: Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG, BYU
Draftng Jimmer Fredette with the No. 13 pick will allow the Phoenix Suns to trade two-time MVP Steve Nash and replace his outside shooting at the same time.
With Aaron Brooks ready to take over if Nash leaves, Fredette would man the two-guard role, moving Grant Hill back to his natural small forward position.
While the BYU product is only 6'3", he has enough work ethic and all-around creative offensive skills to make up for size with athleticism.
Fredette is one of the biggest question marks coming into the draft.
Not only as to where he'll be drafted, but if his college dominance can translate to the NBA.
The Suns look the team willing to draft and see.
14th Pick: Houston Rockets
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Pick: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
With the last Lottery pick, the Houston Rockets could go a few ways, but drafting a defensive forward would suit them best.
Chris Singleton could also help Kevin Martin form a more admirable scoring attack, bumping Chase Budinger back to the bench.
The 21-year-old is a seasoned college vet, offering whichever team drafts him awesome transition play, a solid mid-range jumper, and some of the best lock-down defense in the 2011 Draft.
Singleton still has some work to do, but the Rockets could look to draft him based on his defensive prowess alone, potentially making him Ron Artest 2.0.
