NBA Draft 2011: Top 5 Players Who Have Had Their Stocks Fall Since the Combine

The 2011 NBA Draft is days away. Many pundits around the nation shuffle talented players up and down their draft boards. 

The reason for this?

NBA executives are continuing to evaluate talent and picking the best player who best fits their style of play. 

Many factors go into why a player's draft stock could fall. Could it be attitude? Height? Weight? Does his shooting ability need work? Does he move like he has ankle weights on? 

It could be a multitude of factors that a player can or cannot fix. That's how the ball bounces when millions are at stake. 

This slideshow will give an analysis of the top five players who have taken a tumble down the NBA draft boards. 

Brandon Knight

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: MVP Brandon Knight #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats cuts the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the east regional final of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Prudential Center on March 27, 2011 in Newark, New

Brandon Knight is an exceptional talent, but it didn’t make much sense for him to decline the open invitation to compete against Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette.

As Knight declined, The Utah Jazz didn't seem too please either. This could hurt his chances at being taken third overall in this week’s draft.

Knight clarified his decision with UKNation, “My main thing is that’s why you hire agents. Listen to what the agent tells you, just trust him, see what he says to do. Like you said, I’m not scared to work out against anybody. I’m a competitor. Sometimes with scheduling and stuff like that, you’ve got to listen to your agent and what he tells you to do. Sometimes it’s not about being a competitor. Sometimes it’s about being strategic.”

Kyle Singler

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils looks at a cut on his elbow while playing against the Arizona Wildcats during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 2011

Singler was one of the most important players for the Duke 2010 National Championship squad. He was a utility player who had the ability to do many things on the basketball court in terms of production on the offensive end.

At the end of last season, many NBA executives saw Singler as an NBA lottery pick. That's when he should have left.

Now after an early exit in the 2011 NCAA tournament, Singler has lost a lot of value in his talents. According to the Bleacher Report, his points per game dropped from 17.7 to 16.9, rebounds from 7.0 to 6.8, assists from 2.4 to 1.6, assist to turnover ratio from 1.22 to .86 and three-point percentage from 39 percent to 33 percent.

Look for Singler to be a second-round pick in this week's draft. 

Tyler Honeycutt

Though Tyler Honeycutt is projected as a late first round pick, the UCLA guard had a terrible workout with the New Jersey Nets. With his poor shooting, his stock has fallen quickly down the draft boards. 

“To be honest, it’s probably the worst workout I’ve had so far,” said Honeycutt, a slender, 6'8" small forward from UCLA. “Just normal, easy stuff I usually make wasn’t going in today, so just a little rest will help.”
Not to worry because the Nets GM feels confident about Honeycutt still after a terrible performance. 

“He didn’t shoot as well, and I think he’d tell you that,” Nets GM Billy King said to the Newark Star-Ledger. “(But) talking to other GMs, he had good workouts some places, other places he didn’t. So trust me, he’s in the mix.”

It seems as if Honeycutt will get a pass this time, but for his career to have longevity, he must learn poise in pressure situations. Example: LeBron James 

Cory Joseph

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GREENSBORO, NC - DECEMBER 18: Cory Joseph #5 of the Texas Longhorns against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Greensboro Coliseum on December 18, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Cory Joseph is currently sitting on the fence between the first and second round of the NBA draft and after several workouts with NBA teams, it's looking towards the ladder. His workouts with NBA teams went well, but there is still some concern about his mid-range jump shot. 

Joseph also isn't really tall at 6'3", and lacks athleticism compared to some of the other guards in the draft. Joseph's workout with the Raptors went well, but there is still a large need for improvement on his offensive game. 

According to the Toronto Sun, Joseph is prepared to enter the Development league or European league if not drafted this week. After just one season with the Texas Longhorns, look for the Canadian to be picked up in the second round. 

Jimmer Fredette

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - APRIL 03: Jimmer Fredette of BYU received the 2011 Naismith Trophy Presented by AT&T at the NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Program on April 3, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Though Jimmer Fredette had a decent NBA combine showcasing his skills for NBA scouts, you can't ignore some of the glaring holes in the defensive game.

The Utah Jazz have stated that Jimmer's footwork is adequate, but the film shows something different. This is not the first time that a college athlete has tried to tweak themselves before a draft. 

Remember when Tebow tried to work on his mechanics holding the football high? 

Well, he still does the same thing in terms of bringing the football down to his waist before he throws, and Jimmer is no different in terms of his footwork and defensive awareness. You can't correct a few issues in just one combine, though it can improve. 

Look for Jimmer to slide out of the Top 15.