NBA Mock Draft 2011: Projecting Every Pick for All 30 Teams
The NBA draft is just one day away and there is plenty of buzz going around about the potential picks and who will be immediate impacts. Each team in the lottery will have a chance at getting a player that will meet their needs, but than there will be those "sleeper" picks towards the bottom of the first round that are bound to make surprises.
The draft class as a whole isn't exactly star-studded, but that doesn't mean it isn't talented. Kyrie Irving and Brandon Knight will look to continue the trend of talented guards entering the league.
There is a new crop of foreign talents that will be present. Enes Kanter from Turkey, Jonas Valanciunas from Lithuania, Jan Vesely from the Czech Republic and Bismack Biyombo from the Congo are all players that could be in the lottery.
Then there are the other high profile players like Derrick Williams, Tristan Thompson, Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker.
Either way, this will be an exiting draft and should provide drama with the potential of trades.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers-Kyrie Irving
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The obvious pick, or so all of the experts say anyway, Kyrie Irving is exactly what the Cavs need. He's a dynamic point guard and although he didn't get the whole college experience due to injury, he still performed well enough to be the top pick.
Irving is the kind of guard who can step in right away and be a big time player. He's a high character guy as well coming from Duke.
Irving will without a doubt go No. 1 to the Cavs.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves-Derrick Williams
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With the second overall pick, the Timberwolves will select Derrick Williams out of Arizona. The 6'9" power forward had an amazing sophomore season and he's the type of player that could match up well with Kevin Love.
Love had a career year in terms of production. He was a rebounding machine as well as a low post scorer. Williams could step in right away and contribute in those two categories. He won't be a tall presence down low, but he has great athleticism and with the addition of Ricky Rubio, the T-Wolves might actually have some pieces towards making it back to the playoffs in a couple seasons.
3. Utah Jazz-Brandon Knight
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Brandon Knight is the next great point guard in the line of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall; all products of John Calipari. Knight has a lot of the same traits as all three of them. He has the speed and ball handling, but he's also a good shooter and can make big shots as he showed in the NCAA tournament.
Knight would be a great pick for the Jazz and he might just be the obvious choice. They need a replacement for Deron Williams and Knight could fill the hole.
Knight has the potential to have the same success as Rose, Evans and Wall; and then some.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers-Enes Kanter
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The Cavs can go in a lot of different directions with this pick, but Enes Kanter is high on their list. The Turkish center could provide the post player they need.
The Cavaliers have a great opportunity to get two solid players in the first four picks, and while it looks as if they will for sure go with Kyrie Irving with the number one overall pick, they will most likely go for a big guy with the fourth pick and Kanter fits the mold.
Kanter has had some injury problems, and the fact that he was ruled ineligible to play at Kentucky this year may just draw up questions about his character, but he's too good of a prospect to pass up at this position.
5. Toronto Raptors-Kemba Walker
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If there's one thing to say about Kemba Walker, it's that he's a winner. That's all he does is win. He proved that winning the Big East Championship en route to the national championship. There is a lot of question marks about his size and whether or not he'll be able to create his own shot once he get's in the pros, but he's worth the risk.
Walker isn't the most popular choice for the Raptors in most mock drafts, but Toronto needs a scorer. They need someone who is a winner as well and Walker fits the mold.
6.Washington Wizards-Jan Vesely
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Jan Vesely is the big guy that the Wizards need. They already have a dynamic point guard and a couple other nice pieces, but now they need a big guy who can score as well as play defense.
Vesely, a 21-year-old native of the Czech Republic, has plenty of talent, mainly on the offensive side and that is what the Wizards need.
7. Sacramento Kings-Jimmer Fredette
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The Kings already have Tyreke Evans, but they need a shooter, someone like Jimmer Fredette.
There are also plenty of question marks around Fredette. Can he shoot lights out in the NBA? The only kicker for Fredette is that he's a high character type of person. He would be a great addition for any team. The Kings would be foolish to pass on Fredette.
Fredette may need to develop over the next couple of seasons, but with the work ethic that he has, it's no question that he will drive himself to have success in the NBA.
8. Detroit Pistons-Jonas Valanciunas
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Jonas Valanciunas might just be the best big man in the draft and at just 19 years old, he has plenty of years ahead of him to develop into a dominant center or power forward in the NBA.
The Lithuanian is high up on the Pistons list as well and it makes sense for them to take him with the eighth pick.
The Pistons need a big man who can score and play defense and NBA scouts have plenty of praise for Valanciunas.
9. Charlotte Bobcats-Kawhi Leonard
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There are two players here that the Bobcats could easily take. Kawhi Leonard or Marcus Morris. Both are big players and both have great resumes, but there's something about Leonard that is more attractive than Morris.
Leonard had a fantastic year at San Diego State last season as a sophomore. He has a 7'1" wingspan and has ups through the roof. He's a great rebounder as well, but the question will be what his position will truly be once he gets to the NBA. He looks to be a small forward, but if he develops a jump shot he could merge into a shooting guard over time.
10. Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris
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There are plenty of praises to give Marcus Morris. He's been one of the top college players for three years now at Kansas. He's got a never ending motor and he's developing every year. That is exactly why the Bucks should draft him with the 10th pick.
Morris brings plenty to the table; leadership, rebounding ability, scoring ability, leadership, etc. The list goes on and on.
Morris will need to develop into a better shooter and a better post player once he gets to the NBA, but he's up to the challenge.
11. Golden State Warriors-Alec Burks
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If the Warriors do in fact deal Monta Ellis, they will need to replace him with a shooter. Alec Burks out of Colorado might be the most popular choice with the 11th pick and why not, Burks had a great year last season with a 25.3 point average as well as 8.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Burks will need to bulk up a little more and work on his three point shooting, but he fits the mold of an NBA two-guard.
Burks would be a great pick for new head coach Mark Jackson.
12. Utah Jazz-Bismack Biyombo
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Bismack Biyombo is just 18 years old, but from all the scouting reports, he's mature beyond his age. The Congo native also posses a solid game for a big man.
The 6'9" power forward is a physical specimen. He's very explosive and has a 7'7" wingspan as well at a 9'3" standing reach. He's a ferocious defender especially when it comes to rebounding.
The Jazz could go with Markieff Morris with this pick, but Biyombo is physically gifted enough right now to step in and contribute right away.
Biyombo will have to develop a more refined offensive game, but he's a gifted defender and that will help him have success right away.
13. Phoenix Suns-Tristan Thompson
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The Suns need a shooter, but they also need a big man who has the ability to rebound as well as score. Tristan Thompson out of Texas is just that.
The 6'9" 20-year-old might not have the best size to play power forward in the NBA, but his rebounding ability, especially on the offensive side, would prove otherwise.
Thompson won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award and while he needs to get better offensively, he had tremendous upside to develop into a good player, possibly a great player.
14. Houston Rockets-Chris Singleton
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The Rockets are thinking defensively here and Chris Singleton is their best bet. He's 6'9", 230 lbs. and defense is his specialty.
Singleton might not wow fans with his offensive ability, but his defense will certainly make his stand out. Last season he averaged two steals per game as well as 1.5 blocks per game.
He averaged just 13 points per game so his offensive game will need to improve, but in the mean time, his defense is what the Rockets are looking for and Singleton can deliver just that.
15. Indiana Pacers-Marshon Brooks
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Marshon Brooks has been impressing a lot of teams with his work-outs as of late and the 6'5" shooting guard could easily land with the Pacers.
Brooks is a natural scorer, something the Pacers needed this season. He's a good shooter who averaged 24.6 points per game last year as a Senior.
He has the experience as well, having played four years of college ball. Brooks might need to put on some weight and get stronger, but he's the shooter that the Pacers need right now.
16. Philadelphia 76ers-Markieff Morris
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Markieff Morris may be a lottery pick, I might just have this all wrong, but there are other big men that might just bring more to the table. Either way if he is still available at 16, there is no way the 76ers should pass on him.
Morris might not be better than his twin, Marcus, but he still has plenty of the same tools. He's a great rebounder and good on the defensive end, but he can be an offensive threat in the post.
Morris was starting to emerge as a decent offensive threat last season and that will only progress once he gets in the NBA.
17. New York Knicks- Nikola Vucevic
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If there's one thing the New York Knicks need, it's a true center. Amar'e Stoudemire isn't that. Nikola Vucevic is a large player with a bright upside. He averaged a double-double last year averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Vucevic is still relatively young too at just 20 years old. He could easily develop into a prime-time center in the NBA. He was one of the most improved players in college basketball this past season and has plenty of potential.
18. Washington Wizards- Klay Thompson
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The Wizards need someone to complement John Wall in the back-court, someone with shooting ability. Klay Thompson from Washington State fits the mold.
Thompson averaged 21.6 points per game and was a first team all Pac-10 player. Thompson has big size for a shooting guard at 6'7" and if he's still available at 18, the Wizards need to draft him.
Thompson can very easily be a lottery pick and he would be a steal for any team that drafts him.
19. Charlotte Bobcats- Donatus Motiejunas
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The Bobcats could go in plenty of different directions with this pick. They could draft Jordan Hamilton and Kenneth Faried, but Donatus Motiejunas can fill a need for a big man.
Motiejunas is seven feet tall, but he does weigh just 215 lbs. so he will need to fill out some. He's still young at 20 years old.
He may be a project type of player, but his upset might just be worth the risk.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jordan Hamilton
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It's highly likely that the Timberwolves will take Derrick Williams with the second pick, so this pick will also serve for plenty of options as well. In my opinion, Jordan Hamilton would be a great pick.
Hamilton is a small forward, but he's a scorer. He averaged 18.6 points a game last season as a sophomore at Texas.
Hamilton is one of the best shooters in the draft. He shot 43 percent from three-point land last year and could transition nicely to the NBA.
Minnesota could go in another direction here, but if they need a shooter, Hamilton is the obvious choice.
21. Portland Trailblazers-Kenneth Faried
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Kenneth Faried might just have the biggest heart of any player in the draft. He's famous for his last second block in the first game against Louisville in the NCAA tournament.
Faried collected 1,673 rebounds in his career. He may be undersized at 6'8" to get that many rebounds in the NBA, but he will certainly try.
The Trailblazers should pull the trigger on Faried if he's still available at pick 21.
22. Denver Nuggets- Tobias Harris
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Tobias Harris is just 18 years old, but he's got plenty of upside. He's a very versatile player. He averaged 15.3 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds. He's a small forward at 6'8", but if he develops an offensive game, he could merge into a shooting guard.
Harris would fit in nicely with the Denver Nuggets and George Karl's system.
Harris may end up being a project player, but he still has time to develop. He was the sixth best player coming out of high school and has plenty of potential to be a great player in the NBA.
23. Houston Rockets- Iman Shumpert
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Iman Shumpert is very physically gifted. He impressed every scout at the NBA draft with his 36.5" standing vertical.
The 6'6" point guard out of Georgia Tech had a nice junior season with 17.3 points per game, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He also added 2.7 steals as opposed to his 2.3 turnovers.
If Shumpert is going to be a point guard in the NBA, he will need to become a better passer. He's more of a scorer right now,
The Rockets could have him play as a shooting guard, but most likely they will be drafting Shumpert to play the point.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kyle Singler
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Oklahoma City has plenty of shooters and scorers, so why not add another one? Kyle Singler is one of the most experienced and proven players in the draft. He possesses great leadership ability as well as the ability to score.
He's got good enough size to play as a small forward or as a shooting guard, but the bottom line is that Singler is going to have to develop a defensive game. He's a great shooter right now and that's probably all that the Thunder will ask of him at first, but if he wants to be more than a bench player, he will need to become better on the defensive side.
25. Boston Celtics- Trey Tompkins
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The Boston Celtics lost somewhat of their identity when they traded away Kendrick Perkins. That may or may not be the case, but they clearly lacked the size and youth at the power forward position and it showed when they lost to the Heat.
Trey Tompkins is a 6'10", power forward out of Georgia. He's a great post up player with a decent jump shot, but he will be used primarily in the post. His defense was good in college, but he has been known for showing up out of shape. He measured 15.5 percent body fat at the combine.
Tompkins could develop into a very well rounded post player and could fit into the Celtics rotation nicely.
26. Dallas Mavericks-Justin Harper
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The Dallas Mavericks are full of shooters, so why not add another one? Justin Harper is one of the best shooters, not to mention his speed. He's a very athletic player, but he does lack a pure position.
Can he play the power forward position or is he more suited as a small forward?
Harper has NBA range from the three-point line and he could contribute right away to the Mavericks who will be hoping to make another title run.
Harper will need to bulk up some, but that will come in time. Harper has all the makings to be a great shooter in the NBA.
27. New Jersey Nets- Reggie Jackson
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The New Jersey Nets could end up going with Nolan Smith out of Duke with this pick, but Reggie Jackson looks to be a better option at point guard, even though he will need to settle into that role as well.
Jackson is a very gifted prospect. He's 6'3", but has a seven-foot wingspan. He's very quick and explosive and shot 42 percent from three-point land last season.
He's not known for his defense, but he could develop into a good stealer as he progresses in the NBA.
Jackson did have knee surgery in May, so that may hamper him a little bit, but he's still a nice prospect and could develop into a good point guard.
28. Chicago Bulls-Tyler Honeycutt
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The Chicago Bulls need a shooter as well as a big man. They still have a pick in the first round with the 30th pick, so they can address both needs within a pick of each other. That being said, Tyler Honeycutt could still be available and he's one of the better wings in the draft.
Honeycutt is a tall shooting guard at 6'8", but his weight is an issue at 187 lbs. He will need to bulk up and get stronger in post situations, but he comes from a UCLA program that is well respected and has produced a lot of good NBA players.
Honeycutt will need to become a more confident shooter and if he does that, they sky is the limit. He's a very smooth player for his size and has great speed and athleticism. The Bulls need someone who can lighten the load for Derrick Rose and Honeycutt could end up being that player.
29. San Antonio Spurs-Chandler Parsons
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If there's one thing the Spurs proved in the playoffs, it's that they need youth. The old men aren't cut out for the long haul of an 82 game season and then possibly 20-30 more games in the playoffs.
They had a terrific regular season and looked like they could make some noise in the playoffs, but their age became a factor.
They need a big player who can score and pass. Chandler Parsons from Florida is exactly that. He's a very creative passer, but he can still score and get rebounds. He's quick on the baseline and is probably the best player in terms of unselfishness and character in the draft, he's the ultimate team player; something that the Spurs stress on.
Parsons isn't predicted to make it into the first round, but the Spurs should take a chance with him. He's an experienced player and a quality player and can only help a team, not hurt them.
30. Chicago Bulls-Jeremy Tyler
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Here is the pick where the Bulls can go big. They have some options too. JaJuan Johnson out of Purdue, Nikola Mirotic from Spain or Jeremy Tyler, who played in Japan.
Tyler is a big player at 6'11", 262 lbs. Instead of going to college, he decided to play overseas out of high school, a decision that didn't gain him much of a good reputation. He has some character issues after quiting his team in Israel and taking a lot of plays off, but when he showed up for the combine, he seemed to display more maturity.
He impressed a lot of teams with his athleticism and his overall size. He has a 7'5" wingspan and very large hands. The question will be if he can put everything together. Can he become the great player he was supposed to be? Can he develop into a dominant post player that he capable of becoming?
With all of the uncertainty, one thing is clear. He's a very big prospect and has a tremendous upside, but at the end of the day the Bulls have to decide whether or not the good outweighs the bad.
For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NBA mock drafts, B/R's Big Board of Recruits, NBA draft rumors, NBA draft results and draft grades.
