2011 NBA Mock Draft: Last-Minute Prospect Projections
The 2011 NBA draft is in just a few hours. The latest rumors have prospects rising and falling in the draft, but all rumors will become fact or fiction very soon.
Some of the biggest question marks going into the draft include what the Cleveland Cavaliers will do if Enes Kanter is off the board at No. 4. Kemba Walker could be in free fall if the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz choose to go elsewhere. International big men Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo's draft range is up in the air as they each have the potential to be selected in the top five, but also to drop to the back-end of the lottery.
Here is a last-minute mock to answer those questions and more...
Picks 1-5
1 of 61. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (PG, Duke)
Despite rumors, no other prospect has really had a shot at all. The Cavs are reportedly committed to selecting Kyrie Irving first overall.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams (SF, Arizona)
The T-Wolves are trying to sell teams that they will take Enes Kanter, but David Kahn is just trying to throw teams off. Minnesota has been at the center of hundreds of rumors since the lottery, but if they are forced to keep the pick it will be Derrick Williams, the unquestioned best player available.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter (C, Kentucky)
Brandon Knight has been mocked heavily to the Jazz since the lottery. Now though, Utah is reportedly leaning toward selecting Enes Kanter and waiting until No. 12 to get their point guard.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (PF, Texas)
With Kanter gone, the Cavs now have to choose between Jonas Valanciunas and Tristan Thompson. Cleveland reportedly does not want to wait for Valanciunas and wants Thompson who can help them win games right away.
5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight (PG, Kentucky)
The Raptors get lucky and Brandon Knight falls from No. 3 right into their lap. They've been mocked Kemba Walker since the lottery, but Knight's potential is on another level than Walker's.
Picks 6-10
2 of 66. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely (SF, Czech Republic)
Rashard Lewis is not the answer for the Wizards in the long term at the small forward position. The Wizards need to find his future replacement and they are reportedly high on Jan Vesely.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard (SF, San Diego St.)
The Kings ownership reportedly wants Jimmer Fredette, but the rest of the coaching staff wants Kawhi Leonard. A guarantee from Sacramento could already be in place to select Leonard.
8. Detroit Pistons: Jonas Valanciunas (C, Lithuania)
Detroit needs a center badly as Ben Wallace was still playing big minutes for them last season. The Pistons ownership has reportedly approved the selection of Jonas Valanciunas.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Bismack Biyombo (C, Congo)
The Charlotte Bobcats can't go another year with Kwame Brown starting at center, just ask Stephen A. Smith. Bismack Biyombo is long and athletic enough to play in the middle even at 6'9".
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Klay Thompson (SG, Washington St.)
Milwaukee had the worst offense in the entire league last season. They need a shooting guard and Klay Thompson is a better fit than Alec Burks because the Bucks already have Corey Maggette and John Salmons who are more scorers than pure shooters.
Picks 11-15
3 of 611. Golden State Warriors: Chris Singleton (SF, Florida State)
The Golden State Warriors have plenty of offense, but they need some legitimate defenders if they are ever going to make the playoffs. Chris Singleton is a lock-down defender who would complement Dorell Wright's offense at the small forward position.
12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette (PG, BYU)
And the entire state of Utah goes insane with celebration. The Jazz get their backup point guard and three-point specialist with their BYU hero in Jimmer Fredette.
13. Phoenix Suns: Alec Burks (SG, Colorado)
Vince Carter is as good as gone leaving the Suns without a two-guard. Jared Dudley, Josh Childress and Mickael Pietrus are all better off at the three while Burks is a true shooting guard.
14. Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris (SF, Kansas)
The Rockets would love to add a center here, but they can't without really reaching. Marcus Morris would be an instant upgrade over Chase Budinger out on the wing.
15. Indiana Pacers: Markieff Morris (PF, Kansas)
The Morris brothers go back-to-back as the Pacers fill their need for front court depth. Markieff Morris has range that Tyler Hansbrough doesn't have at power forward.
Picks 16-20
4 of 616. Philadelphia 76ers: Jordan Hamilton (SF, Texas)
When it's all said and done, Andre Iguodala won't be playing in Philadelphia this season. Jordan Hamilton has the size and scoring ability the 76ers are looking for in the draft.
17. New York Knicks: Kemba Walker (PG, UConn)
Kemba Walker slides all the way to No. 17 as the man who lit up Madison Square Garden in the Big East tournament returns for good. With their future point guard acquired, the Knicks can look to adding Dwight Howard in free agency instead of Chris Paul or Deron Williams.
18. Washington Wizards: Iman Shumpert (PG, Georgia Tech)
Mustafa Shakur must be replaced as the Wizards backup point guard. Washington had one of the worst defenses in the league last season so bringing in designated defender Iman Shumpert would be a huge upgrade.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Marshon Brooks (SG, Providence)
The Bobcats would prefer a small forward at this spot, but there's no one worth taking at No. 19. Marshon Brooks is one of the best scorers in the draft and could eventually replace Stephen Jackson and plant Gerald "I Couldn't Hit A Three To Save My Life" Henderson on the bench for good.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Nikola Vucevic (C, USC)
Minnesota's biggest need is size and the 7'0", 260-pound Nikola Vucevic definitely has size. Vucevic would give the T-Wolves a solid center duo with him and Darko Milicic.
Picks 21-25
5 of 621. Portland Trail Blazers: Kenneth Faried (PF, Morehead St.)
The Trail Blazers have reportedly been extremely interested in Kenneth Faried since last year's draft. They have nothing right now at power forward behind LaMarcus Aldridge, but that would change with the addition of Faried.
22. Denver Nuggets: Tobias Harris (PF, Tennessee)
Denver would love to add Faried, but Tobias Harris works as well. Kenyon Martin is a free agent and is washed up and Al Harrington is a shell of his former self as well and must be upgraded.
23. Houston Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas (PF, Lithuania)
Again, Houston would target a center here, but with no center talented enough, they just pick the tallest prospect available in Donatas Motiejunas. At 7'0", Motiejunas has the length, but he also has range to give whoever ends up being the Rockets center some room inside.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Singler (SF, Duke)
The Thunder are reportedly high on Kyle Singler and the addition would make plenty of sense. Oklahoma City has nothing behind Kevin Durant and the bench could really use someone who can get the ball in the hoop, something that Singler excels at.
25. Boston Celtics: Jeremy Tyler (C, United States)
It may be a reach, but the Boston Celtics have no other options with Kendrick Perkins and Shaq gone and Jermaine O'Neal nearly fossilized. Jeremy Tyler has the size, skill, and athleticism to turn into an All-Star: low-risk, high-reward at the back of the first round.
Picks 26-30
6 of 626. Dallas Mavericks: Nikola Mirotic (PF, Serbia)
Dallas can afford to wait on an international player like Nikola Mirotic after winning the NBA Championship. No rookie will most likely be able to make an impact right away, but Dirk Nowitzki Jr. could in a couple of years.
27. New Jersey Nets: Jimmy Butler (SF, Marquette)
The Nets can do a lot better than Travis Outlaw and Damion James at the small forward position. A lot of mocks have New Jersey going with a point guard, but I can't see Mikhail Prokhorov planning ahead of time to lose Deron Williams.
28. Chicago Bulls: Reggie Jackson (SG, Boston College)
The Bulls bench couldn't do anything in the playoffs in terms of scoring the basketball. Reggie Jackson can play point and shooting guard and could take Kyle Korver's minutes if Korver can't get his shot back.
29. San Antonio Spurs: David Bertans (SF, Latvia)
It's what the Spurs do: draft international players. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tigao Splitter; sharp shooter David Bertans could be the next in line.
30. Chicago Bulls: Josh Selby (PG, Kansas)
Chicago has no one on their team who can consistently penetrate a defense besides Derrick Rose. The explosive Josh Selby is a risk, but he's too talented not to go in the first round and he could be spark the Bulls bench has been lacking.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NBA mock drafts, NBA draft rumors, NBA draft results and draft grades.
