2011 NBA Mock Draft: First Round Final Projections

As the 2011 NBA Draft approaches, this mock is not considering the trades that are sure to happen as the day and night passes.  The second overall selection seems to be the most likely pick to be dealt, but if the Minnesota Timberwolves do keep the pick, I'd like to think they'd still go with Derrick Williams.  

There has been talk that they've discussed moving Kevin Love already, and Michael Beasley always seems like a candidate for a move.  Here are the predictions for tonight's draft.

Picks 1 Through 5

1. Cleveland – Kyrie Irving 6’2" – PG – Duke

One of this draft’s surest things still has injury concerns.  Coming off an injury-filled freshman year at Duke, Irving seems to be the favorite to help the Cavs succeed in their AJ (After James) years. 

If he can put his injuries behind him, Irving is a true point guard with the ability to elevate the play of his teammates and control games with his passing and scoring, a la Chris Paul.

If the Cavs are gutsy they could trade down to the third pick with Utah, take Enes Kanter there and select Kemba Walker with the fourth pick.  They could even trade down from that pick and still select Walker.  

There are still some that believe Walker may end up as the best pro at the point guard position in the draft. The Cavs would also be adding assets through the trade-downs.

2. Minnesota – Derrick Williams 6’9" – F – Arizona

Williams is probably the surest bet in this year’s draft.  He can score…period.  The only concern is that he is a bit of a tweener. 

The downside comparison is a little similar to a less bulky Marcus Fizer. Williams seems to be the figure-head for which direction this draft will go.

Whatever Minnesota does with him or the second pick will dictate much of the rest of the draft.

3. Utah – Brandon Knight 6’3" – PG – Kentucky

Late bloomers at the point guard position make you a little nervous.  When they come out after freshman year, it only adds to that nervousness.  One factor that helps ease concerns is that John Calipari has had the Midas touch with point men he’s coached for one year on the collegiate level (Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose). 

Knight definitely has the ability and size to explode on the scene, but he had a rough start to his freshman year.  He will likely need time to mature as a pro, but his upside could be the highest of all the point guards in the draft.

Teams that are looking for a more immediate impact may shy away from Knight, favoring Jimmer Fredette or Kemba Walker.  This could also lead to trade-downs.

4. Cleveland – Enes Kanter 6’10" – PF/C – Turkey

The best big man in the draft is very fundamentally sound.  He puts me in the mind of a mixture of Tim Duncan and Rony Seikaly.  Though he hasn’t shown the defensive prowess of Duncan yet, offensively his skill set is similar. 

His strength and intensity reminds me of Seikaly.  Whoever picks him will be hoping for more Timmy than Rony.

Kanter has been mentioned everywhere from first to seventh overall.  Somehow, I think he still ends up in Cleveland.

5. Toronto – Jan Vesely 6’11" – F – Czech Republic

The player in this draft with the best highlight reel available is definitely Vesely.  This kid loves to dunk it, in traffic at that.  He is a legit 6’10 with great athleticism and good ball-handling, especially for his size. 

However, he is not a good shooter, he is a terrible free throw shooter, and his overall offensive repertoire needs variety.  That said, there is no denying his combination of size and athleticism.

I actually have a good feeling about Vesely.  The Raptors would have an extremely athletic team full of matchup problems with DeMar DeRozan, Andrea Bargnani and Vesely.

Picks 6 Through 10

6. Washington – Tristan Thompson 6’9" – PF – Texas

Tristan Thompson is a long-armed, left-handed post player.  He is great at catching the ball high, keeping it high and finishing in traffic.

I worry about his lower-body strength on the next level, but there is no doubt to his ability to score on the block.  Thompson probably could have benefited from another year in school.

7. Sacramento – Kawhi Leonard 6’7" – SF – San Diego St.

Leonard is extremely efficient and is one of the safest picks in the draft.  He will probably never be spectacular and in a stronger year of prospects he would be a mid first-round to late first-round pick.

That said, he has a long wing span, good fundamentals and excels on the defensive end.

8. Detroit – Jonas Valanciunas 7’0" – C – Lithuania

With a complicated buyout situation with his current club, many teams may shy away as he may not play in the NBA for a couple years.  He is not your stereotypical European player.  Valanciunas is tough a bit physical despite is slight frame.

He may have highest ceiling of any of the big men in the draft, but Kanter is more NBA ready.

9. Charlotte – Alec Burks 6’5" – PG/SG – Colorado

I love Burks' athleticism and size.  He has the ability to play either guard position, but the position where he can be special is the point. 

At 6’5 with great athleticism, Burks could become an all-star.  He reminds me of a bigger Rajon Rondo.  If Burks can become a more consistent shooter, he will be one of the most versatile talents in this draft.

10. Milwaukee – Bismack Biyombo 6’9" – C/PF – Congo

Think Dikembe Mutombo mixed with Theo Ratliff in the body of Ben Wallace.  Biyombo may never be a scorer, but he has defensive instincts and physical traits that are off the charts. 

He is under-sized as a center, which seems to be his natural position, but he has a great wing-span and is built like a tank.  He may be the next defensive game-changer in the NBA.

He is very raw offensively, but he is coachable and there doesn't seem to be a language barrier.

Picks 11 Through 15

11. Golden St. – Klay Thompson 6’7" – SG/SF – Washington St

The second-generation player (his dad is former NBA player Mychal Thompson) is one of the draft's best pure shooters.  There are reports that various teams like him and he may be shooting up draft boards.

He has some defensive limitations, but the shooting and NBA pedigree should serve him well.

12. Utah – Jimmer Fredette 6’2" – PG/SG – BYU

The draft’s best shooter can do just that…from just about anywhere.  His athletic deficiencies are almost just as glaring as his shooting prowess. 

He is a gym rat, so I don’t put it past him to improve his ball-handling. His shooting ability is so dynamic that he may be the rare one-dimensional player who can ride his gift to stardom.

The Jazz would do well to select Fredette, as he is already beloved in Utah.  He will have tough point guard shoes to fill, following John Stockton, Deron Williams and even Devin Harris.

13. Phoenix – Kemba Walker 6’2" – PG – Conneticut

One of the draft’s best pure scorers, Kemba is a tweener.  He will carry that label until he can prove he can handle point guard duties on the pro level. 

Even at the point, he will always have a scorer’s mentality.  He has proven he has the gumption to take and make big shots. 

This is a quality that is extremely rare.  Walker is as tough mentally as they come, and given the opportunity he could flourish into a star in the league.

Kemba is out to prove he is a playmaker as well as a scorer.  If the Suns take him, he'll get the oppotunity to learn from one of the league's all-time greats, at least until the trade deadline.

14. Houston – Marcus Morris 6’8" – PF – Kansas

The first of the Morris twins to come off the board.  Marcus is a bit more offensive-minded than his brother Markieff.  They both are tough physical players, but Marcus has good range on the jumper and a bit more bounce near the basket.

15. Indiana – Marshon Brooks 6’5" – SG – Providence

In my opinion, Marshon Brooks is the best pure scorer in the draft.  He is capable from the outside, has good one-on-one dribble-drive moves, finishes with contact and has ridiculously long arms.

Brooks averaged almost 25 points per game for Providence last year; that’s against Big East talent.  He has wowed a few in his workouts and his stock has risen on plenty of draft boards. 

He has gone from a late first-round, early second-round pick to a mid first round pick.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he crept into the bottom half of the lottery on draft night.

Picks 16 Through 20

16. Philadelphia – Markieff Morris 6’8" – PF – Kansas

The workhorse of the Morris brothers.  A smaller Ronny Turiaf.

17. New York – Iman Shumpert 6’5" – PG/SG – Georgia Tech

Shumpert is one of the most physically gifted of all the players in this draft.  He can play the PG or SG, like Alec Burks, but he has the potential to be a much better scorer.  He rebounds well and has the potential to be a good defender with his size and quickness. 

Shumpert has received a label in regards to poor work ethic and practice habits.  He has tons of talent and on talent alone he should be a lottery pick, but he has regressed in production since his freshman year at Georgia Tech. 

Hopefully, he is the type of player that blossoms on the NBA level.

18. Washington – Chris Singleton 6’9" – SF – Florida St.

Very long and athletic, he could be a good fit on the perimeter with Wall and the Wizards.

19. Charlotte – Jordan Hamilton 6’8" – SG/SF – Texas

Streaky outside shooter with limited off the dribble moves and quickness.

20. Minnesota – Nikola Vucevic 6’11" – C – USC

Solidly built NBA prospect.  He is very slow of foot, and his lack of athleticism is what will have him picked this low.

Picks 21 Through 25

21. Portland – Kenneth Faried 6’7" – PF – Morehead St

The Dennis Rodman comparisons are understandable, but I’ll tell you this, Rodman never jumped like Faried.  This kid has a flair to him and a motor that has him destined for a 10-year career in the NBA. 

His personality isn’t nearly as enigmatic as “The Worm," so hopefully he can add a bit of versatility to his already strong rebounding.

His hard-working style will translate well to the NBA.  If he develops a jumper he will be a more athletic Brian Grant/Udonis Haslem.

22. Denver – Tobias Harris 6’8" – SF/PF – Tennessee

Something about his game reminds me of a poor man's Bernard King.  He has the barrel chest and effective but simple finishes from midrange.

He is not a run and jump athlete, but his body and skill level should make him effective in isolation

23. Houston – Donatas Montiejunas – 6’11" – PF/C – Lithuania

He could have been selected higher had he entered the draft last year.  His stock has fallen a bit and unlike Valunciunas, he does carry some of the soft labels the European big men receive.

24. Oklahoma City – Davis Bertans – 6’10" – SF – Latvia

A pure shooter with extremely slow feet.  He is 6'10", which could create matchup problems.  He could be a valuable floor spacer for a team with a good low post presence or a great penetrator.

25. Boston – Reggie Jackson – 6’3" – PG/SG – Boston College

Jackson is a dynamite athlete, can explode off the dribble and finish at the rim.  He has sick hops and a huge wingspan.  He is only 6’3", so he has great size for the point, but is a little small for the SG spot. 

Couple this with slow-developing form to his jump shot and a shoot-first mentality and Jackson is an intriguing tweener prospect.  Still, his upside is exciting.  Jackson would fit the Celtics well, as a perimeter scorer could really help them.

Picks 26 Through 32

26. Dallas – Jeremy Tyler – 6’11" – PF/C – USA

The former prep player who left high school after his junior year, Tyler is an intriguing prospect.  He created a character question after this move and then subsequently quitting on the team he signed with in Israel.

He has good physical skills, but he is a ways away from being NBA-ready.

27. New Jersey – Trey Thompkins – 6’10" – PF – Georgia

Trey is a solid post player with good range on his jump shot.  He doesn't have explosion, so his scoring prowess comes from footwork and his long arms.

The ability to make the jump shot adds another weapon to mask the lack of athleticism.  Think right-handed Sam Perkins.

28. Chicago – Tyler Honeycutt – 6’8" – SG/SF – UCLA

Honeycutt has great length and an improving jump shot.  He has the frame to become a great defender, similar to Tayshaun Prince.

29. San Antonio – Kyle Singler – 6’9" – SF/PF – Duke

It seems that Duke always has a player like Singler.  Those guys have been hit (Christian Laettner) and miss (Danny Ferry) in the NBA.  Singler is somewhere in the middle, he has a good mid-range game and decent range out to the three. 

He has limited foot speed, so defending SF in the NBA will be an issue.  If Singler can find a home as a scoring PF on a team with a strong rebounding and defensive frontline he could be of value.

30. Chicago – Justin Harper – 6’9" – SF/PF – Richmond

Harper reminds me a lot of Robert Horry.  He isn't quite as athletic as Horry was when he was young, but he is definitely more agile than Channing Frye.  

He is a intriguing specialist because of his size.