NBA Mock Draft 2011: Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, and the First Round
The 2011 NBA Draft is in less than three hours. The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock, and prospects like Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams await to hear their names called. With the draft being tonight it's time to give our final mock drafts before we actually know what the results are.
We have watched as the draft boards have changed over the last couple of months, and the moment of truth has finally arrived.
With that, here is how the first round of the draft should turn out:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- G Kyrie Irving, Duke. Kyrie Irving is a great point guard. We've heard all about him over the last few months, and how he is going to be selected first. The Cavaliers pretty much have a guaranteed All-Star thrown at them, so why not take him?
2. Minnesota Timberwolves- F Derrick Williams, Arizona. With Irving going to the Cavs, the logical choice is to take Derrick Williams. The forward from Arizona is NBA-ready right now, and he could be the next Blake Griffin (hopefully).
3. Utah Jazz- G Brandon Knight, Kentucky. The Jazz will be trying to replace Deron Williams with their first pick, and it comes down to Knight and Kemba Walker. Knight will be taken because he has better size than Kemba. I personally expect Kemba to do better than Knight in the NBA, however. Just my opinion there.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers- C Enes Kanter, Kentucky (Turkey). The Cavaliers don't have a true center right now, playing J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao instead. They need a true center and Kanter can give that to them, as he showed during the combine.
5. Toronto Raptors- G Kemba Walker, Connecticut. The Raptors need a solid guard like Walker. While size may be an issue (he's only 6'0" which is actually shorter than myself) he can still play really well. Walker will probably become a Brandon Jennings-type of player.
6. Washington Wizards- F Jan Vesely, Czech Republic. The Wizards need a mobile forward like Vesely. Vesely is big enough to play power forward, and athletic enough to play small forward. This Wizards team is going to be looking to run behind John Wall next season.
7. Sacramento Kings- F Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State. Leonard has jumped from a late-first round pick to a solid lottery pick in the past few weeks. Showing off his athletic ability, and his talents recently, he will be taken seventh overall by the Kings.
8. Detroit Pistons- G Alec Burks, Colorado. Burks is the best shooting guard in the draft, showing off unbelievable skills. Burks is great at penetrating, and he has a good shot too. The Pistons need a solid shooting guard with the future of Hamilton unknown.
9. Charlotte Bobcats- F Marcus Morris, Kansas. Marcus is the better of the two twins, and he is a good fit for the Bobcats. Charlotte needs size, and Morris can play well in and out of the paint. His athletic ability gives him an edge over his biggest competitor for this spot, Tristan Thompson.
10. Milwaukee Bucks- C Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania. Valanciunas is one of the top players in the draft, and the Bucks will consider themselves lucky to get him. With a 7'0" body, the 19-year-old can do some damage inside.
11. Golden State Warriors- F/C Bismack Biyombo, Congo. Another international player goes in the lottery, this time to the Warriors. The Warriors need a big man, and with Morris and Thompson being stolen from them in the previous two picks, they'll take Biyombo.
12. Utah Jazz- G Jimmer Fredette, BYU. Fredette is a local hero in Utah. He has some serious skills, and with him on the board, the Jazz aren't going to take anyone else. He has a great shot, and if he can get used to passing the ball more, he can become a good player.
13. Phoenix Suns- G Klay Thompson, Washington State. Klay Thompson is one of the best guards available, and the Suns will feel lucky that he has fallen this far. Thompson can score as well as Jimmer, and he is a big offensive threat. Thompson has had some off-the-court issues, and he isn't the fastest player, causing his drop.
14. Houston Rockets- F Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania. Motiejunas is a seven-footer with great skills and a lot of potential. Motiejunas will fit right in with the Rockets, and he seems like a cross between Yao Ming and Dirk Nowitzki.
15. Indiana Pacers- G Marshon Brooks, Providence. Brooks is one of the best scorers in the draft. The Pacers need a scorer like Brooks, who has an excellent shot, and can also drive through the lane.
16. Philadelphia 76ers- F Markieff Morris, Kansas. Morris is a Philly native, and he can be the forward that the team needs. Morris has great skills down-low, and he also has good athleticism.
17. New York Knicks- F Tristan Thompson, Texas. The New York Knicks are pretty solid, so they just need to improve an area or two. Tristan Thompson is the best forward in the class when he is in the paint, even if he isn't the best outside of it. The Knicks will be amazed that he is still on the board, and they'll take him because of that.
18. Washington Wizards- F Chris Singleton, Florida State. Singleton is a defensive-minded player who can solidify the Wizards. Singleton has improved his offensive game a lot, but it is his defense that makes him special.
19. Charlotte Bobcats- F Jordan Hamilton, Texas. Hamilton is a small forward from Texas, and he is one of the best scorers in the draft. Hamilton can light up the scoreboard, and he can put a team on his back if that's what it takes to win.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves- F Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA. Honeycutt did not show off his shooting skills at the combine, struggling at times. However, Honeycutt is still very athletic, and if he can fix his shot, he will be a steal at No. 20.
21. Portland Trail Blazers- F Tobias Harris, Tennessee. Harris could be a great player or a bust. He has an amazing body for basketball, but a less-than-stellar skill set.
22. Denver Nuggets- F Kenneth Faried, Morehead State. Faried is not the best all-around player, but he is a monster on the boards. Faried was the NCAA's all-time leading rebounder, and that makes up for his other problems. He can do some damage inside if given the chance, but he will not become a great scorer too.
23. Houston Rockets- G Josh Selby, Kansas. With the Rockets already taking a big man, they'll be looking for a guard this time around. The guard in question is Josh Selby. Selby is a gifted player, and if he can clean up his act, he will be worth it.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder- F Travis Leslie. Leslie may not be an all-around player, but he can spark a team. His thunderous dunks and ability to drive more than make up for his outside game.
25. Boston Celtics- F/C Jeremy Tyler, USA. Tyler played his basketball overseas for a while, and he is ready to come home and take on the NBA now. The Celtics are set with guard play, but they need a big man. Tyler can fill that void, and the team could make a few more runs.
26. Dallas Mavericks- F Justin Harper, Richmond. The NBA champions will try to restock with power forward Justin Harper. Harper is very versatile, and even though his post skills aren't the best, he can work on those.
27. New Jersey Nets- F Kyle Singler, Duke. Kyle Singler was bound to be a lottery pick last season, but returned to Duke for his senior season. Now his stock has fallen, and he is a big risk. The Nets will hope that his 2010-11 season was a fluke, and that he can return to great form once again. The Nets will regret this.
28. Chicago Bulls- G Reggie Jackson, Boston College. Jackson is considered a point guard, but his big frame suggests otherwise. This frame will allow him to become a shooting guard beside Derrick Rose when he comes to Chicago.
29. San Antonio Spurs- F Davis Bertrans, Latvia. This tall forward may not look athletic but he is. Bertrans is a great shooter, and the Spurs will use him to drain threes.
30. Chicago Bulls- G Shelvin Mack, Butler. The Bulls are set at just about every position, but they will take Mack along with Jackson to help out their backcourt. The two will back up Derrick Rose and platoon together to play shooting guard.
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.
