2011 NBA Mock Draft: Latest News and Rumors on Each Pick

The 2011 NBA Draft is tonight and could be the last NBA event that will happen for a long time.

Rumors are flying around about what is going to happen in the first round. Players are waiting anxiously as the time arrives when their name is called and they get to fulfill their dream of playing in the NBA.

While nothing is a guarantee, here is a look into what could and should go down tonight during the draft.

Pick 1, Cleveland Cavaliers

Almost all signs point to the Cleveland Cavaliers taking Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick.

Irving will be the first building block the Cavs set in place to start a new contending team post-LeBron.

Irving is a great kid and a better point guard who will bring leadership and talent to a team lacking both.

Derrick Williams is another choice the Cavaliers could make, but in a point guard-driven league, Irving is a better pick.

Pick 2, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves would love to trade out of this spot and get some veterans they can add to their already young team.

The Timberwolves have built up a ton of assets over the years and now need to turn them into something.

If Minnesota can swap this pick with a team drafting later in the round they could end up with a nice rookie and a serviceable player to add to their roster.

I definitively see Minnesota trading this pick because Derrick Williams has no spot on the team as it is currently constructed.

If Minnesota is forced to pick, they should take Enes Kanter.

Kanter could play center for the Wolves and keep Kevin Love at power forward, making their front line a force to be reckoned with. 

Pick 3, Utah Jazz

Assuming a team trades up to take Derrick Williams at the two spot, the Utah Jazz could then take Brandon Knight.

Knight isn't totally NBA-ready yet but playing behind Devin Harris could be a great learning experience and help develop his game.

Knight has good size for a point guard and the Jazz have had a history of taking point guards with size. (Deron Williams over Chris Paul)

Knight could be a part of a bright future in Utah and could develop with Derrick Favors into the next great power forward-point guard combination for Utah.

Pick 4, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been slotted as taking Enes Kanter at this spot in my previous Mock Drafts but recently there have been reports of the Cavs eyeing Jonas Valanciunas.

Valanciunas is just 19 years old and isn't NBA ready but with a few more developmental years in Europe, could turn into a great NBA player.

Valaciunas has good size and range and compares a little bit with Pau Gasol.

As far as we know, the Cavaliers could be pretending to lean towards Jonas to throw the rest of the league off to take Enes Kanter.

If I were running the Cavs, I would take Kanter because of his size and rebounding ability and because he can play center in a league where the position is hard to come by.

The Cavs take Valanciunas and choose upside over a more NBA-ready prospect.

Pick 5, Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have a history of taking foreign players and have always scouted them a lot more than most other NBA teams.

With that said I have the Raptors taking Jan Vesely and getting a great athlete and jumper.

Vesely could help the Raptors with size and athleticism in the frontcourt, whether it is the right pick or not.

This may not be the right choice for the Raptors but they love international players and will take another one in this year's draft.

Picks 6-10

6. Washington Wizards: This mock draft plays out very well for the Washington Wizards, as they now have the chance to take Enes Kanter.

Kanter will be a great fit alongside John Wall and add more size to the frontcourt of Washington.

If Kanter develops a good offensive, back-to-the-basket game, the Wizards could play inside-out with Wall and Kanter and run a screen-roll offense that would work wonders.

7. Sacramento Kings: This is a spot the Kings could trade out of, but the better option is to take Kemba Walker. 

Walker could learn how to run an NBA offense with DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, and the three of them could grow into a nice core for the Kings' future.

8. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo is a great choice for the Pistons and could become the defensive difference-maker they have been looking for since Ben Wallace left.

Biyombo has great size and athleticism and will control the paint on defense once he develops.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats have a few different choices at the nine spot of the draft.

Kawhi Leonard is their best option, though, and would be a great pick-up. Leonard may never become a star in the NBA but he plays with heart and hustle and his length should make him a great NBA defender someday. 

10. Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks need offense, badly, and their best choice is Alec Burks. Burks is a slasher who can play alongside Brandon Jennings and with some development of his outside shooting could be a great scorer down the road. 

Picks 11-15

11. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors need defense and rebounding and their best pick would be Tristan Thompson.

Thompson is a great athlete and offensive rebounder who is NBA ready and could step in and produce right away.

12. Utah Jazz: While Jazz fans all would like to see Jimmer Fredette taken in this spot, the Jazz choose otherwise.

Chris Singleton is a better basketball choice and his defense and length can fill some holes for the Jazz.

13. Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette is a great pickup here for the Suns and can learn under Steve Nash, giving him the best chance to develop as a point guard.

14. Houston Rockets: The Rockets have a good shot at moving up to pick two in the draft, which could mean the Timberwolves are drafting here.

The Timberwolves and Rockets could both use Nikola Vucevic and he could help with size and strength for both teams.

15. Indiana Pacers: The Pacers could take Klay Thompson here and add the offense and shooting ability they need.

Picks 16-20

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Marcus Morris is the pick here, and his size and presence down low could help the 76ers in rebounding and second-chance points.

17. New York Knicks: The Knicks are currently an all-offensive team and need to address defense and rebounding.

Iman Shumpert is a great defensive shooting guard and can defend multiple positions—he is who the Knicks should take.

18. Washington Wizards: The Wizards could use an offensive weapon to play alongside John Wall, and Jordan Hamilton would be perfect.

Hamilton is a great scorer who can become a nice piece for the Wizards down the road. 

19. Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats could use a guy they could label as their "best player." Marshon Brooks has the potential for that. 

Brooks is a risky pick but could pay off huge for the Bobcats if he develops into what some think he can be.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves could use size in their frontcourt, and Markieff Morris could bring that.

Morris is a big body who can rebound and could develop into a nice rotation player. 

Picks 21-25

21. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers take Kenneth Faried and add a great rebounder with a good body to play alongside LeMarcus Aldridge.

22. Denver Nuggets: Tobias Harris goes to Denver and brings some versatility and solid play to an already good Nuggets team.

23. Houston Rockets: Justin Harper could come in as a good shooting power forward who can play a few positions and spread the floor for Houston.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder are reportedly interesting in Singler and like his hustle and heart.

He has a good motor and could be a nice rotation guy in the NBA.

25. Boston Celtics: Jimmy Butler is a good pick here and brings a few good Celtics characteristics like toughness and relentlessness.

Butler could jump into the rotation and is NBA-ready. He plays good defense, knows his role, and would be a good fit on Boston.

Picks 26-30

26. Dallas Mavericks: Nikola Mirotic is a good pick for Dallas; he will need time to develop in Europe, so he won't take up a roster spot on the deep Dallas bench.

Mirotic could be a very good player down the road and would be drafted a lot higher if he were NBA-ready.

27. New Jersey Nets: The Nets need a backup point guard and someone to potentially replace Deron Williams if he leaves the team in free agency.

Jackson is a tough kid who plays good defense and could be a starting NBA point guard down the road.

28. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls need help at shooting guard and Tyler Honeycutt is the perfect fit.

Honeycutt has good size and can spread the floor with his shooting ability, both things the Bulls need.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Tyler is a great pick for them and brings some youth to the aging frontcourt in San Antonio. 

Tyler can develop under the wing of Tim Duncan which would be a god send for the young big man.

30. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls could use a backup point guard for Derrick Rose, and Nolan Smith from Duke would be a perfect fit.

Smith is a winner and has the intangibles to play in the NBA; he will not fail in the league and is a safe pick.