NBA Draft 2011: 30 Bold Predictions for the Rookie Prospects

In an NBA Draft full of uncertainties, the only thing that I am sure of from last night is that I never want to hear "Rolling in the Deep" ever again.

With the talent level not quite as high as most years, there will be solid players coming out of here, and there will also be quite few busts.

No one knows how really bad or good this class is going to be, but here is my guess as to how this rookie class will play out this year and beyond.

1. Kyrie Irving Will Never Be an All-Star

Sure he'll be good, but making the All-Star team will be no easy feat when you are going to play in the same conference as Derrick Rose, John Wall, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, even Brandon Knight now.

Players do change teams, but if you're being selected number one overall, hopefully you are going to be a perennial All-Star, and I just don't see it with Irving.

I don't think he'll be a bust, but I don't think he is going to be the next great point of the future either.

2. Derrick Williams Will Be an All-Star

If were the Cavaliers, I would have taken Williams number one, especially with Brandon Knight there for the taking at number four, but that's not why we're here.

Williams is a physical freak who can get up and down the floor. He can shoot it from anywhere and will become a solid defender. Playing with Ricky Rubio, who, if he is as half as good as the Timberwolves are hyping him, will make him an even better player.

Playing alongside All-Star Kevin Love to take some pressure off of him won't hurt his chances either.

3. Enes Kanter Replaces Al Jefferson by Next Year

The Utah Jazz drafted for talent over need, passing over Knight in hopes of finding their center of the future.

If he is everything the scouts say he is, and if Al Jefferson teaches him his low post game and the in-and-outs of the NBA, Kanter will be ready to take over as starting center in no time.

The Jazz will then be in position to trade Jefferson and shed his salary and hopefully get that point guard they passed on here.

4. Tristan Thompson Averages 10 and 10 His Rookie Year

The Cavs surprised and few and may have reached a little bit by selecting Thompson with the fourth pick, but he will not disappoint.

He is a good athlete with a soft touch and a terrific offensive rebounder. If he can continue to grab those offensive rebounds (in Cleveland there should be plenty), he should be able to average 10 and 10 with put backs alone.

5. Jonas Valanciunas Never Plays a Game for the Raptors

I'm not sure this was the best pick for the Raptors.

For a team that needs help everywhere, they draft a player who is more than likely not even going to be playing at all this year?

When he is able to come to the NBA, is playing for the Toronto Raptors going to be a desired situation for him?

It would not surprise me at all if he forces a trade and/or decides to stay at home rather than play in Toronto.

6. Jan Vesely Helps Lead the Wizards Back to the Playoffs

Well, by his second season at least.

No team did better than the Washington Wizards last night, and Vesely was a big reason for that.

I think he found the perfect situation. For a big man that can get up and down the floor and finish like he is mad at the rim, playing with John Wall is going to lead to some high win totals.

They are going to play exciting basketball too.

7. Bismack Biyombo Will Not Be a Bust

For a guy that no one had heard about two months ago, he has done quite well for himself. 

Yes, he has no offense and his basketball IQ could be in the single digits right now, but there is always room for a player that can rebound and defend.

His relentless motor will keep him on the floor and in the NBA for a long while.

8. Brandon Knight Will Be the Starting Point Guard in Detroit for 10 Years

The Detroit Pistons finally get an adequate replacement for Chauncey Billups, and I don't think they are going to let him go.

Knight is a terrific defender. He works hard and has big upside.

If he can improve his jumper and limit his turnovers, he is going to make Detroit fans forget all about the Rodney Stuckey experiment.  

9. Kemba Walker Will Be the Leading Scorer for the Bobcats Next Year

Well, because who else is going to be?

Having traded away Stephen Jackson, there are a lot of scoring opportunities now in Charlotte, and I think Kemba Walker will make the most of them.

He landed in an ideal situation to be successful quickly.

10. Jimmer Fredette Jerseys Is a Top 10 Seller by the End of the Year

Because that's what this pick was really about, wasn't it?

The Kings need to sell tickets, and Jimmer is going to do just that. As soon as he was picked, my buddy and I both said, let's go to some Kings games this year, and we live about three hours away form the Arco Arena.

Selling tickets aside, it was a good pick, and Jimmer is going to be a very popular player and a good pro. 

11. Klay Thompson Will Be the Starting Two Guard Alongside Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors got the man they wanted and who I think is going to be the replacement for the soon to be departed Monta Ellis.

The Warriors were unsure about whether Thompson was going to be available and were hesitant to talk about dealing Monta Ellis, but with Thompson on board, I think Jerry West and Co. go ahead and move Monta for some defensive help.

12. Alec Burks Never Becomes a Starter

If Burks can become Utah Jazz next great starting point guard, then great, but it doesn't sound like that is the plan.

Burks is more of two guard, and with Gordon Hayward already on board, where exactly does he fit in? He would make a terrific sixth man for his career, and I think that is the path he will be taking on his NBA journey.

13. The Suns Will Regret Taking Markieff Morris

Did anyone else wonder if David Stern called the right name when the Suns made their selection? Are we even sure the right Morris went up to the podium?

It's hard to get excited for a draft pick when the first thing they say about him is that he has a defined position.

If the Suns didn't already have nine small forwards, then Kawhi Leonard would have been a great pick, but now, they are stuck with a guy who best attribute is having a set position.

I don't see anything that makes Markieff Morris stand out from the rest of this draft class.

14. Marcus Morris Has Trouble Geting Playing Time His Rookie Year

Can you tell I'm not a big fan of the Morris twins?

It was a good value pick by the Rockets, but where does he fit in?

The Rockets already have Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, Chase Budinger and even Patrick Patterson from last year, so where is Marcus going to fit in?

15. Kawhi Leonard Will Be a Key Piece of the San Antonio Spurs Future

Why do teams continue to deal with the San Antonio Spurs?

At this point, I say G.M. R.C Burford takes over as president to see what he can do.

The Spurs seem to get the better of every deal, and here is no exception. Brilliant by the way, throw Tony Parker's name out there as trade bait and then go ahead and trade George Hill for a player who was expected to go in the top nine.

Leonard is a great defender, has a big motor and won't be expected to produce much on offense right away, giving him time to improve.

He has a bright future in San Antonio.

16. No One Learns How to Pronounce Nikola Vucevic's Name

Why? Because he won't be playing enough for people to say learn how to say it.

I watched a lot of Pac-10 basketball last year, and not once did I ever see Nikola Vucevic and think, "yep, he is a top 20 pick in this year's NBA Draft."

Has the potential to be a role player, but if I had to guess, I'd say he is be more likely to be wearing a suit on most game days rather than be a big time producer.

17. Iman Shumpert Will Not Last in New York

He can't be a popular player already in New York. With the Knicks passing on Chris Singleton, Kenneth Faired and Jordan Hamilton, he has his work cut out for him.

For a guy that is already turnover prone, playing in a system like the Mike D'antoni's won't help him any. When he starts bricking shots from all over the place (and he will), the New York fans are going to let him hear about it.

18. Chris Singleton Will Be a Lockdown Defender

Getting the best defender in the draft this late is another reason why the Wizards had such a successful night.

With the way things are going for the Wizards, they will be in the playoffs before long, and once they're there, they will turn to Singleton to be their lockdown defender when it counts.

19. Tobias Harris Never Sheds the Twener Label

Not yet big enough to be a power forward and not quick enough to be a small forward, Tobias Harris would have done himself a huge favor by staying in school to mature and beef up.

He is a talented basketball player who will never find his way in the NBA.

20. Donatas Motiejunas Become a 15 P.P.G. Scorer with Another Team

Currently on the Houston Rockets roster loaded with small forwards, Donatas Motiejunas will struggle to even find the floor whenever he does come and play for in NBA.

He is a smart player and has an array of offensive tools, but by the time he adds the strength and playing experience he needs to be successful, the Rockets with their plethora of forwards will need to trade his potential in efforts to find a starting center when Yao Ming finally hangs it up.

21. Portland Trailblazers Found Themselves a Terrfic Backup in Nolan Smith

With Raymond Felton coming aboard, Nolan Smith won't be expected to move into a starting role, maybe ever, which is ideal for him.

With his defensive ability, he is going to find his way onto the court, and being able to play both guard positions will only increase his playing time.

His versatility is going to be a big asset for the Trailblazers.

22. Kenneth Faried Will Force the Denver Nuggets to Trade Wilson Chandler

The Nuggets struck gold here at pick 22 by drafting Kenneth Faired.

He was the best rebounder in this class, has an excellent motor and is not an impending free agent like Chandler.

With all the scorers the Nuggets have, his offensive deficiencies won't be a problem. The Nuggets now have a few pieces they can use as trade bait.

23. Nikola Mirotic Will Be a Good Player for the Chicago Bulls...in Five Years

From the sound of things, Nikola Miroti won't be coming to the NBA for a few years, and it may take him even longer than that to become a good pro.

However, for a team that doesn't need immediate help, waiting for a guy like Miroti seems like a good gamble this late in a weak draft and will pay off down the road.

24. Reggie Jackson Will Be a Great Backup to Russell Westbrook

We're still not exactly sure what team shut down Reggie Jackson from all workouts and interviews (Miami Heat?), but it was the Thunder who came away with him on draft night.

Jackson will be terrific spelling Westbrook when he needs a breather, he is athletic, can shoot the ball and can penetrate and dish.

He may even make Westbrook be a little more cautious about his shot selection.

25. Marshon Brooks Will Be the New Jersey Nets Starting Shooting Guard

The Nets needed some scoring from the backcourt and they got it, late in the draft too, in Marshon Brooks.

A good shooter with an even prettier jumper, Brooks' ability to put the ball in the basket will send incumbent starter Anthony Morrow to the bench before long.

26. Jordan Hamilton Will Be Dealt Before the Season Starts

The Nuggets got great value here, but they can't even find playing time for all the guys they have now. 

With Kenneth Faired on the roster and Wilson Chandler now expendable I think that the Nuggets have a plan to deal some players and that Jordan Hamilton is part of that plan.

27. Kevin Garnett Won't Even Be Able to Help JaJuan Johnson Succeed

The Boston Celtics presumably drafted Johnson as a potential replacement for Kevin Garnett. 

I don't think that is going to happen here.

Johnson is too thin, and I don't think he will be quick enough to make up for his small frame. 

Kevin Garnett can yell at him all he wants; I don't think it’s going to make a difference.

28. Norris Cole Will Be the Miami Heat Starting Point Guard by Midseason

For a team filled with uncertainty outside of the Big Three, Cole will bring some stability as soon as he adjusts to the NBA game.

Cole is a very efficient player with a great basketball mind who can also shoot the ball extremely well.

Cole found himself in a good spot, and the Heat found themselves a point guard.

29. The San Antonio Spurs Finally Make a Draft Mistake in Cory Joseph

Not sure what exactly the Spurs see in Joseph, but they thought enough of him to make him the primary backup to Tony Parker now that George Hill is gone.

For a guy that wasn't even going to be a starter on his college team had he gone back to school, making the leap to being a back up to an NBA All-Star seems like a bit of a reach.

30. Jimmy Butler Will Be a Key Piece to Chicago Bulls Roster

Jimmy Butler has a story that no one can seem to stop talking about, which may have actually propelled him into the first round. That aside, I think he can become a nice rotation guy for a championship contender.

He is a good defender who doesn't need the ball to be productive; there is always room for guys like that on any basketball team.

For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for NBA draft results and NBA draft grades.