2011 NBA Draft Grades: 5 Teams That Will Regret Their Draft Decisions
The 2011 NBA Draft has come and gone, and what a surprising draft it was.
Some fanbases have to be elated with their picks, while others have been left scratching their heads.
This draft in particular produced a lackluster crop of talent, a lot of foreign prospects and a slew of draft-day trades.
Five teams in particular are going to look back on this draft as a failure. Here they are, along with their respective first-round draft grades.
Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette
1 of 5Jimmer Fredette is a very intriguing prospect. He's got unlimited range and is much more than a catch-and-shoot three-point machine.
Even so, he plays no defense whatsoever, and the Kings would have benefited more from a true point guard. They traded down in the three-team trade that allowed them to obtain the rights to the 10th pick.
It seems as though they got the guy they wanted, but he's a high-risk player. Fredette's defense doesn't ever have to match his offensive game, but it has to improve drastically for him to be considered a success.
Draft Grade: C
Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson
2 of 5Klay Thompson could be a heck of a basketball player, but he isn't what the Warriors need. He's a hybrid two/three guard, and the Warriors have decided to neglect their frontcourt yet again, in spite of the glaring need for a big man.
This draft may point to the trading of Monta Ellis. If they are able to flip Ellis in a package deal that lands them a dominant center, Thompson, Stephen Curry, David Lee and the new big man could start to resemble a real basketball team.
If not, the Warriors proved they are still dedicated to small ball, and Mark Jackson has changed nothing.
Draft Grade: D
New York Knicks, Iman Shumpert
3 of 5This is a case where need trumped value.
Iman Shumpert is able to contribute to perimeter defense, and the Knicks are hoping he can develop into a great offensive role-player.
His job is to make the Knicks' stars shine brighter and improve their defense. Unfortunately, Shumpert isn't worth the No. 17 overall pick.
The Knicks have other needs. They chose to pursue a lesser player in order to fill a more pressing need, which can be disastrous.
Draft Grade: C-
Phoenix Suns, Markieff Morris
4 of 5The Suns appear to be making a habit of drafting the worse of two NBA twins.
They were right in picking one of the Morris brothers with the 13th pick—they just got the wrong one.
Markieff is a boost to their defense and will do the dirty work. Even so, Marcus is a better overall basketball player. If Markieff would have been an only child, Phoenix wouldn't be on this list.
They aren't going to regret drafting Markieff, as much as they will regret passing on Marcus.
Draft Grade: C-
Portland Trail Blazers, Nolan Smith
5 of 5Nolan Smith is a tweener guard whom the Trailblazers can feel comfortable placing in either role. His versatility is going to make him a solid, career bench player.
Smith has been in big moments before. He took over when Kyrie Irving went down, but he's not a first-round point guard and can't score like a first-round shooting guard.
Portland addressed the wrong need and got the wrong guy.
Draft Grade: D+
