2011 NBA Draft Grades: 3 Shocking Moves That Will Pay off in the Long Run

Per usual, the 2011 NBA draft was jam-packed with trades.

Teams were jockeying around, trying to get themselves in better position, trying to acquire more picks or just trying to use their leverage to get the player they want for their franchise.

There were more than one bold move that may have seemed shocking at first, but I think when you really break them down you will realize that they might just pay off.

Here are the three shocking moves from the 2011 NBA draft that I think will pay off in the long run.

San Antonio Trades George Hill

San Antonio Spurs Trade George Hill to Indiana Pacers in return for Kawhi Leonard (No. 15), forward Davis Bertans (No. 42) and forward Erazem Lorbek (No. 46, 2005).

There was speculation that the Spurs were looking to trade Hill before the draft, and apparently it seems that everyone was spot on.

It might seem like a head-scratcher as to why the Spurs would trade away such a valuable player for prospects, but if you break it down, it makes more sense.

The Spurs in no way need Hill, but the Pacers, on the other hand, really do, so San Antonio had a ton of leverage in the trade.

They received the draft rights to Kawhi Leonard, who many considered to be a top-five or -six pick, and that right there got them equal, if not more value. But adding Davis Bertans, who they were high on, to the mix and Erazem Lorbek sweetened the deal.

I think Leonard will turn out to be a very good player in the NBA.

New Jersey Receives Marshon Brooks

New Jersey Nets trade draft right to JaJuan Johnson (No. 27) and 2014 second-round pick to Boston Celtics. Receive draft rights to Marshon Brooks (No. 25).

The New Jersey Nets traded the draft rights to JaJuan Johnson (No. 27) and a 2014 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for the draft rights to Marshon Brooks (No. 25).

To me, this was a head-scratcher on Boston’s part, but then again, they are looking for big men. JaJuan Johnson could end up being a steal in this draft, but I think the Nets by far got the best of this deal.

Marshon Brooks fills their needs perfectly at shooting guard, and many considered him to be one of the best scorers in the draft.

All New Jersey had to give up was a higher draft pick and a second-round draft pick for 2014.

Denver Nuggets Trade Raymond Felton

Denver Nuggets trade Raymond Felton to Portland Trail Blazers for Andre Miller, draft rights to Jordan Hamilton and future second-round pick.

This trade could potentially be considered a Steal by the Nuggets.

Trading away Raymond Felton is not a huge deal when they are getting another point guard in Andre Miller in return.

They were able to get Jordan Hamilton’s draft rights thrown in the mix, though, and in my opinion, he was the biggest sleeper of this draft. Hamilton could turn into a premier scorer in the NBA.

To put the cherry on top, the Nuggets somehow swindled away a future second-round pick as well.

It was a great trade by the Nuggets but poor execution by the Trail Blazers, in my opinion.

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