2011 NBA Draft Grades: What General Managers Made Mistakes in the Draft?

The 2011 NBA Draft now shifts from the scouting room, to the evaluation room—where some general managers made the right selections throughout the draft, but on the contrary, there were some questionable mover throughout the draft, or lack there of.

It's time to dive a bit deeper into every pick of the 2011 NBA Draft and see which teams got it right, and which teams fell a bit short. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

No. 1: Kyrie Irving PG Duke

No. 4: Tristan Thompson PF Texas

No. 54: Milan Macvan PF/Cerbia

Grade: C

How does a team who selects the top rated player in the 2011 NBA Draft end up with a final draft grade of A-? By missing out on what could have been. 

The Cavaliers needed to select Enes Kanter, which they failed to do. I'm sure they would have loved for Kanter to be available at No. 4, but I felt all along that he would be off the board by then—and he was.

One thing about the NBA is it's much easier to find a point guard then it is to find a center. The Cavaliers should have taken Enes Kanter No. 1, then selected Brandon Knight at No. 4.

As it is, the Cavaliers still end up with their man of the future, Kyrie Irving, and also Tristan Thompson who is loaded with potential at the power forward position.

As for Milan Macvan, it remains to be seen if he will ever even where a wine and gold jersey as he is one of those risky European selections. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

No. 2: Derrick Williams, F Arizona

No. 43: Malcolm Lee G, UCLA

No. 57: Tanguy Ngombo, SF Qatar

Grade: B+

The Timberwolves add who I think will be the best overall player in the draft, so Minnesota finally got something right. Derrick Williams will be a force from day one, and he will energize Timberwolves fans with his ability to play above the rim.

I do think Enes Kanter would have made more since here to pair up with Kevin Love, but Williams is the better player and the Timberwolves can now trade one of their many forwards.

Malcolm Lee is an quick athletic guard who can play either point guard or shooting guard, and I think he will make an impact in his rookie season.

Tanguy Ngombo was Minnesota's man all along, and he appears to be a superb athlete at the small forward position.

Utah Jazz

No. 3: Enes Kanter, C Turkey

No. 12. Alec Burks, SG Colorado

Grade: A

I love what the Jazz did with their two first-rounds picks. With the selection of Enes Kanter, the Jazz will now have a front line that consists of Enes Kanter, Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap. Throw in Derrick Favors off the bench and the Jazz have a beefy front line attack.

As much as I like what the Jazz did at No. 3 with Kanter, I am equally as impressed with the selection of Alec Burks at No. 12.

Burks is a pure scorer which is an area the Jazz were lacking in. Burks should provide a nice scoring combination for years to come with Gordon Heyward. 

Toronto Raptors

No. 5: Jonas Valanciunas, C Lithuania

 Grade:B

The lone pick for the Raptors in the 2011 NBA draft, and they elected to improve their front court with Lithuania's Jonas Valaciunas.

Valanciunas is loaded with potential and has the ability to blossom into an NBA star in the future. It will take some time for Jonas to make the transition into the NBA, but Raptors fans should find it will be worth the wait.

Washington Wizards

No. 6 Jan Vesley, PF Czech Republic 

No. 18 Chirs Singelton, SF Florida State

No. 34 Shelvin Mack, PG Butler

Grade A

The Washington Wizards came out with one of the best drafts overall last night.

At No.6 the Wizards grabbed Jan Vesley, who I think is the best International player in the 2011 class. Vesley has a mix of skill and athleticism we usually don't see with International players. He can jump out of the arena, while also possessing a complete offensive game.

Chris Singleton at No. 18 was another great pick for the Wizards. Singleton is the best overall defensive prospect in the draft and he will be an instant force on that side of the ball. 

With the No.34 overall pick Washington elected to go with a reliable backup point guard for John Wall with the selection of Shelvin Mack. Mack led the Butler Bulldog's to back-to-back national yitle appearances so the Wizards get a proven winner in Mack.

Charlotte Bobcats

No. 7 Bismack Biyombo, PF/C Congo

No. 9 Kemba Walker: PG Connecticut

Grade: A 

The Charlotte Bobcats traded away Gerald Wallace last season, and parted ways with Stephen Jackson last night. It's clear that the Bobcats are cleaning house, and they took a great step in the right direction with the completion of the Draft.

With the selection of Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte has them an immediate force on the boards and at the defensive end. Biyombo boasts a 7'7'' wingspan so his presence will be felt every game down low, with Bismack being sure to block a couple shots into the fifth row every night. 

Kemba Walker at No.9 is a steal. Walker is instant offense and will create a good scoring threat in the backcourt with D.J. Augustine. 

Michael Jordan had a memorable draft for the Bobcats who are taking the right steps in rebuilding the team.

Detroit Pistons

No. 8: Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky

No. 33: Kyle Singler, SF Duke

No. 52: Vernon Macklin, PF Florida

Grade: B-

I like the value that the Pistons got with Brandon Knight at No.8, but they really need help down-low for Greg Monroe.

Brandon Knight has the potential to be a great point guard nonetheless while I think he has the potential to be just as good as Kyrie Irving in the future.

I like the idea of taking a small forward at 33, but the pick should have been Tyler Honeycutt—not Kyle Singler. The Pistons know what they are getting with Singler but Honeycutt has so much more upside that I think he should have gone a head of Singler.

Vernon Macklin from Florida give's the Pistons a big bodied, hard working power forward who will be a defensive presence and rebound threat, though he won't do much else.

Sacramento Kings

No. 10: Jimmer Fredette, PG BYU

No. 35: Tyler Honeycutt, SF UCLA

No. Isaiah Thomas, PG Washington

Grade: A

The Sacramento Kings had a great draft and they appear to now have the talent to be a force in the Western Conference in the coming seasons.

With Jimmer Fredette, the Sacramento Kings get a prolific scorer whose range is anywhere inside the half court line. Pair Fredette up with Tyreke Evans and the Kings have their backcourt of the future. 

The Sacramento Kings had to have been happy with the Detroit Pistons selection of Kyle Singler, as they jumped on Tyler Honeycutt with the next pick. As I stated previously, Honeycutt has a smooth offensive game and he will only get better in time. 

I'm not sure it was possible to like the last selection in any Draft, but Isaiah Thomas from Washington was a great pick for the Kings. Thomas dropped because of his size at 5'9'', but he averaged over 16 points and six assists during his junior year at Washington, and he should be a reliable backup point guard for the Sacramento Kings. 

Golden State Warriors

No. 11: Klay Thompson, SG Washington State

No. 39: Jeremy Tyler, C USA (From Bobcats)

No. 44 Charles Jenkins, SG Hofstra

Grade: A

The Marc Jackson era began for the Warriors last night, and if the selections of the 2011 NBA Draft are any indication—good things are on the horizon for Golden State.

Klay Thompson is a great fit for the Warriors who love scoring the basketball. Thompson has exceptional size for a guard at 6'7'', and his stroke from the outside is deadly. 

With the selection of Thompson, it would appear that Monta Ellis is on his way out of the Golden State organization.

Jeremy Tyler at No. 39 is a risk/reward king of pick. Tyler skipped out on his senior year in high school to play overseas, where he has struggled. The Warrior's need help inside so if Tyler pans out, Golden State's draft looks that much better.

The Warrior's used there last selection on Charles Jenkins from Hofstra who averaged nearly 23 points a game during his senior year, so Golden State should have a reliable scoring option off the bench in Jenkins.

Phoenix Suns

No. 13 Markieff Morris, PF Kansas

Grade: B+

Despite Marcus Morris getting a higher grade on most draft boards, the Phoenix Suns decided to grab Markieff, not twin brother Marcus with their first-round pick.

Marcus Morris will be an immediate impact player on the front line for the Suns. Morris looks like he will form a nice one-two-combination down-low with center Marcin Gortat.

Morris should see plenty of playing time during his rookie season and Sun's fans should be excited to have him on their team, as he will be a big contributor on both ends of the floor. 

Houston Rockets

No. 14: Marcus Morris, PF Kansas

No. 20: Donatas Motiejunas, PF Lithuania (From Minnesota)

No. 38: Chandler Parsons, SF Florida

Grade: B+

The Houston Rockets attained some good value with all three of their picks. Marcus Morris will beef up the front line considerably during his rookie season. Marcus has a better rounded offensive game then his brother, Markieff, and I think the Rockets were probably happy seeing him still on the board at 14. 

As for Donatas Motiejunas, he is a legit 7'0'' player who needs to bulk up to be a real presence in the NBA, but with Yao Ming's future up in the air—Motiejuans is worth the risk here.

Chandler Parsons is a versatile small forward who can not only score from the perimeter and get to the rim, but he can also be a good facilitator. I think he will have a better NBA future then Donatas, so he is a good selection for the Rockets. 

San Antonio Spurs

No. 15: Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State

No. 29: Corey Joseph, PG Texas

No. 42: David Bertans, PF Latvia

No. 59: Adam Hanga, SG Hungary

Grade C-

Just not much to get excited about here for the Spurs. They give up one of their few young, promising players in George Hill, for Kawhi Leonard who has great athleticism and some freakishly big hands, but I would not have given up Hill for Kawhi.

The Spurs then selected Texas point guard Corey Josheph at No. 29, who I would assume is to be the backup to Tony Parker since George Hill is no longer an option. Joseph averaged 10 points and three assists during his freshman year at Texas, but after watching him play, he could have really used at least one more year in college.

The Spurs are putting a lot of faith in Corey Josheph, and their gambles usually pay-off—though I'm skeptical of this one.

David Bertans and Adam Hanga are both International prospects who Spurs fans will not see for a few years—if at all.

I know the Spurs are great at finding and developing international talent, but for a team that desperately needs some young legs on the court, I feel they should have drafted a couple guys who can contribute now. 

Philadelphia 76ers

No. 16: Nikola Vucevic, C USC 

No. 50: Lavoy Allen, PF Temple

Grade: B+

The Philadelphia 76ers needed to go after size in the 2011 NBA Draft, and that's precisely what they did. 

Nikola Vucevic from USC has a complete offensive game, including a nice stroke from the outside, while also being a big bodied down-low presence. At 7'0'' 260 pounds, Vucevic could end of being one of the steals in Draft, much to the pleasure of 76ers fans.

Lavoy Allen will be another down-low presence for the Sixer's to work with, he has a descent mid-range jumper but he will be counted on to make his pay check at the defensive end and on the boards. 

New York Knicks

No. 17: Iman Shumpert

No. 45: Josh Harrellson

Grade: D

The New York fans reactions about summed this pick up with the look of shock on every Knick fan, including Spike Lee.

I understand where the Knick's were going with this pick, but Iman Shumpert was a big reach at No.17.

Yes, he bring defense to the table—but Florida State's Chris Singleton was the best defensive prospect in the draft, not Shumpert.

Shumpert is 6'6'' and has the ability to guard most wing guys, but Singleton is 6'9'' and has the athleticism to defend either the G,SF, or PF positions making him the much more versatile defender.

You can bet the Washington Wizards were thrilled the Knick's made this pick, as they immediately snatched up Singleton with the No.18 pick.

Also, the Knick's are supposedly so high on Landry Fields, so they use a first rounder that plays the same position as Fields?

As for the center from Kentucky Josh Harrellson, I understand this pick even less. I see absolutely no potential for Harrelson to ever be a starting center in the NBA, he's not athletic, he's slow, and his offensive game is non-existant. 

Milwaukee Bucks

No. 19: Tobias Harris, PF Tennessee 

No. 40: Jon Leuer, PF Wisconsin 

Grade: B

The Milwaukee Buck's used the 2011 NBA Draft to land a couple of power forwards to add to their roster. 

Both are completely different though. 

Tobias Harris represents loads of potential at only 18 years of age, while Jon Leuer was Mr. Consistent during his four year career at Wisconsin.

Milwaukee fans should be really excited about the potential Tobias Harris brings to the organization, he could really be a special player in a couple of seasons—while still being a threat during his rookie campaign.

Portland Trail Blazers

No. 21: Nolan Smith, PG Duke 

No. 51: Jon Diebler, Ohio State

Grade: B+

Some people may see a this as to high of a grade, but I like the way both players fit in with Portland. 

Nolan Smith is an under appreciated point guard for whatever reason, but he averaged 21 points and five assists per game last year for the Duke Blue-Devils.

As for Jon Diebler, he is a three specialist—and a darn good one. 

Diebler shot a ridiculous 51 percent from behind the arc during his senior year with the Ohio State Buckeyes. What is even more impressive about his three point average is that it's five percent better the Jimmer Fredette's.

With the loss of Rudy Fernandez, the Trail Blazers didn't have a light out three point shooter on their roster—now they do in Jon Diebler, or  Jon "3bler" as Ohio State fans like to call him.

Denver Nuggets

No. 22: Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead State

No. 26: Jordan Hamilton, SF Texas (Traded from Dallas)

Grade: A

The Denver Nuggets took care of business in 2011 NBA Draft.

They brought in Kenneth Farried from Morehead State, who was an absolute monster on the boards. Faried averaged 14.5 boards per game to go a long with 2.4 blocks per game.

When Keynon Martin moves on from the Nuggets, Faried looks to be the man to fill his shoes. Faried does not offer much on the offensive end, but his ability to rebound and block shots make him a perfect fit for the Nuggets.

Jordan Hamilton dropped a bit in the draft despite averaging over 18 points and seven rebounds per game during his sophomore year with Texas. He will give the Nugget's another weapon to utilize off the bench, and depending on what happens with Wilson Chandler, Hamilton could be in for some big minutes during his rookies season.

Hamilton is as versatile as any player in that was taken in the draft, with the skill set to play shooting guard or small forward.

Chicago Bulls

No. 23: Nikola Mirotic, PF Serbia (from Minnesota) 

No. 30: Jimmy Butler, SF Marquette

Grade: B-

Nikola Mirotic is an elite talent picked up by the Bulls, the only downside being that he will not join the Chicago Bulls for at least three seasons.

Chicago has a good enough roster to where they can wait it out for Mirotic, but it's there second pick, Jimmy Butler who will make a splash next year for the Bulls.

The Bull's need help at the two position, and Jimmy Butler will help fulfill that need. Butler is an athletic guard who can run the court well and get to the rim. His outside shot is descent, though he will need  to improve from the three point line.

Oklahoma City Thunder

No. 24: Reggie Jackson

Grade: B+

The Thunder had no glaring needs coming into the 2011 NBA draft, so the rich get richer with this pick. 

Reggie Jackson is only 6'3'' but he has a wingspan of over 7'0'' and he has a deep offensive game. Jackson shot 42 percent from behind the arc last season for Boston College, while averaging over 18 points per game. 

Reggie Jackson is another offensive weapon the Thunder now have at their disposal.

New Jersey Nets

No. 25: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence (from Boston) 

No. 31: Bojan Bogdanovic, SG Croatia (from Minnesota)

No. 36: Jordan Williams, C Maryland

Grade: A

I love what the New Jersey Nets did to trade up and attain Marshon Brooks. Brooks is a silky smooth offensive player who will come in and be an immediate force on the offensive end for the Nets. Brooks averaged over 24 points per game during his senior season with Providence, giving the Nets a prolific scorer to work the backcourt with Derron Williams.

At No. 31 the Nets selected Bojan Bogdanovic who is another high volume scorer, though the New Jersey won't see Bojan in a Net uniform for at least a couple of seasons.

With their last pick in the Draft, the Net's bulked up their front line with the addition of Maryland center Jordan Williams.

Williams averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game during his sophomore year at Maryland, and he should be a solid backup for Brook Lopez and can contribute from day one. 

Boston Celtics

No. 27 JaJuan Johnson, PF Purde 

No. 55 E'Twaun Moore, SG Purdue

Grade: B+

The Boston Celtics took JaJuan Johnson with their first round pick, so the writing is on the board that Glen Davis is all but done with the Celtics. 

Johnson has an effiecent offensive game—averaging over 20 points per game last year for the Boilermaker's, while grabbing eight rebounds. Johnson is NBA ready now, and the Celtics need youth now, so this was a smart pick.

E'Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson's College teammate is another smart pick by the Celtics. Moore never really got much attenting but he averaged over 18 points per game for Purdue last season and he, like Johnson, will be NBA ready on opening night.

Miami Heat

No. 28: Norris Cole, PG Cleveland State

Grade: B

The Miami Heat add one of the biggest sleepers in the entire Draft with Cleveland State's Norris Cole. 

Cole averaged over 21 points per game last year for the Viking's and he should impact the Heat early on in the 2011-2012 season. 

What's their not to like about a point guard who rocks the old-school fade top?

Orlando Magic

No. 32: Justin Harper, SF Richmond (from Cleveland)

No. 53: DeAndre Liggins, SG Kentucky

Grade: A-

The Magic quietly made one of the better moves in the 2011 NBA Draft, seemingly getting a first round talent in Justin Harper for two future second round picks. 

Harper is a great spot-up shooter and is by far the best shooting big man in the 2011 class. Harper also shows surprisingly solid strength in getting to the rim and it's obvious why Harper draws comparisons to Rashard Lewis.

With the 53rd overall pick the Magic went with Kentucky's Deandre Liggins. The Magic needed a defensive specialist on the perimeter, they just chose the wrong one. I would have rather seen Otis Smith take Ohio State's David Lighty as he was statistically better in nearly every category over Liggins, but both are great defenders.

Los Angeles Clippers

No. 37: Trey Thompkins, PF Georgia

No. 47: Travis Leslie, SG Georgia

Grade: A-

As hard as it may be to believe, the Los Angeles Clippers are going to be an even more exciting team to watch in 2011. 

The Clipper bolster their front line with Trey Thompkins who will fit in nicely with Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin, while also adding the best dunker in the 2011 draft class in Travis Leslie.

Leslie is a freakish athlete who can also be a lock down defender, something the Clippers could use and he looks to be a solid backup to starter Eric Gordon.

Los Angeles Lakers

No. 41: Darius Morris, PG Michigan

No. 46: Andre Goudelock, PG College of Charleston

No. 56: Chukwudiebere Maduabum, PF Bakersfield

No. 58: Ater Majok, SF Sudan

Grade: C+

I really like the Lakers first pick of Darius Morris, the sophomore point guard out of Michigan. Morris averaged 15 points and seven assists per game for the Wolverines, and at 6'5'' Morris has great length to see the court.

With Fisher on his way out and Steve Blake being Steve Blake, I think the Lakers have a legitimate point guard of the future in Darius Morris.

Andre Goudelock was another prodeuctive point guard in college who is quick and could develop into Darius Morris backup in the future.

The Lakers next two picks are pure projects and nothing else. 

Atlanta Hawks

No. 48: Keith Benson, C Oakland

Grade: C+

Atlanta needed to add some size to their front line and that's exactly what they did in selecting Oakland's Keith Benson. 

Benson has great length and will be a great shot blocker for the Hawks, though he needs to add about 15-20 pounds to his thin frame to be a real force in the NBA.

Atlanta fans would have liked to see the front office make some kind of a splash on draft night, that didn't happen.

Memphis Grizzlies

No. 49: Josh Selby, PG Kansas

Grade: A-

For only having one pick in the 2011 Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies got the most value of any other pick with Josh Selby.

Selby was the third-rated prospect in the nation heading into Kansas his Freshman year, though he had a disappointing season, the ceiling is so high with Selby which makes it a great pick.

Memphis can afford to let Selby develop as they already have their franchise point guard in Mike Conley.

Indiana Pacers

Grade: B

The Pacers did make any selections in the 2011 NBA Draft, their biggest accomplishment was acquiring George Hill from the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard deal.

The Pacers are loaded with youth and now have a nice point guard combination with Darren Collinson and George Hill. 

Dallas Mavericks

Grade: B

The world champions added Rudy Fernandez via the Portland Trade. 

Fernandez is a proven shooter who makes the Mavericks that much more lethal from the three point line.

New Orleans Hornets

Grade: F

The Hornets literally did nothing in the Draft, maybe this is there way of trying to convince Chris Paul to resign.