2011 NBA Draft Results: 5 Biggest Steals in NBA Draft

The 2011 NBA draft has come and gone, and now it is time for us to hand out the grades based on what we saw last night.

Specifically, we are going to look at the four teams that got the most bang for their buck. These teams sat back and waited for someone to fall right into their lap, and when that player did, the team pounced on him.

It was an interesting draft because a lot of guys that were projected to go mid-to-late first-round wound up going early and vice versa. It made for some good drama, but it also left you scratching your head wondering what these teams were looking at.

That's where the draft steals come from. Guys who should have gone earlier than they did because other teams just missed the boat.

Here are the five biggest steals from the 2011 NBA draft.

1. Chris Singleton to Washington at No. 18

Singleton is a defensive wizard—no pun intended—already. He can be a lock-down defender from Day One thanks to a combination of size, length and athleticism. He needs to get more consistent with his shot, but if he is just a stopper on defense, he has tremendous value at No. 18.

There could have been some concerns over what is reported to be a fully healed broken foot from a February injury that might have contributed to his slight draft slide. He is athletic and willing to get in your face, which is something that not a lot of players can do or want to do.

Offense is great, but defense wins championships. Singleton is by far the best defender in this draft.

Give him time and he could be the second- or third-best player on a championship team.

2. Marshon Brooks to New Jersey at No. 25

Technically, this was Boston's pick, but the Celtics traded it to New Jersey for the 27th pick.

Brooks is a great scorer with an improving shot. He isn't afraid to drive with the ball into the paint. He needs to get more consistent, but to find this kind of scorer so late is very rare.

I thought Brooks warranted consideration in the top 15 picks because he is such an effective scorer. To get him at the back of the first round makes him a great value.

3. Kawhi Leonard to San Antonio at No. 15

Indiana traded the rights to Leonard for backup point guard George Hill. He was a nice backup, but how will he handle a starting role in this league?

Meanwhile, Leonard will be a solid starter in the league for a long time.

Leonard is a San Antonio type of player. He is a defender and rebounder with an improving shot. He is going to a great organization to learn how to play in the NBA.

Hill is a solid backup, but he only has one year left on his contract and would be out of the Spurs’ price range.

4. Brandon Knight to Detroit at No. 8

Brandon Knight was thought to be a top-five pick with the Jazz at No. 3 looking like the most likely destination.

He doesn’t fill a need for the team, but he was the best player available. He needs to work on passing and becoming a true point guard in the NBA.

He is a better option at the point for this team than Will Bynum and will eventually take over for Rodney Stuckey as the starter for this team.

5. Shelvin Mack to Washington at No. 34

It’s not all about the first round. Washington had a very good draft that started with Jan Vesely and ended with Shelvin Mack. The Butler guard is a great competitor and he has a very good long-range shot.

He’s not going to be a starter, but the Wizards don’t need a starting point guard. They need guys who can play and add depth.

Mack does both and should be a valuable bench player for a long time.