2011 NBA Mock Draft

I don't know.

Those three words summarize my knowledge of what is going to take place at tonight's NBA Draft. 

This is not considered to be a very deep draft and there are many young international players being mentioned that are mostly unknown commodities in America. 

On top of that, the uncertain labor situation makes it hard to figure out what teams will do because if there are major changes to the salary cap that effect free agency then teams may draft more for need than just taking the proverbial "best player available."  This will make it a challenge for the Celtics, a team that needs a veteran big man but does not know if they will be able to find one in free agency so they may have to reach for one in the first round.

My thought process in putting together this mock draft is to fit players where they are most needed.  The phrase "fills a need" will be seen several times.  You have been warned.

Anyways, here is my take on what will take place tonight.  Note that I am not predicting any trades because there's just too many rumors floating around (Steve Nash to Minnesota for the #2 pick?  Seriously?) to have any shot of being accurate.  With that said, there will definitely be a handful of trades that will make my mock draft nothing more than a waste of (cyber)space less than an hour into the proceedings.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Clippers): Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke

Hey, anytime you can draft a point guard with 11 games of college experience you just have to jump at the opportunity.  Even better, it looks like they will have Baron Davis - a model of professionalism - to mentor him as a rookie.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, PF/SF, Arizona

I consider Williams to be the best player in the draft and if I were running the Cavaliers, he would be the first overall pick.  The Timberwolves will have to find a buyer for Michael Beasley if they take Williams because they're similar players and Beasley doesn't strike me as someone who will be happy about losing playing time.

3. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey): Enes Kanter, C, Turkey (Kentucky)

Kanter was slated to play for John Calipari at Kentucky but the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of money he had earned while playing in Europe.  The Jazz hope Kanter's year off from playing competitive hoops will not hurt his game, not the kind of thing you want to worry about with the third overall pick.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas

The hot name in the many mock draft's I have looked at have placed Jonas Valanciunas - a 19-year-old center from Lithuania - in this spot but the most recent talk is that his contract buyout situation from his Lithuanian team will prevent him from coming to the NBA this season. 

In his place, Thompson is an athletic forward who had a solid freshman season for the Longhorns.  Usually a player needs to do more than have a "solid freshman season" to be considered as a high lottery pick but that is life in the NBA.

5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky

To be honest, I like Knight a lot better than Irving based on his experience running Calipari's Dribble-Drive offense at Kentucky and I believe the Cavs should take Williams first and then grab Knight with the fourth pick. 

6. Washington Wizards: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State

I enjoyed watching Leonard make San Diego State into a national contender this past season and his defense and athleticism is a nice fit for the Wizards.

7. Sacramento Kings: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State

The Kings have Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins in place and a shooter of Thompson's ability would be a very good complimentary piece in Sacramento.

8. Detroit Pistons: Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania

Chad Ford of ESPN believes that if Valanciunas falls this far that Detroit will make him their pick and wait a year for him.  I'll trust him.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Jan Vesely, PF, Czech Republic

Vesely is another highly rated international star.  He will be one of a handful of power forwards that the Bobcats will take a look at with this pick.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Kemba Walker, SG, UConn

Walker was the best player in college basketball last season and willed the Huskies to a national championship.  His stock has been slipping in recent days due to rumors that he is closer to being 5-10 than his listed 6-1 height and the Bucks already have a small lead guard in Brandon Jennings but to me Walker has too much talent to drop any farther down than this.

11. Golden State Warriors: Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas

The Warriors need toughness and rebounding on their frontline and although Morris' twin brother Marcus is considered to be the more skilled player, Markieff would fill Golden State's needs.

12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette, SG, BYU

If Walker was the best player in college basketball, Fredette was the most exciting.  I would rather see him play in an uptempo system like in Phoenix or New York but after the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan and the trade of Deron Williams, the pick of Fredette will appease the fan base in Salt Lake City.

13. Phoenix Suns: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado

The Suns seem to be on the verge of rebuilding even if they hold onto Nash and getting a scoring guard like Burks (20.5 ppg last season) is a move for their future.

14. Houston Rockets: Nikola Vucevic, C, USC

The uncertain health of Yao Ming makes center a position of need for Houston.

15. Indiana Pacers: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas

The Pacers already have Tyler Hansbrough at power forward but their competitive playoff loss to the Bulls proved that they can use another big man who can put the ball in the hoop.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo

Biyombo will come into the NBA ready to play defense and rebound, which are areas of need in Philly.  Biyombo has received positive comparisons to Serge Ibaka, the talented Thunder forward who has developed into an up-and-coming star.

17. New York Knicks: Reggie Jackson, PG, Boston College

The Knicks have their two stars with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire so adding players who can shoot the ball to space the floor around them is very important.  Jackson would be a very good secondary scoring option for the Knicks.

18. Washington Wizards (from Atlanta): Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State

Faried is undersized at 6-8 but he is a prolific rebounder.  Wizards' point guard John Wall is best in transition so Faried's ability to dominate the glass will get Wall the ball where he can do the most damage.

19. Charlotte Bobcats (from New Orleans): Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence

Brooks might be the best prospect at scoring the ball after Walker and Fredette and after trading Gerald Wallace last season, Charlotte needs perimeter offense.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis): Josh Shelby, SG, Kansas

Minnesota needs more depth at shooting guard and although Selby mostly played the point at Kansas, he can shoot the 3 (36.2%) and could develop into a very good third guard capable of playing both spots.

21. Portland Trailblazers: Tobias Harris, PF/SF, Tennessee

With all of their injury problems over the last few years, Portland needs players who can play multiple positions and Harris fits that need.

22. Denver Nuggets: Iman Shumpert, PG, Georgia Tech

The Nuggets are set at point guard with Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson but Shumpert would give them a bigger guard capable of helping them on defense while he develops his offensive game.

23. Houston Rockets (from Orlando): Jimmy Butler, SF, Marquette

After dealing Shane Battier last season, the Rockets need help at small forward. 

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State

Singleton was a very good defender at Florida State and the Thunder's loss to the Mavericks in the Western Finals proved that while the offensive talents of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook drive the team, they still need to improve on defense.

25. Boston Celtics: Jeremy Tyler, C, Tokyo Apache (San Diego)

Tyler left the U.S. for Israel after his junior year of high school and when that did not work out, he moved on to Japan where his game started to develop.

With Jermaine O'Neal the only center currently on Boston's roster, Tyler helps fill a glaring need.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas

Most mock drafts have the champs taking a foreign player and waiting for him to develop but Hamilton would provide bench scoring for Dallas and with Shawn Marion getting up there in age, this move also is for the future.

27. New Jersey Nets (from L.A. Lakers): Justin Harper, PF, Richmond

The Deron Williams trade did bring the Nets one of the game's best point guards but it cost them a promising young power forward in Derrick Favors.  Harper is nowhere near as talented as Favors but he fills a need.

28. Chicago Bulls (from Miami): Kyle Singler, SF, Duke

The Bulls do not have any glaring needs.  Adding Singler gives them a talented player who is a proven winner.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Nolan Smith, PG, Duke

If the Spurs are serious about trading Tony Parker, they will need to find a backup for George Hill.  Like Singler, Smith is a solid player who knows how to win.

30. Chicago Bulls: Davis Bertans, SF, Latvia

This would be a pick for the future.  Bertans is an excellent three-point shooter who could help the Bulls down the road as he develops physically.