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Thursday, June 23, 2011

2011 NBA Mock Draft


It’s time for the greatest draft of them all! No, I’m not talking about beer, or the NFL Draft, but the National Basketball Association’s Draft! But the NFL is better so there draft must be better you say? Wrong. Yes I enjoy the NFL more, however NFL teams start 22 players & hence unless you’re getting a new franchise QB it’s unlikely the draft will overly change your team for the next season. In the NBA you only start five players, so if you draft a starter you’ve just changed 20% of your lineup, that’s a huge difference. Plus while the NFL draft features boring trades like the 67th pick for the 83rd & 122nd pick, the NBA Draft sees potentially franchise altering trades (Vlade Divac for the 14th pick [Kobe Bryant] anyone?). There’s already rumors that Andre Igoudala, Lamar Odom, Monta Ellis, & Tony Parker could all be on the move tonight. To commemorate this momentous occasion my brother & I will go through the lottery (the top 14 picks) and alternate making the picks those teams SHOULD make. I’ll also give you my best guess as to whom they WILL take (something I did better last year than any major publication), my top 20 prospects, & 5 sleepers.

Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Joe)-Having won the coin toss I will select the odds & so with the first pick I select Derrick Williams of the University of Arizona. I love Irving too, but Derrick’s athleticism & skill set are unmatched in this draft & his humble nature is the perfect replacement for he-who-shall-not-be –named.
Who they will pick: Kyrie Irving PG, Duke
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (Sam)-Even with Rubio coming in I have to take Kyrie Irving out of Duke. With Derrick gone he’s the clear-cut best player left & I’ll figure out what to do with he & Rubio later.
Who they will pick: Derrick Williams PF, Arizona
3. Utah Jazz (Joe)-Tough call here. I was hoping Sam would opt for Kanter so I could grab Irving, now I’ve got decide between Kanter & Knight. I’ll take Enes Kanter from Turkey. He’s the most skilled big in the draft, has legitimate center size, & even though I like Knight more overall Utah can grab a point at #12.
Who they will pick: Enes Kanter C, Turkey
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (Sam)-I’ll take the next Chauncey Billups, Brandon Knight of Kentucky. To be a playoff team in today’s NBA a good point guard is essential, he & Derrick give Cleveland a solid foundation to rebuild.
Who they will pick-Jonas Valanciunas C, Lithuania
5. Toronto Raptors (Joe)-I could go in a million directions with Toronto because they’re terrible. They could use a point, but Kemba & Jimmer are reaches here, Kawhi Leonard would be a solid pick however I like Jonas Valanciunas from Lithuania. His buyout will prevent him from playing next year (but with the lockout who cares?), but with the chance to grab a more skilled Tyson Chandler, for a horrible defensive team, I have to take it.
Who they will pick: Brandon Knight PG, Kentucky
6. Washington Wizards (Sam)-I’ll go with Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State. There’s not a harder worker in the draft, he’s a crazy gym rat who plays all out on defense & hits the boards. They could use some more shooting but Klay Thompson would have been a reach & Leonard should be a good influence on a young Washington team.
Who they will pick: Jan Vesely SF, Czech Republic
7. Charlotte Bobcats (Joe)-I was all set to take the Jimmer for Sacramento when it was announced the pick had been traded to Charlotte, so instead I’ll opt for Texas big man Tristan Thompson. I know he disappeared against Arizona when Kyryl of all people helped shut him down but he hits the boards & blocks shots as well as almost anyone in the draft & has a solid developing offensive game, even if he can’t shoot free throws.
Who they will pick: Bismack Biyombo C, Congo
8. Detroit Pistons (Sam)-If I were Joe Dumars I’d trade down & grab a Morris twin later on but since I can’t do that the Pistons could use some athleticism and defense so I’ll take Jan Vesely from the Czech Republic. I considered Biyombo but his lack of offensive skill, and the fact he could be 40, scared me too much. Vesely is raw as well but he has some developing skill and could become a better looking Andrei Kirilenko.
Who they will pick: Tristan Thompson PF, Texas
9. Charlotte Bobcats (Joe)-Reunion! I select Texas small forward Jordan Hamilton. He’s not the highest player on my board but he could score 20 a game & with Stephen Jackson having been traded they have a big hole at small forward.
Who they will pick: Kawhi Leonard SF, San Diego State
10. Sacramento Kings (Sam)-Jimmer! That’s right, I’m taking the Jimmer Fredette of BYU. They need a point guard because Tyreke Evans is not one, & Fredette fits better than Kemba Walker because of his superior shooting & basketball IQ.
Who they will take: Jimmer Fredette PG, BYU
11. Golden State (Joe)-word is Jerry West is high on Klay Thompson from Washington State, well so am I. Outside of Jimmer, Klay is the best shooter in the draft & he allows them to deal Monta Ellis.
Who they will take: Klay Thompson, Washington State
12. Utah Jazz (Sam)-Having added a big earlier in the draft it’s time for the Jazz to find their replacement for Deron Williams, making National Champion Kemba Walker of Connecticut the pick. Plain and simple Kemba’s a winner & has the potential to be Iverson-lite.
Who they will pick: Kemba Walker PG, Connecticut
13. Phoenix Suns-Shit. None of the players I really like for the Suns are left and I’m not a big fan of the Morris twins. So… We’re rolling the dice on Bismack Biyombo from the Congo. He may have no offensive skill beyond dunking but no player has more defensive potential than this Ben Wallace clone with a ridiculous 7’7 wingspan & the Suns could sure use some defense.
Who they will take: Markieff Morris PF, Kansas
14. Houston Rockets (Sam)-What the hell I’ll take USC’s Nikola Vucevic. He could be Marc Gasol 2.0 & that would be a steal at this point for a team in deep need of size with Yao Ming’s injury woes leading to the 6’6 Chuck Hayes starting at center for them last year.
Who they will take: Nikola Vucevic C, USC
My top 20 Prospects:
1. Derrick Williams PF, Arizona
2. Kyrie Irving PG, Duke
3. Brandon Knight PG, Kentucky
4. Jonas Valanciunas C, Lithuania
5. Enes Kanter C, Turkey
6. Tristan Thompson PF, Texas
7. Kawhi Leonard SF, San Diego State
8. Kemba Walker PG, Connecticut
9. Jimmer Fredette PG, BYU
10. Klay Thompson SG, Washington State
11. Jordan Hamilton SF, Texas
12. Bismack Biyombo PF, Congo
13. Jan Vesely SF, Czech Republic
14. Chris Singleton SF, Florida State
15. Alec Burks SG, Colorado
16. Tobias Harris PF, Tennessee
17. Tyler Honeycutt SF, UCLA
18. Nikola Vucevic C, USC
19. Kenneth Faried PF, Morehead State
20. Marcus Morris PF, Kansas
5 Sleepers
· Jimmy Butler SF, Marquette
· Charles Jenkins PG, Hofstra
· Nikola Mirotic SF, Serbia
· Norris Cole PG, Cleveland State
· Isaiah Thomas PG, Washington

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