Just over 24 hours remain until the NBA Draft on Friday. This year’s draft is a very weak one with very few of the players expected to become solid NBA starters.
My Lottery Mock Draft
1. Kyrie Irving PG – Cleveland Cavaliers
Freshman/Duke, 6’3” 191 lbs– 17.5ppg, 4.3ast, 3.4rpg
Hands down a top two player in the draft Irving is almost a lock for #1. Cavs GM Chris Grant is set on Irving despite owner Dan Gilbert’s interest in Derrick Williams.
This pick will have huge ramifications for the first 4 spots depending on which way the Cavs swing.
Irving’s solid Chris Paul-like-game leaves it almost impossible for Irving to be a bust. He will start immediately and may end up being an all star one day.
2. Derrick Williams PF – Minnesota Timberwolves
Sophomore/Arizona, 6’9” 248 lbs – 19.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.1ast
Williams, like Irving is the only other sure thing in this draft. Projected to be a borderline all star and with little chance of becoming a bust, Williams is the safe bet.
Although not filling a need (Love, Randolph, Beasley and Johnson all at the forward already) the wolves will almost definitely go in this direction.
3. Brandon Knight PG – Utah Jazz
Freshman/Kentucky, 6’3” 177 lbs – 17.3ppg, 4.2ast, 4rpg
A combo guard with great shooting skills, Knight is a high risk pick. He’ll likely pan out but there is a chance that he will have great difficulty adapting to the NBA PG role. If this is the case Knight may end up underwhelming most people.
Knight had a pretty slow year in Kentucky but has a solid outside game and an NBA PG body. He was a great teammate at Kentucky and this should help him going forward.
4. Enes Kanter C Turkey – Cleveland Cavaliers
19 YOA/Turkey, 6’11” 259 lbs, DNP 2010-11
Not much is known about Kanter. Having played just 2 games in the last 18 months (ruled ineligible for Kentucky) we don’t know how much he has improved since early last year.
Kanter is a good kid who seems extremely devoted to his goal, having picked up solid English skills in just over a year. He should have little competition for minutes next year but would do well to learn from long time Cavalier Anderson Varejao.
5. Kawhi Leonard SF – Toronto Raptors
Sophomore/San Diego State 6’7” 227 pounds – 15.5ppg, 10.6rpg, 3.5ast
Having signed former Mavs defensive assistant Dwayne Casey as the head coach for next year the Raptors will be looking to improve defensively. That will either mean they take Bismack Biyombo or this man Kawhi Leonard.
A defensive combo forward with great rebounding ability, Leonard will fit well with the Raptors.
Although an unlikely star, if Leonard develops a jump shot and continues to develop he his skills in the gym he may yet be a key player moving forward with Toronto.
6. Jan Vesely SF – Washington Wizards
21 YOA/Czech Republic 6’11” 240 lbs – 10.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.3ast
Short of acquiring the number 2 pick for Derrick Williams, Vesely is exactly what the Wizards need from this draft.
His strong transition game and explosiveness around the rim will make him an exciting running mate for second year guard John Wall.
Like Leonard he lacks a true shooters touch but may have a chance to develop it in the NBA.
7. Jimmer Fredette PG – Sacramento Kings
Senior/BYU 6’3” 195 pounds – 28.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.2ast
If Leonard and Vesley are both off the board I don’t see how the Kings go past Jimmer. Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are said to be very high on Jimmer despite the fornt office’s interest in Kemba Walker. With GM Geoff Petrie’s job security low, the owners figure to have a big say on this pick.
Jimmer would fit well off the bench for the kings splitting minutes with Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans in a three guard rotation.
Easily the riskiest pick in the lottery, Jimmer could end up being a total bust.
8. Kemba Walker PG – Detroit Pistons
Junior/Connecticut 6’1” 184 pounds – 23.5ppg 5.4rpg, 4.5ast
Walker had a stellar year at UConn, leading the Huskies to a national championship. He was one of the top scorers all season and at times carried the team on his back.
His size could be an issue at the next level as most guards are an inch or two taller.
The Pistons will be hoping he can overcome these obstacles and take over the reigns from long time guard Rodney Stuckey.
Like Jimmer, Kemba has a fairly high chance of not working out as a star calibre NBA guard.
9. Alec Burks SG – Charlotte Bobcats
Sophomore/Colorado 6’6” 193 pounds – 20.5ppg 6.5rpg, 2.9ast
Burks is the top shooting guard in the draft and one of the most solid scorers. His jump shot isn’t all there, but he is a solid athlete and is decent on defence.
He would fit nicely in Charlotte with Stephen Jackson moving over to play more minutes at the 3 spot.
Most shouts figure he’ll take a good 2 or 3 years to really find his feet and a lot hinges on his ability to acquire a solid jump shot.
10. Klay Thompson SG– Milwaukee Bucks
Junior/Washington State 6’7” 206 pounds – 21.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.7ast
If Burks isn’t available here the Bucks will almost certainly go for Thompson. A really solid shooter with NBA range he is a true commodity in this draft.
The biggest danger however is that he made most of his moves in workouts over the last few weeks. There are some doubts about his maturity and his ability to handle an 82 game season.
11. Bismack Biyombo PF– Golden State Warriors
18 YOA/Spain (from Congo) 6’10” 240 pounds – 6.4ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.3bpg (17.1mins)
Biyombo splashed onto the scene a few months ago after a spectacular showing at the Nike Hoops Summit. Scouts are hoping he can turn into an impressive shot blocker and defender.
He lacks much of an offensive game but can be a huge presence on defence. He may not even be available here with the Raptors apparently taking a keen interest in him.
12. Chris Singleton SF – Utah Jazz
Junior/Florida State 6’9” 230 pounds – 13.1ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.2 ast
Singleton is a defensive player who could contribute straight away. He’s a real worry on defensive though, having the second lowest offensive efficiency of any one in class.
He does have a decent catch and shoot game though and that should bump up his efficiency at the next level.
13. Tristan Thomson PF – Phoenix Suns
Freshman/Texas 6’9” 227 pounds – 13.1ppg 7.8rp 2.4bpg
The Suns have a hole at PF and Thomson may just be able to fill it. A solid role player or borderline starter, Thomson does his best work off the ball. Thomson is a raw offensive talent but should develop well with Steve Nash delivering him the ball.
He could move up as high as the 9th spot or slide all the way out of the lottery.
14. Jonas Valanciunas C – Houston Rockets
19 YOA/Lithuania 6’11” 240 pounds – 7.6ppg, 5.6rpg, 0.6bpg (14.9mins)
Most mock drafts have had Valanciunas high as the 4th spot over the last month or so. A problem arising from his current European contract means he will almost certainly not be available to play next season.
The Rockets should be his lowest possible falling place.
They’ll be hoping that come 2011-12 he should be able to compete and contribute to a potential playoff team.
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