2011 Mock Draft (1-60 with commentary)
Posted: Wed Mar 2, 2011 11:04 pm
Note:
A line indicates points in the draft where I feel there is a clear talent drop off, or a group of players that likely won't rise past "x" point (for example, I think Irving is a lock for the first pick, but others have a strong case as well). I could easily envision these players going in the complete opposite order within their range (for example, Knight between 5-8).
First Round
1. Cleveland - Kyrie Irving
Someone up top will need a point guard, Irving is looking like the best one in the class of 2011 at this point. He is an explosive athlete and has good shooting mechanics. Amazing ball handler with great end-to-end speed and anticipation.
Why Cleveland? Kyrie is a consensus #1 pick.
NBA Comparison: Mike Conley
________________________________________________
2. Minnesota - Derrick Williams
I've got a bit of a revised opinion on Williams because of the lead up to the draft process and a few additional games I was able to watch. I've warmed up on him quite a bit, but I still don't think that he is super-star material. What I do see, however, is a player that has a wide variety of skills including nice post moves and an effective - albeit unorthodox - jumper. He reminds be very much of what Paul Millsap has morphed into, an athletic do-it-all forward who can rebound and step out to hit the three point shot at a good rate despite how ugly his jumper is.
Why Minnesota? I don't think they keep the pick.
NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap
3. Utah - Brandon Knight
Another player that I have really changed my opinion on throughout workouts and through watching some additional footage. I really love his jumpshot and instincts on the defensive end. Those are two skills that will ensure that he sticks in the league. What I don't like are some of his poor decisions on the court and his sometimes poor ball handling with his right hand. I think he can weed out some of those bad habits, though I still think he will be turnover prone as a point guard.
NBA Comparison: Mike Bibby
4. Cleveland - Enes Kanter
The year of the European bigs. Kanter is a very polished interior player with a variety of post moves and a nose for the ball. Not explosive or huge, but athletic enough to get the job done as a "true post." Very limited amount of video with him, so a lot of this is based on "gut first impressions."
Why Cleveland? I think Enes has the most potential out of this entire draft class.
NBA Comparison: Not Al Horford
________________________________________________
5. Toronto - Bismack Biyombo
Cool name. Respectable stats in the ACB. I think everyone heard about the triple double in the Hoops Summit, that exposure should really boost his draft stock. He has better court awareness that what I expected, he gets his body on a man when he boxes out, he sets good screens - but he also seems to get lost on offense (he's a great athlete, though). I have seen a very limited amount of this kid.
Why Detroit? I think he is a good fit with Monroe.
NBA Comparison: Clueless
6. Washington - Kawhi Leonard
Good rebounder and he has a knack for getting steals. Really hustles when he is on the court, great athlete. Reminds me a bit of Dante Cunningham. Will fit into an uptempo team because of his ball handling abilities. Not really a scorer and his jump shot is god-awful.
Why Sacramento? 1. Rumors 2. They need a good small forward 3. They are short on defenders.
NBA Comparison: Early career Gerald Wallace
7. Sacramento - Tristian Thompson
Athletic, strong, looks like he'll be a good player. Very raw on offense but is a decent finisher around the rim. Will mostly be a complimentary player on offense his first few years, at best a 4th or 5th option.
NBA Comparison: Brandon Bass
8. Detroit - Kemba Walker
A gifted scorer, as a great ability to create separation and get his shot off, very fast and has very good ball handling abilities. A volume shooter and not the best distributer, these are areas that he has to improve in, but I think that he can do it. Great free throw shooter. Warming up to him as a top ten pick, but I think that if he goes top 5 he's going to be a big disappointment.
NBA Comparison: Ty Lawson
________________________________________________
9. Charlotte - Jonas Valanciunas
Big and young. Scouts will drool over his potential. He looks like a decent player to me, but he needs to bulk up (about 15 pounds) to really be effective in the NBA. He's not a plodder like some centers, but he also isn't extremely athletic or mobile like Tyson Chandler, etc.
Why Charlotte? All the best players left have huge question marks, so draft for size and potential.
NBA Comparison: Sort of reminds me of Marc Gasol.....through very limited amounts of video I have been able to see from him.
10. Milwaukee - Alec Burks
Jump shot looks better than shooting percentage implies. Goes after rebounds hard, good at recognizing where the ball will go. Great passer and ball handler – his teammates are so inept that his assist numbers are lower than what they should be…seems to be an above average defender despite what is being said.
Why the Bucks? Burks brings the scoring punch they lack, and if Salmons plays well could fit well next to him.
NBA Comparison: Again, clueless. I know what he does well but still haven't fingered a player I really think is similar.
11. Golden State - Klay Thompson
About the only decent wing left at this point in the draft. Really great shooter and scorer but lacks athleticism and has been a liability on defense throughout his college career. In the NBA these strengths will be punctuated. I firmly believe that Klay is the best shooting guard in the draft.
Why Golden State? I think Leonard makes the most sense, but he's not going to be there when the Warriors draft.
NBA Comparison: Kevin Martin
12. Utah - Donatus Motiejunas
Has great length and height. Needs to pack some muscle on his frame to become a true threat in the post. Will get knocked around his first couple of years in the NBA, but with the right conditioning could become a threat. Has really upped his stock after the 2010 draft, which is something that I didn't expect to happen. He's so incredibly skilled, he's mobile and he can shoot. He doesn't take great care of the ball (has a tendency to let it get poked out), but he looks like a very good offensive player. I also wonder if his defensive struggles aren't overexagerated. He's really skinny, and I think with his build he should play power forward (narrow shoulders a la Dirk) but once he adds enough weight to hold position in the post with his height he should be fairly decent. This, again, is from a limited amount of video.
Why Utah? 1. Size 2. Potential 3. Rumors.
NBA Comparison: The 1,000th Dirk comparison
13. Phoenix - Jimmer Fredette
One of the most cerebral scorers in the NCAA. Has a great feel for the game. Fantastic distrubuter, great shooter. The most impressing aspect of his game to me is the way in which he can change directions. His defense is questionable, but he is such a good offensive player and so smart that I can't see him out of the lottery in any draft.
Why the Suns? Jimmer just makes sense, and in my mind, has great upside, and awful lot more than Kemba.
NBA Comparison: Stephen Curry
14. Houston - Jan Vesely
he's more of a small forward than a power forward. He's got great instincts moving without the ball, he is a great athlete and he has the potential to be a very good player. His ability to catch the ball could be a bit of an issue as he appears not to have the softest touch around.
Why Washington? They already have enough guys that can score the ball, they need players who can defend now, and I think Jan should do extremely well as a hybrid 3/4 in an uptempo system.
NBA Comparison: Andrei Kirilenko
________________________________________________
15. Indiana - Marcus Morris
One of the most physical players in college basketball. Has great instincts on defense and is a very good player on offense with his footwork and effort around the basket. Decent jumper, the position he translates to is still in question.
16. Philadelphia - Nikola Vucevic
He's incredibly strong for a college player, and he relies on it a bit too much, but he also is a very good shooter and he's got a great wingspan. His post game is also very highly developed and he is a great rebounder.
17. New York - Josh Selby
Has really great potential for being this far back in the draft. Scores in bunches but was not very efficient at Kansas this past year - could be a result of the system and the fact that he missed a large chunk of the season. Shooting guard in a point guard's body.
________________________________________________
18. Washington (Atlanta) - Chris Singleton
His defense is fantastic, he's a good athlete, he has the potential to be one of the top defenders in the league, but I am afraid his offense (or lack thereof) won't transfer well.
Why? He fits in immediately with their core.
NBA Comparison: Thabo Sefelosha
19. Charlotte (New Orleans) - Tyler Honeycutt
Have been completely unimpressed. Not overly athletic, not a great shooter, not a great ball handler. Sort of a jack of all trades type of player but he really is not great at anything. Too small to be an effective power forward and too slow to be an effective small forward.
20. Minnesota (Memphis) - Marshon Brooks
The combine, combined with his freakish college stats have made his stock rise dramatically.
21. Portland - Reggie Jackson
Shoots great percentages (50/42/80), scores well (18 per game), good rebounder for a point gaurd (4) and nice size at 6-3, 208. Haven't seen him play, but rumor has it that he has shot up draft boards...
22. Denver - Jordan Hamilton
A talented scorer with a nice shooting stroke. Inconsistent. Very unimpressive in the games that I watched, sometimes seemed like a bit of a loose cannon on offense and at other times wasn't aggressive at all. Seems to have good ball handling, decent defender and good shooter; the think I worry about with Hamilton is the mental aspect of the game. Looks like he could play either wing position.
23. Houston - Iman Shumpert
Another prospect I really like. Great scorer, athletic, really attacks the rim, good shooter from midrange. I think he'll be a great role player at the next level.
24. Oklahoma City - Chandler Parsons
"Measurables" pick of the year.
25. Boston - Jeremy Tyler
Someone is going to take the chance that he can develop into a good player. With his combine measurements I would not be surprised if he rose a bit, and with some good workouts he could be a candidate for that first round bubble. There is no better place for a young player like Tyler to develop than on a team with a winning culture and a good chance of being a playoff contender.
26. Dallas - Davis Bertans
Don't know much about him. Rumor has it that he is moving up draft boards, so don't be surprised if he ends up in the first round.
27. New Jersey (LA Lakers) - JaJuan Johnson
Smooth offensive player, dominating defender at the college level, lots of experience in big games. I feel like he is a lottery talent, but I doubt that he goes that high.
28. Chicago (Miami) - Charles Jenkins
Another one of the many point guards in this draft who plays more like a shooting guard. It is a toss-up of who between he, Selby, Mack and Nolan Smith become the better player (IMO), but I think Charles' skill-set lend him well to a team like the Bulls or Wizards that have a larger point guard.
29. San Antonio - Markeiff Morris
Much less impressed by him than his brother, but others disagree. A bit bigger, very physical. Could fit well on a playoff team.
30. Chicago - Tobias Harris
Overrated.
Second Round
31. Miami (Minnesota) - Darius Morris
Rising stock, but didn't rise enough.
32. Cleveland - Kenneth Faried
A fantastic rebounder and defender. Has a very good body at the college level, but has the potential to become one of the strongest players in the NBA with his wide shoulders. Great anticipation on defense, needs to work on becoming more proficient in the post.
33. Detroit (Toronto) - Travis Leslie
Athletic, tough, good rebounder and defender for a guard.
34. Washington - Jimmy Butler
Another riser, had an incredible season at Marquette, great shooter, decent all around player but lacking the skill that could make him into an above-average NBA player. Jereme Richmond
Didn't really pay all that much attention to him when he played at OSU, but I think that with his athletic ability he should make the tail-end of the first round.
35. Sacramento - Malcom Lee
Never really did anything to set himself apart from the rest of the wings available in this draft. Could go as high as the late first round and as low as the middle of the second round (fancy that).
36. New Jersey - Bojan Bogdanovic
Looking to move into the first round, maybe as high as the late lottery. Great stats in Europe, I just don't know enough about him. I've got him nailed to the Nets, if he moves it will be to #27. I think that Prok is about the only guy willing to mess with big buyouts, and Bojan, to me, sounds like he's worth it.
________________________________________________
37. LA Clippers (Detroit) - Rick Jackson
I love this kid, extremely physical, fights for every rebound, fun to watch - the perfect backup power forward.
38. Houston (LA Clippers) - Justin Harper
Good shooter for a big, spreads the floor, decent ball hanlder for a power forward (if that's where he ends up).
39. Charlotte - Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith is a bit of an enigma. He's undersized, but his scoring and shooting abilities are great. Gets overlooked because of his physical build, but good be a decent player at the next level.
40. Milwaukee - Jordan Williams
Great stats on good efficiency, a bit worried about his athleticism, but he seems to be answering some of those questions.
41. LA Lakers (Golden State) - Jon Luer
Big, good shooter and rebounder...that's about all I know...
42. Golden State (Utah) - Vernon Macklin
Best prospect left on the board, another guy I really like. Athletic with good size, great defender, no offense. He will strictly be a role player because of his offensive limitations, but he's got all the right tools to be a game-changer on defense.
43. Chicago (Phoenix) - Trey Tompkins
Has a lot of basketball skills that traditional power forwards don't have. He's a good shooter with good fundamentals when he has the ball. His physical abilities are underwhelming, but he has decent size at 6-9, 245. His value won't ever be any higher than it is now.
44. LA Clippers (Houston) - Kyle Singler
Another of those "fundamental" players. He is a good shooter, ball handler and has a very high basketball IQ - unfortunantly his physical build is fairly unimpressive.
45. Indiana - Demetri McCamey
Good ball distributor, strong and big for a point guard, can score in a variety of ways. Not overly fast or explosive, but gets the job done. Could really rise in the coming weeks based on his workouts.
________________________________________________
46. New Orleans (Philadelphia) - Nikola Mirotic
Doesn't sound like he'll come to the NBA, that should be enough to drop him into the second round.
47. LA Lakers (New York) - Shelvin Mack
Really strong for a point guard, great shooter with range. He gets his shot off very quickly, is good at using his wide frame to create space and can get into the painted area and finish. Questionable potential as a "true" point guard.
48. Atlanta - Keith Benson
Freakish stats, didn't look like a 'special' player when I saw him play (once).
49. Philadelphia (New Orleans) - Jereme Richmond
Huge value pick late in the draft.
50. Memphis - David Lighty
Very inconsistent shooter, but good defender and athlete. Not a lottery type prospect, 5th year senior so he is quite old for just entering the NBA, which leads to the question of whether or not his game will transfer over well but he has little room for growth. Seems a bit undersized but makes up for it with his strength.
51. Portland - Mathew Bryan-Ammaning
Athletic big with decent size and a nice skill-set. Could be a big riser in the draft if he proves he has a bit more polish on offense than he showed in college.
52. Detroit (Denver) - Bill Clark
Could be a bit of a surprise in the draft. Great shooter, decent size for a guard, looks like a decent role player.
53. Orlando - Cory Joseph
Good shooter who looks like a pure point guard. His problem is not going to be his ability to run an offense but being a point guard that sticks out from all the others out there, and whether or not he has enough passion and skill to fight for a starting spot.
54. Cleveland (OKC) - Jamie Skeen
Slow, but pretty talented with a nice jumper and great strength. Likely to rise a bit in this draft.
________________________________________________
55. Boston - Diante Garret
Another value pick late in the draft. Could go a bit higher come draft night, but this year is just full of point guards.
56. Dallas - Justin Holiday
I'll buy the draft express hype. Givony is pretty good at pegging second rounders, so I think that Holiday has a good chance of getting drafted. Didn't impress me in college, but there are a lot of players who didn't impress me and end up doing well.
57. LA Lakers - Xavi Rabeseda
LA will need to do some "draft and stash" if they keep this many picks, so I just randomly inserted a guy with a cool looking name.
58. LA Lakers - Gary McGhee
McGhee has one good NBA skill, his rebounding. For a team lacking center depth he could be a good option in the second round.
59. San Antonio - Evan Fournier
A typical late San Antonio pick is to pick a young foreign player no one has on their radar and let them develop for several years overseas....so why not do it again?
60. San Antonio - Michael Dunnigan
Know nothing about him, but see above.
Bubble:
Jamine Peterson
My pick for biggest steal of the draft, I love what this kid does. This is what I wrote about him last year: "Very good rebounder (11 per game) for his size (6-6). Has the potential to add a lot of muscle to his frame. An extremely good jumper. Quick in the post but still needs some work on his shooting (34% from college 3), some minor adjustments could make him an inside-out threat at power forward. He has had a pair of 20+ rebound games this year. Will most likely stay in school in order to make himself into a first round pick."
E'Twan Moore
Good scorer in college, but I don't think he really has what it takes in the NBA.
Isaiah Thomas
Fun to watch, gets inside well, great athlete. As many have mentioned, he's a 5-8 shooting guard.
Kris Joseph
Poor shooter, good defender - tough..... The way he plays without Wesley Johnson gone and the focus of the defense on him will have a huge impact on his draft stock. Expected by many to establish himself as a potential lottery pick, and he just didn't do it.
Scotty Hopson
I love his aggressiveness and the way he gets to the rim. Not a bad shooter, but his main value is what he can do with his athleticism.
Corey Fisher
Admittedly I have caught him in his best performances, but boy is he exciting when he is hot. He is a very small point guard, but is also fairly quick and great at creating separation. Great shooter and penetrator; he is faster than most point guards at the college level, but I don’t know that he is fast enough at the NBA level. Needs to get a bit stronger and he should have a good transition to the NBA. Very good shooting form, but still room to improve (elbow goes out to the side a bit).
Cade Davis
Fanstastic shooter, great athlete and defender. He is a senior so his ceiling isn't as high as players drafter earlier, but I think he can be a fantastic player, especially if he slips through the cracks into the second round. This is my homer pick of the year (Sooners fan).
Bryan Qvale
Good "fundamentals" player. Great rebounder, good finisher inside, softish hands, can spread the floor....not coordinated at all.
Josh Harrellson
See above.
Tim Abromitas
One of the purest shooters I have ever seen. Quick, smooth release, nothing shaky. Outside of his jump-shot he really isn't anything special. He's a bit slow to play small forward, and too light to play power forward. I see him as a Steve Novak type player.
A line indicates points in the draft where I feel there is a clear talent drop off, or a group of players that likely won't rise past "x" point (for example, I think Irving is a lock for the first pick, but others have a strong case as well). I could easily envision these players going in the complete opposite order within their range (for example, Knight between 5-8).
First Round
1. Cleveland - Kyrie Irving
Someone up top will need a point guard, Irving is looking like the best one in the class of 2011 at this point. He is an explosive athlete and has good shooting mechanics. Amazing ball handler with great end-to-end speed and anticipation.
Why Cleveland? Kyrie is a consensus #1 pick.
NBA Comparison: Mike Conley
________________________________________________
2. Minnesota - Derrick Williams
I've got a bit of a revised opinion on Williams because of the lead up to the draft process and a few additional games I was able to watch. I've warmed up on him quite a bit, but I still don't think that he is super-star material. What I do see, however, is a player that has a wide variety of skills including nice post moves and an effective - albeit unorthodox - jumper. He reminds be very much of what Paul Millsap has morphed into, an athletic do-it-all forward who can rebound and step out to hit the three point shot at a good rate despite how ugly his jumper is.
Why Minnesota? I don't think they keep the pick.
NBA Comparison: Paul Millsap
3. Utah - Brandon Knight
Another player that I have really changed my opinion on throughout workouts and through watching some additional footage. I really love his jumpshot and instincts on the defensive end. Those are two skills that will ensure that he sticks in the league. What I don't like are some of his poor decisions on the court and his sometimes poor ball handling with his right hand. I think he can weed out some of those bad habits, though I still think he will be turnover prone as a point guard.
NBA Comparison: Mike Bibby
4. Cleveland - Enes Kanter
The year of the European bigs. Kanter is a very polished interior player with a variety of post moves and a nose for the ball. Not explosive or huge, but athletic enough to get the job done as a "true post." Very limited amount of video with him, so a lot of this is based on "gut first impressions."
Why Cleveland? I think Enes has the most potential out of this entire draft class.
NBA Comparison: Not Al Horford
________________________________________________
5. Toronto - Bismack Biyombo
Cool name. Respectable stats in the ACB. I think everyone heard about the triple double in the Hoops Summit, that exposure should really boost his draft stock. He has better court awareness that what I expected, he gets his body on a man when he boxes out, he sets good screens - but he also seems to get lost on offense (he's a great athlete, though). I have seen a very limited amount of this kid.
Why Detroit? I think he is a good fit with Monroe.
NBA Comparison: Clueless
6. Washington - Kawhi Leonard
Good rebounder and he has a knack for getting steals. Really hustles when he is on the court, great athlete. Reminds me a bit of Dante Cunningham. Will fit into an uptempo team because of his ball handling abilities. Not really a scorer and his jump shot is god-awful.
Why Sacramento? 1. Rumors 2. They need a good small forward 3. They are short on defenders.
NBA Comparison: Early career Gerald Wallace
7. Sacramento - Tristian Thompson
Athletic, strong, looks like he'll be a good player. Very raw on offense but is a decent finisher around the rim. Will mostly be a complimentary player on offense his first few years, at best a 4th or 5th option.
NBA Comparison: Brandon Bass
8. Detroit - Kemba Walker
A gifted scorer, as a great ability to create separation and get his shot off, very fast and has very good ball handling abilities. A volume shooter and not the best distributer, these are areas that he has to improve in, but I think that he can do it. Great free throw shooter. Warming up to him as a top ten pick, but I think that if he goes top 5 he's going to be a big disappointment.
NBA Comparison: Ty Lawson
________________________________________________
9. Charlotte - Jonas Valanciunas
Big and young. Scouts will drool over his potential. He looks like a decent player to me, but he needs to bulk up (about 15 pounds) to really be effective in the NBA. He's not a plodder like some centers, but he also isn't extremely athletic or mobile like Tyson Chandler, etc.
Why Charlotte? All the best players left have huge question marks, so draft for size and potential.
NBA Comparison: Sort of reminds me of Marc Gasol.....through very limited amounts of video I have been able to see from him.
10. Milwaukee - Alec Burks
Jump shot looks better than shooting percentage implies. Goes after rebounds hard, good at recognizing where the ball will go. Great passer and ball handler – his teammates are so inept that his assist numbers are lower than what they should be…seems to be an above average defender despite what is being said.
Why the Bucks? Burks brings the scoring punch they lack, and if Salmons plays well could fit well next to him.
NBA Comparison: Again, clueless. I know what he does well but still haven't fingered a player I really think is similar.
11. Golden State - Klay Thompson
About the only decent wing left at this point in the draft. Really great shooter and scorer but lacks athleticism and has been a liability on defense throughout his college career. In the NBA these strengths will be punctuated. I firmly believe that Klay is the best shooting guard in the draft.
Why Golden State? I think Leonard makes the most sense, but he's not going to be there when the Warriors draft.
NBA Comparison: Kevin Martin
12. Utah - Donatus Motiejunas
Has great length and height. Needs to pack some muscle on his frame to become a true threat in the post. Will get knocked around his first couple of years in the NBA, but with the right conditioning could become a threat. Has really upped his stock after the 2010 draft, which is something that I didn't expect to happen. He's so incredibly skilled, he's mobile and he can shoot. He doesn't take great care of the ball (has a tendency to let it get poked out), but he looks like a very good offensive player. I also wonder if his defensive struggles aren't overexagerated. He's really skinny, and I think with his build he should play power forward (narrow shoulders a la Dirk) but once he adds enough weight to hold position in the post with his height he should be fairly decent. This, again, is from a limited amount of video.
Why Utah? 1. Size 2. Potential 3. Rumors.
NBA Comparison: The 1,000th Dirk comparison
13. Phoenix - Jimmer Fredette
One of the most cerebral scorers in the NCAA. Has a great feel for the game. Fantastic distrubuter, great shooter. The most impressing aspect of his game to me is the way in which he can change directions. His defense is questionable, but he is such a good offensive player and so smart that I can't see him out of the lottery in any draft.
Why the Suns? Jimmer just makes sense, and in my mind, has great upside, and awful lot more than Kemba.
NBA Comparison: Stephen Curry
14. Houston - Jan Vesely
he's more of a small forward than a power forward. He's got great instincts moving without the ball, he is a great athlete and he has the potential to be a very good player. His ability to catch the ball could be a bit of an issue as he appears not to have the softest touch around.
Why Washington? They already have enough guys that can score the ball, they need players who can defend now, and I think Jan should do extremely well as a hybrid 3/4 in an uptempo system.
NBA Comparison: Andrei Kirilenko
________________________________________________
15. Indiana - Marcus Morris
One of the most physical players in college basketball. Has great instincts on defense and is a very good player on offense with his footwork and effort around the basket. Decent jumper, the position he translates to is still in question.
16. Philadelphia - Nikola Vucevic
He's incredibly strong for a college player, and he relies on it a bit too much, but he also is a very good shooter and he's got a great wingspan. His post game is also very highly developed and he is a great rebounder.
17. New York - Josh Selby
Has really great potential for being this far back in the draft. Scores in bunches but was not very efficient at Kansas this past year - could be a result of the system and the fact that he missed a large chunk of the season. Shooting guard in a point guard's body.
________________________________________________
18. Washington (Atlanta) - Chris Singleton
His defense is fantastic, he's a good athlete, he has the potential to be one of the top defenders in the league, but I am afraid his offense (or lack thereof) won't transfer well.
Why? He fits in immediately with their core.
NBA Comparison: Thabo Sefelosha
19. Charlotte (New Orleans) - Tyler Honeycutt
Have been completely unimpressed. Not overly athletic, not a great shooter, not a great ball handler. Sort of a jack of all trades type of player but he really is not great at anything. Too small to be an effective power forward and too slow to be an effective small forward.
20. Minnesota (Memphis) - Marshon Brooks
The combine, combined with his freakish college stats have made his stock rise dramatically.
21. Portland - Reggie Jackson
Shoots great percentages (50/42/80), scores well (18 per game), good rebounder for a point gaurd (4) and nice size at 6-3, 208. Haven't seen him play, but rumor has it that he has shot up draft boards...
22. Denver - Jordan Hamilton
A talented scorer with a nice shooting stroke. Inconsistent. Very unimpressive in the games that I watched, sometimes seemed like a bit of a loose cannon on offense and at other times wasn't aggressive at all. Seems to have good ball handling, decent defender and good shooter; the think I worry about with Hamilton is the mental aspect of the game. Looks like he could play either wing position.
23. Houston - Iman Shumpert
Another prospect I really like. Great scorer, athletic, really attacks the rim, good shooter from midrange. I think he'll be a great role player at the next level.
24. Oklahoma City - Chandler Parsons
"Measurables" pick of the year.
25. Boston - Jeremy Tyler
Someone is going to take the chance that he can develop into a good player. With his combine measurements I would not be surprised if he rose a bit, and with some good workouts he could be a candidate for that first round bubble. There is no better place for a young player like Tyler to develop than on a team with a winning culture and a good chance of being a playoff contender.
26. Dallas - Davis Bertans
Don't know much about him. Rumor has it that he is moving up draft boards, so don't be surprised if he ends up in the first round.
27. New Jersey (LA Lakers) - JaJuan Johnson
Smooth offensive player, dominating defender at the college level, lots of experience in big games. I feel like he is a lottery talent, but I doubt that he goes that high.
28. Chicago (Miami) - Charles Jenkins
Another one of the many point guards in this draft who plays more like a shooting guard. It is a toss-up of who between he, Selby, Mack and Nolan Smith become the better player (IMO), but I think Charles' skill-set lend him well to a team like the Bulls or Wizards that have a larger point guard.
29. San Antonio - Markeiff Morris
Much less impressed by him than his brother, but others disagree. A bit bigger, very physical. Could fit well on a playoff team.
30. Chicago - Tobias Harris
Overrated.
Second Round
31. Miami (Minnesota) - Darius Morris
Rising stock, but didn't rise enough.
32. Cleveland - Kenneth Faried
A fantastic rebounder and defender. Has a very good body at the college level, but has the potential to become one of the strongest players in the NBA with his wide shoulders. Great anticipation on defense, needs to work on becoming more proficient in the post.
33. Detroit (Toronto) - Travis Leslie
Athletic, tough, good rebounder and defender for a guard.
34. Washington - Jimmy Butler
Another riser, had an incredible season at Marquette, great shooter, decent all around player but lacking the skill that could make him into an above-average NBA player. Jereme Richmond
Didn't really pay all that much attention to him when he played at OSU, but I think that with his athletic ability he should make the tail-end of the first round.
35. Sacramento - Malcom Lee
Never really did anything to set himself apart from the rest of the wings available in this draft. Could go as high as the late first round and as low as the middle of the second round (fancy that).
36. New Jersey - Bojan Bogdanovic
Looking to move into the first round, maybe as high as the late lottery. Great stats in Europe, I just don't know enough about him. I've got him nailed to the Nets, if he moves it will be to #27. I think that Prok is about the only guy willing to mess with big buyouts, and Bojan, to me, sounds like he's worth it.
________________________________________________
37. LA Clippers (Detroit) - Rick Jackson
I love this kid, extremely physical, fights for every rebound, fun to watch - the perfect backup power forward.
38. Houston (LA Clippers) - Justin Harper
Good shooter for a big, spreads the floor, decent ball hanlder for a power forward (if that's where he ends up).
39. Charlotte - Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith is a bit of an enigma. He's undersized, but his scoring and shooting abilities are great. Gets overlooked because of his physical build, but good be a decent player at the next level.
40. Milwaukee - Jordan Williams
Great stats on good efficiency, a bit worried about his athleticism, but he seems to be answering some of those questions.
41. LA Lakers (Golden State) - Jon Luer
Big, good shooter and rebounder...that's about all I know...
42. Golden State (Utah) - Vernon Macklin
Best prospect left on the board, another guy I really like. Athletic with good size, great defender, no offense. He will strictly be a role player because of his offensive limitations, but he's got all the right tools to be a game-changer on defense.
43. Chicago (Phoenix) - Trey Tompkins
Has a lot of basketball skills that traditional power forwards don't have. He's a good shooter with good fundamentals when he has the ball. His physical abilities are underwhelming, but he has decent size at 6-9, 245. His value won't ever be any higher than it is now.
44. LA Clippers (Houston) - Kyle Singler
Another of those "fundamental" players. He is a good shooter, ball handler and has a very high basketball IQ - unfortunantly his physical build is fairly unimpressive.
45. Indiana - Demetri McCamey
Good ball distributor, strong and big for a point guard, can score in a variety of ways. Not overly fast or explosive, but gets the job done. Could really rise in the coming weeks based on his workouts.
________________________________________________
46. New Orleans (Philadelphia) - Nikola Mirotic
Doesn't sound like he'll come to the NBA, that should be enough to drop him into the second round.
47. LA Lakers (New York) - Shelvin Mack
Really strong for a point guard, great shooter with range. He gets his shot off very quickly, is good at using his wide frame to create space and can get into the painted area and finish. Questionable potential as a "true" point guard.
48. Atlanta - Keith Benson
Freakish stats, didn't look like a 'special' player when I saw him play (once).
49. Philadelphia (New Orleans) - Jereme Richmond
Huge value pick late in the draft.
50. Memphis - David Lighty
Very inconsistent shooter, but good defender and athlete. Not a lottery type prospect, 5th year senior so he is quite old for just entering the NBA, which leads to the question of whether or not his game will transfer over well but he has little room for growth. Seems a bit undersized but makes up for it with his strength.
51. Portland - Mathew Bryan-Ammaning
Athletic big with decent size and a nice skill-set. Could be a big riser in the draft if he proves he has a bit more polish on offense than he showed in college.
52. Detroit (Denver) - Bill Clark
Could be a bit of a surprise in the draft. Great shooter, decent size for a guard, looks like a decent role player.
53. Orlando - Cory Joseph
Good shooter who looks like a pure point guard. His problem is not going to be his ability to run an offense but being a point guard that sticks out from all the others out there, and whether or not he has enough passion and skill to fight for a starting spot.
54. Cleveland (OKC) - Jamie Skeen
Slow, but pretty talented with a nice jumper and great strength. Likely to rise a bit in this draft.
________________________________________________
55. Boston - Diante Garret
Another value pick late in the draft. Could go a bit higher come draft night, but this year is just full of point guards.
56. Dallas - Justin Holiday
I'll buy the draft express hype. Givony is pretty good at pegging second rounders, so I think that Holiday has a good chance of getting drafted. Didn't impress me in college, but there are a lot of players who didn't impress me and end up doing well.
57. LA Lakers - Xavi Rabeseda
LA will need to do some "draft and stash" if they keep this many picks, so I just randomly inserted a guy with a cool looking name.
58. LA Lakers - Gary McGhee
McGhee has one good NBA skill, his rebounding. For a team lacking center depth he could be a good option in the second round.
59. San Antonio - Evan Fournier
A typical late San Antonio pick is to pick a young foreign player no one has on their radar and let them develop for several years overseas....so why not do it again?
60. San Antonio - Michael Dunnigan
Know nothing about him, but see above.
Bubble:
Jamine Peterson
My pick for biggest steal of the draft, I love what this kid does. This is what I wrote about him last year: "Very good rebounder (11 per game) for his size (6-6). Has the potential to add a lot of muscle to his frame. An extremely good jumper. Quick in the post but still needs some work on his shooting (34% from college 3), some minor adjustments could make him an inside-out threat at power forward. He has had a pair of 20+ rebound games this year. Will most likely stay in school in order to make himself into a first round pick."
E'Twan Moore
Good scorer in college, but I don't think he really has what it takes in the NBA.
Isaiah Thomas
Fun to watch, gets inside well, great athlete. As many have mentioned, he's a 5-8 shooting guard.
Kris Joseph
Poor shooter, good defender - tough..... The way he plays without Wesley Johnson gone and the focus of the defense on him will have a huge impact on his draft stock. Expected by many to establish himself as a potential lottery pick, and he just didn't do it.
Scotty Hopson
I love his aggressiveness and the way he gets to the rim. Not a bad shooter, but his main value is what he can do with his athleticism.
Corey Fisher
Admittedly I have caught him in his best performances, but boy is he exciting when he is hot. He is a very small point guard, but is also fairly quick and great at creating separation. Great shooter and penetrator; he is faster than most point guards at the college level, but I don’t know that he is fast enough at the NBA level. Needs to get a bit stronger and he should have a good transition to the NBA. Very good shooting form, but still room to improve (elbow goes out to the side a bit).
Cade Davis
Fanstastic shooter, great athlete and defender. He is a senior so his ceiling isn't as high as players drafter earlier, but I think he can be a fantastic player, especially if he slips through the cracks into the second round. This is my homer pick of the year (Sooners fan).
Bryan Qvale
Good "fundamentals" player. Great rebounder, good finisher inside, softish hands, can spread the floor....not coordinated at all.
Josh Harrellson
See above.
Tim Abromitas
One of the purest shooters I have ever seen. Quick, smooth release, nothing shaky. Outside of his jump-shot he really isn't anything special. He's a bit slow to play small forward, and too light to play power forward. I see him as a Steve Novak type player.
I just can't get them straight in my head, so I mine as well call them brothers. I know I have seen both this year too, but obviously I wasn't impressed enough to really care 