NBA 2011 Mock Draft: The ULTIMATE EDITION

   Well, it has certainly been a while hasn't it? I even forgot I had a blog for a while, mainly because I sort of abandoned ship due to a lack of readership compared to time invested and the whole "Decision" debacle derailing the Rodger Bramley sports-hype train.

   Before I get started with the actual article, I'd like to fill you in about my life real quickly. I graduated, finally, and will be attending Ohio University in the Fall. There I will study journalism and try to bring this passion for sports and writing of mine into some sort of career. I'm still just as obsessed with the Cavs, and in ways I actually like them more because of the underdog spirit and scrappy demeanor they've picked up. The Cavs this year, while nowhere near as good, embody Cleveland in a much more fuller sense than the teams of recent memory. The Mavericks beat the Heat, and for one (or more depending on the lockout, but let's hope they can handle their business) year, sanity remained in the NBA. For all the lunacy and hype during the season, team basketball won the only real important basketball milestone of the year.

     Enough rambling, though. The basketball gods smiled on our hometown Cavs and landed us the first and fourth pick in this Thursday's draft. While this draft has been labeled as one of the weakest in recent memory, as far as franchise-altering talent goes, it's actually pretty strong in overall talent. Expect a lot of contributors, solid starters, and maybe three all-stars out of this group. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a franchise talent. That's what the Cavs are hoping, and with one and four, fans should at least expect to have two of the five positions filled for the foreseeable future. Couple this with the trade exception and a couple of expendable players (Jamison, Sessions) and the future looks surprisingly bright. And if all else fails we can give Nick Gilbert the Wilt Chamberlain goggles and stick him in the post, "what's not to like?"

This is how the mock will work. First, I will list my picks for the picks, 1-30. Then if you want to keep reading I will do a breakdown of the picks later on and spend some time addressing what it is I believe the Cavs should do and what their options are. 

"With the 1st pick..."

1. Cavs: Kyrie Irving, Pg, Duke
2. Timberwolves*: Derrick Williams, Sf/Pf, Arizona
3. Jazz: Brandon Knight, Pg, Kentucky
4. Cavs: Enes Kanter, C, Turkey 
5. Raptors: Kemba Walker, Pg, Uconn
6. Wizards: Kawhi Leonard, Sf, San Diego State
7. Kings: Jimmer Fredette, Pg, BYU
8. Pistons: Jonas Valenciunas, C, Lithuania
9. Bobcats: Tristan Thompson, Pf, Texas
10. Bucks: Alec Burks, Sg, Colorado
11. Warriors: Klay Thompson, Sg, Washington St.
12. Jazz: Chris Singleton, Sf, Florida St.
13. Suns: Jan Vesely, Sf/Pf, Czech Republic
14. Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas, Pf, Lithuania
15. Pacers: Marshon Brooks, Sg, 
16. 76'ers: Marcus Morris, Sf/Pf, Kansas
17. Knicks: Bismack Biyombo, Pf/C, Congo
18. Wizards: Markieff Morris, Pf, Kansas
19. Bobcats: Jordan Hamilton, Sg, Texas
20. Timberwolves: Tyler Honeycutt, Sg, UCLA
21. Trailblazers: Tobias Harris, Sg/Sf/Pf, Tennessee
22. Nuggets: Kenneth Faried, Pf, Morehead St.
23. Rockets: Josh Selby: Pg/Sg, Kansas
24. Thunder: Reggie Jackson, Pg/Sg, Boston College
25. Celtics: Trey Thompkins, Pf, Georgia
26. Mavericks: JaJuan Johnson, Pf/C, Purdue
27. Nets: Davis Bertrans, Sf, Latvia
28. Bulls: Darius Morris, Pg, Michigan
29. Spurs: Justin Harper, Sf/Pf, Richmond
30. Bulls: Nikola Vucevic, Pf/C, USC

Pick-by-Pick, Move-by-Move, I'm a fa-cil-i-tat-or

The First Pick - Kyrie Irving

Yesterday it was leaked that the Cavs were committing to taking the 6'4 Point out of Duke University. With Kyrie, we all know what the concern is, in the way that we barely know anything about him. But the Cavs do, as he only worked out for them. 

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2010-2011	Duke	27.5	17.5	3.4	4.3	2.5	1.74	1.5	0.5	2.1	0.529	0.901	0.462	1.85
Per Game	Duke	27.5	17.5	3.4	4.3	2.5	1.74	1.5	0.5	2.1	0.529	0.901	0.462	1.85

Those stats look pretty nice, but the major red flag here is that they only came in eleven games. When he did play, though, he was dominant. So dominant that he cause a top-three finished for the Naismith trophy in Nolan Smith, to completely lose his spotlight. When Irving went down, Smith took off and lit up the NCAA, but when Irving came back, he became timid and seemed to defer to Kyrie. Senior leaders generally do not do that and it speaks volumes to the hope that Duke put into their fab-frosh. 

On the pro level, he compares to a Chris Paul type. He's not Chris Paul, and truthfully does not compare that well to any point in the league right now, but he is a pure passer. He's a floor general, leader, and possesses all the intangibles you need a point guard to have. Kyrie can shoot the three at a good clip already, has a great pull-up jumper and an array of floaters that make him much more effective in the paint than his athleticism would suggest. He was one of the fastest players in college last year and while he won't dunk over anyone of drop your jaw, he will win games.

The Second Pick - Derrick Williams*

First of all, I am a FIRM believer that the Timberwolves should be trading this pick. Hopefully, to the Cavs, but who knows. They have Michael Beasley, who a lot of people already compare to Williams, And Kevin Love. Those two are the only fixtures on Minnesota and they play the two positions that Williams will fit in between. Also, I am not a believer in college players who don't project well to a big man position in the NBA. They generally don't pan out. But, what Williams does have going for him that the Anthony Randolph's and Brenden Wright's never had, is a huge amount of skill. He shot 61% from three in college, ridiculous. He has defensive instincts, offensive skill, AND jaw-dropping athleticism. Simply put, he's a beast that could defy conventionality. We could very well be looking at the next proto-type NBA player. But still, 20ppg and 8rpg in the NBA is a lot easier to come by than you would think, and it remains to be seen if he can carry a team.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-10	Arizona	28.2	15.7	7.1	0.7	1.9	0.37	0.6	0.6	2.5	0.574	0.681	0.250	1.72
2010-11	Arizona	30.0	19.5	8.3	1.1	2.6	0.43	1.0	0.7	2.8	0.595	0.746	0.568	1.95
PerGame		29.2	17.8	7.7	0.9	2.0	0.41	0.8	0.7	2.7	0.586	0.719	0.511	1.85

The Timberwolves could also get a handsome return for this pick, because while Williams is the best player available, he does not fit here AT ALL

The Third Pick - Brandon Knight

All that Jazz and more, baby! Sorry for that, but Brandon Knight really is a multi-dimensional monstrosity. He's a beast, a wizard, a clutch virtuoso...one game. The next game, he goes 2-12 and throws up 6 points and 4 assists. If he can harness the genius part of his game and replicate it over and over again, Brandon Knight will be the best player in this draft class. If he doesn't, then he isn't worth the third pick. That's the beauty and danger of upside, folks. Destroying drafts and building franchises overnight since Dirk Nowitzki was shooting jumpers off of mountains.

Back to Knight, here's his stats -

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2010-2011	UK	35.9	17.3	4.0	4.2	3.2	1.33	0.7	0.2	2.2	0.423	0.795	0.377	1.28
Per Game	UK	35.9	17.3	4.0	4.2	3.2	1.33	0.7	0.2	2.2	0.423	0.795	0.377	1.28

Very solid, but the numbers lie here. What you need to know about Knight is that he was nonexistent in the first round of the tourney, threw up 30 in the next game, and then buried OSU and disappeared (into the Knight) again. The Jazz need a long-term and dynamic answer at point though, so enter Brandon Knight.

The Fourth Pick - Enes Kanter

KANTER SMASH!

Suspended from his entire college season because he had been getting dollars from his Turkish Club for a while, Kanter is perhaps the largest enigma in this draft. But the Cavs are certainly feeling the 6'10 big, as evidenced by his TWO workouts with the team. The stigma with international prospects is that they play soft, but Kanter does not. He bangs in the low post, hits the glass hard, and has a very developed post game similar to Luis Scola. He plays above his height, and is certainly an upgrade over Ryan Hollins...


There are no stats for him, but his career highlight so far is a 34 point effort in the Nike youth hoops summit. The noticable part of that line is twofold: one - it's a record. Two - he posted it on Jared Sullinger, who probably would have been drafted over Kanter had he declared. There are some knee concerns with him, but if the Cavs staff clears him, he's cleared with me. This draft could land the Cavs with the 1 and 5 of the future, the two building blocks for any great team. You just don't pass on the best big man prospect in the draft, especially when he dominates everybody in workouts like Kanter has been doing.

The Fifth Pick - Kemba Walker

Toronto does not really need a point guard, they need Jan Vesely. But, there is no way they take another international, it just won't happen. The history is too bad. So instead they go with the baddest man in college basketball, Kemba. All Kemba does is win, he's a bulldog. He is ridiculously clutch and is a better passer than most realize. He's very, very quick, too. He may not be a pure point but you cannot argue against his pedigree.

 He fits with the Raptors, too, because Kemba is one of a few players who has what I call "franchiseability". Charisma, swag, flashy game, and more swag. Kemba interviews well, will move jerseys well, and put up a lot of points while dropping a lot of jaws. He may never be able to beat his height, but players like Allen Iverson did, and even players like Nate Robinson, who never end up being that good, are still endearing. Everyone likes to cheer on the little guys, and the Raptors may be fortunate enough to land a little guy with a huge game. He could even make the Raptors relevant again, a pretty tall order in itself.

The Sixth Pick - Kawhi Leonard

Today's lesson. If you are ridiculously athletic and have a large wingspan, you will be drafted high.

I don't like Leonard at all. I think he is nothing more than a hyper-athletic prospect who is getting drafter because of the combine. I saw a lot more of him bricking jumpers and seeming completely lost on offense than I did his combine best hands and massive vertical throwing down windmill jams. He is a great defensive player, and an incredibly skilled rebounder for the small forward position. There is a large chance that he never becomes anything more than a rebounder, which isn't all that bad when you consider the Wizards roster. Andray Blatche doesn't rebound well, so covering that up at the small forward position makes sense. What concerns me, though, is that a sixth pick is not worth a rebounder.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-10	SDState	31.3	12.7	9.9	1.9	2.3	0.84	1.4	0.7	2.5	0.455	0.726	0.205	1.19
2010-11	SDState	32.6	15.5	10.6	2.5	2.1	1.20	1.4	0.6	2.5	0.444	0.759	0.291	1.17
PerGame		31.9	14.1	10.2	2.2	2.2	1.02	1.48	0.6	2.5	0.449	0.744	0.250	1.18

The Seventh Pick - Jimmer Fredette

IT'S THE JIMMERVISION TIME

The basketball Tebow/god, Jimmer. I'm in the Jimmer camp, and apparently, so are the Jazz. They reportedly "Love" him after his workout with the team. I can't blame him, he's the American hero of the year as far as basketball goes. Everyone knows by now, ridiculous shooter, unlimited range. But he can't defend, right? Well he is actually in the top ten in lateral quickness in the draft, which is the major tool you need for perimeter defense. He took too many shots, right? Well when you play for BYU and your only other semi-talented player violates the code, who else do you want shooting? I want Jimmer shooting or assisting on every basketball points that team scores that tourney, no matter how against team spirit it may be. 

Jimmer Fredette Stat Summary:

Season	GP	MPG	PPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	APG	RPG	BPG	SPG
2010-11	37	35.757	28.865	45.2	39.6	89.4	4.324	3.432	0.027	1.324
2009-10	34	31.147	22.088	45.8	44.0	89.2	4.676	3.088	0.147	1.206
2008-09	33	33.03	16.242	48.0	38.2	84.7	4.091	2.97	0.091	1.515
2007-08	35	18.5	7.0	40.7	33.6	85.4	1.7	1.1	0.1	0.8
Career	139	29.6	18.7	45.4	39.3	88.1	3.7	2.6	0.1	1.2

So Jimmer actually has the tools to be a decent defender. He is a very good passer, a fact overshadowed only because of his tremendous scoring ability. I liken him to a Steve Nash, but instead of being a wizard passing and a sniper, Jimmer is a wizard shooting and an above-average passer. He is very crafty as a player and a great slasher. he showed that against Florida, when he was basically triple or more teamed and got into the lane with an assortment of solid handles and crafty finishing moves. Jimmer simply can't be stopped, he's too good. He will find ways to get 20-30ppg in the NBA. How effective he is and what his contributions to wins and losses are is the major question. In this draft class, he is a steal, in my opinion.

The Eight Pick - Jonas Valenciunas

The Pistons need a backcourt buddy for Greg Monroe. They find one in Jonas Valenciunas. He's 6'11, maybe a 7-footer. Not a soft euro either, he has a developing post game and is a very athletic prospect. There isn't a ton out there on him, because Jonas is just a puppy. He's only nineteen though and plays really well within himself, and he has the motor and work ethic that every prospect filed under the upside category needs to ever be more than a bust.

SUMMARY
T EAM	G	MIN	PTS	2FGP	3FGP	FT	RO	RD	RT	AS	PF	BS	ST	TO
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius	15	224	115	46-65	0-0	23-26	27	60	87	3	46	10	3	21
AVERAGE
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius	15	14.9	7.7	70.8%	0.0%	88.5%	1.8	4.0	5.8	0.2	3.1	0.7	0.2	1.4

What really stands out here is that 71% field goal percentage. He works so close to the rim (he's deadly within 12 feet) and makes good decisions for such a young man. He fits really well with the Pistons, the only concern I can see is that he has a $3 million buyout with his euro team and if I am correct, a team can only buyout $500,000 of a contract. What this means is you won't be seeing Jonas for a few years

The Ninth Pick - Tristan Thompson

Meet Tristan Thompson, the first of many draft prospects who should be synonymous with wingspan. A lot of mocks complain about him being only 6'8, which is undersized for a power forward, but guys like Paul Milsap have embarrassed scouts over height for years now anyway. And about that wingspan, he has a 7'1 wingspan, the same as Enes Kanter, the top CENTER prospect in the draft. I haven't met any sound defensive player who plays with the hands down to contest shots, so Tristan will be fine here.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2010-2011	Texas	30.9	13.1	7.8	1.3	1.8	0.70	0.9	2.4	2.8	0.546	0.487	0.000	1.50
Per Game	Texas	30.9	13.1	7.8	1.3	1.8	0.70	0.9	2.4	2.8	0.546	0.487	0.000	1.50

He has a McDonald's menu offensive game. I stole this idea from Bill Simmons, who talked about Kevin McHale and his "panda express" post game, because he had a ton of choices and they were all great options. Well the McDonald's menu describes Tristan's offensive game completely because he has some staples that aren't flashy, but are effective, like the dollar menu. His hookshot is the chicken mcnugget, if you will. He does all the technical things extremely well in the paint and the post, but outside of there, he's lost. He may never develop that outside game, but with his post efficiency, he may be able to survive without it. Charlotte needs a gifted offensive post in an almost tragic way, and he fills the need. As long as he figures out to shoot more than 49% from the charity stripe, that is. 

The Tenth Pick - Alec Burks

This is the sleeper pick of the draft.

Analysts say that there is no such thing outside of the top two picks this year that can be considered a sure thing. I disagree. Alec Burks out of Colorado, a 6'6 2-guard, is a sure thing. This is tall Monta Ellis, or a still athletic Brandon Roy. He has great size for his position and the only knock on him is his less than consistent jump shot. But he has shown improvement in that area and has the work ethic to get better year by year.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-10	Colorado	30.2	17.1	5.0	1.8	1.9	0.91	1.2	0.4	2.5	0.538	0.772	0.352	1.60
2010-11	Colorado	31.4	20.5	6.5	2.9	2.6	1.13	1.1	0.3	2.3	0.469	0.825	0.292	1.46
PerGame		30.9	19.0	5.8	2.4	2.5	1.0	1.1	0.4	2.4	0.495	0.804	0.313	1.51

His defense isn't great, but his offense is. He can get his own shot already, has tight handles that let him get where he wants to on the court, and passes surprisingly well. I love Burks as a prospect, and he will fit in next to Brandon Jennings perfectly, if Milwaukee has enough sense to keep him there. What flashy point doesn't like tossing oops to a dunker of Burks' prospect?

The Eleventh Pick - Klay Thompson

The pros with Thompson: Sweet stroking shooting fiend, can drop buckets from anywhere. Other than Jimmer, he may be the best shooter in the draft. He has great height too, at 6'7. The con is that he is not really suited to the Warrior's style, but, Curry was never highly regarded as an athlete and he worked out pretty well for the Warriors. With Monta Ellis most likely headed out of town, Klay steps in to the two spot as a complimentary shooter to Curry.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	WSU	33.1	12.5	4.2	1.9	2.1	.89	.9	.6	2.0	.421	.903	.412	1.10
2009-2010	WSU	35.4	19.6	5.1	2.3	3.4	.67	1.4	.7	2.4	.412	.801	.364	1.26
2010-2011	WSU	34.7	21.6	5.2	3.7	3.4	1.10	1.6	.9	2.9	.436	.838	.398	1.33

He squares to the basket well, has a fluid shot motion, and can get hot and seem like he can make anything. When he isn't hot, he can just make most things. The Warriors wish Burks was here, but end up happy with Thompson.

The Twelfth Pick - Chris Singleton

I may be the only mock draft out there that has this pick. It makes too much sense, I don't care what the other mocks say here. Andrei Kirilenko, 6'9 defensive specialist who developed into a capable scorer and jack-of-all trades glue player and, amazingly, all-star, is on his way out of Utah. Chris Singleton, a 6'9 defensive specialist with a capable offensive game and glue guy capabilities, is on his way in. He's the best wing defender to come out of college in a while and as much as defense gets written off in the NBA, Chris is just too good at it to get passed.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	FSU	26.9	8.1	4.9	1.1	2.0	.53	1.5	1.3	3.0	.409	.611	.333	1.22
2009-2010	FSU	31.4	10.2	7.0	2.2	3.0	.73	2.2	1.5	3.0	.412	.496	.297	1.15
2010-2011	FSU	29.1	13.1	6.8	1.2	2.2	.54	2.0	1.5	3.2	.434	.667	.368	1.28

Every single workout Chris Singleton went to, including the combine, he shut down top prospects. No one wants him to guard them in this draft class because they know their stock will take a hit after. That's saying something. The Jazz, in a worst-case scenario, will get a lock-down 2-4 defender who relies on others to get him points. If he develops his ridiculously underrated offensive game, you're looking at an all NBA defender who also gives you about 15 points per. Not shabby for number 12 in a weak class.

The Thirteenth Pick - Jan Vesely

The Suns miss out on all of the sweet shooting guards they probably wanted, but still luck out with Jan Vesely ending his freefall at thirteen. Dude is 6'11 and he plays small forward, which he wants to stay at in the next level. But, obviously, he could play power forward in the Suns offense. He is a high-flyer and an athletic freak. He will dunk your face off, and no one is better at making dunk-your face off style players careers than the great Steve Nash.

From the Czech Republic, the young Vesely is built for the Suns offense. It is very possible that someone takes him a lot earlier than this, because a 6'11 forward who can dunk everywhere, shoot the three, work in the post, and never takes a play off is rare. But energy guys are often undervalued, which is why I think Steve Nash will be a very happy man to realize that he will have a player again that can score off one of his passes without dunking that isn't a wing.

The Fourteenth Pick - Donatas Motiejunas

This is Captain Upside. Donatas is a legit seven footer. He is supremely gifted offensively, even striking shades of Nowitzki. But he's skinny, takes plays off, and is already a diva. He knows how much potential he has and appears to just want to live off of that instead of putting the work in to become dominant.

He simply is not as established as Gasol, Dirk, or even Bogut was when they came in. But he has the same upside, which is always enough to get some team to gamble. When you're the Rockets and you're trying to replace the biggest foreign tease of a player in Yao Ming with another international post player, you have to gamble. Because if he is just good, it won't be enough anyway. You could get great with Montiejunas, or you could get a spoiled prima donna. 

The Fifteenth Pick - Marshon Brooks

Need meets  best available meets underrated prospect means HUGE BOOM for the Pacers. A scoring two is exactly what they could have dreamt up, and the 6'5 two out of Providence who poured in 25 points per for his Friars is a match made in basketball heaven. He is also a wingspan wonder, with a mythical 7'1 measurement. He uses those arms effectively and grabbed 7 boards a game with them. Impressive. 

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2007-2008	PROV	8.8	3.3	.9	.4	.7	.54	.3	.2	.6	.382	.714	.263	1.13
2008-2009	PROV	21.8	10.6	3.6	1.4	1.4	1.00	1.1	.7	1.8	.437	.684	.313	1.21
2009-2010	PROV	26.6	14.2	4.2	1.4	1.7	.85	1.3	.5	2.3	.467	.711	.351	1.23
2010-2011	PROV	36.5	24.6	7.0	2.5	3.1	.82	1.5	1.2	2.5	.483	.772	.340	1.38

There was once a time when Danny Granger was a three-point shooter, lockdown player, and glue guy. Then he was forced to become an offense in Indiana, and that crippled him. With Brooks coming, he finally has a solid, steady scoring compliment. Brooks also has the length to become a pesky defender. There's not a ton to say about this pick, it's just great.

The Sixteenth Pick - Marcus Morris

Perhaps the most NBA ready prospect in the draft, he finds himself falling to Philadelphia because of his inability to do anything exceptionally. He joins a cast of players who do not do any one thing great, in fitting fashion.


There's a lot of glue in Philly, but not a whole lot to stick it to. But they won't pass up on the more refined Morris because he is a guaranteed starter in a year of upside and wingspans. He maneuvers himself very well and has great touch. Shoots the three, scores in the post, plays D, cleans the glass, everything. But he isn't so athletic, and he isn't great. He's pretty underwhelming actually, which is a great way to welcome us into the bottom fifteen of the first round and the rest of the draft. This is a role player's goldmine, with a few sleepers thrown in. He isn't one of them.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	KU	18.5	7.4	4.7	1.1	1.6	.67	1.0	.3	2.5	.495	.604	.400	1.36
2009-2010	KU	24.7	12.8	6.1	1.0	1.3	.77	.9	.3	2.6	.570	.660	.375	1.50
2010-2011	KU	28.3	17.2	7.6	1.6	1.8	.93	.8	.6	2.6	.570	.688	.342	1.55

The Seventeenth Pick - Bismack Biyombo


I have a small man-crush developing for The Bismack.

This guy has the kind of measurables that make you think he could block shots if he was blind. He's the kind of prospect that we end up calling Mount Biyombo, of The Congo Crusher, or Swat Team, or something stupid like that just because of his ability as a defensive highlight reel. 6'9, with a SEVEN FOOT SIX wingspan. And he looks like he's carved out of mahogany, which may have something to do with how he might not actually be eighteen.  




However, if you read THIS STORY about the biggest enigma of Thursday, you'll see that these claims are mainly unfounded, a product of disbelief at his defensive presence. Bismack has been a professional player since the age of 14 and, in his own words, "basketball is my life".


He basically only dunks, but he is already a defensive anchor. If you can teach him how to use his athleticism on offensive as well as he does on defensive he'll be a beast. If you can teach him a post-move or two, watch out. And if you're the New York Knicks and you can get the defensive equivalent of Amar'e Stoudamire you absolutely have to pick him up.


Also, Biyombo had a triple-double in the Nike Hoops Summit. With blocks.

The Eighteenth Pick - Markieff Morris

I'm not really going to be fair to Markieff here. He is not his twin brother, but he really is in many ways. Take Marcus, make him less offensively gifted, more athletic, and better on defense, and you have Markieff. The Wizards have Blatche at power forward right now. You know what Blatche can't do? Play defense. That's what Markieff does.


That was easy.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	KU	15.6	4.6	4.4	1.0	1.2	.79	.4	.7	2.8	.448	.650	.188	1.21
2009-2010	KU	17.6	6.8	5.3	1.1	1.4	.76	.4	1.0	2.6	.566	.622	.526	1.60
2010-2011	KU	24.4	13.6	8.3	1.4	2.1	.68	.8	1.1	2.8	.589	.673	.424	1.56

Also, he has a great NBA ready body.


Ok, done here.

The Nineteenth Pick - Jordan Hamilton

We go one more pick before the draft falls off of a cliff.


It's not my style to blame the best offensive player on a team for his shot selection, or for shooting too much. If you put the ball in the hole better than anyone on the team, you should be shooting. That's logical to me. He's also 6'9, which gives him some ridiculous height. The main knocks on him are his shot selection, and he definitely oversteps boundaries at time, but he doesn't have the attitude that suggests that with better offensive players around him he'll keep shooting stupidly.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-10	Texas	19.9	10.0	3.7	1.5	1.4	1.06	0.8	0.4	1.3	0.410	0.578	0.365	1.14
2010-11	Texas	32.2	18.6	7.7	2.1	2.1	0.99	0.9	0.6	1.8	0.440	0.779	0.385	1.22
PerGame		26.2	14.5	5.7	1.8	1.8	1.02	0.8	0.5	1.5	0.430	0.710	0.377	1.19

The Bobcats fill needs in the flow of the draft and manage to keep the Texas teammates together. They receive two very effective players as well. Hamilton is not very athletic, he's a shooter. He's a very good shooter at that, a mediocre slasher, but like I said earlier, he gets the ball in the hole. He doesn't pass a lot, but when he does, he's good at it. He also rebounds at a really good clip for a wing. He gives the Bobcats another very tall scorer at the wing to pair with Captain Jack, a pairing I like very much. They might not be very good next year, especially on defense, but this team will score and be entertaining. 

The Twentieth Pick - Tyler Honeycutt 

Right around now is when I become confused and angry with the draft. Check out these stats.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-2010	UCLA	27.7	7.2	6.5	2.7	2.4	1.11	1.5	1.2	2.3	.496	.600	.345	1.35
2010-2011	UCLA	35.0	12.8	7.2	2.8	3.0	.93	.9	2.1	1.6	.406	.736	.362	1.19

Ok, now check out these stats.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2007-2008	Did not play.
2008-2009	MARQ	19.6	5.6	3.9	.7	.5	1.53	.5	.5	1.9	.514	.768	.000	1.83
2009-2010	MARQ	34.3	14.7	6.4	2.0	1.1	1.74	1.3	.6	2.0	.530	.766	.500	1.79
2010-2011	MARQ	34.6	15.7	6.1	2.3	1.5	1.59	1.4	.4	1.3	.490	.783	.345	1.52

First is Honeycutt, second is Jimmy Butler out of Marquette. Marquette plays in the Big East, a much tougher conference than UCLA plays in. Jimmy averages three more points, one less rebound, half the turnovers, and shoots 9% better from the field. Butler is a versatile, gritty defender. He is projected to go in the second round. For the same height, but only with a skinny frame, the highly-sought after ability to disappear, and plenty of defensive softness, NBA Gm's can have Tyler Honeycutt at least ten picks earlier! We're all winners here.


Oh, I forgot, Honeycutt has a better wingspan, and David Kahn is drafting.

The Twenty-First Pick - Tobias Harris

Ehh...indifferent. Tobias Harris is good and consistent and I actually like him, but not a lot of people will really care about him. His impact will not be flashy or noticeable, but he will have impact.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-2010	Tenn	29.2	15.3	7.3	1.3	1.8	0.71	0.7	0.9	2.1	0.460	0.753	0.303	1.30
Per Game	Tenn	29.2	15.3	7.3	1.3	1.8	0.71	0.7	0.9	2.1	0.460	0.753	0.303	1.30

Tennessee was the definition of dysfunctional last year, but yet, here was Tobias, a beacon of consistency in the maelstrom. As a freshman, he scored in double figures in all but three games. He somehow pieced together all of this amidst scandal and suspension, and shows tremendous maturity. His game is silky and surprising considering his baby-face and lack of athleticism. He will be a valuable contributor and fit in well in Portland, where he should become good friends with Gerald Wallace.

The Twenty-Second Pick - Kenneth Faried


Should have been a lottery pick.

The Nuggets have a stud fall right into their laps. This is the man who single-handedly mauled my bracket, and I'm not even mad at him. He's simply too much of a beast. With 1576 rebounds in his four years, this man is the career leader in rebounds in the NCAA. The second man on that list is Tim Duncan, not bad company.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2007-2008	MORE	20.2	10.5	8.0	.3	1.6	.19	1.2	.8	3.0	.516	.580	.000	1.23
2008-2009	MORE	30.1	13.9	13.0	1.4	2.2	.65	1.9	1.9	2.9	.556	.577	.400	1.43
2009-2010	MORE	30.3	16.9	13.0	.5	2.4	.23	1.6	1.9	3.3	.564	.595	.250	1.49
2010-2011	MORE	34.7	17.3	14.5	1.1	2.6	.40	1.9	2.3	3.1	.623	.577	.000	1.62

As ridiculous as 17 and 15 a game is, he is not Tim Duncan. He's undersized and scrappy, screams Dennis Rodman, and will take your power forward's soul out and show it to him somewhere between the twelfth and thirteenth rebound. He is a specialist, a very good shotblocker which is somehow overshadowed by his rebounding (which is weird, because usually rebounding overshadows nothing), and knows his limitations. I would have taken him in the lottery if I was a team with a center that was not an elite rebounder, but as rebounding is forgotten, the Nuggets get a hyperactive man-child to fit in perfectly next to Nene. If they resign these two, between all the flopping dreads, expect no one to outrebound Denver.

The Twenty-Third Pick - Josh Selby

That picture shows "Showtime Selby" doing cool things in high school. Showtime went to college, though, and then proceeded to do a whole lot of not cool things. Like average 8 points a game and get suspended.

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2010-2011	KU	20.4	7.9	2.2	2.2	2	1.06	0.8	0.0	1.7	0.373	0.757	0.362	1.07
Per Game	KU	20.4	7.9	2.2	2.2	2	1.06	0.8	0.0	1.7	0.373	0.757	0.362	1.07

This is a pure upside pick. Hope that he was confined by the system at Kansas and not the other way around, and see if he pans out. I think it's a waste in this system. He only has a fighting chance with the Warriors, Suns, Knicks, or a similar team.

The Twenty-Fourth Pick - Reggie Jackson

Other than appealing himself to me tremendously by probably screaming "COME AT ME BRO" in this image, Reggie Jackson just screams Sam Presti. An underrated prospect who shot up draft boards but is still somewhat of a reach at this point, this could be another diamond in the rough for the Thunder. 6'3 height isn't too great, but a 7'0 wingspan is absolutely bananas. He uses it well too and could be a top ballhawk off the bench.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	BC	20.0	7.0	3.3	1.7	1.2	1.40	.8	.4	1.5	.440	.685	.273	1.14
2009-2010	BC	30.1	12.9	5.7	4.5	2.6	1.74	.6	.5	2.0	.430	.733	.291	1.18
2010-2011	BC	34.1	18.2	4.3	4.5	2.4	1.88	1.1	.5	1.7	.503	.796	.420	1.42

Jackson is not a pure point by any means, I slate him in at the two alongside Eric Maynor off the OKC bench. He will replace James Harden, who should start this year, perfectly. He is athletic, quick, equipped with a deadly slippery set of handles, and finishes very well. I can see a pair of assists and about fifteen points from him as a deadly bench weapon. If the Thunder can find another good bench big man, they could very well own the West next year.

The Twenty-Fifth Pick - Trey Thompkins

How Trey has fallen this year. He went all the way from a lottery lock to projected second-rounder. That's what showing up with 15.5% body fat will do to you. But the Celtics will see the potential and polish under that large number and count on their veteran locker room to mentor him. Kevin Garnett might scare the fat off of him.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	UGA	26.0	12.6	7.4	.8	2.4	.32	1.0	1.1	1.7	.434	.726	.384	1.15
2009-2010	UGA	31.0	17.7	8.3	1.9	2.9	.66	1.0	1.2	2.6	.483	.762	.377	1.28
2010-2011	UGA	31.2	16.4	7.6	1.4	2.5	.55	1.1	1.7	2.2	.481	.689	.311	1.22

He stands at 6'10 and boasts a very well polished offensive game. He can score as well as Tristan Thompson from inside 15 feet, and really, the only thing holding him back is himself. The Celtics hope they can change that. If they do, this is a steal.

The Twenty-Sixth Pick - JaJuan Johnson

The Mavericks search for the next German Moses continues in position only. Like Dirk, Johnson can shoot. At 6'10, he has a release that is very difficult to block. Unlike Dirk, he is not Thor or the Hoover of Dams. He will dunk a good one on you, however. He will dunk a lot of good ones on you, ja. He will develop his shot beautifully behind Dirk, and spell him and Tyson Chandler off of the bench. I love JaJuan and think he will develop into an above-average starter some day.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2007-2008	PUR	16.6	5.4	3.1	.3	.6	.50	.4	1.0	1.7	.421	.649	.000	1.14
2008-2009	PUR	26.9	13.4	5.6	.7	1.3	.53	.5	2.1	1.8	.540	.736	.000	1.41
2009-2010	PUR	31.2	15.5	7.1	.7	1.8	.41	.9	2.1	2.0	.507	.718	.000	1.43
2010-2011	PUR	35.4	20.5	8.6	1.0	1.6	.59	.9	2.3	1.6	.494	.809	.294	1.34

If you were wondering about the German Moses references, and if you've read this far, please watch these videos. You deserve them.

                                                    DIRK IS THE BESTA! Oh, and here's JaJuan

The Twenty-Seventh Pick - Davis Bertrans

Yeah. That's Davis Bertrans. I guess he plays basketball at a high level in Latvia, and I guess he'll shoot your face off. He's intriguing, because if someone doesn't accidentally snap one of his arms off, he could be a really good role-player. But, then again, someone could snap his arms off. You need those to shoot.




The Twenty-Eight Pick - Darius Morris

This is the best passer in the draft, behind Kyrie Irving. He will come off the bench behind the reigning MVP and provide him with some much needed rest. When Darius is in, he will find all of those shooters that make up the Bulls second unit and make them a very efficient bench. In my book, this will make the Bulls absolutely deadly, because defenders will have to chase the whole team around and then chase Derrick around when he comes back in. Win-win-win-win-win.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2009-2010	MICH	24.3	4.4	1.8	2.6	1.6	1.65	.6	.2	1.9	.406	.630	.179	1.09
2010-2011	MICH	34.8	15.0	4.0	6.7	2.9	2.28	1.0	.0	2.1	.489	.715	.250	1.28

He's a passer and a leader, and terribly underrated. This pick is just a winner




The Twenty-Ninth Pick - Justin Harper

The Spurs could really use a man of Harper's length and shooting ability. At this point, there's just a lot of prospects that are just that. Prospects. 


Basic Per Game Statistics-Comprehensive Stats-Statistical Top 25s

Year	League	Name	GP	Min	Pts	FG	FGA	FG%	2Pt	2PtA	2P%	3Pt	3PtA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	Off	Def	TOT	Asts	Stls	Blks	TOs	PFs
2010/11	NCAA	Justin Harper	37	31.8	17.9	6.6	12.4	53.4	4.5	7.8	58.5	2.1	4.6	44.8	2.5	3.2	79.7	1.7	5.2	6.9	1.2	0.6	1.2	1.5	2.2

Blah-blah video time

The Thirtieth Pick - Nikola Vucevic

As I am on my fifth or sixth hour of typing, Nikola Vucevic has somehow managed to get me excited about typing some more. Dude is so underrated. And he's a beast. He can spell Noah and Boozer off the bench as a terrific second-unit frontcourt duo with Taj Gibson.

Season Averages
SEASON	TEAM	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	TO	A/T	STL	BLK	PF	FG%	FT%	3P%	PPS
2008-2009	USC	11.0	2.6	2.7	.3	.6	.50	.4	.4	1.5	.578	.875	.000	1.31
2009-2010	USC	32.3	10.7	9.4	1.2	1.9	.63	.6	1.3	2.7	.504	.718	.222	1.28
2010-2011	USC	34.9	17.1	10.3	1.6	1.7	.93	.5	1.4	2.8	.505	.755	.349	1.37

I really like Nikola. He put up a SOLID double-double at USC and somehow flew under the radar for the whole year. He will be rock solid because he has a defined post-game. 

And here's my final words on what the Cavs should do this summer. Draft Kanter and Irving. Point and Center, that's the future of a team right there. If Kanter is going to be gone, which it seems like he will not be at number four, there's no need to change anything. If the price is right, feel free to go ahead and try to trade up to number two. But don't deal the number four pick for any player. And don't overvalue that trade exception either, it's not worth Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala. It might be worth Danny Granger with another player and Antwan Jamison's expiring corpse contract. The future is bright for the Cavs, though. It's actually a good time to be a Cavs fan, rejoice.