2011 NBA Mock Draft: Will Sacramento Kings Select Another Guard at No. 7?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Will Sacramento Kings Select Another Guard at No. 7?
The Pick: Kemba Walker, PG UConn
It amazes me that Walker has seemed to slip down draft boards since his prolific run in the NCAA this season, but it appears that there are some growing concerns about his play at the point guard position.
Walker has the game of a two guard, but at just barely 6’0″ tall and not even 180 lbs, he’s going to need to learn how to facilitate an offense really quickly.
The Kings already have Tyreke Evans and Beno Udrih in the fold, but they’d be hard pressed to take another prospect over Walker if he falls into their lap.
MUST READ: Brandon Knight & 13 Most Raw Prospects
Kemba’s explosiveness is certainly not in question, but if the Kings are going to take him with some proven guards already in the fold, he’s going to need to learn how to play the point position on the fly without a large learning curve.
He does have the ability to create some open shots for his teammates with his ability to drive to the rim and kick it out to the perimeter, but he’ll need to learn not to fall in love with shooting the rock.
The Kings would do themselves a monumental favor by taking a chance on Walker, who has a serious chance to thrive in Sacramento.
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NBA Trade Rumors: Can the Phoenix Suns Move Up to Select Derrick Williams?
The Phoenix Suns currently own the rights to the No. 13 pick in this year’s NBA draft. Many have speculated that they’ll take Jimmer Fredette if he’s available, but now it seems they may have eyes for a bigger prize.
Jonathan Givony, who runs DraftExpress, recently tweeted, “Sources say Washington & Phoenix have been the most active teams trying to trade up for Derrick Williams. T’Wolves want a ‘veteran big man.”
If it’s all about getting that big man for Minnesota, then the Suns probably have a better shot at the pick. 27-year old Marcin Gortat has spent the majority of his career as Dwight Howard‘s backup. He showed he can really produce after the Suns acquired him.
He averaged 13 points and nine rebounds in less than 30 minutes a game for Phoenix last season. The “Polish Hammer” could be the kind of veteran big man that Minnesota would want. The T’Wolves would have to give up a player as well to make the deal work under current salary cap rules.
Recent rumors are suggesting that the Suns may be interested in Minnesota’s Jonny Flynn, who has shown up in his fair share of trade chatter over the last several months.
The actual trade between Phoenix and Minnesota would be Marcin Gortat and the No. 13 pick for Jonny Flynn and the No. 2 pick.
If the Suns landed Flynn, it would almost certainly increase the chances of seeing Steve Nash dealt this offseason as well. The team needs to kick start a rebuilding, and Nash could bring them some good pieces for that.
For Minnesota, Gortat would be an enormous upgrade over their current starting center–Darko Milicic. They could also still grab a shooting guard with Phoenix’s No. 13 pick, and be in decent shape for next year with Ricky Rubio, Michael Beasley and Kevin Love already in place.
Rating Derrick Williams’ Game 2K11-Style
You can follow Andy Bailey on Twitter @_Andy_Bailey
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Charlotte Bobcats Select Jonas Valanciunas with 9th Pick
Height: 6’10″
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: PF/C
Age: 19
Comparison: Nenad Krstic
He still needs to add a lot of strength, but his solid fundamentals should help him transition into the NBA.
He runs, defends and rebounds fairly well. Plus, he has a very solid basketball IQ for an 19-year-old player.
He may not be the kind of dominant center Charlotte would like to replace Kwame Brown and Joel Przybilla, but I think they’d be excited to see Valanciunas fall to them.
Click on Any of the Picks for a More Detailed Explanation:
1: Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving
2: Minnesota Timberwolves – Enes Kanter
3: Utah Jazz – Derrick Williams
4: Cleveland Cavaliers – Jan Vesely
5: Toronto Raptors – Brandon Knight
6: Washington Wizards – Kawhi Leonard
7: Sacramento Kings – Kemba Walker
8: Detroit Pistons – Jonas Valanciunas
9: Charlotte Bobcats – Bismack Biyombo
10: Milwaukee Bucks – Marcus Morris
11: Golden State Warriors – Tristan Thompson
12: Utah Jazz – Jimmer Fredette
13: Phoenix Suns – Jordan Hamilton
14: Houston Rockets – Donatas Motiejunas
15: Indiana Pacers – Alec Burks
16: Philadelphia 76ers – Markieff Morris
17: New York Knicks – Josh Selby
18: Washington Wizards – Kenneth Faried
19: Charlotte Bobcats – Klay Thompson
20: Minnesota Timberwolves – Marshon Brooks
21: Portland Trail Blazers – Nikola Vucevic
22: Denver Nuggets – Jordan Williams
23: Houston Rockets – Chris Singleton
24: Oklahoma City Thunder – Tyler Honeycutt
25: Boston Celtics – Justin Harper
26: Dallas Mavericks – Tobias Harris
27: New Jersey Nets – Nikola Mirotic
28: Chicago Bulls – Nolan Smith
29: San Antonio Spurs – Charles Jenkins
30: Chicago Bulls – Jon Leuer
You can follow Andy Bailey on Twitter @_Andy_Bailey
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Who Do the Bobcats Select with the No. 19 Pick?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Who do the Bobcats select with the No. 19 pick?
Like fellow Texas teammate Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton has the skills to be a special player in the NBA.
Hamilton impressed at the combine. He’s a legit 6’8”, so his stock is on the rise. A talented scorer, capable of playing the 2 or 3, Hamilton should find immediate success with Charlotte. In fact, Hamilton only scored in single-digits once last season, and he compiled 9 points in that game.
Must Read: NBA Draft 2011: Isaiah Thomas and the 5 Most Underrated Pac-12 Prospects
Charlotte does have its share of off-guards and small forwards, but Hamilton will be their scorer of the future. Stephen Jackson has two more years left on his deal, and Boris Diaw only has one, so the team will need an impact player in the draft.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, Duke
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, Arizona
- Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, Kentucky
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, International
- Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker, UConn
- Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, International
- Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
- Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, International
- Charlotte Bobcats: Jonas Valanciunas, International
- Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, Colorado
- Golden State Warriors Donatas Motiejunas, International
- Utah Jazz: Klay Thompson, Washington State
- Phoenix Suns: Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
- Houston Rockets: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
- Indiana Pacers: Marcus Morris, Kansas
- Philadelphia 76ers: Tristan Thompson, Texas
- New York Knicks: Markieff Morris, Kansas
- Washington Wizards: Chris Singleton, FSU
- Charlotte Bobcats: Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: All 30 Picks, New York Knicks Select Markieff Morris
2011 NBA Mock Draft Has the New York Knicks Adding Markieff Morris
The New York Knicks have a franchise big man, and they have a franchise forward. Chauncey Billups is old, but he’s going to contribute as long as he stays healthy.
Elsewhere, the Knicks are not so well off. They could use a shooting guard, and they could certainly use a center. Unless, of course, they are happy with Ronnie Turiaf as their starting center.
When the Knicks are on the clock with the No. 17 pick, they’re probably going to have to reach to fill either need. Marshon Brooks is a possibility, as is Donatas Motiejunas.
But I’m going to think outside the box here. How about Kansas power forward Markieff Morris?
MUST READ: Ranking the First Overall Draft Picks from the Last 20 Years
Much like his twin brother, Marcus, Markieff is a very athletic big man with plenty of assets in his bag of tricks. He can finish around the rim just fine, and he can rebound and defend as well as any 6’10″ big. However, he can also knock down shots from distance.
So how would Markieff Morris fit with the Knicks? Well, if the Knicks were so inclined, they could start Amare Stoudemire at center, opening up a spot for Morris at power forward (one supposes vice versa would also work). That would give them some pretty decent size and athleticism in the paint, which in turn would make their outstanding offense even better.
This is not to say their defense would be drastically improved. But I think Mike D’Antoni has proven that he could care less about that.
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Nets Select?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Nets Select?
The Nets can use help up front, so Trey Thompkins is one of the best players left at this point in the draft. Maryland’s Jordan Williams is making his case to also be selected in the first-round, so the Nets will chose someone who can help on the boards regardless.
Kris Humphries is headed to free agency and Brook Lopez really didn’t pull down any rebounds last season, so the help is evident. Luckily the Nets have Deron Williams running the point, so whoever they bring in will benefit from receiving passes from one of the best point guards in the league.
Must read: 2011 NBA Mock Draft: Entire First Round Plus What Cleveland Does at No. 1 and 4
Thompkins will need to step up his conditioning level in order to compete in the NBA. His rebounding skills are also another area that he must continue to improve in order to be a first-rounder, but he has the tools to compete at the next level.
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Nuggets Select?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Nuggets Select?
Jordan Hamilton could find a role on the Denver Nuggets bench, now that the 76ers are looking to land a big man in the draft.
Hamilton is currently working out with the small forward corps at the NBA draft combine, but he is another versatile player who can move in between the two and three without hesitation.
Hamilton is a great scorer and ample defender, two needs the Nuggets are in the market for, especially the former with Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks.
Must read: 2011 NBA Mock Draft: Entire First Round Plus What Cleveland Does at No. 1 and 4
The Nuggets will most likely let free agent JR smith walk, and then they have to decide if qualifying offers to Wilson Chandler and Arron Afflalo make sense. More than likely yes, but then those two would have to be signed to long-term deals the following year.
So, based off of the Nuggets future, Hamilton could join the team, learn the system for a year and be ready to contribute in his second season.
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Wolves Select?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Wolves Select?
Here’s last week’s take on Chris Singleton who will hold steady at No. 20 to Minnesota.
Chris Singleton would provide a defensive small or power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, thanks to his great play over the past seasons at Florida State.
Singleton has also proved to be a tough guy, coming back from a broken bone in foot late in the NCAA season. He wasn’t back to full-strength until the Seminoles one-point loss to VCU in the tournament, but went out with a bang, racking up nine boards and 16 points.
Must read: 2011 NBA Mock Draft: Entire First Round Plus What Cleveland Does at No. 1 and 4
Singleton will have trouble scoring at the next level, but the Wolves are going to be taking him solely for his D. Singleton averaged 2.0 steals per game and 1.5 blocks, while also putting up a triple-double in the second game of the season, a rarity in the NCAA.
The young Wolves need a solid wing defender to help them move forward, and Singleton will be their man.
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Suns Select?
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery and Entire First-Round, Who Will Suns Select?
After Derrick Williams, Kansas’ Marcus Morris is the most versatile, NBA-ready prospect at the forward position.
Morris will be able to fit in seamlessly with the rebuilding Suns team, who run an effective offensive set. It’s their defense that has always hindered them, so enter Morris, who can play on both ends of the floor.
Must read: 2011 NBA Draft: Where Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker & More Go with Order Set
Morris can drive and shoot effectively enough for the Suns to start Jarred Dudley at shooting guard, with Marcus getting his playing time at the three. And it’s because of his defensive abilities, that Morris should be able to defend opposing wing players more effectively than Dudley could.
Beyond his fit with the Suns, Morris is the best player on the board at this point, so the Suns cannot afford to let him slip and look to a lesser rounded player in this year’s draft.
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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Kyrie Irving at No. 1
The Minnesota Timberwolves finished the season with the worst record in the NBA at 17-65.
The only bright spot to the season was the play of Kevin Love. Love was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player as well as a Western Conference All-Star.
If the Timberwolves get the no. 1 pick in the draft, they will take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving.
Although they have recently drafted point guards Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio, Minnesota would still pick Irving because he is the best player on the board despite missing more than half of the season with a toe injury.
When Irving was playing, he was effective for the Blue Devils, averaging 17.5 points per game.
With Kyrie Irving at point and Kevin Love at power forward, the Minnesota Timberwolves would be on their way back to relevancy.
Chance of Getting No. 1 pick: 25.0%
Pick at No. 1: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
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