2011 NBA Draft Results – Draft Recap – Sleepers – Best Picks
Last night’s NBA draft wasn’t a huge surprise at the top but the picks veered slightly away from our expectations as the first round progressed.
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Let’s look at the top 10, plus some of the best and worst picks.
THE TOP 10
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
Irving will get a chance to become a star in the NBA right away, probably playing major minutes as a rookie with the talent-starved Cavs. Is he really a superstar in the making, though? I’m not totally convinced. The sample size in his injury-shortened Duke stay was too small.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
Could Williams have gone No. 1? Maybe his ceiling isn’t as high as Irving’s. But he looks very ready to be a solid everyday contributor immediately. He can take on defenders off the dribble and get to the line in a very polished way. The T-Wolves will be happy they didn’t trade the No. 2 pick, as they were rumored to do.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
Enes Kanter won the European Big Man Sweepstakes. He should be a great low-post center, even if he isn’t the best shot blocker, and will form a solid frontcourt in Utah with Derrick Favors for years to come.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
Hmmm. When you have two of the top four picks, don’t you want to swing for the fences? I suppose the Cavs wanted to guarantee some success by playing it safe with their second pick. Thompson was projected to go a few picks later but it’s hard to dispute his motor ad rebounding ability.
5. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania
Will the Raptors ever make a normal, safe pick in an NBA draft again? They went with the high-risk, high-upside center Jonas Valanciunas. He could be a star but has to fill out his 7’0”, 240-pound frame and may not play in the NBA for a year.
6. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, SF, Czech Republic
Pretty much everyone liked this pick, as Vesely could’ve gone higher. He’s a great athlete and should eventually mesh well and run the floor with John Wall.
7. Charlotte Bobcats: Bismack Biyombo, F/C, Congo
His offensive skills are a big question mark but he looks like he could be a defensive monster in the mold of a Ben Wallace or Dikembe Mutombo. But do you want to use a No. 7 overall pick on a defensive juggernaut? It’s debatable.
8. Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
Wow. How did Knight fall this far? Shame on the Raptors in particular for not grabbing a guy with Knight’s ceiling. The Pistons should have their best guard since Chauncey Billups in Knight.
9.Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut
Personally, I would’ve liked to see Walker go sooner. Yes, he’s small and yes, he has some knee issues, but he’s a proven winner. He has that intangible ability. Good on Charlotte for taking him.
10. Sacramento Kings: Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU
And the Kings break Utah’s heart. Say what you want about his defense, but Fredette is a great pure scorer and shooter. The question is: will he be the next J.J. Redick or something much more?
BEST PICK
The Pistons did great to snag Brandon Knight. This is a guy some scouts rated as high as third. To me, he has as much upside as anyone in the draft, so the Pistons had to be thrilled that he was still there at No. 8.
WORST PICK
Few people seemed to like Houston’s pick of Donatas Motiejunas at No. 20. He’s a 7’0” behemoth that reportedly has no toughness. Why go that big if there’s no defensive upside?
BIGGEST STEAL
If Kemba Walker can overcome his lack of size, he could be a heart-and-soul type of guy that you build a team around. Other teams may kick themselves for passing on him down the road.
BIGGEST REACH
The consensus is that the Bobcats were insane to grab Biyombo at No. 7. Reports on his offensive game range from acceptable to atrocious.
Full Recap – First round
1. Cleveland (from L.A. Clippers): PG KYRIE IRVING, 6-2, 180 pounds, Duke, Fr.
2. Minnesota: F DERRICK WILLIAMS, 6-8, 241, Arizona, Soph.
3. Utah (from New Jersey): C ENES KANTER, 6-10, 255, Kentucky, Fr.
4. Cleveland: PF TRISTAN THOMPSON, 6-8, 225, Texas, Soph.
5. Toronto: C JONAS VALANCIUNAS, 7-0, 231, Lithuania.
6. Washington: F JAN VESELY, 6-11, 239, Czech Republic.
7. Sacramento (trade pending with Charlotte): PF BISMACK BIYOMBO, 6-9, 243, Congo.
8. Detroit: PG BRANDON KNIGHT, 6-3, 185, Kentucky, Fr.
9. Charlotte: PG KEMBA WALKER, 6-1, 172, Connecticut, Jr.
10. Milwaukee (trade pending with Sacramento): G JIMMER FREDETTE, 6-2, 190, BYU, Sr.
11. Golden State: SG KLAY THOMPSON, 6-6, 202, Washington State, Jr.
12. Utah: SG ALEC BURKS, 6-6, 195, Colorado, Soph.
13. Phoenix: PF MARKIEFF MORRIS, 6-10, 245, Kansas, Jr.
14. Houston: SF MARCUS MORRIS, 6-9, 235, Kansas, Jr.
15. Indiana (trade pending with San Antonio): SF KAWHI LEONARD, 6-7, 225, San Diego State, Soph.
16. Philadelphia: PF/C NIKOLA VUCEVIC, 6-10, 260, USC, Sr.
17. New York: SG IMAN SHUMPERT, 6-5, Georgia Tech, Jr.
18. Washington (from Atlanta): SF CHRIS SINGLETON, 6-9, 220, Florida State, Jr.
19. Charlotte (from New Orleans via Portland, trade pending with Milwaukee): F TOBIAS HARRIS, 6-8, 225, Tennessee, Fr.
20. Minnesota (from Memphis via Utah, trade pending with Houston): F DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS, 7-0, 222, Lithuania
21. Portland: PG NOLAN SMITH, 6-2, 185, Duke, Sr.
22. Denver: PF KENNETH FARIED, 6-8, 225, Morehead State, Sr.
23. Houston (from Orlando via Phoenix, trade pending with Chicago via Minnesota): F NIKOLA MIROTIC, Montenegro, 6-10, 220.
24. Oklahoma City: G REGGIE JACKSON, 6-3, 208, Boston College, Jr.
25. Boston (trade pending with New Jersey): SG MARSHON BROOKS, 6-5, 200 Providence, Sr.
26. Dallas (trade pending with Denver, via Portland): SF JORDAN HAMILTON, 6-7, 220, Texas, Soph.
27. New Jersey (from L.A. Lakers, trade pending with Boston): PF JAJUAN JOHNSON, Purdue, 6-10, 221, Sr.
28. Chicago (from Miami via Toronto, trade pending with Miami, via Minnesota): PG NORRIS BROOKS, Cleveland State, Sr.
29. San Antonio: G CORY JOSEPH, 6-3, 185 pounds, Texas, Fr.
30. Chicago: F JIMMY BUTLER 6-7, 220, Marquette, Sr.
Round 2
1. Heat — Bojan Bogdanovic SF
2. Cavaliers — Justin Harper PF
3. Pistons — Kyle Singler SF
4. Wizards — Shelvin Mack PG
5. Kings — Tyler Honeycutt SF
6. Nets — Jordan Williams C
7. Clippers — Trey Thompkins PF
8. Rockets — Chandler Parsons SF
9. Bobcats — Jeremy Tyler PF
10. Bucks — Jon Leuer PF
11. Lakers — Darius Morris PG
12. Pacers — Davis Bertans SF
13. Bulls — Malcolm Lee PG
14. Warriors — Charles Jenkins PG
15. Hornets — Josh Harrellson C
16. Lakers — Andrew Goudelock SG
17. Clippers — Travis Leslie SG
18. Hawks — Keith Benson C
19. Grizzlies — Josh Selby PG
20. 76ers — Lavoy Allen PF
21. Trail Blazers — Jon Diebler SG
22. Pistons — Vernon Macklin PF
23. Magic — DeAndre Liggins SG
24. Cavaliers — Milan Macvan PF
25. Celtics — E’Twaun Moore SG
26. Lakers — Chukwudiebere Maduabum PF
27. Mavericks — Targuy Ngombo SF
28. Lakers — Ater Majok PF
29. Spurs — Adam Hanga SG
30. Kings — Isaiah Thomas PG
