2011 NBA Mock Draft and Some Additional Thoughts

The NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday evening at 7 PM.  Like the NFL, the NBA does the draft right.  It is the second most watch draft in sports and rarely disappoints.  Also like the NFL, the NBA draft is a room full of very tall players and five foot nothing agents and execs.  They’re players from Europe that can barely speak any English, and there are guys for US universities that can also barely speak English, but they can all ball and for the NBA that’s all that matters.  When names are called, 7 foot giants will walk across the stage in expensive tailor made suits and even more expensive watches, all of them in it for the love of the game, not the money (LOL).   Below is my 2011 Mock Draft (Note this is not based on the actual size of the player’s entourage). 

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG Duke. 
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, PF Arizona.
3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, C Kentucky.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas C, Lithuania.
5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight, PG Kentucky.
6. Washington Wizards: Kemba Walker, PG Connecticut.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard, SF San Diego State.
8. Detroit Pistons: Marcus Morris, PF Kansas.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Bismack Biyombo, PF Spain.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jan Vesely, SF Serbia.
11. Golden State Warriors: Alec Burks, SG Colorado.
12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette, PG BYU.
13. Phoenix Suns: Marshon Brooks, SG Providence.
14. Houston Rockets: Tristan Thompson, PF Texas.
15. Indiana Pacers: Reggie Jackson, PG Boston College.
16. Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Vucevic, C USC.
17. New York Knicks: Klay Thompson, SG Washington State.
18. Washington Wizards: Markiff Morris, PF Kansas.
19. Charlotte Bobcats: Jordon Hamilton, SF Texas.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Donatas Motiejunas, PF / C Italy.
21. Portland Trailblazers: Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead State.
22. Denver Nuggets: Chris Singleton, SF Florida State.
23. Houston Rockets: Darius Morris, PG Michigan.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tobias Harris, SF Tennessee.
25. Boston Celtics: Kyle Singler, SF Duke.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Justin Harper, PF Richmond.
27. New Jersey Nets: Shelvin Mack, PG Butler.
28. Chicago Bulls: Nolan Smith, PG Duke.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Tyler, C Japan.
30. Chicago Bulls: Nikola Mirotic, PF Spain.

A couple of notes on this draft:  If Jimmer Fredette is sitting there at 12 when the Jazz make their second selection, they would be fools to pass him up.  His impact alone on putting people in the seats in Salt Lake City is worth the pick.  Jimmer is a decent shooter and can score, he can’t play any defense, but neither can half of the NBA.  He gets a bad wrap for one reason, he’s white.  If he were black he may be viewed as a top ten pick.  People don’t want to admit it, but in the NBA, racism exists.  Forget the fact that Steve Nash is only a few seasons removed from winning the league MVP and Dirk Nowitzki just won the NBA finals MVP.  Race should never play a role in deciding any position of employment, but unfortunately in the NBA it still does. 

I expect an entertaining night and maybe even some movement.  With the lockout looming, now would be the time for teams, like the 76ers, to make trades and moves before the lockout begins.  It could be a draft with a ton of movement, or it could be a draft with none.  Either way I will be watching and hoping that by the end of the night, the Sixers are better then they were in the early evening.