Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams are expected to be selected first and second by Cleveland and Minnesota in the 2011 NBA Draft, but after that the rest of the first round is anyone's guess. So here's my best stab at the first round of the draft, including one sentence of analysis on why they will or will not make an impact in 2011.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke: Well...the Cavaliers are starting from the ground up and Irving will be the new face of the franchise, so he should see plenty of playing time right away. But...Byron Scott has said Baron Davis will be starting at point guard to begin the season, so Irving may be worked in slowly.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, SF, Arizona: Well...Williams' skill set is NBA-ready and the Timberwolves will need the most talented players on the court. But...Michael Beasley is very similar, so there may be a logjam at the position.
3. Utah Jazz: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky: Well...Knight's size and ability to shoot from the perimeter makes him a perfect candidate to split time with Devin Harris, which could wind up something like Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson in Denver. But...timeshares with rookies rarely pan out, so don't hold your breath on the 19-year-old Knight showing much impact.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Enes Kanter, C, Kentucky: Well...many believe he is the most talented player in the class and his size will allow him to bang down low. But...he is still young and raw, and could need more time to develop and add strength to his frame.
5. Toronto Raptors: Jan Vesley, PF, Czech Republic: Well...the Raptors are desparate for a Chris Bosh replacement and Vesley has the potential for stardom. But...Vesley's lack of an outside shot could hurt him in the short-term, as he is more of a project.
6. Washington Wizards: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State: Well...small forward is by far the Wizards' biggest need, so Leonard would have a chance to start from day one. But...his game is not very fantasy-friendly, like a poor man's Ron Artest, so he may not be fantasy worthy even if he starts.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker, PG, Sacramento Kings: Well...the Kings would like nothing more than to put Tyreke Evans at shooting guard, and Walker's presence would do that. But...Walker's lack of size might mean he isn't a starter, which would ruin his fantasy value.
8. Detroit Pistons: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas: Well...a combination of Thompson and Greg Monroe would make for quite the start of a frontcourt in Detroit, and Thompson would see plenty of playing time. But...Thompson is still raw on the offensive end, which could limit his fantasy value.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas: Well...Morris is one of the most NBA-ready players in this year's draft and would start from day one for the Bobcats. But...Charlotte's frontcourt hasn't produced in...forever, and this Morris brother's ceiling isn't all that high.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado: Well...Burks is one of the best scorers in the league and the Bucks' offense needs as much of that as it can get. But...at just 19 years old, Burks will need some time to round out his game, meaning less playing time and less fantasy value.
11. Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State: Well...Thompson's workouts have been spectacular based on reports, and the Warriors need a player who can shoot from anywhere on the court. But...if Monta Ellis is still in the picture, Thompson may have trouble finding time right away in the rotation.
12. Utah Jazz: Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas: Well...Andrei Kirilenko will be testing the free agency waters this summer and it could open up a spot for Hamilton, who can score with the best of them. But...Hamilton isn't even close to the defender Kirilenko was, which could keep him from seeing major minutes.
13. Phoenix Suns: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo: Well...the Suns are apparently looking to improve on defense and Biyombo would do just that, contributing in rebounds and blocks. But...Biyombo is a project at this point (18 years old) and may not contribute right away.
14. Houston Rockets: Chris Singelton, SF, Florida State: Well...Chase Budinger is not the long-term answer at small forward and Singelton has been moving up draft boards after solid workouts. But...is his offense polished enough to warrant major minutes from day one?
Comments