NBA Mock Draft version 2.0

By John McMullen, NBA Editor

PHILADELPHIA - For weeks, Thursday's upcoming NBA Draft has been described as an exercise virtually devoid of franchise players, a narrative that has continued coming from more than one scout around the league.

"In this type of draft, I don't think you can say, 'I'm going to get what I want,' " said Ryan Blake, the NBA's co-director of scouting. "This is the kind of draft where you don't have a sure-fire franchise player other than the two guys at the top."

The two guys at the top Blake was speaking of are, of course, Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, expected to be selected No. 1 overall by the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers, and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, perhaps the best pure player in the process.

Minnesota holds the lynchpin of the 2011 draft at the No. 2 slot. The Timberwolves don't look like a natural fit for Williams since the franchise boasts All-Star Kevin Love, along with the talented Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson at forward.

Milwaukee, Washington and the LA Lakers have all made publicized overtures to the Wolves and Minnesota's decision on what to do with its coveted pick will likely shape the rest of the first round as teams jockey for position for players that may not project as superstars, but can certainly play a role.

"It is a very deep draft for role players and guys who can help a team," Blake said.

ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas agrees.

"I think the draft is really important," Bilas said on a recent conference call. "I think there are a number of teams, Oklahoma City being one of them, that are built primarily through the draft. Free agency is always a component, but one data point does not make a trend.

"This is a valuable process for every team, whether you have a high pick or not, and I think the best people in the NBA really utilize the draft to their advantage."

So which NBA clubs are going to utilize this year's selection process to the fullest?

That's where the fun begins -- let's take a look at The Sports Network's 2011 NBA Mock Draft, version 2.0:

1. - Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving (Duke), point guard (6-2, 180) - Talk of the Cavs considering another player or making a deal appears to be just posturing. It's interesting that Cleveland got this pick from the LA Clippers in the Baron Davis deal since Davis obviously isn't the answer long term for the Cavs at point guard.

Irving is a true quarterback with the innate feel to make other players better. He has tremendous vision and the burst to blow by defenders on the dribble. However, he played just 303 minutes at the college level.

"I think Kyrie's a really good player," ESPN draft guru Chad Ford said. "He's an elite prospect. I don't think he quite compares to some of the guys that you want to compare him to. I think his game's a little like Chris Paul. I don't think he's as good a prospect as Chris Paul. I don't think he's quite as good a prospect as Deron Williams or Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook or even a John Wall."

Ceiling as a player: Chris Paul.

2 - Minnesota Timberwolves - Enes Kanter (Kentucky), center/power forward (6-11, 261) - For this exercise we have Minnesota staying put although in the end, you have to believe a deal with one of a number of teams that covets Williams will go through. That said, it's always tough to gauge things when you are dealing with bad management. Williams is by far the best available player on the board, but Minnesota has Beasley and Johnson so how about Kanter, a player that possesses natural size, strength and a soft scoring touch.

"I was impressed with Kanter," Ford said. "I watched him workout for a couple of days in Chicago with Tim Grover who is Kobe Bryant's trainer, and he's skilled. He's also a highly intelligent young man. He came to this country a year ago, didn't speak a word of English. Got adept enough in the language to enroll in Kentucky."

Ceiling: Shawn Kemp.

3.- Utah Jazz - Brandon Knight (Kentucky), combo guard (6-3, 185) - The Jazz snare Deron Williams' replacement. Knight is projected as a point guard with excellent size and speed along with solid scoring ability. He's an extremely fast player that loves to push it and has a solid first step, giving Utah its quarterback of the future.

Ceiling: Jrue Holiday with a better offensive game.

4. - Cleveland Cavaliers - Derrick Williams (Arizona), combo forward (6-9, 241) - The Cavs need talent and really can't go wrong taking the two best players in the draft. The Arizona star has tremendous speed and quickness as well as length and is solid fundamentally.

Ceiling: A poor man's LeBron James.

5. - Toronto Raptors - Kemba Walker (UConn), point guard (6-0, 172) - Walker isn't a true point, but the game is changing and he certainly proved to be a playmaker at the college level. Walker has amazing speed, along with the quickness and ability to change direction on a dime. However, his lack of size will certainly hurt on the defensive end.

Ceiling: Tim Hardaway

6. - Washington Wizards - Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania), center/power forward (6-11, 240) - The Wizards have John Wall and can't rebound, so forget about the perimeter. They would love to snare Kanter, but settle for the next best legit big, Valanciunas. The Lithuanian is a player with good NBA size that excels on the offensive boards and has a soft touch around the basket.

Ceiling: Kenyon Martin in his prime.

7. - Sacramento Kings - Jimmer Fredette (BYU), combo guard (6-2, 195) - Ownership wins out over the basketball people here. The brass thinks Fredette, one of the draft's biggest names, will generate interest and sell tickets. However, the Kings' coaching staff rightfully questions whether Fredette is the answer.

"I think the best way to put Jimmer is he going to be Steve Nash or Steve Kerr? And I'm going to lean towards Steve Kerr," draft expert Fran Fraschilla said. I absolutely was enthralled with him this year as a college player."

Ceiling: J.J. Redick with a better handle.

8. - Detroit Pistons - Jan Vesely (Czech Republic), combo forward (6-11, 230) - The Motor City's personnel limbo is over and Joe Dumars can finally get back to work rebuilding this team. Dumars will love Vesely, a slight European big man with impressive length and an aggressive offensive game. He also likes to post-up more than the average big these days and has a big-time motor. A great fit next to Greg Monroe.

Ceiling: Andrei Kirilenko with more size.

9. - Charlotte Bobcats - Marcus Morris (Kansas), combo forward (6-9, 218) - A versatile guy that's a little slight, but has a very advanced offensive game that includes the rare mid-range game with the ability to score, both looking at and with his back to the basket.

Ceiling: David West

10. - Milwaukee Bucks - Alec Burks (Colorado), combo guard (6-6, 191) - The Bucks would love to move up and snare Williams but Burks, a player that has the size, athleticism and leaping ability to stand out down the line is a nice consolation prize.

"He's not a shooter. He's a driver," Bilas said of Burks. "Can get into the lane, gets to the free-throw line. He's a very good passer, sees the floor very well. He's the kind of kid that I think plays with a chip on his shoulder."

Ceiling: DeMar DeRozan

11. - Golden State Warriors - Klay Thompson (Washington State), shooting guard (6-6, 202) - The Warriors were supposedly so impressed by Thompson, the second best pure shooter available behind Fredette, that owner Joe Lacob, new coach Mark Jackson and the entire front office attended his workout for the team late last week.

"He's 6-foot-6, he's got positional size," Fraschilla said of Thompson. "He's a very good shooter, a better athlete than people think. You hate to compare anybody, but Landry Fields was a similar type prospect. Not the great outside shooter or the very good outside shooter I think that Klay is, but I think Klay is a really safe pick somewhere in the top 14 as far as two guards."

Ceiling: Dell Curry

12. - Utah Jazz - Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania), power forward (7-0, 224) - Motiejunas is a slight, left-handed big man with skill to burn. He's generally regarded as a finesse PF with versatility, but shows surprising toughness around contact.

Ceiling: A left-handed Mehmet Okur

13. - Phoenix Suns - Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State), small forward (6-7, 225) - A hybrid forward with terrific length and a high motor, Leonard could fit in nicely as the Suns' replacement for Vince Carter.

Ceiling: Stephen Jackson

14. - Houston Rockets - Tristan Thompson (Texas), power forward (6-9, 225)- Houston needs big bodies and Thompson is a lefty post player with big hands and a huge wingspan, He plays with a lot of energy and loves to run the floor and beat his defender to a spot.

"I think that Tristan Thompson down the line can be a good defender because of his length," Bilas said. "But there aren't a lot of guys that you're saying okay here's a big time shot blocker."

Ceiling: A thicker Tayshaun Prince.

Non-Lottery Teams:

15. - Indiana Pacers - Marshon Brooks (Providence) , shooting guard (6-5, 195) - Basketball chief Larry Bird would like another consistent scorer to take some of the load off Danny Granger, and Brooks is one the draft's fastest rising prospects, and quite possibly the scorer Bird covets.

16. - Philadelphia 76ers - Markieff Morris (Kansas), power forward (6-10, 245) - The Sixers are in desperate need of interior defense and shot-blocking ability and Marcus' larger brother Markieff is a muscular 6-foot-10 player with an NBA-ready body not to mention a Philly native. 

17. - New York Knicks - Chris Singleton (Florida State), combo forward (6-9, 225) - Conventional wisdom says that in order to take the next step coach Mike D'Antoni, never known for his defensive acumen, needs to surround his stars with role players content to rebound, defend and shoot. Singleton may have been the most dominant college defender last year.

18. - Washington Wizards - Kenneth Faried (Morehead State), power forward (6-8, 225) - It's all about the boards in the nation's capital this offseason and Faried loves banging down low.

19. - Charlotte Bobcats - Jordan Hamilton (Texas), swingman (6-7, 210) - Hamilton is another solid offensive option for MJ in the Queen City. A wing that could be undervalued after a spotty career at Texas.

"Of the twos, one of the guys I like is Jordan Hamilton from Texas," Bilas said. "He can be a two. He can play a little three. He can really score. He's 6-foot-7, can rebound well for his position, and he's got a scorer's mentality. He shoots it with ease from deep. The question with him is in his maturity and the way he approaches the game. But he improved greatly this last year in his approach."

20. - Minnesota Timberwolves - Tobias Harris (Tennessee) combo forward (6-8, 225) - Harris is a combo forward with a nice skill-set. His ball-handling is especially solid for his size although the jumper comes and goes.

21. - Portland Trail Blazers - Bismack Biyombo (Congo), center (6-9, 243) - The Congolese Nike Hoops Summit star is far too raw and too big a risk for the lottery, but he has a huge upside and along with his frightening length (7- foot-7 wingspan). He can help out down low in Rip City since Marcus Camby is aging and Greg Oden's future is always a question mark.

22. - Denver Nuggets - Trey Thompkins (Georgia), power forward (6-10, 247) - A huge guy that is actually quite graceful on the court, but lacks a big-time work ethic which has him sliding a bit. Insurance for Nene and Kenyon Martin.

23. - Houston Rockets - Nikola Vucevic (USC), center (6-11, 260) - The Rockets need a quality big man to protect the rim on defense, especially in a Western Conference with talented, lengthy teams like Dallas and the Lakers in front of them. Vucevic isn't very athletic but his imposing body is quite a roadblock like Omar Asik.

24. - Oklahoma City Thunder - Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA), swingman (6-8, 185) - Honeycutt projects as a versatile player that can swing between two guard and small forward positions.

25. - Boston Celtics - Jeremy Tyler (USA), center (6-10, 262) - The C's gave away their center at the trade deadline hoping a little gas was left in the Diesel. It wasn't. You can't get immediate help down this low but Tyler, who has been playing overseas, could be a solid option late in the first round.

26. - Dallas Mavericks - Shelvin Mack (Butler), combo guard (6-2, 215) - The Mavs need to start thinking about life after Jason Kidd and Mack is the new breed type of lead guard that plays smart basketball, but can also fill it up.

"He's a winner, he's tough, he's physical," Bilas said of Mack. "He's a guy that will be okay playing his role in the NBA, and that is a big thing. Some of these guys because they've been the big shot on their team struggle when they come to the NBA and realize they're not the best player on the team anymore. In fact, they're a rotation player. Some players can never adjust to that. I think Shelvin Mack can."

27. - New Jersey Nets - Kyle Singler (Duke), small forward (6-8, 237)- A high IQ guy from Duke that could be a floor spacer from the weakside.

28. - Chicago Bulls - Nolan Smith (Duke), combo guard (6-3, 189) - Another Dukie with a very high basketball IQ that could be a very nice combo guard off the bench very early in his career.

29. - San Antonio Spurs - Chandler Parsons (Florida), small forward (6-8, 217) - The Spurs obviously need to get more athletic while injecting new blood and Parsons could bring a little more juice.

30. - Chicago Bulls - Reggie Jackson (Boston College), shooting guard (6-3, 185) - Why not take two shots at filling your weakness? Jackson is the type of shooter that could flourish with little attention.

"Reggie Jackson's a nice player," Bilas said. "He really improved his shooting from last year to this year. He's got ridiculously long arms and really good quickness. So I think he's a good prospect."

SECOND ROUND:

31. - Miami Heat - JaJuan Johnson (Purdue), power forward (6-10, 222)

32. - Cleveland Cavaliers - Darius Morris (Michigan), point guard (6-4. 190)

33. - Detroit Pistons - Justin Harper (Richmond), power forward (6-9, 228)

34. - Washington Wizards - David Bertans (Latvia), power forward (6-10, 215)

35. - Sacramento Kings - Nikola Mirotic (Montenegro), power forward (6-10, 230)

36. - New Jersey Nets - Malcolm Lee (UCLA), combo guard (6-5, 198)

37. - LA Clippers - Norris Cole (Cleveland State), point guard (6-1, 175)

38. - Houston Rockets - Josh Selby (Kansas), combo guard (6-3, 200)

39. - Charlotte Bobcats - Charles Jenkins (Hofstra), point guard (6-3, 216)

40. - Milwaukee Bucks - Jordan Williams (Maryland), power forward/center (6-9, 250)

41. - LA Lakers - Travis Leslie (Georgia), swingman (6-4, 205)

42. - Indiana Pacers - Jon Leuer (Wisconsin), power forward (6-11, 220)

43. - Chicago Bulls - Jimmy Butler (Marquette), small forward (6-7, 225)

44. - Golden State Warriors - Malcolm Thomas (San Diego State), power forward (6-9, 225)

45. - New Orleans Hornets - DeAndre Liggins (Kentucky), shooting guard (6-6, 205)

46. - LA Lakers - Andrew Goudelock (Charleston), combo guard (6-2, 198)

47. - LA Clippers - Rick Jackson (Syracuse), power forward (6-9, 240)

48. - Atlanta Hawks - Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech), combo guard (6-5, 222)

49. - Memphis Grizzlies - Greg Smith (Fresno State), power forward/center (6-9, 250)

50. - Philadelphia 76ers - Keith Benson (Oakland), center (6-11, 215) 

51. - Portland Trail Blazers - Demetri McCamey (Illinois), point guard (6-3, 204)

52. - Denver Nuggets - Cam Long (George Mason), shooting guard (6-4, 192)

53. - Orlando Magic - LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), shooting guard (6-4, 190)

54. - Cleveland Cavaliers - Chris Wright (Dayton), combo forward (6-8, 215)

55. - Boston Celtics - David Lighty (Ohio State), shooting guard (6-6, 215)

56. - LA Lakers - Scotty Hopson (Tennessee), shooting guard (6-6, 195)

57. - Dallas Mavericks - Lavoy Allen (Temple), power forward (6-9, 225)

58. - LA Lakers - Julyan Stone (UTEP), combo guard (6-6, 190)

59. - San Antonio Spurs - Ben Hansbrough (Notre Dame), point guard (6-3, 203)

60. - Sacramento Kings - Isaiah Thomas (Washington), point guard (5-8, 175)