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2011 Top 50

1. Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)

2. Kyrie Williams- PG (Duke)

3. Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)

4. Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

5. Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

6. Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

7. Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

8. Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)

9. Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

10. Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)

11. Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)

12. Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

13. Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)

14. Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

15. Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

16. Bismack Biyombo- C (Congo)

17. Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

18. Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)

19. Marshon Brooks- SG (Providence)

20. Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)

21. Nikola Vucevic- C (USC)

22. Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)

23. Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)

24. Justin Harper- F (Richmond)

25. Davis Bertans- SF (Latvia)

26. Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

27. Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)

28. Nikola Mirotic- SF (Serbia)

29. Iman Shumpert- PG (Georgia Tech)

30. Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)

31. Charles Jenkins- G (Hofstra)

32. Norris Cole- PG (Cleveland State)

33. JaJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)

34. Jereme Richmond- SF (Illinois)

35. Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)

36. Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

37. Shelvin Mack- PG (Butler)

38. Jon Leuer- PF (Wisconsin)

39. Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)

40. Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

41. Jeremy Tyler- C (USA)

42. Chandler Parsons- SF (Florida)

43. Malcolm Lee- G (UCLA)

44. Jordan Williams- C (Maryland)

45. Jimmy Butler- SF (Marquette)

46. Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

47. Demetri McCamey- PG (Illinois)

48. David Lighty- SG (Ohio State)

49. DeAndre Liggins- G/F (Kentucky)

50. Corey Joseph- PG (Texas)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v14

1) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
Irving has a limited sample size, but appears to have the skills to be an above average point guard in a point guard-heavy league. I'm sure the Cavs like D Will also, but he might be too similar to J.J. Hickson.

2) Minnesota Timberwolves (for now)- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
Regardless of the Ricky Rubio situation, plan A for the T-Wolves is leveraging this pick into a veteran player who can contribute, especially on the defensive end. If they could manage to get Anderson Varejao and the #4 pick for the #2, they would be elated. Plan B is probably drafting Enes Kanter, but it seems more likely that someone picks Williams here.

3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
Popular opinion has swung to the Jazz taking Enes Kanter here, but with a logjam in the frontcourt (Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, Mehmet Okur), point guard is a much more immediate need, even with Devin Harris already on the roster.

4) Cleveland Cavaliers (for now)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
Kanter provides much better value, but Vesely is a better fit in Cleveland, and if the Cavs make the trade discussed above sending Varejao to Minnesota, Vesely becomes a better fit in Minnesota too.

5) Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F/C (Turkey)
This is an absolute coup for the Raptors. Kanter is a great fit alongside a finesse big man like Andrea Bargnani, and he'll fit in well with Toronto's international-friendly cast of characters.

6) Washington Wizards- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
The Wizards are reportedly very high on Thompson- a high upside big man who played consistently productive minutes in his only season in Austin. This pick would actually serve two purposes- adding a quality young talent and (hopefully) lighting a fire under Andray Blatche, who has wasted his talent in D.C. for too long.

7) Sacramento Kings- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
I hate the fit of Walker in Sacramento, but the Kings need a point guard, and they've shown that their draft strategy is to swing for the fences. Walker and Bismack Biyombo are the two highest upside picks on the board, and Sacramento has already invested in an ultra-long, athletic center in Hassan Whiteside.

8) Detroit Pistons- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
The writing is on the wall for Richard Hamilton, and the selection of Burks should highlight and underline it. The best shooter and pure scorer in the draft, Burks isn't a great value at this spot, but he's worth a bit of a risk at this point in a below average draft.

9) Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
Leonard is an athletic slasher in the Crash Wallace mold, so his services should fit in nicely in Charlotte. For some reason, I see the B-Cats making a pre-draft move, so this pick could change over the next couple of weeks, but Leonard provides a nice fit with the current group.

10) Milwaukee Bucks- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
Motiejunas is a bit of an enigma. He has the talent and physical skills of a top 5 pick, and he had a good season in Europe, but for some reason he's still considered a fringe lottery pick. He fits well in Milwaukee next to Andrew Bogut, a physical back-to-the-basket big man.

11) Golden State Warriors- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
Morris isn't the best fit, but at this point the Warriors might be forced to draft BPA. I'm sure they'll also consider Jordan Hamilton, who is a much better fit but not as good of a value.

12) Utah Jazz- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
Singleton is the premier defensive player in this draft class. He should be able to produce early and eventually constitute a good stylistic replacement for Andrei Kirilenko.

13) Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
Hamilton is at his best in transition, but can also create his own shot and defend multiple positions, making him a great fit in Phoenix. Some question whether he has lottery-level talent, but he's higher on my board than Alec Burks, and in a draft like this you've got to gamble to win big.

14) Houston Rockets- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)
Kyle Lowry had a great year in '10-'11 and seems to have established a hold on the starting job in Houston, but Fredette would be a great addition (in the Jamal Crawford role) for a promising '11-'12 Rockets' team.

15) Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
The Pacers could be a team on the rise if they can find one more piece. Morris arguably supplanted his brother as the better prospect by the end of the season and his work ethic will fit in nicely under Larry Bird and Frank Vogel.

16) Philadelphia 76ers- Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)
Philadelphia has some options at point guard, but they don't really have a true lead guard. Morris is that player. He's not a proficient outside shooter (one of the 76ers primary needs), but his transition skills will fit well with Philly's young core.

17) New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
New York needs a hard worker who can produce right away, and no one fits the bill better than Faried. He's the all-time NCAA leader in rebounding, which is highly regarded as one of the most transferable NBA skills, so this could be a great value for the Knicks.

18) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)
Honeycutt is one of the premier defensive players in this draft, and his versatility is a huge asset for the Wizards. His skills are a bit raw and he'll need some time to develop, but Honeycutt should find his niche at the next level.

19) Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
Thompson is essentially a specialist at the next level. A fantastic scorer who does little else, Thompson may struggle to stay on the court at first. Lucky for him, the object of the game is to score baskets.

20) Minnesota Timberwolves (from UTA)- Bismack Biyombo- C (Congo)
Biyombo is in line for a slide, and it could go farther than this. Minnesota will also consider a more polished prospect like Justin Harper or an electric guard like Norris Cole as well, but David Kahn needs to hit a home run.

21) Portland Trail Blazers- Norris Cole- G (Cleveland State)
Cole is a hybrid guard who can absolutely light it up. He's lightning quick and very dangerous driving to the basket. In other words, he's the polar opposite of Andre Miller. Sounds good to me.

22) Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
Denver has had good success with their other Brazilian center (Nene) and they have one of the deepest rosters in the league, making them an ideal landing spot for Noguiera, a seven-foot project.

23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)
Harper is a very skilled big man who could be able to transition to the three at the next level. He should be able to contend for minutes right away, even on a deep roster like he'll find in Houston.

24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Marshon Brooks- SG (Providence)
One of the most dangerous scorers in the NCAA this past season, Brooks will be a scary addition to a Thunder team that contended for a Western Conference title in '10-'11.

25) Boston Celtics- Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)
A bit of a homer pick, but Jackson has legit first round potential and he's a good value at this spot. He also constitutes a pretty good fit for a Celtics team that has a lot of holes in the second team.

26) Dallas Mavericks- Davis Bertans- SF (Latvia)
Dallas doesn't have a ton of immediate needs and Bertans is the highest upside player on the board, so he seems like a pretty good fit here.

27) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
New Jersey has some pieces in place, but a quality two guard will really put Deron Williams over the top. Selby may be a bit undersized, but he's a good shooter with a lot of potential who could fill that role down the line.

28) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Nikola Vucevic- C (Southern Cal)
The Bulls had good luck drafting another Southern Cal big man in the late 20's when they took Taj Gibson in 2009. Vucevic measured out as one of the biggest prospects in the class, which gives him a legitimate shot at being drafted in the first round.

29) San Antonio Spurs- Nikola Mirotic- F (Serbia)
Mirotic is one of the most talented international prospects in this class, but his contract situation is very much in question. The Spurs showed a willingness to wait on Tiago Splitter and for the potential payoff of Mirotic, they may be willing to do it again.

30) Chicago Bulls- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
Luol Deng has been discussed in the trade market for years now, but the Bulls have held on to him because they had no back up option. Harris may give them the flexibility to pull the trigger on a major trade during the upcoming season.

2011 NBA Mock Draft v13

1) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)
2) Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)
3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)
4) Cleveland Cavaliers- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)
5) Toronto Raptors- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)
6) Washington Wizards- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)
7) Sacramento Kings- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)
8) Detroit Pistons- Bismack Boyombo- F/C (Congo)
9) Charlotte Bobcats- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)
10)Milwaukee Bucks- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)
11)Golden State Warriors- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)
12)Utah Jazz- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)
13)Phoenix Suns- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)
14)Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)
15)Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)
16)Philadelphia 76ers- Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)
17)New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)
18)Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)
19)Memphis Grizzlies (from NOH)- Nikola Vucevic- C (Southern Cal)
20)Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- G (Washington State)
21)Portland Trail Blazers- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)
22)Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
23)Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Reggie Jackson- G (Boston College)
24)Oklahoma City Thunder- Darius Morris- G (Michigan)
25)Boston Celtics- Davis Bertans- F (Latvia)
26)Dallas Mavericks- Marshon Brooks- G (Providence)
27)New Jersey Nets- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)
28)Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)
29)San Antonio Spurs- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)
30)Chicago Bulls- Jordan Williams- F/C (Maryland)

Second Round Guys (In no particular order): Nikola Mirotic- F (Montenegro), Malcolm Thomas- F (SDSU), Jeremy Tyler- F (USA), Keith Benson- F/C (Oakland), Chandler Parsons- G/F (Florida), Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia), Travis Leslie- G/F (Georgia), David Lighty- G/F (Ohio State), Kyle Singler- F (Duke), Corey Joseph- G (Texas), Isaiah Thomas- G (Washington), Charles Jenkins- G (Hofstra), Demetri McCamey- G (Illinois), Shelvin Mack- G (Butler), Michael Dunigan- C (Oregon), DeAndre Liggins- G/F (Kentucky), Bojan Bogdanovic- F (Bosnia & Herzegovina), JaJuan Johnson- F (Purdue), Malcolm Lee- G (UCLA), Iman Shumpert- G (Georgia Tech), Jerome Richmond- F (Illinois), John Diebler- G (Ohio State), Jon Leuer- F (Wisconsin), Vernon Macklin- F (Florida), Matthew Bryan-Amaning- F (Washington), Xavi Rabaseda- G/F (Spain), Norris Cole- G (Cleveland State), Greg Smith- F (Fresno State), Jimmy Butler- F (Marquette), LaceDarius Dunn- G (Baylor)

2011 NBA Mock Draft (v12)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)

2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)

3. Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)

4. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)

5. Toronto Raptors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

6. Washington Wizards- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

7. Sacramento Kings- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

8. Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

9. Charlotte Bobcats- Bismack Boyombo- PF (Congo)

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

11. Golden State Warriors- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

12. Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

13. Phoenix Suns- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

14. Houston Rockets- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

15. Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)

17. New York Knicks- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)

18. Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

19. Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Reggie Jackson- PG (Boston College)

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Chris Singelton- SF (Florida State)

21. Portland Trail Blazers- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)

22. Denver Nuggets- Tyler Honeycutt- SG/SF (UCLA)

23. Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Darius Morris- PG (Michigan)

25. Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

26. Dallas Mavericks- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)

27. New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

28. Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

29. San Antonio Spurs- Shelvin Mack- PG (Butler)

30. Chicago Bulls- Nikola Mirotic- PF (Montenegro)

Official NBA Lottery Prediction

1st Pick: Combination: {4,11,12,14}- Team: 5 (Sacramento)
2nd Pick: Combination: {2,6,9,13}- Team: 2 (Cleveland)
3rd Pick: Combination: {5,12,13,14}- Team: 6 (Utah from NJN)

So the lottery order is:
1) Sacramento Kings
2) Cleveland Cavaliers
3) Utah Jazz (from NJN)
4) Minnesota Timberwolves
5) Toronto Raptors
6) Washington Wizards
7) Detroit Pistons
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)
9) Charlotte Bobcats
10) Milwaukee Bucks
11) Golden State Warriors
12) Utah Jazz
13) Phoenix Suns
14) Houston Rockets

NBA Lottery Explained

Each season the NBA holds a lottery to determine the order of the first 14 picks of its draft. The lottery is held in mid-May, 5 weeks before the resulting NBA Draft. The lottery process works as follows:
Each of the 14 teams in the lottery receives a ball corresponding to their default position based on their regular season record. For instance, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who achieved the league's worst record (17-65) are represented by ball #1, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the league's second worst team (19-63) are represented by ball #2 and so on.
Four balls are chosen at random with the order disregarded. This process results in 1,001 combinations. For simplicities' sake, one combination (11, 12, 13, 14) is disregarded, leaving 1,000 combinations. (It should be noted that 11, 12, 13, 14 has never been pulled.) For organizational purposes, consider the combinations where the four chosen balls are sorted from smallest to largest. In other words, if the four choices go 4, 9, 2, 12, the result is (2, 4, 9, 12).
Again, depending on their regular season records, teams are given a prescribed chance of winning the lottery. When two teams have the same record, they combine the number of combinations the two teams receive and then share them equally. In this year's lottery, there was only one tie- between Sacramento and New Jersey (who's pick goes to Utah in the Deron Williams trade). Instead of the 5th team getting an 8.8% chance and the 6th place team getting a 6.3% chance, they two teams each get a 7.5% chance, and a coin flip determines which team gets the remaining .1%. This year, Sacramento won the coin toss, so they'll receive 7.6% to Utah's 7.5%. These probabilities are shown below:



Using these probabilities, the league assigns the 1,000 possible combinations to the teams. Minnesota gets the first 250 combinations, then Cleveland gets the next 199, then Toronto gets the next 156, and so on until Houston gets the final 5 combinations. The combinations are shown below:



Four balls are chosen and the resulting combination determines the first pick. Then the balls are replaced and the process is completed to determine the second pick. The balls are replaced again and the process is completed a third time to determine the third pick. The remaining 11 picks are determined by the reverse order of finish (the default order shown above).
To run your own mock lottery, simply go to http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm, then enter 5, 4, 1, 14, Yes, Yes: Least to Greatest, Place Markers Off. This will give you 5 sets of 4 numbers from 1-14, which are sorted from least to greatest. If two of your first three sets correspond to the same team, disregard the repeat and use the fourth set. If it happens again, disregard the repeat and use the fifth set, and so on.
Good luck, have fun, and be sure to watch the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 ET on ESPN.

2011 NBA Mock Draft (Lottery v1)

This is the first version of the 2011 Court Visionaries' Mock Lottery. This season, the site will complete the lottery as it is conducted by the NBA. Four balls are chosen from the lottery set 1-14, and the resulting combination determines the winner of the lottery. This process is completed two more times to determine the other two lottery winners, and the remaining 11 teams are chosen by the reverse order of their regular season finish.

In the first version of the Mock Lottery, the three chosen teams were #2, #6, and #1, respectively, which resulted in the following draft order:



1) Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)
2) Sacramento Kings- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)
3) Minnesota Timberwolves- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)
4) Toronto Raptors- Terrence Jones- SF (Kentucky)
5) Washington Wizards- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)
6) Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)
7) Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Bismack Boyombo- F (Congo)
9) Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)
10) Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)
11) Golden State Warriors- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)
12) Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)
13) Phoenix Suns- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)
14) Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- SG/SF (Texas)
15) Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kentucky)
16) Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)
17) New York Knicks- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)
18) Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)
19) Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- SG (UCLA)
20) Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)
21) Portland Trail Blazers- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)
22) Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)
23) Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)
24) Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)
25) Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)
26) Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)
27) New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)
28) Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)
29) San Antonio Spurs- JuJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)
30) Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

2011 YtheFnot? NFL Mock Draft

1) Carolina Panthers- Cameron Newton- QB (Auburn) B-
2) Denver Broncos- Von Miller- OLB (Texas A&M) A
3) Buffalo Bills- Marcell Dareus- DT (Alabama) A
4) Cincinnati Bengals- A.J. Green- WR (Georgia) A-
5) Arizona Cardinals- Aldon Smith- OLB (Missouri) C
6) Cleveland Browns- Julio Jones- WR (Alabama) A
7) San Francisco 49ers- Patrick Peterson- CB (Lousiana State) A+
8) Tennessee Titans- Nick Fairley- DT (Auburn) A
9) Dallas Cowboys- Tyson Smith- OT (USC) B+
10) Washington Redskins- Blaine Gabbert- QB (Missouri) A-
11) Houston Texans- Robert Quinn- DE (North Carolina) B+
12) Minnesota Vikings- Anthony Castonzo- OT (Boston College) B
13) Detroit Lions- Prince Amukamara- CB (Nebraska) A
14) St. Louis Rams- Corey Liuget- DT (Illinois) B-
15) Miami Dolphins- Mike Pouncey- OG (Florida) A-
16) Jacksonville Jaguars- Da’Quan Bowers- DE (Clemson) A-
17) New England Patriots- Cameron Jordan- DE (California) A
18) San Diego Chargers- J.J. Watt- DE (Wisconsin) B+
19) New York Giants- Nate Solder- OT (Colorado) B-
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ryan Kerrigan- DE (Purdue) B
21) Kansas City Chiefs- Muhammad Wilkerson- DE (Temple) A-
22) Indianapolis Colts- Gabe Carimi- OT (Wisconsin) A
23) Philadelphia Eagles- Jimmy Smith- CB (Colorado) B+
24) New Orleans Saints- Adrian Clayborn- DE (Iowa) B-
25) Seattle Seahawks- Jake Locker- QB (Washington) C
26) Baltimore Ravens- Danny Watkins- G (Baylor) B
27) Atlanta Falcons- Akeem Ayers- OLB (UCLA) B+
28) New England Patriots- Mark Ingram- RB (Alabama) A
29) Chicago Bears- Cameron Heyward- DE (Ohio State) B+
30) New York Jets- Phil Taylor- DT (Baylor) B-
31) Pittsburgh Steelers- Aaron Williams- CB (Texas) B+
32) Green Bay Packers- Brooks Reed- DE (Arizona) B-

2011 NBA Mock Draft v9

1)      Minnesota Timberwolves- Derrick Williams- SF (Arizona)

2)     Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)

3)      Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- C (Turkey)

4)      Washington Wizards- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

5)      Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Terrence Jones- SF (Kentucky)

6)      Sacramento Kings- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

7)      Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

8)      Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Bismack Boyombo- PF (Congo)

9)      Charlotte Bobcats- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

10)   Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

11)   Golden State Warriors- Kawhi Leonard- SF (San Diego State)

12)   Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

13)   Phoenix Suns- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

14)   Houston Rockets- Jordan Hamilton- SG (Texas)

15)   Indiana Pacers- Markieff Morris- PF (Kentucky)

16)   Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

17)   New York Knicks- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

18)   Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)

19)   Charlotte Bobcats (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- SG (UCLA)

20)   Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)

21)   Portland Trail Blazers- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

22)   Denver Nuggets- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)

23)   Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Justin Harper- PF (Richmond)

24)   Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)

25)   Boston Celtics- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

26)   Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

27)   New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)

28)   Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

29)   San Antonio Spurs- JuJuan Johnson- PF (Purdue)

30)   Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

Playoff projections

Eastern Conference

Chicago over Indiana in 5
Miami over Philly in 5
Boston over New York in 6
Orlando over Atlanta in 5

Orlando over Chicago in 6
Miami over Boston in 7

Miami over Orlando in 6

Western Conference

San Antonio over Memphis in 5
LA Lakers over New Orleans in 6
Portland over Dallas in 7
Oklahoma City over Denver in 6

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 7
LA Lakers over Portland in 6

LA Lakers over Oklahoma City in 6

FINALS

LA Lakers over Miami in 6
MVP: Kobe Bryant

2011 NBA Mock Draft v8

1)   Cleveland Cavaliers- Derrick Willimas- F (Arizona)

2)      Minnesota Timberwolves- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

3)      Washington Wizards- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

4)      Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

5)      Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

6)      Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

7)      Detroit Pistons- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

8)      Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

9)      Milwaukee Bucks- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

10)   Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

11)   Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

12)   Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- G (BYU)

13)   Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

14)   Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

15)   Indiana Pacers- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

16)   New York Knicks- Kenneth Faried-F (Morehead State)

17)   Philadelphia 76ers- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

18)   Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Tyler Honeycutt- G/F (UCLA)

19)   Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

20)   Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Justin Harper- F (Richmond)

21)   Charlotte Bobcats (from POR)- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)

22)   Denver Nuggets- Thomas Robinson- F (Kansas)

23)   Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

24)   Oklahoma City Thunder- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

25)   Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)

26)   Boston Celtics- Klay Thompson- G (Washington State)

27)   Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

28)   New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)

29)   Chicago Bulls- Nikola Mirotic- F (Serbia)

30)   San Antonio Spurs- Lucas Noguiera- C (Brazil)

2011 NBA Mock v7

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

Cleveland has reportedly taken a liking to Irving, but Irving's injury and Perry Jones' superstar potential would lead me to question this pick a bit.

2. Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

In the NBA it's all about upside, and no one has more in this class than Perry Jones. Imagine a core of Jones, Tyreke Evans, and DeMarcus Cousins. A little crazy, but a lot talented.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)

Sullinger has had a great freshman year at Ohio State, and he has the type of physical low-post game that translates well at the next level. He's a bit redundant on this roster, but he's the BPA by a fair margin.

4. Washington Wizards- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

Jones has been relatively quiet lately, but he remains one of the most versatile players in this draft. He seems like exactly the type of player who could benefit from John Wall's elite athleticism off a pop or a roll.

5. Toronto Raptors- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

Barnes' stock has really taken a hit throughout the season, but he has above average athleticism and a great feel for the game. I would love to see a core of Barnes, Bargnani, and DeRozan in Toronto.

6. Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)

Williams has finally taken a step away from his relative anonymity over the last couple of weeks, and if he can put his hand injury behind him, I expect him to be one of the stars of March Madness. Utah is in a great position to get two solid players in this draft, and Williams' brand of versatility is a great start.

7. Detroit Pistons- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

Greg Monroe looks like one of the steals of the 2010 Draft, but the Pistons still have work to do up front. Kanter is a relative unknown, but he has good size and physical skills. He's widely regarded as one of the "Elite 7" in this draft, so Detroit would be happy to land him here.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

Considering the players who project to be available here, maybe Irving was the right choice at the top. Leonard projects as kind of a glue guy at the next level, and that's something every rebuilding team could use.

9. Milwaukee Bucks- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

Milwaukee made mass roster moves last summer, but they find themselves looking up at the eight seed in a weak Eastern Conference because of a lack of consistent perimeter scoring. As the best pure scorer in the draft, Hamilton fills that need nicely.

10. Charlotte Bobcats- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

This is a perfect fit. Charlotte somehow finds themselves in the midst of the playoff race despite the lack of a true lead guard. I love Knight's intangibles and he seems like the type of player who would benefit from Michael Jordan's "tutelage".

11. Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

I've watched enough Warriors' games this season to say without a doubt that Andris Biedrins' best days are officially behind him. Considering that those "best days" were never that good to start with, Golden State could afford to take a shot on a promising young big man.

12. Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

If you're a stat geek like me, you have to love Darryl Morey. Although the Rockets are vastly underperforming this season, Houston fans have reason to be optimistic. Luis Scola is on one of the better contracts in the league, Patrick Patterson has been a revelation over the past few weeks (Called it!), and Morey was able to obtain two first round picks for a small downgrade at backup point guard and an aging veteran. Vesely has the intensity and athleticism to be a suitable replacement for Shane Battier and could end up being a steal at #12.

13. Utah Jazz- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)

Before Deron Williams even heard about his trade to New Jersey on ESPN, Jazz fans were clamoring for the in-state product. Fredette's value to Utah far outweighs his ability on the court because he'll be a fan favorite from the tap on opening night.

14. Phoenix Suns- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

Phoenix spent a lot of money on a crop of mediocre big men last summer, and now find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture. Morris is one of the more complete players in this class, and may be able to extend Steve Nash's career all by himself.

15. Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

As it turns out, the Pacers pick him not because he's white, but because Tyler Hansbrough sucks.

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

After the 76ers selected Evan Turner in the 2010 Draft, I gave birth to this nugget: "Philly has no one who can shoot the 3. Watching them will be like watching Big 10 basketball." They may be a playoff team, but that doesn't make me wrong. Burks might be the best pure shooter in this class, making him a good value at #16.

17. New York Knicks- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

Has anybody out there been watching the Big East Tournament? This guy loves the big stage, and has the speed to be perfect in Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun system.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

Selby is a bit of a wild card at this point, but Minnesota has a huge need at shooting guard and an ongoing inability to lure free agent talent, making a bit of a reach here understandable.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)

I've seen Henson in the top 10 in some mocks, but I think he could be in for a slide on draft night. The physical skills are phenomenal, but it takes more than that to succeed at the next level. With that said, as the draft progresses and his value continues to grow, someone is bound to take a flier on him.

20. Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

Thompson is a really promising young player who would provide a great value at this spot. Denver is a team with a lot of depth, so a bit of a boom-or-bust risk here makes a lot of sense.

21. Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)

Like John Henson, Honeycutt is a guy who looks more like a player than he actually is. To me, that means that most mock projections will be a little optimistic.

22. Charlotte Bobcats (from POR)- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)

This is a great value for a guy who has really turned it on as of late. I love the Jayhawks as we move into the tournament, and Markieff may find himself in the top 20 when all is said and done.

23. Houston Rockets (from ORL via PHO)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

Houston has had luck with international big men, and considering their depth and multiple first round selections, a young international player makes a lot of sense.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

Backup point guard isn't a huge need for OKC, but if I know Sam Presti like I think I do, he'll grab the BPA here, and that's Smith.

25. Chicago Bulls (from MIA via TOR)- Travis Leslie- G (Georgia)

Chicago's principle need is an outside shooter. Leslie isn't a great one, but he's got good size and basketball IQ, and should have a long career as an NBA rotation player.

26. New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)

Word around the league is that the Nets have been looking for a bruising big man for several years now, and Faried fits the bill. He's a great value, as rebounding is the most transferable NBA skill, and Faried is the best ever at the college level.

27. Chicago Bulls- Kyle Singler- F (Duke)

It's unlikely that the Bulls will keep both of their late first rounders, but if so, Singler would be a pretty nice fit due to his versatility and scoring ability.

28. Dallas Mavericks- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

Thompkins has been a very consistent player this year, and has likely vaulted himself into the first round. Some believe he's a lottery pick, but I'm not quite sold. He is, however, a wonderful value at #28.

29. Boston Celtics- JaJuan Johnson- F (Purdue)

Boston could potentially lose half of its roster to retirement this summer, specifically in the frontcourt, so an NBA ready big man like Johnson would be a great fit.

30. San Antonio Spurs- Corey Joseph- G (Texas)

Joseph needs to refine his shot selection, but he has good physical skills and solid intangibles, which makes him a good fit for a San Antonio franchise that regularly molds raw players into solid NBA contributers.

2011 NBA Mock Draft v6

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)

2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

3. Sacramento Kings- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)

4. Washington Wizards- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

5. Toronto Raptors- Kyrie Irving- (Duke)

6. Utah Jazz (from NJN)- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)

7. Detroit Pistons- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LAC)- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

9. Milwaukee Bucks- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

10. Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

11. Golden State Warriors- Jonas Valanciunas- F/C (Lithuania)

12. Houston Rockets- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

13. Phoenix Suns- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

14. Utah Jazz- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

15. Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

16. Philadelphia 76ers- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

17. Denver Nuggets (from NYK)- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

19. Portland Trail Blazers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)

20. Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

21. Charlotte Bobcats (from POR via NOH)- John Henson- F (North Carolina)

22. Washington Wizards (from ATL)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

23. Houston Rockets (from PHO via ORL)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)

25. New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)

26. Chicago Bulls- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

27. Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

28. Chicago Bulls (from TOR via MIA)- Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

29. Boston Celtics- JaJuan Johnson- F/C (Purdue)

30. San Antonio Spurs- Demetri McCamey- G (Illinois)

Carmelo-Knicks Reaction

New York Knicks:

The price was steep, maybe too steep considering Carmelo Anthony's well-documented intentions. It appeared to everyone outside of "the know" that upon opting out this summer Anthony would sign with the Knicks, and only the Knicks, making such a trade superfluous. However, as we've seen before (I'm looking at you, Carlos Boozer!), appearances aren't everything, and crazy things can (and do) happen. Donnie Walsh, James Dolan and (depending on who you believe) Isaiah Thomas did what they had to do in order to ensure Melo's long-term services, and no one can blame them for that.

The 2010-2011 Knicks may not be a "super team" according to the contemporary definition, but if the pending CBA cooperates, the 2011-2012 Knicks very well could be. For better or worse, this whole soap opera was nothing if not an illumination of the inherent gravity of the New York media market. That fact, along with the current landscape of the NBA, almost guarantees that a third "star" will inevitably and eventually land in The Big Apple. Whether it be Chris Paul, Deron Williams, or some other dark horse (my current favorite is Timberwolves' property Ricky Rubio), Walsh et. al won't be placated until they have their own "Big 3".

All four players headed to Denver had started for the Knicks during the '10-'11 season, but only two players heading back to Manhattan are first-team quality players, so depth (specifically in the frontcourt) really does become the issue. Chauncey Billups and Landry Fields will start in the backcourt, with Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and presumably Ronny Turiaf logging heavy minutes up front. New York will bring Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and Corey Brewer (among others) off the bench, but Shelden Williams and Shawne Williams will have to hold down the frontcourt for the Knicks' second team.

The Knicks are currently 5 ½ games behind Atlanta for the 5^th seed in the East, slated to play the Chicago Bulls in the first round if the season ended today. While a meteoric rise is certainly possible over the season's last 27 or 28 games, it seems unlikely, especially with the Knicks' rotation changing so drastically. With that said, the current seedings are about the best the Knicks could imagine. As noted, the Knicks' biggest weakness is frontcourt depth, which would be the most vulnerable against Boston's deep frontcourt group and Orlando's Dwight Howard, two teams the Knickerbockers would avoid until at least the Conference Finals under the current standings.

Even if everything works out perfectly for New York's not-so-super team, their lack of depth would be exposed by the physicality of the elite teams in the West. The best-case scenario for the '10-'11 Knicks is a Conference Finals loss, while their worst-case scenario is a First Round loss.

Denver Nuggets:

The Nuggets aren't necessarily done wheeling and dealing, but they're already well on their way to rebuilding in the post-Carmelo era. Moving forward, it appears that Ty Lawson, Aaron Afflalo, Nene Hilario, and Chris Anderson are the only players Denver is truly committed to keeping. Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington are essentially untradeable because of their contract situations, but any and all of the incoming former Knicks are moveable. Sources say the Nuggets have moved their focus to working out an extension with Nene, the Nuggets de facto franchise player, who has an Early Termination Option this summer. There has also been speculation that Denver is fielding offers for newly-acquired forward Danilo Gallinari, with teams such as the Nets, Clippers, Cavaliers, and Raptors all interested. The compensation would likely be draft considerations rather than physical assets because of salary and luxury tax implications.

The remaining pieces in Denver may not be enough to secure a playoff spot in the very competitive Western Conference this season, but the Nuggets will save roughly $25 million in salary and luxury tax this year alone, along with the young pieces and draft picks acquired in the deal. After seeing Cleveland and Toronto lose their superstars last summer for pennies on the dollar, the Nuggets have to be ecstatic about their haul for Anthony.

Minnesota Timberwolves:

The Wolves' role in this deal is largely an afterthought, but in actuality, it may have been the most important domino to fall. Previous reports had the Timberwolves sending Corey Brewer and a first round draft pick in exchange for Anthony Randolph's services and Eddy Curry's fat gut. As it turned out, Minnesota was enamored with Randolph, but unwilling to part with an immensely valuable future draft selection. GM David Kahn realized that no Timberwolves' involvement meant no Carmelo for the Knicks, and was able to leverage that fact into a very favorable deal for the Wolves.

Brewer and Curry are eligible to become free agents after the season, and with New York picking up $3 million of Curry's cap number, the salary difference for the rest of the season is minimal (between $1 and $1.5 million). Randolph, on the other hand, has two years remaining on his deal, and is eligible for a qualifying offer in the summer of 2012.

In the end, the Timberwolves got the player they truly coveted for a below-average asset and under $2 million in cash, without sacrificing any future draft considerations, which has to be considered a success for a rebuilding, young franchise.

2011 NBA Mock Draft: All Star Edition

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-46): Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-43): Jared Sullinger- F/C (Ohio State)

3. Sacramento Kings (13-40): Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

4. Toronto Raptors (15-41): Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

5. Washington Wizards (15-39): Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)

6. New Jersey Nets (17-40): Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

7. Detroit Pistons (21-36): Enes Kanter- F/C (Turkey)

8. Los Angeles Clippers (21-35): Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

9. Milwaukee Bucks (21-34): Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

10. Charlotte Bobcats (24-32): Jonas Valanciunas- F/C (Lithuania)

11. Houston Rockets (26-31): Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

12. Golden State Warriors (26-29): Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

13. Phoenix Suns (27-27): Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

14. Memphis Grizzlies (31-26): Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)

15. Indiana Pacers (24-30): Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)

16. Philadelphia 76ers (27-29): Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)

17. New York Knicks (28-26): Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

18. Utah Jazz (31-26): Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

19. Denver Nuggets (32-25): Tristan Thompson- F (Texas)

20. Portland Trail Blazers (via NOH- 33-25): Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)

21. Portland Trail Blazers (32-24): Corey Joseph- G (Texas)

22. Atlanta Hawks (34-21): John Henson- F (North Carolina)

23. Phoenix Suns (via ORL- 36-21): Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-19): Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)

25. Los Angeles Lakers (38-19): Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

26. Chicago Bulls (38-16): Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

27. Dallas Mavericks (40-16): Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

28. Toronto Raptors (via MIA- 41-15): Trey Thompkins- F (Georgia)

29. Boston Celtics (40-14): Kris Joseph- F (Syracuse)

30. San Antonio Spurs (46-10): Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v4

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Perry Jones- F (Baylor)

2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- F (Ohio State)

3. Sacramento Kings- Kyrie Irving- G (Duke)

4. Toronto Raptors- Enes Kanter- F (Turkey)

5. Washington Wizards- Jan Vesely- F (Czech Republic)

6. New Jersey Nets- Harrison Barnes- F (North Carolina)

7. Detroit Pistons- Brandon Knight- G (Kentucky)

8. Los Angeles Clippers- Kawhi Leonard- F (San Diego State)

9. Milwaukee Bucks- Terrence Jones- F (Kentucky)

10. Charlotte Bobcats- Kemba Walker- G (Connecticut)

11. Indiana Pacers- Derrick Williams- F (Arizona)

12. Golden State- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

13. Houston Rockets- Marcus Morris- F (Kansas)

14. Phoenix Suns- Jordan Hamilton- G/F (Texas)

15. Philadelphia 76ers- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

16. New York Knicks- Jimmer Fredette- G (Brigham Young)

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MEM)- Alec Burks- G (Colorado)

18. Denver Nuggets- Tobias Harris- F (Tennessee)

19. Portland Trail Blazers- Markieff Morris- F (Kansas)

20. Utah Jazz- Josh Selby- G (Kansas)

21. Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Tyler Honeycutt- F (UCLA)

22. Phoenix Suns (from ORL)- Kenneth Faried- F (Morehead State)

23. Atlanta Hawks- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Nolan Smith- G (Duke)

25. Los Angeles Lakers- LaceDarius Dunn- G (Baylor)

26. Chicago Bulls- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

27. Dallas Mavericks- Mason Plumlee- F (Duke)

28. Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Kris Joseph- F (Syracuse)

29. Boston Celtics- Chris Singleton- F (Florida State)

30. San Antonio Spurs- Corey Joseph- G (Texas)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v3 (2 Rounds)

All trade information was gathered from Hoops World's NBA Draft Pick Debt: (http://www.hoopsworld.com/DraftPickDebt.asp)

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Perry Jones- SF/PF (Baylor)

I'm not as high on Jones as most, but he has huge buzz and the highest ceiling in this class. He is very raw, but let's be honest, Cleveland is still several years away.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves- Kyrie Irving- PG (Duke)

Irving is a bit of an injury risk, but he was the best player in the country before he got hurt. Jonny Flynn hasn't proven to be an NBA starter, so the Wolves need a contingency plan if the rumors about Ricky Rubio's small market aversions are true.

3. Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)

The Kings could use a true point guard, but they also need to close the revolving door at the three. They have a promising young core, and Barnes could really tie it together nicely.

4. Toronto Raptors- Jared Sullinger- PF (Ohio State)

To steal a phrase from Dennis Green, the Raptors are who we thought they were. Their long losing streak included a convincing loss to Minnesota, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Raps in the top 3 come draft night. Sullinger has been very productive and is the perfect inside compliment to Andrea Bargnani's outside game.

5. Washington Wizards- Terrence Jones- PF (Kentucky)

Jones is extremely versatile, and if Rashard Lewis sticks around, the pair would be impossible to defend for opposing front courts.

6. New Jersey Nets- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

There's no one on the board who provides a great fit for the Nets here, so they tab Valanciunas, an 18-year old 7-footer with huge upside.

7. Detroit Pistons- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

I'm as confused as the next guy when it comes to Detroit's recent decision making, but one thing is for sure- starting Tracy McGrady at point guard is not a sustainable plan. Rodney Stuckey has been good, but he still hasn't proven that he has what it takes to run a team.

8. Indiana Pacers- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)

This is shaping up to be another power forward draft, and with Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts at the top of the depth chart, that appears to be a benefit to the Pacers. Kanter and Derrick Williams are the options here, but since the Pacers seem to like their power forwards white, they'll pick Kanter.

9. Los Angeles Clippers- Derrick Williams- PF (Arizona)

The Clippers could still use a point guard, but after going small in the 2010 draft, it's time to tab a big man. Williams is a great value at this spot, and his versatility may allow the Clips to play Williams and Blake Griffin at the three and four or the four and five.

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

Motiejunas has been a heralded prospect for a while now, so it's hard to see him dropping out of the top 10. The Bucks biggest need is at power forward, and Brandon Jennings' penetration ability makes a stretch four a nice fit.

11. Golden State Warriors- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)

It really is too bad that Valanciunas is off the board, because he would look great in Golden State. As it is, Hamilton will be a nice fit due to his length and ability to score the basketball.

12. Houston Rockets- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

Vesely is having a down year, but he's still young and could turn into a bargain at #12. The Rockets have a ton of depth at every position but small forward, so drafting a three to stash in Europe for a year or two makes a lot of sense.

13. Phoenix Suns- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

I love Knight's intangibles, and I'm much higher on him than most. Steve Nash is getting up there in age, and he's been reported to be on the trade block. In any event, the Suns will need a point guard sooner or later.

14. Memphis Grizzlies- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

O.J. Mayo appears to be on his way out of Memphis, leaving a whole at the two guard spot. Selby is a proficient scorer with great upside.

15. Charlotte Bobcats- Kawhi Leonard- PF (San Diego State)

Tyrus Thomas is quickly establishing himself as a bust, so the Bobcats could use some extra beef up front. Leonard is athletic and physical and has shown the ability to take on a leadership role on a winning team.

16. Philadelphia 76ers- John Henson- PF (North Carolina)

I like to think I know a thing or two about basketball, but for the life of me I can't figure out how the 76ers keep winning. Elton Brand has improved drastically, but the team still lacks depth and outside shooting, and 2010 first-rounder Evan Turner has done very little. Henson has great length, athleticism and versatility, which makes him a good fit on a team I don't understand.

17. New York Knicks- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

Who knows what the Knicks will look like in 2011-2012? All I know for sure is that they're looking for shooters, so if they're still picking at this spot, Burks will the the guy.

18. Portland Trail Blazers- Jimmer Fredette- PG (BYU)

Fredette doesn't look like the prototypical NBA player, but the guy can get the job done. He might not be a lottery guy as far as NBA scouts are concerned, but he's worth the risk at #18.

19. Utah Jazz- Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)

Andrei Kirilenko won't play forever, and adding a scorer like Harris will make Deron Williams' life much easier.

20. Denver Nuggets- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

Thompson has been moving up draft boards, and could easily land in the lottery, but this draft is very deep in the middle of the first round, so falling a few spots isn't outside of the question either.

21. Atlanta Hawks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

I'm very high on Morris, a very well-rounded power forward with a winning pedigree. Atlanta is very thin, especially in the frontcourt, so Morris would have plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Lucas Nogueira- C (Brazil)

If there are two things the Blazers love, they are centers and international prospects. Nogueira has both covered.

23. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kenneth Faried- PF (Morehead State)

Faried is one of the best rebounders in college basketball history, and rebounding is perhaps the most transferrable skill from college to the pros. Sam Presti knows exactly what he's doing, so grabbing a productive player like Faried seems right up his alley.

24. Phoenix Suns (from ORL)- Tyler Honeycutt- SF (UCLA)

Honeycutt is a versatile player who could benefit from a couple of years learning behind a proven veteran leader like Grant Hill.

25. Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

Singler has been a consistent performer over an extended period. He may be the next Adam Morrison, but rolling the dice at #25 wouldn't be a terrible idea for the Fighting Cubans.

26. Los Angeles Lakers- LaceDarius Dunn- PG/SG (Baylor)

Dunn is a shot creator who could take some of the scoring load off of Kobe Bryant. He's less than a great guy, but maybe he can get hooked up with Ron Artest's psychiatrist.

27. Chicago Bulls- Markieff Morris- PF (Kansas)

The other Morris twin has really stepped into the spotlight over the last couple of weeks. He's moved into first round consideration, where the Bulls could use the services of a consistent, level-headed big man.

28. Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)

Taylor won't ever be a superstar in the NBA, but he's got good athleticism and intangibles. He appears to be an NBA "glue guy" in the making.

29. Boston Celtics- CJ Leslie- SF (North Carolina State)

Leslie was a big time recruit for the Wolfpack, but his season has been underwhelming to this point. Still, he has one-and-done written all over him, and the aging Celtics will be looking to hit a home run late in the first round.

30. San Antonio Spurs- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)

With Kyrie Irving on the floor, Plumlee looked like a lottery pick. Without him, he looks like a Euro Pro. However, his size and athleticism have to intrigue scouts. The Spurs front line is aging rapidly, and Plumlee would be a good fit alongside DeJuan Blair down the road.

31. Cleveland Cavaliers- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)

32. Miami Heat (from MIN)- Corey Joseph- PG (Texas)

33. Sacramento Kings- Kalin Lucas- PG (Michigan State)

34. Detroit Pistons (from TOR)- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)

35. New Jersey Nets- Rodney Williams- SF (Minnesota)

36. Washington Wizards- Nolan Smith- PG (Duke)

37. Los Angeles Clippers (from DET)- Keith Benson- C (Oakland)

38. Los Angeles Clippers- Elias Harris- SF (Gonzaga)

39. Indiana Pacers- Scotty Hopson- SG (Tennessee)

40. Los Angeles Lakers (from GSW via NJN)- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

41. Milwaukee Bucks- Chris Wright- SF (Dayton)

42. Atlanta Hawks (from HOU)- Patric Young- PF (Florida)

43. Chicago Bulls (from PHO)- JuJuan Johnson- PF/C (Purdue)

44. Houston Rockets (from MEM)- Aaric Murray- C (La Salle)

45. Charlotte Bobcats- Kris Joseph- SF (Syracuse)

46. Philadelphia 76ers- Tyshawn Taylor- PG/SG (Kansas)

47. Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Pullen- PG/SG (Kansas State)

48. Los Angeles Lakers (from NYK)- Bojan Bogdanovic- SF (B & H)

49. Golden State Warriors (from UTA via CHI)- Mouphtaou Yarou- PF (Villanova)

50. Denver Nuggets- Malcolm Lee- PG (UCLA)

51. Atlanta Hawks- Demetri McCamey- PG (Illinois)

52. Miami Heat (from OKC)- Renardo Sidney- PF/C (Mississippi State)

53. New Orleans Hornets- JaMychal Green- PF (Alabama)

54. Orlando Magic- Doron Lamb- SG (Kentucky)

55. Dallas Mavericks- Arnett Moultrie- PF (UTEP)

56. Los Angeles Lakers- Pablo Aguilar- PF (Spain)

57. Los Angeles Lakers (from MIA)- Klay Thompson- SG (Washington State)

58. Sacramento Kings (from CHI via MIL)- Alex Oriakhi- PF (Connecticut)

59. Boston Celtics- Andrew Nicholson- PF (St. Bonaventure)

60. San Antonio Spurs- Nikola Mirotic- PF (Montenegro)

2011 NBA Mock Draft v2

1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Harrison Barnes- SF (North Carolina)

2. Sacramento Kings- Perry Jones- PF (Baylor)

3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jared Sullinger- PF (Ohio State)

4. New Jersey Nets- Terrence Jones- PF (Kentucky)

5. Washington Wizards- Enes Kanter- PF (Turkey)

6. Detroit Pistons- Donatas Motiejunas- PF (Lithuania)

7. Toronto Raptors- Kemba Walker- PG (Connecticut)

8. Los Angeles Clippers- Brandon Knight- PG (Kentucky)

9. Milwaukee Bucks- Derrick Williams- PF (Arizona)

10. Philadelphia 76ers- Jan Vesely- SF (Czech Republic)

11. Golden State Warriors- Josh Selby- SG (Kansas)

12. Phoenix Suns- John Henson- PF (North Carolina)

13. Houston Rockets- Jonas Valanciunas- C (Lithuania)

14. Memphis Grizzlies- Kawhi Leonard- PF (San Diego State)

15. Charlotte Bobcats- Tristan Thompson- PF (Texas)

16. Indiana Pacers- Alec Burks- SG (Colorado)

17. Portland Trail Blazers- Jimmer Fredette- PG (Brigham Young)

18. Denver Nuggets- Jordan Hamilton- SF (Texas)

19. New York Knicks- Tobias Harris- SF (Tennessee)

20. Portland Trail Blazers (from NOH)- Mason Plumlee- PF (Duke)

21. Atlanta Hawks- Marcus Morris- PF (Kansas)

22. Chicago Bulls- Travis Leslie- SG (Georgia)

23. Orlando Magic- Chris Singleton- SF (Florida State)

24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jeff Taylor- SF (Vanderbilt)

25. Utah Jazz- Tyler Honeycutt- SF (UCLA)

26. Dallas Mavericks- Kyle Singler- SF (Duke)

27. New Jersey Nets (from LAL)- LaceDarius Dunn- SG (Baylor)

28. Toronto Raptors (from MIA)- Trey Thompkins- PF (Georgia)

29. Boston Celtics- JuJuan Johnson- C (Purdue)

30. San Antonio Spurs- Patric Young- PF (Florida)