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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
Indiana Pacers- Donatas Motiejunas- F (Lithuania)
As it turns out, the Pacers pick him not because he's white, but because Tyler Hansbrough sucks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
