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2011 NBA Mock Draft
2012 NBA Mock Draft
Posted: June 11, 2011.
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Washington Wizards: John Wall, PG, Kentucky, 6-4, Fr. 
Actual Pick: John Wall, PG, Kentucky
(David Kay) Without question, Wall is the cream of this year’s rookie crop. He displayed the abilities to be the next great point guard in the NBA. If it were not for Blake Griffin taking the league by storm, Wall would hands down be the Rookie of the Year.
(Peter Christian) No doubt that Wall was the best fit for the No. 1 pick. He’s a stud in the making. He’s already at a point where he just needs to work on his shooting to become an elite point guard.
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Philadelphia 76ers: DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky, 6-11, Fr.
Actual Pick: Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State
(PC) Cousins fell out of top 2-3 consideration because of his label as a bit of a headcase, and even though it has come to fruition in Sacramento, his first few months in the league have been very successful. The Sixers took Turner because he was supposed to be Mr. Versatile and could fit with almost any rotation they put on the floor. That hasn’t been the case yet. Cousins might not fill an immediate need for the 76ers but his ability would likely make some of the team’s current bigs (who make a lot more money) expendable.
(DK) Cousins is without question the second best rookie in this class but you hit the nail on the head with his maturity issues. I actually think he would fill an immediate need for Philly at center as he would easily log more minutes than Spencer Hawes or Marreese Speights, and also allow Elton Brand to play more at the four.
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New Jersey Nets: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech, 6-10, Fr. 
Actual Pick: Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech
(DK) Remember, at the time of the draft, the Nets only had a handful of players under contract so they were in a “take the best available prospect” position and would once again do so with Favors.
(PC) I think the argument could be made for Greg Monroe at this pick, especially since his rebounding numbers jumped in the second half of the season. However, I’m still pretty sure Favors has more potential than Monroe, so I’m not going to disagree here.
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson, SF, Syracuse, 6-8, Jr. 
Actual Pick: Wesley Johnson, SG/SF, Syracuse
(PC) I can’t believe that the 2010 NCAA POY in Evan Turner would slip past the Timberwolves if we took a mulligan on the 2010 NBA Draft, but I’m sticking with the better shooting Wesley Johnson for the Wolves. Johnson and Turner had nearly identical stat lines with one glaring exception: three-point shooting. The Wolves really needed a shooter on draft night (prior to acquiring Martell Webster).
(DK) Honestly, I would have gone with Paul George here. The T-Wolves won’t be a playoff team anytime in the near future and I think George has shown the potential to be a better long-term player than Wesley.
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Sacramento Kings: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina, 6-10, So. 
Actual Pick: DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, Kentucky
(DK) You can eliminate Evan Turner because he would not complement Tyreke Evans, as the two are too similar in their need to have the ball in their hands to be successful. Davis edges out Greg Monroe because I think his ceiling is greater.
(PC) I’m not as convinced on Ed Davis’ ceiling being higher than Monroe’s. Monroe has impressed me since the calender changed to 2011 and I would lean to taking him over Davis, but Davis has shown glimpses of NBA ability as well. I’d call that choice a coin flip.
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Golden State Warriors: Greg Monroe, PF, Georgetown, 6-11, So. 
Actual Pick: Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor
(PC) Golden State thought they were getting a shot-blocking machine in Udoh to create a formidable front line with David Lee’s rebounding skills. And while Udoh might be that player someday, it probably won’t be for Golden State. He struggles to find minutes and hasn’t produced when he has been on the floor. Monroe has been a solid rookie contributor and would be a better choice for the Warriors.
(DK) Agreed. A preseason injury derailed the start to Udoh’s NBA career as he missed the first month and a half of the year. Monroe seems like the better prospect though he is the not the defensive-minded big the Warriors were looking for in this draft.
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Detroit Pistons: Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State, 6-7, Jr. 
Actual Pick: Greg Monroe, PF/C, Georgetown
(DK) Detroit sorely needed a big man out of this draft but with Davis and Monroe coming off the board with the last two picks, they are better served taking Turner than any other big. He would fit the role that Tracy McGrady is currently playing in Detroit since McGrady was not yet on the Pistons at the time of the draft. I still think Turner can be a solid pro, it just seems like he does not fit in Philly which was a concern of many when the 76ers took him second overall.
(PC) Yeah, this is too far for Turner to fall. If Turner had slipped this far some GM would have made a Godfather offer to jump up and grab him. I mean, he’s struggled at times but everyone agrees he’s still an NBA player, no?
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Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Bledsoe, PG, Kentucky, 6-1, Fr.
Actual Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest
(PC) Bledsoe has been a bit of a surprise for the Clippers who was taken 18th by the Oklahoma City Thunder then traded to the Clips on draft day. This pick leaves them thin at the three, but Bledsoe has a bright future as an NBA point guard.
(DK) With Paul George and Landry Fields still on the board, I would think the Clips take one of them.
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Utah Jazz: Paul George, G/F, Fresno State, 6-9, So. 
Actual Pick: Gordon Hayward, SF, Butler
(DK) This would be a great value for the Jazz at No. 9. As the season has moved along, George has shown tremendous upside due to his athleticism and potential.
(PC) Paul George is a great pick at No. 9. He could immediately help the Jazz while also developing into an established NBA player for years to come. It’s hard to believe a player like George slid in our re-do, but he did just that.
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Indiana Pacers: Landry Fields, G/F, Stanford 
Actual Pick: Paul George, SF, Fresno State
(PC) Fields was a second0round pick last June, but he’s a top 10 pick in the re-do draft. On the Knicks, Fields has flourished as an everyman who has multiple talents and can fill many different voids for the Pacers who could use some versatility in their lineup which is why they originally chose George.
(DK) Based on his production this season, Fields is a steal at No. 10. However, I cannot help but wonder if his success stems from a good situation playing in an up-tempo Knicks offense or if he is just a diamond in the rough who slipped through the cracks a la Wesley Matthews a year ago.
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New Orleans Hornets: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, Wake Forest, 6-9, So. 
Actual Pick: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
(DK) If the Hornets had to do it over, I think they keep this pick rather than make a trade with the Thunder to get two picks in the 20s since the depth in this class has been so weak. At the time of the draft, Trevor Ariza had not been acquired by New Orleans whose main small forward option was Peja Stojakovic. Aminu would not have been an immediate solution beyond contributing off the bench but would give them a better option for the future than the Quincy Pondexter/Craig Brackins selections they made with the 21st and 26th picks.
(PC) In my mind Aminu is the last of the decent in the 2010 NBA draft so this pick fits the “best available” mold and also the biggest need for the Hornets. Can’t argue with this one.
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Memphis Grizzlies: James Anderson, SG, Oklahoma State, 6-6, Jr. 
Actual Pick: Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas
(PC) It’s my professional opinion that the rest of this draft class sucks so the Grizzlies are taking a player that could best help them moving forward. Anderson has enough size to play the two or the three (though he’s a shooting guard to the core) and he’s an excellent shooter. The Grizzlies would probably like to get someone that could play a more conventional small forward as they have decent depth at the two guard, but Anderson is my guy and I’m sticking with him.
(DK) I can’t totally disagree with the pick though I think Xavier Henry has more potential than Anderson and since that is all you are getting from this point on other than a guy who could maybe contribute five minutes a game off the bench, I would lean towards sticking with the man Brent Musburger annoyingly called, “X”.
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Toronto Raptors: Larry Sanders, PF, VCU, 6-11, Jr. 
Actual Pick: Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina
(DK) Power forward was the obvious way to go for the Raptors since they knew they were losing Chris Bosh and needed to find a young player to help fill that void for the future. Of the top remaining fours, (Sanders, Udoh, and Patrick Patterson) Sanders has shown the most potential. Plus, his defensive prowess and ability to rebound is a good fit along a soft, perimeter-based big like Andrea Bargnani.
(PC) Larry Sanders? Sure. Sounds great. I’m not sure how else to illustrate that the 2010 Draft class is about as promising as Charlie Sheen staying sober beyond his July 4 party which will take place in his “Porn Room.”
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Houston Rockets: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky, 6-9, Jr.
Actual Pick: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
(PC) If this re-do were real and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey got to this point, he’d likely be throwing around F-Bombs like Rajon Rondo drops dimes. To think you’re going to be able to improve your pick only to be saddled with the same dude would have to be frustrating. No disrespect to Patterson, but he hasn’t really shown anything special. What it comes down to is choosing between Patterson and Ekpe Udoh. Udoh’s got the size but Patterson fits the Houston mold better (smaller forward, hard worker) and Patterson is two years younger. I’ll take the youth and bolt.
(DK) Patterson is a nice energy player off the bench but just has not found enough playing time on a crowded Rockets front court. Morey is a smart dude so maybe he goes with an upside player like Henry or Gordon Hayward instead, but I cannot argue with Patterson. Of course if I were Houston’s general manager, I am taking my boy Lazar Hayward without a doubt. By the way, Charlie Sheen has a porn room?
Go to 2011 NBA Mock Draft
Go to 2012 NBA Mock Draft
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Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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