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2011 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1, Picks 1-15
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
2011 NBA Mock Draft – Walt’s
2011 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | SF | SG | PG
2012 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: June 23, 2011, 7:25 p.m.
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Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Vucevic, PF, USC, 6-10, Jr. 
The Sixers are looking for size in the 2011 NBA Draft, and likely consider 7-footers Nikola Vucevic and Donatas Motiejnuas. Vucevic is more of a true center so he gets the nod. Jordan Hamilton and Marcus Morris are also options in case the 76ers deal Andre Iguodala.
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New York Knicks: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado, 6-6, So. 
Since the Knicks need depth all over, they’ll likely take the best available player. A lot of people would be in play here including Alec Burks, Marshon Brooks, Jordan Hamilton, Josh Selby, and Kenneth Faried, or Nikola Vucevic or Iman Shumpert if they fall. Burks is a great value here.
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Washington Wizards: Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas, 6-8, So. 
The Wizards own this pick from the Hawks via the Kirk Hinrich trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2011 NBA Draft Trades.
With Nick Young a restricted free agent and the need for depth at small foward, this would be a great get for Washington. I really like Jordan Hamilton and think this could end up being one of the draft steals due to his ability to score the ball from anywhere on the floor and the Wizards needing upgrades on the wing.
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Milwaukee Bucks: Marcus Morris, F, Kansas, 6-9, Jr. 
The Bucks obviously moved down from No. 9 with a player in mind that would still be on the board. I am not sure that Marcus Morris was their target but since they dealt Corey Maggette, Morris is a solid replacement due to his physicality and ability to play inside or on the perimeter.
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence, 6-5, Sr. 
The Timberwolves own this pick via the Al Jefferson trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2011 NBA Draft Trades.
Marshon Brooks would be a great complement for Ricky Rubio in Minnesota’s backcourt.
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Portland Blazers: Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State, 6-7, Sr. 
This pick should come down to a point guard since Andre Miller is entering the final year of his deal, or a post player since Marcus Camby is getting up there in age and Greg Oden is walking wounded. Kenneth Faried is undersized but a relentless rebounder who would be a rotation guy and a nice complement up front alongside LaMarcus Aldridge.
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Denver Nuggets: Donatas Motiejunas, F/C, Lithuania, 7-0, 1990 
Considering Donatas Motiejunas could be a late lottery pick, this would be a great value for a Nuggets team that needs frontcourt depth since Kenyon Martin is an unrestricted free agent and Nene has a player option on the final year of his deal. With J.R. Smith an unrestricted free agent and Aaron Afflalo a restricted free agent, Denver could elect to add some depth at the two.
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Houston Rockets: Nikola Mirotic, PF, Montenegro, 6-10, 1991 
The Rockets own this pick from the Suns (via the Magic Jason Richardson/Vince Carter trade) from the Aaron Brooks trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2011 NBA Draft Trades.
Since they already grabbed a small forward at No. 14 and there is no big here like Houston needs, Daryl Morey could take a player like Nikola Mirotic who has lottery talent, but will not come to the NBA for a couple of seasons due to the buyout situation with his European contract. Patience will be the key with whomever drafts Mirotic.
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Oklahoma City Thunder: Kyle Singler, SF, Duke, 6-9, Sr. 
I really like the match between Kyle Singler and the Thunder since Singler would fit in perfectly chemistry wise and possibly play a valuable role off the bench. I have had this marriage since the ping pong balls were announced and feel even more confident about it with Nikola Mirotic off the board.
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Boston Celtics: JaJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue, 6-10, Sr. 
With Shaq retiring, and Glen Davis and Nenad Kristic free agents, Boston would ideally like to add some frontcourt depth with this pick. There are a lot of options with late first-, early second-round potential, and the Celtics will choose their favorite. I like Johnson’s ability to knock down jumpers and his length on defense, but he needs to get stronger.
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Dallas Mavericks: Tobias Harris, SF, Tennessee, 6-8, Fr. 
The Mavs have some key free agents in Tyson Chandler, J.J. Barea, Caron Butler, Peja Stojakovic and DeShawn Stevenson, so they could use depth all over. This is a bit of a drop for Tobias Harris but I think his tweener forward status hurts him on draft night.
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New Jersey Nets: Reggie Jackson, G, USA, 6-3, Jr. 
The Nets own this pick via the Joe Smith/Sasha Vujacic trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2011 NBA Draft Trades.
There are a ton of possibilities here from one of the many combo guards available or one of the several power forwards on the board. I think grabbing a potential steal here in Jeremy Tyler is worth the late first-round risk. Plus, there will be plenty of quality combo guards available when the Nets pick at No. 36.
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Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler, SF, Marquette, 6-8, Sr. 
Chicago owns this pick from Toronto via Miami from the James Johnson trade. Go here to see all of the outstanding 2011 NBA Draft Trades.
Jimmy Butler will make his mark in the NBA due to his versatility on the defensive end. Again, Tom Thibodeau preaches defense and Butler would fit well off Chicago�s bench. It is also very possible the Bulls could end up dealing one of their first round picks.
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San Antonio Spurs: Davis Bertans, F, Latvia, 6-10, 1992 
Davis Bertans is a great outside shooter but needs to get stronger before he can make an impact in the NBA. The Spurs have had success finding steals in the late first round, and Bertans could be the next in line.
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Chicago Bulls: Nolan Smith, G, Duke, 6-3, Sr.
The Bulls failed to add some scoring punch off their bench prior to the trade deadline and look to do so with one of their picks. Nolan Smith should be able to play either guard position and possibly find a spot in Chicago’s rotation right away.
Go to 2011 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
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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