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The 2011 NBA Draft

Due to a trade at 6PM.  I made some adjustments.  Here is the updated draft.  The Bucks got absolutely screwed on this deal.  Picking up lesser players and than they gave up and now they have the 19th pick instead of Chris Singleton.

I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about the NBA.  It's a horrible league, with sub par performers and the game has lost it's luster.  There are no good shooters anymore and if you can't do windmill dunks, nobody cares.  The games all have a feeling of being fixed, especially in the playoffs and miraculously the big market teams have dominated for years.  That being said, I live for college basketball and know it better than most. 

So here's my first round picks with some minor comments.  

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke - huge mistake. Derrick Williams is the best player.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves - (trade to Atlanta) Enes Kantner, C, Kentucky - Minn gets Josh Smith
3. Utah Jazz - Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona - Best player in the draft.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jonas Valanciunas, C, International - has skills, but is also under contract abroad.
5. Toronto Raptors - Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky - Solid player, solid pick.
6. Washington Wizards - Jan Vessely, C, International - need a big man and he's available right now.
7. Charlotte Bobcats - Kemba Walker, PG, UConn - Jordan will take the most NBA ready player.

8. Detroit Pistons - Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, International - his late invite to green room means top ten.
9.  Charlotte Bobcats - Klay Thompson, Wing, Wash. St. - need PG, but might trade later for Tony Parker.

10. Sacramento Kings - Chris Singleton, SG, Florida St. They wanted Thompson or Walker, but get better.
11. Golden St. Warriors - Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas - Freshman has been predicted as high as #4.
12. Utah Jazz - Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU - wanted Kemba, but will make the fans happy with this pick
13. Phoenix Suns - Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas - hoping for replacement for Stoudemire.
14. Houston Rockets - Kawhi Leonard, SF, S.D. State - best remaining player and a steal at #14
15. Indiana Pacers - Marshown Brooks, SG, Providence - if they can't get a SG via trade like R. Jefferson.
16. Philadelphia 76ers - Alec Burks, SG, Colorado - only if they do the Iguadalo for Odom trade.
17. New York Knicks - Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas - Marcus' lesser talented brother. Hustle player.
18. Washington Wizards - (likely trade) Donatas Motiejunas, PF/C, International - scoring 7-footer.
19. Milwaukee Bucks - Nikola Vucevic, PF/C, USC - best available big man.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tyler Honeycutt, SF, UCLA - A need and a project.  Might go Hamilton.
21. Portland Trailblazers - Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead St. - hustle and character guy. 
22. Denver Nuggets - Chandler Parsons, SF, Florida - was seen as a 2nd rounder as little as 3 weeks ago
23. Houston Rockets - JuJuan Johnson, PF/C, Purdue - huge reach. Could have got him with #38
24. OK City Thunder - Kyle Singler, F, Duke - poor man's Jeff Green who they traded. Great heart.
25. Boston Celtics - Jordan Hamilton, SF, Texas - can blossom watching Allen and Pierce.
26. Dallas Mavericks - Iman Shumpert, PG/SG, Georgia Tech - Top 15 prospect available at #26.
27. New Jersey Nets - Reggie Jackson, PG, B.C. - I think Deron Williams is gone.
28. Chicago Bulls - Nolan Smith, PG/SG, Duke - wanted to package #28 & #30, but no takers.
29. San Antonio Spurs - Davis Bertans, SF, International - player Spurs wanted is still there.
30. Chicago Bulls - Jimmy Butler, F, Marquette - Take an experienced player who can be key bench player.

I'm sure there will be some trades that throw this draft right out the window, but I'm going with this for now.  This is a weak draft, so here are my predictions for top five players and top five busts in five years.

Hot in five years:
5. Kahwi Leonard - picked #14 I could see him being a nice 6th-7th man.
4. Jimmer Fredette - Defense will be an issue, but will be a 3pt threat for the next ten years.
3. Kenneth Faried - Remember Bruce Bowen? Lesser defensively, better rebounder, all hustle.
2. Chris Singleton - My second favorite player in draft.  Could be an all-star if Bucks emerge.
1. Derrick Williams - Only sure fire All-Star in this draft.  Will be a double double machine.

Busts:
5. Jan Vessely - will suffer with his surrounding players and return to International play.
4. Tyler Honeycutt - came out too early and will suffer from 2-3 years with 4-5 minutes of play.
3. Kemba Walker - Most NBA ready player right now, but will be an injury machine.
2. Kyrie Irving - I think Nolan Smith is better.
1. Marcus Morris - disappeared in his biggest game and didn't seem to care. Fits perfectly with NBA busts

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