The 2009 NBA draft. Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Brandon Jennings and Jrue Holiday. Sounds pretty good right? We didn’t think about it at the time, but this draft was considered weak at the time. Turns out it was one of the strongest we’ve seen in a while. The 2010 draft, loaded with John Wall, Evan Turner, Greg Monroe and DeMarcus Cousins, seemed to be strong as well. With just three days left before the NBA draft, the 2011 class is being picked apart, and from the looks of it, this is supposed to be one of the weakest drafts since 2000.
That’s just it, the 2000 draft wasn’t terrible, it was disgusting. I think this draft has potentially 10 starters in this draft, with a unlimited amount of role players. When you look back at 2000, you had two really good players in the top five, then everyone from 8 to 30 was picked on potential. This year, the top 5 looks solid. Based on many mock drafts, the top five players in this draft has to be Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight and Jonas Valanciunas. While there’s question marks for Kanter ( Two good games, knee issues) and Valanciunas ( Buyout clause and project player), Kyrie Irving looks to be a solid point guard who should be able to jump in and lead any team he plays on. Derrick Williams is a combo forward in the mold of Thad Young. While he wants to make a position change, he should still be a solid player, even a all star. Brandon Knight has the most upside of any player in this draft. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a superstar. Think Jason Terry meets Jrue Holiday.
Once we get out the top five, we still have some solid players like UConn’s Kemba Walker, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and Lithuania’s Jan Vesely. San Diego St’s Kawhi Leonard, Kansas’ Marcus Morris, Colorado’s Alec Burks and Washington St’s Klay Thompson are all players who can fit the lottery mold as well. Walker and Fredette are two scoring first point guards who are underrated as playmakers. I think for Kemba, teams like Detroit and Sacramento fit him. For Fredette, Sacramento, Charlotte and Phoenix are all sleeper teams where he can land. Jan Vesley is my favorite player in the entire draft. Vesely reminds me of a favorite of mine, Jonas Jerebko. Washington has their eye on Vesley and he could be a great fit opposite John Wall. Kawhi Leonard is the perfect defensive player in this draft. He can defend both shooting guards and small forwards, as well as providing a solid slashing ability. Toronto should be looking for Leonard if Knight is on the board. Marcus Morris is a post player, who can shoot the ball as well. While I’m in the minority that his brother, Markieff Morris, could be better, Marcus has a spot in the lottery and Markieff does not. Both shooting guards Alec Burks and Klay Thompson should be lottery picks. Burks reminds people of Evan Turner, a ball handling guard, who can also pass and rebound. The issue with Burks is a lack of a consistent jumpshot. Klay Thompson reminds me of Allan Houston, a jump shooter who can seperate and score rapidly. The issue with Thompson is that’s all he does, score.
After the lottery, the draft is teeming with role players. You need a post player? How about guys like Kansas’ Markieff Morris, Lithuania’s Donatas Motiejunas, USC’s Nikola Vueuvic or China’s Jeremy Tyler. For wings, Texas’ Jordan Hamilton, Providence’s Marshon Brooks and UCLA’s Tyler Honeycutt fits the bill. While the position is top heavy this season, guys like Kansas’ Josh Selby, Michigan’s Darius Morris, Cleveland St’s Norris Cole and UCLA’s Malcolm Lee should help as developmental point guards.
For a second, think about this draft in the way of a two year draft. I see more players that can help next season, rather then this season.