Greg DeVries NBA Mock Draft – 6 August 2011
August 6, 2011 · Greg DeVries
1. Jared Sullinger 2. Quincy Miller 3. Anthony Davis 4. Michael Gilchrist 5. Austin Rivers
| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 |  |
Minnesota | Jared Sullinger | PF | Ohio State |
| Let me preface this prediction by saying that it is unlikely that Minnesota will be making this pick. David Khan, Minnesota’s GM, is notorious for trading down and stockpiling picks, especially considering the fact that they picked Williams in 2011. That being said, Jared Sullinger is the best player in the draft. He may have been the best player available in the previous draft but chose to return to school. It would be foolish to pass him up. | |||||
| 2 |  |
Toronto | Quincy Miller | PF | Baylor |
| Quincy Miller is another one of those big guys with a guard’s abilities. He may be used as a small forward in the NBA and he will adapt well. Toronto could use the size and some help at the small forward/power forward positions. | |||||
| 3 |  |
Detroit | Anthony Davis | PF | Kentucky |
| The Pistons desperately need someone to clog the lane and protect the rim. Anthony Davis is a natural shot blocker that can do it all. He will need to gain some weight if he wants to hold his own in the NBA, but his natural abilities will help Detroit in a lot of areas. | |||||
| 4 |  |
Sacramento | Michael Gilchrist | SF | Kentucky |
| Sacramento needs a solid small forward to compliment Evans at the point and Cousins in the post. Gilchrist can provide that balance to the roster. He can get to the rim and pull up from mid range. If he can develop a 3-point shot, Sacramento will have a good core of players moving forward. | |||||
| 5 |  |
Charlotte | Austin Rivers | SG | Duke |
| Austin Rivers’ immediate impact will be a scorer off of the bench. He will back up Captain Jack and eventually earn a starting job. Rivers can shoot from everywhere and specializes in putting the ball in the hoop. | |||||
| 6 |  |
Cleveland | Harrison Barnes | SF | North Carolina |
| The Cavs need a small forward that can be a legitimate starter for a long time. Nobody on the current roster is good enough at small forward if Cleveland wants to start winning basketball games. Harrison Barnes fills the need well. | |||||
| 7 |  |
Golden State | Perry Jones | PF | Baylor |
| Some may see Perry Jones as a steal at pick 7. I think it is a bit of a reach. Perry Jones is a very raw talent. His ceiling is high, but ultimately unknown. Golden State is a good fit for Jones because their style of play suits his mid range game. Perry Jones is a pick for the future and probably won’t see the floor more than 10 or 15 minutes per game. | |||||
| 8 |  |
Milwaukee | Marquis Teague | PG | Kentucky |
| Brandon Jennings is a point guard that the Bucks should feel good about moving forward. Teague will begin his career as a backup to Jennings. Down the road, he should be able to transition nicely into the starting spot. | |||||
| 9 |  |
Washington | Khris Middleton | SF | Texas A&M |
| Middleton addresses Washington’s needs. He can defend and score at the small forward position. The only knock on his game is his lack of athleticism. This shouldn’t be a problem in Washington. The Wizards are loaded with athleticism from Wall, McGee, and Young. Khris Middleton should provide a different look and a good change of pace. | |||||
| 10 |  |
Indiana | Brady Beal | PG | Florida |
| Beal will likely transition into a shooting guard in the NBA. He will work well next to Granger and fill a need in Indiana’s roster. | |||||
| 11 |  |
Utah | John Henson | PF | North Carolina |
| The Jazz need some rebounding help. Favors is a good young center, but needs some support. Henson has great NBA size and should help immediately. | |||||
| 12 |  |
New Jersey | Jeremy Lamb | SF | Connecticut |
| Lamb is a steal at pick 12 for the Nets. He is either the best or second best shooting guard in the draft. Lamb will give the Nets much needed shooting guard help. | |||||
| 13 |  |
New Orleans | Terrence Jones | PF | Kentucky |
| David West opted out of his contract. That means that the Hornets have a need at power forward. Terrence Jones fills this void quite nicely. | |||||
| 14 |  |
Philadelphia | Myck Kabongo | PG | Texas |
| The 76’ers are set in the post and are trying to build around Iguodala. Kabongo will address their need at guard. | |||||
| 15 |  |
Phoenix | James McAdoo | PF | North Carolina |
| Many people see James McAdoo progressing into an NBA-level starter by the end of the season. This may be a little optimistic. He will have great teammates that he will need to rise above. Regardless, McAdoo will be NBA ready and can help the Suns immediately. | |||||
| 16 | |
New Jersey (from HOU) | Rakeem Christmas | C | Syracuse |
| Whether or not Rakeem Christmas can play center in the NBA is still up for debate. I see him projecting more as a power forward. Regardless of position, he is a good value pick at 16. | |||||
| 17 |  |
Boston (from LAC) | Patric Young | C | Florida |
| Patric Young is another college center that will likely play power forward. The Celtics need to get younger in a hurry. Still a teenager, Young will fit in well in Boston. | |||||
| 18 |  |
Denver | Thomas Robinson | PF | Kansas |
| Kenyon Martin will be 34 this year. That means that the Nuggets will need a power forward for the future. He has the size and will come off of the bench for Denver. | |||||
| 19 |  |
Atlanta | Kris Joseph | SF | Syracuse |
| When you think about the Atlanta Hawks, you have to think about how athletic they are. Kris Joseph is that gifted athlete that Atlanta looks for. He has amazing leaping abilities and can rebound well for his position. | |||||
| 20 |  |
Memphis | C.J. Leslie | SF | North Carolina State |
| C.J. Leslie is another raw athlete with great size. He is fun to watch and Memphis will appreciate his ability to run the floor. Think of him as a Rudy Gay type of player that still needs to develop. | |||||
| 21 |  |
San Antonio | Demetri McCamey | PG | Illinois |
| It is hard to say where San Antonio needs to get better. After all, they had the best record in the Western Conference last season. Demetri McCamey will provide a backup point guard that has a high enough ceiling to one day be a good starter. | |||||
| 22 |  |
Portland | Reggie Bullock | SG | North Carolina |
| What ever happened to Brandon Roy? He went from great to sub-par in one year due to injuries. Portland needs some insurance at shooting guard just in case he cannot get back to his superstar level. | |||||
| 23 |  |
Orlando | Mouphtaou Yarou | PF | Villanova |
| If Orlando is serious about being a championship contender, then Brandon Bass cannot be their best power forward. Give Yarou a year, maybe less, and he will help the Magic take a step in the right direction. | |||||
| 24 |  |
Houston (from NY) | Fab Melo | C | Syracuse |
| Houston has been desperate for a healthy center for years. They cannot let another year go by without grabbing a center either through the draft or through free agency. Fab Melo is a legitimate 7 footer who is built for the NBA. Even if the Rockets think he will need to develop over time, they will need to take him now. Centers are rare and this is their opportunity to grab one. | |||||
| 25 | |
Boston | Jeffery Taylor | SF | Vanderbilt |
| Jeff Green was less than stellar last season. Jeff Taylor may just be the right Jeff for the job. | |||||
| 26 |  |
Dallas | Tony Mitchell | SF | North Texas |
| How do you improve the best team in the NBA? You look to the future. Tony Mitchell has had a troubled career thus far. He signed with Mizzou, but ultimately never quite got to campus. But don’t let that take away from the talent this kid has. He was one of the best high school prospects not too long ago. I predict Dallas going with the Dallas native. | |||||
| 27 |  |
Oklahoma City | Festus Ezeli | C | Vanderbilt |
| Perkins didn’t quite play up to the level he played in Boston. Centers are valuable and, at 6’11, Ezeli is the defensive post player that the Thunder have been looking for. If Houston takes him at pick 24, look for OKC to take Fab Melo. | |||||
| 28 |  |
Chicago | Evan Fournier | SG | International |
| Bogans, Brewer, and Korver are all backup-level shooting guards. If Chicago wants to make it to the Finals, this is the position they need to address. Evan is only 18 and will need to develop NBA range, but will eventually be a suitable starter in the league. | |||||
| 29 |  |
L.A. Lakers | Tu Holloway | PG | Xavier |
| The Lakers need a point guard. Tu Holloway may be a bit of a reach at 29, but the Lakers should be willing to take him based on their need. Fisher will be 37 next season and the Lakers need youth at that position. | |||||
| 30 |  |
Miami | Tyshawn Taylor | PG | Kansas |
| Miami is another team that needs better point guard play. Mike Bibby didn’t quite cut it. Tyshawn Taylor is a Kansas kid and would learn well from Mario Chalmers in that respect. | |||||
| Round 2 | |||||
| 31 | |
Minnesota | Adonis Thomas | SF | Memphis |
| Adonis Thomas isn’t NBA ready just yet. He doesn’t have the handles that a small forward should have, but his athleticism makes him viable for an early 30’s pick. Look for him to get a spot on the roster in two years or so. Then he will really be a good contributor. | |||||
| 32 | |
Toronto | William Buford | SG | Ohio State |
| The Raptors need some defense. Buford is a good shooting guard that can get his hands on the ball. On offense, he is a bit of a one-trick pony. He is a jump shooter. Unless he really steps his game up, that will be his role in the NBA as well. | |||||
| 33 | |
Detroit | Khem Birch | C | Pittsburgh |
| Ben Wallace was the last good center that Detroit had. Well, this may surprise you: he is on their roster. Birch will have a lot to prove if he wants to be an NBA center, but he is still a good value pick early in the 2nd round. | |||||
| 34 | |
Sacramento | Kentavious Caldwell | SG | Georgia |
| Caldwell can do a little of everything. He is young and will have a lot to prove. Caldwell is a pick for the future for the Kings (if they continue to exist as the Kings) | |||||
| 35 | |
Charlotte | LeBryan Nash | SF | Oklahoma State |
| Charlotte fans: purchase season tickets right away. LeBryan Nash is a dunker. Get over to Time Warner Cable arena because Nash is fun to watch. | |||||
| 36 | |
Cleveland | Tyler Zeller | C | North Carolina |
| Antoine Jameson is getting up there in age. Zeller may be a good replacement down the line. | |||||
| 37 | |
Denver (from GS) | Meyers Leonard | C | Illinois |
| Nene might not be around for too much longer. Leonard is a 7-footer that will have a breakout season this year. He will need to get stronger and heavier to make it in an NBA paint though. | |||||
| 38 | |
Milwaukee | Mason Plumlee | PF | Duke |
| I think Plumlee will fit in well next to Bogut. He will be able to develop with the defensive focus on the other side of the paint. | |||||
| 39 | |
Washington | Cody Zeller | PF | Indiana |
| Zeller will need to learn to play better defense, but he has a good enough offensive post game to earn himself a spot on the roster. | |||||
| 40 | |
Indiana | John Jenkins | SG | Vanderbilt |
| Jenkins is an efficient scorer and will be a steal if he falls to pick 40. He isn’t the best athlete and doesn’t have a big physical presence, but can put the ball in the basket. | |||||
| 41 | |
Utah | Will Barton | SG | Memphis |
| Barton is another steal in the 40’s. Utah will need to determine whether he is a shooting guard or a small forward. His shot selection is poor, so he will need a good amount of coaching. | |||||
| 42 | |
Golden State (from NJ) | Reggie Bullock | SG | North Carolina |
| Bullock is a good shooter that needs to improve his numbers from the line. Another fast paced player that will fit in for the Warriors. | |||||
| 43 | |
Cleveland (from NO) | Doron Lamb | SG | Kentucky |
| Doron Lamb is an efficient 3 point scorer. The only problem is that he can’t do too much else. | |||||
| 44 | |
Philadelphia | Laurence Bowers | PF | Missouri |
| Bowers doesn’t make too many mistakes. He is a smart player, but he may need to develop into a small forward to play in the NBA. | |||||
| 45 | |
Atlanta (from PHO) | Draymond Green | PF | Michigan State |
| Green should be a good backup for the Hawks. Tom Izzo’s teams have underachieved lately, so hopefully Green can shake off the losing bug and help Atlanta win games. | |||||
| 46 | |
Detroit (from HOU) | Ashton Gibbs | PG | Pittsburgh |
| Ashton Gibbs is a better player than most would think. He was injured last year, but will really shine this year. | |||||
| 47 |  |
L.A. Clippers | P.J. Hairston | SG | North Carolina |
| Hairston is young and probably a work in progress. He can get to the rim, but his game is around the 3-point line. He should spread the floor nicely for players like Blake Griffin. | |||||
| 48 | |
Denver | Kim English | SG | Missouri |
| English didn’t have a particularly good junior year. His sophomore year showed his real talent. His senior season will show scouts his true abilities. I think he will reestablish himself as one of the Big 12’s best players and eventually earn a spot on the Nuggets. | |||||
| 49 | |
Atlanta | JaMychal Green | PF | Alabama |
| Green might be the best player available at this point. He should be a good value pick for Atlanta. | |||||
| 50 | |
Memphis | Kyle Wiltjer | PF | Kentucky |
| Wiltjer has a good post game and also has a lot of intangibles, which make him an attractive pick at 50. | |||||
| 51 | |
San Antonio | Alex Oriakhi | PF | Connecticut |
| Oriakhi has a good skill set and an NBA body. He will need a lot of coaching before he can really make an impact at the next level. | |||||
| 52 | |
Portland | Reggie Johnson | C | Miami (FL) |
| Reggie Johnson is huge. He exceeds 300lbs. After some coaching, he will be able to make a difference on Portland’s roster. | |||||
| 53 | |
Orlando | Ray McCallum | PG | Detroit |
| McCallum has great handles. If he can study under Jameer Nelson, he may earn the backup job pretty early | |||||
| 54 |  |
New York | Damian Lillard | PG | Weber State |
| If Lillard can keep the turnovers down, he may see the floor in his first season. He has the ability to knock down long-range shots and New York could use more depth. | |||||
| 55 | |
Boston | Rudy Gobert | C | International |
| This guy is young, but he has a high ceiling. His numbers will show that he is an efficient scorer. Gobert will need to gain weight, like most international post players. | |||||
| 56 | |
Dallas | Maalik Wayns | PG | Villanova |
| Wayns will need a lot of work, but he does have some bright spots to his game. The good staff in Dallas will help him grow. | |||||
| 57 | |
Oklahoma City | Elias Harris | SF | Gonzaga |
| Elias Harris is an in-between player. He doesn’t really fit into a position well, but he is still a good player. He can score from anywhere and can rebound the ball. | |||||
| 58 | |
L.A. Lakers (from CHI) | Ralph Sampson III | C | Minnesota |
| Like his father, Ralph Sampson III will find a spot in the NBA. He has great potential and an NBA body if he can add some weight. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have his father’s bad knees. | |||||
| 59 | |
L.A. Lakers | Durand Scott | PG | Miami (FL) |
| Scott has good size for a point guard. He can be a physical guard and should fit into the triangle offense. | |||||
| 60 | |
New Jersey (from MIA) | Wayne Blackshear | SG | Louisville |
| Blackshear is good in transition and will work well with a point guard like Deron Williams. If he can develop a 3-point shot, he will be a good contributor down the line. | |||||
