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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

NBA Draft 2011 Mock Draft, Kyrie Iiving Still #1

Sean Deveney - 1. Cleveland. KYRIE IRVING, PG, Duke. They’re weighing their options—namely Derrick Williams and Enes Kanter—but the guess here is still Irving.
2. Minnesota. DERRICK WILLIAMS, F, Arizona. Minnesota will hold the early key to this draft as it considers trade offers for this pick.

3. Utah. BRANDON KNIGHT, PG, Kentucky. Utah seems to like Knight with this pick, which could mean another trade for G Devin Harris.

4. Cleveland. ENES KANTER, C, Kentucky. Cleveland is still very much involved in trade talks for this pick, but Kanter is the safe bet.

5. Toronto. KEMBA WALKER, PG, Connecticut. The Raptors must decide if they can wait a year for C Jonas Valanciunas. If not, Walker tops the board.

6. Washington. KAWHI LEONARD, SF, San Diego State. The Wizards have worked out a long list of players for this pick, but Leonard was their first inclination.

7. Sacramento. JAN VESELY, SF, Czech Republic. There is some sentiment for the Kings to take G Jimmer Fredette, but Vesely fills a need.

8. Detroit. JONAS VALANCIUNAS, C, Lithuania. Valanciunas’ buyout might not matter if there’s a lockout. If he slips, the Pistons should pounce.

9. Charlotte. KLAY THOMPSON, SG, Washington State. The Bobcats need shooting badly. They’d hoped to get Thompson at 19, but he’ll be gone.

10. Milwaukee. ALEC BURKS, SG, Colorado. The Bucks are keeping close tabs on Thompson and Valanciunas, but they’ve liked Burks all along.

11. Golden State. TRISTAN THOMPSON, PF, Texas. The Warriors weren’t expecting to see Thompson here. If he drops into their laps, they’ll take him.

12. Utah. CHRIS SINGLETON, SF, Florida State. Still thinking they’ll pass on Jimmer if available. If they take Knight at No. 3, they’ll pick a forward here.

13. Phoenix. JIMMER FREDETTE, G, BYU. Morris, Thompson and Singleton are all high on the Suns’ list, but they’ll take Fredette.

14. Houston. MARCUS MORRIS, SF/PF, Kansas. Morris doesn’t necessarily fill a need, but it’s good value. The Rockets may make a draft night deal.

15. Indiana. MARSHON BROOKS, SG, Providence. Brooks has put up some very impressive workouts, and he has big potential as a perimeter scorer.

16. Philadelphia. JORDAN HAMILTON, SF, Texas. The Sixers could go big with Biyombo, Motiejunas or Markieff Morris. But they were impressed by Hamilton.

17. New York. BISMACK BIYOMBO, F/C, Congo. The Knicks may trade up to get him, but with a poor Euro workout, he could drop into their laps.

18. Washington. DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS, C, Lithuania. Motiejunas did not look good in the European workout, but he is a legit center with potential.

19. Charlotte. TOBIAS HARRIS, F, Tennessee. Harris is a versatile tweener forward who may be able to develop into a better perimeter player.

20. Minnesota. IMAN SHUMPERT, G, Georgia Tech. Shumpert, an excellent athlete and combo guard, has had a meteoric rise during workouts.

21. Portland. MARKIEFF MORRIS, PF, Kansas. The Blazers need depth, particularly in the frontcourt. Morris is a solid power forward.

22. Denver. KENNETH FARIED, PF, Morehead State. Tough, hard-nosed rebounder and defender who can fit right in with George Karl’s style of play.

23. Houston. NIKOLA VUCEVIC, PF, USC. Vucevic has moved up some draft boards in recent weeks—to the point that the Rockets may consider him at No. 14.

24. Oklahoma City. JAJUAN JOHNSON, PF, Purdue. Johnson will draw interest from several teams, including Charlotte up at No. 19.

25. Boston. JUSTIN HARPER, PF, Richmond. Teams are getting more and more enamored with stretch power forwards, and Harper has a great shooting touch.

26. Dallas. DARIUS MORRIS, PG, Michigan. The Knicks are still keeping tabs on Morris, and if they can’t get a wild card like Biyombo, Morris may not get past No. 17.

27. New Jersey. SHELVIN MACK, PG, Butler. The NCAA Tournament hero is tough and tested, and can provide some combo-guard punch off the bench.

28. Chicago. DAVIS BERTANS, F, Latvia. Bertans can shoot. The Bulls would like to fill out their bench with a little more offense.

29. San Antonio. NIKOLA MIROTIC, PF, Montenegro. Somebody liked Mirotic enough to persuade him not to withdraw his name from draft consideration.

30. Chicago. CHARLES JENKINS, G, Hofstra. Jenkins is a scorer who has the kind of credentials the Bulls like—good leadership, a polished resume and a great reputation.