2011 NBA Draft/Mock Draft/Eval

[y0yoyoin]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...02/14/nba.scouting.finch/index.html?eref=sihp

NBA scouts offer opinions on Jones, Sullinger, Irving and 53 others

You think you watch a lot of games? Finch watches games in his sleep. No, really -- his DirecTV feed is piped into his eyelids.
You think you travel a lot? Puh-leeze. Finch's frequent flyer miles have frequent flyer miles. When he walks into any hotel, the bellhops shout his name, like the bartenders used to do when Norm walked into Cheers.
Finch, you see, is an NBA scout. Only, he's not just one scout, he's several scouts rolled into one, an amalgam of conversations I've had with five NBA scouts over the last week to get their assessments of 56 college players who could be available in this year's NBA draft. Since NBA scouts are not permitted to be quoted talking about underclassmen, I granted my scouts anonymity so they could be candid. Then I combined their quotes together to sound like it came from one person, an invented character named Finch.
The name Finch is the creation of my highbrow colleague Alex Wolff, who affixed it to an anonymous NBA scout whom Alex followed several years ago for a story he wrote in SI. Alex called his scout Finch because that was Scout's surname in To Kill A Mockingbird. Like I said, Alex is a lot more sophisticated than you and me. Or Finch, for that matter.
I've done this exercise for several years now, but this year it was easier to develop a consensus. That reflects Finch's general opinion that this is a weak draft with respect to both the collegians and the European imports. Most of Finch's opinions boiled down to, "Yeah, I like him OK, but he's not gonna be our franchise player." So keep that in mind as you read through these reports.
(Incidentally, my weekly AP ballot plus follows the quotes from my scouts.)
Allow me, then, to present the Book of Finch (in alphabetical order). He really, really knows what he's talking about. Just ask him.
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Players the Cavs could be looking at:

Harrison Barnes, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, North Carolina
I finally figured him out. People have been trying to say he's Marvin Williams, but I think he's Sean Elliott. He's not a star, but he's an all-around good player. If you're expecting a franchise player, you're going to be sadly mistaken, but he can definitely help. If he came out, I'm not sure he'd be a top-five pick, but if he slipped to eight or nine people would come up with reasons why they should take him instead of why they shouldn't.

Kyrie Irving, 6-2 freshman guard, Duke
Do I have any reservations if he doesn't play this year? Not even a little bit. He's that good. He'll still be a top three pick if he comes out. This is a point guards' league, it's not a centers' league anymore. He's a good athlete, not a great athlete, so he'll never be electric like John Wall or Derrick Rose, but Chris Paul is not electric in that way either.

Perry Jones, 6-10 freshman forward, Baylor
He's the most talented kid in the class, but I don't think he's a franchise player. He doesn't have the personality for that. He's more of a blend player. He reminds me of Tim Thomas. He gets you 22 and 11, but you want him to get 36 and 17. If a team has a point guard and wants to pass on Kyrie Irving, I could see him going No. 1. He's so stinking fast it's amazing. You talk to the coaches, they say he wins all the sprints in practice against the guards. One thing you have to wonder about is he never won, not in high school, not in AAU.

Jared Sullinger, 6-9 freshman forward, Ohio State
I love him. He's like Elton Brand but he's a better basketball player. If he's not No. 1, he's not lasting past the top three. He'll get his shot blocked just like Kevin Love did, but his shooting percentage already accounts for that. He's comfortable with both hands and he makes free throws. He just has a great feel for the game, and you can tell winning is important to him. My concern is that he doesn't have a lot of upside, he's a finished product. And he's not a great athlete, so he has a ceiling.

Kemba Walker, 6-1 junior guard, UConn
I think he'll get his feelings hurt up here. He's a big-time competitor, but he's not the feel player these guys are up here in the NBA. He can be like a Jose Juan Barea. Just let him play pick-and-roll at the top. It's just hard to score in the NBA when you're little. I like the fact that he has matured because to be honest with you, I hated him last year. He made so many plays and it was all about him, but he has really gotten better with that. In draft rooms there will be a lot of discussions between him, Fredette and Brandon Knight.

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[y0yoyoin]

in light of the recent cavs trade here are a few mock drafts...the cavs will have a guaranteed top 4 pick...and a possible top 10 pick in the first round along with 2 second rounders

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft

1

Cleveland
Derrick Williams
6-9
241
SF/PF
Arizona
So.
2

Minnesota
Kyrie Irving
6-2
172
PG
Duke
Fr.
3

Sacramento
Perry Jones
6-11
235
SF
Baylor
Fr.
4

Toronto
Jared Sullinger
6-9
286
PF
Ohio State
Fr.
5

LA Clippers
Donatas Motiejunas
7-0
224
PF
Lithuania
Intl.
9

http://walterfootball.com/nbadraft2011mock.php

1. 
   Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke, 6-2, Fr.
   
   
   A tremendous play-maker, Irving is lightning fast with the basketball. He is also a talented scorer who has made an early impression with his maturity while running the show for Coach K before suffering a toe injury that may cost him the rest of his freshman season.
2. 
   Minnesota Timberwolves: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State, 6-9, Fr.
   
   
   A physical force down low with an NBA-ready body, Jared Sullinger figures to be the next in the lineage of Ohio State big men to be one-and-done. He may not be the best athlete in the world but is quicker than you would expect from a 6-9, 265-pounder.
3. 
   Sacramento Kings: Derrick Williams, PF, Arizona, 6-9, So.
   
   
   Derrick Williams is a tremendous athlete who lives around the rim. He runs the floor well, is a solid rebounder, and has really improved his face-up and perimeter game since his freshman season.
4. 
   Toronto Raptors: Enes Kanter, PF, Kentucky, 6-10, Fr.
   
   
   We will not get a chance to see Enes Kanter suit up for the Big Blue this season, but he is a talented big man who is a top-five lock regardless of whether or not he ever suits up for Kentucky.
5. 
   Los Angeles Clippers: Jonas Valanciunas, PF/C, Lithuania, 6-10, 1992
   
   
   A back-to-the-basket player, Jonas Valanciunas is not as versatile as most European big men but has plenty of upside. It will be interesting to see if he declares for the 2011 NBA Draft or waits another year so he can continue his overall development.

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

Seemed like the most relevant thread...

http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/Dukes_Kyrie_Irving_To_Enter_NBA_Draft_119353384.html?ref=384

Irving will enter the draft this year. Consider me a fan of the Cavs picking him.