Right now it is impossible to know exactly where the 2011 draft will rank in overall badness. Of recent drafts, 2000 stands out as the worst and this one could get there. If Kyrie Irving’s numbers are no more than an 11-game mirage, the foreign centers never develop and the rest of this group achieves only their projected status of career journeymen, then 2011 could easily become the worst draft ever. Of course all it takes is one Bismark Biyombo emerging as a force to change everything. As is the case with presidents, best to let historians sort out the best and worst a few decades down the line. Here my top 30 available players, listed in order of how I would draft them all other things being equal. This is not to be considered a mock draft, as this isn’t a prediction of how things will transpire, just how I feel things should transpire. I didn’t forget about Jimmer or Kahwi. I just feel both are way over rated.
- Kyrie Irving, Duke
- Tristan Thompson, Texas
- Bismark Biyombo
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Markieff Morris, Kansas
- Marshon Brooks, Providence
- Marcus Morris, Kansas
- Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
- Derrick Williams, Arizona
- Enes Kanter *
- Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
- Nikola Vucevic, USC
- Jan Vesely
- Chris Singleton, Florida State
- Kemba Walker, Connecticut
- Tobias Harris, Tennessee
- Nikola Mirotec
- Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech
- Klay Thompson, Washington State
- Trey Thompkins, Georgia
- Brandon Knight, Kentucky
- Alec Burks, Colorado
- Damian Saunders, Duquense
- E’Twaun Moore, Purdue
- Reggie Jackson, BC
- Jordan Hamilton, Texas
- Nolan Smith, Duke
- Jereme Richmond, Illinois
- Jimmy Butler, Marquette
- Darius Morris, Michigan
Kanter is included in the top 10 based on his rep. This is where any enthusiasm starts to wane. I have no opinion on whether he’s a great prospect or likely bust, because I haven’t seen his numbers. Honestly considering the talent remaining, I would draft Kanter at #10 based on nothing more than his rep.
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