Mock Draft-2.0

Jimmer and Jonas, Kemba and Kawhi. These four player will shape the entire NBA Draft on Thursday June 23rd. Jimmer Fredette has been rumored aas high as the Kings at 7 and as low as 15 to the Pacers. If the Knicks want to bring Jimmer to the big apple then they will need to trade up. Jonas Valanciunas has seen his stock rise as high as being rumored to be the number 4 pick but buyout issues may cause him to drop to Houston at 14. Kemba Walker has the talent to be picked 3 but may slip to Detroit at 8. Kawhi Leonard has been rising in many mock drafts and the Cavs may shock some people and take him at 4 if Enes Kanter and Derrick Williams are off the board. Kawhi could also slip out of the top 10 as teams may like similars players Jan Vesley and Chris Singletn more.

It's taken a few weeks but here's my Mock Draft. I will have a Final Mock Draft on Thursday.



1. CLV-Kyrie Irving-PG Duke-Fr.He's pretty much a lock as the top pick in the draft right now. A year or two learning under veteran baron Davis should be very good for his develpment. Now the question becomes, do the Cavs keep or trade the #4 pick?
2. MIN-Enes Kanter-C-Turkey-INT.Until a trade is made I'm going with Knater here over Wiliams.
3. Utah-Brandon Knight-PG-Kentucky-Fr.So if Williams is still on the board at #3, the Jazz have to take him? Wrong. The Jazz took Gordan Hayward last year and he ended the season on a scoring tear. If Hayward had stayed at Butler an extra season two things would have happened. Butler would have won the national title and Hayward would be the unquestioned number one pick. Hayward is simply better than Williams and the Jazz already have their frontcourt of the future in SF-Hayward, PF-Paul Millsap, and C-Al Jefferson. The Jazz will likely try to swing a deal to trade down a few spots with either Toronto or Washington (both are interested in Kanter and Williams and both have a need at center and small forward). If they stay they need a future franchise point guard so Brandon Knight would be the right decision.
4. CLV-Derrick Williams-SF-Arizona-So.The Cavs dream scenario. They get the best two players in the draft without having to trade up. If Williams or Kanter isn't here at 4, do the Cavs trade down or take a player Kawhi or Jonas here?
5. TOR-Jonas Valanciunas-C-Lithuania-INT.In 2006 GM Bryan Colangelo picked Andrea Bargnani over proven college players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay. I wouldn't be surprised if he did it again. Jonas is a project and he might not even play in the NBA next year but he would would be a decent fit allowing Barganani to move to power forward. 
6. WAS-Kawhi Leonard-SF-San Diego St.Kawhi, Jan Vesley and Chris Singleton all have very similar size, length and skill sets but I think Washington will go with Kawhi who has proven in workouts that he is a mich better shoter than people give him credit for.
7. SAC-Jimmer Fredette-PG-BYU-Sr.Jimmer is simply a better fit in Sacramento than Kemba. Jimmer's shooting ability would compliment Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins very well.
8. DET-Kemba Walker-PG-UConn-Jr.I've read thing about Bismack Biyombo becoming the next Ben Wallace, give me a break I think there's a better chance that Kemba becomes the next Isiah Thomas. Kemba did exactly what Zeke did twenty years ago. He led his team to a national title while proving he was the best college player in America. Pistons GM Joe Dumars would be very hapy if Kemba has a similar impact to his former teammate.
9. CHR-Klay Thompson-SG-WSU-Jr.There's a 100% chance that the Bobcats can get a solid foward at 19. There's no guarantee that a quality starting shooting guard like Klay, Alec Burks or amrshon Brooks wil be available at 19. Klay gives the Bobcats exactly what they need, a quality shooter. He's easily the best shooter in the draft not named Jimmer. The Bobcats have slashers in Stephen Jackson and Gerald Henderson. 
10. MIL-Donatas Motiejunas-F/C-Lithuania-INT. 7-0/224
Euro lefty who can shoot well from outside. His shooting ability would compliment Andrew Bogut very well. The question will be how long it will take him to adjust to the speed and physical play in the NBA.
11. GS-Jan Vesely-CF-Czech Republic-INT

Vesely slips a little bit here but the Warriors will lovk him up here. He can run the floor well and plays good defense. The Warriors need all the defendive help they can get after ranking 27th in points allowed (105. 7ppg)
12. Utah-Alec Burks-SG-Colorado-So.

The Jazz would be thrilled if Burks slips all the way to them. They have a good young core but have a major need at shooting guard. He's not as good of a shooter as klay but he's a better playmaker and slasher. Plus he's got prototypical size (6-6/193) to play the 2 in the NBA
13. PHO-Tristan Thompson-PF-Texas-Fr.

The Suns need yound athletic players on their frontline. Thompson is a workahlic on the glass right now. His offensive game needs refinement but he's still very young and has a lot of room for growth 
14. HOU-Chris Singleton-SF-FSU-Jr.
The Rockets need a center but Singleton is too good to pass up here. He can fill the void on defense left since they got rid of Shane Battier. Sngleton should be get 25-30 minutes per game from day one.
15. IND-Marcus Morris-PF-Kansas-Jr.A team that already has a solid starting 5 and decent depth should go with the best player available. Morris' versatility to play either forward spot is a good thing in Indiana.
16. PHL-Bismack Biyombo-C-Congo-INT.The man is big and long (6-9/240 and growing with a 7-7 wingspan). He's as raw as they come but some see him going as high as #8 to the Pistons where he's drawn comparisons to Ben Wallace. If he's available at #16 the 76ers will not hesitate to take him as they need all the length and size they can get
17. NY-Kenneth Faried-PF-Morehead-Sr.The Knicks are sitting at home watching what Udonis Haslem gives the Heat (defense, rebounding and toughness). Like the Heat the Knicks have the stars, Amare, Melo and will look to get a top tier point like CP3, DWill or Tony Parker soon. Faried grew up near New York and like Udonis he can be the back bone for an already very talented team.
18. WAS-Marshon Brooks-SG-Providence-Sr.If the Wizards go small forward at number 6 they could go shooting guard at number18. Brooks is a great scorer and shooter and would fit very nicely playing along side a playmaker like John Wall. He'd also be insurance in case Nick Young left via free agency.
19. CHR-Jordan Hamilton-CF-Texas-So.

The Bobcats like him a lot and may even consider taking him at number 9. I like his game but my concern is that he plays too much like current power forward Boris Diaw. But unlike Diaw, Hamilton can create his own shot and would get a lot of scoring opportunites playing in Charlotte.
20. MIN-Darius Morris-PG-Michigan-So.

Insurance in case the Ricky Rubio experiment is not a success. Morris can play the point but is also big enough to defend shooting guards so if Minnestoa takes him, he can play alongside Rubio as well.
21. POR-Tobias Harris-SF-Tennessee-Fr.Point blank the best player on the board. Harris isn't flashy but has top 15 talent. He does all the little things well. Portland is a good young team with a very good core. Adding quality role players will be crucial to how far they go in the playoffs the next few years.
22. DEN-Markieff Morris-PF-Kansas-Jr.

The 'other' Morris brother is more physical but slightly less skilled on offense. He can get quality minutes in Denver if Kenyon Martin leaves via free agency.
23. HOU-Nikola Vecevic-C-USC-Jr.

A slight reach. But Vucevic's standing reach (7-5) along with his wingspan (7-5) and size (7-0/265) make him a solid pickup for a team in desperate need of a starting center.
24. OKC-Davis Bertans-SF-Latvia-INT.He's the best shooter in Europe. He's only 19 years old and will need time to develop but he's more of a sure thing than the other projects the Thunder have drafted in the past (Serge Ibaka and B.J. Mullens). The Thunder already have their core so adding a young shooter will only help their future
25. BOS-Tyler Honeycutt-SF-UCLA-So.

Jeff Green is a restricted free agent and may leave to get more playing time and money elsewhere. Honeycutt is undersized (6-8/187) and will need time to develop. Playing alongside and learning from future Hall of Famer's Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will do him well in the long run.
26. DAL-Reggie Jackson-CG-Boston Coll.-Jr.Jason Kidd isn't getting any younger and I'm not sold on Rodrigues Beaubois and Nick Calathes. Jackson was a scorer in college. He'll need to improve his point guard skills to have success at the next level.
27. NJ-Kyle Singler-SF-Duke-Sr.Can have the same effect that Kyle Korver has for the Bulls. The Nets already have a franchise point in Deron Williams and top tier center in Brook Lopez. They need more compliment pieces who can shoot and play smart. That's exactly what Singler will bring to whatever team drafts him.
28. CHI-Nikola Mirotic-PF-Montenegro-INT.

The Bulls have tow first round picks and it's unlikely that they'll keep both of them. If they can't trade one then they'll draft a Euro like Mirotic and store him overseas for a year or two.
29. SA-Justin Harper-PF-Richmond-Sr.
An experienced colleg player that can contribute right away is just what the Spurs need. The Spurs need to get more athletic and younger up front.
30. CHI-Shelvin Mack-CG-Butler-Jr.

Mack may be undersized but he can come off the bench and score from day one. The Bulls will try to get a shooting guard that can score via a trade this offseason. Mack can be a solid backup shooting guard as a rookie and can hopefully turn into a backup point guard as well

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