The morning after the NBA Draft Lottery is the time when we take our first look at the updated 2011 NBA Mock Draft borads and see what, if anything, has changed now that the draft order is officially locked in place. This is widely considered a poor draft with no obvious super stars and very little chance of even All-Star level talent. That doesn't mean that Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams and Enes Canter won't be an immediate boost to the teams that pick them on June 23.
With the Cleveland Cavalier's dealing yet another blow to the Clippers by winning the lottery with their pick (acquired in the Baron Davis for Mo Williams trade), the top of the draft seems locked in. Almost every expert and certainly all the Mock Drafts we've seen have the Cavs taking Duke point guard Kyrie Irving. He's a solid pick but won't be saving the Cavs franchise like a LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Blake Griffin, but he's the best there is.
After Irving is where things get interesting. Derrick Williams is still listed on the mock draft boards as the second pick but we are already starting to see questions arise. This is more about Minnesota and their needs than it does about Williams. Most agree that he will be a very good NBA player but his ceiling is likely that of a fringe All-Star like David West. The Timberwolves already have an All-Star power forward in Kevin Love and a very talented combo forward in Michael Beasley.
It would be surprising if the Timberwolves don't either trade this pick or take a gamble on the talented but untested big man, Enes Kanter. Kanter has very little track record to go by but has a ton of talent and intangibles. He might have the highest bust-boom potential at the top of the draft.
Here's how SB Nation's Tom Ziller sees the top of the 2011 NBA Draft:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Clippers): Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
3. Utah Jazz (via New Jersey Nets): Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania
5. Toronto Raptors: Kemba Walker, PG, UConn
6. Washington Wizards: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo
7. Sacramento Kings: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State
8. Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
9. Charlotte Bobcats: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
11. Golden State Warriors: Kenneth Faried, PF/C, Morehead State
12. Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette, SG, BYU
13. Phoenix Suns: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas
14. Houston Rockets: Chris Singleton, SF, Florida State
15. Indiana Pacers: Donatas Motiejunas, C, Lithuania