The Cavaliers had the chance to make out like bandits, and although they didn't end up maximizing having the first and fourth picks, they still did alright with a blockbuster first pick and a reliable role player at four. They snuck into the top pick in a trade for Baron Davis. Needless to say, they won that trade.
Their top pick, Kyrie Irving, was a whole other tale when it came to the one-and-done trend. He, due to injury, barely played any games while attending Duke University. It was a dice role, however calculated for the now LeBron-less Cavs.
A lot of these picks are based far more on expectation and what we know about their NBA talent so far than on stats, where as previous drafts I looked at more objectively when it comes to stats. While they do play some role here, it is just as important to take into consideration what they could and can do based on what we know so far about their professional career.
Pick 1: Cleveland Cavaliers
Their top pick, Kyrie Irving, was a whole other tale when it came to the one-and-done trend. He, due to injury, barely played any games while attending Duke University. It was a dice role, however calculated for the now LeBron-less Cavs.
A lot of these picks are based far more on expectation and what we know about their NBA talent so far than on stats, where as previous drafts I looked at more objectively when it comes to stats. While they do play some role here, it is just as important to take into consideration what they could and can do based on what we know so far about their professional career.
Pick 1: Cleveland Cavaliers
Who they took: Kyrie Irving
Who they should have took: Kyrie Irving
Why: Irving today stands as still the most clearly explosive player in this draft and has proven any doubters wrong since he was all but straight out of high school due to injuries at Duke. He's been an All-Star already and as Cleveland continues to add prospects around him, including the top pick in this year's draft, he may be the guy to lead Cleveland back to title contention in the coming years and he is more than capable of handling that weight on his back if he says healthy.
Pick 2: Minnesota Timberwolves
Who they took: Derrick Williams
Who they should have took: Kawhi Leonard (15th pick)
Why: A NBA title and Finals MVP to cap off the 2014 season more than justifies Leonard's jump here. He can get to the basket, score in traffic, shoot the ball well and rebound with ferocity. I bet Indiana is really wishing they hadn't given him up in 2011 essentially for George Hill.
Pick 3: Utah Jazz
Who they took: Enes Kanter
Who they should have took: Kemba Walker (9th pick)
Why: Questions surrounded Walker a lot in 2011 like they surround fellow ex-UCONNer Shabazz Napier in this year's draft. Is he a NBA player? Walker has more than answered that by becoming the go-to guy on a Bobcats team that went to the playoffs (yes, the Bobcats actually made they playoffs). He will continue to be the face of the organization as they flip back to the Hornets, a face that Utah sure wishes they had these days as they hang out in limbo.
Pick 4: Cleveland Cavaliers
Who they took: Tristan Thompson
Who they should have took: Isaiah Thomas (60th pick)
Why: 59 picks before Thomas went. Was he undersized? Not in what we've seen. And I know what you are thinking, I recently blasted the Timberwolves for taking two point guards in the first five picks of a draft, but this is a little different. Why? Partially because Kyrie can have questionable health and Thomas is coming off a 20.3 ppg, 6.3 apg season that probably landed him the honor of the best last pick in draft history. The other reason, if Kyrie stays healthy, then Thomas is one hell of a trade piece.
Pick 5: Toronto Raptors
Who they took: Jonas Valanciunas
Who they should have took: Kenneth Faried (22nd pick)
Why: Faried is a beast who will be the catalyst in any run that Denver can make in coming years. While Jonas is developing in Toronto, one of the things they haven't been able to do is match up inside. Faried would have been a great pick here and is bordering on being a double-double player 12.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg for his career.
Pick 6: Washington Wizards
Who they took: Jan Vesely
Who they should have took: Klay Thompson (11th pick)
Why: Thompson has proven his worth by becoming virtually untouchable this off season. After an 18.4 ppg year, Thompson's potential involvement seems like it has all but vetoed a trade that would bring Kevin Love to Golden State. Yes, the Warriors may be passing on KEVIN LOVE because they don't want to lose Thompson. That is high praise. He would be an excellent piece next to John Wall and far better of an asset than the essentially useless Vesely.
Pick 7: Sacramento Kings
Who they took: Bismack Biyombo (traded to Bobcats)
Why: Parsons is one of the best trade pieces possible for this summer. He is averaging 14.1 ppg for his career and has shown he is more than just a one dimensional shooter in the professional game.
Pick 8: Detroit Pistons
Who they took: Brandon Knight
Who they should have took: Nikola Vucevic (16th pick)
Why: It seemed like a questionable pick at the time, but Vucevic has hit a high mark for his young career but becoming a double-double machine (14.2 ppg, 11 rpg) this last season and believe it or not, is probably the best piece to build around in Orlando.
Pick 9: Charlotte Bobcats
Who they took: Kemba Walker
Who they should have took: Brandon Knight (8th pick)
Why: Knight's drop is more of a testament to how well lower picks have performed so far. He can score in bunches and has shown that he can perform well when he has higher expectations. With not adding Kemba in the redraft, Knight would be a more than adequate replacement to help the Bobcats to Playoff land.
Pick 10: Milwaukee Bucks
Who they took: Jimmer Fredette (traded to Kings)
Who they should have took: Jonas Valanciunas (5th pick and keep the pick)
Why: In the coming years, Jonas may be higher than this, but he has had a slower progression and didn't play in the league the year after his drafting. He is already a 10 and 7 guy, but has shown a progressive toughness inside, which is something that Milwaukee could use. Jonas would be a great piece right next to Larry Sanders.
Pick 11: Golden State Warriors
Who they took: Klay Thompson
Who they should have took: Tristan Thompson (4th pick)
Why: Thompson wasn't quite the 4th pick, but he has been solid as a role player in Cleveland. His role could be even bigger in Golden State where his career 10.8 ppg and 8.6 rpg numbers would easily inflate with Steph Curry drawing defenders away from the posts.
Pick 12: Utah Jazz
Who they took: Alec Burks
Who they should have took: Jimmy Butler (30th pick)
Why: Butler could very well be the NBA's 6th Man next year in Chicago. He was a major diamond in the rough, often overlooked and has slowly improved his game. He is a great defender and would be one of the very best players on Utah's roster today.
Pick 13: Phoenix Suns
Who they took: Markieff Morris
Who they should have took: Reggie Jackson (24th pick)
Why: Oklahoma City snagged a good pick late in Jackson, who would thrive from the move and score quick environment in Phoenix.
Pick 14: Houston Rockets
Who they took: Marcus Morris
Who they should have took: Norris Cole (28th pick)
Why: Cole is a good point guard, who could be great. He has benefited from playing with great players in Miami and his real value will be tested in the coming years IF the big three leave and he has to become a big scorer and not just big helper. Never the less, he is a strong point guard who can distribute as good as almost anyone.
Pick 15: Indiana Pacers
Who they took: Kawhi Leonard (traded to Spurs)
Who they should have took: Iman Shumpert (17th pick and trade the pick)
Why: Iman's production has dropped off since his surprising rookie year, but I am calling that more environmental than anything. In Indiana, he would be a good guy to take the ball out of Lance Stephenson's hands some (when needed) and would be a terrific role player. Unfortunately, in New York and based on his rookie year, his expectations were too high too quick.
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