With the NBA Draft now eleven days away, it is time to break out my first 2011 NBA Draft mailbag in which I answer some of your e-mails or comments. In this edition, we talk what the Timberwolves might do with #2, Jimmer Fredette, and a second round sleeper.
If you have a question about the draft or my 2011 NBA Mock Draft, leave a comment at the bottom of this page and I will try to get to it in my next mailbag. In the words of Chris Brown, “Leggo!”
By: David Kay
I was reading your latest mock draft and I was wondering what you thought would happen with the T’wolves drafting strategy now that Rubio is apparently going to finally join them. Do you think it would make them more or less likely to make the 3 team deal to trade the number 2 pick? I personally see them making that deal and taking Bismack Biyambo later to strengthen the defense or maybe even taking Kanter at 2. Even though Williams is a great player and possibly the most pro ready he doesn’t fit a need for them because of Love and Beasley. It would move one of them to the bench, which would add depth but a team as bad as that should not be overly concerned with depth at this point. I’m sorry for kind of rambling toward the end of that, but thanks for the mock drafts I always enjoy reading them. -Landon M.
(DK) Thanks, Landon. That trade rumor was hot for less than 24 hours before it evaporated. I don’t think the trade happens. Detroit is getting nothing in exchange for their eighth pick just to dump Rip Hamilton’s contract.
If I am the Timberwolves, I shop the number two pick in hopes of landing a starting center or shooting guard. If I am not blown away by any offer and think Derrick Williams can play small forward in the NBA, I draft him and try to trade Beasley or Randolph for a 2012 first round pick if possible since Kevin McHale gave ours away to the Clippers for Marko Jaric. (Timberwolves fans now slam their head in a car door for the next ten minutes.)
As for Biyombo; while he is a beast and has a huge wingspan, I am not sure how an under-sized frontcourt of him and Kevin Love will work out. Biyombo would bring defense to the equation but the combination of two 6-9 guys in my frontcourt scares me a bit.
With David Kahn’s draft history, it should be fun to see how this plays out.
It doesn’t make any sense to draft Jimmer at 12. He’s a backup behind Devin Harris, and I think he’d be a better fit going to New York.- Zounds
(DK) It doesn’t make sense for the Jazz to draft Jimmer because he would back-up Devin Harris but it makes sense for the Knicks to draft him so he can back-up Chauncey Billups? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; no player in this draft is going to be a sure-fire starter as a rookie. Not even Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams. So if you can land a solid rotation guy at any point of this draft, consider it a success.
You are right, Jimmer would be a good fit in New York because he could run and gun and not have to worry about playing defense. I don’t think he slides past the Pacers at #15 though.
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You need to take a look at Diante Garrett at ISU. He is being tabbed as a sleeper pick in the draft. A lot of experts have him going in the early to mid second round. -Logan
(DK) Garrett seems to have greatly benefited from his performance in workouts as of late and, like you said, is becoming a sexy sleeper pick. The thing about this draft is that there is a lot of point guard/combo guard talent that could be taken in the second round. Guys like Darius Morris, Nolan Smith, Reggie Jackson, Shelvin Mack, Charles Jenkins could all go in the late first round but it would not shock me if any of them fell to the second. Meanwhile, Andrew Goudelock, Norris Cole, Iman Shumpert, Isaiah Thomas, Demetri McCamey, Ben Hansbrough, Cory Joseph, and now Garrett could all be taken in the second round. That list doesn’t even include guys like Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, or Josh Selby. So when it is all said and done, 15-20 point guard/combo guards figure to get drafted and all reports indicate Garrett has worked his way into that group.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a fomer contributor at The Washington Times Communities.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.