Sure things
Kyrie Irving (#1-Cleveland) – Irving will step in immediately for the Cavaliers although trouble looms ahead since veteran Baron Davis isn’t likely to step aside for the draft’s top player. Irving is a “sure thing” in that he’s guaranteed playing time, different from previous number one selections that were transitioned into the starting role prior to being named featured stars (2006’s Andrea Bargnani started just 2 games as a rookie and 2001’s Kwame Brown started a mere 3). 

Enes Kanter (#3-Utah) – Cleveland salivated at the thought of attaining both Irving and Kanter but Utah selected the Turkish star at number three and will place him into a situation where he’ll have time to grow behind fellow Turk Mehmet Okur and big man Paul Millsap. 

Kemba Walker (#9-Charlotte) – A proven winner and team leader, Walker will bring instant credibility to a team that desperately needs direction. Headed by Michael Jordan, the Bobcats Front Office loved Walker’s work ethic in combine workouts and dispelled any notions of Walker as a shoot-first point guard. 

Should the former Connecticut Husky beat out incumbent guard D.J. Augustine, K-Walk could be on his way to establishing himself as an effective asset in Charlotte’s backcourt for years to come. Questions of his passing ability have come to the surface considering his role as a scorer during Uconn’s title run. Walker worked as a distributor during his freshman and sophomore seasons, creating for eventual pros like A.J. Price, Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien, and Stanley Robinson which should aid his case as a potential scorer and distributor. 

Jimmer Fredette (#10-Sacramento) – A fan favorite wherever he goes, Fredette will land in a city desperate for a player who can escort fans through the turnstiles while also running the floor with Tyreke Evans. The phrase “unlimited range” has been used so often around the former BYU Cougar he may actually think he can hoist 35’ jumpers without a hook from the coaching staff. The Kings won’t give Jimmer the freedom he saw during his four years at BYU but the 6’1’’ combo guard will certainly have a chance to succeed for the Kings who now have the young talent necessary to rejuvenate Sacramento. 

Potential…engulfed in skepticism
Derrick Williams (#2- Minnesota) – Williams led NCAA in free throw attempts during the 2010-2011 season, in large part due to his size and overwhelming athleticism to draw fouls from weaker and slower defenders. Williams will be hard pressed to overmatch NBA forwards and earn points from the charity stripe which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding his future as a pro. 

Bismack Biyombo (#7-Charlotte) – Compared to a young, unpolished Ben Wallace, Biyombo offers the Bobcats zero offense however, his defensive ability and tenacity make up for his limited offensive abilities. Uncertainty about his age, reports stating he could be anywhere from 18-26 have surfaced, make Biyombo a giant question mark. 

Brandon Knight (#8-Detroit) – Unlike the former Calapari guards of previous drafts (Rose and Wall), Knight doesn’t posses NBA-ready playmaking ability, but his combination of shooting ability and intelligence (4.3 GPA as a HS senior) make him a candidate to succeed at the next level. 

Nikola Vucevic (#16- Philadelphia) – One of the few big men in the 2011 draft, Vucevic pieced together a noteworthy career at USC and came on strong this spring en route to climbing into the first round on many front office draft boards. Vucevic will be road-blocked by a more physical Spencer Hawes and Marreese Speights making it a near guarantee that it will be a year or two before he actually makes an impact. Plenty of potential here from a 6’10’’ forward/center with a functional mid-range jump shot. 

Good fits
Kawhi Leonard (# 15 San Antonio) – Leonard was San Diego State’s go-to man both offensively and defensively but the Spurs love his length which is why they dealt George Hill in exchange for the rights to Leonard. This move appears to be in an effort to rebuild while still maintaining success. San Antonio will still rely on Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan, but Leonard gives his veteran club a more secure future. The Spurs will be glad they have an athlete of his level come playoff time when it’s time to defend Kevin Durant. 

Iman Shumpert (# 17 New York) – In order for the Knicks to advance deep into the playoff picture next spring, they’ll need the services of an elite defender who can contain the likes of Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Shumpert, at 6’4’’ gives New York a top-flight perimeter defender who can bring energy off the bench. The Knicks have plenty of offensive weapons but it was defense that needed to be addressed this summer. 

Shelvin Mack (# 34 Washington) – The perfect complement to John Wall off the Wizards bench, Mack won’t force any offense and is a level head  that brings a veteran presence to a young squad. The former Butler Bulldog is a proven winner and will bring that same pedigree to Flip Saunders bench. A solid 2nd round selection. 

Low Risk-High Reward
Tyler Honeycutt (# 35 Sacramento) – Honeycutt can score (12.8 PPG, including a 33 point performance against Kansas) rebound, (a team leading 7.2 RPG), and defend (a 6’8’’ frame and 7’0’’ wingspan makes him the perfect assignment for quicker guards. The Kings are a bit wary about his 188 lbs. frame but he’ll have time to mature and fill out before he’s expected to contribute. 

Jordan Williams (#36 New Jersey) – The former Maryland Terrapin slid to the 2nd round and the Nets were the beneficiary for the services of the 6’8’’ power forward. Without the likes of Derrick Favors to compete with for minutes, Williams could turn out to be a steal. His relentless attack of the glass combined with low post scoring ability, it may be sooner than later that the young forward makes a name for himself playing for coach Avery Johnson. 

Josh Selby (#49 Memphis) – The #1 rated high school senior entering last season according to Rivals.com recruiting services, Selby’s plummet from the college hoops pinnacle allowed the Grizzlies to scoop up the one-and-done Jayhawk. Could Selby return to form and work his way into the Memphis rotation? The talent is certainly there to make Selby a factor at the NBA level. 

What were they thinking?
Reggie Jackson (#24 Oklahoma City Thunder) – Few people can skip a job interview, fail to return phone calls from potential employers, and still claim millions in the job market. Jackson did exactly this and was able to parlay his exposure (or lack of exposure in pre-draft workouts) into a role with the Thunder. Jackson can score but his career 34% 3-PT rate raises some eyebrows for a perimeter player. Factor in his size at 6’3’’, it’s difficult to project Jackson as either a point guard or a shooting guard. 

Corey Joseph (#29 San Antonio) – After applauding their 1st round selection of Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs took a chance with freshman Corey Joseph who was a top 20 recruit last season although more college seasoning could have greatly benefitted the young perimeter scorer. Unless Joseph (10.3 PPG in 10’-11’) is destined for the developmental league, it’s hard to envision a scenario where he can develop in the NBA. 

Josh Harrellson (#45 New Orleans) – The 2nd round is often a time for stretch picks, selections that give promise to the future without much risk. Had Enes Kanter been eligible to suit up for Kentucky this season, Harrellson is entering any other profession beside professional basketball. With players like Josh Selby, David Lighty, and E’Twaun Moore still available, the Hornets chose the route of the dreadfully un-athletic, offensively challenged big man (7.6 PPG last season, 1.3 PPG in 4 MPG during the 2009-2010 season). Can’t quite figure this one out. 

Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com

(June 22, 2011 – Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America)