Deservedly so, much of the attention in the 2011 NBA Draft will be on the No. 1 pick, which the Cleveland Cavaliers own as a result of a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavs will then choose three picks later at No. 4 with their own selection. The question is whether the Cavs will select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the top pick.
As ESPN's Chad Ford writes in his first post-lottery mock draft (Insider required), camps, interviews and workouts will juggle things around. For those following in Colorado, Buffaloes guard Alec Burks' journey will require close attention, and the Nuggets will have the No. 22 selection.
In a perfect world, Alec Burks to the Nuggets would happen, but he appears headed for a selection in the lottery. The consensus right now is that Burks to the Milwaukee Bucks (No.10) is a great fit, and that's where Ford has him going. As for the Nuggets' selection, former Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris could help up front, Ford says, as either a power or small forward. He averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 2010-11. NBADraft.net also has Harris going to the Nuggets, while DraftExpress has Harris as the final lottery pick at No. 14 to the Rockets.
The Nuggets could go in any number of directions. Could they use a shooting guard if J.R. Smith leaves? Yes. A third point guard who can backup Ty Lawson after Raymond Felton is a free agent in 2012? Sure. But with Nene looking more and more like he will opt out of the final year of his contract and Kenyon Martin a free agent, drafting a big man up front may be the best choice.