NBA Draft tonight! Mock Draft of the 2nd Round

So as promised yesterday, here is my Mock Draft of the 2nd Round of the 2011 NBA Draft. I have always loved draft times, playing with the draft machine and trade machine on ESPN.com and just chatting with random people (this year more on twitter) about what teams should do or what they will do. And apparently a lot of people also feel this way since yesterday was the biggest traffic volume to my blog since its inception, so for that, I thank you all. Without further ado here is Round 2!

31. Miami Heat (From Minnesota Timberwolves): First pick of the draft for the runner-ups from this season. I've heard they are hoping Reggie Jackson or Marshon Brooks falls out of the first round but more than likely they both do not so the pick here should be a scoring forward. My favorite left, JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, big guy who can step out and nail a 20 footer.

32. Cleveland Cavaliers: In the ideal draft like what I had predicted, the Cavs grab Irving and Kanter with #1 and #4 overall. With that being said they still have a need for a swingman and the best SF on the board, one who many have going to the Celtics, is Chandler Parsons from Florida. It's possible they go with a big guy here too like Jon Leuer but I doubt it. Parsons is the pick.

33. Detroit Pistons (From Toronto Raptors): In my mock I had the Pistons taking the athletic big man Biyombo with their first pick, they also have a big hole at the point guard position (Stuckey is not a true PG) and there are a bunch of capable guys to fill that role. Shelvin Mack from Butler is out there, Norris Cole from Cleveland State, Malcolm Lee from UCLA to name a few but I think Detroit goes with the most athletic one, and that is the explosive Norris Cole who wowed America earlier in the year by posting 41 points, 20 rebounds and 9 assists in a game as a PG.

34. Washington Wizards: They took Vesely and Mk. Morris with their first two picks so I wouldn't be surprised if they go guard here but that does seem to be the strength of their team with no true backup for JaVale McGee. Jordan Williams from Maryland is a big tough guy who can rebound, but can they pass up a guy like Nolan Smith to be a back-court partner with Wall/Crawford? I don't think so, Smith is the pick from Duke.

35. Sacramento Kings: I had the Kings take an athletic PG/SG to help out Evans in the first round, now they need some big body help with the unknown of Samuel Dalembert returning or not. If Tyler evades the first round he would be the pick but I think they'll a smart guy in Jon Leuer from Wisconsin as a scoring PF who can play some SF too.

36. New Jersey Nets: Nets took Reggie Jackson with their first pick, now they need some help at the 3 since overpaying Travis Outlaw by about 30 million didn't workout, the best SF available is Bojan Bogdanovic who is an accomplished scorer in the Euroleague but it is questionable if he is coming over this year or next year. Either way he is a great value pick here in the 2nd round.

37. Los Angeles Clippers (From Detroit Pistons): First pick of the draft for the Clippers. What is their real need? Probably another guard or a small forward. If Selby falls he is their guy but if he doesn't, I'd bet they take Darius Morris or hometown guy Malcolm Lee. They are very similar so I think the Clips take the hometown guy in Lee from UCLA.

38. Houston Rockets (From Los Angeles Clippers): The Rockets took an asset pick with Valanciunas and a SF/PF guy in Singleton in the first round and now in the 2nd they have always been impressed with Michigan PG Darius Morris so he is the obvious pick here.

39. Charlotte Bobcats: Thompson and Vucevic in the first round for size, now in the 2nd round they really need a backup for DJ Augustin. A run on PGs puts them at a bit of a disadvantage, but Shelvin Mack and Charles Jenkins from Hofstra are two options here. I bet they take Jenkins who is more of a combo guard than Mack and can really light it up from deep.

40. Milwaukee Bucks: They have a few spots needed to fill and one of those is backup center to Andrew Bogut. Bogut is injury prone but could be a good teacher to a young guy like Jordan Williams. Williams is raw but has good size and can rebound with a tenacity more than some.

41. Los Angeles Lakers (From Golden State From New Jersey): Lakers need an heir apparent to Derek Fisher BAD and they are just so lucky enough to have Shelvin Mack (one of the best leaders in the draft) available to them. This is an easy pick and will instantly improve the back-court of Fisher/Blake.

42. Indiana Pacers: They still need a SG after grabbing Faried in the first round. Most of the good ones are gone but another shooter and a guy who can create off the dribble like Kyle Singler from Duke would be a perfect fit. Plus he's white and we know Indiana loves the white guys.

43. Chicago Bulls (From Utah Jazz): Bulls grabbed a scoring PF and a SG project in Harper and Selby respectively, now you would assume they would just keep stockpiling shooters. Jimmy Butler from Marquette is a great fit here. Surprised no one else really loves him, the guy can score and play the 2 or 3 very well. Easy pick with Butler.

44. Golden State Warriors (From Phoenix Suns From Chicago Bulls): Mark Jackson is a guard guy but he has a log-jam back there and needs some front-court help. Trey Thompkins from Georgia is a good low-post scorer who just needs a kick in the butt to get in shape and Jack is the guy who can provide said kick.

45. New Orleans (From Philadelphia): Hornets have a whole bunch of needs and none of them can really be filled here in the 2nd round. So my best bet is they take a guy with a lot of promise and hope he pays off. If anything from the playoffs showed us how well a good coach can help out an average center like Aaron Gray, the Hornets will take another guy who has the body and size just not the skills in Greg Smith from Fresno State. Smith is 6'10" with a 8'1" reach and a 7'3'' wingspan.

46. Los Angeles Lakers (From New York Knicks): Lakers have been floating Odom, Gasol, Bynum, Artest trade rumors around so they certainly are in need for a SF/PF/C or a combination guy. There are a few guys available like Keith Benson from Oakland or Malcolm Thomas from San Diego State. I think they'll take Thomas who has a higher motor and is more athletic at the SF/PF position.

47. Los Angeles Clippers ( From Houston Rockets): Clippers don't really need a big guy right now but how can they pass up a talented big guy who could be a top 10 pick in a later draft. Georgian big guy Giorgi Shermadini is the choice here... he could end up being a bust and never come over or he could be a huge asset down the road.

48. Atlanta Hawks: Hawks love athletic guards, and a hometown guy certainly will help out their attendance woes. Travis Leslie is the guy here, the 6'4" leaper could really be great if he can learn to shoot the ball.

49. Memphis Grizzlies: The Griz showed a ton of heart and took a great leap forward in the playoffs this year by knocking off the top seeded Spurs. Rudy Gay might be on the move but still their biggest weakness is a backup point guard and shooting guard. Texas guard Cory Joseph could be the guy here, a bit of a project but so was Mike Conley and he turned out pretty good. Other options are Diante Garrett from Iowa State or E'Twaun Moore from Purdue, but I think Joseph is more rewarding for the Griz.

50. Philadelphia 76ers (From New Orleans): Sixers have taken Jordan Hamilton to shore up the SF position now they need some help for the aging Elton Brand. Best choice here is the defensive big man from Oakland, Keith Benson.

51. Portland Trailblazers: Blazers got another center to help out the injured front court, now they need a replacement for Andre Miller's aging body. Best point guard option left available is Iowa State's Diante Garrett whom teams are very impressed with after workouts would be a nice project for them to mold.

52. Detroit Pistons: Pistons really need some scorers and with Ben Gordon apparently available that really stretches their need. E'Twuan Moore is a good choice but Scotty Hopson from Tennessee is a dynamo athlete who can score in bunches. Only issue is Hopson's consistency and late in the 2nd round, it is worth a chance.

53. Orlando Magic: Finally get to make their first selection and get gifted a scoring machine in E'Twuan Moore. Can't ask for more this late in the 2nd round.

54. Cleveland Cavaliers (From Oklahoma City Thunder From Miami Heat): The draft really gets weak here, more projects and less actual players. Jereme Richmond from Illinois is a good project that could be the answer a few years down the road at SF for the Cavs.

55. Boston Celtics: Celts have a ton of options to go with in this draft, a thousand question marks surround everyone this late, none so more than Jamine Peterson but lets face it, the Celts are a team that can take a bad egg and turn him good with Doc Rivers at the helm and great vets like Allen, Garnett and Pierce running the team. A center option would be nice but none really stick out.

56. Los Angeles Lakers: They took a PG already but they really need 2 since Blake is just awful. Brad Wanamaker is a tough guard from Pittsburgh who can score while Julyan Stone from UTEP is more of a combo guard. My guess is Wanamaker since Mike Brown loves defense.

57. Dallas Mavericks: Your guess is as good as mine... my guess is Julyan Stone here, can never have too many combo guard shooters on a team.

58. Los Angeles Lakers (From Miami Heat): DeAndre Liggins would be an excellent value pick here, the kid can score in bunches and is very good off the dribble. He is also an excellent on ball defender for a few positions.

59. San Antonio Spurs: Spurs need some big guys like I had said yesterday, Michael Dunigan is a 7 footer from Oregon who dominated the Estonian League apparently? How great of an accomplishment that is is still yet to be seen. But hey, he can score and rebound, Duncan can straighten him out.

60. Sacramento Kings (From Chicago Bulls From Milwaukee Bucks): Last but not least, the Kings end the draft by taking a pure shooter from a small school in Andrew Goudelock from College of Charleston. As I said before can never have too many scorers.

Thanks again for reading my blog and the 2nd round mock draft... I look forward to seeing how well I do tonight when the picks are announced. Comment away!