The 2011 NBA draft is less than a month away and the mock drafts are coming fast and furious. The top of the draft is getting a lot of consensus. Everyone seems to have Kyrie Irving at #1 and Derrick Williams at #2, with some combination of Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker or Jan Vesely making up the rest of the top five.
There is a lot of variation as we get outside the top 5 however, which is probably a symptom of the subpar draft class this year (BTW Liberty Ballers wrote a compelling post defending this years' class). For the Sixers, while some of the names are different, the size really isn't. Mostly everyone has them taking a big.
CSNPhilly - Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State
No one in college basketball rebounded the ball better than Faried last season – he led the nation with 14.3 per game. But his skills aren't limited to the boards alone. He averaged close to 2.5 blocks last season and 17.3 points. He broke onto the national radar in Morehead State's first round upset of Louisville in the NCAA tournament, grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking the potential game-winning shot at the buzzer. With four years of college experience, Faried will be ready to contribute immediately on the 76ers' thin frontline. He won't need the ball to be a factor in the NBA; he's content protecting the rim and rebounding.
Sean Deveny, Sporting News - Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas.
He is not as smooth offensively as his brother, but he is tough inside and would fit in well with the Sixers, who need frontcourt depth.
HoopsHype - Markieff Morris, Kansas
The Sixers are looking to add a 4 in this draft and will hope that a player such as Markieff Morris falls to them. Morris would give them a Carl Landry type of PF to add depth. The Morris Twins have built a reputation for bringing intensity and toughness every time out. As long as no concerns arise about character, look for both twins to end up in or just outside the lottery.
SBNation - Alec Burks, SG, Colorado
Andre Iguodala will be 54 years old, and we'll still be wondering if this is the summer the Sixers trade him and start anew.
A shooting guard? Doubt that... Our pals at SBNation.com clearly didn't get the memo.
Hoops World - Markieff Morris, Kansas
Matt Moore, CBS Sports - Lucas Riva Nogueira, Asefa Estudiantes (Spain):
7-0, high upside. The Sixers can afford to take a project with the core they have. Nogueira could replace Hawes by end of season if things go right, or be the long-term solution.
The Hoops Report - Marcus Morris, Kansas
The Sixers need help down low with some post depth. Marcus Morris is a versatile forward that can rebound and score in the post but can also handle the ball and knock down jumpers. He will add a scoring punch to the Sixers frontcourt.