2011 NBA Draft Sleepers: Jimmer Fredette Among Potential Top 10 Surprises: While many people, myself included, like to think that they have predicting the NBA draft down to a science, there will undoubtedly be at least one surprise pick in the top 10 during this year’s draft. Whether it is the case of a general manager falling in love with a particular player or two teams working out a trade that requires one team to draft a certain player to complete the deal, not every selection in the NBA draft is going to be the best available player or the player that fits a team’s biggest needs. In this year’s draft, three prospects currently projected to land outside the top 10 have the best chance to move up the board on draft night.
1. Jimmer Fredette, Point Guard, BYU
The reigning collegiate Player of the Year scored seemingly at will at BYU, but there are plenty of critics that question his ability to do the same in the NBA because of his small stature and lack of speed. Whether or not Fredette becomes the next Stephen Curry or the next Adam Morrison remains to be seen, but there is no questioning the buzz that surrounds Fredette wherever he goes, and that fact isn’t lost on general managers.
Blake Griffin hasn’t made the Los Angeles Clippers a winning basketball team, but he does put fans in the seats and makes the franchise relevant to the media. Fredette will have a similar quality, which could be just what the Sacramento Kings are looking for with the seventh pick. The Detroit Pistons at pick No. 8 could reach as well in an attempt to boost a struggling offense. The worst case scenario is that he becomes a designated 3-point gunner on the court, and in the meantime, Fredette will do plenty to help a franchise off the court.
2. Bismack Biyombo, Power Forward, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Arguably the most athletically gifted player in the draft, Bismack Biyombo has the upside that makes general managers drool and makes them pass up more proven options on draft day. He is borderline inept on the offensive end at this stage of his career, but he has been repeatedly praised for his hustle and intensity during international competition and workouts. Biyombo can run the floor, jump out of the gym, and he has plenty of time to develop at just 18 years old.
In the short term, he would make the most sense for a team that lacks a physical presence in the paint and struggles to control the boards. The Golden State Warriors fit that description, which is why many experts have Biyombo heading to Golden State with pick No. 11. However, he is the type of player that another team inside the top 10 could take a chance on in the hopes that he develops into one of the premier big men in the league. There have been countless examples of picking on potential coming back to bite teams, but that hasn’t stopped teams from continuing to do so every single draft night.
3. Chris Singleton, Small Forward, Florida State
A limited set of offensive skills has Chris Singleton projected to land just outside the top 10 on draft night. However, he has been impressing teams during pre-draft workouts, and he brings a lot to the table as a defender. Singleton was able to lock down a variety of scorers and a variety of positions while in college, and there is always a place in the NBA for a defender that can shut down an opponent’s best scorer regardless of their position.
At pick No. 9, the Charlotte Bobcats could take a stab at Singleton as a potential replacement for Gerald Wallace. He is an option for other teams inside the top 10 as well if a general manager decides to lean toward a safer pick rather than picking on potential. Singleton is going to come in and defend at a high level from the beginning, and that fact isn’t lost on teams.
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