NBA Mock Draft Pick #11 -- Michael Carter-Williams, Guard, Syracuse
SB Nation's Kings blog Sactown Royalty explains the pick and trade with Liberty Ballers:
On the pick:
The Kings selected Michael Carter-Williams out of Syracuse. The tall, long point guard has evoked comparisons to Rajon Rondo, and while Rondo is special you can see that at the very least MCW projects as a good passer who can get it done on defense. Given the Kings' new identity and positional needs, this is a nice piece to slot in. While Isaiah Thomas has done everything he's been asked at point guard, the Kings simply need a stronger playmaker and opponent disruptor there. We also considered Dennis Schroeder and Gorgui Dieng.
On the trade:
At No. 7, we had three guys we were looking at. There was a good chance one of them would be available at No. 11, and we rated them all similarly. We made the trade conditional on one of the three being there at No. 11; if they happened to go 8-9-10, we'd have kept Anthony Bennett. As it turns out, all three guys were available at No. 11, so we went with the best backcourt defender (Michael Carter-Williams). We now have the No. 25 pick as a sort of "free asset."
Updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft Board:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: NERLENS NOEL2. Orlando Magic BEN MCLEMORE3. Washington Wizards OTTO PORTER4. Charlotte Hornets ALEX LEN5. Phoenix Suns VICTOR OLADIPO6. New Orleans Pelicans TREY BURKE7. Sacramento Kings ANTHONY BENNETT (for Philly)8. Detroit Pistons C.J. MCCOLLUM9. Minnesota Timberwolves KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE10. Portland Trail Blazers RUBY GOBERT (for Phx)11. Philadelphia 76ers MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS (for Kings)12. Oklahoma City Thunder13. Dallas Mavericks 14. Utah Jazz 15. Milwaukee Bucks 16. Boston Celtics 17. Atlanta Hawks 18. Atlanta Hawks 19. Cleveland Cavaliers 20. Chicago Bulls 21. Utah Jazz 22. Brooklyn Nets 23. Indiana Pacers 24. New York Knicks25. Los Angeles Clippers 26. Minnesota Timberwolves 27. Denver Nuggets 28. San Antonio Spurs 29. Oklahoma City Thunder30. Phoenix Suns