NBA Draft 2011: How Would Have Harrison Barnes Altered Draft Lottery?

The 2011 NBA Draft Would Have Been Much More Different had Harrison Barnes Decided to Come Out

I cannot lie. As a Cavaliers and Tar Heels fan, I was secretly awaiting Barnes to announce that he was going pro. Cleveland needs a player exactly like him, but wait, they need just about everything. The Tar Heels fan inside, was elated when Barnes announced he was staying. That means a pre-season number one ranking and dare I say 2012 national title!?

If Barnes would have come out, he would have been the first pick. That would have changed everything.

The Cavaliers would have taken Barnes and Kyrie Irving would have slid to the second pick. With Ricky Rubio coming to the NBA, how would Minnesota have dealt with this? They would have traded Rubio and drafted Irving. This leads to Derrick Williams sliding to Utah where the Jazz probably wouldn't pass on such talent. The Cavs still would have needed a point guard and Brandon Knight would have fallen right to them. Enes Kanter would have went to Toronto and that rounds out the Harrison Barnes top five.

Barnes didn't go to the pros. He stayed in Chapel Hill. Cleveland will take Kyrie Irving and try to move up and grab Derrick Williams next week.

The 2012 draft is only a year away, what are the chances that Cleveland does everything in their power to get Barnes next year? Imagine a backcourt with Barnes and Irving! How fun would that be to watch? It can happen and if Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is reading this right now, he is agreeing with me.

Stay tuned for more updates on the NBA Draft and its prospects throughout the day

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