NBA draft 2011: 5 must-miss prospects and 5 possible steals

Photo courtesy of USAToday.com. Kenneth Faried (pictured above) led the country in rebounds this past season. Our very own Nick Craddock thinks that Faried can one of the major steals of this year's lackluster draft class.

By Nick Craddock

As you’ve probably heard, the 2011 NBA draft is shaping up to be one of the weakest in years.

Rumor has it that one of the possible taglines the NBA league office considered to promote the event was: NBA draft 2011…where underwhelming talent happens.

In fact, if we likened all the hopeful hoopers waiting to hear their name called at the Prudential Center in friendly Newark, N.J. — Madison Square Garden is unavailable to serve as the venue this year because of scheduled renovations — to popsicles, then all the NBA teams have a disappointing box full of grape-flavored popsicles to select from (maybe there’s an orange or raspberry hidden somewhere in the box).

Just as any sane person should consciously avoid grape popsicles (I don’t care how hot it gets, I won’t settle for grape), if I’m an NBA GM, I’m avoiding taking these prospects:

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“National Championship Prediction”

We are waiting for the "Grand Finale" of the "Kemba Show." Expect Kemba Walker (pictured above) to win a National Championship in his last College Game tomorrow night.

The best Saturday of the year in College Basketball is complete.  We are down to the Final 2.  The last game of the Men’s College Basketball team is set.  By midnight tomorrow night, the 2010/2011 season will be in the books.  The featured matchup pits a team out of the Horizon League (yes the Horizon League) that was ranked 18th preseason and a team out of the almighty Big East Conference, that was unranked to start the season.  Anybody who claims to have seen this coming, is full of it.  This may be the most improbable Championship matchup of all time.  So who is going to take it home?

“Final Four Predictions”

Finally, I am going to give credit to where credit is due. I am going with Brad Stevens (pictured above) to coach his Butler Bulldogs to a 2nd consecutive National Championship Game appearance.

We are down to the final weekend of the Madness.  This is it folks.  Your next National Champion will be crowned on Monday Night.  This year’s Final Four participants are probably the most improbable foursome in the history of the  NCAA Tournament.  If people tell you that they saw this coming.  They are lying.

Remember that in the ESPN Bracket Challenge, only 2 of 5.9 million participants guessed the Final Four correctly.  You do not need to be a math major to understand how unlikely this outcome was.  But none of that matters.  There are 3 more basketball games left this season. At the end of the 3rd, the 2010-2011 National Champion will be crowned.