The Dream Shake's 2011 NBA Draft Board: Pick Five

With the fourth pick in the 2011 TDS NBA Draft Board, you selected Jonas Valanciunas. For the moment, I'll disagree with you.

Valanciunas could turn out to be a good starting center in the league, but he is currently still under contract with Lietuvos Rytas. His buyout number has reportedly reached $3 million (Note: DraftExpress is refuting a set number), so any team who selects Valanciunas will need to pay that $3 million up front before negotiating a contract. I realize that money hasn't been an issue for Houston for a long time, but given the steep price, I'll take Jan Vesely with that fourth selection and pocket $3 million to be used elsewhere.

Vesely is an uber-athletic forward who has size and versatility. His defense is suspect, but his upside on the other end is worth a top-five pick. Houston's biggest talent gap, aside from center, lies at the small forward position. As such, Vesely would be my guy, with Valanciunas following directly behind him.

Jump to vote for the fifth selection:

Anyway, on to pick number five. To refresh your memory, If there is one point I'd like to make in choosing how to rate these prospects, it is this: This is not a mock draft. For each pick we make, you will choose who you'd like the Rockets to take were they in that position. Therefore, by the time we are finished, we will have a community board of our very own "top prospects." Also, make the pick that YOU would make, not the pick that you think Daryl Morey would make. Sound good?

Previous Selections:

1. Derrick Williams

2. Kyrie Irving

3. Enes Kanter

4. Jonas Valanciunas