It's undeniable that players like Enes Kanter ('92), Jonas Valanciunas ('92) -at the pic-, or Jan Vesely ('90) belong in the NBA. The potential of some European stars selected in the 2011 draft is absolutely worthy of a Top-10 pick. No franchise or specialized media was unaware of that. NBA superstars like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol or Manu Ginóbili have already taught that perennial All-Stars can be found in Europe. That, however, doesn't explain how franchises could choose to draft players like Tanguy Ngombo, an unknown player from Qatar selected from a YouTube video. His case was the best example of a draft affected by the lockout. With some important freshmen and sophomore NCAA stars choosing to return to college to avoid the possibility of staying inactive for months, before owners and players reach an agreement about the next collective bargnaining, the skill level of the draft dropped dramatically compared with previous years.

Enes Kanter probably took advantage of this situation. The Turkish center spent last season off the courts because of an NCAA ban after it was proven that he earned money during his stint in Fenerbahce. In the draft, he was selected 3rd overall because of the powerful impression he left during his workouts with the NBA franchises. Kanter will start next season in the NBA with the Utah Jazz despite playing his last official game more than a year ago in an American high-school. A huge leap that Kanter should make succesfully. His energy and his powerful presence in the paint are his best weapons in a league where talented big men are not as common as they once were.

Another European center, Jonas Valanciunas, was selected 5th. Maybe the Lithuanian center would have had a higher draft position if his buyout with Lietuvos Rytas hadn't prevented him from jumping to the NBA next season (he will have to wait until 2012). Valanciunas, acquired by the Raptors, is probably not ready to be a dominant force in the NBA, but has the potential to be a player that can make a difference in the future. One more year in Europe could be the best that could happen to Valanciunas to allow him to match the NBA expectations as the Top-5 pick he is.

This might not be the case with Jan Vesely, selected right after Valanciunas by the Washington Wizards. Prior to the draft, the franchise invited several members of the Czech embassy from the American capital delegation, making Vesely's selection as one of the most expected of the draft. No other European player in this draft has had as much experience in the elite competition than the former Partizan small forward. He should show his athleticism, widely known around the Euroleague, from day one.

As with Kanter, another draftee with lots left to prove is Bismack Biyombo ('92). In just a few months, the Congolese forward went from being a barely known player in the third Spanish division to being the 7th NBA overall pick, selected by the Bobcats. Biyombo was pushed up in the draft partly due to a brief but impressive stint in the ACB league, and especially due to a huge defensive game during the last Nike Hoop Summit. Offensively still a raw player, with some contractual issues yet to be solved with his former team Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, Biyombo will have to work hard. But he arrives to the Bobcats, the perfect team that would allow him to develop as an NBA player without immediate pressure. Even in the worst case, the defensive skills of Biyombo should be enough to be an important player from the beginning.

Nikola Vucevic ('90) was close to being the third European center drafted as a lottery pick. The Sixers selected the Montenegrin player with the 16th pick, reinforcing one of the positions they wanted to improve for the next season. With an undeniable talent and skilled enough to be a danger from the outside, the former USC star will have to do extra work in the zone, especially in the defensive end, to be a key player in Philadelphia. The lack of dominant centers in the NBA, again, will play in his favor.

One of the negative surprises of the draft was Donatas Motiejunas ('90) who, just some months ago, still appeared in some mock drafts as a Top-5 player. Dropped to the 20th pick, the Lithuanian forward will have to work hard during the summer to erase the doubts about his softness and defensive skills before becoming an important player in Houston. His last season with Benetton didn't dampen the doubts about him being a talented, but inconsistent, player.

Nikola Mirotic ('91) will have more time. Just a few weeks after signing a five-year contract with Real Madrid, the talented Montenegrin forward, a naturalized Spaniard, was selected with the 23rd (magic number in Chicago) overall pick by the Bulls. With a top Euroleague team contract guaranteed, Mirotic can only be on his way to becoming an even better player than he is now. The Bulls, already enjoying a talented and young project, aren't in a hurry to bring Mirotic to the United States. This will give him time to develop his game, either as a dangerous player from the outside "à la Nowitzki", or as a more typical and more ready to play in the zone power forward.

Bojan Bogdanovic ('89) opened the second-round in a similar case as Mirotic. With a recently signed contract with Fenerbahce, the Nets can't count on the Croatian forward until 2012 at the earliest. With experience as an important player in the Euroleague, it's just a matter of time before the former Cibona star makes his way to the NBA; though the unpredictable Nets might not be the best destiny for him.

An example of a player drafted according to his potential is Davis Bertans ('92). The Latvian forward still hasn't established himself as an important player in Europe, but his shooting skills were enough to convince the Spurs to keep his rights as the 42nd overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft. Bertans will likely develop as a player in his current team, Union Olimpija, before joining the Texan team, The Spurs are already used to waiting for European talent to bloom before bringing them to San Antonio.

The case of Milan Macvan ('89) is somewhat strange. Arguably one of the most talented young players in Europe, not everybody expected him to be drafted... and now it looks odd that he was selected with such a low pick (54th overall selection by the Cavaliers). The reason for these contradictory feelings is likely the apparent lack of interest from Macvan to show himself as a draft candidate. But the Serbian center, now in Maccabi Tel Aviv, is talented and experienced enough to leave an impression in the NBA anytime he decides to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Something not expected to happen soon at all.

The last European prospect to be drafted, also by the Spurs, is right before his most important season. After spending his whole career in the less competitive Hungarian league, Adam Hanga ('89) has signed a contract in the ACB league with Assignia Manresa (similar case as his new teammate Sergiy Gladyr, drafted by the Hawks after starting his career in Ukraine). His first year in Europe's toughest national league will be also the Hungarian shooting guard's first serious test to not only prove that he could play in the NBA, but also at the top European level.

Other European prospects such as Giorgi Shermadini ('89, Georgia), Xavi Rabaseda ('89, Spain), Antoine Diot ('89, France), Mindaugas Kuzminskas ('89, Lithuania) or Robin Benzing ('89, Germany) weren't selected in the draft. Considering the current moments in their careers, they still have to improve as players to have a serious shot in making it in the NBA. However, it's still more likely that any one of them will find a spot in the league before the already infamous Tanguy Ngombo. As players like José Manuel Calderón or Timofey Mozgov have proven during the previous years, the draft isn't the only way to enter in the NBA.

Photo: NBA.COM