Last week, we managed to find a 2011 NBA mock draft with Isaiah Thomas in the first round. The consensus thus far has pegged Thomas as a mid- to late-second-rounder, but we're throwing darts at a dartboard at this point in the process. And while SB Nation's Tom Ziller had enough faith in Thomas to bump him up to No. 30, the final pick in the first round, it's hard to find anyone else following suit.
Draft Express' latest 2011 NBA mock draft has Thomas in the second round at No. 22, or No. 52 overall. The mock has the Detroit Pistons snatching up Thomas in what could be an interesting landing spot for the Washington point guard. In Detroit, he'd team with fellow Washington product Rodney Stuckey, who currently runs the point and whose game stands in stark contrast to Thomas'. It could create an interesting big/small pairing at the point.
Even more interesting may be the player coming off the board two picks after Thomas in Draft Express' mock. Justin Holiday, Washington's all-everything guard/forward, is at No. 24 in the second round of the mock draft, heading to Cleveland. Holiday has the length, skill-set and defensive stopper mentality to succeed in the NBA, and may end up as a late-second-round draft pick in June.
Could the two former Huskies be taken within a few picks of each other? Only time will tell, but between the two, Washington fans have an excellent reason to track the draft and tune-in on June 23.
We'll be tracking all the local draft prospects, including Thomas, Holiday and Klay Thompson, ahead of the draft to see where they fit and where they may come off the board. Stay with our 2011 NBA mock draft StoryStream for the latest on the draft as more becomes available. For more on Thompson and the Cougars, head over to SB Nation's CougCenter. To check in with Thomas, Holiday and the Huskies, visit UW Dawg Pound.