NBA draft: Cavaliers take Kyrie Irving of Duke with first pick

Kyrie Irving traveled just a few miles down the road to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

The players that followed him came from across the globe.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Irving with the No. 1 selection in a draft filled with internationals, confident his foot is healthy enough to lead the rebuilding effort that follows LeBron James’ departure.

Loudly cheered by family and friends not far from where he starred at St. Patrick’s High School in Elizabeth, N.J., Irving showed no signs of the toe injury on his right foot that limited him to 11 games last season as he walked up the stairs to shake hands with Commissioner David Stern on the stage at the Prudential Center in Newark.

“I didn’t have any doubts about going to No. 1. I was looking to the organization to pick who they felt was the right choice,” Irving said. “But now to this moment, from being a fan of the NBA draft and now being drafted, it’s a special feeling in my heart and knowing that my friends and family were together, it’s a memory I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”

Three of the first six players taken were from Europe, capitalizing on the absence of some American college players who might have gone in their spots and made this a stronger draft. It was the first time four international players who didn’t play at a U.S. college were selected in the lottery.

Even Irving has international ties. He was born in Australia while his father, Drederick, played professionally there and said he might be interested in playing for the Australian national team.

After grabbing him with their first No. 1 pick since taking James in 2003, the Cavs used the No. 4 selection on Texas forward Tristan Thompson. They were the first team since the 1983 Houston Rockets with two top-four picks.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the No. 2 pick. The Utah Jazz then took Turkish big man Enes Kanter third with their first of two lottery selections.

New Yorkers made the trip across the river to join the sellout crowd of 8,417, cheering loudly when Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette were taken in the top 10 and booing when the Knicks made Georgia Tech guard Iman Shumpert the No. 17 selection.

The draft was filled with question marks, with a number of unknown European players expected to go in the first round. Kanter hasn’t played competitively in a year, forced to sit out last season at Kentucky after being ruled ineligible for being paid to play in Turkey.

Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas went fifth to Toronto and Jan Vesely of the Czech Republic was taken sixth by Washington.

Here’s a recap of the first round:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, 6-4, 191, Duke, point guard. Irving played just 11 games in his freshman season at Duke because of a turf toe injury. But he was impressive enough in just 303 minutes -- scoring 17.5 points per game -- to convince NBA scouts that he’s an athletic, aggressive, talented, score-first point guard -- and those all the rage in the NBA these days. His durability and his fitness are question marks. It’s also fair to say Irving might not have been drafted this high in other years when the talent pool was richer.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams, 6-9, 248, Arizona, small forward. The 2010-11 Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, Williams is extremely athletic for his size (with some Blake Griffin-like slams in his repertoire), has the footwork of a guard (which he played in high school) and is a remarkably efficient scorer, hitting nearly 60% of his shots from the floor last season. He’s great at drawing contact, averaging 8.7 free-throw attempts per game last season, and though the La Mirada native may be undersized to play power forward in the NBA, his athleticism and basketball IQ will make him an impact player.

3. Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter, 6-11, 259, Kentucky, center. Kanter looked dashing in his pre-game warm-ups at Kentucky, but he never stripped down to his jersey because the NCAA declared him ineligible for allegedly accepting excess benefits. Still, he’s considered an elite big man from his performances overseas, and in a draft lacking in quality, and big men, he’s considered a quality pick. He’s mature physically for a 19-year-old and boasts a strong inside game -- good rebounder, soft touch around the rim, able to finish with contact -- that makes him an impact big man.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson, 6-9, 227, Texas, power forward. He’s an impressive athlete with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a boatload of talent to become a next-level player. But some scouts say he still needs some polish on both the offensive and defensive end. Good shot-blocker, averaging 2.4 per game last season, but has poor mechanics at the free-throw line, where he shot only 48.7%.

5. Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas, 6-11, 240, Lithuania, center. A very fluid athlete for his size, the 19-year-old has a good wingspan, big hands and, like most European big men, a decent mid-range jumper. He’s a solid shot-blocker but needs to put on weight and add strength. But in match-ups against Turkey native and highly regarded big man Enes Kanter, Valanciunas always held his own.

6. Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely, 6-11, 240, Serbia, power forward. Despite his size and impressive wingspan, he’s really more of a small forward, preferring to play on the wing or catching the ball on the elbow and then driving into the paint. Vesely does play above the rim and produced many an impressive dunks overseas. He’s a decent ball-handler, but his shooting and rebounding need to improve.

7. Charlotte Bobcats: Bismack Biyombo, 6-9, 240, Congo, center. The Congo native rose to fame in just six months, but scouts aren’t if he’s the next Serge Ibaka ? a fellow Congo native turned Oklahoma City Thunder star ? or just a raw, rebounding, shot-blocking player with a big wingspan but is too raw to make an impact in the NBA. Some view him as a possible Ben Wallace-type player. Biyombo’s offensive game needs work and his fundamentals are lacking. He might also be a few years older his stated age of eighteen. Overall, he’s a boom-or-bust type pick.

8. Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight, 6-3, 177, Kentucky, point guard/shooting guard. Another year, another lottery-bound point guard trained by John Calipari. Knight isn’t as flashy as John Wall and doesn’t have his floor vision or passing abilities. But Knight is a great scorer, with outside range (38% from beyond the three-point line) and led a team that lost five first-round draft picks a year ago back to the Final Four this year. He’ll need to put on some weight and limit his turnovers at the next level.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker, 6-1, 184, Connecticut, point guard. It’s hard to find a more clutch player. Walker was the heart and soul behind Connecticut’s improbable run to the NCAA title this year; he hit big shots in every close game. The junior and Bronx, N.Y. native has a street-grown game with a nasty first step and an ankle-breaking crossover dribble. His short size could be a problem defending bigger point guards in the NBA, and he can play too fast at times, but he’s productive and a fierce competitor.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jimmer Fredette, 6-3, 196, Brigham Young, shooting guard. Jimmer-mania caught on during the college basketball season, and so did the questions about whether the highly-prolific scorer (28.9 his senior year) with shooting range to the parking lot is an NBA-ready player. He doesn’t play defense ? or didn’t much at BYU ? and he’s not that athletic. But Fredette is a smart player who finds ways to score and he could flourish in a run-and-gun system where he can get quick shots or if he’s asked to come off the bench. Fredette will probably be traded to Sacramento in a trade that should be announced later tonight.

11. Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson, 6-7, 206, Washington State, shooting guard. An elite shooter, he dropped 43 on Washington in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament. Thompson is lacking on defense and his small frame won’t help him in the NBA. He also needs help creating his shot because he’s just an average athlete who mostly ran off screens in college to get open. But in the right offense, with his good footwork and basketball IQ, he can be a very effective scorer.

12. Utah Jazz: Alec Burks, 6-6, 193, Colorado, shooting guard. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has impressive length for a guard that helps him as a rebounder and has the ball-handling skills to play point guard. He’s not afraid to get into the lane ? where he’s good at drawing contact ? and run in transition. His three-point shooting (29% last season) needs work as does his mid-range game. Burks also needs to put on some more weight and improve defensively.13. Phoenix Suns: Markieff Morris, 6-9, 241, Kansas, power forward. Some have called him a “poor man’s Marcus Morris,” which is humorous considering they’re twins. Like his brother, he’s strong, plays well around the rim, is a good shooter ? mostly at three-point range (42% last season) ? but is not as offensively polished and lacks a mid-range game. Markieff may be a better rebounder than his brother, but he needs to get to the free-throw line more often.

14. Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris, 6-9, 230, Kansas, power forward. One of college basketball’s top inside men, Morris averaged 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and shot 57% from the floor his junior season. He has an array of moves and can step out and hit a mid-range shot, too. On defense, he works hard, which makes up for his lack of length; he could be a very effective presence inside. He needs to improve his free-throw shooting, though.

15. Indiana Pacers: Kawhi Leonard, 6-7, 227, San Diego State, small forward. His hands are as big as dinner plates, which, along with his freakish ability to bounce off the floor before anyone else, help him grab rebounds on both ends and finish at the rim. His shooting release seems to take too long, but he’s effective from mid-range. His overall offensive game is limited and is stuck between trying to play inside and out. But Leonard is a very good athlete and an underrated defender who always seems to be around the ball.

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Vucevic, 7-0, 260, USC, forward/center. No player shot up the draft boards faster than Vucevic after his pre-draft camp in Chicago, where he measured about 7-feet in shoes, had only 6% body fat and a wingspan of 7-4 ½. In a draft lacking in quality big men, he’s a solid choice, though he lacks athleticism, which can hurt him on defense. And while he’s a solid shooter from mid-range, his three-point shot needs work. At USC he sometimes seemed to disappear from games and didn’t always play aggressively. But Vucevic made huge strides as a Trojan, from rarely playing as a freshman to becoming a First-Team All-Pac-10. His ceiling is higher than most.

17. New York Knicks: Iman Shumpert, 6-5, 222, Georgia Tech, point/shooting guard. Shumpert is athletic, a solid defender who gets lots of steals, and has good size for a point guard. He helped his stock immensely by topping all draftees in his vertical-leap test. But he’s still not a great jump shooter, making only 28% of his three-point attempts in his senior season. In the NBA the three-point shot is even farther away, and he’ll likely struggle.

18. Washington Wizards: Chris Singleton, 6-9, 225, Florida State, small forward. He’s a versatile defensive force who spearheaded the Seminoles’ run to the Southwest Region semifinal, where they lost by one point to Virginia Commonwealth. Excellent athlete, well built, long arms ? he’s more NBA-ready than most, and though his offense isn’t great, his blue-collar work ethic will get him some points near the rim. He needs to improve his free-throw shooting and develop his postup game.

19. Milwaukee Bucks: Tobias Harris , 6-8, 223, Tennessee, small forward. Harris is a versatile wing who can play shooting guard and small forward, which helps because he doesn’t really seem to fit in the power forward position. He doesn’t have many postup moves and his foot speed is lacking. He could also stand to hit the gym, which he probably will do because he’s known for his work ethic. Harris,18, is one of the youngest in the draft but he’s more mature than his age indicates.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Donatas Motiejunas, 7-0, 215, Italy, power forward. The lefty is one of the most talented players in this draft, but his attitude on the court isn’t consistent and he doesn’t play hard all the time. He has a very smooth shooting touch from outside, and his postup game isn’t bad. He can also get inside the lane. Motiejunas is a decent defender and ball handler, but he needs to put on some weight..

21. Portland Trail Blazers: Nolan Smith, 6-4, 188, Duke, shooting guard. A National player of the year candidate, Smith is used to the spotlight. In his senior season he played both point guard and shooting guard, depending on the status of Kyrie Irving. Smith lacks a consistent shooting touch, creating some doubt about his role as a shooting guard. And some NBA scouts wonder if he is too tall to be a point guard, despite his skill in college at creating shots for teammates and getting to the rim.

22. Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried, 6-8, 225, Morehead State, power forward. A rebounding machine. Faried broke Tim Duncan’s modern-era (post-1973) Division I career rebounding mark of 1,570 and though he’s undersized, his relentless pursuit of the basketball reminded some scouts of Dennis Rodman. His defense is his strength and his athleticism helps, too, but his offensive game needs much work. Faried lacks a face-up game and doesn’t have a great shooting touch.

23. Houston Rockets: Nikola Mirotic, 6-10, 226, Serbia, small forward. Mirotic remains under contract with Real Madrid in Spain, and with a Ricky Rubio-esque buyout hindering him, Mirotic might not show up in the NBA for a year or two. Once he shows up, though, Mirotic could contribute quickly with a good shot complemented by his ability to get to the hoop. For now, though, Mirotic, is simply a longer-term investment.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Reggie Jackson, 6-3, 208, Boston College, point guard. A knee injury dropped Jackson’s slot in this draft considerably. He missed most workout opportunities after having minor knee surgery in May, and scouts have been forced to rely heavily on video from his junior season when he averaged 18.2 points a game and shot 42% from beyond the three-point arc. He has a 7-foot wingspan, is very athletic, great in transition and plays unselfishly. But he’s not a true point guard and needs to improve his perimeter defense.

25. Boston Celtics: Marshon Brooks, 6-5, 217, Providence, shooting guard. Brooks was under the radar at Providence despite ending the season as the nation’s second-leading scorer (24.6 average). He has a 7-foot wingspan, possesses an uncanny ability to get to the basket, a quick first step, and despite playing out of position for the Friars as a forward, he scored at will. He put up 52 points against Notre Dame and 43 at Georgetown. However, Brooks needs to add some strength and work on his defense.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Jordan Hamilton, 6-9, 228, Texas, small forward. Hamilton is a volume shooter who, when he’s on, can be very good and, when he’s off, can be quite bad. But the Compton native is a talented, confident player with good size, strength, athleticism and a versatile offensive game. He’s known for being selfish, and he’s not that quick moving laterally, which could hurt him defensively when he guards NBA players.

27. New Jersey Nets: JaJuan Johnson, 6-10, 220, Purdue, power forward. Johnson considered entering last year’s draft, but returned to Purdue to average 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in his senior season. Length and speed were his biggest assets in the Big Ten. To thrive in the NBA, though, he will need to add strength and a post game. With time in the weight room, Johnson represents a low-risk pick, so long as his team isn’t looking for immediate double-doubles. Still, he played in 140 games at Purdue, so it shouldn’t take him too long to adjust.

28. Chicago Bulls: Norris Cole, 6-2, 174, Cleveland State, point guard: The senior improved every year he was in college and is considered to have a skill-set of a scoring point guard with the ability to create for himself as well as his teammates. He averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game last season and looks to be Chicago’s future backup to Derrick Rose.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Cory Joseph, 6-3, 185, Texas, point guard. Joseph’s entry into the draft after only one year at Texas surprised many. In that one season he averaged 10.4 points and three assists while shooting 41.3% from beyond the three-point arc. While he can shoot the deep ball, Joseph’s ability to get to the rim is his strongest weapon and that has been on full display at pre-draft workouts. Still, he’s a raw talent at point guard and needs to mature to become an impact player..

30. Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler, 6-8, 222, Marquette, small forward. Butler is versatile: he can score inside or outside, but does not have a strong post game or a consistent jump shot. He rebounds well for his size, and plays solid defense, but does neither at a distinctly high level. Nonetheless, by being a jack-of-all-trades, Bulter found himself a home in this draft.