NBA Draft: Round 1 selections
Months of speculation ended Thursday night, when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kansas guard/forward Andrew Wiggins first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Find all of the round-one selections below:
No. 1: Cavaliers select SG/SF Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins entered the college season as the consensus number-one pick, a ranking that rarely dropped beneath a top-three consensus all year long. A gifted athlete and excellent defender, the main question for Wiggins is whether he has the potential to become a top-tier scorer at the NBA level, something there is a great deal of disagreement on.
Tap here for more on Wiggins' selection.
No. 2: Bucks select SF/PF Jabari Parker
Parker has largely been considered to be the most NBA-ready of the top prospects in the draft class, and the Bucks may have nabbed themselves the Rookie of the Year and a perennial 20-point scorer. Yes, Parker is already that refined on the offensive end, able to score in a variety of ways, create for others, and play on or off the ball seamlessly.
Tap here for more on Parker's selection.
No. 3: 76ers select C Joel Embiid
Embiid was thought to be the top pick in the draft for most of the pre-draft process, with the Cleveland Cavaliers emerging from a workout feeling comfortable with the status of his troublesome back. Doctors then found a broken navicular bone in his right foot, terrifying those around the NBA who can recall a handful of elite big men who were limited by foot issues.
Tap here for more on Embiid's selection.
No. 4: Magic select PF Aaron Gordon
Congratulations, Magic fans, you've been gifted a player we guarantee will immediately become a top-three in-game dunker in the league. But Gordon promises a lot more than just above-the-rim play, looking like a potential all-world defender thanks to his size, athleticism, and consistent effort.
Tap here for more on Gordon's selection.
No. 5: Jazz select PG Dante Exum
Exum becomes the first international prospect selected and the highest drafted Aussie since Andrew Bogut in 2005. He also might be the most intelligent player in the draft, if we're to believe the reports that leaked out from some of his psychological tests with teams.
Tap here for more on Exum's selection.
No. 6: Celtics select PG Marcus Smart
Well, you certainly can't call this pick ... dumb. See what we did there? Sorry, it's going to be a long night.
Anyway, you really can't fault this pick, as Smart is an enticing prospect at the guard position, one who should contribute immediately and who, if you're a believer in analytics, ranks among the top players in the entire class. Plus, there's the pedigree of having entered the year as one of the top-three prospects, something his on-court play did little to dispel.
Tap here for more on Smart's selection.
No. 7: Lakers select PF Julius Randle
Randle is as impressive and NBA-ready a prospect there is in this draft. Coming off a season in which he averaged 15 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 50 percent, including a somewhat surprising run to the NCAA Tournament finals after a disappointing Wildcats season, Randle promises to provide toughness and versatile scoring from the jump.
Tap here for more on Randle's selection.
No. 8: Kings select SG Nik Stauskas
"Just a shooter." That's the description Stauskas was working to shed in the pre-draft process, and his perch at No. 8 confirms that he succeeded to some degree. While his anywhere-in-the-gym range is the primary trait teams were likely salivating over, the Canadian has flashed an ability to get to the hoop for additional scoring.
Tap here for more on Stauskas' selection.
No. 9: Hornets select PF Noah Vonleh
And with that, the Hornets may have drafted the most physically imposing player in the class, as Vonleh is a specimen. With a 7-foot-4-plus wingpsan, a 9-foot standing reach, and the largest hands in the draft, Vonleh has the makings of a defensive force, something he flashed in the Big Ten this past season. He's just as enticing offensively.
Tap here for more on Vonleh's selection.
No. 10: 76ers select PG Elfrid Payton
While he didn't appear on mock drafts until after the conclusion of the NCAA season, the sparsely-seen Sun Belt guard began impressing teams immediately, shooting as high as the top-8 in the pre-draft process. It's not hard to see why Payton would work out well, given his length, speed, and attacking ability. He's also only 20, despite being a junior, and Philadelphia clearly thinks there's further upside here.
Tap here for more on Payton's selection.
No. 11: Nuggets select SF Doug McDermott
McDermott can score, and shouldn't have a great deal of trouble doing so at the next level. He's a heady player, and one who graded out as a better athlete than expected at the combine, traits that should help him evolve beyond "elite spot-up shooter," not that there would be anything wrong with that.
Tap here for more on McDermott's selection.
McDermott was reportedly traded to the Bulls for picks No. 16 and 19.
No. 12: Magic select PF Dario Saric
While Saric is definitely a prospect worth being excited about, any enthusiasm needs to be tempered with a long-term outlook. That's because Saric recently signed a three-year deal in Turkey, one that doesn't provide him an out to the NBA until at least the 2016 offseason.
Tap here for more on Saric's selection.
No. 13: Timberwolves select SG/PG Zach LaVine
Here's your lottery ticket, Wolves fans. LaVine has as much potential as almost anyone in the draft thanks to an obscene amount of length and athleticism, and there's genuine belief in NBA circles that his minimal role at UCLA - he averaged just 9.4 points and 1.8 assists as a freshman - was a matter of him being a long-term project rather than any lack of skill.
Tap here for more on LaVine's selection.
No. 14: Suns select SF T.J. Warren
Buckets. Teams may not be in love with the why or the how of it, but Warren can score, better than almost anyone else in the draft. After averaging a ridiculous 24.9 points as a sophomore this past season, doubt was cast as to whether that could translate to the NBA, because he doesn't get to the line a great deal and doesn't shoot threes.
Tap here for more on Warren's selection.
No. 15: Hawks select PF Adreian Payne
Despite being one of the older prospects in the draft, it's possible the Hawks got a real steal here with Payne. The benefits of drafting a more seasoned player, while they may come with the caveat of a lower upside, is that the team is going to get four years further along on his development curve rather than paying for development time. That is to say, Payne is ready to pay dividends now.
Tap here for more on Payne's selection.
No. 16: Nuggets (via Bulls) select C Jusuf Nurkic
This is a long-term play, but there's reason for Nuggets fans to be excited. Nurkic is a monster, but one with a soft touch around the rim and one who is young enough to project development for. Patience will be the key, as it's unclear if Nurkic intends to head to the NBA or play another season or two in Europe.
Tap here for more on Nurkic's selection.
The Nuggets acquired pick No. 16 from the Bulls by reportedly trading Doug McDermott, selected 11th, to Chicago.
No. 17: Celtics select SF James Young
The Celtics are looking at his impressive scoring ability and dreaming on 20 points a game. There are few better at getting to the rim, he plays well off the ball, and his shot projects as a 3-point weapon in time. Add in that he's athletic enough that you can see him becoming a good defender, and there's a lot to like.
Tap here for more on Young's selection.
No. 18: Suns select PG Tyler Ennis
It took until the No. 18 pick, but the most steady point guard in the draft is off the board. Lacking in sizzle and flash compared to Dante Exum or Elfrid Payton, Ennis is perhaps the safest one in the class, someone who should have no trouble running an NBA offense effectively and precisely. He can pass, he has great vision, he can slash, and his jump shot should come along to NBA 3-point range.
Tap here for more on Ennis' selection.
No. 19: Nuggets (via Bulls) select SG/PG Gary Harris
That's a quick infusion of shooting for Denver, as Harris promises to be a long-range threat immediately. While his shot was at times inconsistent - he hit just 35.2 percent on threes as a sophomore after stroking 41.1 percent as a freshman - his form is pure and his range deep. He's a solid slasher, as well, thanks to a tight handle, and he should be a plus defender at either guard spot.
Tap here for more on Harris' selection.
The Nuggets acquired pick No. 19 from the Bulls by reportedly trading Doug McDermott, selected 11th, to Chicago.
No. 20: Raptors select SF/PF Bruno Caboclo
The Raptors went far, far off the board in selecting Caboclo, out of Brazil.
Tap here for more on Caboclo's selection.
No. 21: Thunder select PF Mitch McGary
With McGary, the Thunder are getting one of the lone true bigs in the draft class, a near 7-foot, 266-pound behemoth who uses every ounce and inch of that size to bully opponents. While his production through two seasons at Michigan (one shortened by injury) was modest, McGary combines a soft touch and 18-foot range with his bull-in-a-china-shop inside game to force chaos on an opposing defense.
Tap here for more on McGary's selection.
No. 22: Grizzlies select SG Jordan Adams
Adams, whose athleticism was questioned throughout the past season, has dropped more than 20 pounds since the end of the college season. Combine that with fine performance as a sophomore at UCLA - he averaged 17.4 points and shot 48.5 percent from the floor - and there's little doubt that Adams will be able to score at the next level.
Tap here for more on Adams' selection.
No. 23: Jazz select SG Rodney Hood
Hood can really shoot the ball, and most teams are always in the hunt for more shooters. His 42 percent clip from deep as a sophomore at Duke is no mirage, as Hood has a pure and rangy stroke that should extend to the NBA 3-point line. It's also a shot he gets off quickly, which pressures the defense and opens up his driving game.
Tap here for more on Hood's selection.
No. 24: Hornets select PG Shabazz Napier
All he does is win, win, win no matter what. That's the story for Napier, who is the rare two-time NCAA champion after providing support in 2011 and leading the Huskies himself in 2014. Naturally, teams were said to be enamored with Napier's toughness, leadership, and track record, with the Hornets obviously among them.
Tap here for more on Napier's selection.
The Hornets reportedly traded Napier to the Heat for picks No. 26 and 55 (second round), and a future second-round pick.
No. 25: Rockets select PF Clint Capela
Capela, 20, represents a longer-term play, as he's still fairly early in his development. If patience can be practiced, Capela has the potential to be a difference maker on the defensive end, protecting the rim and providing above-average pick-and-roll defense. Offensively, he'll mostly be dunks and put-backs for a while.
Tap here for more on Capela's selection.
No. 26: Hornets (via Heat) select P.J. Hairston
You want NBA ready shooting, you got it. Hairston's time spent in the D-Legaue in 2013-14 may not have come for the best reasons - he left UNC following a suspension - but they surely helped convince the Hornets that Hairston can contribute in an NBA environment. After averaging 14.6 points and shooting 39.6 percent on threes as a sophomore in 2012-13, Hairston averaged 21.8 points and hit 35.8 percent of NBA threes in the D-League.
Tap here for more on Hairston's selection.
The Hornets reportedly acquired the No. 26 pick from the Heat for Shabazz Napier, the No. 24 pick.
No. 27: Suns select C Bogdan Bogdanovic
Tall and incredibly long for a two-guard, Bogdanovic offers a combination of skillful penetration and a long-range stroke, a double-threat that caused issues for Adriatic League opponents. With defenses on their heels, Bogdanovic was also able to create for teammates, averaging 14.8 points and 3.7 assists this past season.
Tap here for more Bogdanovic's selection.
No. 28: Clippers select SG C.J. Wilcox
Where are you standing right now? Wilcox can hit from there. Knocked down some for being a senior and having a somewhat one-dimensional game, Wilcox has the one skill that can keep players in the league - shooting. He hit 39.1 percent of his threes as a senior, averaged 2.3 makes a game over four seasons and has reportedly continued to impress in shooting drills.
Tap here for more on Wilcox's selection.
No. 29: Thunder select PF Josh Huestis
Huestis locked down Andrew Wiggins in the NCAA Tournament, which is the kind of defensive performance that gets you noticed. He should be able to defend at the next level and is the type of tough, focused player coaches love, though the upside is obviously limited considering he peaked averaging 11.2 points as a senior and never shot higher than 46 percent.
Tap here for more on Huestis' selection.
No. 30: Spurs select SF Kyle Anderson
One of the most intriguing talents in the draft, Anderson was a polarizing prospect leading up to the draft. He is immensely skilled, a fine creator, and a deft passer with great court vision, but his skills are generally best leveraged with the ball in his hands. San Antonio needs to commit to letting him create on offense rather than trying to shoehorn him in as a traditional three or four.
Tap here for more on Anderson's selection.
Visit theScore's NBA draft tracker for all of the second-round selections.