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June 25, 2011

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Cavs grab Irving in the draft

KYRIE Irving traveled just a few kilometers down the road to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft on Thursday in New Jersey, while many of the selections that followed came from across the globe.

Cleveland selected Irving with the first pick in a draft filled with internationals, confident his foot is healthy enough to lead the Cavaliers' rebuilding effort that follows LeBron James' departure.

Irving showed no signs of the toe injury on his right foot that limited him to 11 games with Duke University last season.

"I didn't have any doubts about going to No. 1," Irving said. "It's a special feeling in my heart and knowing my friends and family were together... I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."

Three of the first six players taken were from Europe. It was the first time four international players who didn't play at a US college were selected in the lottery.

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.

Williams goes No. 2

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.

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

"Basketball in my country is not so popular, but after this night, I think -- I hope - that basketball will be more popular," Vesely said.

Bismack Biyombo of Congo went seventh to Sacramento. He was one of six international players who went in the first round, three short of the record set in 2003.

The league's uncertain labor situation hung over the draft. Some potential top-10 picks decided to stay in college rather than enter the draft this year.

Rounding out the top 10, the Detroit Pistons selected Brandon Knight with the No. 8 pick, Kemba Walker went to the Charlotte Bobcats with the No. 9 selection and the Milwaukee Bucks chose Jimmer Fredette in the No. 10 slot.

Fredette was then traded to the Sacramento Kings along with John Salmons in a three-team deal that sent Biyombo and Corey Maggette to Charlotte.

The Bucks received Stephen Jackson, No. 19 pick Tobias Harris, Shaun Livingston and Beno Udrih.

 

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