2011 NBA Draft

By Jojo Doria

International flavor to top 10 picks in NBA Draft; Turkey, Lithuania represented

After Duke's Kyrie Irving went No. 1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Arizona's Derrick Williams was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 2 in Thursday NBA Draft, the event turned international.

The Utah Jazz started the trend by taking Turkish center Enes Kanter at No. 3.

After the Cavs took Texas' power forward Tristan Thompson at No. 4, the Raptors looked to shore up their center spot by selecting Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania with the No. 5 choice.

Small forward Jan Vesely of the Czech Republic was picked next at No. 6 by the Washington Wizards, and Spanish power forward Bismack Biyombo was taken at No. 7 by the Sacramento Kings.

Kentucky guard Brandon Knight (Pistons), England-born Kemba Walker (Bobcats) and BYU's star guard Jimmer Fredette (Bucks) went at No. 8-10.

Biyombo will go to the Bobcats and Fredette will wind up with the Kings via trades, however.

Kansas' Morris twins consecutive picks highlight mid-round 1 picks in NBA Draft

Kansas twins Markieff and Marcus Morris on Thursday became just the second pair of twins selected in the first round of the same draft.

In the 2008, Brook and Robin Lopez became the first set of twins to be taken off the boards in the first round of the NBA draft.

Markieff was taken by Phoenix at No. 13 and Marcus followed to Houston, where he is expected to contribute in the Rockets offensive.

Two picks before Markieff, whose addition is expected to provide a physical presence for the Suns inside and switch Grant Hill back to his natural position at small forward, Golden State picked Washington State guard Klay Thompson.

The 6-7 Thompson, is the son of former NBA star Mychal Thompson, who was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1978.

After Thompson another shooting guard was taken off the boards- - this time by the Utah Jazz, who selected Colorado's Alec Burks at No. 12.

San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard went to Indiana at No. 15. The Pacers then traded his rights to San Antonio for former IUPUI standout George Hill, starting a number trades at the bottom of the first round.

Among those trades involved Boston and New Jersey swapping the Nos. 25 and 27 picks, and a Minnesota trade with the Rockets that sent Jonny Flynn to Houston.

The Philadelphia 76ers beefed up its roster by adding USC's Nikola Vucevic at No. 16 followed by the New York Knicks, who went for Iman Shumpert with the No. 17 choice.

Washington then grabbed Florida State forward Chris Singleton at No. 18, Tennessee forward Tobias Harris was drafted next by Charlotte before Donatas Motiejunas finished out the top-20 after being chosen by the Timberwolves.

Harris will be heading to Milwaukee as part of a three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Portland, for its first pick, took Duke guard Nolan Smith at No. 21 overall followed by Morehead State standout Kenneth Faried going to Denver.

The Rockets then added Nikola Mirotic at No. 24, Boston College shooting guard Reggie Jackson was taken by Oklahoma City at No. 25, and Providence guard Marshon Brooks next to the Celtics.

Mirotic will reportedly be heading to Chicago as part of the deal that sent Flynn to the Rockets, while the Thunder's pick Jackson was traded to the Nets.

Meanwhile, Brooks is expected to bolster the Nets shooting and rebounding following a swap with New Jersey.

The reigning NBA champ Dallas Mavericks took Jordan Hamilton 26th overall but the Texas forward is on the move to acquire long-range shooter Rudy Fernandez from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Andre Miller.

Purdue forward JaJuan Johnson was the 27th overall selection by the Nets but will be beefing up the Celtics interior following the swap.

The Chicago Bulls got Cleveland State Norris Cole at No. 28, but will send him to Miami in a proposed trade.

Texas guard Cory Joseph went to San Antonio as the No. 29th overall and the Bulls took Marquette forward Jimmy Butler to finish out the first round.

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