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The 2011 NBA Draft gets underway at 7 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN. The New York Knicks have the 17th pick in the first round and the New Jersey Nets have the 27th. UConn's Kemba Walker, a Bronx native, is expected to be a lottery selection.
As I write this the 2011 NBA Draft is just moments away from beginning. Which means the Cleveland Cavaliers are just moments away from most likely making former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving the No. 1 overall pick.
Draft wheeling and dealing has already begun, as the Sacramenton Kings, Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a trade involving five players and three draft picks.
There are also rumors swirling everywhere, many involving the New York Knicks. Lots of reports that the Knicks might try to move up to get ahead of Utah at No. 12 and select Jimmer Fredette. There are also reports that UCon’n’s Kemba Walker, not long ago considered a lock to be a top 10 pick, might have a knee injury that could cause him to slide all the way to New York at No. 17.
We won’t have to wait long to find out.
(Follow SB Nation New York’s NBA Draft Hub for up-to-date information about the Knicks and Nets. For even more draft coverage, you can visit SBNation.com).
The 2011 NBA Draft will be held Thursday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) with the New York Knicks holding the 17th pick in the first round and the New Jersey Nets holding pick No. 27. SB Nation New York will have pick-by-pick news and analysis of the moves made by the Knicks and Nets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Draft Lottery and are widely expected to select former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 selection.
Where Glens Falls native and former BYU scoring machine Jimmer Fredette winds up will be one of the most interesting aspects of the evening. There has, of course, been a great deal of speculation about the high-scoring guard winding up in New York or New Jersey. Former Syracuse big man Rick Jackson could be drafted some time in the second round Thursday night. Former UConn star Kemba Walker, a Bronx native, is a likely lottery pick after leading the Huskies to a national championship.
SB Nation New York has also been following mock drafts for both the Knicks and the Nets.
2011 NBA Draft Order
(Follow SB Nation New York's NBA Draft Hub for up-to-date information about the Knicks and Nets. For even more draft coverage, you can visit SBNation.com).
2011 NBA Draft Results: Kyrie Irving Taken No. 1 Overall By Cleveland Cavaliers
As expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers took former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving No. 1 overall Thursday night in the 2011 NBA Draft. Irving, a 6-foot-3, 191-pound point guard, played only 11 games for the Blue Devils in 2010-2011 due to a toe injury. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists in those 11 games.
The Cavaliers also have the fourth overall selection in this year’s draft.
There really was not much intrigue around the Irving pick. This has been the consensus choice since the Cavs won the NBA Draft Lottery. Things will now get interesting, however.
Much intrigue revolves around a couple of New York players. High-scoring guard Jimmer Fredette, whom the New York Knicks have reportedly expressed interest in. Many analysts don’t expect Fredette to last past Utah at No. 12. The Knicks pick 17th.
The other player is Kemba Walker, formerly of national champion UConn. The Bronx native was originally expected to go in to the top 10, but some analysts now think Walker could slide and still be available to the Knicks.
Jun 23 7:48p by Ed Valentine