Wearing an outfit that required courage, Andrew Wiggins earned the title that was predicted since high school: No. 1 overall NBA draft pick.
The Cavaliers made Wiggins the top overall pick Thursday, choosing the raw and physically gifted forward over Jabari Parker, the Duke forward who went second to the Bucks.
Wiggins, the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, shook hands with new NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who emceed the opening round for the first time, and stepped off the stage with his black-and-white floral suit jacket.
“I'm hoping to come in and make an impact off the bat," he said.
In some ways, Wiggins was the favorite to be the No. 1 choice for years, ever since he was recognized as a basketball phenomenon at 15. The Canadian, who was dubbed a “once-in-a-generation talent” by Sports Illustrated, didn’t quite live up to the hype in his lone season at Kansas while averaging 17.1 points and six rebounds on 45 percent shooting.
But his physical gifts – including a 44-inch vertical jump – were too much for the Cavs to pass up.
Parker had been angling to go to the Bucks, who had the league’s worst record last season, and got his wish to play near his hometown of Chicago.
“I get to represent both Chicago and Milwaukee,” he said.
Kansas center Joel Embiid, once projected as the top pick in the draft and Cleveland’s target, fell to the Sixers at third overall because of injury concerns. The 20-year-old underwent surgery on his right foot just a week ago after a fracture was discovered during his pre-draft workouts.
“Unfortunately, this foot injury happened before the draft,” Embiid said.
Here's how the entire first round went down:
1. Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, Shooting guard, 6-8
For the second year in a row, the Cavs took the Best Canadian Available, except this one might be an actual superstar.
2. Bucks: Jabari Parker, Duke, Small forward, 6-8
Parker sent strong signals to the Cavs not to pick him, allowing the Bucks to post their biggest ‘W’ of the season.
3. 76ers: Joel Embiid, Kansas, Center, 7-0
One of the few things the Sixers do well is stockpile rookie centers who can’t play due to injuries.
4. Magic: Aaron Gordon, Arizona, Power forward, 6-9
Your classic reach. Shawn Marion clone was projected to last until 8-10 range.
5. Jazz: Dante Exum, Australia, Point guard, 6-6
Exum says he’s got a little Russell Westbrook, a little Manu Ginobili and a little Tony Parker in his game. Jazz can only hope.
6. Celtics: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, Point guard, 6-3
Start the speculation about where Rajon Rondo is headed, as C’s take a competitor and defender to be Rondo’s successor.
7. Lakers: Julius Randle, Kentucky, Power forward, 6-9
Kobe Bryant has to like Randle’s talent, but he’s really more excited about bringing Carmelo Anthony to L.A. in free agency.
8. Kings: Nik Stauskas, Michigan, Shooting guard, 6-6
The way Stauskas can shoot, we’re thinking that Kings executive Chris Mullin must have given this pick his blessing.
9. Hornets: Noah Vonleh, Indiana, Power forward, 6-9
Here’s a big-time athlete for coach Steve Clifford and his rising Hornets.
10. 76ers: Elfrid Payton, La.-Lafayette, Point guard, 6-4
The Sixers could have paired Payton with Michael Carter-Williams. Instead they shipped him to Orlando for Dario Saric, a top shooter.
11. Nuggets: Doug McDermott, Creighton, Small forward, 6-8
The Nuggets are shipping Anthony Randolph and this top shooter to Chicago. Though Bulls have a bigger talent in mind in Carmelo.
12. Magic: Dario Saric, Croatia, SF-PF, 6-10
The Magic made a bold and necessary move to get a point guard by trading Saric to the Sixers and picking up Payton, a Damian Lillard type.
13. Timberwolves: Zach LaVine, UCLA, Shooting guard, 6-6
Ricky Rubio will end up making a lot of lob passes for dunks to this high flyer. But the Kevin Love soap opera still has to be resolved.
14. Suns: T.J. Warren, N.C. State, Small forward, 6-8
Mentored by David West, Warren is going to the right place. The Suns can score, and Warren is the small forward they’re looking for.
15. Hawks: Adreian Payne, Mich. State, Power forward, 6-10
To move up the East ladder, the Hawks need to add some size to Paul Millsap. So it made a lot of sense to go for Payne, a tough and physical player.
16. Bulls: Jusuf Nurkic, Croatia, 6-11, Center
Headed to Denver, Nurkic didn’t start playing until he was 14, just six years ago. He has a great motor and lots of potential as a scorer/ rebounder.
17. Celtics: James Young, Kentucky, Shooting guard, 6-7
The comparisons to Tracy McGrady are silly, but the Celtics got a talented shooter. Now we’ll see if they can run and put his talents to use.
18. Suns: Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, Point guard, 6-2
Ennis, a Canadian, is supposed to be on the move to the Raptors. He’s undersized, but showed Jim Boeheim he’s not afraid to take a big shot.
19. Bulls: Gary Harris, Mich. State, Shooting guard, 6-4
Harris is going to the Nuggets with Nurkic, as Denver netted the 16th and 19th picks for the No. 11 pick. We’ll see if Nurkic actually plays.
20. Raptors: Bruno Caboclo, Brazil, Small forward, 6-9
Nobody had Caboclo going this high, as 18-year-old was seen strictly as a second-rounder. He’s more of a mystery than the rarely seen Exum.
21. Thunder: Mitch McGary: Michigan, Power forward, 6-10
This looks like another big draft move for GM Sam Presti. McGary is a Tyler Hansbrough type but with more skills.
22. Grizzlies: Jordan Adams, UCLA, Shooting guard, 6-5
When he excelled in workouts, his stock skyrocketed to the first round. Should give Grizzlies some offense, especially around the rim.
23. Jazz: Rodney Hood, Duke, SG-SF, 6-8
The Jazz needed more frontcourt scoring so it was smart to grab Hood, who was overshadowed by Jabari Parker.
24. Hornets: Shabazz Napier, UConn, Point guard, 6-1
The Heat is going to wind up with Napier in a trade, and that will please LeBron James, who praised the star of UConn’s title run.
25. Rockets: Clint Capela, France, Power forward, 6-11
Capela, a developing big man who needs to bulk up, is expected to stay overseas. The Rockets are going for Carmelo, anyway.
26. Heat: P.J. Hairston, North Carolina, Shooting guard, 6-4
The Heat will send Hairston up to Charlotte, where fans know him all too well from when he was dismissed from the Tar Heels.
27. Suns: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia, Shooting guard, 6-6
It’s highly doubtful that the Suns will have this shooter on their team next season. They want to stash him overseas.
28. Clippers: C.J. Wilcox, Washington, Shooting guard, 6-5
Doc Rivers went with a guy who actually went to college for four years! The Clips hope that this athletic shooter can help at both ends.
29. Thunder: Josh Huestis, Stanford, Small forward, 6-7
Huestis started to catch the Thunder’s eye when he helped lock down Andrew Wiggins in Stanford’s NCAA tourney win over Kansas.
30. Spurs: Kyle Anderson, UCLA, PF, 6-9
The rich got richer. Anderson is a Spurs kind of player since he doesn’t need to shoot the ball to contribute.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
31. Milwaukee, Damien Inglis, f, Roanne (France).
32. Philadelphia, K.J. McDaniels, f, Clemson.
33. Cleveland (from Orlando), Joe Harris, g, Virginia.
34. New York (from Boston through Dallas), Cleanthony Early, f, Wichita State.
35. e-Utah, Jarnell Stokes, f, Tennessee.
36. Milwaukee (from L.A. Lakers via Minnesota and Phoenix), Johnny O’Bryant III, f, LSU.
37. Toronto (from Sacramento), DeAndre Daniels, f, UConn.
38. Detroit, Spencer Dinwiddie, g, Colorado.
39. Philadelphia (from Cleveland), Jerami Grant, f, Syracuse.
40. Minnesota (from New Orleans), Glenn Robinson III, f, Michigan.
41. Denver, Nikola Jokic, f, Mega Vizura (Serbia).
42. Houston (from New York), Nick Johnson, g, Arizona.
43. Atlanta, Walter Tavares, c, Gran Canarias (Spain).
44. d-Minnesota, Markel Brown, g, Oklahoma State.
45. Charlotte, Dwight Powell, f, Stanford.
46. Washington, Jordan Clarkson, g, Missouri.
47. f-Philadelphia (from Brooklyn via Dallas and Boston), Russ Smith, g, Louisville.
48. g-Milwaukee (from Toronto via Phoenix), Lamar Patterson, g, Pittsburgh.
49. Chicago, Cameron Bairstow, c, New Mexico.
50. Phoenix, Alec Brown, c, Green Bay.
51. New York (from Dallas), Thanasis Antetokounmpo, f, Delaware (NBADL).
52. Philadelphia (from Memphis via Cleveland), Vasilije Micic, g, Mega Vizura (Serbia).
53. Minnesota (from Golden State), Alessandro Gentile, f, EA7 Armani (Italy).
54. Philadelphia (from Houston via Milwaukee), Nemanja Dangubic, f, Mega Vizura (Serbia).
55. c-Miami, Semaj Christon, g, Xavier.
56. h-Denver (from Portland), Roy Devyn Marble, f, Iowa.
57. Indiana, Louis Labeyrie, f, Paris-Levallois (France).
58. San Antonio (from L.A. Clippers via New Orleans), Jordan McRae, g, Tennessee.
59. Toronto (from Oklahoma City via New York), Xavier Thames, g, San Diego State.
60. San Antonio, Cory Jefferson, f, Baylor.
- * Proposed Trades: c-Charlotte and Miami traded the rights to selected players. d-Minnesota traded rights to Brooklyn for $1 million. e-Utah traded rights to Memphis for a 2016 second-round draft pick. f-Philadelphia traded rights to New Orleans for G Pierre Jackson. g-Milwaukee traded rights to Atlanta for a future second-round draft pick. h-Denver traded rights and G Evan Fournier to Orlando for G Arron Afflalo.
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