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NBA draft first-round analysis

By Blair Kerkhoff, McClatchy Newspapers –

First-round analysis

1 New Orleans Hornets Anthony Davis, 6-10, Kentucky, Fr.

Davis’ shot-blocking is most impressive. But he needs to get stronger.

2 Charlotte Bobcats

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Ky., Fr.

Didn’t see this one coming. Kidd-Gilchrist has a great motor but has to improve perimeter game.

3 Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal, 6-5, Florida, Fr.

For his position, Beal is the most NBA-ready.

4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Dion Waiters, 6-4, Syracuse, So.

This is the second surprise of the draft. Waiters is a solid defender.

5 Sacramento Kings

Thomas Robinson, 6-8, Kansas, Jr.

T-Rob is never going to be a great NBA scorer but is always a beast on the boards.

6 Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard, 6-3, Weber State, Jr.

Lillard is a scoring point guard with great range.

7 Golden State Warriors

Harrison Barnes, 6-8, N. Carolina, So.

Love Barnes’ midrange game, work ethic and smarts.

8 Toronto Raptors

Terrence Ross, 6-7, Washington, So.

There’s a lot to like here: size, range, athletic ability.

9 Detroit Pistons

Andre Drummond, 6-11, UConn, Fr.

He has the best raw ability but is the most unpolished of the big men.

10 New Orleans Hornets

Austin Rivers, 6-5, Duke, Fr.

For a son of an NBA coach, he’s not a great decision-maker. But he has youth on his side and has the range.

11 Portland Trail Blazers

Meyers Leonard, 7-1, Illinois, So.

Leonard is much improved over his freshman season .

12 Houston Rockets

Jeremy Lamb, 6-5, Connecticut, So.

Lamb has good NBA two-guard size and excellent wingspan 13 Phoenix Suns Kendall Marshall, 6-4, N. Carolina, So.

Marshall is a good playmaker and leader, but not a great scorer.

14 Milwaukee Bucks

John Henson, 6-10, N. Carolina, Jr.

Henson has the next-level shot-blocking and rebounding game but must bulk up.

15 Philadelphia 76ers

Maurice Harkless, 6-9, St. John’s, Fr.

Is he the young wing player to replace Andre Iguodala?

16 Houston Rockets

Royce White, 6-7, Iowa State, So.

White was the best player I saw this season. He can do it all .

17 Dallas Mavericks

Tyler Zeller, 7-0, North Carolina, Sr.

His NBA career will be the longest of Tar Heels’ first-rounders.

18 Houston Rockets

Terrence Jones, 6-9, Kentucky, So.

You have to love Jones’ size and passing ability .

19 Orlando Magic

Andrew Nicholson, 6-10, St. Bona., Sr.

Bonnies’ smooth big man can stretch defenses.

20 Denver Nuggets

Evan Fournier, 6-6, France

First Euro taken is a smooth scoring wing but not a long-range shooter.

21 Boston Celtics

Jared Sullinger, 6-9, Ohio State, So.

Celtics are smartest team or outsmarted themselves with Sullinger . His back issues have scared off teams.

22 Boston Celtics

Fab Melo, 7-0, Syracuse, So.

Melo dropped weight and improved tremendously as sophomore.

23 Atlanta Hawks

John Jenkins, 6-4, Vanderbilt, Jr.

Jenkins, a two-time SEC scoring champ, is a scoring machine .

24 Cleveland Cavaliers

Jared Cunningham, 6-4, Ore. St., Jr.

Would he have been available early in the second round?

25 Memphis Grizzlies

Tony Wroten Jr., 6-5, Wash., Fr.

Wroten has great point guard size but needs to shoot better.

26 Indiana Pacers

Miles Plumlee, 6-10, Duke, Sr.

Plumlee will be remembered as Larry Bird’s final pick with the Pacers.

27 Miami Heat

Arnett Moultrie, 6-11, Miss. St., Jr.

Moultrie is an agile, quick athletic big man.

28 Oklahoma City Thunder

Perry Jones III, 6-11, Baylor, So.

Jones is talented but not a leader, and he won’t have to be in OKC.

29 Chicago Bulls

Marquis Teague, 6-2, Kentucky, Fr.

Some Chicago media had a CNN/Fox moment with KU’s Tyshawn Taylor.

30 Golden State Warriors

Festus Ezeli, 6-11, Vanderbilt, Sr.

Ezeli, a Nigerian, has played organized ball for five years.

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