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.