12:08 a.m.: Danny Ainge and the Celtics took care of some needs, landing a big man (JaJuan Johnson) and guard (E'Twaun Moore), both from Purdue. Despite Doc Rivers' infamous refusal to play rookies, Johnson should be court-ready from Day 1. He's long and can shoot well from about 20 feet and in.
Moore is a project, but he's a well-balanced offensive and defensive player who can provide valuable minutes. I'd compare him to a Von Wafer, only shorter.
12:06 a.m.: Mr. Irrelevant is Isaiah Thomas — 60th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings. He's a 5-10 guard from Washington who's super-quick. Kind of a Derek Fisher-type.
The Spurs took Hungarian guard Adam Hanga at No. 59. He'll be staying overseas for a couple of years.
11:54 p.m.: And another African guy — Ater Majok from the Sudan is going 58th to the Lakers.
11:50 p.m.: Lakers, with the No. 56 pick, take Nigerian power forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum (good luck saying his name at the water fountain tomorrow), and Minnesota (through Dallas) takes Tanguy Ngombo, a forward from Qatar's pro league. Four guys from Africa. Record?
11:40 p.m.: The Celtics select guard E'Twaun Moore (another Purdue grad) with the No. 55 pick.
It'll be nice to give JaJuan Johnson a familiar face, and there's no doubt that Moore is at times a sensational scorer, if inconsistent, but I would've liked another big man.
The 6-foot-4 guard will be behind both Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley on the depth chart.
Cavs take Milan Macvan, a forward from Serbia, with pick No. 54.
11:36 p.m.: Orlando's first pick (No. 53) is DeAndrew Liggins, a guard out of Kentucky (how many draftees can John Calipari spit out? Sheesh). Love his size (6-6) and speed, but he'll have to relegate himself to a defensive specialist in the NBA. Zero stroke on offense.
11:34 p.m.: The Pistons take Vernon Macklin, a 6-foot-9 forward from Florida at No. 52. Got serious ups. Reminds me, ironically enough, of Jason Maxiell.
11:30 p.m.: 76ers get Temple power forward Lavoy Allen at 50, Blazers nab Ohio State 3-point specialist Jon Diebler at 51. I watched the latter a lot this year, and he can legitimately hit triples from everywhere on the floor, with a super-quick release. And at 6-foot-7, he's tall enough to put 'em up over most shooting guards. J.J. Redick-type guy.
11:24 p.m.: Surprised to see Kansas guard Josh Selby fall this far — 49th pick to Memphis. I see the 6-foot-3 guard being able to help the Grizzlies immediately behind Mike Conley.
11:21 p.m.: Swear word. I was hoping Oakland center Keith Benson would fall to Boston at No. 55 (first player ever to be drafted from Oakland). He's a 6-11 center who can score from anywhere on the floor. Sure, he needs to bulk up, but he would've been a perfect project under KG.
Hawks got him at No. 48
11:20 p.m.: Georgia guard Travis Leslie, No. 47 to the Clippers, is expected to compete with Blake Griffin in the dunk contest. Only if he gets on the floor.
11:16 p.m.: Lakers, with their second pick, take Andrew Goudelock from the College of Charleston. He's a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who some have said is the second best pure shooter (behind Jimmer) in the draft.
11:15 p.m.: Cavs trade that Justin Harper (No. 32) pick to Orlando for future draft picks.
11:14 p.m.: Per Avery Johnson's interview with ESPN, the Nets look good — at least relative to what they've been. Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Marshon Brooks. No depth past that, but that's a good 1-2-3.
11:11 p.m.: Knicks (through Hornets) take Kentucky center Josh Harrellson at 45. Gotta like the grit we saw from him in the NCAA tournament, and he's got good hands, great big-man passing skills. He'll eventually be an energy guy off the bench for someone in this league.
11:06 p.m.: UCLA's Malcom Lee goes 43rd to Chicago, and Hofstra's Charles Jenkins 44th to Golden State. Minus their acquisition of Jeremy Tyler, Golden State has stuck to the small, quick, shoot-happy guards in this draft. Hasn't worked out too well for them in the past.
11:04 p.m.: No. 42 is Latvia's Davis Bertans to the Pacers (though he's likely going to San Antonio through a trade). He's a 6-10, 210-pound forward with a silky-smooth jump shot. But he's only 18 and needs to put on about 300 pounds, so don't expect to see him for three years, maybe more.
11:02 p.m.: This makes more sense: Charlotte, which was otherwise stockpiling big men, will trade Tyler to the Warriors. Golden State needs the size — good call.
11:00 p.m.: Los Angeles Lakers use the 41st pick (and their first of this draft) to get Michigan guard Darius Morris. He's basically Shannon Brown — but less athletic.
10:58 p.m.: Milwaukee lands Wisconsin F/C Jon Leuer at No. 40. He's only the second Big 10 player taken in this draft.
10:56 p.m.: Worth mentioning: With that crazy three-team trade between Charlotte, Minnesota and Sacramento, the Bobcats have landed both Biyombo and Tyler. Twin towers? Plans for Kwame Brown and Joel Przybilla? Questions for Mike.
10:52 p.m.: Center Jeremy Tyler ain't gonna fall to Boston at No. 55. The Bobcats get him at 39. This is the guy who dropped out of high school to play pro ball overseason, then failed miserably. But his talent is undeniable — 6-foot-11, 260 pounds and can score all over the court. If Tyler can get his head screwed on straight, the 'Cats might have a solution for their Kwame Brown problem.
10:48 p.m.: Houston nabs Chandler Parsons at No. 38, a steal. He's a 6-foot-10 SMALL FORWARD from Florida who can shoot the lights out and passes well. I see him as a household name in a couple of years, especially in Houston — which can use him right away.
10:45 p.m.: The Clippers, with their first pick of the draft, take forward Trey Thompkins from Georgia. Yet again, Ainge had his eyes on this guy. 6-10 and 240 pounds would've been helpful in the low post for the C's.
If he plays this season, L.A. is gonna need Thompkins to play some center and spell Blake Griffin at power forward.
10:44 p.m.: Annnd another potential second-rounder for Boston is gone — Maryland center Jordan Williams is headed for New Jersey at the 36 spot. This guy is a rebounder, pure and simple.
At 6-foot-9 and with Brook Lopez at center, Williams is gonna have to move to the 4 — but he'll be a valuable bench player for the thin Nets at that position.
10:40 p.m.: UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt goes to Sacremento at 35. I really like this guy. Saw him play against Michigan State. Length, good jump shot and great court vision.
10:38 p.m.: Butler guard Shelvin Mack is off the board at No. 34 to Washington. At only 6-foot-2 and underwhelming athleticism, I'm skeptical he's an NBA player.
BUT — guy has heart and strength, and Washington needs both.
10:36 p.m.: Duke's Kyle Singler goes 33rd to Detroit. Keith Van Horn anyone? If he can develop more range on his jump shot, that's a fair comparison.
And at 6-9, you gotta like his NBA-ability at the small forward position.
10:34 p.m.: Another guy the Celtics were considering in the second round is off the board. Cleveland takes Richmond forward Justin Harper at No. 32.
And for a 6-foot-8 big man, this guy can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor. Reminds me mildly of an Al Horford.
10:28 p.m.: Miami picks Bojan Bogdanovic (for New Jersey) with the first pick of the second round.
The Nets need guards, and this guy's a pure shooter from Bosnia. At 6-foot-7 and 22 years old, he'll be a reliable swingman for them.
Remember, in return, the Heat get Norris Cole (the 28th pick), an upside point guard from Cleveland State.
10:22 p.m.: End of the first round. Pick No. 30 goes to Chicago with Marquette forward Jimmy Butler, who had been on Boston's radar at the No. 25 slot. He's a slasher with NBA-type size (6-8) and athleticism who can play 2, 3 or 4. Not a shooter, but tons of versatility and a solid defender.
10:17 p.m.: San Antonio takes Texas' Cory Joseph at No. 29. Who? Don't worry. This dude was not listed as a bubble first-rounder. He's a 6-foot-3, 20-year-old guard who's a suspect shooter (42 percent in 2010-11).
10:14 p.m.: Bulls pick Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole for Minnesota at pick No. 28, which is then sending him to the Heat. It's Miami's first pick-up of the draft, and lands them depth at that position.
10:12 p.m.: Mavs are trading that Jordan Hamilton pick to Portland in exchange for shooting guard Rudy Fernandez. Big win for the Mavs. Fernandez is a perfect fit on that team.
10:06 p.m.: Boston gets Purdue power forward JaJuan Johnson with the 27th pick (through New Jersey). The trade is a swap of Johnson and a 2014 second-rounder for Brooks (selected by Boston at 25). Works out well for both teams. The Nets need a scorer. The Celtics need (at least) one big man.
Johnson is 6-foot-10 with a defensive pedigree. He needs to gain some bulk to bang in the NBA paint, but this guy can help Boston right away. And unlike some of the Celtics' recent big men, Johnson can shoot from outside.
10:04 p.m.: Quick break from the Marshon Brooks buzz to point out that Dallas has selected Texas' Jordan Hamilton with the 26th pick.
This is a steal for the Mavericks. I expected him to go top 20. Pure scorer who will fit into Dallas' shooting frenzy.
10:02 p.m.: Word from multiple sources is that Boston has traded Brooks to New Jersey in return for the 27th pick and a future second-round pick (2014).
10:00 p.m.: The Boston Celtics take Providence guard Marshon Brooks with the 25th overall pick, but the word is the New Jersey Nets have acquired his rights.
If not, Danny Ainge ignored the need for a big man (Shaq, Nenad Krstic and potentially Glen Davis gone), going with the hometown kid who's been compared to Kobe Bryant (that won't play well in Boston). But you gotta love his size (6-foot-6) with a lot of length and incredible shot-creation abilities. He can slash, step back, jack up a triple. He's a pure, pure scorer.
9:52 p.m.: One pick away from Boston's No. 25 slot. At 24, the Oklahoma City Thunder nab Boston College's Reggie Jackson. I'm not sure about his size (6-foot-3), but he fits into the Thunder's shoot-happy system.
9:48 p.m.: At No. 23, Houston takes Montenegro's Nikola Mirotic, who (according to ESPN) won't be available for four years because he's under contract in Europe. Given that he's 20 years old, I'm skeptical.
But remember — Mirotic is part of that proposed trade between Houston and Minnesota (see below), and the Wolves are shipping the pick (Mirotic) to Chicago. Not sure he fits into the Tom Thibodeau defense-first mindset, but perhaps he'll be more NBA-ready in that respect when he's 24.
9:42 p.m.: Denver takes Morehead State's Kenneth Faried at the No. 22 spot. The Celtics had their eye on this guy — little offensive ability, but a motor reminiscent of Leon Powe's. At 6-foot-7, he can play the 3 or 4 and will be a lockdown defender in the NBA. If he can add some strength without putting on too much weight, Ben Wallace-like? It's a stretch, I know, but this guy is a great pick-up for Denver at 22 — especially given the Nuggets' general lack of heart.
9:40 p.m.: Multiple sources report that Andre Miller (Portland) is being traded to Denver in return for Raymond Felton. Wash?
9:38 p.m.: Trail Blazers, with their first pick, take Duke guard Nolan Smith. Any player with that kind of basketball IQ is worth a 21st pick. He's undersized (6-fooot-3) for a shooting guard and not super-athletic, but Portland is expected to trade Andre Miller, and they'll need more depth at the point. Smith could play a bit at that position — especially given how stacked the Blazers are at shooting guard.
9:36 p.m.: ESPN is reporting Houston gets Motiejunas and Jonny Flynn for Brad Miller, 23rd pick and future first. Good gahd, what is Minnesota thinking?
9:34 p.m.: Looks like Motiejunas will be traded to Houston. Makes sense with the uncertainty surrounding Yao Ming's foot. It's not yet clear what Minnesota will get in return.
9:30 p.m.: Another Lithuanian – Donatas Motiejunas goes to Minnesota at No. 20. I imagine they're not gonna keep him there — Wolves now have Derrick Williams, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph and small forward Michael Beasley.
That said, Motiejunas is a good trade chip — 7 feet with a knock-down outside jumper. Reminds me vaguely of Pau Gasol.
9:28 p.m.: Surprising that Texas' Jordan Hamilton is still on the board.
9:24 p.m.: Milwaukee lands Tennessee forward Tobias Harris with pick No. 19 (through Charlotte). This is where we start to see a drop-off in pure athleticism. Harris, 18 years old, is smooth but slow. Picture Tayshaun Prince, only shorter and with less shooting ability. The Bucks (35-47) are thin at small forward, and Harris could help plug some holes.
9:18 p.m.: At No. 18, the Wizards (who took Vesely in the Lottery) get a guy who could've gone top 10 in Florida State forward Chris Singleton. Washington needs a small forward, and Singleton (despite his limitations as an outside shooter) can fit that bill.
Like a lot of players in this draft, Singleton, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will rely heavily on athleticism.
9:15 p.m.: To land Shumpert, by the way, the Knicks passed on Providence's Marshon Brooks and Florida State's Chris Singleton. Unlike Shumpert, those guys are sure-fire scoring threats. But unlike those guys, Shumpert plays defense first.
Heck, the Knicks need at least one player of that ilk.
9:12 p.m.: New York Knicks take Iman Shumpert with the 17th pick. Fans in New Jersey react with a mix of boos and cheers. He's a combo-guard (6-foot-5) from Georgia Tech who's reputed as a terrific defender, a la Avery Bradley.
Given D'Antoni's bevy of scorers and his complete lack of defenders, Shumpert's a safe pick here.
9:08 p.m.: Word is the Pacers are trading the 16th pick Leonard to San Antonio for combo-guard George Hill.
9:07 p.m.: The Philadelphia 76ers get a steal at No. 16 in USC center Nicola Vucevic. He's a tall 6-foot-11 who has fantastic paint moves and great range as a shooter. Alongside Elton Brand or Marreese Speights, he could present a dangerous 1-2. I thought he was the best center on the board behind Kanter.
9:02 p.m.: Indiana (37-45) is a piece or two from being a contender in the East, and they might've got it in Kawhi Leonard, a small forward from San Diego State. Most experts had this kid (16 ppg last year) going in the top 7 — based simply on his athleticism and heart. He ain't gonna post big numbers on the offensive end, but he has the potential to be a Defensive Player of the Year. Behind Danny Granger, he'll be a fantastic spark-plug off the bench.
The 19-year-old's gotta work on the jump shot, though. It's ugly.
8:54 p.m.: The Houston Rockets (now coached by Kevin McHale) take Kansas power forward Marcus Morris with the 14th and final Lottery pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Houston got the better of the two twins, as Marcus (who's a bit shorter) has more consistency/range as a shooter. He'll be able to score inside and out, and — according to most scouts — is more disciplined and driven than his older twin brother.
I don't think either of these guys is a game-changer, but Houston needs a man at both the 3 and 4 positions, and Marcus can fill those roles.
8:52 p.m.: Quote of the night: Marcus Morris, emotional after his twin brother was just picked up by Phoenix, says he'll send him some flowers or fruit.
8:46 p.m.: The Phoenix Suns (40-42), like the Pistons, have a horde of needs (shooting guard, center and power forward). They fill one with Kansas power forward Markieff Morris (who surprisingly went before his twin brother Marcus). Never gonna be a primetime scoring option, but his positioning in the paint is fantastic, and Phoenix needs rebounding.
More important, he should be able to keep up in coach Alvin Gentry's up-tempo system.
8:41 p.m.: Utah, which won just 39 games this season, needs a guard (word is they wanted Jimmer) and landed one at No. 12 with Colorado's Alec Burks. Like Thompson, you gotta like his size (6-foot-6) at guard.
What I don't like is his lack of shooting ability. He can slash and get coast-to-coast in a flash, but he's not gonna spread a defense the way Deron Williams could.
8:38 p.m.: Klay might have to sit on his hands a bit in Golden State. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are very similar players.
8:32 p.m.: The Warriors take Washington State guard Klay Thompson at No. 11, the first shooting guard to go in this draft. At 6-foot-7, he might be the most NBA-ready of the guards drafted thus far. Great ability to finish at the rim and deep range as a 3-point shooter. Thompson reminds me a lot of Philadelphia's Evan Turner (drafted last year).
8:30 p.m.: The wait's over. Jimmer lands at No. 10 with Sacramento (through that Sacramento-Charlotte-Milwaukee trade). This is a great place for him to land. The Kings, like the Knicks, run a very liberal offense that'll allow Jimmer to jack 'em up. Alongside Tyreke Evans, he should give Sacramento a spark-plug backcourt.
8:25 p.m.: Charlotte picks up national champion Kemba Walker at No. 9. That gives the 'Cats a big man in Biyombo and a point guard in Walker. Lots of people knock his size and athleticism, but Kemba's a solid shooter with ridiculous strength in the paint — and serious mental toughness.
8:24 p.m.: For Celtics fans out there, we're on pace to see pick No. 25 at about 9:40.
8:18 p.m.: The Detroit Pistons have about 35 needs. They take a combo guard, Kentucky's Brandon Knight at No. 8. Most analysts had this guy going in the top 5, so he's a steal for a team that simply hasn't gotten enough from Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey.
Good shooter, decent passer and a lot of upside at 6-foot-4 and 19 years old.
8:15 p.m.: To land Biyombo at No. 7, Michael Jordan and the 'Cats had to give up Stephen Jackson and Shaun Livingston.
8:12 p.m.: The Charlotte Bobcats traded up to land Sacramento's No. 7 pick, then selected Bismack Biyombo, a center from the Congo who was PO'd that the NBA didn't initially invite him as part of the 15 invited to the "green room."
I've watched a lot of video of this guy. Freak athlete who can board, block and get up and down the court in a hurry. He's only 6-foot-9 but has great wingspan.
The major knock on the 18-year-old is that he can't shoot. I mean, we say some people can't shoot. This guy really can't shoot.
8:07 p.m.: The European coup is on. The Washington Wizards take the Czech Republic's Jan Vesely at No. 6. Dude is tall (6-foot-11) and a serious athlete who can likely dunk from the free-throw line. My concern about him are his seriously suspect hands and (as always with players from Europe) a lack of experience against NBA-caliber talent.
But with plenty of time to play on a terrible Wizards team, I can see this guy as an Andrei Kirilenko-type guy within a couple of years.
8:04 p.m.: Raptors take Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas at No. 5. The 6-foot-11 center is gonna have to sit a bit beside Andrea Bargnani (if he indeed can get out of his Europe contract and play this year), which will allow him to add some bulk to his 240-pound frame.
But he's quick, he can shoot — and soon, he'll be able to speak English.
7:58 p.m.: Plenty of talk that the Cavs might shop Thompson for more picks or players. I'll keep ya posted on what I hear.
7:56 p.m.: Cavs took Irving at No. 1, Texas' Tristan Thompson at No. 4. Big and small makes sense, though most weren't expecting the Big 12 Freshman of the Year to go this high. Like Williams, I worry about his height — 6-foot-8 — at the power forward position.
But his shooting leaves a lot to be desired. I think of him as a Leon Powe-type guy, with a bit more length and a bit less toughness.
7:54 p.m.: That Kanter selection opens the door for Jimmer to the Jazz at No. 12, by the way. Here's the thing: He's much better off in Mike D'Antoni's system in New York. He'll shoot maybe 7-10 times a night with Utah — not enough at all to use his skills.
7:50 p.m.: Utah takes Turkish center Enes Kanter at No. 3. It'll be interesting to see how the Jazz utilize the 7-footer alongside Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap. But I think this guy might be the biggest impact player of the draft — huge, 5 percent body fat (if you believe that) and a great outside shot.
7:45 p.m.: Arizona's power forward Derrick Williams goes No. 2 to Minnesota, as expected. Question is, how will they use him? They've already got Kevin Love and Anthony Randolph at that spot.
But hey, they won 17 games this year, so Williams' 20 points/game, versatility and shooting range are gonna help.
My worry is that he's only 6-foot-8. That'll hurt him at the pro level, but with a bit more bulk, he could become a Carlos Boozer-type player.
7:40 p.m.: No surprise here — Kyrie Irving goes No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Have they landed another LeBron James-caliber player with the top pick or a risky proposition in a guy who barely played this past year because of a foot injury?
Somewhere in between, I s'pose. Dude is definitely an athletic dynamo with a reliable jump shot (46 percent from 3-point range) and coast-to-coast ability. Believe it or not, he's only the second Duke player ever to be drafted No. 1.
Either way, it means Derrick Williams will go No. 2 to Minnesota.
7:30 p.m.: The only reason people compare Kyrie Irving to Chris Paul is that he looks EXACTLY like him. And plays a lot like him, too.
6:52 p.m.: By the way, I saw Oakland center Keith Benson (who's being considered by the C's at either 25 or 55) play a number of times, including against Michigan State. He's the real deal. Tall (6-11), strong, can score inside and out and shows great confidence/heart. I think he's a steal in the second round, and a solid pick in the first.
6:50 p.m.: ESPN's Andy Katz is reporting that both Chicago and Miami are in talks with Danny Ainge and the C's about their No. 25 pick. Both clubs want Boston College guard Reggie Jackson and fear they can't wait for him at No. 28 (Bulls) or No. 31 (Miami).
No word on what those teams are offering Boston as compensation. Chicago could deal their No. 30 pick, but that alone won't be enough to move the C's off the 25 spot.
8 a.m.: We (think we) know who's going 1-2 in Thursday night's NBA Draft.
Kyrie Irving to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Derrick Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves. (If I were Cavs GM Chris Grant, I'd take Williams No. 1, Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker at the No. 4 spot — Irving's too much an unknown).
The rest of the draft has repeatedly been called one of the worst classes in years. After all, Bismack Biyombo, who is 0-for-10,000 lifetime in jump shots, is expected to be a lottery pick.
But that's not to say there there's no drama or intrigue in this draft. Where will the love-him-or-hate-him Jimmer Fredette land (and will he be any good at the next level)? Is Walker or Knight the better pick at No. 4? Can Jan Vesely, who hasn't caught a tough pass since middle school (seriously, his hands are terrible), go as high as No. 5?
For those of us in Boston, all eyes will be on picks No. 25 and 55, unless Danny Ainge orchestrates a trade. Given the Celtics' desperate need for big men, the names bouncing around for that first-round pick are Tokyo Apache's Jeremy Tyler; Morehead State's Kenneth Faried; Purdue's JaJuan Johnson; Marquette's Jimmy Butler; Georgia's Trey Thompkins; and Richmond's Justin Harper, among others — all big men with good athleticism.
At No. 55, Fresno State's Greg Smith, Oakland's Keith Benson and Florida's Chandler Parsons are trending. If you don't recognize those names, don't worry — we've got you covered at NESN.com with a live blog of the both rounds of the NBA Draft. Check back here at 7 p.m. Thursday.
