NBA Draft 2011: Cavaliers To Select Kyrie Irving With First Pick, According To Report

Jun 20 2:07p by Evan Dunlap

The Cleveland Cavaliers will select Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, according to ESPN's Ric Bucher, citing "league sources." The Cavs looked around the league to see if Irving might still be available when they pick again at no. 4, but when it became clear the Minnesota Timberwolves (no. 2) or Utah Jazz (no. 3) wouldn't let the Duke point guard slip past them, they committed to taking Irving first.

Irving, 19, averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in his lone season at Duke, shooting an impressive 52.9 percent from the floor, 46.2 percent on threes, and 90.1 percent at the foul line. His apparently imminent arrival would seem to make either of incumbent Cleveland point guards Baron Davis and Ramon Sessions expendable.

With the fourth pick, the Cavaliers could select Enes Kanter, if still available. Cleveland had the Turkish center in for another workout on Monday, though it's possible Minnesota or Utah could snap him up first, given their own needs on the front line.