The most memorable pick in the 2014 NBA Draft was not made by any of the 30 teams. Midway through the first round, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the NBA selects Isaiah Austin from Baylor University.
Earlier this month, Austin was diagnosed Marfan syndrome, a rare illness that resulted in ending his career. Upon being announced, Austin proudly walked across the stage to shake hands with Silver and pose for pictures while donning a blue NBA hat.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had the first pick in the draft for the second straight year and the third time in the last four drafts. They selected Andrew Wiggins, the standout freshman from Kansas.
“He’s a two-way player,” Cleveland general manager David Griffin said in an interview with Kristen Ledlow on NBA.com. “He’s somebody that we believe if he reaches his potential in the offensive end and that matches his defensive prowess, we have a potential special player. Additionally, I think we saw a player who was, from an upside perspective, as good as anybody in this draft.”
Wiggins was followed by fellow freshman standouts Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid and Aaron Gordon. Parker, from Duke, was taken by the Milwaukee Bucks. Embiid, who teamed with Wiggins at Kansas, was considered by many to potentially be the No.1 pick but fell to the Philadelphia 76ers due to a recent foot injury. Gordon, from Arizona, was taken by the Orlando Magic.
The Utah Jazz selected the first international player of the evening with Dante Exum from Australia, with the fifth selection.
The Boston Celtics took Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart with the sixth pick, and the Los Angeles Lakers followed with Julius Randle from Kentucky.
A pair of Big Ten selections came next, as Michigan guard Nik Stauskas went to the Sacramento Kings and Indiana forward Noah Vonleh was taken by the Charlotte Hornets.
With their second lottery pick, the 76ers selected Elfrid Payton from Louisiana-Lafayette with the 10th pick.
Doug McDermott, winner of the 2014 Wooden Award (for the best player in college basketball), was selected by the Denver Nuggets and then traded to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls gave up their two first-round picks for McDermott, Anthony Randolph and a future second-round pick, reports Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago .
For complete draft results, visit ESPN.
Here is the remainder of the first round selections:
12. Magic Dario Saric PF
13. Timberwolves Zach LaVine PG
14. Suns T.J. Warren SF
15. Hawks Adreian Payne PF
16. Bulls Jusuf Nurkic C
17. Celtics James Young SF
18. Suns Tyler Ennis PG
19. Bulls Gary Harris SG
20. Raptors Bruno Caboclo SF
21. Thunder Mitch McGary PF
22. Grizzlies Jordan Adams SG
23. Jazz Rodney Hood SG
24. Hornets Shabazz Napier PG
25. Rockets Clint Capela PF
26. Heat P.J. Hairston SG
27. Suns Bogdan Bogdanovic SG
28. Clippers C.J. Wilcox SG
29. Thunder Josh Huestis PF
30. Spurs Kyle Anderson PF
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