Cleveland Cavaliers draft Christian Eyenga with first-round pick

Friday, June 26, 2009
Mary Schmitt Boyer
Plain Dealer Reporter
Just 24 hours after acquiring one of the most famous players in the world, the Cavaliers drafted one hardly anybody knows.

After waiting through the first 29 picks, the Cavs took forward Christian Eyenga of the Congo with the 30th - and last - pick of the first round. The 6-5, 210-pound forward averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 25 games with CB Prat Juventud in Spain. It's the same program that produced fifth-overall pick Ricky Rubio, but Eyenga played mostly on what amounts to the junior varsity.

With the 46th pick in the second round, the Cavs selected North Carolina forward Danny Green, who helped the Tar Heels win the 2009 NCAA title. Green, whose pregame dance routine ought to make him a perfect fit with the Cavs, averaged 13.1 points as a senior last year, when he became North Carolina's all-time leader in games played (145) and wins (123.)
The Cavs also purchased the Suns' second- round pick, No. 54 overall, 6-9 for ward Emir Preldzic, 21, who averaged 8.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season in Istanbul, Turkey.

But the first-round pick was the antithesis of the blockbuster trade General Manager Danny Ferry made Thursday, when he acquired 15-time All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Phoenix Suns for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round pick next year and $500,000.

Speaking through an interpreter, the French-speaking Eyenga said he was shocked the Cavs drafted him, which was pretty much the reaction in the Cavs' press room. The move was surprising given that players the Cavs were thought to be interested in - like Pittsburgh forward Sam Young and St. Mary's guard Patty Mills - were still available. In addition, it was believed the Cavs had opportunities to move up in the draft.

In announcing the pick, NBA Commissioner David Stern seemed slightly amused and not quite sure how to pronounce Eyenga's name. Although Eyenga was in the stands in New York for the draft, he was the only first-round pick not invited to the green room to be interviewed, and the league didn't have a draftboard nameplate ready for him.

The selection sent reporters and public-relations people scrambling since the 20-year-old was not included in the predraft information the league provided. ESPN's international basketball expect Fran Fraschilla reported that Eyenga was a good athlete, but ESPN.com's Chad Ford predicted Eyenga would be drafted in the second round - or not at all. According to the Draft Express, Eyenga is a good athlete, a good shooter and a good defender who can block shots.

Ferry said his scouts were "ecstatic" at the chance to draft a player they believe has a "high ceiling."

"The possibility is definitely there for him to be a good NBA player," Ferry said, adding that he was unsure if Eyenga would come to the U.S. or stay in Spain this year.

As for Green, Duke grad Ferry admitted it was difficult for him to pick a North Carolina player. But said of Green: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^"He's a nice player. He really knows how to play."