2011 NBA Draft Grades: Grading the Foreign-Born Draft Picks

International players are always the most intriguing prospects in the NBA Draft. We haven't seen them play all year like we have the college kids, they're almost always "projects" that will pay off down the line, and there's a higher than normal bust factor.

This draft wasn't any different. Considering it's such a weak draft across the board, teams rolled the dice early and often on foreign-born players. Let's take a look at who they were, how they fit in with their team, and see how they stack up.

I'm grading based on not only their potential, but also how good of a pick it was for the team in question. Because, as we all know, half the battle for these guys is getting on the right team. 

Kyrie Irving: Cleveland Cavaliers

Surprise! I bet you had no idea that the top pick in this draft was a foreign-born player. Those Blue Devils are tricky that way.

Irving was actually born in Melbourne, Australia and holds dual citizenship. So I guess he can say goodbye to a future as President, but at least we can take comfort in knowing that he'll be a great NBA player instead.

When it was all said and done, Irving was the only one the Cavs could have picked at No. 1. He was the best option and anything else would have been a reach.

It also could have come back to haunt them if Irving had an amazing career somewhere else. This way, even if he doesn't end up being the best player in this class, Cleveland can go, "hey, it was the right pick at the time, you can't crush us for taking him."

But even though it's the right pick, a good pick and a safe pick... Irving gets docked a small amount because he's just not the slam dunk No. 1 pick you hope to get in a draft. Sorry buddy.

Grade: A- 

Enes Kanter: Utah Jazz

Only time will tell whether Enes Kanter ends up being the Darko-like prospect that actually fulfills his potential. But for right now, I have to agree with the man himself that he's the best player in this draft.

It's not often that you see the combination of size and skill from someone Kanter's age and he knows how to use it. He's solid, but not heavy, almost like a lighter DeMarcus Cousins without the attitude problems and with the same soft touch around the rim.

This guy is going to be an All-Star. I don't know how long it's going to take, but in five years we're going to look back on this draft and say that Kanter should have been the first pick.

Grade: A

Tristan Thompson: Cleveland Cavaliers

Born in Canada. Somehow the Cavs got two internationally born players with their first two picks. Just not the ones we would have expected.

Bilas: "He just needs to learn how to play and to score." Enough said. He would have been a nice pick later in the lottery, but at No. 4, he's very mediocre.

Grade: C

Jonas Valanciunas: Toronto Raptors

What looked like a slam dunk pick has gotten a lot more complicated over the last couple of days.

With Valanciunas' contract problems popping up, teams couldn't take a chance on him unless they were ready to wait for a few years while he finished out his contract in Europe, a la Ricky Rubio, without the prima donna treatment.

I would have thought that the Raptors would be looking for help right away, but it looks like Valanciunas was enticing enough for them.

Me? I wasn't as impressed. Of most of the international players I've seen clips of, he was probably the least impressive. A little slow footed, didn't seem to display an astonishing amount of athleticism.

Grade: C+

Jan Vesely: Washington Wizards

High flyer, athletic, exciting...he's going to fit in great with the Wizards. I'm going to love watching this team.

Obviously he's still a little bit raw, but the potential there is really off the charts. We haven't seen an international guy like him before, and frankly I'm excited to see what happens.

Grade: B+

Bismack Biyombo: Charlotte Bobcats

Tough player, great rebounding a defense, hard worker, good attitude should be a great fit with Bobcats, but they need scoring and he's not much of a scorer.

Oh well, more touches for Kemba. He can just clean up after him. 

Grade: B

Nikola Vucevic: Philadelphia 76ers

Good hands, can step back and it some shots.

However, the little that I did get to see of him in the NCAA tournament, he didn't impress me. I can't tell if he's going to be the next Brook Lopez or Cole Aldrich.

My guess is that he'll be an okay backup, but is that really what you're looking for just outside of the lottery?

Grade: C-

Donatas Motiejunas: Houston Rockets

Seems a little awkward. I don't know if this guy is going to be tough enough to play in the NBA.

Didn't the Rockets already learn their lesson by trading for Hasheem Thabeet?

There's nothing I'm seeing with Motiejunas that tells me he's going to be an NBA player. He seems more like the kind of guy that will be out of the league in three years.

Grade: D+

Nikola Mirotic: Chicago Bulls

Wow, he won't be in the NBA for four years? I guess that makes sense for the Bulls. They're pretty set for the present.

That's going to be a nice present right there down the line. This guy seems like he's got a lot of potential, so when he finally joins the Bulls, he could potentially be another big piece walking into an Eastern Conference powerhouse.

The Bulls got exactly what they needed (a player down the line) and Mirotic got some time to mature and improve.

Hard not to like this pick.

Grade: B+