CU Buffs' Andre Roberson headed to OKC Thunder…
CU Buffs' Andre Roberson headed to OKC Thunder via trade after being picked No. 26 in NBA draft; CSU Rams' Colton Iverson picked 53rd, bound for Celtics after trade
Former CU guard Andre Roberson <!--(21) tested his range in the second half. The University of Colorado men's basketball team defeated Colorado State University 70-61 at the Coors Events Center Wednesday night, November 5, 2012. Karl Gehring/The Denver Post -->
Fort COLLINS, CO. - FEBRUARY 23: Colorado State Colton Iverson goes up New Mexico Alex Kirk during the first half action at Moby Arena in Fort Collin, CO February 24, 2013. The Colorado State Rams mens basketball team took on the New Mexico Lobos. (Photo By Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post)
By Caitlin Swieca | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: June 27, 2013 at 2:33 p.m. | UPDATED: April 29, 2016 at 2:48 p.m.
Former Colorado forward Andre Roberson was selected with the No. 26 pick in the NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night, and he ended up going to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was drafted by Minnesota, which held the No. 26 pick but was choosing for Golden State, which then traded him to the Thunder.
Roberson, the reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year, was chosen higher than many experts had predicted.
Colorado coach Tad Boyle said the pick was a "win-win situation" for Roberson and the CU program.
"He's a high-level rebounder, one of the best in the country, if not the best," Boyle said by phone Thursday. "He's a big-time defender. He can guard multiple positions. Those things translate pretty well from college to the professional game."
Roberson tweeted "Thunder Up!" late in the evening, but didn't talk with the media as the trades continued to unfold.
During the craziness of the second round, Colorado State 7-foot center Colton Iverson was taken with the 53rd pick, which Indiana traded to Boston for cash. Iverson will be part of a Celtics team that made a big trade Thursday. The Celtics and Nets agreed to a blockbuster trade that would send Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Tornike Shengelia, Reggie Evans, Keith Bogans and three first-round picks scattered over the next five years. The deal has to be approved by the NBA and can't be finalized before July 10.
Last month, Roberson's father, John, told The Denver Post that his son chose to leave CU a year early because he didn't think that Boyle and his staff were developing Andre's NBA game enough, particularly on the offensive side.
But Boyle said he was in contact with his former player. "I texted Andre today and wished him luck tonight, and he hit me back," Boyle said. "We've had a good relationship."
Roberson did not return phone calls to The Denver Post or to the CU athletic department.
In his junior season at Colorado, Roberson ranked second nationally in rebounding with 11.2 per game and averaged 10.9 points per game.
Roberson finished his three-year career at CU with 1,012 points and 1,045 rebounds and was the only player in CU history to finish his career with 1,000 points and rebounds, 150 blocks and steals, and 100 assists. He became the eighth CU player selected in the first round, but joins Chauncey Billups, David Harrison and Alec Burks since 1997.
Iverson spent just one season at CSU after transferring from Minnesota, but he led the Rams with 14.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds. He blocked a team-high 25 shots.
Although many questioned Roberson's decision to leave CU, advanced analysis boosted his value. A statistical model run by ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton ranked Roberson as the No. 3 player in the draft class.
Caitlin Swieca: 303-954-1297 or cswieca@denverpost.com
Caitlin Swieca