The official NBA Draft thread

i hope al thornton pulls a shocker and goes #2 instead of durant, or falls to the heat.


GO FSU, GO HEAT

I look for him to end up with the Hawks at 3...

I'll be watching. I don't watch basketball but I know the players and some of the top prospects.

I heard the Knicks were going after Zach Randolph. The NY media would eat him alive.

As a Celtics fan, I would hate having KG for a couple reasons. First, he makes way too much money ($28 million in 2008-09). Second, even if we did trade for him, he would opt out after this year because he doesn't want to play in Boston. Boston has a terrible reputation as a racist city in the past and, while it's not nearly as bad as it once was, players hear about what has happened and refuse to play here. KG doesn't want to play here, Marion doesn't want to play hear, Barry Bonds has said publicly he would never play in Boston (which I am thankful for as a Red Sox fan). Third, Celtics give up way too much for KG. If they can only give up a #5, Gerald Green, Delonte West, and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract, I would go for the deal I think. But if the deal includes Jefferson, I say no way. Al has the look of a big-time star in the years to come. He's much younger than KG, makes much less money, and he's only getting better, whereas KG will only be going downhill from here (although he does have a couple great years left at least).

That said, the Celtics will probably draft Yi Jianlian, and I'll be pissed. Tom Heinsohn will make chopstick jokes on commentary, and it's going to be a mess. I'd much rather a proven college player like Corey Brewer or Jeff Green. Then again, I wouldn't mind trading the #5, Delonte West, and Theo Ratliff to get Shawn Marion (as has been talked about, but probably won't happen, since Marion doesn't want to play in Boston).

For once, we've got a draft that actually has well-known college players, and not a bunch of no-name, unproven HS kids and foreign guys who's name you can't pronounce.

Also here's my mock draft for at least the lottery portion of the draft. This is what I think will happen, but not necessarily what I think each team should do:

1. Portland - Greg Oden
2. Seattle - Kevin Durant
3. Atlanta - Al Horford
4. Memphis - Mark Conley Jr.
5. Boston - Yi Jianlian
6. Milwaukee - Corey Brewer
7. Minnesota - Jeff Green
8. Charlotte - Joakim Noah
9. Chicago - Spencer Hawes
10. Sacremento - Brendan Wright
11. Atlanta - Acie Law IV
12. Philadelphia - Al Thornton
13. New Orleans - Nick Young
14. LA Clippers - Julian Wright

Overrated Players: Yi Jianlian, Spencer Hawes, Julian Wright, Josh McRoberts

Underrated Players: Al Thornton, Sean Williams, Jared Dudley, Nick Young

BTW: Reports are that Boston might trade the #5, Wally, and Delonte West to seattle for Ray Allen. Don't like that trade because Allen doesn't play much defense and he's getting up their in age, turning 32 in July. If anything make a trade for Shawn Marion, give them some size/rebounding/defense which they desperately need.

And Yi Jianlian might go to Milwaukee if this happens (Atlanta takes Horford, Atlanta takes Conley, and Seattle with the #5 takes Jeff Green). And Yi's posse has basically said they don't want to play there, and they want to play in a bigger market like a Boston. So that could get messy.

Thats a huge steal by the Sonics there if thats true

Oklahoma City Sonic Green?

Id crack up if somehow Conley ends up #5 and Durant plays with Oden's significant other...

If that trade goes through, the Sonics are going to be good NOW.

#2 and # 5 pick, Robert Swift coming back from injury, Delonte and Wally, Ridnour if they dont trade him, Lewis if he's back(probably not). Wilcox is a bad ass.

The days of Kemp and the Glove could be coming back in the Emerald City.

As for me, the Mavs have no 1st round picks, but do have 3 picks in the 2nd round. As a Mavs fan, ive come to learn what to expect on draft day. That would be AT LEAST 1 foriegn player whos name I can't pronounce for about 4 or 5 months.

God I wish they would try and make some moves. I'd give anything short of Dirk and Howard to get Jason Kidd back here. But they seem to be dead set (aka in denial) on the fact that they are fine the way they are.