2009 NBA Draft Lottery

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Draft buzz from June 1
CHICAGO -- While the point guards were the main attraction at the combine, there was plenty of other buzz:

• With draft day now less than a month away, a number of teams are looking to either get in the draft or grab another first-round pick.

The Knicks are trying to use their considerable wealth (a team can pay up to $3 million for a pick) to search for a seller. They have the eighth pick in the draft, but would like another pick. With the team trying to manage its cap, draft picks are a cheap source of labor. And with the economy turning sour for NBA teams, the Knicks might seize the opportunity.

The Rockets, who don't have a pick in the first round, are tying to get one.

The Pacers, who are picking 13th, also wouldn't mind one more pick and shouldn't have a hard time finding a taker. A number of teams don't seem too enthralled with this year's talent and are willing to sell for the right price. The Wizards have a high lottery pick they'd consider moving.

The Pistons at No. 15, the Hornets at No. 21 and the Blazers at No. 24 are also all willing to deal. And a few teams with multiple first-round picks -- the Thunder, Grizzlies and Bulls -- might be willing to sell, too.


Daye
• Gonzaga's Austin Daye continued to generate buzz -- both good and bad -- on the last day of the combine. He measured taller and longer than virtually any small forward prospect in the history of the draft. However, he also measured as the skinniest. Kevin Durant clocked in at 215 pounds at the combine two years ago. Daye? 191 pounds.

Daye's going to be one of the more difficult players to project. He has the skill set and height of a lottery pick, but his lack of strength and questionable motor are being heavily taken into account.

A number of teams in the late lottery to mid-first round -- including the Bobcats, Pacers, Suns and Pistons -- are all giving him a hard look right now.


Clark
• Daye's main competition might be Louisville's Earl Clark, who was also very impressive in drills. He measured out at a legit 6-foot-10 in shoes, has a huge 7-foot-2½ wingspan and weighs nearly 40 pounds more than Daye.

He definitely has the size to play the 4 in the NBA, and that could go a long way toward securing him a pick in the lottery.

While Clark isn't the shooter that Daye is, he is a better rebounder and athlete, and he's getting a pretty strong endorsement from his head coach Rick Pitino, who has told a number of GMs that Clark is a good kid and has limitless potential. He's just a follower. If he's in the right situation with good influences around him, he could be a player in the mold of Lamar Odom.

But if he's in the wrong situation with a bad mentor, it could spell disaster.

The Nets are giving Clark a long look at No. 11. The Bobcats and Suns are, too. I doubt he slips past the Pistons at No. 15.


Hansbrough
• Another player who really seems to have helped himself at the combine was UNC's Tyler Hansbrough. He has been knocked for being too short to play in the NBA, but he measured over 6-8 in socks, had a solid 6-foot-11 wingspan and a standing reach that was an inch taller than Blake Griffin's. While Hansbrough isn't the explosive athlete that Griffin is, he isn't terrible, either.

I hear the Bulls are looking at him as high as No. 16.

• Ohio State's B.J. Mullens continued to impress in drills, with a number of GMs comparing him to last year's second-round slider DeAndre Jordan.

Jordan, like Mullens, began the year as a projected top 10 pick, but his lack of playing time combined with criticism from his head coach caused his draft stock to plummet all the way into the second round on draft night.

Still, Jordan had a very solid rookie season with the Clippers, who believe he could be a Tyson Chandler-esque player in the league.


Mullens
Mullens' so-so play, along with some questions about his background and character, seem to be having the same effect on his draft stock. But a number of teams are now double-checking to make sure they don't let someone with his talent slip through their fingers. In a draft devoid of bigs, it's hard to imagine that Mullens, who stands 7-1 and is a very good athlete, slips as hard as Jordan did. However, his stock is very much up in the air.

"You watch him in the combine and it's pretty easy to fall in love," one GM said. "There are a lot of raw tools there to work with. But in the interview you get the sense that it's going to be a project. I think he's a good kid, but he's got issues to work through."

Mullens got pretty mixed reviews from his interview process, with one GM saying "He's better than you think," and another one saying "This kid doesn't get it, and I don't think he's going to get it."


Blair
• Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair wowed a lot of people with his improved physique on the first day of camp. But one GM scolded Blair in the interviews for the way he was jogging up and down the floor the first day.

"It does you no good to lose all that weight and still play like you're fat," the GM told Blair.

Blair took the constructive criticism to heart and raced like a guard through the second day of workouts.

• Speaking of bigs, Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph received quite a bit of love from GMs. He measured out at a solid 6-10 and 240 pounds and showed a solid offensive game in the drills.

A number of teams I spoke with said they thought he was a lock for the first round. He hasn't been in our first two mock drafts, but that might change Tuesday.


Gibson
• USC's Taj Gibson also got some buzz from the camp. Not only did he show a pretty polished inside-outside game, he had terrific measurements -- he was 6-10 in shoes and had a whopping 7-foot-4 wingspan and an impressive 9-foot-1 standing reach. With so few quality bigs in the draft, it's not impossible that Gibson finds his way into the first round as well.

• Finally, Miami's Jack McClinton wants a do-over in the measurements. He measured under 6 feet in socks and just a little under 6-1 in shoes, which were essentially the same measurements as Syracuse's Jonny Flynn. However, McClinton insisted to me that he's an inch taller than Flynn.

I think he's right. He went up to Flynn, they stood back-to-back and McClinton definitely looked taller. Either McClinton hunched in the measurement or Flynn stood on his tippy-toes.

 

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ESPN insider ranking the PGs

CHICAGO -- The first-ever NBA draft combine is a wrap, and the outcome wasn't as bad as many had predicted.

No, there weren't any 5-on-5 games. And yes, several of the top players refused to participate in light drills. But the combine did provide some clarity in several key areas.

The first -- and, arguably, the most important -- was a better understanding of the top point guard prospects. While the draft is weak overall, the point guard class is strong, and seeing all the top prospects on the floor (with the exception of Ricky Rubio and Tyreke Evans) was the most interesting part of the combine.

Before the combine, a number of NBA executives I spoke with said they were struggling to get any real separation in the group after months of scouting. But after watching the players on the court together, getting real measurements and spending 30 minutes interviewing the players one-on-one, a number of NBA GMs said they felt more confident in ranking the top point guard prospects.

I spoke with 15 different GMs and executives and gave them the task of ranking the top 13 point guards in the draft, including a couple of players -- like Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Toney Douglas -- that some GMs see as 2-guards. I then took those 15 responses and averaged them to get a more comprehensive ranking of where each prospect fell.

Here's a look at where they stand after the combine:



Rubio
1. Ricky Rubio (avg. 1.9)
Rubio walked away with the vote, though it was closer than some would have guessed. He received only eight first-place votes, barely over half. Four had him as the second-best point guard in the draft, three GMs ranked him third and one GM had him ranked as low as fourth.

There seems to be a growing number of GMs who are questioning Rubio's lack of elite athleticism, his shaky jumper and his lack of physical strength. It's still likely that Rubio is the first point guard taken on draft day, but it's no longer a guarantee.


Curry
2. Stephen Curry (avg. 2.4)
Curry was somewhat of a surprise as the second-place finisher, which speaks to how well he was received at the combine, where he shot the lights out, measured a little bigger than expected and looked like he fit in with the other point guards on the floor. He also was a pro in the interviews, and many of the older GMs feel the fact that he grew up around the NBA game will help him make a quick transition to the pros.

Three GMs had him ranked as the top point guard in the draft, and he received seven second-place votes, too. One GM had him ranked sixth.

This coincides with a number of things I heard at the camp that had the Thunder, Wizards and Warriors all looking at possibly selecting Curry before the Knicks draft at No. 8.


Flynn
3. Jonny Flynn (avg. 3)
The straw poll also suggests that Flynn is on the rise mainly for three reasons. First, his play toward the end of the season at Syracuse gave a lot of GMs confidence in his leadership abilities.

Second, some surprising measurements (Flynn cracked the 6-foot barrier in shoes) have helped alleviate fears about his size. It now looks like he's the same size as Chris Paul.

Third, a number of GMs said Flynn gave the best interview of any of the prospects. His personal charisma seems to be helping him close the sale.

Two GMs had him as the best point guard in the draft, and three others had him ranked second. His lowest score was a five.

Flynn is getting interest from Sacramento, Golden State, New York, Milwaukee and Indiana, and looks like a lock for the lottery at this point.


Holiday


To read the rest of Chad's PG rankings -- including some new insight on Jrue Holiday -- please become an ESPN Insider.
4. Jrue Holiday (avg. 3.8)
Holiday has been the other high riser over the course of the past few weeks, and no one probably helped himself more than Holiday at the combine.

He stacked up well against the other players physically, looked comfortable playing the point in drills, knocked down his jumper and received high marks in interviews.

Holiday actually netted one first-place vote in our poll and garnered several second- and third-place votes. He placed no lower than fifth on anyone's list.

With teams like the Kings, Warriors, Knicks, Bucks and Pacers all looking at him (basically the same list as Flynn), he, too, looks like he's a lock for the lottery.


Evans
5. Tyreke Evans (avg. 4.5)
Evans was one of just five players who skipped the drills; the word from his camp is that he's a lock for the top 10. He did measure really long for a guard, sporting a standing reach that was just one inch below Blake Griffin's.

However, the GMs I spoke with appear to have concerns. While one GM ranked him as the best point guard prospect in the draft, no one ranked him second and only three GMs ranked him third. On the flip side, Evans got one sixth-place vote and one seventh-place vote.

Some GMs expressed skepticism that he was a point guard and a number of them said that, until he learns to shoot the basketball better, defenses will just sag on him, limiting his effectiveness.

A number of teams including the Wizards, Timberwolves, Warriors, Knicks, Raptors and Bobcats are giving him a serious look, but his range in the draft might be a little wider than we previously thought.


Teague
6. Jeff Teague (avg. 6.5)
Teague has a tough decision to make soon. While a number of GMs like him, many think he should go back to school for another year.

His highest ranking in our poll was sixth, and his lowest was eighth. That's probably good for a late lottery to mid-first-round pick in the draft. But given Teague's talent, he could do better with a breakout season at Wake Forest next year.

Teague's range probably starts with the Pacers at No. 13. The Sixers, Wolves, Hawks and Mavericks will also take a long look at him.


Jennings
7. Brandon Jennings (avg. 6.8)
Jennings' numbers were the most suspect of the group. A number of GMs admitted that they don't know enough about him. And all of them were disappointed that he was skipping the Reebok Eurocamp. They felt like they needed to see him in workouts against other top prospects to get a better feel.

One GM ranked him as the fourth-best point guard prospect in the draft, and two others had him ranked fifth. On the other end of the spectrum, one GM ranked him ninth, and four had him ranked eighth. The rest of his numbers were spread pretty evenly between sixth and seventh.

So where will he land? Sacramento will give him a look as high as No. 4, but it wouldn't be a shock if he slipped out of the lottery.


Maynor
8. Eric Maynor (avg. 8)
Maynor is the sleeper of the group. Every GM claims they like him, but don't love him. That might be because Maynor is one of those players who does just about everything well, but doesn't have one particular area in his game that stands out.

Maynor drew some praise and some criticism at the combine. A few GMs said they really liked his poise and demeanor on the court. Others said his game was better suited to game situations than the drills we saw in Chicago.

Maynor was spread out pretty evenly between seventh, eighth and ninth on most boards. Three GMs had him rated as high as sixth, and one GM had him ranked 10th.

Maynor's range should be about the same as Teague's: starting at Indiana (No. 13) and ending at Dallas (No. 22).


Lawson
9. Ty Lawson (avg. 9.5 )
Lawson is coming off a rough week: Some GMs didn't like him in the combine setting, he measured the shortest of any point guard in the draft, and there were questions about his conditioning and a potential toe injury. Put all that together and Lawson seems to be the one guy slipping on a lot of boards.

Two GMs had him ranked as high as sixth on their point guard list, but a number of others had him much lower, with two GMs ranking him 10th and one GM ranking him 11th.


Mills
10. Patrick Mills (avg. 10)
Mills impressed some GMs with his speed at the combine, but a better test will come this weekend at the Reebok Eurocamp. Right now his targets have to be Lawson and Maynor, as he tries to move up the draft board and decide whether or not to stay in the draft.

Mills' range was pretty even. He had one eighth-place vote and several ninth-place votes, but was ranked as the 10th-best point guard prospect on most boards. He never fell below 11th on anyone's draft board.


Collison
11. Darren Collison (avg. 11)
For a second straight year, Collison is being overshadowed by a teammate who averaged fewer points and assists per game than he did. He looked fine at the combine, but he's having a hard time winning any love right now.

Collison wasn't ranked higher than 10th on any board, and was ranked dead last by one GM. It's still likely that he cracks the first round, but it doesn't look like he's going to catch anyone other than Mills at this point.


Calathes
12. Nick Calathes (avg. 12)
Obviously, Calathes is getting more love in Greece than he is in the U.S. Panathinaikos paid him a lot of money to stiff the NBA and head to Europe. Maybe there's some backlash in the numbers, but this result is pretty consistent with what we've been hearing all season.

If Calathes slips into the second round, it won't be a bad thing. He can earn more money when he does decide to come play in the NBA, because second-round picks are limited by the first-round rookie salary scale.


Douglas
13. Toney Douglas (avg. 12.5)
Douglas' agent David Falk has been pushing Douglas hard, but so far it hasn't taken hold. Virtually everyone had him ranked dead last, although he did have one eighth-place vote and one ninth-place vote.

 

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GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS DRAFT HISTORY
See the chart below for a detailed, pick-by-pick analysis of the Warriors' drafts over the last 20 years. The EWA column shows the player's actual production, while the eEWA column shows the expected value of that draft slot. The "net" column is the difference between the two. For more analysis of the Warriors' picks, click here.

Draft Year Pick Player EWA eEWA NET
2008 49 Richard Hendrix 0.00 -0.10 0.10
2008 14 Anthony Randolph 3.31 2.40 0.91
2007 18 Marco Belinelli 0.01 1.90 -1.89
2007 8 Brandan Wright 1.90 3.60 -1.70
2007 46 Stephane Lasme 0.05 0.00 0.05
2006 38 Kosta Perovic 0.00 0.40 -0.40
2006 9 Patrick O'Bryant 0.00 3.30 -3.30
2005 9 Ike Diogu 1.47 3.30 -1.83
2005 42 Chris Taft 0.08 0.20 -0.12
2005 40 Monta Ellis 4.77 0.30 4.47
2004 11 Andris Biedrins 4.83 2.90 1.93
2003 11 Mickael Pietrus 0.95 2.90 -1.95
2003 40 Derrick Zimmerman -0.01 0.30 -0.31
2002 16 Jiri Welsch 0.06 2.20 -2.14
2002 29 Steve Logan 0.00 1.00 -1.00
2002 3 Mike Dunleavy 3.74 5.60 -1.86
2001 5 Jason Richardson 7.75 4.50 3.25
2001 30 Gilbert Arenas 9.82 0.90 8.92
2001 14 Troy Murphy 4.65 2.40 2.25
2000 55 Chris Porter 0.01 -0.30 0.31
1999 21 Jeff Foster 2.33 1.60 0.73
1999 56 Tim Young 0.00 -0.40 0.40
1998 4 Antawn Jamison 10.21 5.00 5.21
1997 37 Marc Jackson 0.96 0.50 0.46
1997 8 Adonal Foyle 0.72 3.60 -2.88
1996 40 Marcus Mann 0.00 0.30 -0.30
1996 11 Todd Fuller -0.07 2.90 -2.97
1995 55 Michael McDonald 0.00 -0.30 0.30
1995 1 Joe Smith 4.20 7.80 -3.60
1995 34 Andrew DeClercq 0.39 0.60 -0.21
1995 50 Martin Lewis 0.00 -0.10 0.10
1995 40 Dwayne Whitfield -0.01 0.30 -0.31
1994 39 Anthony Miller 0.14 0.40 -0.26
1994 16 Clifford Rozier 0.09 2.20 -2.11
1994 45 Dwayne Morton 0.00 0.10 -0.10
1993 1 Chris Webber 10.17 7.80 2.37
1993 43 Josh Grant 0.01 0.20 -0.19
1992 43 Sasha Danilovic 0.06 0.20 -0.14
1992 50 Matt Fish 0.01 -0.10 0.11
1992 24 Latrell Sprewell 4.86 1.40 3.46
1991 25 Shaun Vandiver 0.00 1.30 -1.30
1991 3 Billy Owens 1.99 5.60 -3.61
1991 16 Chris Gatling 3.00 2.20 0.80
1991 17 Victor Alexander 0.52 2.00 -1.48
1991 43 Lamont Strothers -0.03 0.20 -0.23
1990 28 Les Jepsen -0.01 1.00 -1.01
1990 11 Tyrone Hill 2.25 2.90 -0.65
1990 34 Kevin Pritchard -0.11 0.60 -0.71
1989 14 Tim Hardaway 7.74 2.40 5.34

 

[MrFedEx503]

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS DRAFT HISTORY
See the chart below for a detailed, pick-by-pick analysis of the Warriors' drafts over the last 20 years. The EWA column shows the player's actual production, while the eEWA column shows the expected value of that draft slot. The "net" column is the difference between the two. For more analysis of the Warriors' picks, click here.

Draft Year Pick Player EWA eEWA NET
2008 49 Richard Hendrix 0.00 -0.10 0.10
2008 14 Anthony Randolph 3.31 2.40 0.91
2007 18 Marco Belinelli 0.01 1.90 -1.89
2007 8 Brandan Wright 1.90 3.60 -1.70
2007 46 Stephane Lasme 0.05 0.00 0.05
2006 38 Kosta Perovic 0.00 0.40 -0.40
2006 9 Patrick O'Bryant 0.00 3.30 -3.30
2005 9 Ike Diogu 1.47 3.30 -1.83
2005 42 Chris Taft 0.08 0.20 -0.12
2005 40 Monta Ellis 4.77 0.30 4.47
2004 11 Andris Biedrins 4.83 2.90 1.93
2003 11 Mickael Pietrus 0.95 2.90 -1.95
2003 40 Derrick Zimmerman -0.01 0.30 -0.31
2002 16 Jiri Welsch 0.06 2.20 -2.14
2002 29 Steve Logan 0.00 1.00 -1.00
2002 3 Mike Dunleavy 3.74 5.60 -1.86
2001 5 Jason Richardson 7.75 4.50 3.25
2001 30 Gilbert Arenas 9.82 0.90 8.92
2001 14 Troy Murphy 4.65 2.40 2.25
2000 55 Chris Porter 0.01 -0.30 0.31
1999 21 Jeff Foster 2.33 1.60 0.73
1999 56 Tim Young 0.00 -0.40 0.40
1998 4 Antawn Jamison 10.21 5.00 5.21
1997 37 Marc Jackson 0.96 0.50 0.46
1997 8 Adonal Foyle 0.72 3.60 -2.88
1996 40 Marcus Mann 0.00 0.30 -0.30
1996 11 Todd Fuller -0.07 2.90 -2.97
1995 55 Michael McDonald 0.00 -0.30 0.30
1995 1 Joe Smith 4.20 7.80 -3.60
1995 34 Andrew DeClercq 0.39 0.60 -0.21
1995 50 Martin Lewis 0.00 -0.10 0.10
1995 40 Dwayne Whitfield -0.01 0.30 -0.31
1994 39 Anthony Miller 0.14 0.40 -0.26
1994 16 Clifford Rozier 0.09 2.20 -2.11
1994 45 Dwayne Morton 0.00 0.10 -0.10
1993 1 Chris Webber 10.17 7.80 2.37
1993 43 Josh Grant 0.01 0.20 -0.19
1992 43 Sasha Danilovic 0.06 0.20 -0.14
1992 50 Matt Fish 0.01 -0.10 0.11
1992 24 Latrell Sprewell 4.86 1.40 3.46
1991 25 Shaun Vandiver 0.00 1.30 -1.30
1991 3 Billy Owens 1.99 5.60 -3.61
1991 16 Chris Gatling 3.00 2.20 0.80
1991 17 Victor Alexander 0.52 2.00 -1.48
1991 43 Lamont Strothers -0.03 0.20 -0.23
1990 28 Les Jepsen -0.01 1.00 -1.01
1990 11 Tyrone Hill 2.25 2.90 -0.65
1990 34 Kevin Pritchard -0.11 0.60 -0.71
1989 14 Tim Hardaway 7.74 2.40 5.34

the only dude worth while you guys have drafted on this list

 

[hella_numb]

the only dude worth while you guys have drafted on this list

i bet you'd like to have the opportunity to suck anyone in the blazers organizations cock. you dick swinging fag.

 

[MrFedEx503]

i bet you'd like to have the opportunity to suck anyone in the blazers organizations cock. you dick swinging fag.

damn some warrior fans are so bitter right now. lol. you guys are easy to piss off. funny stuff

 

[hella_numb]

damn some warrior fans are so bitter right now. lol. you guys are easy to piss off. funny stuff

bitter about what? i got nothing in my life to be bitter about

 

[MrFedEx503]

bitter about what? i got nothing in my life to be bitter about

you mean besides the warriors?

 

[hella_numb]

nope. i like them regardless, always have and always will.

 

[AC Transit]

Insider draft 5.0 6-30

PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota

Tyreke Evans
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220
Age: 19
School: Memphis

Analysis: The Wolves really need help at center and point guard, but in this mock draft, there aren't any centers left worth taking. They've been looking at Evans here, but Stephen Curry is an option even if Evans is still on the board.

Both players can play both guard positions, and combined with Randy Foye could give the Wolves a pretty formidable backcourt. Curry's maturity, dead-eye shooting and name recognition would make him a smart pick for the Wolves. But Evans' size and versatility give him a very slight edge.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Golden State

Stephen Curry
Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 181
Age: 21
School: Davidson

Analysis: The Warriors don't have a traditional point guard, but they might have several to choose from, including Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings and Curry.

Flynn is the purest point guard of the bunch, but he lacks size and shooting ability. Jennings has the most upside and was very impressive in a workout at Golden State, but he's a ways away. If the Warriors are after someone who could come in and deliver right away, Curry would be the guy. His versatility and shooting ability paired with Ellis make him seem like a must for the Warriors.

At the same time, I'm hearing significant buzz that Jordan Hill could be the pick if the team ends up trading away Brandan Wright. Louisville's Terrence Williams is also high on the board at Golden State. No. 7 seems too high for him, but don't be surprised if the Warriors are willing to do a trade down to get him.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New York

Jordan Hill
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 232
Age: 21
School: Arizona
Analysis: The Knicks will be disappointed if Curry is off the board, but the truth is that they have needs everywhere.

If they draft for the frontcourt, Hill is probably the guy. With David Lee hitting (restricted) free agency this summer, Hill would be a perfect fit for New York at the 4. But don't count out one sleeper here: Ohio State's B.J. Mullens. His combination of size and athleticism is tempting. He's far from ready, but the Knicks need a big man and they are intrigued.

If drafting for point guard, the Knicks would have to decide between experience and upside. Flynn has the ability to come in and play right away in New York. Jennings has more long-term upside. I think Jennings' playing a year in Italy will make him intriguing to Mike D'Antoni, but Flynn is more of a pure point guard right now and that's what the Knicks need.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Toronto

DeMar DeRozan
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 211
Age: 19
School: USC
Analysis: The Raptors have some needs on the wing since Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion are hitting free agency. DeRozan is one of the most gifted players in the draft, and his strong play at the end of the season combined with a confident performance at the combine could push him even higher than No. 9. But if he's here, sources say the Raptors won't pass.

If DeRozan is gone, they'll decide between Duke's Gerald Henderson, Earl Clark and Jrue Holiday, with Holiday in the lead.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Milwaukee

Jonny Flynn
Position: PG
Height: 6-1
Weight: 196
Age: 20
School: Syracuse

Analysis: Flynn is a hot name right now and could go as high as No. 4. He'll also get a strong look from the Warriors at No. 7 and the Knicks at No. 8. But if he falls, the Bucks will welcome him with open arms.

They face losing two free agents -- Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions -- this summer due to financial constraints, perhaps leaving openings at both the 1 and the 4.

If Flynn is gone, they'll try to find the best player among Holiday, Jennings, Jeff Teague and Earl Clark.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New Jersey

Tyler Hansbrough
Position: PF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 234
Age: 23
School: North Carolina
Analysis: I know a lot of people were shocked when we put Hansbrough here this week, but sources continue to insist that he and Louisville's Terrence Williams are the front-runners now in New Jersey.

Rod Thorn has said he needs a moose, and in fact, the Nets have needs at both forward positions. But the three best candidates -- DeJuan Blair, Earl Clark and James Johnson -- all have issues. Blair's medical reports have created major red flags about his knees. Johnson is carrying around some baggage from his Wake Forest days. And Clark isn't the physical player they're really looking for.

Williams has his own set of issues that teams are sorting through, which gives Hansbrough a legit shot at going this high. He isn't going to be a dominant player in the league, but he has been productive, is as tough as nails and has measured better than expected in size and athleticism.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Charlotte

Gerald Henderson
Position: SG
Height: 6-5
Weight: 215
Age: 21
School: Duke

Analysis: I don't want to say this is a sure thing, but it feels pretty close. Since shipping Jason Richardson to Phoenix in December, the Bobcats have had some needs in the backcourt. Raja Bell can't hold down the fort forever.

While they hope a player like DeRozan or Evans falls to them, they can settle for Henderson. He isn't the best offensive 2-guard in the draft, but he's NBA-ready and can play lockdown defense.

If Henderson is gone, Earl Clark and B. J. Mullens are possibilities.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Indiana

Brandon Jennings
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 165
Age: 19
Country: Italy
Analysis: This is where draft forecasts really start to break down. I've heard the names of 10 different players associated with the Pacers here.

The team's biggest need is an athletic big man who can score and block shots, but Indiana isn't likely to find one of those guys.

The Pacers are also looking for a starting point guard, and in particular looking at three players that might be considered a reach at No. 13: Brandon Jennings, Eric Maynor and Jeff Teague. I think the Pacers will be sorely tempted to take Jennings. He has superstar upside and they need that in Indy.

If Jennings is gone, they could also still take Maynor or Teague or go with a big like Austin Daye or DeJuan Blair.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Phoenix

Austin Daye
Position: SF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 192
Age: 20
School: Gonzaga

Analysis: The Suns could go in a lot of directions, depending on where GM Steve Kerr decides to take the team.

There's been a lot of talk about Earl Clark, and I think he makes sense for Phoenix. But the Suns also have more than a passing interest in Austin Daye. While Clark is the better athlete and more NBA-ready, Daye is a better shooter and has few, if any, character concerns.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Detroit


Earl Clark
Position: SF
Height: 6-10
Weight: 226
Age: 21
School: Louisville

Analysis: The Pistons will begin their summer makeover in the draft.

They'd love to add a dominant low-post scorer, but in lieu of that, they'll have to settle for choosing between two upside guys: Earl Clark and James Johnson, both of whom have had questions raised about their background.

Clark could be the second coming of Lamar Odom if he's willing to put in the work. The versatile forward can play both the 3 and the 4 and he is amazing in transition, an excellent rebounder and an emerging shooter. And he has the capability (albeit not always the inclination) to play great defense.

James Johnson is smaller but tougher. He is also inconsistent but has major upside.

I think Clark gets the edge based on size. He's big enough to be a full-time 4 in the NBA.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Chicago

B.J. Mullens
Position: C
Height: 7-1
Weight: 258
Age: 20
School: Ohio State

Analysis: There's been talk that the Bulls might take a look at Tyler Hansbrough and DeJuan Blair, if available. Both are definitely the kind of player John Paxson likes.

But the word around the league this weekend was that the Bulls might have made a promise to Mullens, who has the most long-term upside of any remaining center, a position at which Chicago needs help. He's raw, but it's rare to get a talent like this after the lottery.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Philadelphia

Eric Maynor
Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 164
Age: 21
School: VCU

Analysis: With Andre Miller hitting free agency this summer, look for the Sixers to address the point guard position. Lou Williams is nice but not really a lead guard.

Maynor would give Philly the total package as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. Teague will also get a look here, but he's more of a combo guard and the Sixers have that in Williams.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota
(via Miami)

Terrence Williams
Position: SG
Height: 6-6
Weight: 213
Age: 21
School: Louisville

Analysis: I'm not sure if the Wolves will keep this pick -- it appears that a number of teams that want Williams would be willing to trade for it, including the Nets, Knicks, Warriors and Thunder.

If the Wolves keep the pick and take Williams, he would bolster their small forward spot.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Atlanta

Jeff Teague
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175
Age: 20
School: Wake Forest
Analysis: The Hawks have blown it repeatedly when they've needed a point guard in the draft. They passed on Chris Paul to draft Marvin Williams and passed on Rajon Rondo to draft Shelden Williams.

Then, two years ago, when they finally got around to picking a point guard, they took Acie Law ahead of Rodney Stuckey.

The choice here likely will come down to Teague and Ty Lawson. Lawson has the experience and leadership credentials, but Teague has the sizzle and upside.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Utah

Sam Young
Position: SF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 223
Age: 24
School: Pittsburgh

Analysis: The Jazz are hoping that Hansbrough slips to them here. But if he's off the board, they'll likely be deciding between James Johnson, Sam Young and Toney Douglas.

Johnson would be more of a fit in Utah. With Carlos Boozer likely leaving this summer, the Jazz will have a need for help in the frontcourt. The question would be whether they could put up with Johnson's sometimes difficult on-court personality.

Douglas is the type of combo guard the Jazz currently lack. He shoots it, plays defense and could be a credible backup at both positions for Utah.

But Young is the type of tough veteran the Jazz love. He's ready to step in and play right now and give them minutes at both the 2 and the 3.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

New Orleans

DeJuan Blair
Position: PF
Height: 6-7
Weight: 277
Age: 20
School: Pittsburgh
Analysis: Blair has a lot of admirers in the lottery, but concerns about the health of his knees have caused him to slide in draft evaluations.

I doubt he would fall past New Orleans. The team is dire need of toughness and rebounding, and Blair would provide both. There's just way too much upside to pass on here.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Dallas


James Johnson
Position: PF
Height: 6-8
Weight: 258
Age: 22
School: Wake Forest

Analysis: At No. 22, the Mavs can sit back and see who falls.

Johnson could be a terrific sleeper pick. He has the raw ability to be great, but has hurt his stock a bit in workouts.

Dallas would be walking away with a real talent, albeit not necessarily filling a need.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Sacramento
(via Houston)


Ty Lawson
Position: PG
Height: 6-1
Weight: 199
Age: 21
School: North Carolina

Analysis: We already have the Kings taking a combo guard with their first pick, but after last year's debacle at the point, they can afford to take another one and hope they can find a new home for Beno Udrih.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Portland


DaJuan Summers
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 243
Age: 21
School: Georgetown


Analysis: The Blazers are looking at trading this pick. But if they keep it, the Blazers can add another forward who can play both the 3 and the 4. Summers already has an NBA body and the kind of shooting ability the team really covets.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Oklahoma City
(via San Antonio)

Chase Budinger
Position: SG
Height: 6-7
Weight: 206
Age: 21
School: Arizona
Analysis: The Thunder would love to get their hands on a legitimate center, but there won't be anyone worth gambling on at this point in the draft. If the team doesn't address its needs at the 2 earlier in the draft, Budinger could be an option. With his shooting ability, he would be a nice complement in the backcourt to Russell Westbrook.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Chicago
(via Denver)

Toney Douglas
Position: SG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 184
Age: 23
School: Florida State
Analysis: Douglas would be an insurance policy should Ben Gordon bolt this summer. He's not as talented a shooter, but he's good enough to play both backcourt positions in Chicago, and his defense would earn him minutes right from the get-go.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Memphis
(via Orlando)


Omri Casspi
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 211
Age: 20
Country: Spain


Analysis: The Grizzlies lack toughness, and Casspi has an abundance of it. He's not the most skilled player in the draft, but few players possess his grit.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Minnesota
(via Boston)


Jonas Jerebko
Position: SF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 220
Age: 22
Country: Sweden



Analysis: It seems doubtful that the Wolves would keep three rookies on their roster next year, which means they might want to take an international player who would wait to come to the NBA.

Omri Casspi would be an obvious possibility, if available -- he is tough and physical and can keep developing overseas -- and Victor Claver is another. But word is Jerebko from Sweden is the top choice at the moment.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

L.A. Lakers

Darren Collison
Position: PG
Height: 6-2
Weight: 166
Age: 21
School: UCLA

Analysis: Collison is a small guard, which makes him less than ideal for Phil Jackson. But the UCLA product is super-fast, has a smooth jumper and can get after it defensively. With Derek Fisher winding down his career, Collison would be worth a gamble here.




PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS

Cleveland

Derrick Brown
Position: PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 225
Age: 21
School: Xavier

Analysis: The Cavs could lose both Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao this summer. And after being knocked out by the Magic, Cleveland has a serious need for an athletic 4, such as Brown, to guard players on the perimeter.

DeMarre Carroll is another possibility here.

 

[eff suckaz]

like I said before, maybe in this thread, the KINGS need to draft Tyreke Evans and not mess around and get Rubio or Holiday or whoever else they are considering.

 

[AC Transit]

Tyreke has a Larry Bird looking jumper cause he shoots behind his head. It looks like he has a slow release and in that video he didn't swish too many of his shots.

james Harden's workout

 

[AC Transit]

POSTED: June 18 -- 1:28 p.m. ET

• Everyone in Sacramento was a little bummed out about the Ricky Rubio visit. Rubio flew into town on Tuesday, had dinner and interviews with the front office and even chatted with the media. However, he came down with a fever and sore throat Tuesday night and wasn't able to work out for the team Wednesday. He was so ill that he didn't even get a chance to sit down with the Maloof family, which owns the Kings.

He was going to try to make a go of it Thursday morning, but he woke up still not feeling well and ended up flying back to L.A.

At this point, Rubio's schedule is up in the air. He'll try to get well and then decide which teams to visit. Another visit with Sacramento is still possible.

One Kings source reiterated that the organization still has doubts about Rubio, and the visit did little to alleviate them. However, there is a split in the camps in Sacramento, with some pushing for Rubio or, if he's gone, Jrue Holiday. Others are pushing for Jonny Flynn and/or Tyreke Evans.

Plus, still more prospects are on their way to Sacramento for workouts. DeMar DeRozan will be in on Saturday. Stephen Curry and Evans will be in town Sunday. This will be the second visit for Evans, whose first visit wasn't terrific, as we reported.

Sources close to the situation continue to insist that, in the end, the most likely scenario is Rubio going to the Kings at No. 4 if he's still on the board. If he's gone, it sounds like Flynn has moved into second place.

However, the focus on Rubio in the coming days may shift to Oklahoma City. The Thunder continue to show strong interest in Rubio and are pushing for a meeting, physical and a review of Rubio's contract in Spain. If Rubio feels better and is up for the visit, that's where he'll head next.




• There obviously has been a lot of talk about what the Suns will do this summer. In the past few weeks, rumors of a Shaquille O'Neal-to-Cleveland deal and an Amare Stoudemire-to-Washington deal have re-emerged. On Wednesday evening, the latest rumor had the Suns dealing Stoudemire to Minnesota for Al Jefferson and the No. 6 pick.

The first two deals were discussed at the February trade deadline, but talks this time around may be premature -- Suns sources say neither deal is hot at the moment. And the one with Minnesota is totally bogus, I'm told. A Suns source says that the team has had zero conversations about it.

Still, rumors are coming out of Phoenix for a reason. The big question continues to be: Where are the Suns headed? Are they still trying to be a championship contender? Or are they blowing things up, cutting costs and rebuilding from scratch?

Trading Shaq or Stoudemire doesn't make much sense in the former scenario. Lose either guy, and the Suns are less likely to be a serious contender. Although the Suns seem way more inclined to move Shaq and keep Stoudemire, a Suns source conceded that both players could be moved, and it could correspond to moving up in this year's draft.

If that's the case, here's a theory (and that's all it is, folks, a theory): What if you combine the two most prominent Suns trade rumors into a mega three-way deal?

It would look like this:

The Suns send Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland and Amare Stoudemire to Washington.

The Cavs send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix and Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Washington.

The Wizards send the No. 5 pick, Etan Thomas, Mike James and JaVale McGee to Phoenix and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.

Call me crazy, but isn't this the ideal deal for all three teams?

The Suns would lose a lot of talent in the deal and basically would be blowing up the team. However, if they think they'll lose Stoudemire next summer anyway and don't believe they have a real shot at winning a title next season, why not get something for Stoudemire now and jump-start the rebuilding process?

In this deal, the Suns would pick up the No. 5 pick and McGee, a talented 7-footer who would be a good fit in Phoenix. More importantly for them, they would save a ton of cash next season. Pavlovic's salary is only partially guaranteed. Wallace likely could be bought out for less than he's owed. And the Suns would take back less money in the deal to begin with. When you factor in the reduction in luxury taxes and consider that they might save enough to eke below the dreaded luxury-tax line ... could owner Robert Sarver really pass on saving potentially $12-14 million in salary and penalties next season?

The Wizards essentially would replace Jamison, a couple of role players (Thomas and James) and two prospects (McGee and the No. 5 pick) with Stoudemire and Ilgauskas. Yes, Jamison is very important to the Wizards, but he'd be replaced by Stoudemire. And Ilgauskas would give them a legit big man in the middle. Suddenly, they would look like contenders for the Eastern Conference crown. And if things don't work out, they'll have cap room in 2010 when Ilgauskas, Stoudemire and Brendan Haywood all come off the books.

And the Cavs? They would get Shaq, whom they apparently like. And Jamison, an athletic scoring 4 who can do what the Cavs' bigs couldn't during the playoffs -- guard someone on the wing.

I'm not saying this will happen. Again, I'm just putting together two deals that have been buzzing for a while. But the deals would give all three teams clearer direction.

 

[live4rm52o]

wow very good theory...

sounds excellent for the wizards... cavs sounds good only if shaq can produce... maybe with lebron next to him would want him to compete at a high level again

i just dont know about the suns, i guess if amare is ganna go get rid of him.. and i already know nash is leaving...

 

[AC Transit]

POSTED: June 18 -- 9:05 p.m. ET


Ellis

Chad Ford: Are the Warriors in danger of losing Monta Ellis? That was the gist of a story earlier in the week that claimed that the Warriors, in an effort to placate a disgruntled Ellis, flew to Memphis to meet with him and may have promised him that they wouldn't draft a playmaking point guard with the No. 7 pick.



Really? The Warriors are letting Ellis run the draft now?



I was pretty skeptical. However, I began hearing the same rumblings coming from Ellis' camp and in the past, the Warriors have done some crazy things.



So, I sought out Warriors GM Larry Riley to get a better feel for why they flew to Memphis to meet with Ellis and what was said. We spoke by phone on Thursday ... just as Ellis addressed the situation on KNBR talk radio in the Bay Area.



Riley said that he and head coach Don Nelson have been meeting with every player on the team, debriefing what went down last season, and trying to get the entire team on the same page. He said they weren't meeting with Ellis because he was disgruntled or demanding a trade. It was in the course of interviews with everyone on the team.



Ellis seemed to confirm that, laughing off a suggestion that he was on the verge of demanding out of Golden State. "I'm a Golden State Warrior," Ellis said on KNBR. "I'm going to be a Warrior. Hopefully I'll retire a Warrior. I'm not thinking of leaving. It hasn't crossed my mind. I'm here to set the record straight. It never came from me. "



Did the Warriors make him a promise that they weren't going to draft a playmaking point guard? Riley was adamant that the topic never even came up.



"We did not make him a promise on who we're going to draft," Riley said. "There was none of that. There was no talk about not drafting particular positions or particular players. Our talk was totally about our team and our staff and getting things moving in the right direction. We were trying to get everyone on the same page."

Ellis' take on the meeting was similar. The meeting, according to Ellis, was about "me and Coach getting on the same page. Not going through what we went through last year. He's going to back me up and I'm going to back him up." Ellis said that the meeting was meant more to clear the air and refocus everyone for next season. "Everyone has to be on the same page and that meeting put us on the same page."



Riley was upbeat about Ellis and the role he'll play next season. He said he and Nelson have asked Ellis and Stephen Jackson to take on a leadership role with the team. Does a "leadership role" mean playing point guard?



Perhaps. "We told Monta that if we use you at the point, it's going to be your responsibility to get guys more involved," Riley said. "We also want you to help your teammates get off. He's ready to accept that role. Whether he's on the floor at 1 or 2, the important thing is to have him on the floor and let him do what he does the best."



So would the Warriors balk at drafting a point guard at No. 7? "If the right guy was there at the point, we'd draft him," Riley said. But when I asked Riley what his preference would be, he said, "I'd like to have a little beef. We can always use more size and toughness. We don't really have a gaping hole at any position, so I think we'll draft the best player available. If it's a point guard, then it will be a point guard. If it's a 4, then that's who we'll take."



Would Ellis balk if they drafted a point guard? He didn't act like it. "I'm going to go with it," he said. "I'll do anything to help the team win. I don't know anyone in this draft to be honest with you."



So what to make out of all of this? Obviously there has been some miscommunication. Different people can walk away from the same conversation with different takes. But it sounds as though, whatever problems there were in the past, the Warriors and Ellis have worked them out.



And as far as the Warriors' draft goes ... I still think there's a good chance they draft a point guard. If Jordan Hill's there, he'd be a nice pick. But so would Stephen Curry or Brandon Jennings.




• The Bulls seem to be the latest team trying to move up in the draft. They've talked to several teams in front of them in the draft with an offer of the No. 16 and No. 26 picks in the draft. It sounds as if the Nets have been their target and it might make sense for the Nets to jump on the deal.



They could still get a player like Tyler Hansbrough at 16 and pick up another player late in the first.




• Not sure exactly what to read into this, but the Knicks are bringing back UCLA's Jrue Holiday for a second workout. Holiday is in the mix at No. 4 to Sacramento and after that I think the Knicks, Raptors, Bucks and Pacers will all give him a look in the lottery. This may be his chance to secure a coveted spot playing for Mike D'Antoni.



• Wake Forest forward James Johnson seems to be in a draft free-fall and I don't quite understand why. Yes, he showed up at the Chicago draft combine a little out of shape and 15 pounds overweight. But a month ago a number of lottery teams were giving him a serious look. Now we're searching for teams in the 20s for Johnson. I guess in a draft with this much parity, every little pound matters.



• Want to know why Terrence Williams' stock is all over the place? He's an eccentric kid. Not necessarily a bad kid, but definitely different. Everyone loves his talent, but some are just a little uneasy. Someone forwarded this little blurb to me from a Sports Illustrated piece on Louisville in March. I think it sums things up:



"The last line of Williams' pregame monologue is a request for all his dead relatives -- his father, Edgar; his grandparents Mary Jackson and Bobby Perkins; and two cousins -- to 'watch over me as I have fun.' Their names are tattooed on his left arm and concealed by a compression sleeve that he says he wears to keep connected to them, spiritually. Williams may well be the only player to wear a sleeve solely for that reason, but he has always been sartorially idiosyncratic. He often wears custom-made photo T-shirts as tributes to teammates and coaches (his Pitino shirt has a shot of his coach playing point guard at UMass in the early '70s), and he sometimes shows up for practice wearing two different-colored shoes. At Seattle's Rainier Beach High he would wear socks emblazoned with childhood icons (from Barney to Big Bird to SpongeBob) during games and carry his books in a Barbie backpack, just to be different."



Gotta love the Barbie backpack line ...

 

[heyzel]

wow very good theory...

sounds excellent for the wizards... cavs sounds good only if shaq can produce... maybe with lebron next to him would want him to compete at a high level again

i just dont know about the suns, i guess if amare is ganna go get rid of him.. and i already know nash is leaving...

I don't like this trade if this goes down javel McGee has star written all over him but I do agree if the cavs get jamison that's the missing player they need to be champs next year

 

[heyzel]

KNBR: There were the talks that you wanted out of Golden State. Any chance that happens again? Monta Ellis: “Hell, nah! I was here for the last six years, I’m here for the next five from now. I’m a Golden State Warrior, I’m gonna be a Warrior, and hopefully one day I can retire a Warrior. But right now, I’m a Golden State Warrior - I’m not thinking about leaving, it hasn’t come across my mind, all I wanna do is win. You know, that’s all I really can say. I don’t know where it’s come out to be, but I’m here right now to set the record straight, that never came from me. I’m a Warrior, and you don’t have to worry about the number 8 and Monta Ellis being in a Warriors’ uniform right now.” SportsRadioInterviews

How significant was the postseason meeting with Coach Don Nelson and your teammates? Monta Ellis: “It’ll actually gonna help us a lot. Me and Coach getting on the same page, not going through what we went through last year. Being more of a backup to each other - when I need to back him up, I’m gonna back me up, when I need him to back me up, he gonna back me up. And, really just setting goals to be a better team for next year. It starts with coach and on down to me, Jack (Stephen Jackson), and the rest of the guys, but everybody have to be on the same page and that meeting really put us on the same page.” SportsRadioInterviews

KHTK: Ron Artest on steroids: “People that use steroids, I don’t hate them. I don’t hate people who do steroids, I don’t have anything against people who do steroids. I wouldn’t advise using steroids but I don’t care, I’m not going to hate some that uses steroids. The media is just killing people just because they use steroids. They did steroids, they did a bad thing, they shouldn’t have done it, they get penalized and that’s it, I don’t hate them. But I’m not doing them, buddy!…I never understood why the baseball players just don’t do creatine. I think because the steroids actually make you stronger. But I never understood why they just don’t do creatine. It’s legal, you just workout and get really strong, the muscles increase in there and they become stronger. I never understood, I guess steroids are the easy way out. It might be easier to do.” SportsRadioInterviews

WNDE in Indianapolis: Donnie Walsh: “I think it’s a very deep draft. I’m not saying 50, it certainly goes in to the twenties, you can get a good player well in to the end of the first round, and a player that can probably help most teams in the NBA. So, from my vantage point, I think it’s a very good draft.” SportsRadioInterviews

The Fan 590 in Toronto: What’s the situation with Chris Bosh and is there a possibility he signs a contract extension this summer? Bryan Colangelo): “We’ll have the discussion, we’ll talk about the pros and the cons, he’ll most likely not sign it, and then we’ll get in to next season, we’ll figure out where we are. In respect to the situation for him, there will be a handful of teams next year - I’m guessing between five and ten - which will have maximum allowable free agent money, which means Chris is subject to walk to one of those deals. But, I have to reiterate the point that keeps being overlooked - we’re the only team that can offer him a full six years versus five years, 10.5% increases versus 8% increases… Basically equates to a $30 million dollar difference. So, even if he wants to leave, he’s still better served, and we’re better served if he works a sign-and-trade with us where we can get some sort of an asset back from the team that he’s going to. And, I think that’s probably the thing that we’ll both push for because he’ll benefit from it and we’ll benefit from it, and that’s why it’s probably not time to panic now and make a bad deal.” SportsRadioInterviews

Timberwolves: Mark Jackson is at the top (along with Mike Fratello and Sam Mitchell) of David Kahn's interview list. The two enjoyed a solid relationship when the recently hired Timberwolves president was Pacers assistant GM under Donnie Walsh. Then again, I thought Kahn and I were boys when we worked at NBC and he still hasn't told me he even applied for the Minnesota opening. NY Post

One guy who doesn't want to coach the Timberwolves is Tubby Smith. During his illustrious 18-year college basketball head coaching career, Smith has been offered — and turned down — five NBA coaching jobs. This spring, he said no thanks to an offer of nearly $3 million annually to coach the University of Virginia. "I'm here as the coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers," Smith said. "I'm a guy of my word. If I say I'm going to be someplace, I'll be here. We've got this thing going the right way. I'm happy and pleased here." That's not to say Smith, 57, wouldn't eventually consider the NBA. But some years from now. "Maybe further down the road I might," he said. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Kevin McHale's dismissal by the Timberwolves this week came down to business — the team's potential for renewing advertising, corporate sponsorships and season tickets — as much as anything else. St. Paul Pioneer Press

A little Twitter post turned Kevin Love into a 24-hour media sensation Wednesday, but the Timberwolves' rookie forward said he has no regrets about inadvertently breaking the news that Kevin McHale wouldn't return as coach. "It's Twitter," Love said today from Los Angeles. "It's a new day, a new age. Everybody's doing the Twitter thing. Am I upset that I did it? I could have held my tongue a little bit, but basketball's an emotional game, life's emotional so I just acted on my emotions and kind of spit it out there." St. Paul Pioneer Press Blog

Don't believe word one of a report claiming the Wizards and Cavaliers discussed a Antawn Jamison for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic swap. Yeah, that makes sense, give up a 23-point, 10-rebound All-Star for a retread and a reject. Ernie Grunfeld wouldn't have made that trade the first day he arrived in America from Romania. NY Post

Meanwhile, Charles Oakley is under consideration by Donnie Walsh to help big men get down and dirty at the defensive end. Does that mean the Knicks president is unhappy with how easy and how often opponents scored last season? My second question is, how do you teach bringing intimidation and intensity to work every time you get on the court? Oakley also was contacted by Portland officials who suspect it might be good for the team's health if a trace of his brutish attitude rubbed off on Greg Oden. NY Post

A source confirmed that Jim Lynam, a Sixers assistant coach since 2005-06, working with head coaches Maurice Cheeks and Tony DiLeo, will remain on the staff of new coach Eddie Jordan. Lynam will join new assistant Mike O'Koren and holdover assistant Aaron McKie. The source said assistants Jeff Ruland, John Loyer and Bernie Smith will not return. Lynam's resume includes 10 seasons as an NBA head coach with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, the Sixers and the then-Washington Bullets; he also is a former Sixers general manager. Philadelphia Daily News

Are the Suns considering exchanging Shaquille O'Neal for the Cavs' unwanted goods? Depends on how strapped owner Robert Sarver is for cash. He improved his position by selling a small piece of the team to a current investor. NY Post

At last February's trading deadline, the Cavs turned down O'Neal ($21 million) for Pavlovic and Wally Szczerbiak's expiring ($13.775M) contract. They're revisiting it for obvious reasons: Zydrunas Ilgauskas "looked like an old father playing with his kids in the playground," observed Joseph Vecsey; and Anderson Varejao, dubbed "One In A Row" by JV, is entitled to become a free agent and hold asset-exhausted GM Danny Ferry hostage. NY Post

Unless Ben Wallace ($14M) agrees to a buyout and retires after being traded to the Suns (or any other team), the most Sarver can save on that transaction is $3.6M doubled (they're over the luxury tax) since Pavlovic's $4,946,500 salary is only guaranteed for $1.5M. NY Post

An ESPN report the Hawks are trying to trade Josh Smith is sheer fabrication. He's often a knucklehead but he's not being shopped. Furthermore, his base year salary makes it almost impossible to get equal value. NY Post

So far, the $30M-under-the-cap Pistons are said to have prioritized free agents Carlos Boozer, Ben Gordon, Turkoglu and Ariza. If they sign Gordon, doesn't that mean Rip Hamilton has to go? If Allen Iverson didn't fit or accept coming off the bench in back of Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey, why would Gordon work? NY Post

And frankly, for as much as Dwyane Wade wants to retire as a member of the Heat, the better business decision is for him to delay his commitment (paperwork, at least) until next offseason. Wade becomes a free agent on July 1, 2010. He could bypass that process and extend his contract as early as July 12, 2009. That leaves him about three weeks away from having to make a sensitive call. The truth of the matter is that Wade won't necessarily hurt Pat Riley's feelings if he passes up extending his contract this season and waiting until next summer. Riley has already braced himself for that reality. Miami Herald Blog

What that means is this: Jermaine O'Neal, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem or any other meaningful chip the team has for potential trades won't be going anywhere until the Heat is certain Wade is here for the long term. So all you have to do to introduce yourself to the 2009-10 Heat team is brush off the program from the final two months of the 2008-09 season. The faces will be the same. Miami Herald Blog

The Rockets have been remarkably aggressive in talks around the league since their elimination from the playoffs. Leslie Alexander's admission that he might be "predatory" in hopes of taking advantage of others' financial problems seems to have been a call to arms for GM Daryl Morey. So far, nothing has happened; nothing is close. Still, this is actually a pretty cool time to be a Rockets fan, if you are a fan of off-season fantasies. Sure, the Rockets don't have a draft pick. That means you can imagine them moving in at anywhere from two on. You can argue the merits of anything from chasing Ricky Rubio (!!!) to getting another second-round guy to stash in Europe. Houston Chronicle Blog

There was a snippet that the Rockets are shopping Tracy McGrady this week. The wording of that, however, is laughable. That's like saying the producers of Law and Order are hoping to convince someone to put reruns of the show on cable television somewhere. The Rockets are not shopping McGrady; they are picking up the phone when it rings, and it rarely stops ringing. (Teams always say that, but in this unusual case, because of McGrady's contract and the financial climate, it happens to be true.) Houston Chronicle Blog

McGrady's contract is huge ($22.5 million next season) and then it expires. Until he plays, insurance can take care of the cost through sometime next February. And teams all know this. A team looking to cut salary, can send the Rockets a big contract, take back McGrady's for one season and pay him only a portion of that money. Plus, he seems driven to come back, and to prove something in a contract year. Houston Chronicle Blog

The Rockets would only move McGrady for someone with the whiff of star on him. They are not moving McGrady for Larry Hughes and Eddy Curry, or something like that, unless Morey's mathematicians determined that the Rockets do not have enough mediocre players and need to remake themselves to be more like Isiah Thomas' Knicks. Houston Chronicle Blog

If you are into this sort of thing and find yourself imagining what the Rockets can do, the Rockets have coveted players in potential trade talks, in order (roughly), based on ability/potential, contract and age: Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Carl Landry and Kyle Lowry. Houston Chronicle Blog

A message board somewhere floated a trade in which the Sixers would send Samuel Dalembert to Charlotte for Nazr Mohammed and Vladimir Radmanovic, with the possibility of a flip of No. 17 for No. 12. If that proposal has legs, at least right now, we can't find them. Philadelphia Daily News

Lakers: "I think they're very interested in bringing me back, I want to be back," said Shannon Brown, who averaged 4.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in the playoffs. "It's real important. Got another chance to win another championship and continue to get better. With this group of guys we got, the sky's the limit how good we can be." Press Enterprise Blog

Los Angeles Lakers all-star Kobe Bryant, the most valuable player of the NBA Finals, enjoyed his second victory parade in as many days Thursday, this time riding a float along Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., and waving at purple-and-gold-clad fans who chanted "MVP! MVP!" The Lakers clinched the franchise's 15th NBA championship Sunday night by defeating the Orlando Magic -- a series that pitted the teams located near the nation's two Disney resorts. "It's like a dream come true to be here and celebrate at Disneyland, coming down Main Street U.S.A. with all the fans cheering," Bryant said after the parade. "It's a tremendous honor to represent my team." NBC Los Angeles

Bryant told Channel 9 that his roots are firmly planted in Southern California. "I plan on staying here," Bryant said. "I really don't see myself going anywhere else, or playing with any other organization. I think the real goal that we have in mind is to make sure that all the pieces come back for next season. So we can make another run at it again. You don't see a team that is this young and so talented that's already won a championship." NBC Los Angeles

Sasha Vujacic said his plan is to play for the Slovenian national team for the first time as it makes its most concerted effort to challenge in the European Championships this summer. That, he hopes, will get his game back on beam. “It’s not a secret I shot the ball terribly this year,” Vujacic said. He basically lost his front-running spot in the rotation to Trevor Ariza, and it doesn’t look as if Vujacic will ever get it back. Orange County Register Blog

Andrew Bynum said Thursday he will not participate in the U.S. National Team minicamp in July because he wants to rest and rehab his knee. The purpose of the camp is to evaluate the 24 young players with the best chance of making Team USA's roster for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey. Press Enterprise Blog

Lamar Odom took it as a positive sign that Phil Jackson and Mitch Kupchak talked to him primarily about maintaining or improving his physical fitness in their season-ending meeting that just ended. “That means they want me back,” Odom said. Odom remains committed to returning to the Lakers next season, if possible — and it didn’t hurt that he said he has been going out to eat or to the supermarket in recent days around Los Angeles and getting standing ovations or rounds of applause. Orange County Register Blog

Steve Kerr met with two-time MVP Steve Nash on Thursday to talk about Nash’s current contract. The two met in New York City, where Nash lives in the offseason, and were joined by Nash’s agent, Bill Duffy. The topic of discussion was Nash’s contract extension, which is partially guaranteed by the team. 2009-10 is the final year of the playmaker’s contract, although he’s eligible for a two-year extension. Suns.com

Canadian NBA star Steve Nash has scored a cameo on the upcoming season of Entourage. HBO Canada says the Phoenix Suns point guard, who grew up in Victoria, will play himself in a guest spot on the show's sixth season, which kicks off July 12. Globe and Mail

Mike Krzyzewski still hasn't decided if he will return as U.S. basketball coach. He'll need to make up his mind soon. Krzyzewski led the Americans to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and said Thursday the coaching job has been offered to him again. However, he said he didn't want to make any decisions until after the NBA season ended, so he could talk to some players and assistants. AP

Krzyzewski and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo plan to announce the coaching decision before the Americans begin a minicamp for young players July 22-25 in Las Vegas. The camp is being used to identify prospects for available spots on the 2010 world championship and 2012 Olympic teams. AP

I've been hearing rumors about how Josh McRoberts has been living in the weight room this offseason. I saw it with my own eyes when I ran into him at Conseco Fieldhouse earlier this week. McRoberts said he's put on 20 pounds of muscle since the end of the season. The Pacers want to re-sign McRoberts, who appeared in 33 games last season. A Pacers official told me they envision McRoberts being like Denver's Birdman. They like McRoberts' athleticism, energy and rebounding ability off the bench. Indianapolis Star Blog Speaking of his basketball camp in New Mexico, Granger said he had to move the date back to early August so that he can take part in the USA Basketball training camp, which could lead to him playing in next year's World Championships and the 2012 Olympics, in late July in Las Vegas. "I think in four years a lot of the players won't be playing anymore or on their way out (the NBA)," Granger said. "It would be a great honor to play in the Olympics if I make it." Indianapolis Star Blog Houston's Yao Ming has called a possible move to Cleveland an "unknown," but did nothing to dampen ongoing speculation that the Cavaliers' new Chinese part owners want to sign him. In a recent interview with his hometown Shanghai TV station, Yao said he continued to have "much affection" for the Rockets, the team that picked him as a first-round draft pick in 2003 and with whom he has played all six of his NBA seasons. While Yao had not tasted a championship, he said Houston's drive to the second-round of the playoffs in 2009 had given him hope that the Rockets can contend next season. GMAnewsTV

Rumors of a possible switch have swirled since a group of Chinese investors signed an agreement last month with the Cavaliers to become minority owners of the franchise, a move expected to boost the team's popularity and marketing opportunities in China, where Cleveland star LeBron James is already very popular. "This is all an unknown," Yao said in the interview, a transcript of which was posted online Friday. GMAnewsTV

Donnie Nelson's mission as president of basketball operations requires that he explore all avenues to improve the Mavericks. Starting in 2010, he can do some of that work virtually in his backyard. Nelson has purchased the majority interest in a franchise that will relocate from Colorado to Frisco, just a few full-court passes from his home in the rapidly growing suburb north of Dallas, the NBA Development League announced Thursday at American Airlines Center. Dallas Morning News

Nelson and partner Evan Wyly, a Dallas native and chairman of Green Mountain Energy, have formed Texas D-League Management, LLC, which will operate the franchise. Nelson said they will operate as a tandem, although Nelson is the principal owner. The team will be called Texas, with the nickname to be chosen through a fan contest. It will play at Dr Pepper Arena, recently renovated to include luxury boxes and about 5,000 seats. Dallas Morning News

Other possibilities could present themselves. Frisco could become a practice facility for the Mavericks, and other basketball teams could use Frisco as a base. A couple of years ago, the Chinese national team spent time in the Dallas area for training camp. Dallas Morning News

The sale price of the team was not divulged. But recent sales of NBADL teams have averaged between $2 million and $2.25 million. Nelson said this transaction would be consistent with others. Dallas Morning News

The 76ers' stated NBA draft plan has been to take a perimeter player at No. 17. That, of course, makes perfect sense. They have only two full-fledged guards on the roster: Willie Green and Lou Williams. They have no way of knowing whether point guard Andre Miller, arguably their most important player last season, will re-sign. We're not even totally sure that's what they want. Philadelphia Daily News

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has filed for sole custody of his ex-girlfriend's unborn baby, if it's proven he is the father, according to a petition filed last week in a Dallas County courthouse, the Beaumont Enterprise reported Thursday. Crystal Taylor was arrested May 6 at Nowitzki's Dallas home on a warrant out of Jefferson County on a theft of services charge. She was served with Nowitzki's petition to adjudicate parentage at the Jefferson County jail Monday, the Enterprise reported. ESPN.com

Taylor is accused of failing to pay for $11,000 worth of dental work in December 2004. She was indicted on the charge in 2006. Taylor's trial date has been set for July 27. She also faces a 2000 probation violation charge in Missouri. ESPN.com

Sixers star Andre Iguodala is being sued for child support by a South Jersey woman. Clayanna Warthen, 23, of Clementon, delivered the baby girl, London Iguodala, on May 7. Warthen alleges that she has no income and has been compelled to obtain medical coverage through the state of New Jersey, and seeks temporary support of $12,000 to $15,000 a month, according to the suit filed in Camden County court today by attorney Richard C. Klein of Spector Gadon & Rosen, of Moorestown. Philadelphia Inquirer

Iguodala's attorney, Charles J. Meyer of Elliott Greenleaf & Siedzikowski, of Blue Bell, said: "We have made all reasonable efforts . . . to resolve this matter without litigation. In spite of those efforts, the demands that were made were beyond what is reasonable." Meyer said Iguodala's intent is to "generously provide" for London. "We will continue to make efforts to resolve this matter without litigation. If, however, litigation is necessary, Andre will abide by the court's order." Meyer added that Iguodala had enrolled London in an NBA medical insurance policy. Philadelphia Inquirer

http://insidehoops.com/nba_rumors.shtml

 

[King Spadez]

Stephen Curry for 09-2010 ROY

 

[360_541]

i dont see what the big deal about rubio is?

10 ppg
6 apg

shooting 39 %

 

[LEE-ZILLA 69]

HOW COME THERES NEVER NEWS ABOUT THE BUCKS YOU NEVER HEAR SHIT BOUT THEM