NBA Blog

So I read a comment that said that I could come up with a pretty good mock draft.  I’ll give it a shot:

1.  Toronto Raptors - Bargnani
They want to move this pick for some assets and then take Bargnani at the 4 or 5 spot.  However, they can’t do it because of the Chicago Bulls claim that they want Bargnani.  So, they’re stuck taking him here.  If Bargnani is really ready to come in and play right away, don’t be suprised to see Charlie Villenueva in a deal in the very near future.  He could bring in some big time offers after what he did his rookie year. 
2.  Chicago Bulls - Tyrus Thomas
To me, it’s a coin-flip between Thomas and Aldridge.  With the problems that the Bulls have had with Chandler’s injury issues, I can’t see them taking on another player with the exact same physique as Chandler.  Besides, I think the ridiculous potential of Thomas will sucker the Bulls into taking him.  I personally would go with Aldridge here, and then use Chandler’s contract to move him elsewhere for a power forward.  Then again, I’m still one of the few people who thinks that Aldridge could play center.  Of course, either way, the Bulls still have enough pieces to swing some deals (whether smaller for Villenueva - read a combination of Gordon/Duhon and a future first or something major for Garnett - Duhon, Gordon, Deng, and Chandler).  By the way, I’m winging it here, having done no research, so take this with a grain of salt.
3.  Charlotte Bobcats - Brandon Roy
I can’t see Jordan passing up on someone as gritty and tough as Roy.  He’s shown the uber-competitiveness that Jordan desires, and Jordan won’t (read shouldn’t) get burned by a talented workout.  That excludes Rudy Gay from the 3 spot.
4.  Portland Trailblazers - Adam Morrison
Seriously, they HAVE TO TAKE MORRISON.  NOTHING ELSE WILL DO.
5.  Minnesota T’Wolves (via trade with Atlanta Hawks) - LaMarcus Aldridge
If I were Minnesota, I wouldn’t sit idly by and hope that Aldridge falls to them at 6.  A combination of Aldridge and Garnett would be absolutely nasty, and all it would cost them would be Eddie Griffin and their number six pick.  That would also benefit the Hawks because they are in desperate need of big men. 
6.  Atlanta Hawks (via trade with Minnesota) - Shelden Williams
I think the Hawks could land Williams even later, but apparently they are completely in love with him.  By making this move, they would also bring in Eddie Griffin and have three big bodies in Williams, Griffin, and Pachulia to throw their weight around in the paint.  Besides, Harrington is G-O-N-E in a couple of weeks. 
7.  Boston Celtics - Randy Foye.
This is the most confounding place in the draft, because there are still several guys who could go here, and a plethora of possible deals that SHOULD happen in this spot.  The Celtics have enough young talent, and need to acquire some veteran help that is actually quality.  No thanks LaFrentz and Scalabrine.  So this spot should be really interesting.
8.  New York Knicks (via trade with Houston Rockets) - Rudy Gay
The Rockets have two players, McGrady and Yao, and absolutely nothing else.  What they need is someone who can knock down some open jumpers from those great passes by Yao.  Well, there’s nothing that’s really available at this spot other than JJ Redick.  Why take him here?  I don’t even know how great JJ Redick will be in the pros, so I propose that the Knicks offer up Jamal Crawford, their 20 and 27 picks for Houston’s 8 and Stromile Swift.  Swift isn’t going to play in Houston, that’s abundantly clear, so the Rockets should move him ASAP.  This deal would allow the Rockets to add a clear-cut scorer, who when hot will not miss.  Also, this gives them two more picks in the late first round to add some more players (possibly hoping that one of the point guards will fall to them there.)  Also, considering Mike James’ fondness for Houston, this would allow the Rockets to add some more pieces for the upcoming sign-and-trade they would need to use to get James.  This would also give Knicks’ fans something to cheer about, and Dolan REALLY needs to do something special in this draft.
9.  Golden State - Patrick O’Bryant
The only thing the Warriors really need is a center who can play.  I think O’Bryant is the best one available, so they should take him here.  Of course, the better scenario would be to trade down and take him later.  But since, I’ve already taken waaaay too much time doing this, O’Bryant falls here.
10.  Seattle Sonics - Hilton Armstrong
I’m guessing that Seattle will continue its streak of taking big men with their first pick.  One of them has to pan out right?

That’s all I’ve got for now.  Now I really need to study. 

As I am embroiled in the worst summer of my life, there are exciting things happening all around me. 

Dwyane Wade and the awesomeness that he exudes on the court.

Shaq with four rings, and for some strange reason, he actually loves being the gigantic sidekick.

Television evangelist Pat Riley.

The incredibly pathetic Dallas Mavericks fans.  They’ve whined worse that the Seattle Seahawks fans.

The outlandishly bad officiating throughout the NBA playoffs.

The freaking NBA draft that is loaded with talent, but not a single superstar in the mix. 

Allen Iverson is going to get traded!

The Detroit Tigers actually have a baseball team again, which is great for the sole purpose of their home uniforms.  (With those uni’s and the Red Wings, the city of Detroit would make a serious push for best professional uniforms for a city.  But alas, the whole mid-90’s Pistons debacle and the current black additions to the Lions uniform, it wasn’t meant to be.) 

My fantasy baseball team has not so quietly removed itself from the fantasy cellar thanks to some amazing sticks in my lineup (Hafner, Bay, Ryan Howard, Manny, Jose Reyes, and the incredible free agent acquisition of Dan “You ain’t got no alibi, you” Uggla.)

Impending NBA free agency, and the Spurs with some wiggle room to make another key move.  By the way, I wouldn’t be suprised to see them pull another trade during this offseason.  They need some point help, possibly deal Barry, move Nazr in a sign-and-trade, and figure out a way to get Scola over here.  I also wouldn’t mind another young, athletic swingman to be added to their roster.

For tonight’s draft, expect a TON of deals.  And of course, a really stupid decision by Hawks’ management.

That’s all I have time for, I gotta go back to the books.  The Bar review.  I hate it.

There are so many things that I’m fuming on and want to talk about.  However, following my graduation from lawschool, two drives to Texas in a span of two and half weeks (one for a wedding with outrageousness that tops all trips, and the other was a drive with no a/c for the duration and a blown up engine in the heat of Texas for an hour and a half), beginning my courses for the bar exam, AND looking for a new house in a town 45 minutes away (because I have to be out of my current house on the end of July, coincidentally, the exact same time I take the bar); I’ve got a lot on my plate. 

Nevertheless, I’ll jot down a few things I’ve been hoping to get time to talk about:

1.  The debacle that is the NBA officiating committee.  (example: Dirk Nowitzki takes more free throws in a playoff game than the entire Spurs roster).

2.  Avery Johnson’s brilliance in the postseason.

3.  The simultaneous end to the careers of Brent Barry and Nick van Exel.

4.  The fact that I hate Mavericks’ fans.  Seriously, they are Lakers fans, sans titles.

5.  Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Dirk Nowitzki.  Oh my.

6.  How much the injuries to Manu and Tony Parker KILLED the Spurs.  They made Devon Harris look like an All-Star.  By the way, he’ll never actually be an All Star.

7.  The fact that the NBA Draft is coming up and I have no time to post ANYTHING about it. 

8.  Once again, the wedding stories.  Unreal.  This thing deserved it’s own two-hour Owen Wilson/Luke Wilson/Will Ferrell/Vince Vaughn/Jeremy Piven style-flick.

9.  Baseball stories, including my rant on why people need to get off the back of the young Met outfielder Milledge, and some Barry Bonds related material.
               I don’t care if you think he cheated to take steroids, and he may or may not have.  But come on.  He is the GREATEST HITTER EVER.  Watch his at-bats now that he’s gotten over the hump, and you’ll just flat out be amazed at his approach.  It’s flawless, and there is nothing in his knees to help his base and his drive with the lower half.  Nevertheless, he hit a bomb to straight away center last night that had no chance of staying in any park around.  Awesome.

10.  Impending free agency and who I think the Spurs need to pursue, and what can help other teams on the cusp of either a) making the playoffs, or b) getting over the hump and overtaking the elite teams in the East/West.

I mean, wow.  That’s a lot of stuff on my mind, and I barely scratched the surface.  Instead, I’ll go back to doing four hours of outline work, and then another three hours of multiple choice problems.  The Bar Exam, can’t beat it.  Best summer ever!