Let's do something I haven't done lately: rant! Another week is set to begin, and here we are still debating whether Kobe or Garnett is/will be traded. It speaks to a couple of things: (A) June is a boring month for sports action-wise, (B) Because of this, the rumor mill churns hotter than ever. Am I the only one annoyed with the "I want out, no, I want in, no.." of Kobe or Garnett's staying on a sinking ship in Minnesota simply to look like a nice guy? When does it end?

Let's get the Kobe deal off my chest; It's going to be very difficult to trade him. There's no way the Lakers can get anything close to his talent level via trade. And once/if they make the deal, Jerry Buss and company look like idiots for trading two dominant players (although in fairness, they already look like idiots). Maybe Buss is getting senile, but it looks like it's time to allow the younger Busses take over. Bottom line: Kobe probably will end up stuck in L.A. and will probably pout like a spoiled brat, so brace yourself for a rocky ride, L.A.

As for Garnett, no player I've seen play in any sport (from a limited span, since I'm only 23) has allowed himself to stay on a sinking ship more than he has. The Timberwolves' window slammed shut the day they lost the Western Conference Finals in 2004. Blame it on anything you want; GM Kevin McHale's bad player choices, ownership for sabotaging the team during the illegal Joe Smith deal in 2000, costing them four first round picks (the fatal blow), etc., Garnett doesn't want to come across as a ####. That's an admirable trait, but he wouldn't be the first athlete to chase a ring: Karl Malone did it by leaving Utah in 2004 for the Lakers, among others. His legacy won't be tarnished by leaving the 'Land of 10,000 Mistakes'.

Getting to Garnett's desire to play in a warm weather city (i.e. Phoenix); not happening (at least, if Minnesota doesn't live up to it's rep). Phoenix would be stupid to deal Amare and/or marion for him (although Marion sounds more feasible, given he's a free agent at season's end next year). The Suns would have to alter their style to fit Garnett's game, and that would ruin them. So, where would he go? I have no clue. I guess he's going to whoever has the pieces to give up for him.

In closing, we have a perennial crybaby and a perennial team suck-up who both want out of dodge. I can't stand hearing about the rumors every day, but with so little to talk about, that's all we have to look forward to. Maybe Mark Cuban and his other buddys forming that new football league should start it up in June. Then maybe we could have something different to talk about. Until then, at least the NBA Draft is coming up. Maybe a deal can get done by then!

After laughing at the news that Kevin Garnett shot down a trade to Boston (the King of Staying on a Sinking Ship stays put!), the next thing I focused on was the news that Greg Oden's workout in Portland wasn't spectacular. Does that mean he shouldn't be #1? I don't think so. Oden the best big man out there, and rule #1 of drafting usually is "Take the best player, especially if he's tall.". So I still think Oden's going to be taken first.

But the main reason for this post isn't to talk about the Oden/Durant debate. I want to look at the drafts prior to this one and ponder "Who where the best and worst #1's of all time?". To do so fairly, one must look at all factors, including team's play, individual's play, and championships won, among others. The criteria for today's best (and tomorrow's worst) list:

1. The players considered must have been #1 picks from 1966 (when the draft had a clear #1) to 2002 (when we can most accurately gauge an NBA career)

2. No other picks are considered (So don't come with Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan!)

So with that, let's see how I'd stack up the best and worst of the #1's...

Best #1's (from 1 to 10)

1. Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969): For starters, Kareem's drafting changed the fates of two teams. The Bucks who won the flip, turned from doormats (27-55 in 1968-69) to contenders (56-26 in 1969-70) and the following year champions. Phoenix, who took Neal Walk, are still seeking a title of their own. Kareem then was traded to L.A in 1975, joining with another #1 we'll see later to win five more titles and set numerous NBA records.

2. Magic Johnson (1979): Magic not only revitalized the Lakers, he and Larry Bird (#6 in 1978) revitalized the NBA after a rough period in the late '70s, when rampant drug use and selfish play threatened to break the league. Magic infused the Lakers with an infectious enthusiaism, and his star blossomed in game six of that year's Finals when, in the place of the injured Kareem, Magic scored 42 points, with 15 rebounds and 7 assists, to win the NBA titles. He'd go on to win 4 more titles and 3 NBA MVPs (as well as three Finals MVP) and, when he first retired in 1991, was the NBA's all time assists leader.

3. Tim Duncan (1997): That guy again? Well, here's a guy who stayed four years in college and , unlike NFL picks Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn, ended up being #1 overall despite that. Duncan made a team who had a hard season the year before he arrived into a legit contender, improving their record by 36 games (20 to 56 wins) his first year and, in year two, he led the team to the first of four NBA titles (with more possible in the offering). A two-time MVP (along with 3 Finals MVPs), the guy gets overlooked because of his demeanor, but deserves to be 3 on the list.

4. Shaquille O'Neal (1992): The picking get a little slim after this, but Shaq gets #4 for how he's lorded over the basketball scene since his arrival. At the beginning, it was raw power winning games with the Magic, but as his career moved on (as did he, to the Lakers in 1996), Shaq developed a solid low post game, although free throws did (and still) give him fits. Shaq has won two scoring titles (1995 and 2000) and four NBA titles with three Finals MVPs and one regular season MVP.

'5. David Robinson (1987): I told you the pickings were slim, but this is a case of delayed gratification. Robinson, a you know, had to wait two years after graduating from the Navy to join the Spurs in 1989, but he made an immediate impact, as San Antonio jumped from 21 to 56 wins in his rookie year, capturing ROY honors (by the way, Kareem, Duncan and O'Neal did this, as well). He then won the MVP of the league in 1995 before helping Tim Duncan to titles in 1999 and 2003. Solid.

6. James Worthy (1982): The Lakers steal yet another #1, using the pick they acquired from Cleveland to take Worthy, fresh off winning the NCAA title that year with the Tar Heels. Worthy saw a solid rookie year end early after fracturing his leg. But he soon recovered, and became a key cog in the Showtime attack. Worthy won only one award (the 1988 Finals MVP) but helped the Lakers win three titles in the 1980s.

7. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984): Although the Rockets missed out on Michael Jordan (see above) they probably were hapy to get Olajuwon, by far the best center in the draft. Olajuwon teamed with fellow #1 Ralph Sampson to reach the Finals in 1986, but his best work came later in his career, when in 1994, he won regular season and Finals MVPs after leading the Rockets to their first title. He won another Finals MVP and title the next year, and, statistically, is the all-time leader in blocks.

8. Patrick Ewing (1985): O.K., he never won a championship, but Ewing makes the list because of the fact he made the Knicks legitimate again. After a 24 win season, the Knicks won the first draft lottery, and selected Ewing. He won ROY honors despite missing 32 games, and after a rough three years, got the Knicks back to the playoffs. He eventually helped New York to the Finals in 1994 (a seven game loss) and 1999 (where he was hurt). Although he never got over the hump, he was a great center for a long time.

9. Elvin Hayes (1968): Hayes gets overlooked when discussions of the best PFs begin, but for a long time, he was the standard to measure them by. Drafed by the then San Diego Rockets, he was dominant early, winning the scoring title in his rookie year, before a trade to the Bullets in 1972. There, he averaged a double-double from 1972 to 1980 and led the Bullets to three Finals and the 1978 title.

10. Allen Iverson (1996): He gets this spot over Bill Walton and Bob Lanier because of what he's been able to do despite his limitations. The prototype mind for a shooter, he won ROY honors in 1997, but it wasn't until Larry Brown learned to use him that his career took off. He led an undermanned Philly team to the 2001 Finals, where they upset L.A in game 1 before falling, and he's won three scoring titles (the smallest since Nate Archibald in 1973). Not bad for a little guy.

That's the best list. Tomorrow I'll trot out my worst list and see who really blew it. Until then, did I blow it, or not?