By: Kevin Cottrell, Jr. Just when you thought the pro sports season was at a stand still the NBA was set to showcase stars of tomorrow in the 2006 NBA Draft today! The only problem was that there was no clear-cut star. One may say that the college's leading scorer; Adam Morrison (28 pts. /g) could be the gem of the draft, yet he was not a #1 selection. Instead, the toss up was between an Italian that many of American fans has never of, and a collegiate freshman who proved to the world that he could soar to new heights during the NCAA Tournament (Tyrus Thomas). In other words to the naked eye the NBA draft was prematurely viewed as being as dry as Damon Wayans during the 2006 BET Awards, but as we would soon find out the draft would have more story lines than Desperate Housewives...let's take a trip down POTENTIAL lane, better known as the NBA draft. NBA The result of NBA teams draft prospects can be described in three ways: good, bad, and ugly. For instance it was GOOD that Marcus Williams, PG Uconn, fell to #22 for the Nets where he can learn from one of NBA's greats (Jason Kidd) and be prepared to take over when Kidd's time is done. However, things got BAD for the Trailblazers making more changes to the team during the draft than Michael Jackson does to his face, leaving the sports world baffled by its moves. As for the UGLY side of things just look to the Sonics who made absolutely no sense at all with their selection of Saer Sene with the #10 pick. For more on the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the NBA draft, scroll down with caution. • GOOD: o Toronto: With no consensus #1 pick the Raptors did well with selecting Andrea Bargnani, 7'1 Forward Italy. Although he is a defensive liability he can score both inside and out. Teaming up with Bosh, Villanueva, and Peterson I feel as if his transition to the NBA will be fine. o Chicago: The Bulls are a young team that thrives off its defense. With the addition of Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha (6'7 Forward Switzerland), they were able to upgrade in the area of athleticism, length, and intensity. If you've paid attention to the Bulls in the past two years, you may have noticed that, those categories are keys to their success. Coupled with the scoring of Heinrich, Gordon, and Deng the Bulls can be deadly with the right veteran free-agent acquisition. Stay Tuned! o Charlotte: With the #3 selection the Bobcats bypassed Gay and Roy for Morrison. At first glance I scratched my head wondering why MJ and Bob would pass on two athletic players for the man with the 'stache. Its simple, with Morrison's scoring ability the Bobcats finally have a go to guy. Felton is excellent at point, along with the interior presence of Okafor and May. One thing's for sure this team is built around passionate players and winners at the collegiate level, hopefully they can translate it to the NBA level. o New Jersey: "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Just ask the Nets who were lucky to have Marcus Williams, PG and Josh Boone, PF (Uconn teammates) fall into their laps with the #22 & #23 picks. Williams has the chance of playing under the tutelage of Kidd so that he and Boone can continue the Nets tempo off the bench making them a much deeper team. Honorable Mention: Orlando Magic, James Augustine and J.J. Redick- scoring relief for Dwight Howard & Co....Cleveland Cavaliers, Shannon Brown, and Daniel Gibson- Finally energetic guards that attacks the basket to help LeBron James. o BAD o Portland: Let me get this straight the Blazers ended the evening with the services of LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, both via Draft day trades that didn't need to take place. That makes no sense having to send money to Chicago and Minnesota. Then end the round selecting Joel Freeland (6'10 F, England) when the likes of Paul Davis were still available. Who knew that even though there were no Prep Stars available, Portland would still find a way to screw things up. I guess that's why they had the fourth pick to begin with. o Atlanta: The Hawks began the night selecting Shelden Williams, many disagreed but I actually like that pick. It was their second round pick I disagreed with. Why pick another 6'10 talent (Solomon Jones, So. Fla.) when Dee Brown, PG (two-time Wooden award Finalist) was available in the second round and could be the answer to their PG needs. Unless there is some movement during free agency, the Hawks could be in the lottery again in '07. o Lakers: With the #26 pick many may feel as if there were no talent left in the "thin" draft. I may have agreed before the draft started, but the Lakers were a true disappointment drafting the UCLA product, Jordan Farmar. It seems as if he could do absolutely nothing for Kobe & Phil. I know I sound like a broken record but the likes of Paul Davis, Maurice Ager, or even the athletic James White would have been a better fit for the Lakers triangle. There's still free agency, and Kobe needs a big man bad! o UGLY o New York: Its only right that the Knicks complete their disappointing Eddy Curry trade/season with a horrendous draft. I must admit I was in favor of the trade (from the NY perspective) but it has done nothing but backfired sense then. The Knicks selected Renaldo Balkman #20, F South Carolina, and Mardy Collins #29, (another Guard) Temple, with the likes of Josh Boone, and Paul Davis still available. The team is guard heavy but weak in the frontcourt, they didn't address need or best available, maybe it wasn't Larry's fault after all? o Minnesota: The Timberwolves seemed to have been headed in the right direction with the selection of Brandon Roy, G Washington, at # 6. But before I could picture him in a 'Wolves uniform it was announced that he was sent to Portland for the rights to Randy Foye, G Villanova. Many felt as if KG would have been complimented well with Roy, but now he must roll with Foye, he'll demand a trade much sooner than later. o Rockets: First the Texans and now the Rockets! Yes, Houston selected 6'9 athletic freak in Rudy Gay, the perfect third option to Ming and McGrady, then sent him to Memphis for the polished Shane Battier. With the chronic back spasms of T-Mac it seemed only fitting that Gay was selected to slash and score on the wing to take some pressure off of McGrady's ailing back. Not again Houston, Not Again! SPORTS VENTZ • Poker: Bluff Media, publisher of Bluff Magazine and Bluff Poker Radio will provide live coverage of the 2006 World Series of Poker on radio airways. I'm no Poker player but with this decision they must be Bluffing! • CWS: Another sports first for the year 2006! The Oregon State Beavers won its first College World Series title, defeating UNC 3-2, joining Miami Heat and Carolina Hurricanes as Sports First Champions. Look out football world the Texans could shock the world! Sike! • NFL: 4-year safety, Ed Reed, has reached an agreement on a 6-year extension with Baltimore to carry him through the 2012 season. Now if the Ravens can only figure out how to put up big numbers...oh yeah Steve McNair, but there's no pressure! • MLB: One of the game's purest, Hall-of-Fame analyst Peter Gammons is listed in good condition after undergoing an operation to treat a brain aneurysm on Tuesday. Our prayers go out to he and his family for a speedy recovery. • DUKE: DUKE= DUI! No I'm not teasing J.J. Redick, or the Lacrosse team, this time it's their "enforcer" the Athletic Director. Well, not quite but Joe Alleuva, Duke A.D., injured his head (42 stitches) during a boating accident. His son, Joseph Alleuva, former Duke baseball player, was charged with operating a boat while impaired. Now it makes sense, Duke can't keep its players under control because their A.D. can't keep his own son under control, he was also cited with a alcohol charge during his years at Duke ('98-'01). • BOXING: 4-time heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield (38-8-2) will return to the ring August 19 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, his opponent is scheduled to be announced later today. Since boxers don't like to leave the sport, maybe there should be something like the senior tour in GOLF for aging boxers like Holyfield and Foreman. Better yet let's stop their old A** from boxing period! • NBA: Isaiah Thomas has one year to turn the Knicks around, says James Dolan. "He made this bed", I guess now he needs to buy all new linens because the one on this "bed" just don't fit. If not he'll be shopping for a new home to sleep in next year!