Here is my 1st lottery...full 1st round to come later this week...

 

1. Clippers - Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma

          This is a no brainer, even though it gives them a stick pile of PF's with Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman in the fold.  I believe that Kaman or even Marcus Camby are going ot be moved, because Randolph's contract is immovable.  Griffin can me an immediate help on the boards and scoring around the basket.

2.  Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn

          This is a tricky one.  I think they may prefer Ricky Rubio, but he is starting to balk at the idea of playing in Memphis.  Memphis is in need of defense and shot blocking, so if they are inclined to pick a player who will love to play there, Thabeet is the pick.

3.  Thunder - Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain

          Even though reports are Rubio isn't high on OKC either, I think once he realizes the potential of playing with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook he will change his mind.  This is a great fit for him because Westbrook is a strong enough defender to cover his lack of strength on the backcourt and having Durant, Westbrook and Green as finishers make Rubions talents running a fast-break offense shine.

4.  Kings - Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy

          This is a suprise, I know, but the Kings need a young PG and Jennings will be impressive in workouts.  He is quick and a sensational passer.  If he can learn to keep his shots under control and to play within himself, he will be a very good PG for years in this league.

5.  Wizards - Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona

          The Wizards can always use inside players, it seems.  Hill is a strong rebounder with an above average touch inside for a big man.  He could battle for a starting job with this roster.

6.  Timberwolves - James Harden, SG, Arizona State

          Corey Brewer has not been the answer here and Rashan McCants is too inconsistant.  I think that Harden is a better all-around player than both of those guys and could be a starter with this young team for years.  He is a clutch shooter and strong on the defensive end too.

7.  Warriors - Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Davidson

          The Warriors don't care about his size, they care that he puts it in the basket and allows for Monta Ellis to move to SG, where he is sensational.  Curry can pass well and is very quick.  He is a good fit with this team.

8.  Knicks - DeMar DeRozen, SG, USC

          This is the best player available approach for the Knicks, who aren't good enough to neglect a player like this because of position.  DeRozen is a guy who could be a to-3 pick next year, so you have to take him at #8.

9.  Raptors - Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke

          Toronto has an inside scorer with Chris Bosh and a big man who can shoot with Andrea Bargniani.  They need a creative, slashing, mid-range type of player who can be a strong defender and Henderson fits that mold.

10.  Bucks - Earl Clark, PF, Lousville

          Clark is a strong insdie force and would play a very nice complement to Andrew Bogut inside.

11.  Nets - Chase Budinger, SF, Arizona

          Chase is a player tha can run, jump and shoot.  His athletic ability makes him a strong defensive force and a good compliment to the running of Devin Harris.

12.  Bobcats - Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina

          The Bobcats generally draft college stars who win titles and Ellington fits that mold.  He is also a very strong shooter and a better passer than ever given gredit for in college.  He makes a very nive player alongside DJ Augustine in the backcourt.

13.  Pacers - Eric Maynor, PG, VCU

          Maynor is the most NBA-ready PG in this draft and the Pacers are in need of an immediate upgrade and insurance policty for oft-injured TJ Ford.

14.  Suns - Johnny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

          It seems like Flynn has been linked to the Suns since he declared and I see no reason to change that right now.  He is quick, decisive and could be an heir apparent to Steve Nash.

1. Greg Oden (Blazers) - Incomplete; injury keeping him out all year.  The good news is that his team is playing great without him and he should help them become a top contender soon.

 

2. Kevin Durant (Sonics) -  B+; Durant has been shooting poorly of late, but his overall numbers are about where I expected him.  As he gains confidence, strength and teammates who can take the defensive pressure off, his numbers will rise.

 

3. Al Horford (Hawks) - A; Horford has been exactly what I expected him to be.  His rebounding has been phenomenal and he has held his own defensively as an undersized center.  His offensive game is stronger than those number show, but on this team they do not run any plays for him.

 

4. Mike Conley (Grizzlies) - B; Since returning form injury his playing time and productivity have increased.  If he continues to better his outside shooting percentage, he could be an All-Star point guard in the next several years.

 

5.  Jeff Green (Sonics) - C; Green has been inconsistent, but when he plays well he shows glimpses of being a very good NBA player.  His overall game is a good compliment to Durant, and given time they will become a top duo.

 

6. Yi Jianlian (Bucks) - B; Yi has been better than many expected, though consistency has been his biggest issue.  When he is on, he is a capable 20 point, 8 rebound guy.  His ability to score from all over the court is a big plus.

 

7. Corey Brewer (Timberwolves) - D; Brewer has had a horrible shooting season, but he has contributed on defense and the boards, so all is not lost.  If he works on his handle and jumper, he can be a valuable piece to Minnesota's rebuilding.

 

8. Brandan Wright (Warriors) - C; It is hard to grade Wright because he really has not had any playing time of note.  He has shown some glimpses at times, but it would be really nice to see him playing 30 minutes a night in Chapel Hill right now.

 

9. Joakim Noah (Bulls) - B; One of the biggest jokes in the NBA is Ben Wallace playing ahead of Noah in Chicago.  Noah's PER is top amongst rookies and his number is 14 minutes trump Wallace's in 35 minutes.  Case in point; last night Noah gets 32 minutes and goes for 14 points and 15 rebounds.  He is a walking double-double if he gets 30+ minutes.

 

10. Spencer Hawes (Kings) - C; Again, not much of a sample, but he has shown offensive skills in limited minutes.  If he can pick it up on D, he will be Brad Miller 2.0.

 

11. Acie Law, IV (Hawks) - C-; No tmuch playing time and an injury make this difficult, but he has yet to find comfort with the NBA three-point line.

 

12. Thaddeus Young (Sixers) - B; More than I expected this season.  Young has the potential to be one of the top 5 players from this draft 5 years from now.  Has shown athleticism and offensive efficiency. 

 

13. Julian Wright (Hornets) - D; He hasn't had much playing time, but hasn't impressed me when he has played.  He is a raw talent, and may have a bright future, but another year at Kansas would have served him well.

 

14. Al Thorton (Clippers) - D; Poor shooting percentages, bad turnovers and playing time getting cut.  He is the oldest rookie, but that has not helped him make the adjustment.

 

Not Lottery Players to Note:

 

Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo have both played well in limited roles in Detroit.

 

Glen Davis has been a good contributor off of Boston's bench and has allowed them to rest Garnett at times.

 

Jason smith has had his moment in Philadelphia and should be a solid forward for years to come.

 

Daquan Cook has had his moments in Miami and has the ability to be a ong time starting 2-guard.

 

Aaron Gray has played well in spurts for Chicago and can become a solid umber 2 center.   

 

 

5 Ways to save baseballs image... 1. Enshrine Joe Jackson into the Hall of Fame: At first, this may seem like a bad idea...I mean, do we fix an image problem of cheating by honoring a guy banned from the game for cheating? On the surface, it seems like a bad idea, but let's look a little deeper into this issue. Unlike Barry Bonds, the evidence is stacked in favor, deep favor, of Jackson having NOT cheated. Published reports show that Jackson tried to give back the $5000 he agreed to take for throwing the World Series of 1919. He also led the series in average, hit the only homerun and made no errors. A legal jury acquitted him. Local reports show that he made his wife give the $5000 to a children's hospital. He didn't even want to touch the cash in order to give it away! He made a bad decision, and changed his mind....albeit too late. Also, unlike Bonds, Jackson is beloved throughout the baseball community. Ask most baseball fans and they would love for Joe to get his due in the Hall of Fame; he is a legend and an icon. He has been depicted in best selling movies and books and he is an underground hero. If next year's HOF weekend is centered around enshrining the legendary Shoeless Joe Jackson, based on the evidence that shows that he did not, indeed, throw the series it better indicts Bonds. Why, well, in Bonds case the evidence shows that he did cheat. It cannot be proven whether either man cheated, all that we have is the body of evidence. In Jackson's case, it shows he did not cheat, in Bonds case it shows that he did. If Jackson is allowed in because of the evidence, not the official records...Bonds could be let out because of the same thing. 2. Celebrate the Negro League Legends at the All-Star Game: At a time where we are talking about players who may not be as good as their legendary status, due to chemicals making them superstars, why not recognize the players that our own stupidity kept from gracing our baseball diamonds. A weekend honoring the great Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Pop Lloyd, Buck Leonard, Double Duty Radcliffe and Judy Johnson would be a good place to start. These are all-time greats who we, as baseball fans, should be ashamed were kept from our game. We were robbed of watching some of the greatest players ever, based simply on their inherited melanin levels. To me, this is a disgrace. There is no better way to take the focus off of one disgrace than to fix an old one. The All-Star weekend should feature video montages of the players, interviews with living players and the teams wearing Negro League uniforms. MLB should release an official accumulation of Negro League stats (which the HOF has been working on for years), publish them and give the heroes the respect and honor that they deserve. A little goodwill can go a long, long way. 3. Get the Owners and Player Behind the World Baseball Classic: I know, it is not quite time for another round yet, but it is coming fast. Say what you will about the timing, the injuries and players performances the following season, this was a BIG deal. The best baseball game I have watched since the Diamondbacks-Yankees of 2001 was the Japan-Cuba title game in the inaugural WBC. As America fans become more familiar with international players, this becomes like 2 weeks of All-Star games. So Team USA was bad and isn't likely to win the next time either. I don't think that Americans care about that like they do basketball...USA has been losing at baseball for a long time. A Team Japan featuring Ichiro, Matsuzaka, Iwamuru, Jojima, etc. against a Dominican Team of Ortiz, Vlad and Manny is a true baseball fans dream come true. The more than MLB can convince all of the BEST players to play in this tournament, the better. Tinker with the timing, tinker with the rules, but this tournament can be a major shot in the arm to the PR of baseball. There are few fans who were not jealous of the fanatics that filled Latin American parks for the early round games, singing, chanting and hanging on every pitch like it was Game 7 of the Series. We need to get that back into MLB. 4. Celebrate the Little Guy: MLB should make a push to celebrate the players who do things other than hit homeruns. I'd love to see a marketing campaign about Ichiro and Jose Reyes. Why not an add campaign celebrating Omar Vizquel's Gold Gloves? Guys bulk up and hit 60 HR's because they end up on TV all of the time. They are celebrated and it sets a bad precedent for young players. Let's take some time to celebrate defense, taking bases, going 1st to 3rd, and batting .350 with 200 singles, 40 steals and 100 runs. These things win baseball games, but you wouldn't know it by watching the highlight reel. 5. Make Charity a Priority: The NBA has mastered this, and the NFL is making it a point too. The NBA spent all season showing a clip of Yao Ming wiping tears from a little girl's eyes at a basketball camp in China as part of a charity montage. Yao Ming instantly became my wife's favorite athlete in the world and I found myself cheering for the gentle giant. Dikembe Mutumbo is the greatest athlete of the past 20 years, not because of anything he did on the court, but because of everything that he did off of it. Google Manute Bol, read about the last 10 years of his life...you'll learn about what it really means to be a hero. In the NFL we hear about Warrick Dunn's unreal charity that builds houses for single mothers. Where is the MLB equivalent? I am not suggested that MLB does charity for the good press; I am suggesting they do it because not doing it is bad press. In an era where the superstars of the other major sports are making a difference off of the field, where is MLB? MLB benefits the most from 3rd World countries, if you don't agree, look over this year's All-Star rosters. The fact that MLB doesn't commit themselves, and their players, to charity in those nations is a dark spot on their image across the world. It is also one that is very easily erased.

Get ready for several players to have break-out years this season in the NFL...my top 5 BREAKOUT players... 1. Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens - Baltimore has always produced great running backs because of their style of play and their incredible offensive line. Willis will not be an exception. He has great speed, good size and a great knowledge of how to play the backfield in the NFL. In a running offense with a great line, he is bound to produce big numbers. I'd say about 1,612 yards and 13 TD's. 2. Matt Leinart, QB, Cardinals - What?? An Arizona Cardinal on the list, am I freaking nuts? Well, maybe, but that is not the point. Leinart put up solid numbers last year (eerily comparable to another rookie QB on a perennially miserable team who hoisted the Lombardi last year). Now, I am not saying he is Peyton re-born, but this guy is a NFL level QB and a very good one. With the offensive weapons that he has around him and a new coach who I love, look for him to break out. He is good for 3,488 yards, 23 TD's and 13 INT's. 3. A.J. Hawk, LB, Packers - A.J. showed glimpses last year of his ability to dominate on the defensive side of the ball. This year, he should be able to put that all together on a game by game basis and really be a force on that side of the ball. With Green Bay's offense likely to struggle, he will get plenty of chances to make plays on defense. This should be the start of about 13 Pro-Bowls to come. He is a lock for 120+ tackles, a few picks and a sack or two. 4. Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins - Campbell was not spectacular in his run as starter last season, but he did show some small glimpses of his potential. With the entire off season as starter and the job going into camp look for him to have a nice season. Campbell may never be a big-time, star QB, but he has the potential to be very good for a long time. As he gets more acquainted with his talented offensive weapons his low percentage (53% in 2006) should increase and he makes very few mistakes. You can bank on 2,955 yards, 17 TD's and 10 INT's. 5. Reggie Bush, RB, Saints - Ok, so maybe last year WAS his breakout year, he was a feared offensive weapon. However, he showed some inconsistency, which I believe will be behind him this year. At the end of last season he understood his running game and averaged 5.1 YPC over the last 4 games. Combine that with his amazing pass catching skills and the offensive talent around him and he is set for a big year. Mario who??? 1,012 rushing yards (4.6 YPC), 74 reception for 814 yards and 13 combined TD's; 2 punt return TD's There you have it...Agree? Disagree? Do you have any other players that you think will have breakout years???

Five Picks and Moves that I LOVED

1.  BLAZERS - Greg Oden/Rudy Fernandez/Petteri Koponen/Josh McRoberts/Tuarean Green and the deal with the Knicks- There is nothing bad to say about this one.  Oden is a winner that will be a All-Star for years to come.  You have to take this kind of center if he is there, no doubt about that.  Fernandez and Kopponen are quality guys that will remain in Europe for 1-3 years and join these team in time to push them into the deep rounds of the playoffs.  McRoberts is a nice little role player who fits well with Oden's game.  Green may not make this team, but he will play well enough in the Summer League to be on a roster somewhere.  Here is why I like the feal with the Knicks...it keeps Zach Randolph away from Oden.  So they have to buy out Steve Francis, who cares, Randolph is gone.  At the end of the day, that is all that matters.  Channing Frye is a clone of LaMarcus Alrdige, style wise, but less effective.  That makes him the perfect back-up.  He can also back-up Oden. 

2.  SONICS - Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and the deal with the Celtics - Seattle is starting over and these two have a certain Pippen/Jordan feel to them.  Granted, Durant isn't Jordan and Green isn't Pippen...maybe a "poor man's version" of those two, but you get the idea.  Durant is a legit 25 PPG player and Green is a guy who will give you about 15-5-5 next year and has potential to be a 20-7-7 type of player.  I like the deal with Boston because, not only did it get Green, but West and Wally are key players here too.  West is capable of playing both backcourt positions adequatley and Wally is still a good shooter and has always been a good locker room guy.

3.  BULLS - Joakim Noah, Aaron Gray, JameOn Curry - There are a lot of people on the internet (mostly commenters over on ESPN.com and here) that think that Noah is going to be a bust and/or doesn't fit in Chicago.  These folks apparently never watched Florida last year, never watched Chicago last year and just simply don't like Noah because he is a goofball.  Listen, he is goofy, wierd, etc.  Whatever, who cares, this is the NBA for crying out loud.  Noah never claimed to be a 20 PPG guy and Chicago never said they were drafting him to be.  Noah is a VERY good rebounder, watch Florida film, he got rebounds because he is a fundemental rebounder and a hustler.  He is a killer passer.  He is fast for a big man with silky soft hands.  NONE of these things are "because of the system he played in at Florida".  These are fundemental elements of the game.  Noah will play 15 years and be a strong 12-8-2 (blks) guy who fans adore.  This is also a nice move because it makes Ben Wallace and his huge contract expendable, which is an even better element here than Noah the player.  Gray and Curry are just extra pieces here, either one could turn into a solid role player.

4.  BOBCATS - Drafting Jared Dudley and the trade with Golden State - Let's start with Dudley.  People calling him a stretch at #22 are going to hide those blogs next year.  Dudley is so underatted it is funny.  He is a guy who can do a little bit of everything, including shoot from the outside, which is a major need in Charlotte.  He is a Shane Battier type of player, and last I checked Battier was a major player and on Team USA.  Now, the Richardson deal is both good and bad.  I love Wright and I think that he is a a great propsect, but the 'Cats have a roster full of them.  They need a guy who can get them 20 a night against any team and Richardson is that guy.  In the East, he is an All-Star talent.  They needed somebody to give them a chance this season.  In 10 years, maybe Wright is the better player, but they don't have 10 years to find that out.  They need to get the city behind the team this year, and getting Richardson will help with that.  I don't like giving up the trade exemption ($10 Million), but from a player standpoint, I like the deal.

5.  WARRIORS - Drafting Marco Bellineli and the trade with Charlotte - First, MArco, great pick-up.  If there was ever a team built for Marco's game, it is the Warriors.  He is a shooter with kilelr instinct, if you think I am crazy, ask the guys from Team USA.  He lit them up for 25.  He fits right in behing Monta Ellis.  Speaking of Ellis, he makes Richardson expendable.  He slide sinto Richardson's spot, and Bellenelli slides into his.  Nothing lost, maybe even something gained.  To boot, they have Brandan Wright, who I think was the #4 talent in the draft.  He is a few years away, which is why Charlotte had to let him go, but he is a talent.  He is athletic and long, which fits the Warriors mold well.  However, I have a feeling Wright may be moving in a Yi Jianlian deal...which would also be a good move for G-State.

5 Picks and Moves I don't Quite Get

1.  HAWKS - Not trading for Amare Stoudamire - Listen, I love Horford and Law.  Horford is a legit 18-9 guy and Law was the best point guard in the draft (sorry Mike Conely).  The problem is, is you pull the trigger and get Amare Stoudamire then you compete in the East next season.  You get a PG via free agency (and they'd be more likely to come with Amare to pass to) and you go for it today.

2.  BUCKS - Draftin Yi Jianlian - This has notrhing to do with Yi, who I think is a legit NBA player.  Having watched him against Team USA last year, he is a legit NBA scorer.  I think #6 was a good spot for him, the problem is that Milwaukee isn't!  He will never play there and they should have known that.  There were 5-6 players here they should have taken that would suit up for them today and contribute. 

3.  CELTICS - Trading for Ray Allen - I like Ray Allen and he is a legit Eatern Conference All-Star for 2-3 seasons.  The problem is, even with Allen, the Celtics aren't winning anything but the 8th playoff seed next year.  They should have continued to build for the future with Noah, Yi or Brewer.  Glen Davis coming with the pick from this deal makes it a little better to swallow.  Davis is an NBA player and should have gone much earlier.  Look for him to outplay several first rounders next year.

4.  Everybody but the Clippers - For sleeping in Jared Jordan - This guy will be one of the top 2-3 point guards from this draft, marke my words.

5.  LAKERS - Not making any move to appease Kobe - The draft was no help (besides, how many young point guards does one team need??).  No trades.  Kobe is as good as gone.