2012 NBA Draft Diary

It's 10:11.. the NBA high-5 bench guys are probably getting picked now and I'm just starting my 1st draft diary.. why? Well, because Kayla wanted to go out to eat for our anniversary first. That's all I'm going to say about that.  Without further ado, I've got some catching up to do (See what I did there?)

Anthony Davis isn't very attractive even if he whittles out some of that huge unibrow. On a side how, how can you have a basketball team without a gym? Do you really expect me to believe this team brought a hoop out from the building to the parking lot to practice.. don't they play in the winter in Chicago?

Anybody else completely shocked by MKG going #2? I thought it would be Bradley Beal for sure. Pretty cool to see this interview though.

Good to know Jay Bilas can make fun of himself. Wingspan, Wingspan, Wingspan tip back, America! Haha.. that's classic.

How annoying is Heather Cox? I'm about ready to fast forward her interviews already.

Bradley Beal is a high energy guy? Hard to believe these first 3 picks are all relentless. Also.. how about the comment "Washington must know what they want to do!" Really? Somebody with the 3rd pick has a good idea of what they want? That's crazy.

I'm going to start doing 5 push-ups everytime relent is used somewhere in a word.

Um. Who is Chris Broussard? I mean, really.. is he related to Michael Jackson in anyway? That's where I'm leaning right now. The tone is really throwing me off and making me think Young Michael Jackson right now. I might have to research this later.

If there is one player I don't like in the top 4.. it's well.. Dion Waiters. "I went to college a boy and left a man." Eh.. we shall see, tough guy.

After that Heather Cox interview with Thomas Robinson's sister I think we can officially fast forward her interviews from now on.. that was one of the worst on-air things I have ever seen. "Did you know it's closer to Disney?" "No." "Well, it's closer now than you were before." as she puts the mic in the girls face.. then pulls it away awkwardly. HOW IS SHE SUPPOSED TO RESPOND TO THAT? SHE IS 9 YEARS OLD.

*Yawn* Even I called the Lillard/Barnes picks. Also called Drummond and Rivers. Who did I call them to? Well.. Kayla til she fell asleep then Schatzi, but she doesn't seem to care.

By the way.. how about the Jonas cat for the Raptors. They say he can play.. but I haven't seen him post-up a chair yet.

Did Austin Rivers mean to shave one side of his face and leave the other? Looks like a bad moustache.. I'd expect to see something like that in Blazing Saddles.

Meyers Leonard will be a better pro than college player. Cash it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... that should be the Bucks pick. Jeremy Lamb. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. I might quit watching. I backed the Dalembert trade because they only moved down 2 spots. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I don't anymore. I'm going to go boo Dalembert this year.

Jay.. the wingspan doesn't make him 6'11. If it did, he wouldn't be 6'5. Duh.

What if Mark May actually asked 2 questions that were related to each other? What if he asked a question.. then waited for an answer.. then asked a follow-up question? I thought that's what interviews were supposed to be like? I'm not getting that from Mark.

10:31: PJ3? Henson? Jones? Zeller? Oh my.. options galore for the Bucks at 14. Lamb was choice #1. At this stage how can you go wrong with any of the 4? Henson and PJIII probably biggest ? marks but also highest upside. Lets just hope the pick doesn't get traded for some 14 PPG high volume shooter and headcase.

10:33: No Heather. That's not funny. Neither is Huckleberry Hound.

10:35: David Stern still getting the boo's from the crowd and loving it. John Henson it is. I guess Hammond really wanted the length they talked about after getting destroyed by the Pacers late in the season. Now you have Dalembert, Udoh, Sanders and Henson. That's a lot of defense and not a lot of offense. We'll see how this works out. Naturally, as a Bucks fan.. I want to see what Henson can do vs. a chair as well. Can he back a recliner down? Can he spin off of it and hammer it down?

10:39: You really want to go by Maurice? I think of Maurice Taylor. That's not a compliment.

10:43: Some other brutal ESPN interview going on.. they were talking about Austin Rivers. Doesn't he seem kinda like a punk? Here is what I think of him.

10:44: How can Anthony Davis trademark a phrase with unibrow or brow in it? Did he actually come up with them? I doubt he was sitting around thinking of sayings that he could use.. somebody else told him some of these sayings so shouldn't THEY trademark them? Sounds like a typical Kentucky cheater to me.

10:45: Stern still getting the boo's. He continues to laugh at all the money he is making.

10:45: I'm a few hours behind but I think Bill Simmons just cried. Royce White to the Rockets, not the Celtics.

10:46: I shoot free throws better than Royce White and Andre Drummond. I should put my form up on youtube so they can work out to it a little bit.

10:48: Doing a draft diary alone isn't very much fun. Too bad T-Razzie was in Minnesota and allegedly at some horse races or this could be much more interesting. We could be intventing water drinking games besides the obvious Jay Bilas ones that could include: Everytime David Stern is booed, whenever an awkward question is asked, relentless, holes in his game, Chris Broussard using slang or lazy english are my original ideas.

10:53: I don't care about Kentucky vs. UNC draft board. Outside of those schools, who does? Jay Bilas made a good point the other day.. as far as a staff "developing NBA talent" most of these guys are freshman or sophomores.. can they really be turned into an NBA player in that little of time? Ugh, no.. not if they weren't already heading that way.

10:56: Worst GM draft thought: Lets get Jared "Not from Subway" Sullinger to go with Big Baby and just beat people up on the low block with fat guys.

10:57: Tyler Zeller just got traded for 3 guys. Really? Is Roy Williams going to get a Cavs hat now and pose with a high-5 and a stupid looking grin?

11:00: Andrew Nicholson.. yes, the 2nd senior drafted already. Jay Bilas just said wingspan and "good hands" Thankfully I didn't bring any water downstairs with me. He's canadian? Y2J better get a hold of him.

11:04: I think I'm going to do the draft diary until my man, PJIII gets picked. We're at pick 20 right now. I'm hoping it's the Nuggets. Nope, it's some French guy.. well, we know 1 thing about him.. he's soft.

11:10: Jared Sullinger to the Celtics? I cannot wait to see Simmons real draft diary tomorrow. This will be classic. It has to be something like this.

11:12: I'm really tired.. but they just called Jared Sullinger a wide body. That's funny. I hope PJIII is the next pick.

11:14: Kevin McHale looks like a wax statue. Is it just me or does he have a weird lisp too? That's not really the guy that did this, was it?

11:15: This stupid ESPN twitter thing just had a KingJames tweet.. good work trying to recruit more guys. "Is Ray Allen gonna play for the Heat, daddy?" I said, "I dunno, I hope so." Smooth LeBron, smooth. Isn't your recruiting budget up for the next few years?

11:18: Not sure why the Celtics took Fab Melo, they already have Greg Steimsma.

11:19: Stop it. "STRAIGHT UP, SHOOTER. John Jenkins can FLAT FILL. IT. UP." Just stop it, ESPN. Just curious.. how'd John Jenkins shoot against the Badgers?

11:20: Whatever happened to Heather Cox? She's not hanging around Mark Jackson is she?

11:21: Is Mike Dunlap related to Ben Stein?

11:23: I'm at the 24th pick and they're talking about MKG still? Come on, man. I know he was the 2nd pick but you couldn't get everything in that you wanted in the last 20-some picks? Wow. Jared Cunningham just got picked. This is killing me, I'm never going to make championship Friday at camp this week just because PJIII won't get picked.

11:25: Chris Broussard just hit me with some knowledge.. here in the mid-20s there are players with talent but some issues that have made them fall. Obviously.

11:28: Fingers crossed this is PJIII to the Grizz. I think Schatzi is alone and scared upstairs. She just growled down the stairs twice.

11:30: I am Uncle Drew.

11:31: Larry Bird is leaving the Pacers but that doesn't stop the white guys from the ACC rolling in. Miles Plumlee. I wouldn't take him in the 1st round. Not this year nor next year or ever. Jay Bilas just said "freak athlete" Add that one to the game for next year.

11:34: I'm willing to stay up awhile so PJIII doesn't end up on the Heat bench and tainted by LeBron, Wade, Battier, and Bosh. I wouldn't want that to happen to my guy. What a horrible place to be.. that's the Siberia of the NBA.

11:36: David Stern thinks he's Vince McMahon. There is no doubt in my mind. He loves being a heel.

11:37: Whew. So glad I don't care about Arnett Moultrie. PLUS, what if OKC took PJIII. Westbrook, Harden, Durantula, Ibaka, PJIII. Say it ain't so.

11:42: Rece Davis annoys me with the Kentucky/UNC theme. Is this on his own or is ESPN pumping him up to do this?

11:42: YESSIR. PJIII TO THE THUNDER! The only way this could have been better for me if he became a Buck! What a way to end my 1st draft diary.. flyin solo. Next year I'll have company. I promise.

Fun with the Thunder and the NBA Trade Machine

The first thing I did after the NBA Finals was to get annoyed with Chris Bosh celebrating. Is there anybody more awkward than a guy that skinny, with that long of arms constantly going for the 2-armed flex fist pump and primal scream? I think not.

Sadly, I stand corrected because while looking for the Bosh celebration I described above.. I actually found this video of him celebrating in the Heat locker room. This is real. This is REALLY how this guy acts. I'm at a loss for words, and that doesn't happen often. I feel this is totally forced and awkward, I wonder if he thinks this was legit or what. Either way.. guy is a clown. Clown celebration, bro.

The next thing I did was to look at OKC Thunder trade options. Why? I dunno, because I like the NBA Trade Machine and all the talk about the Harden and Ibaka contracts coming up. First thing is I'm not sure these guys really need to even make a trade nor do I think they will. They made the finals with a bunch of kids, 2 of whom can go for 40 on any given night and are locked in for the next few years. They have an up-and-coming PF, 6th man of the year, and an alleged good defensive C who was playing through an injury. They have an energy big off the bench (Collison), a long defensive stopper (Thabo) and a back-up PG that was way better than Derek Fisher coming back off an injury (Maynor). So why would I want to go on NBA trade machine and make a trade for them? Well, they didn't win the finals did they? (I know the Heat didn't make any major changes either and they went back the next year to get the job done)

My main reasons for doing that would be the contract situations of Ibaka and Harden, despite Harden's recent comments about a dynasty being built, will he stay? What about Serge Ibaka, a former 24th selection? I thought he could have played a lot more against the Heat and was kind of surprised by what I thought was limited playing time when he was a good/better match-up in the paint than an injured Kendrick Perkins. Ibaka is young, energetic, blocks a lotta shots.. at one point I did call him Serge Iblocka during the playoffs, and he has a decent mid-range jumper.. he can also put the ball on the deck and get to the tin. These will be two very tough signs for the Thunder.. do they go over the luxury tax or stay under? If they stay under it how so.. they'll have to let one or maybe even worse, both go, unless they give a hometown discount.

Biggest OKC need: Scott Brooks loves Russ Westbrook at the PG and he's the coach, so that's all that matters.. but could you imagine a true PG, Russ, Durant, Ibaka and Perkins? Or PG, Russ, Durant, Thabo, Ibaka/Perkins? You'd be a tad undersized in the back court but it wouldn't be anything dangerously bad for today's NBA standards.. plus, you make up for it with a 6'11 SF, 6'11 PF, and a 7 ft C. A PG and I think another long, athletic wing could be huge gets for the Thunder.

What did I do? I went onto ESPN's trade machine and dinked around for a little bit looking to shed a few contracts, which was either Westbrook's with the PPP (poison pill provision) which makes him difficult to trade, Harden.. not because of his salary but what could become of his salary, and Perkins. I try to put Perkins in almost every deal based on my preferences of salary/skill set.

Hawks: Send Russell Westbrook/Kendrick Perkins for Josh Smith/Zaza
--Put Harden into the starting line-up.. Harden, Thabo, Durant, Ibaka, and Josh Smith. Ultimately, you lose size and your starting PG that can get any shot he wants and fits the offense perfectly (that will be the case in most trades). What does it do? Well, you get rid of Perkins long-term contract and diffuse anything going with Russ at the PG spot. Harden can't be worse than he was in the Finals and can step in and handle the ball (ran PG often anyway) for the team. You add a very capable defender, an athletic body and shot blocker that can crash the boards. That being said, Smith can be very temperamental and who knows how he'd fit in being the 3rd option on offense.

Celtics: This is probably my favorite thought... Rondo to the Thunder and they can keep Russ. Harden/Perkins + pick(s) to the Celtics. Now, I get it.. the Celtics just traded Perkins to the Thunder.. well, KG didn't like that. Pierce didn't like that. Now, he has a chance to go back and play for them.. maybe it entices KG to come back. The Celtics have to look to make a play with Rondo/Pierce being the two guns back.. here they can add a starting defensive C and a SG/PG + pick(s) I'd imagine to end it. Maybe the 2012 1st rounder? Imagine sliding Rondo, an incredibly gifted passer/defender/rebounder next to Westbrook AND KD?! Rondo, Russ, KD, Thabo, Ibaka. You might have problems with some size here and a capable backup C is definitely needed.. but the speed and athletic ability of this team would put anybody to shame. They could be very disruptive on offense and defense and be hard to keep up with for 48 minutes. Somebody get me Danny Ainge and Sam Presti on the phone! I'd think Boston would have SOME interest in this adding a young scorer that compliments Pierce, a defensive C that Pierce and KG like (and hope he resigns) and a 1st round draft pick. Am I way off on this?

Bulls: Couldn't find a suitable way to get Luol Deng that would sorta make sense to both teams. This would be interesting to look further into, however.

Cavs: I'd like Varajeo but that would take Perkins/Harden and that's not a good idea.

Pacers: It'd take Harden/Perkins to get Granger which I don't think is terrible, actually. Granger is there for a few more years.. Perkins is insurance for Hibbert (but if Hibbert stays trade would be off) Pacers get to add a young scoring wing that can create on his own, which they struggle with at times. Thunder would add another tall, athletic wing that can defend, rebound and shoot the ball. Your line-up could then be: Russ, Granger, KD, Thabo, Ibaka. Little small upfront, but you're longer in the back court in this situation, plus you have 2 solid wing defenders in Granger and Thabo.

Bucks: Harden/Ibaka for Udrih/Jennings. Why? Because I'm a Bucks fan. Duh! There are some ways to get Brandon Jennings to the Thunder, but I don't think the Bucks would do it nor do I think he's a "true" PG.. nor would he even be an upgrade.

Knicks: Could Harden/Perkins get Tyson Chandler? Yes, according to the trade machine.. bad news is that the Thunder would be losing a HUUUUUUUUUUGE scorer off the bench and have nowhere else on the roster to get those points. The good news is they'd get better at the C position by a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuugge amount. Sadly, in the end it isn't worth it for the Thunder and no point in looking further because the Knicks don't have any scoring to offset the Harden addition.. and Zeke Thomas is gone so Thabo, Maynor, and Perkins wouldn't get the job done.

Magic: Came up with this one the other day.. little interesting I think. We know the Magic probably are going to deal Dwight Howard. I don't think the Thunder would really want him as a rental, you don't trade a potential dynasty for a 1-year run.. but if you did? Howard/Earl Clark for Perkins, Westbrook and Cook. Would the Magic do it? Eh.. they get a defensive C and one of the league's up and coming guards as well as a 3-pt shooter.. They love shooters. Basically is a huge downgrade at C, a franchise player, worth the risk of a up and coming athletic guard? Maybe. They'd control Perkins and Westbrook for a few more years and if they could snake a 1st round pick out of it... meanwhile, the Thunder would, of course, move Harden to the starting line-up. Harden, Thabo, KD, Ibaka, and Howard. Yeah, read that again.

76ers: Perkins/Harden for Iggy. Again, I'm losing scoring off the bench and the 76ers apparently want to move into the top 7ish for Iggy.. so trading a starting C and a 6th man of the year for him doesn't make much sense. 76ers don't have much with the roster right now so picks would have to be involved for the Thunder. Perkins replaces Hawes. Harden becomes a scorer that can help Holiday and Turner. What would Iggy do for the Thunder? Eh.. he can do things (defend, play off the ball, play point-forward, score, rebound, and.. again.. defend). He went for 12-5-6 last year.. I actually think that he's a very good player but at his price tag and what they'd have to give up I'm not sure the Thunder do it. I like his size/skill set for the Thunder though.. Russ, Thabo, Iggy, KD, and Ibaka. Again, you're small up front but long and athletic in the backcourt. That could be a fun team to watch.

I'm only going through the East for now.. I'm not sure I'd want to trade Harden or Westbrook into the West. I'd be too worried they'd butcher me with revenge games.. Westbrook especially. Again, I don't think the Thunder have to make a move nor do I think they should instigate a move, but if some of these trades came up.. Magic/Celtics.. don't you at least have to say, "We're listening."?



NBA Draft Thoughts

I figured I'd start blogging again here and there because the world needs to know my thoughts. Now that LeBron had one of the best playoff stretches ever and got himself a title with the Miami Heat I can say he only needs 7 titles to back up his words.. no longer does he need a full 8. Congrats to the Miami Heat, my least favorite NBA team. I'd rather the Lakers win 5 straight than the Heat win another with James, Wade, and the Raptor (Chris Bosh)

Anyway, that moves us forward to the NBA Draft coming up quickly.. very quickly, Thursday in fact. There, as always, are tons of rumors floating around about trades and who is where on team's boards. I think we can agree the following players will be gone, in no particular order: Anthony Davis (not the Badgers running back), Thomas Robinson, Andre Drummond, MKG, Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes. That's 6 that I'm fairly solid will be gone, if one of them slips.. it's Drummond. The next group of probably won't be there guys: Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters. That's 8 guys.. the Bucks pick 12.. so who is that next clump? They'll have choices.

Terrence Ross, Jeremy Lamb, Meyers Leonard, Austin Rivers, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Terrence Jones, and PJIII.

And out of that group.. I see Ross, Leonard and Zeller being gone..

If this were the case what would the Bucks do? All reports have PJIII and Terrence Jones falling. I think they both get a bad rap, I don't like Jones but I think he grew up a lot between his freshman and sophomore years and played hard and efficiently this season for Kentucky. PJ is one of those guys that always leaves you wanting more and wants to be a SF because he appears soft, but he's 6'11 and has some guard skills and decent range. At the same time, his upside is insane and at the END of the lottery is that a bad thing to take a gamble on? Do you play it safe and get a solid player or knowing the NBA is a superstar league, do you go for the home run?

Ross and Rivers refused to workout for the Bucks.. they seem to think the Bucks aren't a good fit.. you know what? I hold grudges and thinks I know people don't like; I'll do on occasion.. Rivers and Ross just shot up my draft board. I actually like Ross, I'm iffy on Rivers.. I think Rivers has pedigree (obviously), talent, and the superstar IT factor.. but I don't care for the way he seems the need to dominate the ball and the he carries himself. The Bucks have Jennings and Ellis; I'm not sure Rivers could come in, sit on the bench AND not dominate the ball when he was in. Oh.. there's the whole 7 series thing he had going on recently at a work-out.

The guy I hope they take the most, if he slipped, Jeremy Lamb and it's not even close. Jennings and Ellis are undersized and Hammond/Skiles made comments about needing length on the roster.. Lamb certainly fits the build at 6'5 and with a crazy wingspan. I LOVE the way he moves without the ball and shoots off the catch. To me, Lamb is very efficient at setting his feet and/or squaring in the air. He locks his feet and shoulders to the basket off screens very well.. I'm not saying he's Rip Hamilton/Ray Allen off the ball because those guys were two of the best in the game, but he's coached in that same program they were and you can certainly see those traits in his game. I'm not sure he can run the point, nor do I think you'd "waste" him at the point anyway, he needs to be more aggressive at getting to the tin, with his athletic ability and size, he needs to take advantage of it. I see him more as a 2-guard that can play in a 3-guard lineup with Jennings/Ellis or be the 2 while the other is running the point. He'll get beat up for a bit vs. thicker guards, but he should make things tough for them.

Lamb is my #1 hope for Bucks draft night.