NBA Draft Talk

[Three Jack]

So what's everyone's thoughts on tonight?

The one thing that shocks me is how high everyone seems to be on Joakim Noah. I watch my fair share of college basketball but by no means do I consider myself and expert. But imo to take a guy that is as offensively challenged as he is in the top 8 picks is crazy. He is a very good rebounder, good defender and plays with a lot of passion, but his offensive game is from 6' and in! Put backs and garbage is what he lives off.

What am I missing?

[kbsooner21]

I agree with you on Noah 3J, but maybe that's why the teams are liking him. Not many players in the nba that want to do what he does. His game is all about effort, and you don't see a whole lot of that at the nba level.

[BillMill71]

Noah I feel will be a servicable role player in a few years, but I feel right now his game is limited, and more importantly his body is not mature (plus his conditioning this year seemed very poor). As his body matures me may turn into a decent player, but not top 10.

[kbsooner21]

Is Mike Conley Jr really ready for the NBA?

[BillMill71]

Is Mike Conley Jr really ready for the NBA?

Very much like Tony Parker I feel, has a very good handle on the ball and extremely quick/hard to the basket. He is going to have to spend 2 years though developing a consistent jump shot I think. But he could prove with hard work to be the third to fifth best player in this draft

[Spearit]

The buzz name throughout Wednesday was Yi Jianlian. According to multiple sources, Atlanta was holding high-level conversations as to whether or not to select Yi at No. 3. As late as Wednesday evening, the Hawks were 50-50 between Yi and Florida's Al Horford. Ownership was certainly high on Yi and at least one source was told by Hawks general manager Billy Knight that he was OK with drafting Yi. But that, of course, was depending on the Hawks keeping the pick.

Atlanta was not one of the teams that went to China to meet with the representatives of the Guandong Southern Tigers since the Hawks didn't know they would have a pick. Atlanta, through a trade with Phoenix, had a top-three protected pick in the 2007 draft. If Atlanta trades the pick in part of a deal with Minnesota and Phoenix -- with the No. 3 pick going to the Timberwolves -- don't expect Yi to go to Minnesota. Minnesota also did not visit the Tigers in China and hasn't done the background work on Yi.

If Atlanta passes on Yi, Boston would be the next stop at No. 5. And the Celtics, assuming they keep the pick, are high on Yi. If the C's pass on Yi, then Yi is in play for Milwaukee at No. 6. The Bucks would likely select Yi if he's on the board. That could pose a problem since the Bucks weren't on the approved list of teams by Yi's group (they're looking for a major city and a high Asian population). Still, the Bucks are seriously interested in Yi. At the very least, Yi has trade value, notably with Phoenix and Golden State. Phoenix is trying to get into the lottery from Nos. 24 and 29. Golden State, which meets Yi's city requirements, is at No. 18.

Yi is in play for Chicago at No. 9 and Sacramento at No. 10.

Yi told ESPN.com Wednesday that he would be in the NBA next season. That would seemingly cancel out any veiled attempt by his handlers to push him back to China if he went to a team like Milwaukee.

"NBA next season, no question," Yi said. When asked if he would go back to China he laughed and said "no."

The other big issue is Yi's age. Multiple reports have Yi at 22. But Yi told ESPN.com that he was "19."

Yi said Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Golden State, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Sacramento watched him workout in Los Angeles this spring. Milwaukee wasn't invited.

• The proposed deal between Seattle and Atlanta, with the Sonics sending Luke Ridnour to the Hawks for the No. 11 pick (which would have likely been used for Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey), is dormant but may not be totally dead. Multiple sources told ESPN.com that the Hawks weren't interested in the deal. The Sonics were waiting for the Hawks to show their interest Wednesday but to no avail. But if the Hawks can't move their two lottery picks (Nos. 3 and 11) for Amare Stoudemire with Phoenix, who in turn would get Kevin Garnett with the Timberwolves receiving the picks, then the Ridnour trade could resurface.

• Ohio State freshman Greg Oden was in a giddy mood Wednesday in his powder-blue suit, despite having a bad cold.

This is how my exchange went with him Wednesday:

When I asked him if he knew he was going No. 1, Oden responded: "I was told I'm going to be in the Pacific Northwest. They didn't tell me where, but said somewhere in the Northwest."

Insert his laugh track.

When asked about his rumored back and wrist issue compared to his cold, he said: "The cold is not an issue. I do have hand sanitizer, so everybody's hand I shake should be fine. I do have tissue and my whole [hotel] room is filled with medicine. Everything else is fine. My back is fine. It's still hard moving around with 200-something, something pounds. But the back, the wrist and the head is all fine."

Seriously, though, what did he think about being checked out again recently?

"To be in an MRI for four hours wasn't fun at all," he said. "They all checked it out and I'm fine."

As for commissioner David Stern, is he OK shaking the hand of someone who has a head cold: "He already knows. I got to meet him earlier, and he's not worried about it. His immune system could tolerate it."

So, what hat will he be wearing Thursday night?

"My prediction is that I'll be wearing a hat, maybe the 30th hat or the first hat [I try on], but I will be wearing a hat on my head."

Insert Oden laugh track again.

• Ohio State freshman guard Mike Conley Jr. said he's still not sure if he may go to Atlanta, Memphis or even farther down in the draft (he likely wouldn't get past Milwaukee). But he said he would fit in well with Memphis with a "young core of players, a superstar in Pau Gasol and a new coach [Marc Iavaroni], starting over and a style of play [that suits him]."

What about playing without Oden for the first time since he was in elementary school?

"It's scary," Conley said. "I haven't played without him for years, and I can't even remember the last time I did. But I'll be ready for it. We're both thrilled to be here. We knew this day was coming."

• Washington freshman center Spencer Hawes is fairly confident that he'll end up with Chicago at No. 9 after working out for the Bulls Tuesday for a second time. Hawes, who also worked out for Minnesota, Philadelphia and Sacramento, said he's a perfect fit for the Bulls since he would be another young piece to help them continue to win. He said that despite all the rumors, he never received a guarantee from Minnesota that he would be selected.

• Georgetown junior Jeff Green worked out for Minnesota and Phoenix after deciding to stay in the draft on June 18. He went to Phoenix Tuesday despite not having a guarantee the Suns would be in the lottery.

"All the trade rumors meant that anything could happen, and I decided to go there with the Florida guys [Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer]," Green said. "It was a good workout and you never know because maybe it could determine my future. Maybe it will be with Phoenix. I just wanted to go where I had the opportunity to be in the top 10."

Phoenix, if it gets in the top 10, Minnesota (No. 7) and Sacramento (No. 10) are all likely destinations for Green.

• Texas freshman forward Kevin Durant is still bothered by the reports that he couldn't lift 185 pounds.

"It got to me," Durant said. "Everyone saying that I can't lift that or lift this and yet I'm working hard. But I don't think not lifting 185 pounds is going to drive me out of the draft. I've just got to work at it. I don't think if you can't lift 185 pounds that doesn't mean you're not strong."

• Boston College senior Jared Dudley continues to move up in the draft and secured a workout for No. 18 Golden State Wednesday. Dudley has worked out to rave reviews wherever he has been and so far, that's quite a number of spots: L.A. Lakers, Seattle, Miami, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Utah, San Antonio, Houston and Phoenix. The Spurs, which is Dudley's preferred destination, wanted to see Dudley a second time but his representative wanted to put him in front of the Warriors since that was the highest number he could land.

• UCLA junior guard Arron Afflalo showed up in New York and said he would sit in the crowd at MSG and go up once his name is called. Afflalo is a bubble first-round pick but more likely a second-round selection. Afflalo said he worked out for Philadelphia twice, Charlotte, the L.A. Lakers, Seattle, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah and Houston.

[Three Jack]

Very much like Tony Parker I feel,

I think that is a great comparison.

This draft is going to take shape with the Celtics pick. Being in Boston (but not a Celtic fan) it was funny to see their suicidal fans following the lottery. They can go a bunch of different ways with this one.

[Three Jack]

NOthing beats the NBA draft for the outrageous outfits worn by the players. And I always look forward to reading Bill Simmons running diary on ESPN.com the day after!

[zeib10]

A couple of years ago, I lost my interest in the draft as I usually had no idea who half of the foreign players were. This year, that is not the case and that is why I think the buzz is so high.

Watch out for Philly to make a few deals and move up in the top 10.

Predictions:
1. Odon
2. Durant
3. Yi Ming
4. Conley Jr.
5. Horford (Not sure if this will be Boston making the pick though).


I think that Jeff Green will be a very good pro and should be drafted higher than he will be picked tonight.

[BigWeiner]

I think Horford should go 3 no matter what, he reminds me of a cross between Amare Stoudimire and Ben Wallace. The sleeper pick is Sean Williams from BC, I think whoever gets him in the 15-18 range, got a steal. Yi will be soft.

[BillMill71]

I think Horford should go 3 no matter what, he reminds me of a cross between Amare Stoudimire and Ben Wallace. The sleeper pick is Sean Williams from BC, I think whoever gets him in the 15-18 range, got a steal. Yi will be soft.

I agree, Horford will be a player right away, and think he may have more of an offensive game (moves better without the ball then Wallace) then the two you mentioned earlier.

I also agree on Sean Williams. If he can stay clean and out of trouble he will be a strong NBA player cut in the mold of Oden but 15 picks later.

Yi = Yuo

[BigWeiner]

Great minds think a like. I haven't seen Yi play at all, just guessing that he has to be soft.

[xstac2169]

To be quite honest, Noah is reminiscent of Ronaldo Balkman. Someone that has raised eyebrows as a result of Isaih Thomas' bold move with Balkman last year. He is a guy who will grind it out with anyone, but has very little offensive skills. Reminds me of Ben Wallace in the early days, although not as imposing a figure. He could develop with some work, but will be a serviceable backup PF.

I think with a top 10 pick you look for someone who can start for you within 2 years. To me Noah is not that someone. The one I do not understand who will slip is Acie Law. If a team in the top 10 needed a PG he would go easy top 10. I also think Alando Tucker and Jared Dudley will be steals. Dudley will probably go to San Antonio where he will be a PERFECT fit. Plays D and has no problem passing the ball. Tucker will probably go 2nd round and that will be a steal for any team who gets him. He can D up and is amazing on offense. Tucker and Dudley are my sleeper picks who will make a huge impact on their team next year.

Also how is Nick Fazekas getting no respect? The guy is a stud with more offensive ability than some other big guys out there plus unlike the kid from BC, he has not gotten into any trouble on or off the floor. I think NJ would be better off with Fazekas than a troublemaker even though they need a shot blocker down low.

[BillMill71]

As I Knick fan I can't wait to see the newest debacle of Isiah. It should be interesting.

[BigWeiner]

To be quite honest, Noah is reminiscent of Ronaldo Balkman. Someone that has raised eyebrows as a result of Isaih Thomas' bold move with Balkman last year. He is a guy who will grind it out with anyone, but has very little offensive skills. Reminds me of Ben Wallace in the early days, although not as imposing a figure. He could develop with some work, but will be a serviceable backup PF.

I think with a top 10 pick you look for someone who can start for you within 2 years. To me Noah is not that someone. The one I do not understand who will slip is Acie Law. If a team in the top 10 needed a PG he would go easy top 10. I also think Alando Tucker and Jared Dudley will be steals. Dudley will probably go to San Antonio where he will be a PERFECT fit. Plays D and has no problem passing the ball. Tucker will probably go 2nd round and that will be a steal for any team who gets him. He can D up and is amazing on offense. Tucker and Dudley are my sleeper picks who will make a huge impact on their team next year.

Also how is Nick Fazekas getting no respect? The guy is a stud with more offensive ability than some other big guys out there plus unlike the kid from BC, he has not gotten into any trouble on or off the floor. I think NJ would be better off with Fazekas than a troublemaker even though they need a shot blocker down low.

I don't like Noah's game at all. He can vanish on the court. I would not draft him. Fazekas is a tough one, he's got skills, I'm thinking he could be a Luck Walton type. Dudley seem like a tweener to me, he's too small to play power forward, but I thought the same think about Boozer. I'm on the fence with Acie Law, he reminds me of the dude from Wake Forest a few years back, was a great leader in college, but his game didn't translate to the NBA, just a little slow maybe. It's so hard to tell with these kids, because they're still growing into there bodies.

Brewer = Jamal Crawford
Tweeners = Boozer or Bryon Houston
1. Al Thorton
2. Nick Young
3. Dudley