Terry Dozier pick #1. Yeah.

I'm pumped for this. Bobcats now have two picks in the top 20 and there are rumors of moving up to number 3....

C'mon MJ... weave some magic........

Only minutes to the start of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Latest news, notes and gossip:

http://linky.com.au/hptse

Track the draft picks through ESPN here:

http://linky.com.au/srtzf

Go Jawai!
Pick 30 to Celtics - how good would that be!

A possible scenario. ESPN is on-and-off about this one. It's happening, then it's not happening and apparently it's back on again......

Provided the Wolves take O.J. Mayo at No. 3, the Sonics and Clippers will swap picks, and Los Angeles will also send a protected pick in 2009.

If Mayo isn't drafted at 3, the deal is off according to two sources close to the information.

The Sonics would take Brook Lopez or Jerryd Bayless at No. 7.

Surprise Surprise...... Rose #1

Here could be the first trade in the draft...

Rumors of Miami #2 (Beasley) going to the Clippers for Brand and #7.

Heat take Beasley.

I'll ask as well, any way of watching it on the net????

T-Pups take OJ Mayo.....

The next 3 or so picks are the ones which will impact the rest of the lottery...

DAMN.............


Westbrook at #4.

Knicks are going to be p*ssed....

Love #5

Back to back UCLA picks.

http://linky.com.au/h37i3

Link to the NBA web site there is a link on the page that will allow you to watch the draft live. the big listen live button in red on the right for those who miss it first up

Yay for Minny - the first superstar "aura" player they have ever drafted... Hope he is as good as advertised...

I do worry about his resemblance to Tyrannosaurus Rex but...

The Italian....... Welcome to MSG....


Gallinari at #6

JohnnySacks - hows about KG, Laettner, JR Rider ... even Donyell Marshall

Gordon #7

Wow I think the Clippers made the right pick.. kinda in shock.. no Korolev there. Hope the Bucks go after Lopez to give Bogut some help.

Those guys were not didn`t have this much fanfare surrounding them at drafting - KG turned into a superstar - but only after 3-4 years... Laettner - dud white guy, Rider and Marshall - pffft... Mayo was a superstar before he was even in college - hence the "aura" comment...

Think the Bucks will take Alexander

cant believe how the new yorkers boo the italian bloke just cos theyve never seen him play, the organisation must know what theyre doin.

****.... Oh well, at least the 2nd team I follow grabbed him.

Alexander #8

Bayless is staring to slip ... who knows - could slip to Indiana ... think they would be happy with that. Likely Charlotte will take Lopez - although a point gurad could upgrade over Felton.

C'mon Cats... Have to select Bayless....

Get the big (Hibbert) with #20. Fixes the Cats PG issues...

OH F**K........................

MJ screws the pooch again.........

Augustin #9

Bobcats take Augustin at No #9

Interesting pick by the Cats.

Can you ever have too many great PG's?

Could this mean the trading of G-Dubz?

Crash is safe..... Well he better be safe.

At least DJ is a true point guard. Bayless is more of a combo.

MJ couldn't draft a turd from a sewerage farm.....

B.Lopez #10





Bayless #11

"Can you ever have too many great PG's?"

No. But you can have too many mediocre ones.

TR - I've heard rumours of a G-Dubz and Augustine for Odom.

Yeah, heard the same Bizzy, but I doubt they do it (pray harding right now)........

Wallace is on a decent contract and the Cats need his perimeter defense and scoring. DJ fixes the back-up PG problems. #20 (Hibbert... please) fixes the big issue.

I don't want a piece of Odom. The only benefit is he will be expiring. The Cats have locked up Crash for $9 over the next 4 years. Bargin.

Odom is a choker.

WOW.......

First real surprise......

Jason Thompson at #12.

He didn't get an invite to the draft.

Not a good choice for the Kings at all. Cannot believe that Portland have the chance to add Randolph to their team.. they will be looking very nice.

Eric Gordon welcome to the Clips. Livingstone bye bye.

Agreed TR - I don't think that Augustine was a BAD pick, just an out of left field pick.

Odom is trash, and I hope for the Cats sake they stay clear of that.

Surely Larry would want to keep Crash as he is really their only perimeter defender.

Blazers take Rush at #13.

Nobface Chad Ford is saying that the Cats are shopping Felton...

Rush #13

Little surprised by this move. To me Rush is similar to Roy and Webster.

Rush goes to portland. I would have thought they were already gaurd heavy and now theve added another one

Randolph at #14.

Good pick for the Warriors. Very athletic and will like the pace of the Warriors. Like him cause he's a leftie.

Problem is they now have 2 tooth-pick power forward.

TR - What would they get for Felton? Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Not sure... It came from Chad Ford so it's probably BS...



Robin Lopez #14

This is a great pick for them. Should help the Suns with his D.

I'd never give up Wallace for Odom, let alone adding a decent draft pick. As TR says, Odom is a choker. Looks a million dollars as long as he's playing an average team, but is shut down by good players.

Larry, don't let Michael screw the Cats (or the Celtics)!

Speights #15.

Another guy not invited to the draft....

Oops... Speights at #16

MOTHER$%U#UI%I#%I#$%$%OI#%OI


Hibbert #17


Heading to the Pacers for the JO deal.

I was surprised Portland went Rush at first too, but if you look at his height (6'7) and excellent 3pt% in college, might be that they want someone to push Martell, who has been underwhelming so far.

With Oden and Aldridge, they probably feel there are no big guys in this draft that would help them much, and the two best PGs have already gone.

I'm surprised there hasn't been any trades (bar the pre-arranged Raps/Pacers deal) in this draft yet. I was sort of thinking it was going to be mayhem with players switching hats.

McGee at #18 to the Wizards.. Huge wing span.


His mum played in the WNBA making.

Portland just made a trade with the Pacers.

Portland: Jack/Rush for Indiana: Diogu/Bayless

1. Bulls - Derrick Rose**
2. Heat - Beasley**
3. T'Wolves - OJ Mayo**
4. Sonics - Russell Westbrook
5. Grizzlies - Kevin Love**
6. Knicks - Danilo Gallinari
7. Clippers - Eric Gordon**
8. Bucks - Joe Alexander**
9. Bobcats - DJ Augustine
10. Nets - Brook Lopez**
11. Pacers - Jarryd Bayless
12. Kings - Jason Thompson
13. Blazers - Brandon Rush**
14. Warriors - Anthony Randolph
15. Suns - Robin Lopez**
16. 76ers - Marreese Speights
17. Pacers - Roy Hibbert
18. Wizards - JaVale McGee

Cavs select Chris Douglas Roberts next according to my mock.

50%... dam that sucks.

JaVale McGee - what a name.

And TR - there's some trade excitement for you. Came up just after you asked about it.

I reckon we'll see more to come as well.

Agreed, def thought the Heat would pull the pin on something..

I think Cavs go with Kufos

Bit of a reach by the Cavs.

JJ Hickson is now a Lebron at #19

C'mon MJ.....

Have to go with Arthur.... He's fallen into our lap. Was projected as a lotto.

Good pick... Ajinca.... Very happy with this pick. Arthur would also been good.

The dude is huge. 7'8" wing span. Larry Brown loved this kid....

Ajina at #20

Ajina is going to be great, good pick by MJ.

On the ESPN website, clicking the "top remaining players" Jawai is #5 in the PF category...and clicking the link has him going as mid to late first round. 10 picks left, let's hope he gets a look in.

I think I picked Jawai to go about 28 to Memphis.

Arthur has fallen hugely.........

Is he going to be the kid left crying on national TV again aka Shard Lewis.

Just went through our Mock Draft from earlier in the week - there are 3 people tied on 15 so will have to use Jawai as the tie breaker

TR, Bizzy and Jules

TR - Jawai - 35 Clippers
Bizzy - Jawai - 28 Memphis
Jules - Jawai - 31 T'Wolves

I will whip something up properly after the draft is finished in 3 or 4 hours

Ibaka is a great pick for the Sonics. Leave him in Spain for a year or two and then bring him over once Wilcox is traded or expires.

Now we are entering the Jawai territory...

6 spots left for discerning clubs who want to promote Aussie basketball...

"clubs who want to promote Aussie basketball..."

Yep.....coz I'm sure that will be their reason.

:-)

Word is that the reason Arthur is falling, is because he refused lab tests and there is a fear he has something wrong with his kidney.

Who wants to bet the Spurs take a foreign player ... that said CDR is on the board. They are probably annoyed that Batum guy went

Ok not for the first time ... I was wrong

Spurs went with little known Hill from IUPU.

Random fact: He has 3% body fat.

I think I just put on 3% body fat with the breakfast I ate this morning

He's ripped as apparently.

The rockets pick a problem for Newley? 6"7 french 19 year old...

Arthur just got picked @ 27 by NOH, which will be traded to the Blazers for $$.

Really thought NOH was a chance with Jawai.

Chad Ford:

25 Nicolas Batum HOU
Pick doesn't add up. Trade may be looming.

I suspect Jawai is not going till the late 30's ... still lots of decent guys on the board

I've been wrong before ... like 5 minutes ago!

I hope Jawai goes to the Pistons, Amir, Max, Jawai, Stuckey, Afflalo - great young group.

Still at the moment have Sheed, Dyess, Tay, Rip & Chauncey.

2 picks left, Detroit and Boston. Jawai is at #2 on PF list according to ESPN. Jawai would be a good pickup for Detroit...

Hoping Detroit don't want Chris D-R, since they have a guy like that in Stuckey already.

Reading Chris D-R's profile on Draft Express he would be a good pick up for Boston this low in the draft!

If not him, would be happy with Devon Hardin, Chalmers or Jawai...

According to DX's blog, Batum's going to Portland. No other details though.

Jawai to Celtics - PLEASE!!!!!!

Jawai is now the top ranked PF left in the draft according to ASPN.

I'd love to see him in green next season...alternatively the T-Wolves would be a good fit too I reckon.

Kent, the Newley-threat has been traded for Arthurs (a PF).

Anyone else not watching it on TV following ESPN's Draftcast? Seems OK.

JR Giddens?!?!

Well, Danny does have a habit of surprising people with late round picks...

Hmmmm, who is this guy?

Jawai is now looking at 2nd round. I reckon the T-Wolves will pick him. My heart wanted him in green.

Bad luck to Jawai. Let's hope if he gets drafted, they at least send him back to the NBL for a season and re-consider him.

Giddens just went at 30 to boston... looks like Jawai will have to wait till early second round

I reckon even though Jawai will go second round, I think he will play for whoever picks him up.

I'm on that too Isaac.

Who the hell is JR Giddens? Didn't expect that.

Portland might be a good fit for Jawai. They need some bigs

Isaac, I have jumped on the recommendation, however it is not working very well for me. Is your clock counting down? - mine is stuck at 0:00.

http://www.justin.tv/psnx

DeAndre Jordan sure has dropped pretty far...

DeAndre Jordan - Pick 35.

Could Jawai be joing Bogut???

Not wild about Danny's choice with Chris D-R, Devon Hardin and Mario Chalmers on the board.

Ainge clearly wants someone who can contribute straight away.

Would have thought D-R or Chalmers would have fit the bill, especially since they both played in the last NCAA championship game and are both 3rd years.

Obviously Danny saw something he likes in Giddens though and he has got it right quite often in the past.

So I'm hoping this is a Rajon Rondo moment, not a Gerald Green moment...

Bad luck for Nathan Jawai... still on the board by the looks.

T Wolves took Pekovic instead of Jawai, same position. That sucks.

Can we get a suicide watch set up for
Chris Douglas-Roberts?

Sonny Weems to Chicago? Double the CDR suicide watch.

There he goes - to NJ

Cancel the suicide watch... Amazing Chris D-R dropped so far... but NJ should be happy since they just gave up Jefferson.

Jawai goes to Indy!!!

Hey Jawai has gone. To Indiana

Is Indiana a good fit for Jawai?

Some players to watch due to the amount of chips on their shoulders;
Beasley
Bayless
Chalmers
Jordan
Arthur
and of course
CDR.

Woot. Larry Bird you magnificent bastard.

Go Pacers!

Jawai the Pacer!

Good stuff. I'll be updating the x-box when i get home. He should get some burn for the pacers...

Anyone think Maric will get picked up?

Ewing Jnr to Sac town.

Doubtful. He's way down the list on ESPN projected picks. Although, being at a US college probably makes him a bit more visible to the teams, so who knows.

Hibbert was taken by Indy earlier, so I'd say Jawai is insurance. Not ideal for him really at the Pacers. I think they will ask him to play in Europe and develop his game

Patrick Ewing Jr. went at 43 to sacramento, thats a bit of a surprise, his numbers are teriible. Averaging 22 mins, 6 pts and 4 rbs.

Beantown - that's why I a sked the question. Unless Jawai absolutely wows the Pacers management in the Summer League, he will be asked to play in Europe.

Ewing Jnr is a terrible choice. He doesn't really hold one position - an between role player - with a lot to work on. Puzzling choice really.

People

Jawai is a Raptors because of the Jermaine trade

THe single happiest day of my life

According to Draft Express, Maric had such good numbers because of his huge performances against teams lacking any size. Apparently when he came up against top notch big men he tended to struggle because of his poor athleticism. I think they also mentioned that he doesn't run the floor well enough.

So I'd say no chance. Maric is one of those guys who is a great college player, but is not seen as someone who can succeed in the NBA.

Rumours of Knicks trading Lee to the Bobcats for Felton...wait and see.

TR, as a Bobcat fan, you would have to be happy with that if it goes through.

Spurs have drafted two young PG's....interesting choices

Way to go jazz. My boys didn't address the interior D problems by drafting two white 7ft projects with zero athleticism. How predictable that Utah would pick 2 lame white 7 footers.

(HUGE reverse mockers employed here in a vain hope one of the two afore-mentioned big dumb white guys actually turns into a steal. I'd hold my breath, but, well.... i'd die.)

Trades to come you would think, esp the bucks who just traded to get the position that they also just drafted for...

Not sure this as been mentioned here but Chad Ford on espn.com is suggesting that he Pacers are selecting Jawai for the Raptors as part of the O'neal - Ford trade.

Maric & Bruce remained undrafted.
I still thought Maric was a chance for a late second round pick. He may get picked up as a free agent still though.
Bruce should head to Europe IMO, as should Maric and earn some big bucks.

Mayo heading to Grizzlers

http://linky.com.au/v4g0d

Okay, draft is done and dusted..
A few random facts from it.

1. Derrick Rose is nicknamed Pooh, due to his love of sweets (hopefully not due to his game, and hopefully he is better than Pooh Richardson!)

2. Beasley claimed mid week that he would go shirtless when he shook Stern's hand..( did he, I was not watching)

3. Gallinari's dad played with D'Antoni in Italy ( hence the pick, and the boos). He is also nicknmaed "The Rooster", and has his own shoe line coming out...

From the champ33's link: "Two league sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves have reached an agreement in principle with the Memphis Grizzlies that will send the draft rights to Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies in return for the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins."

Wow, Grizzlies now have mega gaurds. So who will they ship out now they have Mayo?

Sota got to get rid of the annoying contracts of Jaric and Walker. But had to take back Cardinal's. Interesting trade, not sure that they got all they could for Mayo. And typical of McHale to select a white power forward. Love even said before the draft that McHale must see some of himself in Love.

olskoolgamer


Is that you Mark?