NBA Draft - ho hum

I'm not that big a NBA fan, but the NBA draft is always interesting. It's not on the same level as the NFL draft, so I didn't sit and watch it beginning to end. One reason is that I was sitting at the bar at my local Hooters because they had $2 Coors draft, and Wednesday night is all you can eat wings. Plus, there are waitresses with big knockers. So, this isn't a draft diary so much as thoughts written on the edges of a newspaper that took with me so my staring, I mean, looking around is less noticeable. And don't hold going to Hooters against me. I don't have the dirtiest mind around. In the latest Maxin, they had a panel of sports experts to talk about reader voting on sports topics. One was "Hottest Female Athlete" which include the Sharpovas, Kournikovas, Jennie Finch etc. Then Shaquille O'Neal added Michelle Wie. Isn't she 16?

To begin with, I knew I was lucky (or more than I originally thought) to be at Hooters because the TV volume was low, and loudmouth Stephen A Smith was one of the commentators. The unfortunate part was most of the players were wearing normal looking suits. No bright orange or avocado green. What did they think they were there for - to meet a loan officer? My theory on this draft is this: if you need immediate help, take Brandon Roy; if you can wait a year, take LaMarcus Aldridge; if you can wait two or more, Tyrus Thomas is the choice.

Things started off with some Italian with a girl's name going first which was a big surprise because ESPN had been reporting that for the past half hour. Aldridge goes next Chicago, but they are only pretending because he's already been traded to Portland. Then Charlotte takes Adam Morrison. I don't really care for Morrison. It's my belief that you should have to play some defense in the NBA, and he plays none. In fact, it's my belief that Michael Jordan drafted him because he wants to play pick up games with the Charlotte players, and he needed someone around for him to score 40 against. Morrison fits that bill.

Besides that, I've been trying to figure out why so many "pundits" insist that Morrison has the most "star power" and would be the biggest rookie draw. He's a goofy looking guy with a bad haircut and 70s style pornstache. How appealing is that? Wannabe Marxists aren't that popular in North Carolina. Just look at what happened in Greensboro (good episode of City Confidential). Speaking of which, does anyone really think he'll "redistribute" his NBA millions? I didn't think so.

Why on earth would Atlanta promise Sheldon Williams that they would take him with the fifth pick? Usually, you promise a player you'll take him so he stops working out for other teams, but no one was thinking of taking Williams with the first through fourth pick so there was no point in making that commitment. Outside of Atlanta, I don't think anyone was thinking of Williams in the top ten. He's certainly not good enough to lock yourself up on. What if Houston wanted to trade picks to get Brandon Roy and threw in a veteran player who in all likelihood is better than Williams? Do you say no because you promised Williams you would take him fifth? That's just stupid and explains why Atlanta sucks every year.

Why would you have both Stephen A. Smith and Dick Vitale on the same show? Isn't one person completely incapable of speaking in a normal tone of voice enough?

I'm so happy that the Sonics drafted that guy from Senegal, because a lot of people thought my favorite team, the Jazz, would take him. The guy averaged three points in Belgium, which is less competitive than the Italian, Spanish or French European leagues. Come to think of it, probably less competitive than the Russian, Serbian or Israeli leagues. Glad to see JJ Redick go to Orlando, because he was the other guy everyone thought the Jazz would take. You know because he's white just like Deron Williams from last year. Oh, wait.... Good news is that the Jazz get Ronnie Brewer who I think will be a better pro than college player, and will be better than Redick.

That guy from Switzerland sure didn't look Swiss, but he did have that solid Swiss name Thabo Sefolosha. One of the highlights of watching at a bar is that one of the TVs has closed captioning, and it's pretty funny to watch the guy keep up with names like that.

Cedric Simmons just went to the Hornets. The little note under his name mentioned his childhood pastimes were building treehouses and shooting things (squirrels and rabbits). Once the team moves back to New Orleans, both skills could come in handy.

Why did they keep saying Adam Morrison was highest draft pick out of Gonzaga since John Stockton? Stockton went 16th which seems a bit lower than third.

Is everyone being traded? And all these trades seem to have cash consideration. Am I the only one that thinks it sounds like they'll send briefcase full of small bills? And are the Suns going bankrupt or did they think the talent level was really low this year? They traded away all their picks pretty much for cash.

Got to love the way the commentators are talking about Marcus Williams' free fall while he's sitting in the green room listening to the whole thing. The basic reasons are that he's fat and David Stern better check his wallet after shaking hands with him. Now, the Knick fans want Williams which means Isiah Thomas will draft someone else. In this case, Renaldo Balkman. You know, I liked Balkman in college. He's a hard-working athlete who never slows down. Still, I don't like Balkman as the 20th pick, because nobody else was going to take him in the first round, and is he really what the Knicks need? One plus of the pick is that Stephen A. Smith was almost speechless. Then later in the first round, Thomas takes Mardy Collins who is a tweener guard without much athletic ability and can't guard anyone with any quickness. My favorite part of his draft bio is "He struggles to shoot from everywhere on the floor." Everywhere? Got a winner here. Do the Knicks think he's better than Marcus Williams? Common sense says take Williams with the 20th pick and if you really want Balkman, don't worry, he'll still be there for the 29th.

In Balkman's defense, I think he could make a niche for himself in the pro game. Bring him off the bench and have him chase around the other team's top scorer. In fact, I agree with a guy I work with who said Balkman would have a better career than Nets' pick Josh Boone. Of course, Boone did a fine impression of garbage last year at UCONN, so I don't find that expectation to be too high.

And Rondo goes to the Celtics via the Suns. I believe Rondo will be fine at the pro level. Word on the street is the Celtics really wanted him because he abused Marcus Williams and Randy Foye when he faced them in a pre-draft workout for Boston. His shooting will be an issue if he can't improve it a bit, but he shot pretty good with the under-20 U.S. team. Besides, I don't think he needs to become stellar at it to succeed. Tony Parker is a lousy three point shooter. Jason Kidd is a 40% shooter from the field, not just from beyond the arc. Those two have managed to do well by being good at other things. Rondo is good at other things. He's one of the quickest players I've ever seen which is why his defense is so good. He led UK in rebounds, assists and steals. Opposing teams will have to account for him on the floor.

Of course, Dick Vitale disagrees as he calls Rondo a ".220 hitter". Of course, when you spend the past twenty some odd years sucking up to big name coaches like Tubby Smith, you certainly aren't going to like the players who won't kow tow to them. I'm not sure where his expertise comes from. Was it the one time he took the University of Detroit to the NCAAs or the 38% winning percentage he compiled as an NBA coach?

Of course, it's nothing like Stephen A Smith. This guy isn't just loud and irritating. He's borderline retarded. Plus, what exactly does he bring to the show? He just said that he had never heard of Renaldo Balkman until he started moving up draft boards a couple of weeks ago. Smith has his own sports talk show on ESPN2 (so I've heard, never actually watched it). Balkman might be unknown to casual sports fans, but how could somehow who covers sports for a living not know who he is? He was the NIT MVP. Earlier when they were discussing Rudy Gay, Smith said he hadn't seen him play much. You've got to be kidding me. How unprepared can you be? It's bad enough that you're a sports reporter who admits he didn't watch one of the top college basketball teams, but how can you agree to go on the NBA draft show and not go back to watch the top prospects? This guy is a buffoon who has no business being on TV, let alone covering an event like the NBA draft.

Not real sure why the commentators keep ripping Portland's draft. They ended up with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, both of whom I liked. Who else ended up with two players of that quality?

I must say that all the trades made for an interesting draft. Just like every other draft, we won't know much for a couple of years who really did well. I was surprised that Rondo was the first point guard taken and he went late. Hated to see Taquan Dean not get drafted, but I hope he catches. Really wish they would get a new broadcast team.

One other point. I am so sick of the commentators who said that guys who didn't came out early didn't get drafted. I love college basketball so I would like to keep as many good players around as possible, but I'm realistic. The NBA doesn't like seniors. Outside of Brandon Roy and Randy Foye, name me one other player who really helped himself by staying until his senior year. Maybe Hilton Armstong (who I wouldn't have drafted). West Virginia had two players, Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey, who probably would have been drafted last year. This year, neither was. Keith Bogans went back to UK after his sophomore year because he was projected in the second round. After his senior year, he went in the second round. Coming back really helped.