The Obligatory LIVE Draft Column

PICK 19 - CAVALIERS - F J.J. Hickson of NC State.  Strong and athletic post player.  If he develops quickly he could really turn into a big help for Lebron before he bolts to the Nets.  

PICK 20 - BOBCATS - French player who will never play a minute in the NBA.

PICK 21 - NETS - F Ryan Anderson of California.  Led the Pac-10 in scoring.  Bilas defends the pick to the booing masses.  I tend to agree.  He has a more stable frame than most Euro-style forwards of his size.  Apparently the Nets have no West Coast bias, this is their second Pac-10 frontcourt player in this draft.  Outstanding range, we are told he needs to improve strength, I say defense.

PICK 22 - MAGIC - G Courtney Lee of Western Kentucky.  Lee put on a show during the NCAA tournament, he made the biggest shots on the biggest stage against very strong competition.  I seem him making an immediate contribution, he's a determined scorer and very competitive.  Wouldn't surprise me if he is the "small school all-star" of this draft like Stockton, Bird, etc.

PICK 23 - JAZZ - C Kosta Koufos of Ohio State.  Good stroke, comfortable around the basket, stronger than most think.  This would qualify as the steal of the draft if it weren't for Darrel Arthur's exclusion.  Every time they show Arthur and his family I think he is one step closer to running on the stage anyway and taking the hat from Stern's hands, he would of course be executed, but he is nearing that point. Koufos will be a good pro.   

PICK 24 - SONICS - F Serge Ibaka of The Congo.  Stuart Scott tells Van Gundy that he has tremendous upside leading to the ESPN Must Improve: Experience.  

Van Gundy:  "...how do you improve experience (followed by mass laughter)?"

Van Gundy should have his own sitcom.

PICK 25 - ROCKETS - F Nicholas Batum of France.  They showed Yao Ming working out in a pool, most of this segment was about Yao.

PICK 26 - SPURS - G George Hill of IUPUI.  I am pulling for him.  Putting IUPUI on the map, my little brother is heading there in the fall before he transfers to IU so it's good for the school.  I think they are the newest Division One team.  Bilas said that he has the opportunity to be a special defensive player.

PICK 27 - BLAZERS - F Darrell Arthur of Kansas.  It was reported that he fell because of a possible kidney problem.  Bill Self apparently texted Andy Katz and said that it's a non-issue.  Texting has revolutionized communication.  We are getting news via text now.  Texting, it's not just for booty calls anymore.  

Arthur is a great talent and Portland continues to stockpile players like canned goods in a bomb shelter.  This kidney thing will probably not be a big deal and the previous 18 teams will feel like massive idiots in two or three years.  The Blazers are going to be the most fun team to play on NBA Live for many years to come.

PICK 28 - GRIZZLIES - F Donte' Greene of Syracuse.  I agree with Bilas, he's probably not ready yet.  Athletic and long with a good touch shooting the three.  He does force bad shots.  It could take a while but he will be a consistent contributor/role player in the league if he improves the intangibles and becomes a smarter player.

PICK 29 - SONICS (via PISTONS late) - F D.J. White of Indiana.  Maybe the best advanced scouting in the draft.  Of the available players, White was the best choice here.  He will rebound, score in the post, and knock down the occasional jumper.  If Gordon hadn't been at IU he would of scored about 25 a game to go along with 10.5 boards.  Despite Gordon winning the conference scoring title, he still won Big Ten Player of the Year.  I don't know if he'll be a star but he will contribute immediately.  

PICK 30 - CELTICS - G J.R. Giddens of New Mexico.  Mountain West player of the year, started college at Kansas.  ESPN's Must Improve: Professionalism.  Excellent.

Something like nine freshman drafted, a record.  The rule needs to be adjusted, one and done is hurting college basketball more than when kids went straight from high school.  At least the kids who did go to school stayed for a while.  The GM's did a decent job of drafting except for some curious selections when better, more proven players were available.  

I hope Arthur is an all-star.

"What the hell, buy the ticket, take the ride."

Hunter S. Thompson

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