NBA Draft: Odds, Ends, and Pointless Banter

Obviously the Bulls' pick, first overall, will have major implications on the rest of the draft. However, there are several very interesting storylines as the draft continues.

Chicago should take Derrick Rose, so Michael Beasley and Miami become the story in the spotlight.  Miami wants a point guard, and Dwyane Wade and O.J. Mayo seem to have spent their offseason drinking protein shakes out of a single glass with two straws.

The Sonics have the opportunity to draft the best center in the draft.  That is something that hasn’t been true for about two decades.

While thousands of Sonics fans boo in two different cities, Johan Petro, Robert Swift, and Saer Sene will start packing their bags.  Brook Lopez is the best pick for the Sonics, who haven’t had a steady center presence since Jack Sikma and Tom Chambers shared the Sonics' frontcourt.

New Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni played basketball in Europe with Danilo Gallinari’s dad.  The Knicks have been looking at Russell Westbrook lately, and if he falls to them it would be an interesting pick.

If they do pick Gallinari though, I would love to be a fly on the wall when he’s introduced to his new teammates.  I think it will go similarly to Dave Chapelle’s “Mad Real World” sketch.

The Portland Trailblazers have three of the first 34 picks.  Despite this, Blazers fans may not see any new additions to the roster from this year’s draft.  Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is known to like Ante Tomic, a Croatian big man.

With the Blazers' other two picks, a few sites have them taking versatile French wing Nicolas Batum, who is like Mickael Pietrus with skills (he looked good on paper, Warriors fans), and Alexis Ajinca, a super-skinny French seven-footer.

All of those players could be left overseas for the 2008-09 season, but fear not Blazer fans.  Rudy Fernandez will be stateside this season, and there’s also this guy named Oden you fans may remember vaguely.

The Suns have been rumored to be discussing a Corey Maggette/seventh pick for Leandro Barbosa/15th pick with the Clippers.  While that’s very interesting, what I find more interesting is the seventh pick.

The Bucks have been projected to take Joe Alexander at No. 8 for months in many media outlets.  Alexander is an athletic freak, which is an overused term, but Alexander fits the bill.  He jumps out of the gym, is the second-fastest player in the draft, and took second in bench reps at the NBA’s combine.

However, his basketball skills are raw, and his jumper is suspect.  If that doesn’t sound like a Suns SF/PF, I don’t know what does.

Indiana just traded Jermaine O'Neal.  At one time, they were considered to have made a great trade with Portland, where O'Neal had struggled to get playing time.  Oddly, the Pacers have a similar opportunity this year, albeit via draft not trade.

DeAndre Jordan and Javale McGee have both seen their stock go up and down like so many Vin Baker shot glasses.  Both are loaded with potential and would make Larry Bird look like a genius if they panned out after being drafted this late in the draft.

Serge Ibaka has seen his stock become similarly volatile.  The tired African wing impressed in initial workouts, but tailed off as the draft approached.  YouTube videos show Ibaka looking like a man amongst boys, but the super-athletic, super-long SF/PF would fit nicely on the roster of any team who plays an up-tempo-style offense.  

Nathan Jawai, a rotund Australian center, is an interesting prospect who could slip into the back of the first round.  For those who remember Sofoklis Schortsaniti, or “Greek Baby-Shaq,” you may be surprised to find his near body double.

Jawai has little experience in organized basketball, but he shows a lot of fluidity under the basket and a solid feel for the game, considering his lack of experience.

Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey have both been projected anywhere from the late-first round to the mid-second round since the college season ended.  However, Dorsey's stock has plummeted since measuring shorter than 6'7" without shoes on.

Both players are now listed at 6'7", but Douglas-Roberts was not measured officially.  Was Memphis playing with a two-guard who was taller than their center?  

Speaking of height, let's talk Pat Calathes.  Don’t feel bad if you have no idea who he is.

DraftExpress.com did an interesting piece on Calathes in February.  Calathes, once a 5'9" PG, grew 12 inches from his freshman year in high school to his freshman year in college.  He’s now 6'11", but he maintains a lot of the same aspects that his game had as a diminutive high school freshman.

He may go undrafted, but one can’t help but wonder—is Calathes America’s answer to Toni Kukoc?

Good luck basketball fans.  The draft is half a day away, and I hope you’re as excited as I am.  I wish you luck in your favorite team's draft—unless you’re a Portland Jailblazers fan, of course.