Matt Stevens' 2008 N.B.A. Draft Diary

NBA Draft Diary

 

By Matthew Stevens

Sports Reporter

 

Fan Rule of thumb, when you favorite team has the number one pick, your hometown team makes a major trade – you guessed it, you do a draft diary

6:00 p.m. CT – For the 2^nd annual draft diary, we’re coming to you live from a Buffalo Wild Wings in Birmingham, AL and it’s an all-star cast with my buddy Wes at the table and my Bucks fan buddy Jason (you remember him from the rookie diary edition) on location in Wisconsin and special guests popping in.

 

6:02 p.m. – Our choices on the big screens are NBA Draft preview and the WNBA. “There’s no way in hell I’m watching the WNBA,” Wes says. Well, that’s narrows it down.

 

6:08 p.m. – ESPN just announced the Bucks traded Yi and Bobby Simmons to the Nets for Richard Jefferson. Jason makes his first appearance tonight loving the deal. “It’s awesome we need a good wing player and now we have one. Yi is gone, this is great.” The Chinese government can stop pointing that nuclear weapon at Milwaukee County now – this is a good move all around. Unfortuately, West Virginia’s Joe Alexander’s ability to speak Mandarin Chinese becomes completely worthless.

 

6:11 p.m. – Wes’ comments on the ESPN on-air talent this year. “Andy Katz just told us Derrick Rose is going #1, glad he’s here and Dorris Burke huh, I guess Erin Andrews has the night off.” Overall, the desk includes the encyclopedia of catchphrases Jay Bilas, Stew Scott, Mark Jackson (still giving his coaching resume over the air), Stephen A. Smith (already yelling), it’s going to be a long night and yes, Dorris Burke (I think out Wild Wings waitress has much more upside and more personality).

 

6:15 p.m. – Wes and I both like the new-look O.J. Mayo in the grandpa suit with glasses. I don’t think the world knows how to react to the dignified O.J. Mayo era.

 

6:20 p.m. – Wes (an Alabama alum by the way) notices the Sonics have 6+ draft plus. “That’s Richard Hendrix’s future location.” We’re tracking were the Alabama forward is headed seeing as how he made the super intelligent decision to enter the draft, oh wait did I say intelligent I meant something else.

 

6:27 p.m. – As a Bulls fan, I’ve talked myself into the Derrick Rose era till I saw the shot of the Bulls draft war room. 1. There’s a lack of well skin pigment and 2. It was awkwardly led by GM John Paxson. I’m depressed again.

 

6:28 p.m. – David Stern starts the draft off and I can’t hear him but I’m sure it sounded like this: Welcome to the NBA Draft, if you’re interested there’s a WNBA game currently on ESPN2 (crickets chirping) and now the Bulls are on the clock.

 

6:30 p.m. – graphic of Vinny Del Negro, thank guys I’ll just slam my head against the table now, WHACK!

 

6:31 p.m. – current graphic: Does the Rose pick mean changes to the Bulls – I have the answer – yes! Terminal 1, 2 or 3 Kirk Hinrich?! Graphic of Del Negro’s resume, WHACK!

 

6:35 p.m. – Bulls select Derrick Rose to applause here in Birmingham, WOW, and the first shock of the draft for me. The basketball gods are shining on me, as a Chicago Simeon High School Derrick Rose highlight is shown I can say that he passed over the Fighting Illini but now I get to cheer him on throughout his pro career – I’ve talked myself into the Rose era again.

 

6:36 p.m. – My insider Memphis source wrote this about Derrick Rose. “Derrick Rose is everything you want in a basketball player.” “He’s not flawless, obviously.  His jumper still needs to improve, and he needs to be a little more consistent at taking over games, but then again, when Memphis needed it this year, he was there.  But the biggest thing of all, sorry for the cliché, is that he just wins games.”

 

6:40 p.m. – Miami Heat take Michael Beasley. Guess those character issues weren’t that bad. I mean to be honest, my favorite cartoon is Sponge Bob Square pants too.

 

6:43 p.m. – Wes’ comment on Beasley “I wouldn’t be excited about 6 schools in four years.” I think that’s being kind. Wes: “How do you do that?” Wes is full of good questions tonight.

 

6:45 p.m. – My take on ESPN Interview with John Paxson. I think he should be at a sold-out United Center shouting out “How do ya like me now!”

 

6:47 p.m. – Wolves select O.J. Mayo. See this makes no sense to me. How will a southern California kid that was given floor seats to Lakers games by Kobe be motivated at all to play 41 games in cold weather Minneapolis. The countdown to free agency begins!

 

6:50 p.m. – HMM….FOOD HAS ARRIVED, I ordered a Grilled Chicken Sand with Wing sauce that has major upside but has a chance to be a major reach later on in the evening. I have to say watching the draft without hearing the announcers is not half bad when you already know the catchphrases.

 

6:52 p.m. – Andy Katz just said the Sonics were unsuccessful move back in the draft. I have a suggestion for them to accomplish this, don’t turn in a card in time!

 

6:53 p.m. – Seattle ignores my advice to turn in a card that has Russell Westbrook on it! I liked Westbrook as  mid-first rounder in the NCAAs for a playoff contender but not a prime time scorer to team with Durant when they move to Oklahoma City/Las Vegas or wherever the UHAUL takes them.

6:59 p.m. – Memphis takes Kevin Love as ESPN just pans to Brook Lopez doing the upset polite clap while clearly wishing he’d dunked on him once or twice more in Pac Ten play. Kornheiser’s take on Love this week: “His uncle as Mike Love on the Beach Boys.” Always I look for in a NBA prospect!

 

7:02 p.m. – You ever notice how nobody Doris Burke interviews is able to look her in the face at all? Note to executives in Bristol – there might be something to that.

 

7:04 p.m. – There’s no better drama than the Knicks being on the clock in MSG!

 

7:05 p.m. – Knicks take Gallinari from Italy who D’Antoni saw play in the Italian League and played with his father. Good pick for them I like it but the fans don’t. Add on the fact that Gallarni just kissed 3-4 men on the cheek and the Donnie Walsh era has problems.

 

7:06 p.m. – I don’t think Gallarni understands that the fans in what Stephen A. Smith calls the NYC are openly mocking him right now. He has that Ivan Drago deer-in-headlights look to him right now. Wes: “this is bad, this isn’t good for him at all.” “What does it mean when the online poll graphic has mostly given the Knicks an F?” Probably the same thing it meant at school Wes, when those Bama football players get F’s.

 

7:10 p.m. – Clippers take Illinois enemy #1 Eric Gordon. On a unrelated note, this one player’s de-comittment brought the end of a coaching tenure, an athletic director’s career and severe NCAA violations so no harm no foul. Note to ESPN’s Bill Simmons: feel free to re up your Clips season tickets to watch the most selfish, overrated shooting guard with an instant entourage – good luck with that.

 

7:15 p.m. – Milwaukee takes Joe Alexander who is the first white player to openly have that Len Bias quality to pick people out to dunk on and then violently do it.

 

7:17 p.m. – Apparently according to the ESPN graphics (which have never steered us wrong before) Alexander has lived in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin. I got news for him, Milwaukee is a little different. For one thing everything ends in a vowel sound and he must get used to that diet of cheese and beer.

 

7:20 p.m. – Text from Jason: “Decent pick but I was hoping for a point guard cause we want Mo gone.” Just brought Wes’ heart. Jason’s next text: “Really wanted Bayless.” Hate to tell Jason this but you had a shoot-first alien point guard in the past – his name was Sam Cassell.

 

7:23 p.m. – Wes take on Charlotte taking D.J. Augustin at #9. “Brook Lopez is in tears.” He’s 100% right. We might need Stern to treat him like Brady Quinn and put him in a undisclosed back room. I can guarantee you there wasn’t one mock draft that had Augustin over Bayless, no chance.

 

7:25 p.m. – Does Jay Bilas have any accountability for having his third best player prospect be one pick away from falling out of the Top 10. I feel like he should be suspended from draft coverage for at least a year or something.

7:27 p.m. – After Bilas explains his rationale for rating Lopez goes to the Nets, they take him at No. 10.

 

7:28 p.m. – Wes: “Didn’t the Nets learn from the whole Stanford twins?” Apparently not. Enough said.

 

7:45 p.m. – After leaving the Buffalo Wild Wings, I’ve moved this diary to my Birmingham apartment and said goodbye to Wes because he going to make sure Richard Hendrix isn’t on a balcony ledge somewhere and getting him a European passport. Can hear the announcers for the final part of the broadcast, this should be interesting. To recap Jarryd Bayless went the Basketball Jesus and the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento takes Rider’s Jason Thompson, Portland takes Kansas’ Brandon Rush, Golden State takes LSU’s Anthony Randolph and Phoenix takes the Frank Stallone of the Lopez brothers in Robin.

 

7:50 p.m. – instant analysis on the end of the lottery is I hate the Boston sports luck. Larry Bird gets the best guard in the draft at No. 11, the Celtics win the Finals, McHale gets O.J. Mayo handed to him after trading away KG to Boston. I’m going to go throw up now. Portland is stockpiling shooting guards named Brandon and Sacramento continues to pile up big man who can’t make the NIT after taking Spencer Hawes last year – good call.

 

7:58 p.m. – During ESPN radio’s coverage of the draft, Will Perdue asked Nets head coach Lawrence Frank this exact question: “Coach with Bill Cartwright you’re big man coach headed to Phoenix have you found that replacement to tutor Brook Lopez?” Could Perdue have more blatantly ask for a job in a media question? Way to kill two birds Will.

 

8:02 p.m. – Stern sums up Philly’s pick of Florida’s Marreese Speights perfectly. “Marreese is not here.”

 

8:04 p.m. – A rule that I hate. Why can’t Stern just announce that Toronto’s pick at #17 is actually Indiana’s after the proposed Jermaine O’Neal. Indiana takes my favorite big man in this draft in Roy Hibbert. I just don’t see how he’s not a dominant big man in the NBA, if Yao Ming goes #1 then how does it take 17 picks for 7’2’’ Hibert to be picked?

 

8:07 p.m. – In the last organized adult version of pre-game kickball, Darrell Arthur is still waiting to be picked. Right now  I guarantee he feels like the guy that just saw the dainty girl and spaz kid get called.

 

8:10 p.m. – New coach Terry Porter just said Shaq is going to take Robin Lopex under his wing. Robin will apparently be freestyle raping by the beginning of training camp.

 

8:11 p.m. – As Washington just takes Nevada’s JaVale McGee, Stew Scott tells us his mother was a WNBA player and is “now the first mother-son combo.” Basically Stew just referred to him as a momma’s boy on national television – Mom, Gilbert won’t give me the ball L!

 

8:12 p.m. – Portland just made a trade so GM Kevin Pritchard reminds everyone he’s alive and awake. The Blazers get Ike Diogu and Bayless from Indiana and the Pacers get Rush so he can play with his brother Kareem, Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts (to continue to load up on big white frontcourt players with Dunleavy Jr. and Croshere).

 

8:14 p.m. – The Cavs take J.J. Hickson from N.C. State and becomes the eighth freshman to be drafted in the first 19. Good call with that new age rule Mr. Stern – really made a difference!

 

8:20 p.m. – Wes rejoins us via e-mail with this comment: “Jason Thompson...J.J. Hickson...Alexis Ajinca...Courtney Lee??? I fully expect Richard Hendrix to be off the board before the second round begins now.”

 

8:24 p.m. – Charlotte takes French center Alexis Ajinca at #20. Fran Fraschilla just said about this prospect that “in a 1-on-0 drill he was unstoppable.” Wow, I mean…that’s the punch line, I got nothing. What does that even mean? How much better is that than last year Yi dominating the chair in that scouting video?

 

8:31 p.m. – Orlando takes Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee officially ending the J.J. Redick era. And WHAT AN ERA IT WAS! With Portland giving up on Josh McRoberts tonight, one can only hope Coach K can keep producing those NBA products. Pop quiz: Who’s our country’s Olympic basketball coach?

 

8:43 p.m. – Utah (REALLY CLOSE TO BEING MY NEW FAVORITE TEAM BEFORE THE DERRICK ROSE ERA, just wanted that on the record to all my readers in Salt Lake City) takes Kousta Koufos from Ohio State. Koufos is a pick I like here because Jerry Sloan doesn’t play rookies anyway so he can learn all the old school dirty tricks from Okur but also has a 20-foot jump shot.

 

8:45 p.m. – When asked if the Sonics can make a quick turnaround in 2008-09, Jeff Van Gundy took .0000003 seconds to answer with “no.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. The Sonics take the Congo native Serge Ibaka. Without missing a beat, Van Gundy questions the ESPN graphic “How to you improve your experience?” Again, that’s the punch line and my only analysis is it will be a sad day when Van Gundy gets sucked back into the world of coaching because he’s on fire tonight!

 

8:51 p.m. – Rockets are on the clock so of course Van Gundy (the coach they’ve just fired) is going to provide the first thought of analysis. He just said he likes Rick Adelman over himself on the bench – good to know.

 

8:52 p.m. – Houston takes France forward Nicolas Batum. Fraschilla says he has super duper athletic ability. Man, if he didn’t add the duper I’d be unsure about it – glad he cleared that up.

 

8:55 p.m. – Ric Bucher is reporting that Darrell Arthur (still waiting in the green room) has a kidney issue. I mean he has one right, so what’s the problem? On a different topic, what exactly are GM’s doing playing doctor on draft night?

 

8:57 p.m. – New Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni says his father (who he played with) “is in trouble if the kid can’t play”. Apparently, Mike didn’t learn from the Isiah era, let me help you – it’s YOU in trouble if the kid can’t play.

 

8:58 p.m. – The Spurs take guard George Hill (who I saw at Marquette and he was the 2^nd best player on the floor) at IUPUI (pronounced and I’m not kidding EWWY-POOEY.

9:03 p.m. – Andy Katz just repeated what Ric Bucher just said that “it’s a kidney issue with Arthur” – glad he’s here. He apparently got a message from Kansas head coach Bill Self that the KU doctors (you know a major university medical center) said his kidneys are fine. Again, you need one kidney to function, we are sure Darrell Arthur has one working kidney right? He didn’t miss one game at Kansas – isn’t that important?

 

9:05 p.m. – Stern announces that the Hornets (who traded, I mean sold this pick this week to Portland) finally picks Arthur. He’s forced to wear a New Orleans hat but Portland just got a Top 15 pick at #27 to pair with Greg Oden . Just hand the Executive of the Year award to Kevin Pritchard right now.

 

9:10 p.m. – Right on cue ESPN cuts to proof of the worst GM of the year showing how Memphis GM Chris Wallace got this #27 pick – the Pau Gasol trade.

 

9:12 p.m. – Memphis selects Syracuse freshman forward Donte’ Green. A complete slap in the face to Memphis Tigers G-F Chris Douglas-Roberts because Wallace and the Grizzlies staff had offices where CDR played his home games but they passed over him. Not a good sign. Here’s what my Memphis insider source described Douglas-Roberts: “Chris Douglas-Roberts may be the most unique player I’ve ever watched.  He takes bad shot after bad shot after bad shot but they go in, and all on shots that almost anybody else would be benched for.” Ladies and gentlemen we have discovered the reason of his fall.

 

9:16 p.m. – Detroit selects D.J. White from Indiana when they already have Jason Maxiell, Rasheed Wallace. Either he’ll be buried on a bench or he’s getting traded because he’ll outwork every post player on many rosters.

 

9:28 p.m. – To the booing NYC public Boston selects J.R. Giddens from New Mexico. A former transfer that has had many off the court problems – sounds like a real winner for former head coach Steve Alford and new head coach Doc Rivers.

 

9:32 p.m. – In one 73-second rant (you read that correctly) he did the NCAA public relations speech on the one-and-done rule (glad he’s here), gave an inspirational speech to all the second round picks out there (you listening Richard Hendrix?) and said that if he were a NBA GM, Mark Jackson would be head coach. A double whammy there because proving why he’s not a NBA GM like for instance he would’ve drafted J.J. Redick #1 and Mark Jackson can add Dick Vitale to his list of resume references.

 

Final thoughts on the first round are: Portland just keeps stockpiling talent in order to make a run at a potential dynasty starting next year. My Bulls have drafted a new era point guard but haven’t made the necessary trade moves to complete the era. The Bucks drafted a athletic white guy and got a wing player in Richard Jefferson. As long as they don’t hire Scott Skiles, they’ll be really good – oh wait, never mind.

 

9:39 p.m. – Ric Bucher confirms that D.J. White is indeed getting traded to Seattle so he may get some minutes.

 

9:40 p.m. – Doc Rivers’ thoughts on his pick – “when you’re 30^th, you don’t have a lot of options.” And he out-coached Phil Jackson ladies and gentlemen, the NBA where apparently coaching miracles happen.

 

9:42 p.m. – Detroit takes UAB’s Walter Sharpe. Wes’ thoughts: “That's all I needed to see. Walter F&*$# Sharpe. Here's my quote for whenever RH does get drafted - Richard, enjoy your two weeks of training camp in (the city of whichever team drafts him) and the next 10 years in Europe.”

 

9:43 p.m. – Portland takes Memphis big man Joey Dorsey which makes me giddy because I’ve been waiting to use this comment from my insider Tigers source: “Joey Dorsey.  What a character.  Joey is a knucklehead, no way around that.  He’s not a bad kid by any means (but) we’re talking about a guy who made it rain, causing a nightclub fight that got two teammates arrested.” Look I want it on the record that I have no problem with Dorsey’s attitude but man, sounds like a guy who’s ready for the 41 NBA trips next year – a rookie that was made for the old Jailblazers team J!

 

9:52 p.m. – Portland selects Turkish center Omer Asik during the commercial break. Always have to hate when a player we’ve all heard of doesn’t get his moment on television. Always a winner when you average 8 points per game in a Turkish league – nice prospect.

 

9:54 p.m. – I have no idea how to interpret the basketball pool commercial for Sprite. How and why would I get excited to buy the soft drink?

 

9:55 p.m. – Bucks take Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS! I want not only Bucks color commentator John McLaughlin to pronounce his name but the entire fan base. That’s too many vowels by about six. Jason’s comment: “His name is pronounced – de-fense.” That’s about right.

 

10:00 p.m. – Bulls take Arkansas 193-pound forward Sonny Weems who according to ESPN graphic “must improve shooting consistency”. Great, another offensive project, just what they needed! John Paxson at his best again!

 

10:02 p.m. – Nets selected Chris Douglas-Roberts. From my Memphis source: “CDR is a smart player and a good leader.  Similar to Rose, he’s simply a winner.  He’s a little quicker than you think, jumps a little higher than you think, and shoots it better than you think, even though his shot looks ugly.” Interesting, seems like everybody assumes you’re not going to instantly like him but maybe New Jersey got a steal.

 

10:09 p.m. – Richard Hendrix is the #4 prospect still left on Jay Bilas’ board – good news is judging from the entire evening that means he’s a first-round talent.

 

10:11 p.m. – Sacramento takes Patrick Ewing Jr. and Stew Scott asks “is this 1985?” No Stew, pop Ewing went #1 while sonny boy went #43, understand. They’ll be a test on this at the end of the evening.

 

10:13 p.m. – A very agitated Larry Bird just kept repeating “that’s just speculation” and “talented player”. Basketball Jesus needs a nap to relive his crabby nature tonight.

 

10:15 p.m. – One the ESPN live draft chat a fan asked for updates on a Mario Chalmers trade with this announcer from the moderator: Andy Katz is working on it – THANK GOD FOR THAT BECAUSE HE’S BEEN SPOT ON ALL NIGHT, THANK GOD HE’S HERE!

 

10:25 p.m. – GOLDEN STATE TAKES RICHARD HENDRIX DURING A COMMERICIAL BREAK! The up-tempo Warriors take a power forward that is all about potential with injury problems. Now, I have to wait another five minutes for Jay Bilas’ analysis. He just compared him to Paul Milsap, who? Exactly, nice adult decision Rich, I’m sure it’ll work out when you average 20 and 10 in the Greece Professional League.

 

10:31 p.m. – Wes’ final thoughts on Hendrix: “My advice to Richard: Have fun during your (short) stay in the Bay area. But hey, if Matt Barnes can hang on with the Warriors, maybe there's hope for Hendrix. Just don't get abused by Brendan Wright in camp.” Wes was a valuable cast member of the diary and might be a veteran of the process not unlike Clippers GM Elgin Baylor is a veteran of the lottery process.

 

10:40 p.m. – 25 minutes later Katz finally announces the Mario Chalmers trade – really, really glad he’s here.

 

10:41 p.m. – Milwaukee native Mike Taylor becomes the first player from the NBDL drafted by the Blazers. Had multiple arrests that eventually got him kicked out of Iowa State but when he was in the Milwaukee Public League looked like the NBA talent he obviously is now.

 

10:42 p.m. – The NBA deputy commissioner officially Adam Silver announces Chalmers trade to make Andy Katz feel better.

 

10:43 p.m. – With their 234th pick tonight, Seattle takes a white Kansas center that has no offensive game in Sasha Kahn. With a little work, he may be a poor man’s Nick Collison and Jay Bilas just said with his Russian League contract he’ll make more than any Kansas prospect this year. Gives Yakov Smirnoff’s million-dollar comic act a new perspective huh?

 

10:50 p.m. –Silver announces Boston trades cash to Washington for the rights to Bill Walker. Why can’t they just say the Wizards SOLD the pick to Boston?

 

10:58 p.m. – The Clippers get Mike Taylor in a trade from the guess who, yup, the Portland Trailblazers.

10:58 p.m. – Boston ends the draft with Turkish center Semih Erden who averaged seven points per game in a Turkish professional league. He apparently according to the most improve  

 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Really excited for the Derrick Rose era, like what the Blazers, Bucks and New Jersey did tonight. I’d like to say I have some idea what the Pacers, Sonics and Washington are trying to accomplish beyond being in the lottery next year. Until next year with bad suits, new faces and a new diary from a different location.