ESPN NBA

• Did you hear, during the introduction, that they expect this baby to last five hours? Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. This should be fun. And not just short-term fun.
• Straight from the mouth of someone who should know: "get ready for the Portland action." No idea what that means, but it should be fun. I only pray my Blazers aren't giving up a lot to get Adam Morrison. According to the ESPN commentators, they prefer Aldridge, and I do too.
• I admire J.J. Redick, earlier today, admitting he was nervous as hell.
• How about that shot of the Raptor war room? It's clear that no one there knows a single joke. Ten guys with their chins on their palms. Sweating.
• This is pretty great. Erin Podolsky is working for TrueHoop this evening, and she just caught up with Yotam Halperin on the phone. He's watching with his trainer, David Thorpe, and his agent Jason Levien, in Florida.

EP: So what's the mood down there, are you alone or is it a big part in Thorpeville?

YH: I don't know, we've got like 10-15 people here.  Other players, friends, a bunch of us.

EP: Do you have your own friends there?

YH: I have a Miami friend, maybe he'll come later.

EP: How does it feel being 20 minutes away from David Stern potentially calling your name?

YH: You know it's something special for me.  I don't have this opportunity every day with the draft and I'm pretty excited.  I think i did well in my workouts before, I did the best that I could do.  I think my agent Jason Levien did a great job.  Two weeks, three weeks almost I was here.  We have to be happy because I think We all did a great job to do the best thing that we can do.  Now it depends on how teams like me and how much luck I'm going to have.  We all wish the good, and we believe it's going to happen.

EP: Do you feel pressure being the first Israeli with a real shot of making the League?

YH: No, not pressure.  It's a very big honor for me to represent Israel in the NBA.  If it's going to happen, and I make history in Israel, it's also one of the reasons I'm going to be happy.  I made the highest level in basketball, and that's my dream since I was seven years old.

EP: Did you play basketball all your life?  I know Israel has many professional teams, but how do kids feel about the game?

YH: I lived in Tel Aviv all my life, I just grew up and started to play basketball and then it became serious more and more.  Then I played summer team, national team really helped me.  And then I said that's what I'm going to do in my life.  I did it as hard as possible, as quick as possible.

EP: What's your status with your Israel Defense Force service term?

YH: I did service for two years, it was very fun.  I have four more months to go there.  I'm going to make it next summer between the seasons.  It's something different, to go basic training for one month, you have your own gun, it's like a movie.  It's not bad. I am a sportsman.  But now it's time to concentrate on basketball.  I'll finish it next summer. 

• Score one for Chad Ford, who has been saying Andrea Bargnani would be the first week since the lottery.
• Andy Katz's big day: first he gets the J.J. Redick hernia story, then the Telfair trade, now the LaMarcus Aldrisge trade: Blazers reportedly get LaMarcus for Tyrus Thomas (to be picked at #4) and Viktor Khyrapa, who I will be sad to see go.
• Here's what I don't get: why trade up to two for Aldridge, when Chicago and Charlotte weren't, apparently, going to take him anyway? Blazers brass will be asked that a lot in the next 24 hours. Now I hope the Bobcats take Adam Morrison, so there's no chance Portland gets him.
• Thank you, Michael Jordan, for granting that wish. Adam Morrison is going to get so yelled at by Michael Jordan about his defense.
• WIth all the smokescreens, and an uncertain draft, I'm impressed that journalists have predicted each of the first five picks.
• By the way, I'd like to acknowledge the people at LexBlog, who designed and host TrueHoop. They have been working overtime to prepare for all this content and traffic. Thanks, Jesse, Kevin, and everyone. 
• Doh! Brandon Roy goes to Minnesota. Smart on their part. My dream isn't going to come true. So, who do you get now? Randy Foye? I'm cool with that. Rudy Gay perhaps?
• This feels weird to say, but Greg Anthony appears to be the most sensible person on TV tonight. Stephen A. needs to stop.
• Randy Foye!
• We knew one good player would slip to the eighth pick. I never thought it would be Rudy Gay. He'll be good in Memphis, if the Battier-for-Gay rumor is true. Why is Memphis wanting to move Battier? What does he have to do? And... can't help but suspect Daryl Morey played a role in Houston's desire to get him.
• Erin Podolsky is scoring the mock drafts, starting with all five Chad Ford mock drafts. The last one is his most recent. She'll be updating this through the night:

CFMDv1: 2/5
CFMDv2: 1/5
CFMDv3: 2/5
CFMDv4: 2/5
CFMDv5.3: 5/5
DraftExpress: 5/5
CNNSI Ian Thomsen: 5/5
CBS Sportsline Tony Meija: 2/5 

• Apologize for so much Blazer talk. My team has been making all the news. I'm thrilled. Sorry to have accepted the Raef LaFrentz contract. Sorry to have given up Viktor Khyrapa. But all in all, this team is getting better.
• David Stern just screwed up. He said the tenth pick. But it was the ninth pick.
• This Brandon Roy for Randy Foye trade sounds great and everything, but what else is Portland giving up? Makes no sense man-for-man. However, I could be getting my two guys...
• J.J. Redick avoids becoming the saddest story of the draft. I'm relieved. Jonathan Givony had him slip sliding away. Read about J.J. Redick. Listen to David Thorpe.
• I just learned from Deadspin that the Hawks are blogging tonight.
• Stern: Telfair, Ratliff, and 2008 #2 for Foye, LaFrentz, and Dickau.
• Thabo Shefolosha! I call him the Swiss Mister, but it's not catching on. Katz says he's going to Chicago.
• Update on mock draft scores from Erin Podolsky:

CFMDv1: 3/10 (30%)
CFMDv2: 2/10 (20%)
CFMDv3: 3/10 (30%)
CFMDv4: 4/10 (40%)
CFMDv5.3: 7/10 (70%)
DraftExpress: 6/10 (60%)
CNNSI Ian Thomsen: 7/10 (70%)
CBS Sportsline Tony Meija: 4/10 (40%)

• In case you're not watching on TV, the place to follow the picks is here on NBA.com or here on ESPN.com.
• Jay Bilas on Rodney Carney: "He doesn't bounce it." OK. Cool.
• More mock draft updates. It's getting ugly.

CFMDv1: 3/15 (20%)
CFMDv2: 2/15 (13.3%)
CFMDv3: 4/15 (26.7%)
CFMDv4: 5/15 (33.3%)
CFMDv5.3: 9/15 (60%)
DraftExpress: 8/15 (53.3%)
CNNSI Ian Thomsen: 9/15 (60%)
CBS Sportsline Tony Meija: 4/15 (26.7%) 
 

• Waiting nervously somewhere right now: Alexander Johnson. He could be picked soon. 
• Portland gave away a future second-round pick to Boston, and they get it back from Boston. 
• By the way, a rumor from Chad Ford earlier today: "The hot rumor floating among GMs this morning was that the Bulls and Timberwolves might pull off a blockbuster Kevin Garnett deal, sending picks No. 2 (Tyrus Thomas) and No. 16 (probably Marcus Williams) along with either Luol Deng or Ben Gordon to Minnesota for Garnett." 
• Washington picked this guy. I can't spell his name yet.
• Quincy Douby!
• Say it with me now... who's Renaldo Balkman? Answers.
• More mock draft updates from Erin Podolsky. Ian Thomsen and Chad Ford leading this pack:

CFMDv1: 3/15 (20%)
CFMDv2: 2/15 (13.3%)
CFMDv3: 4/15 (26.7%)
CFMDv4: 5/15 (33.3%)
CFMDv5.3: 9/15 (60%)
DraftExpress: 8/15 (53.3%)
CNNSI Ian Thomsen: 9/15 (60%)
CBS Sportsline Tony Meija: 4/15 (26.7%)

• Rajon Rondo. Perhaps on his way to Boston. Andy Katz again.
• SuperSonicSoul on Saer Sene: "Didn't we draft this guy already? Like four times?"
• The microphone they have on on Rudy Gay makes it clear that he didn't know where he was going. Or he's a good actor. Seems like everyone else knew. If you're his agent, Lance Young, do you tell him when you know, or do you let him be surprised. Probably personal preference. Like some people like to know if it's a boy or a girl.
• Kyle Lowry.
• Mock draft updates from Erin Podolsky. Brutal.

CFMDv1: 3/25 (12%)
CFMDv2: 2/25 (8%)
CFMDv3: 4/25 (16%)
CFMDv4: 6/25 (24%)
CFMDv5.3: 11/25 (44%)
DraftExpress: 8/25 (32%)
CNNSI Ian Thomsen: 9/25 (36%)
CBS Sportsline Tony Meija: 4/25 (16%)

• Shannon Brown looks good. I'd be interested to hear why Isiah Thomas and other GMs ahead of here didn't take him.
• John Paxson did a terrible job pretending they really considered LaMarcus Aldridge. They bluffed the Blazers out of Viktor Khyrapa.
• Jordan Farmar stays in Los Angeles. Phil get a tallish point guard.
• Sergio Rodriguez. Blazers reportedly get him from Phoenix for cash. How many point guards does Portland need? Are they about to get two more picks? More afoot from the Blazers, I'm sure. This is like the Godfather series, when Michael Corleone made up his mind, and whole bunch of hits go down quickly.
• Interviewing these Knick fans is very bold. Fighting with fire.
• Mardy Collins.
• I like that the Suns let Mike D'Antoni speak. He's an excellent face of the franchise.
• Joel Freeland. He'll stay in Europe. ESPN is not feeling the Blazers. I'm OK with everything so far. Not perfect. But good. LaMarcus, Brandon, Sergio, Joel and something else, for two players who didn't play long minutes, and one extra year of big contract.
• The Sonics are blogging too.
• Steve Patterson is a little odd looking, isn't he? But he promises more trades tonight. Ooh.
• Steve Novak.
• Solomon Jones.
• Man, if the Blazers aren't the worst team in the league in two years, can we all please remember to never listen to Stephen A. Smith again? OR, can we just fast-forward and say that now? If another team got Aldridge and Roy he'd be praising them. The stupid part was giving up Khyrapa, but it's not like Smith is raving about Khyrapa. If Khyrapa isn't important to Smith, these moves are good. He's also wrong about the character thing. That's an old story that doesn't apply. But if you're reading this, you know that.
• P.J. Tucker.
• Eric Marentette says Brandon Roy and Martell Webster are buddies: "Webster left the interview and came over to the media tent, where he told us he has known Roy for nine years, that they've both been dreaming of making the NBA since they've known each other. And it sounds like Martell is going to ask Brandon to carry his bags on the road. Ahh, the life of a 22-year-old rookie and Pac-10 Player of the Year... "
• The 'stache commercials are excellent. Really good.
• Adam Morrison impressed Michael Jordan by cheering on competitors in workouts. Good for him. I like that that mattered.
• Denham Brown is Canadian!
• Bobby Jones is amazing. There is a great anecdote about him here.
• I'm happy for David Thorpe and Alexander Johnson. I know they thought he might go higher.
• Will Leitch of Deadpin wrote us a nice little essay about Dee Brown.
• Hey, I'm thrilled the Blazers got Alexander Johnson. I talk to David Thorpe all the time. He believes very strongly in this guy, and he has good reason.
• Leon Powe is a fantastic story, and I hear a very solid guy. Hope he sticks. He needs some good luck, because he has suffered a lot to get here.
• Cheick Samb on NBA.com. Erin asks--is he winking, or did he get punched?
• Alexander Johnson moves on to the Grizzlies--a team that wanted him all along, and is glad they didn't have to use a higher pick on him. I'm sorry he won't be a Blazer, but I guess 198 rookies at one time is just too many.
• Guillermo Diaz is a good pick for the Clippers way down here at the end of the draft.
• Yotam Halperin is feeling good now. Israel's NBA fans breathe a sigh of relief. Hope he sticks.
• OK, well this thing is over now. Can someone please get me a drink? See you tomorrow. In the meantime, if you need more, poke around. Use the little search box on the right. Plenty of fun for everyone. Thanks and good night.