TrueHoop at the Draft
Blogging and blogging and blogging the 2008 NBA Draft. Selected recent posts:
- Wow. We're more than three hours past the official start time, and we just got to the 27th pick. This is one of those events for which one needs to be well hydrated.
- Jerryd Bayless was asked what he thought about those who said he had no position -- not really a one or two: "I think they are crazy, that's what I think. (Laughter) I don't know. I think they are crazy."
- Nicholas Batum goes 25th to Houston, but the story is that he really wanted to go to San Antonio. Tonight, it seems to me, there has been a lot of that. A team and player in love -- and someone else swoops in a pick or two earlier.
- Darrell Arthur finally gets out of the green room, and is on his way to New Orleans, at least officially. Of course, everyone thinks he is headed to Portland, which reportedly has purchased the 27th pick.
- Chad Ford points out something interesting about Houston's 25th pick: "Here's something interesting. John Hollinger, our resident stats guru, expects Nicolas Batum to be a draft bust, according to his Euroleague translations. The Rockets, led by GM Daryl Morey, are considered the most stats-savvy team in the league. Something doesn't add up. I wonder if there's a trade here. Batum has some physical talent and some skill, but he's yet to put it together in any meaningful way." Then comes word that Batum has apparently been traded to Portland, according to the scuttlebutt on press row. I'll try to find out more.
- Chad Ford says D.J. White has been traded to the Sonics for two second-round picks.
- Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress reports: "I was just informed by the Trailblazers that Nicolas Batum was traded by Houston to Portland in exchange for the rights to Darrell Arthur and one of Portland's early second round picks." Chad Ford confirms he has heard the same thing, and the second-round pick that is in the deal is the 33rd, which was Memphis big man Joey Dorsey.
- As soon as the Timberwolves selected guard Mario Chalmers, I said out loud: "They just picked O.J. Mayo!" Now comes word from Chad Ford that Chalmers will be on his way to Miami for cash and second-round picks.
- Have you noticed that we have word of all kinds of trades, but none of them have been officially announced? Usually by now we'd be hearing about these things. Crickets.
- David Thorpe called, and shares his thoughts on Bayless, Westbrook, Love, and Speights: "I have worries about Jerryd Bayless. He has had the reputation for being a hot dog. What I like about Portland is that, between Nate McMillan and Kevin Pritchard they have an ethos. LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy aren't impressed by Jerryd Bayless. They'll say to him, essentially, enjoy the ride and do it our way or we'll get someone else. They have a role, and he'll have to fill it. And he's perfect in that he can shoot, so he fits on the court very well with what they want to do ... I feel a little bit the same way about Russell Westbrook. He has a long way to be an NBA player. On a lot of teams he might never get there. But he can be a Rondo type, who plays active defense. In Seattle, where there is a clear direction, he can grow into his role. Rondo has shown he can grow beyond and get better in different facets of offense. But you have got to start as a fundamentally sound basketball player. In Seattle there is such an obvious situation of who's the man. P.J. Carlesimo and Sam Presti know who's in charge. If you can't play with Kevin Durant they're not going to play you. Presti is doing everything to build Spurs-style chemistry. And Westbrook, from everything I head, is a very high charachter guy, and now he'll get a chance to fill out his role. All the best teams define roles for players. I think Seattle will do that for him. ... One pick I am very high on is Kevin Love for Memphis. Love brings toughess to a team that no one would call tough. I don't know if they're soft, but you wouldn't call them tough. But they have pieces. Rudy Gay, on the wing on the break, might be the second scariest guy in the NBA, behind LeBron James. He's outrageous on transition. Now Love can start breaks like crazy. That team has a chance to be good. They have a point guard, a small forward, and now a big. With that, you're on your way. He'll lose weight too, because it's clear that they want to run. ... Marrese Speights at 16, he's the second best offensive big in draft, behind Beasley. It'll be interesting. It's possible that he'll find his role on the team. He's athletic and skilled. But it's also possible -- he'll be playing, presumably, behind Jason Smith who was drafted in a similar spot last year -- that two years from now you will never remember his name. He could spend time in D League this year.
- One last note from Chad Ford: "The Blazers agreed to trade the draft rights to Omer Asik to the Chicago Bulls for three future second round picks. And they also agreed to trade the draft rights to Mike Taylor to the Clippers for a future second round pick."
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