- Howard Beck of The New York Times: "For the self-made draft experts, twisted emotions are implicit this time of year. The draft is Thursday. Fans are devouring mock drafts and player biographies and learning hard-to-pronounce European names. They are refreshing Web pages every few hours to read the latest insights from people like Givony, NBADraft.net's Aran Smith and ESPN's Chad Ford. It should be a glorious time. It isn't. 'I hate mock drafts,' Ford said. 'I just think they're a joke.' To be close to the process is, apparently, to loathe it. The draft is a signature event for the N.B.A., a hype-filled evening of optimism and suspense. It is the night when teams' intentions are revealed and fates are set. The days that precede it, however, are filled with lies and obfuscation, misdirection and outright manipulation. Agents inflate their players' value and trash the clients of their rivals. Team executives, fearful that another team will snatch their favorite prospect, spread false reports about a player's workout, or his health, or his character."
- Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal: "The Grizzlies believe Thabeet will instantly become the best defensive player in the history of the franchise. They aren't persuaded that Rubio will be a star in the league. Could they be making a huge mistake? Yes. Especially if they're basing the pick on what Thabeet or Rubio will bring to the team next year. That's short-term thinking. Who cares about next year? Isn't the goal to build a compelling team over the long haul? And if Oklahoma City -- which picks right after the Grizzlies -- somehow manages to take Rubio and swing a deal with the Clippers for Blake Griffin, the Grizzlies franchise might as well shut down on the spot. But give Wallace and company this much: If they pick Thabeet, it won't be because they're afraid that Rubio will refuse to play in Memphis. It'll be because they think Thabeet can be a dominant player. Because they think his size and defensive instincts are worth the flak they know they'd take for the pick.
- Mike Jones of The Washington Times: "In 2006, there were 15 draft-day trades, and this year's draft is expected to rival or surpass that. Some teams low in the draft -- or without a first-round pick -- badly want to move up to upgrade their rosters. Some teams higher in the draft would prefer to move down to get more picks and bolster their rebuilding projects. In the middle of it all is the Washington Wizards, who hold the fifth pick but are in one of the more favorable positions in the draft. Thanks to their circumstances, they could be key players in the draft, affecting not only their future but those of their counterparts as well. The Wizards -- who endured a 19-63 injury-plagued season -- are healthy again and boast a roster that features three All-Star caliber players: Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. After that, the Wizards have five more seasoned veterans and six players 24 or younger who are being developed as key backups. With the team healthy, Wizards management seems to believe they will go from basement dweller to championship contender -- top-five pick or not."
- K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "Derrick Rose's presence hasn't just -- deep breath here -- helped merchandise and ticket sales, erased the need to land a franchise player and, barring injury, locked in the first- or second-most important position for the next 10 years or so. It has redefined the Bulls' style and thus affected whom the team might draft. Notice the abundance of space-the-floor shooters who have flashed their wares at draft workout after draft workout? Beyond insurance for the possibly departing Gordon, that's a nod to Rose. Notice the plethora of athletic big men who have strutted their stuff? If you want to run with the Bulls, you have to be able to keep up with Rose. Notice the strong defensive rebounders whom the Bulls are considering? You can't start a fast break without the ball."
- Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The reviews were unanimous. On 10-point scale, Tyler Hansbrough's Sunday morning workout for the Hawks at Philips Arena ranks at the very top of anything conducted in the past five days. It wasn't any one thing in particular that had the Hawks' coaches buzzing. It was everything. Hansbrough's energy, effort and obviously better-than-advertised shooting and athleticism caught more than a few folks in attendance by surprise. 'He kicked the meter up. It was off the Richter Scale,' said Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew, who ran the team's workouts all week. 'That was one of those 8.0s, one of those quick, hard earthquakes. Because his energy is at another level. You just don't see many players capable of playing with that type of energy and effort and can sustain it through a game, or even a workout. He plays at a totally different level than some of these young guys out here.' I felt like I needed an ice bath after watching his 90-minute workout. But Hansbrough proved a theory that a wise Eastern Conference executive reiterated to me Sunday night, 'effort is a skill in the NBA.' And Hansbrough has it in reserve."
- Jean-Jacques Taylor of The Dallas Morning News: "What we know for sure is there can't be any colossal mistakes this off-season like the decision to give DeSagana Diop the mid-level exception the summer after they sent him to New Jersey as part of the Jason Kidd deal. A few months later, the Mavs sent Diop to Charlotte for a Michael Jordan framed jersey, a couple of basketballs, Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins. Carroll was supposed to be a weakside shooter who could help spread the court, but he never found a rhythm. Hollins was a throw-in who became an occasional contributor. The Mavs needed much more from their mid-level exception. Nelson can't afford another mistake like that because time is running out for the Dirk-led Mavs to win a championship. Dirk had a phenomenal season, averaging 25.9 points per game, and was named first-team All-NBA. But at 31, he won't dominate forever. There's no one on the roster with the potential to replace Dirk as the Mavs' most dynamic player. Donnie Nelson must find that guy. He's scouring the country. And the world. Actually, he called it looking under every rock. None of that matters, though, unless he gets his guy. This is the summer Nelson gets all of the credit or the blame."
- Jason Quick of The Oregonain: "The Blazers have sent mixed signals about their draft-day goals. For the third consecutive season, Nate McMillan has openly pleaded for more experience, using the phrase 'know-how' in an attempt to change his tune. Each season, Kevin Pritchard has instead opted to draft young talent, last year trading up to get guard Jerryd Bayless. This year, his philosophy doesn't appear to have changed. He said the concerns about experience have in part taken care of themselves as Steve Blake and Joel Przybilla have matured into veterans, and players such as Outlaw, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge have acquired enough 'know-how' through extensive min
utes the past three seasons. 'Talent has served us well so far,' Pritchard said. 'But there's not a day that doesn't go by that Nate doesn't communicate his needs. We don't agree on everything, but we have good conversations, and that's healthy. It's healthy for our relationship.' Pritchard joked that McMillan 'will probably kill me' if he adds more youth to the roster in the draft, and McMillan laughed and said "you will have to put me behind bars" if Pritchard presents him with another rookie. Despite Pritchard's penchant for successful draft picks, it is more likely the Blazers will make their big splash through free agency or trade. When the league announces its salary cap around July 7, the Blazers expect to be one of five teams under the cap, joining Detroit, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Toronto." - Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune: "The Suns aren't about to sink to the depths of, say, the Los Angeles Clippers, but they're not promised a soft landing, either. It's entirely possible playoff basketball will be a memory around here the next few years. Which brings us to Steve Kerr. The Suns general manager hasn't had the best couple of years on the job. He signed off on the Shaquille O'Neal-Shawn Marion trade. He couldn't mend fences with coach Mike D'Antoni. He hired Terry Porter then fired him after 51 games. And the two draft picks he raved about -- Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic -- struggled for much of their rookie seasons. Kerr could use a quiet couple of months. But he's not going to get them. First up is Thursday's NBA draft. The Suns have the 14th pick overall, and Kerr needs to get it right. Based on the e-mails and phone calls I receive, he's already lost the fans' trust. Blow this draft pick, and he'll have to wear a disguise around town. More importantly, Kerr has to figure out a way to successfully navigate the transition from O'Neal and Nash to a younger club while still keeping the Suns relevant -- and within owner Robert Sarver's budget."
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