Tadija's from Serbia

Anyway, fun night. Hope is wide open for all these players.

#53 - Utah - Tadija Dragecivic (SF)

Did they say Slovenia? Another overseas stash. Good for them. Maybe in two years bring him over, as Kirilenko or Harpring is probably gone by them.

Mario Chalmers traded to Miami. Good trade for the Heat.

#44 - Utah - Ante Tomic (C)

I'm glad they used this pick on someone they can stash overseas for a couple years. The Jazz already have 14 guys on the roster, as they've drafted Koufos and CJ Miles is their only free agent. I was hoping Goran Dragis might fall to #53, but they still might get Anton Ponkrashov, a 6-7 Russian PG. Or they could waive Jason Hart and draft an American as their third point guard.

Second Round

#31 - Minnesota - Nikola Pekovic (C) - I've seen this written on a few blogs leading up to this.

I'm not going to do the second round since my wife's out and I need to get the kid in bed, and we'll never hear half these names again. I just looked at last year's second round and I don't remember almost half of those names.

Oh good. Seattle found a way to get rid of two of their four second-round picks... Well, DJ White can play behind Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison.

#30 - Boston - JR Giddens (SG)

Stern's hearing the boos again.

Giddens was good at New Mexico.

And we're off to the speed round. Second round where only about five or six of the guys will still be in the league in five years.

Second round in 2003 had Mo Williams, Kyle Korver, Jason Kapono, Luke Walton, Keith Bogans, Matt Bonner, Steve Blake and Zaza Pachulia. The first round in 2003 had names like Zarko Cabarkaba, Mike Sweetney, Troy Bell, Reece Gaines, Zoran Planicic and Ndudi Ebi. It also had LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, TJ Ford, David West and Chris Kaman.

#29 - Detroit - DJ White (PF)

Good young blood in a needed position, though I don't he'll ever be more than a 10th, 11th, 12th guy on the bench.

#28 - Memphis - Donte Green (PF)

Huh. They took two power-forwards in Round 1, showing a lot of faith in Marc Gasol.

#27 - New Orleans* - Darrell Arthur (PF)

2007 - #27 - Arron Afflalo
2006 - #27 - Sergio Rodriguez
2005 - #27 - Linus Kleiza
2004 - #27 - Sasha Vujacic

You never know what you're going to get here.

Well, I'm happy for him.

He's really going to Portland. That is one deep young team.

#26 - San Antonio - George Hill (SG)

Ah, at least no one's heard of him. Spurs are good at that.

#25 - Houston - Nicolas Batum (SF)

I read that the Spurs wanted this guy if they couldn't trade out of the first round. I think the Rockets might let him stay overseas a year.

Oh, Bucher's reporting about Arthur's possible kidney issues. He might slip to the second round at this rate, though Danny Ainge would be nuts to pass on him at #30.

I predict that despite what Tiago Splitter did, the Spurs pick another international guy to leave overseas. I've seen Nikola Pekovic, Omer Asik and Ante Tomic as possible stow-overseas names.

#24 - Seattle - Serge Ibaka (C)

I like what Bilas said. "Forget about this guy for three years, he's going to stay in Spain..."

Good way for the team to save money as they try to move to Oklahoma City.

Wow, Houston would be a scary-good fit for Arthur.

#23 - UTAH - KOSTA KOUFOS (C)

Wow, of all the projected first-round 7-footers, I thought for sure he'd be gone. He can duke it out with Fesenko for back-up minutes, and that's with them hoping Jarron Collins gets traded.

#22 - Orlando - Courtney Lee (SG)

Ah, a shooter. Yeah, JJ Redick should ask for a trade.

So the Jazz could get their power-forward insurance if they lose one or both of Boozer and Millsap in 2009, they can get that backup center they hope Fesenko could still be, or they could get a solid backup point guard in Mario Chalmers.

Drum rollllll.......

#21 - New Jersey - Ryan Anderson (PF)

Wow. Darrell Arthur is still there. Orlando would be a good fit. Looks like the Jazz are going to get Arthur or Koufos. Interesting.

#20 - Charlotte - Alexis Ajinca (C)

Dang, another guy I was hoping to slip to the Jazz is gone.

Jersey could take Darrell Arthur. I could see Courtney Lee or Chris Douglas-Roberts here too.

And Ric Bucher said Josh McRoberts is going to Indiana. There's an after-thought.

#19 - Cleveland - JJ Hickson (PF)

Well, they took a big guy, but now do I dare hope they Jazz can get a long-term solution to Boozer's backup (someone is going to overpay Paul Millsap in 2009)? Darrell Arthur just might be there.

I'm think Koufos goes at #20. I'm thinking Koufos for every spot until he's picked.

TRADE!!!

And just like that, we get a surprise.

Portland trades Brandon Rush and Jarrett Jack to Indiana for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu.

I agree with Mark on this one. It works for both teams. I thought Rush was a funny pick for Portland.

#18 - Washington - JaVele McGee (PF)

I've got to admit, there isn't that much surprise this draft. Jason Thompson is the closest thing to a spurprise, but logically, not really.

Now I would think Cleveland would take Arthur. Second guess is Koufos.

#17 - Toronto* - Roy Hibbert (C)

Well, Indiana went big, and they went with the more experienced big.

Dang, I was hoping he'd slip to the Jazz.

#16 - Philadelphia - Marreese Speights (PF)

Philly needed a power forward, so good for them.

Toronto's next, but it's for the Pacers, and my guess is Kosta Koufos.

#15 - Phoenix - Robin Lopez (C)

I think he's overrated, but good for Phoenix, getting more defensive-oriented.

#14 - Golden State - Anthony Randolph (PF)

This is a guy John Hollinger projected wouldn't do too well in the pros, so Nellie is the perfect make-or-break coach for a guy like him.

#13 - Portland - Brandon Rush (SG)

Now they have two shooting guards named Brandon.

#12 - Sacramento - Jason Thompson (PF)

I thought he'd last longer and be a sleeper, but Reggie Theus wants to win now, not draft potential down the road.

#11 - Indiana - Jerryd Bayless (SG)

He might play some point, but he's an off-guard type.

#10 - New Jersey - Brook Lopez (C)

I think this twin from Stanford will have a little more impact than the last one they had.

#9 - Charlotte - DJ Augustin (PG)

And Raymond Felton is offically on the trading block.

#8 - Milwaukee - Joe Alexander (SF)

I thought since they got Richard Jefferson, they'd fill a different need, but this is a decent bench pick, I guess.

#7 - LA Clippers - Eric Gordon (PG/SG)

Danilo made a nice little suck-up "New York is the best city in the world" comment. I bet after the first game of the pre-season they'll love him.

So they took Gordon. Now the Clips have some tradeable assets.

#6 - New York - Danilo Gallinari (SF)

Wow, the Knicks fans hate this pick. But they'd boo anything short of "the Knicks trade Randolph and #6 to Miami for Michael Beasley and two future first round picks."

So D'Antoni played with his dad.

I do remember when New York cheered wildly for Maciej Lampe. How'd that work out?

#5 - Memphis - Kevin Love (PF)

Westbrook - "I'm a point guard." Okay, so maybe they try it out.

Pineapple Express looks funny.

So Love is no surprise. Now we're in suspense where Lopez will go. Will the Knicks grab him and try to trade Curry? I know they desperately want to unload him or Randolph or both.

#4 - Seattle - Russell Westbrook (PG/SG)

Wow. Consensus today seemed to be they'd take Lopez, but they went ahead and took the guard. Now with Durant at the 2, are they going to have Westbrook be their shoot-first point guard, or are they going to move Durant to the 3?

Annnnd Jeff Van Gundy is now saying what I was just thinking. I could do their job.

#3 - Minnesota - OJ Mayo (SG)

There. Time zone is Mountain.

I think I'd rather see Stephen A. Smith at the desk, spouting off. Let Mark Jackson do the boring interview stuff.

So far, no surprises.

#2 - Miami - Michael Beasley (PF)

I guess my time counter is on Pacific time.

It's almost as though Pat Riley is grudgingly taking Beasley. "I know he's good, but do I have to?"

These rebounding highlights look pretty cool.

#1 - Chicago - Derrick Rose (PG)

This New York crowd is brutal. I expect some "Donaghy" chants soon. Maybe a "Fire D'Antoni" chant. Good for Rose, going hometown like that.

Now we get a shot of the Bulls draft room as they golf-clap for each other.

David Stern booed - 5:36

But what else is new? If the Bulls draft Rose, aren't they required to trade Hinrich? What could Denver offer? Charlotte? Portland? The Clippers? Sacramento? Plenty of teams could use him.

NBA Draft - live - 5:29pm MST

Drinking game - Take one every time Jay Bilas says upside. You'll be under the table before they get out of the lottery.

I love the NBA Draft. It's like a second Christmas, where all your hopes and dreams for your team's future are wide open.

Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are locked at #1 and #2, says everyone, but there's some speculation Minnesota might not take OJ Mayo at #3? I can see them taking him, turning around to someone a couple picks lower and saying, "What will you give us?"

More trades

ESPN.com is reporting the Nets are trading Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. This would imply Joe Alexander is no longer a lock at #8.

The Nets are also looking to trade up, from #10 to Memphis's #5.

The Sonics will trade #4 to the L.A. Clippers for #7 and a future pick if OJ Mayo is off the board by #4.

Quelle surprise, Portland is working making a move.

San Antonio is actively trying to trade out of their pick.

All mock drafts are pretty oblitherated at this point.

NBA Mock Draft update

Some trades have gone down, and more rumors are a-swirling.

Here's my morning-of guesses.

1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3
2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8
3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4
4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0
5. MEMPHIS - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3
6. NEW YORK - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9
7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3
8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8
9. CHARLOTTE - Kevin Love - PF/6-9
10. NEW JERSEY - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - Traded to Portland for #13
11. INDIANA - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1
12. SACRAMENTO - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3
13. PORTLAND - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - Traded to New Jersey for #10
14. GOLDEN STATE - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2
15. PHOENIX - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6
16. PHILADELPHIA - Donte Green - 6-10/PF
17. INDIANA - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9
18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9
19. CLEVELAND - DeAndre Jordan - C/7-0
20. CHARLOTTE - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2
21. NEW JERSEY - Robin Lopez - C/7-0
22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5
23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1
24. SEATTLE - Kyle Weaver - PG/6-2
25. HOUSTON - JaVale McGee - C/7-0
26. SAN ANTONIO - Jason Thompson - C/6-11
27. NEW ORLEANS - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8
28. MEMPHIS - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9
29. DETROIT - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7
30. BOSTON - Trent Plaistad - PF/6-10

I'm sure at least one more of those picks are traded tonight. Prime suspects: Miami, Seattle.

NBA Mock Draft

After reading literally dozens of reports and projections, I'm making my own mock draft guess.

1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3 - The Bulls seems locked in here, and with Rose aboard, it makes Kirk Hinrich a valuable trading commodity, which they should use to get a better big man.

2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8 - Even though Miami really wants Rose, it doesn't look like that will happen. I'm thinking they trade this, and I've seen sceanrios with Seattle, Memphis and the Clippers.

3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4 - Putting him with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson makes a talented core. But Al Jefferson was the center of a "talented core" for years in Boston and it didn't get anywhere, but you need to start somewhere.

4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0 - Sonics' ownership seems determined to torpedo their relationship with Seattle, and while they really need a star point guard (Earl Watson/Luke Ridnour are not long-term solutions), I can see them drafting yet another center, though Lopez should be more effective than Robert Swift, Johan Petro and Mahmoud Sene.

5. MEMPHIS - Kevin Love - PF/6-9 - Assuming there are no trades, Love will be a good fit with the gutted Grizzlies. Time for Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and crew to take on Portland for Best Young Team in the West.

6. NEW YORK - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3 - The Knicks have been dying for a better point guard than the shoot-first crew that have shuffled through there (Marbury, Francis, Robinson...), and if Bayless lips to here, I think they take. Rumor has it Mike D'Antoni might take a risk on the Italian star Danilo Gallinari, but they need that point guard in place.

7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3 - Here's another team looking for a point guard, where it's clear Shaun Livingston's body just won't let him do it.

8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8 - If Alexander is here, they take him. He's exactly what they want and need.

9. CHARLOTTE - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1 - The Bobcats want a center so they can move Emeka Okafor to the 4-spot. If Brook Lopez is available, they snatch him up here. They could take Koufos here, though it seems high. Then again, Rafael Araujo was high at #8 a few years ago. Big men often go sooner than they should.

10. NEW JERSEY - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9 - Annnnd Richard Jefferson is trade bait all summer.

11. INDIANA - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3 - He could be the point guard to finally bump Jamaal Tinsley out of there. DJ Augustin could go here too.

12. SACRAMENTO - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - I can see him being a bust, but the Kings ain't been too bright lately.

13. PORTLAND - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - They have a lot of young pieces, so it wouldn't hurt to have more competition at point guard.

14. GOLDEN STATE - Donte Green - 6-10/PF - I've seen some centers go here, but I have a hard time seeing Nellie use them. Green has the body and style for a run-and-gun team, could be a good bench player for them.

15. PHOENIX - DeAndre Jordan - 7-0/C - Shaq's going to miss a few games, and it would behoove the Suns to groom a successor so they can keep Amare at the 4.

16. PHILADELPHIA - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6

17. TORONTO - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8

18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9

19. CLEVELAND - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9

20. DENVER - JaVale McGee - C/7-0

21. NEW JERSEY - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2

22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5

23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1

24. SEATTLE - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9

25. HOUSTON - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2

26. SAN ANTONIO - Serge Ibaka - PF/6-11

27. NEW ORLEANS - Jason Thompson - C/6-11

28. MEMPHIS - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7

29. DETROIT - Bill Walker - SF/6-6

30. BOSTON - Robin Lopez - C/7-0

Bubble players:
Ryan Anderson
Omer Asik
JR Giddens
Jamont Gordon
DeVon Hardin
Richard Hendrix
Nathan Jawai
Ante Tomic
Kyle Weaver
DJ White

Game 4 / Bavetta / Detroit-Utah trade rumor

A lot of the pleasure from Game 4 was the big comeback story, but it was also that I was watching players play and coaches trying to out-maneuver each other, and the refs didn't really come into play.

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ESPN.com is reporting that two ex-referees were asked by investigators about Dick Bavetta as much as they were Tim Donaghy. Among other controversial games, Bavetta was head ref of Game 6 of the 2002 Kings-Lakers series that Donaghy said was fixed. This is not going to be swept under the rug anytime soon.

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Chad Ford is putting out this trade rumor: The Detroit Pistons to send Rich Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Aaron Afflalo to the Utah Jazz for Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, Jarron Collins and Morris Almond. I don't know if it makes either team better or worse. The Jazz would entertain the notion just because Boozer will likely opt out of his deal in 2009, and Deron Williams & Andrei Kirilenko will already be max-money makers.

The benefits for Detroit is that they've plateaued ever since Larry Brown left, and they needed a change. They get a two-time All-Star power forward in Boozer, two promising young shooting guards in Brewer & Almond, and a good locker-room guy in Collins. They get youth. The downside is their core still has good chemistry, and they're blowing it up, and who's to say they won't still lose Boozer in 2009? Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Billips, Brewer, Stuckey, Boozer, Wallace.

The benefits for Utah is they get some more experienced guys (Utah's one of the youngest teams in the league, which L.A. was able to exploit), a solid shooting shooting-guard, the lankiest 3-4 tandem in the league (AK would move to the 4 spot, which was his before Boozer showed up), and a little more payroll flexibility. The downside is they lose a two-time All-Star power forward and their only low-post threat, and Almond looks like a guy who could really blow up after setting records in the D-League last year. Does this look like an NBA championship line-up? Williams, Hamilton, Prince, Kirilenko, Okur.

It would be quite the dice-roll for both teams.

Celtics up 2-0

There's a bit in Marc Cohn's song "Walking in Memphis" where he sings about a lady coming up to him and asking, "Are you a Christian?" and he sings "Ma'am, I am tonight!"

That's how I feel about my temporary Celtic-fan status. I love it. I love seeing Kevin Garnett on the brink of his first title after all those years of hard work. As a former Sonic fan, I'm happy for Ray Allen. I think of what Paul Pierce has been through, and here they are, up 2-0. And almost as important, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers are losing.

Pistons fire Flip Saunders

This is the second head coach in the last decade the Pistons have fired after the coach got that team to the Eastern Conference Finals. The logic I guess is that if Larry Brown could get a championship with this basic team, there must be another coach out there who can get another title out of them. That ignores how serendipitous the Larry Brown year was, running into a Laker team where Kobe and Shaq hated each other, Gary Payton's talent took a steep drop-off, and Karl Malone had injured his knee.