1. I can't remember a year where I cared less about the draft. Mostly it's the impending Free Agent Shootout, but also this is just a pretty uninspiring class.
2. The Bulls shipped Captain Kirk and the #17 pick to Washington for, basically, cap space. After surviving rumor after rumor, it looks like this one is for real. We will miss you in Chicago, Mr. Hinrich. Here's hoping some kind of buyout lets us bring you back for cheap.
Word is, we might be bringing back Chris Duhon to take his spot. Here is a picture of the old school boys getting down.
3. In the category of MMMM... THAT'S EFFIN DELICIOUS... I just cooked a pork chop and green beans in a cast-iron skillet. Total prep/cook time: 15 minutes. Spices used: Kosher salt, mixed-up salt, pepper. Extra virgin olive oil, a little cayenne, and a splash of the beer can just for a second, just for flavor.
Cook the chop first, then the green beans in the mixed fat and olive oil. Pretty self explanatory. Damn good. And that's your moment of zen. I ate it with some crusty white bread.
4. I think the Lakers might have gotten a couple of second round steals tonight, proving once again that the rich tend to get richer.
They took Devin Ebanks, former Indiana commit, at No. 43, and then picked Derrick Caracter with the No. 58 pick. Ebanks reminds me of a Lamar Odom Lite, and Caracter is a big guy who has finally put it together despite what has been a troubled career. I expect both of these guys to contribute in the Lakers rotation.
5. My pick to flop from the Top Ten is Al-Farouq Aminu. If you can't win in college, you won't be able to win in the League. Fittingly, Aminu went to the Clippers. PS- Dino Gaudio, Wake's coach, just got fired this year.
6. My pick to surprise, outside of the Top Five, is Token White Guy Gordon Hayward. Fittingly, he went to Utah (at No. 9). Who saw that coming?
7. Jordan Crawford (Xavier, formerly Hoosiers) was drafted by New Jersey and went to Atlanta, while Damion James (Texas) was drafted by the Hawks and will be a Net. This is a bit strange to me, since I see these guys being better fits on their original squads.
Jordan and Jamal Crawford can't really coexist, seeing as they are basically the same guy. But I like Jordan's game and think he will be okay wherever he ends up.
8. Predicted flops from this draft: Aminu, Cole Aldrich, Ed Davis, Eric Bledsoe (shoulda stayed in school, he's Daequan Cook v. 2.0).
9. Predicted all-stars: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins.
a. If I'm right on this, I'm the man: Miami got Da'sean Butler from West Virginia with the 42nd pick. If anybody from that second round can surprise people and be an all-star, it's Butler.
10. Safest rotation players from Day One: Ekpe Udoh (Baylor/Golden State), Patrick Patterson (Kentucky/Houston), Hassan Whiteside (Marshall/Sacramento, 2nd round), Evan Turner (Ohio State/Philly, the only Big Ten player drafted).
11. Less than a week 'til Free Agency. Let's get LeBron!!!!
Three things:
ReplyDelete1) Good trade for the Bulls...I got really worried we were going to have a worthless frenchman on our team.
2) I beat Duhon a couple years back at pop-a-shot after a Cubs game at Sluggers...twice! They should be acquiring me.
3) I don't care what the "experts" say, Evan Turner is going to be an all-star.
I like Evan Turner a lot, I'm just really worried he doesn't have the fire. You gotta have the fire to be great.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great duhon story. Of course he was always a streaky shooter... you could beat him 9 times out of 10, but that tenth time he'd come out and set the bar record and not miss a shot.
...and I too am glad we will not have a frog on our team.
ReplyDeleteThat photo of Kirk and Duhon looks like it was taken at a Real World/Road Rules Challenge cast party. That does not bode well for either of them...
ReplyDeleteBahahahahahaa nice.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of Kirk as much of a partier, but if you look closer, he's got two drinks in his hand!