If you're an NBA fan, the draft is an exercise in hype and horrible trades as well as expensive wardrobes.
For the Hornets, the draft was a spectator sport. They spent Thursday night watching because they didn't have a pick in the rounds of the draft at MadisonSquareGarden. They sold their first-round selection (No. 27) to the Portland Trail Blazers for $3 million. The second-round pick was gone in an earlier deal.
Not drafting gave the Hornets a tad more wiggle room under the luxury tax and they have big financial commitments coming up.
The Hornets have focused their attention on a lot of free-agent opportunities. The NBA free agency frenzy begins next week. The Hornets should have their hands full. They would like to re-sign backup point guard Jannero Pargo, who's expected to opt out of his contract on July 1. Point guard Chris Paul is playing for the U.S. Team in the Olympics and will put a lot of mileage on his legs between now and next season. The Hornets will monitor the mileage and will need a hackup for him. Pargo is a shooting guard.
Actually, the Hornets drafted Darrell of Arthur with their first-round pick, but they were drafting for the Blazers, who traded the Kansas forward to Houston, who traded him to Memphis. How's he going to handle his "great to play on this team: shtick? He may get four different team caps.
Poor guy. According to reports, he's got a bum kidney to boot.
Former New Orleans school point guard D.J. Augustin, who was displaced by the storm, was Charlotte's first-round pick, and LSU freshman forward Anthony Randolph went to GoldenState with the 14th pick. The Warriors hope Randolph, among a talented freshman class in this year's draft, will complement their up-tempo game game led by the backcourt play of ex Hornet Baron Davis and Monta Ellis. The Hornets would like to sign Ellis as a free agent.
"He's long, athletic, he's ready to play and has star quality," said Warriors vice president Chris Mullin. "We wee amazed he was still available when we drafted him."
Randolph is the 13th Tiger to be drafted in the first round and the third this decade. Stromile Swift went to Vancouver (now Memphis) with the second over-all pick in 2000. Tyrus Thomas went fourth to Portland in 2006 before being traded to Chicago.
It's the fourth straight year an LSU player has been drafted. Brando Bass and Glen Davis were second-rounders in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
There was no room on the Blazers' for Arthur and they were able to move him (along with second-rounder Joey Dorsey) to Houston for highly regarded French forward Nicolas Batum, who will stay in Europe this year. Later, they traded Omer Asik, a second-round selection out of Turkey, to the Bulls for three future second-round picks.
The Blazers got better, got more picks and foreign talent for the future and had a hand in a lot of interesting moments in the drat. They traded all five players they originally draft. Not a bad night.
Names most interesting as the Hornets enter the free agency race are Gilbert Arenas, Eddie House, Monta Ellis, and Ron Artest. Artest? Ouch. The obvious question about him is his health and his character. He has had problems, most notably the ugly Piston-Pacers incident, but he plays with energy, heart and hustle. Would Artest be worth a look if he opts out with the Kings? Would Byron Scot, Jeff Bower and George Shinn be willing to take a risk on a guy like this? Maybe, if they think he could be the missing piece of a puzzle.
You have to feel sorry for the Hornets, Atlanta and Demver scouts. They spent the last 12 months covering prospects all over the world. They didn't have any draft choices after writing reports, viewing tapes and performing background checks. They live for draft night. Then you franchise trades away (or sells) your draft pick. One year of work, all for nothing.
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YOn: Don't be surprised if Reggie Bush gets engaged to Kim Kardashian. "That's definitely where we are heading," the reality star told USmagazaine.com recently when asked about marriage. :That's something to talk about,: she said. ":I think that when you spend so much time with someone who is such a bi part of your life, that's definitely the future." Kardashian, 27, said her relationship with Bush, 23, is "really serious" and "the best." They have been dating since April 2007. Said her step-dad Bruce Jenner: "Reggie seems to be a very nice guy, They are doing very well and good for them."
LSU relief ace Louis Coleman, who finished the season 8-1 with a 1.85 ERA, may return for his senior season. He was drafted Ianthe 14th round by Washington. "If he stays, he'll probably be our ace," said Tigers coach Paul Mainieri. :He could be our Jared Bradford." Bradford, a senior who has signed with St. Louis was a 28th round pick, started and relieved for LSU the last two seasons. The coach said he expecs to lose pitcher Ryan Verdugo, first baseman Matt Clark and pitcher Blake Martin to the draft. Verdugo and Clark are in the process of signing with San Francisco and San Diego, and Martin has already signed iwrh Minnesota...My time is up. You can contact Ed Staton at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.
If you're an NBA fan, the draft is an exercise in hype and horrible trades as well as expensive wardrobes.
