Jun

26

Slam Dunk Central’s Live Coverage Of The 2008 NBA Draft

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central 

2008 NBA Draft

Welcome to Slam Dunk Central’s live coverage of the 2008 NBA Draft.? The draft here at SDC will be in real-time, with up-to-the-minute draft selections and occasional commentary by yours truly.? Just remember to either hit your REFRESH or F5 button to get the most up-to-date NBA draft results.? Below are the selections and commentary – enjoy!!!

Stephen Rhodes: ESPN is reporting that it is very likely that the Chicago Bulls will in fact select Derrick Rose from Memphis; but as anyone can attest to, anything can happen in these drafts – this one included.

Stephen Rhodes:? A little known fact – In 28 of the last 29 NBA drafts, only once has a guard been the number one overall pick.

Stephen Rhodes: ESPN says that the Seattle SuperSonics will keep their pick.

Stephen Rhodes: ESPN also reports that the New York Knicks think the guard they want will be available at #6.

Stephen Rhodes: Mark Jackson of ESPN thinks that the Knicks should draft the best available athlete.? Commercial for BK.? The commercial would appropriate for the draft….”What did you to deserve to get that draft pick?”

Stephen Rhodes: It is 7:30 (ET)/4:30 PM (PT); David Stern is at the podium doing his usual speech.? The Chicago Bulls are on the clock.

Stephen Rhodes: Ok, folks, it’s showtime!!!

First Round

Chicago Bulls select: Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis

Stephen Rhodes: Chicago’s pick of Rose was expected.? The question is whether they deal Ben Gordon or Kirk Hinrich – I say they’ll deal Hinrich.? The Miami Heat is now on the clock.? The conventional pick would be Michael Beasley but O.J. Mayo could be selected as well.?

The Miami Heat select: Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State

Stephen Rhodes: ESPN seems to like the pick.? I’m not surprised although early on I thought Chicago would take Beasley and Miami would take Rose.? A good pick by Miami.? The Minnesota Timberwolves are now on the clock.? I have a question, though: why does ESPN insist on having Stephen A. Smith at the draft?? The Timberwolves need a big man but Mayo may be too good a pick to pass up here at #3.

Minnesota Timberwolves select: O.J. Mayo, PG/SG, USC?

Stephen Rhodes: Good pick; now Minnesota has a scoring combo of him and Al Jefferson – even though they needed a presence to complement Jefferson.? The Seattle SuperSonics are now on the clock.? The Sonics have been rumored to be wanting Brook Lopez from Stanford.

Seattle SuperSonics select: Russell Westbrook, PG/SG, UCLA

Stephen Rhodes: To be honest, I didn’t see Westbrook going this high; but then again this is the draft, where you can expect the unexpected.? The Memphis Grizzlies are now on the clock.? Kevin Durant is sure happy about the selection.? When the commercials finally end, the Memphis Grizzlies should have their pick at or near the podium.

Memphis Grizzlies select: Kevin Love, PF, UCLA

Stephen Rhodes: Back-to-back UCLA picks.? Love should be a good PF, with excellent passing skills.? Underrated athlete.? Not the best runner.? The New York Knicks are on the clock.? I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Knicks take a PG with the pick – perhaps D.J. Augustin?

New York Knicks select: Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Italy

Stephen Rhodes: Not a bad pick, although I expected them to take a point guard or combo guard.? At least Gallinari can now put away his visa as he threatened to bolt to Europe if either New York or New Jersey didn’t pick him.? The Los Angeles Clippers are now on the clock.? Eric Gordon is available for the Clippers at #7.? Corey Maggette’s status is uncertain and I see Cuttino Mobley leaving the team later on.

Los Angeles Clippers select: Eric Gordon, PG/SG, Indiana

Stephen Rhodes: Very good pick.? Should be able to make the decision to lose Corey Maggette more palatable.? When he improves his ballhandling skills, he will be a monster.? The Milwaukee Bucks are on the clock.

Milwaukee Bucks select: Joe Alexander, SF, West Virginia

Stephen Rhodes: Everyone expected this.? He should be a good asset along with the Bucks’ acquisition of Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets.? A player with big upside.? The Charlotte Bobcats are now on the clock.? I truly expect Charlotte to select a big man – namely Brook Lopez from Stanford.? Michael Jordan has to get this one right – for a change.?

Charlotte Bobcats select: D.J. Augustin, PG, Texas

Stephen Rhodes: I didn’t see this one coming at all.? The Indiana Pacers have to be miffed.? At least the Bobcats have a backup to Raymond Felton at point guard.? The New Jersey Nets are now on the clock.? I expect the Nets to take Anthony Randolph with their pick.

The New Jersey Nets select: Brook Lopez, center, Stanford

Stephen Rhodes: Wow.? But then again, now Josh Boone has to worry.? The Indiana Pacers are now on the clock.

Indiana Pacers select: Jerryd Bayless, PG/SG, Arizona

Stephen Rhodes: The Pacers got a decent guard with this pick.? ESPN thinks he’s a Chauncey Billups-type; I agree.? It is safe to assume that Jamal Tinsley is toast.? Now the Pacers, with their #17 pick, can get a big man.? I like DeAndre Jordan with the Pacers’ #17?pick.? The Sacramento Kings are on the clock.

Sacramento Kings select: Jason Thompson, PF/C, Rider

Stephen Rhodes:? Interesting pick here.? Picked way too high in my opinion.? Good skills, but again – picked way too high.? I don’t care for this pick.? Granted Geoff Petrie is a good judge of talent, but Thompson?? I wonder of the Maloofs are in Las Vegas and dialing them in.? The Portland Trail Blazers are on the clock.? The Blazers don’t need much, really; but with James Jones a unrestricted free agent, a small forward sounds about right at #13.

Portland Trail Blazers select: Brandon Rush,?SG, Kansas

Stephen Rhodes: Quality pick here.? Will provide some scoring,?without a doubt.? It will be interesting to see how he will fit in with all the youth on the Trail Blazers.? The Golden State Warriors are now on the clock.

Golden State Warriors select: Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU

Stephen Rhodes: Big wingspan; needs to bulk up.? Good pick by Golden State, actually.? He should help Andris Biedrins in the rebounding department.? The Phoenix Suns are now on the clock.? The Suns need a backup to Shaquille O’Neal and a backup to Steve Nash.? Kosta Koufos at this pick?

Phoenix Suns select: Robin Lopez, C, Stanford

Stephen Rhodes: OK pick, I suppose.? More a defensive player, if anything.? Now Shaq can play fewer minutes.? His offense will improve over time.? With the selection, the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns have drafted Sideshow Bob’s love children.? The Philadelphia 76ers are now on the clock.? I like Darrell Arthur with their pick at #16.?

Philadelphia 76ers select: Marreese Speights, PF, Florida

Stephen Rhodes: They got their big forward; not necessarily the one I would’ve taken, though.? The Toronto Raptors are on the clock; however, they have a pending trade which sent T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and their #17 pick to the Indiana Pacers for Jermaine O’Neal.? The Raptors may be picking for Indiana here.? Stay tuned.

Toronto Raptors (Indiana Pacers) select: Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown

Stephen Rhodes: Looks like a solid pick for Indiana (assuming the Ford/Nesterovic for O’Neal trade happens).? The Pacers need that frontcourt presence – now they have it.? The Washington Wizards are now on the clock.

Washington Wizards select: JaVale McGee, C, Nevada

Stephen Rhodes: They just missed home product Hibbert but they got a decent consolation prize in McGee.? Interesting fact – McGee’s mom was in the WNBA.

Stephen Rhodes: Trade in the works: Indiana and Portland are proposing a trade; stay tuned.? The Cleveland Cavaliers are now on the clock.? I can see Kosta Koufos from Ohio State being picked here.

Cleveland Cavaliers select: J.J. Hickson, PF, North Carolina State

Stephen Rhodes: I truly thought Cleveland would’ve taken a center here.? Picked a bit high in my estimation.? The Charlotte Bobcats (again) are on the clock.? Maybe now Charlotte will get that big man they sorely need.? Denver gets to sit this draft out – till next year.

Charlotte Bobcats select: Alexis Ajinca, C, France

Stephen Rhodes: Ok pick.? Big wingspan for a big man.? Most definitely a project player here.? This pick is questionable in my opinion.? The New Jersey Nets are on the clock.? Info on the Indiana-Portland trade – Jarrett Jack, Brandon Rush and Josh McRoberts to Indiana for Ike Diogu and Jerryd Bayless.? Wow!!!

New Jersey Nets select: Ryan Anderson, PF, California

Stephen Rhodes: Decent pick.? Has decent shooting skills with decent range.? Needs to work on his feet a bit.? Good pick otherwise.? The Orlando Magic are now on the clock.? Courtney Lee is good at this pick.

Orlando Magic select: Courtney Lee, SG, Western Kentucky

Utah Jazz select: Kosta Koufos, Center, Ohio State

Seattle SuperSonics select: Serge Ibaka, Forward, Spain

Houston Rockets select: Nicolas Batum, Forward, France

San Antonio Spurs select: George Hill, Guard, IUPUI

New Orleans Hornets select: Darrell Arthur, Forward, Kansas (To Portland)

Memphis Grizzlies select: Donte Greene, Forward, Syracuse

Detroit Pistons select: D.J. White, F, Indiana

Boston Celtics select: J.R. Giddens, G, New Mexico

Second Round

Minnesota Timberwolves select: Nikola Pekovic, Serbia

Seattle SuperSonics select: Walter Sharpe, F, Alabama-Birmingham

Portland Trail Blazers select: Joey Dorsey, F, Memphis

Minnesota Timberwolves select: Mario?Chalmers, G, Kansas?

Los Angeles Clippers select: DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M

Portland Trail Blazers select: Omer Asik, C, Turkey

Milwaukee?Bucks select: Luc Mbah?a Moute, F, UCLA

Charlotte Bobcats select: Kyle Weaver, G, Washington State

Chicago Bulls select: Sonny Weems, G, Arkansas

New Jersey Nets select: Chris Douglas-Roberts, G, Memphis

Indiana Pacers select: Nathan Jawai, F/C, Australia

Sacramento Kings select: Sean Singletary, G, Virginia

Sacramento Kings select: Patrick Ewing, Jr., F, Georgetown

Utah Jazz select: Ante Tomic, C, Croatia

San Antonio Spurs select: Goran Dragic, G,?Slovenia

Seattle SuperSonics select: Trent Plaisted, F, BYU

Washington Wizards select:?Bill Walker,?F, Kansas State

Phoenix Suns select: Malik Hairston, G, Oregon

Golden State Warriors select: Richard Hendrix, F, Alabama

Seattle SuperSonics select: DeVon Hardin, C, California

Dallas Mavericks select: Shan Foster, G, Vanderbilt

Miami Heat select: Darnell Jackson, F, Kansas

Utah Jazz select: Tadija Dragicevic, Serbia

Houston Rockets select: Maarty Leunen, F, Oregon

Portland Trail Blazers select: Mike Taylor, G, Idaho Stampede

Seattle SuperSonics select: Sasha Kaun, C, Kansas

San Antonio Spurs select: James Gist, F, Maryland

Los Angeles Lakers select: Joe Crawford, G, Kentucky

Detroit Pistons select: Deron Washington, F, Virginia Tech

Boston Celtics select: Semih Erden, C, Turkey


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