Live Blogging the NBA Draft- Mayo On the Move?

What's up Yard! Yardbarker started the draft ahead of the NBA draft, by selecting myself to live blog the draft (Dewey and Jeff are still in a state of euphoria/exhaustion from going to the Playboy Mansion) Lots of rumors swirling around surrounding trades and what the first handful of picks will bring. ESPN has a full squad covering the draft is running with Jay Bilas, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Stuart Scott at the set. They are supported by the rest of the ESPN NCAA and NBA analysts which unfortunately includes Dick Vitale who somehow becomes more animated as he gets older. Most of the coverage has been focused thus far on the Rose vs Beasley debate. While I think highly of Beasley, I think the Bulls would regret passing up taking a player as polished and dynamic as Rose. Once we get past hearing Rose's name going first, more debate on if the Heat will take Beasley, Mayo (who is looking very formal instead of Kayne preppy), or will trade the pick. To ESPN's credit, they are working in interviews with all 3 of the first presumptive picks. Stephen A Smith continues to seem very disgruntled. Alright 10 minutes to go until the real countdown. UPDATE- The draft has started. David Stern avoided a chorus of boos and the clock is ticking on the Bulls. Regardless of who the Bulls take, I am going to say they will make the playoffs next year. Anyone want to bet? It surprises me that the Bulls need the full 5 minutes. What's the point of taking up this time? Do they think the Cavs will call with 30 seconds left and offer up Lebron for the pick? FIRST PICK.... Clock is winding down. It has hit 0. Stern is at the podium and announces Rose to the Bulls. I like the pick. A lot of people see Rose similar to DeRon Williams at Utah. I see him a little closer to Chris Paul. Great ball handler, great frame, who is a pure playmaker. Can really push the tempo and create in the half court offense. I see it as a good fit for the Bulls who already have a nice crew of players in place. It's clear that players will be interviewed by Stephen A Smith upon being selected. Rose's interview was very uneventful. A live interview with Smith is not the best welcome to the NBA. SECOND PICK UPDATE Beasley goes second. I am enjoying Jay Bilas' analysis of all the picks. I am lukewarm on Beasley and think his transition will from college star-NBA star will take 2-3 years. I'll say he puts up 14ppg and around 10 boards with the Heat. With Wade, Marion, and Beasley its hard to think that the Heat will not contend for the playoffs as well next year. THIRD PICK UPDATE- OJ MAYO The allegations of improprieties have not affected Ovinton J'Anthony's draft stock. Whispers surrounding Mayo and high school teammate Bill Walker have around for quite awhile. Regardless the kid can ball. Similar to Jesus Shuttlesworth, Mayo can knock down shots from the perimeter, handle the rock, and defend at a NBA level. Minnesota still has a long way to go but expect the offense to come along ways next year with Mayo on the perimeter. 4TH PICK UPDATE- Sonics TAKE RUSSELL WESTBROOK I watched a lot of UCLA games last year, and just don't see this pick. Really? I mean Westbrook definitely has some great ability, but is this the guy you take with the 4th pick? He will definitely help defensively but he is a tweener with questionable shooting. I just don't see this having an impact. COMMERCIAL UPDATE.....Preview of Judd Appatow (writer of all funny movies) "stoner" action flick Pineapple Express. 5TH PICK UPDATE- GRIZZLIES TAKE KEVIN LOVE People will see this as a little bit of a reach, but in my eyes this is a sure thing. Love has a well rounded game including great range, above average ball handling skills, and tenacity on the boards. Memphis still has some pretty big gaps, but seeing him and Conley together should at least make games a bit more competitive. The Knicks are on the clock......Pick Bayless.....don't blow it. 6TH PICK UPDATE- KNICKS TAKE DANILO GALLINARI Its hard to analyze these picks since we have no collegiate footage. I'll weigh in regardless in crowning this as a stupid move. This is a project pick. Is this guy even going to get 20 minutes next year? The level of play and the NYC culture and media shock. Sheesh first pick of a new regime and this is what they put together? Maybe I'll eat my words in 2011 but until then I'll snicker about this pick. 7TH PICK UPDATE- CLIPPERS TAKE ERIC GORDON The Clippers were improving and even had their own reality show for awhile bet fell back to earth the past couple of years. I think Bayless would have been a far smarter pick. Gordon is a little reckless and when his shot is off.....its really off. For a team known for playing out of control he'll help score points but not necessarily win games. 8TH PICK UPDATE- BUCKS TAKE JOE ALEXANDER I like this pick. Alexander doesn't have the measurables that other big guys have, but he showed a workman like effort in the post and performed well down the stretch for West Virginia. My question is why not Lopez with this pick? I like Alexander's game a lot and like the pick, but its open to debate. Bobcats are on the clock. Do they take Lopez? I must admit, sometimes I forget the Bobcats are a NBA team. I never see their highlights or see them on ESPN. 9TH PICK UPDATE- DJ AUGUSTIN Augustin over Bayless? Augustin over Lopez? I like Augustin but don't think this is going keep the Bobcats out of the lottery for years to come. Their is talent on the roster and Augustin will help but just don't see it adding more W's. 10TH PICK- NETS TAKE BROOK LOPEZ Jason Kidd is gone and so is Richard Jefferson. Left in their wake is Vince Carter, the other Chinese guy that not Yao, Devin Harris and now Lopez. Brook should be a double double his rookie year. Despite sometimes being a little clumsy he has touch and a great NBA frame for a big man. Dear lord....Brook AND Robin Lopez will not be getting any endorsements with those speaking skills. 11TH PICK- PACERS TAKE JERRYD BAYLESS Steal of the draft. Interesting to see what Pacers will do with TJ Ford, Tinsley, and Bayless. Bayless has a real smooth jumper and is shifty in the lane. I doubt the Pacers thought he would be on the board at this point, and will to find a way to make it work. Despite the logjam in the backcourt, Bayless has the skill to expedite the rebuilding process. 12TH PICK- KINGS TAKE JASON THOMPSON Yeah no commentary here. I won't talk out my butt. Haven't seen him really. Feel free to leave a comment with a scouting report on Mr. Thompson. 13TH PICK- BLAZERS TAKE BRANDON RUSH Really like this pick. The Blazers will be in the playoffs next year. Rush is a smart player who does a lot of things well. Won't put up huge numbers but will make smart decisions and mesh well with the abundant talent in Portland. Now my hometown Warriors are on the clock.... 14TH PICK- WARRIORS SELECT ANTHONY RANDOLPH Never really saw Randolph play. This kid needs to eat some meat. I don't see him contributing that much his rookie year. Kind of bummed. That does it for the Lottery 15th pick- SUNS SELECT ROBIN LOPEZ Lopez looks ridiculous trying to put a hat over his fro. The Lopez brothers now follow the Collins brothers also from Stanford as tandem first round picks. He looks like an oafy looking carrot top with the hat on during the interview. 16 PICK- 76ERS SELECT Maurreese Speights Although other big men were higher on the board, but I think Speights will end up being a steal. Good size, good shooter.... His playing time was stymied by Noah and Horford, but showed some great flashes as a starter. 17 PICK- RAPTORS/PACERS Take Roy Hibbert Hibbert's an ok pick but is still a project. Propensity to foul and very limited range. Will help on the boards, but has a ways to go with his footwork. 18 PICK WIZARDS TAKE JaVale something other.... FIRST TRADE OF THE NIGHT Indiana gets Brandon Rush and Jarrett Jack Blazers get Bayless and Ike Diogu In my eyes Oden's return and Bayless make the Blazers a legit contender in the West. Not just to make the playoffs, but to advance far in the playoffs. 19TH PICK CAVS TAKE JJ HICKSON Live blogging is taking a toll. We'll probably wrap it up soon.Hickson looks like a solid pick considering there is limited gas in the tank for guys like Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, etc. 20th PICK...Traded from Nuggets to Bobcats BOBCATS take ALEXIS AJINCA Huge foreign guy..... Looks raw. Real raw. The Pacers are also getting Josh McRoberts in the Bayless deal. McRoberts doesn't make the deal that much better for the Pacers 21rst PICK- NETS take RYAN ANDERSON Its hard to know Anderson because he played on CAL, but those who have seen him play swear this is a great pick. I briefly saw him and was impressed with game. Athletic ability is questionable but he shoots well and has a solid offensive game. 22nd Pick MAGIC TAKE COURTNEY LEE Good pick. I listened to tales of the Playboy Mansion rather than learning more about Lee. No slight to Lee, but I value living vicariously through other people. 23rd JazzPick Kosta Koufos I consider myself and expert in Kosta Koufos and have seen the good, the bad, and the very ugly. Despite my skepticism I think this is a good fit for Koufos should he not play in Greece (TAX FREE $$). Koufos has good skills but can be clumsy with the ball and soft in the post. He also seems to get rattled. However he has a nice shot, great size, and nice portfolio of post moves. He should blend in well in Utah, but don't expect BIG things now or even down the line. 24TH PICK SONICS TAKE SERGE IBAKA He is 18 and from the Congo. ESPN international guy says he'll stay in Spain. Anyone in the yard like the movie Congo? The book was good, but the movie imo was horrible. ESPN is now focusing on Darrell Arthur as their Brady Quinn for the draft. Arthur isn't a sexy pic but plays smart and has great range..... I would rather have him then the guy from the Congo, or a starring role in a sequel of Congo. 25TH PICK ROCKETS TAKE NICOLAS BATUM Batum plays in France. Apparently he is good there. Not sure he will be coming to the NBA anytime soon. ESPN is focusing on Arthur's slide (blaming it on a kidney ailment) as well as the Knicks boner move. D' Antoni is trying to justify the pick. 26TH PICK SPURS TAKES GEORGE HILL IUPUI IUPUI? What does that stand for? Bilas likes him, I trust Bilas. Can contribute off the bench and develop. 27TH NEW ORLEANS TAKES DARRELL ARTHUR The crowd erupts for the guy who suffered through the waiting. I wouldn't complain if I was Arthur, going to an up and coming team with Chris Paul and David West. Arthur showed me a lot during his time in Kansas. He also showed the ability to mesh well with a great supporting cast, something that will bode well for him in New Orleans. 28TH PICK....The Grizzlies are back on the board....Not sure how. I started socializing/gambling. SELECT DONTE' GREENE. Classic example of a guy who should have stayed in college. Needs a lot of seasoning and doesn't get the benefit of going to a good team where he can play a secondary role. Has skill, but will need to be coached big time 29th PICK DETROIT PISTONS SELECT DJ WHITE Really like this pick. We'll start to see a lot of guys like White who performed well in college/stayed 4 years, but are obviously missing some skills. For White his range is limited and his ball handling and size are a little lacking. However he showed me a lot his senior year. Scrappy and tenacious, I wouldn't be surprised if White can develop into a starter down the road. Last pick of the round...and my last pick I will cover from the office. I'll wrap up the second round later tonight. 30TH. CELTICS TAKE JR GIDDENS The former Kansas transfer goes to the Champs. Looks like he can contribute off the bench, but his defense may keep him from seeing significant minutes. Alright barkers. Thats it for now! SECOND ROUND UPDATE.... Lots of trades. Most notably Portland picks up Arthur for cash. Portland is going to be talented and deep next year. Chalmers goes to the Heat. With Beasley, Marion, Wade, and Chalmers I can see the Heat winning 40+next year. Bill Walker finds a very nice home in Boston via trade. If they cannot resign Posey, its possible Walker can fill a similar role. I like CDR going to New Jersey, Shan Foster to Dallas, as well as James Gist to San Antonio. LATE BREAKING NEWS: ESPN reporting that Memphis will deal Kevin Love and Mike Miller in a 8 person deal to get OJ Mayo and 3 other scrubs. Biggest Winners..... Portland Miami Memphis....this team has no depth but has a solid base to build around