Stueve Wonders

Welcome to Miami

2010-07-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

LeBron James is the bravest man in basketball.

James, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, announced his intentions to suit up for the Miami Heat for the 2010-11 season on national television. A lot of fans and critics might suggest James slowly pushed a knife into the back of Cleveland. Some might see LeBron as an arrogant, self-centered and selfish individual after leaving his hometown.

Some see a man personally destroying a city's dreams. I see a man grabbing his future and altering it himself.

An important factor in LeBron's choice to team with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh is seemingly overlooked. The fact that the trio decided to write their own history is unheard of in the modern sports world.

Look, it would have been easy for LeBron to re-sign with the Cavs and wait around until some help finally arrived. Or he could have signed with the Heat where Wade and Bosh had already united and are driven to become NBA legends.

In sports, players sign with a franchise and hope that the white, middle-aged men upstairs make the right roster moves to give the team a shot at a title. What's overlooked is the athlete's ability to decide their future. Now the trio has pushed money and egos aside to write their own destiny.

LeBron has sat around in Cleveland for seven years waiting for a general manager to make the correct trades and free-agent signings. The beautiful result is that James, Wade and Bosh have practically said "Screw this! Let's unite and dominate the league. Let's show the world that WE can put together a title team."

Personally, I wanted James to stay in Cleveland. But you can't hate the man for wanting what every star in the NBA is ultimately judged on: Championships. LeBron knew he didn't have the help in Cleveland to win anytime soon, so he bolted for South Beach to join forces with a couple of true players.

And next up is the talk that James and Wade can't play together. If anybody truly believes two of the most unselfish players in the NBA will cease to survive on the court together is an absolute fool. Both players have consistently shown they have the ability to create for others.

Also, props to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Thanks to his quick response to James' decision, sports fans around the country now know his true personality. I understand the guy is frustrated after probably losing around $100 million in franchise value, but show some class. LeBron hoisted that team on his shoulders for seven years and was the sole reason Quicken Loans Arena sold out every game.

A part of me wants to feel sorrow for the city of Cleveland. But I can't muster the emotions for such a sad sports town. Instead of wishing the guy well and thanking him for bringing unforeseen excitement to an otherwise abysmal city, the entire town wants to burn his jerseys and the owner wants to question the guy's character?

I'm proud of LeBron for doing what was best for him. It was the biggest decision of his life and he wasn't afraid to disappoint his fans.

Selling the franchise

2010-07-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a while ...

Standing on the cold tile of my kitchen floor with a box of cereal in each hand, I let out a big yawn before I made a choice that affected the rest of my day. Peanut Butter Crunch or Cheerios?

That is my life.

On the morning of July 1, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and a handful of elite NBA free agents woke up free to sign with any team. Multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and championship rings are weighing on the choices these guys are soon to make.

This is their life.

It's obvious James' decision is the beginning of the domino trail. Where he decides to spend the prime of his career will help create some clearance with guys like Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer.

There's no doubt LBJ has some serious pondering to do. There is a legitimate argument for at least four possible destinations: Cleveland, Chicago, New York and Miami.

Cleveland

LeBron has become one of the biggest stars on the planet over his seven seasons with the Cavaliers. He's earned his share of individual awards, but the Cavs have fallen short of championships.

Cleveland's current roster is full of big contracts, a lack of young talent and mediocre play — not exactly selling points for LeBron — but it's where home is. LBJ has always seemed like a genuine guy and I believe he truly cares about the city and the effect of his potential departure.

One punch Cleveland can throw is the ability to offer LeBron an extra year worth close to $30 million. Due to the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, a player can receive a six-year deal from his former team compared to a five-year contract from competing bidders. I can't help but think James will decide with his heart and stay in Ohio.

Chicago

Out of the potential departures for King James, Chicago seems to be most logical choice. Already owners of a talented and youthful roster, the Bulls have the room to sign two maximum contract free-agents. If James ends up in the Windy City, you can bet one of those A-list free-agents are following.

I have a hard time believing LeBron wants to follow in another player's footsteps. Chicago fans still close their eyes and see Michael Jordan hoisting trophies and it would take a lot of titles for James to reach a higher pinnacle than Jordan in Chicago. James needs to continue to build his own legacy in his own city.

I'm not diminishing the Bulls chances of landing the King. It's obvious Chicago has the upper-hand when compared to other teams, excluding Cleveland. I'm not saying LeBron would not OWN the city of Chicago if he signs with them.

But, you can't argue that he becomes bigger than MJ without winning the amount of titles his Airness accumulated.

New York

If James inks a deal with the Knicks on July 8, there's chance he becomes the most hated man in the NBA. Signing with New York has become such a cliche in sports that most athletes who end up in the Big Apple with huge contracts are not normally accepted as a popular figure around the country.

Can you imagine the boos that would fall on James' head if he entered Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland with a Knicks jersey wrapped around his physique?

Gross.

Miami

The sound of LeBron and D-Wade together in South Beach is very appealing. If these two superstars decide to control their own destiny, who wouldn't want to sign with the Heat?

I would bet a team with James, Wade and 10 men rounded up at the local YMCA would put the rest of the league on high alert. We're talking about two of the top three players in NBA joining forces to help put rings on each others fingers. I can assure if James and Wade team up, free-agents will check themselves at the door and actually contemplate taking a pay cut to be a part of something extremely special.

Oh, and did I mention Florida doesn't own a personal income tax? Mention that to a multi-millionaire and watch them drool with dollar signs.

Get a grip

2009-08-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

As a dedicated NFL fan, I couldn't help but notice Michael Vick's signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. The seven text messages and three voicemails didn't hurt, either.

I'm a loyal Eagles fan, so this move hit home in an extra special way.

Personally, I was excited over the move. With Vick's extreme athleticism, I'm thinking his presence will definitely be noticed by opposing defenses no matter where he's lining up.

I've openly been a supporter of Vick during his journey back to football. I never supported what he was convicted of, but I believed the man deserved a second opportunity. Vick's road is not over, though.

The majority of NFL fans have not and will not forgive Vick for his wrong doing. Slurs and negativity will be thrown at him faster than his own football throws. And he will never rid himself of the burden he has earned. Mike Vick will always be tied with dogfighting.

A problem many fans of the league are complaining of is that with Vick's reinstatement, some parents are worried that the NFL is setting a bad example by rewarding an awful act with another chance in front of the young fans. My answer: don't let your kids look up to Vick, or athletes in general.

And to PETA: get off of your white horse and slap yourself in the face. Your bloodsucking and ruthless ways are walking the fine line of slander.

Delaying the inevitable

2009-07-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

As a free man, shouldn't Michael Vick be treated fairly? I'm not sure why the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback has yet to be reinstated, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is taking his sweet time on a decision.

Goodell knows Vick will eventually be reinstated and he surely knows a firestorm will occur when that happens. He can't keep Vick out forever, even if he'd like to.

Goodell needs to bite the bullet and let Vick have a chance to regain his life by reinstating him as soon as possible. No matter when the reinstatement occurs, the media is going to blitz the issue until Vick's career expires.

I don't condone dogfighting, but I'm all for second chances.

What division holds the No. 2 rank?

It's pretty clear to me that the best division in football belongs to the NFC East. With Dallas, New York, Philadelphia and Washington all .500 or better clubs, the BEast all but controls the NFC.

Is it the AFC East (New England, Miami, New York and Buffalo), the AFC South (Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee and Jacksonville) or the NFC South (New Orleans, Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay)?

I think you have to hand it to the AFC East. With Tom Brady returning, the Patriots are my Super Bowl reps for the AFC. Buffolo and New York improved considerably, while Miami is just an all-around tough team.

I like the NFC South, as well, but I think Carolina didn't do much to improve its conference hold and Tampa Bay dismantled its entire roster.

A season of Holliday's (Halladay's)

2009-07-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Cardinals vastly improved themselves over the week when it acquired Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday. The 29-year-old is a lifetime .317 hitter and has postseason experience after helping the Colorado Rockies reach the World Series in 2007.

As I look up and down the Cardinals roster, I realize it's difficult to not believe this is the team to beat as October crawls toward us. With two nasty starting pitchers in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, a monster in Albert Pujols surrounded by a deep lineup are my favorites to win the National League pennant.

At the start of the season, I believed the New York Mets were going to overcome its yearly September blowup. I didn't expect them to have nearly half of their opening day lineup to be traded or spend significant time on the DL. Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Gary Sheffield have missed a combined 195 games this season. Pitchers John Maine and J.J. Putz have missed considerable time, as well.

The NL owns a handful of serious World Series contenders in St. Louis, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. All three clubs are loaded with offense, but the Cards have the edge with their elite starting pitching.

—If there was one thing the Phillies need before their turn comes to defend their World Series title, it's another starting pitcher. Lucky for Philadelphia, there's a really, really good pitcher named Roy Halladay who wouldn't mind trading in his Canadian passport for a shot at the postseason. The Toronto Bluejays own the rights to Halladay and gave the Phillies a wishlist that they would like to receive in return.

I'm still stunned that Philadelphia turned down a run at Halladay. By not handing over a couple prospects for a more secure shot at a repeat World Series, the Phillies management might be looking for a Double-A Minor League championship, too.

The dunk that nobody cares about

2009-07-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the kind folks at ebaumnation.com, the world was finally introduced to the dunk that could change the way we look at basketball forever.

Only kidding.

On July 22, ebaumnation.com released the famously mysterious tape of LeBron James being posterized by a teenager. As we've all heard from every sports outlet in the world, Nike—who sponsored James' basketball camp—did its best impersonation of the Gestapo and seized the tapes before anybody released it to the mass media.

Not sure how ebaumnation got their hands on it, but it sure made this the most over-hyped story since Susan Boyle (God forbid a person is both hideous AND talented).

I'm sorry for not buying into James being dunked on because I highly doubt James was playing at the same level of an NBA game. I can't imagine LBJ walking on a court with lowly college players wanting to impress them all immensely.

My congratulations goes out to Jordan Crawford. No doubt Crawford has been praying every night before bed that this video some way surfaces.

The prize of the summer

2009-07-13T14:07:00.001-07:00

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay is reportedly on the trading block. He's already been linked to teams like St. Louis and Philadelphia. The question is whether or not those teams have the prospects in order to acquire the former Cy Young award winner.

Halladay is the type of dominant force that would easily improve a contender and he seems to be enjoying the thought of heading to a team in the race.

The situation reminds me of the Randy Johnson/C.C. Sabathia effect. When Johnson was traded to the Houston Astros in 1998, the monster left-hander dealt bullets over the final two months and propelled the Astros to a playoff berth. Sabathia aided the Milwaukee Brewers in its run to clinch its first postseason birth since 1982.

Which team will trade its future for the present? We'll see in a few short weeks as the July 31 MLB trading deadline inches closer.

—I checked out a handful of movies over the past week. Tonight I'm giving "Moon" an hour and a half in Yellow Springs. I'm going in with high hopes.

Public Enemies — C+

Night at the Museum II — B

Transformers II — C-

Bruno — B+

Texas two-step

2009-07-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Major League Baseball season recently hit the 81-game midway point. For the first time since 2004, 18 teams were at or above .500 on July 9. But, October births aren't earned in the early stages of summer. The grueling months of July, August and September separate the teams on the fence and the clubs destined for the playoffs.

Like it or not, we're here

Texas Rangers (47-36, one game lead in AL West) — The rangers have been near the top of their division for all of 2009.

I'll admit it; I sometimes say things that I don't mean. I specifically make bold predictions only to be different. Here's what I wrote in my American League preview for Sinclair Community College's newspaper The Clarion in April:

"Potential suspects to steal playoff berths for the postseason regulars include the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles.

I am completely sold on all three teams, but there is something to the Rangers. Though they lack pitching, Texas' offense is absolutely frightening. Led by Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler (above) and Michael Young, the Rangers should easily exceed the 5.2 runs per game average they boasted last season and win a tough AL West."

I hadn't bought into what I had written at the time, but I went with it because it was a different approach. I got tired of seeing the experts selecting the Anaheim Angels to take down the West.

It's hard not to believe what Texas has done so far. With Hamilton only participating in 38 games, the rest of the Rangers offense made giant strides in productivity.

Outside of leading baseball in HRs, Texas is generally ranked in the middle of the American League pack in a number of offensive categories.

Surprisingly, the Rangers pitching has been the anchor to a winning record. Led by Kevin Millwood, Texas starters are nine games over .500. In 2008, Rangers starters were four games under the .500 mark.

With Hamilton coming back to full strength and Kinsler ready to bust out of a dark slump, I expect Texas to continue its winning ways and become the last to stand in the AL West.

In all seriousness

2009-07-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Major League Baseball announced its All-Star rosters today and I'm wondering why a handful of players were placed on the rosters. In order to represent every team in the Midsummer Classic, one player from each franchise gets the call to join in on the festivities.

How in the world did Colorado's Jason Marquis (above) get an invitation to the 80th All-Star game in St. Louis? As of Sunday, July 5, Marquis was ranked 26th in the National League in ERA (3.87). Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto (8-4, 2.69) and Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens (6-6, 2.73) both have much more prominent numbers than Marquis.

Baseball must stop acknowledging lowly winners and start embracing great arms. No more awarding pitchers who luck into great run support and solid bullpen play and then punishing the hard-luck losers.

Arizona's Dan Haren made the All-Star team, but only because he forced it. Haren, who won his eighth game on Sunday, had a 4-4 record on June 7 with 2.33 ERA as his WHIP was below 1.00. But the right-hander couldn't catch a break as his bullpen blew two large leads. Now, Haren owns an 8-4 record and continues to lead the NL in ERA and WHIP.

The point is just because a guy has 10 wins at the All-Star break doesn't mean he has been playing at an All-Star level through the first three months of the season.

—I can't believe Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton made the All-Star team. Hamilton has been on the DL twice this season, hitting .240 in 35 games. I know he isn't going to play because of his injured abdomen, but it's sad to see him receive more than 1 million votes from knowledgeable "baseball fans."

—Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson is a solid player. But I'm getting tired of him consistently being handed awards. In 2006, Hudson peaked with 15 HRs and 67 RBIs while playing good defense. He won two NL Gold Glove awards in 2006 (13 errors, .984) and 2007 (10 errors, .985). Kansas City's Mark Grudzielanek took home the 2006 AL Gold Glove with four errors and a .994 fielding percentage; Detroit's Placido Polanco grabbed the 2007 AL Gold Glove at second with ZERO errors and a .1000 fielding percentage.

So how did Hudson take home two Gold Gloves on a combined 23 errors and an above average fielding percentage? Somebody answer me!

—Did you check out the Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick? It was an absolutely amazing match as Federer fought to punch his card in the history books and Roddick attempting to hold off Roger the Great for his first Wimbledon title.

Federer wrapped up his 15th Grand Slam title, passing Pete Sampras for first all-time.

Got to give it up for Roddick. He's been owned by Federer during his career and I believed Federer would roll through Roddick. He hung tough and helped put on a show for the ages.

Doing what must be done

2009-07-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

What's going on in the NBA's free agency period is raising goosebumps down the arms of NBA fans everywhere. And it's not even 2010.

A year before the most hyped offseason in the history of the league, the 2009 offseason is turing into a serious boosting stage for a bunch of already talented teams.

I'm no Los Angeles Lakers fan, but I was a huge fan of Ron Artest (left) joining the NBA Champions.

It's extremely exciting to see teams play for the present and a title run. I loved what Artest said on ESPN's "Sportscenter" on July 2 about taking a pay cut to play for the Lakers.

"I'm playing to win," he said. "I'm not playing for the money no more."

Too many times are we seeing free-agents head off to shaky franchises for some extra dough. After Kevin Garnett set aside his ego to move to Boston, I think players started to realize that legacies are made when you win; not how much money you make.

With Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland, Vince Carter in Orlando and Artest in L.A., the NBA is going to experience a suspenseful season.

I can't remember the last time when five teams own a legitimate shot to take the title in the 2009-10 season. Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, San Antonio and L.A. should all collide when next seasons playoffs roll around.

Steps taken in devastating loss

2009-07-02T09:49:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the blog break; moving 15 minutes away was much more difficult than I once thought.

Tough to see the U.S. go down the way they did against Brazil in the FIFA Confederations Cup final.

When you're in the position that United States soccer is in, only good can come from a meltdown of such magnitude.

Positives can be taken away. The U.S. certainly walked off with the confidence needed when playing teams as dominant as Brazil and Spain. They now know they have the talent to beat the best.

I've never been a fan of soccer until the Confederations Cup. Not sure if I'm hopping on the Major League Soccer wagon, but I'm certainly digging the international game.

—The news of Yao Ming's injured foot came up disappointing this week. Some reports are guessing Yao might be forced to retire because of a broken left foot. When you're 7-foot-5 and well-over 300 pounds, feet tend to be important.

After Tracy McGrady lost his 2009 season to injury, the Rockets seemed to figure their identity out. They took care of a young and talented Portland team and turned right around to push the eventual NBA Champion Lakers to seven games.

Houston realized its strength: defense, defense and defense. Losing Yao is going to be tough considering 6-foot-9 forward Luis Scola is the next tallest Rocket who earned a credible amount of playing time last season.

—Is any one else enjoying the North Side collapse? The Chicago Cubs roughed its way through the first three months of the year with a 37-38 record, as of July 2. Milton Bradley is angry (normal), Lou Pinella is one onion ring away from a stroke and leadoff man Alfonso Soriano is stomping his .296 on-base percentage into the ground.

With a payroll well over $130 million and facing a deep division, the Cubbies aren't looking like the supposed favorites to represent the National League in the World Series this year.

I love it.

"The People Under the Stairs"

2009-06-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen the Wes Craven classic about a family who kidnaps children only to throw in their conveniently large basement? When the frightening youngsters show their long hair and pale skin to the audience, one seemingly can't look away.

Kind of reminds me of United States soccer.

For years, U.S. Soccer was a person under the stairs; striker Landon Donovan (left) and his teammates were locked away in a dark hole with little to eat and no sunlight. With its win over No. 1 rated Spain on June 24, U.S. Soccer was discovered and rescued thanks to its own actions. It busted free of the tyranny that is a basement with a padlock attached.

The United States now has a chance to work itself back into society with a win over Brazil this afternoon. If the Americans can find some way to sneak past the amazing Brazilians, U.S. Soccer will be the new rage in this country and for good reason. Though just fighting for the FIFA Confederations Cup, victory over Brazil could go down as the greatest moment in U.S. Soccer history. And give the Americans momentum heading into next summer's World Cup.

Consider the situation America was in a week before; the only way for the United States to advance into the Cup semi-final was a three-goal victory over Egypt, who was coming off a huge victory over Italy. Also, Brazil had to knock out the Italians by a minimum of three goals. Remarkably, both events occurred, which boosted America into the final four.

Can United States Soccer give America something to celebrate by winning its first FIFA competition? Let's hope so for the sports sake.

"Kaaaahn!"

2009-06-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, let's give Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn (right) a round of applause. His mind numbing decision to draft two (TWO) point guards with the fifth and sixth (FIFTH AND SIXTH) selection in the 2009 NBA Draft most definitely took the prize for "Bonehead of the Night" (notice the NBDL logos in the backround).

Can somebody explain to me the point in taking Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn? Both guards need the ball in their hands to display their strenghts. Rubio, who's already proving he thinks he's bigger than the game (he referred to himself as the one and only Ricky Rubio last night), has probably requested a trade out of Minnesota before the sun had risen this morning.

—I'm a fan of the Vince Carter to Orlando deal. Both teams win as the New Jersey Nets look to get younger and the Magic needed to replace the offense lost from Hedo Turkoglu becoming a free-agent.

The hidden key to the deal was Ryan Anderson heading to Orlando, as well. Anderson is a great spot-up shooter and is very deadly beyond the three-point line. The Magic didn't lose much in the deal. With Jameer Nelson returning to full strength, Rafer Alston was expendable; Carter steps into Courtney Lee's spot and Tony Battie, well, he's Tony Battie.

It's going to be tough to replace Turkoglu, but the Magic might have improved with this trade.

—Shaq-Diesel to the Cavs is an excellent trade for Cleveland. General Manager Danny Ferry knows this is the last chance he has to keep LeBron in Ohio. As much as Cavs fans would like to believe, the core that LeBron had last year wasn't going to win a title. A motivated and healthy Shaq could give Cleveland that boost in securing its first NBA Title and LeBron in the long-term.

—"SLEEPER PICK of the Night" goes to...the San Antonio Spurs. Don't ask me how, but Pitt's DeJuan Blair slid to the second round and the Spurs did not waste the opportunity to nab the rebounding machine. Blair fits perfectly into San Antonio's system with his rough style. Even with the Cavs grabbing Shaq and the Magic trading for Vince, the week belonged to the Spurs. Trading for Richard Jefferson and selecting Blair just enhanced San Antonio's championship hopes greatly.

The saga begins for Griffin in L.A.

2009-06-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today's the day when teams build for the now or later. We know who's No. 1 (see below), but what will unfold after?

1. Los Angeles Clippers — Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma

When Griffin gets the call from NBA Commissioner David Stern to charge the stage and hold up his Clippers jersey for the world to see, we must realize that the alteration of the worst franchise in the history of sport is beginning before our eyes.

It's no secret how dominate Griffin was at the collegiate level. In his sophomore season, the 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward led the nation in rebounding with an average of 14.3 board per game to go along with his 22.7 points per game. In 35 games, Griffin led the country in double-doubles with 30.

Griffin is the only prospect in this draft that would go top-three any other year. In this weak class, he is far-and-away the top prospect.

Here's an interesting bit of information I found about Griffin on NBA.com: Rebound total was the highest in a season by an NCAA Division I player since Indiana State's Larry Bird in 1978-79 (505) and rebounding average was the highest since Wake Forest's Tim Duncan in 1996-97 (14.7). Averaged 28.5 points and 15.0 rebounds, while shooting .780 over four NCAA Tournament games.
Pure destruction; in other words this isn't Michael Olowakandi. This is the pick that Clippers faithful has been waiting for.

One good thing to see is Griffin's quick acceptance of the L.A. way (of losing). When the balls dropped the Clips way on lottery night, Griffin didn't piss and moan to the media. He wasn't going to refuse to play for Los Angeles or ask for a trade.

Griffin knows he is a massive force that teams can build around.Believe it or not, the Clippers have some young talent to match with Griffin. Last year's first-round pick Eric Gordon showed some upside; small forward Al Thornton can score, but has some work to do; point guard Baron Davis is a proven leader and All-Star when healthy; centers Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby are both above-average players at their position.

If Griffin can come right in and become the No. 1 option for this team and take some pressure off of Davis, there isn't a doubt in my mind that the Clippers can clinch a playoff spot.

Stueve's continued NBA Mock (I have Minnesota trading up to No.2 for the fifth and 18th overall):

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (trade w/ Memphis Grizzlies) — Ricky Rubio, G, Spain

3. Oklahoma City Thunder — Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

4. Sacramento Kings — Stephen Curry, G, Davidson

5. Memphis Grizzlies (trade w/ Minnesota Timberwolves) — Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis

6. Minnesota Timberwolves — James Harden, G, Arizona State

7. Golden State Warriors — Jrue Holiday, G, UCLA

8. New York Knicks — Brandon Jennings, G, Italy

9. Toronto Raptors — Jordan Hill, F, Arizona

10. Milwaukee Bucks — DeMar DeRozan, G, Southern California

11. New Jersey Nets — Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville

12. Charlotte Bobcats — Gerald Henderson, G, Duke

13. Indiana Pacers — Earl Clark, F, Louisville

14. Phoenix Suns — Tyler Hansbrough, F, North Carolina

15. Detroit Pistons — Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse

16. Chicago Bulls — DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh

17. Philadelphia 76ers — James Johnson, F, Purdue

18. Memphis Grizzlies (trade w/ T-Wolves) — B.J. Mullins, C, Ohio State

19. Atlanta Hawks — Ty Lawson, G, North Carolina

20. Utah Jazz — Sam Young, F, Pittsburgh

21. New Orleans Hornets — Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona

22. Portland Trailblazers — DeMarre Carroll, F, Missouri

23. Sacramento Kings — Austin Daye, F, Gonzaga

24. Dallas Mavericks, Eric Maynor, G, Virginia Commonwealth

25. Oklahoma City Thunder — Nick Calathes, G, Florida

26. Chicago Bulls — Toney Douglas, G, Florida State

27. Memphis Grizzlies — Derrick Brown, F, Xavier

28. Minnesota Timberwolves — Omri Casspi, F, Israel

29. New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Lakers) — Victor Claver, F, Spain

30. Cleveland Cavaliers — DeJuan Summers, F, Georgetown

Stay away from the light, Ricky

2009-06-24T07:34:00.001-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

2. Memphis Grizzlies — Ricky Rubio, G, Spain

The Memphis Grizzlies will determine how the entire 2009 NBA Draft unfolds. A scary thought, I know.

The legend of Ricky Rubio continues to gain momentum. With as many as six teams rumored in trading up for the 18-year-old point guard, the love is clearly there for Rubio.

But, the love is not existent between Memphis' front office and Rubio's team. Reports have surfaced over the previous two months that Rubio does not want to play in Memphis due to its lack of good treatment towards Spanish-bred players (Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro).

Outside of landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is Rubio's best fit. Matching the flashy-passer with the super-athletic O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay would give the Grizzlies a very flashy up-and-down game.

The Grizzlies still like former lottery pick Mike Conley Jr. and Hasheem Thabeet is a definite option at this pick with the hole in the middle. Tyreke Evans is a darkhorse pick, as well.

Rubio is not a scorer, and he probably never will be. His passing skills must be paired with a couple of scorers. Rubio would complement Gay and Mayo very well. Again, I'm not a Rubio follower. He's not quick enough to get by the likes of Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Deron Williams, and he's not strong enough to handle guys like Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd and Andre Miller. It's going to take a few years for Rubio to peak because of his age and his premature frame.

If I'm Memphis management and I'm picking between Rubio and Thabeet, I've got to go with Rubio. The pieces are already placed in Memphis for a run-and-gun format. Why take a 7-foot-3 monster like Thabeet and ask him to sprint up-and-down the floor for 35 minutes a night.

It would shock me to see Rubio wear a Memphis uniform, though. A draft-night trade is likely to occur with teams like Sacramento, Minnesota, New York and Boston interested in Rubio.

Rollin' with 'Thabeet'

2009-06-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

3. Oklahoma City Thunder — Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

After missing out on the Blake Griffin sweepstakes, Thunder general manager Sam Presti has to be disappointed with the third slot. Griffin would have filled a huge hole in OKC's weak inside game.

If I'm the Thunder here, I'm taking Thabeet whether at No. 2 or 3. Again, I'm not sold on Ricky Rubio as a legit prospect.

Kevin Durant is on the verge of superstardom and needs a sidekick. That sidekick isn't coming in this class, no matter what experts say. Multi-forward Jeff Green is a serviceable talent, but is best with the second unit. Oklahoma City grabbed guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick in last year's draft and he showed signs of promise in his rookie season.

With Thabeet as the pick here, OKC gets a defensive stud in the middle. The 7-foot-3 UConn product showed flashes of dominance in Big East play during his junior year. Thabeet averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game. Currently, the Thunder own no threat of intimidation in the middle.

The Thunder, formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics, have a terrible history in selecting big men. Here's a quick list of recent talent chosen with their first pick: Saer Sene (2006), Johan Petro (2005), Robert Swift (2004). Sene and Petro are both gone and Swift has played in 34 games over the past two seasons. I wouldn't use the word 'successful' when it comes to OKC picking big men.

Thabeet is still raw and lacks any sort of offensive game, but 7-3 shot-blocking machines with a resume don't come along every draft.

All the Kings men

2009-06-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

4. Sacramento Kings — Stephen Curry, G, Davidson

Depending on the NBA general manager, Curry is known as the brightest star in the sky, or the most likely to flame out. Curry has everything going against him during the draft process: his size, quickness, defense—even his scoring. Curry averaged more than 28 points per game as a junior. During his three years at Davidson, the 6-foot-3 shooter averaged 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

He's already being compared to Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick. The former Duke standout was quickly squashed in his first league go-round. Redick entered the league as a dangerous shooter from anywhere on the floor. Redick quickly found out that getting separation in the NBA is a bit more difficult.

That's the chance Sacramento must be willing to make. If Curry expands his game (and his skinny frame), he should be a solid point scorer. The city of Sacramento were the biggest losers on lottery night. If Blake Griffin wound up in the Maloof Bros. hands, those two love birds would still be dancing in the streets.

The Kings need to take a chance here. When your best player is Kevin Martin, dices need to be rolled.

Curry could put butts in the seats again in Sacramento, for the time being. If Curry can light up the league the way he did the college basketball world over the past two seasons, the Kings would be wise in selecting the scoring machine.

The continued improvement of center Spencer Hawes and forward Jason Thompson, along with Martin, are critical for Sacramento. The addition of Curry would make the Kings look potentially scary.

I'm trying to be nice.

The dry spell begins for the Wiz

2009-06-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

5. Washington Wizards — Jordan Hill, F, Arizona

The Washington Wizards are an interesting team. Not many teams this high in the draft have three potential All-Stars with the likes of Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Areanas (if healthy). But, I'm not convinced the Wiz are a contender because they're certainly tumbling down a hill. The three mentioned players all are nearing an exit out of the nation's capital as Washington looks to rebuild around...nobody.

Really, the Wizards don't own one young player who can step into the shoes as the teams go-to. Some might say guard Nick Young, but he needs to take a large step next season in order for those words to garner any attention.

With its current core, the Wizards have no hope of getting past the conference semi-finals. And that's best case scenario. They need to cut the strings on the huge contracts of Jamison and Arenas and start building all over again.

I'm selecting Hill because he resembles what Washington has lacked mightily in years past: a tough inside presence. When I say 'presence,' I don't mean Dwight Howard. I'm thinking, at best, Hill turns out to be Chris Bosh. Hill is extremely long and athletic, a great shot-blocker and gets in good position for rebounds. During his junior year, Hill averaged 18 points, 11 boards and nearly two blocks per contest.

Washington has to think about its future with this pick. Hill has the potential to be a double-double man in the league and will be a great second option if he continues to improve his offensive game.

Hopefully, the days of relying on Brendan Haywood for inside production are over in D.C.

A piece away from mediocracy

2009-06-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

6. Minnesota Timberwolves — Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse

Call me crazy, but the ghost of Kevin Garnett is finally fading in the Twin Cities.

Though I haven't necessarily agreed with most of the T-Wolves' moves recently, I believe they're putting a good core of young talent together. I'm not giving up on Randy Foye, Al Jefferson is a monster in the paint and Kevin Love should excel with the attention Jefferson attracts.

But Minnesota is lacking personality, leadership and—to be honest—some balls.

Many experts place Ricky Rubio on a pedestal. Not me, though. I think Flynn is the best point in the class, and maybe the second-best player in the draft. Flynn's cockiness should not be excused.

After watching more than a handful of Syracuse games this year, it became difficult to ignore Flynn's consistent demeanor. No matter the situation, the sophomore guard never showed nerves. He was always ready to take control. Adding Flynn gives the Timberwolves something they desperately need. Again with the balls. Flynn would also push Foye to the two-guard where he can be utilized much more efficiently.

Offensively, Flynn's quickness is his largest asset. Reminds me of a young Baron Davis.

Flynn's one question mark is his defense. Teams don't really know because of his time spent in Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense. It was tough for Flynn to prove he's a serviceable man-to-man defender during his time at Syracuse.

Another knock on Flynn is his size. A six-foot, 200-pound frame is beginning to seem small compared to the bigger ball-handlers of the game today.

The T-Wolves need a leader to help the organization take a step toward the postseason. Flynn is the guy who could bring it all together.

The lost touch of Golden State

2009-06-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

7. Golden State Warriors — Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis

Oh, how quickly some tend to fall back to Earth.

It seems like only yesterday when the Warriors accomplished one of the largest upsets in league history during the 2007 NBA Playoffs. At the time, it looked like downing the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first-round was a glance into a resurrection for the dismal franchise.

Not so much.

Point guard Baron Davis dipped to L.A. for a hefty contract, promising guard Monta Ellis popped too many wheelies on his 'super-sweet' scooter and Head Coach Don Nelson looked on as his team slipped further and further away from what it once hinted.

A roster that includes Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Jamal Crawford doesn't exactly scream consistency.

The 6-foot-5 Evans played the combo-guard well in his freshman season at Memphis, averaging 17 points, five rebounds and four assists a game. Ellis is still in the Warriors plans for the future and adding Evans would give Golden State a capable and athletic backcourt.

Evans could take the reign at point and allow Ellis to return to his more natural position on the wing, where his ability to slash would be best used. Thanks to his time under John Calipari, Evans also has experience in an up-tempo offense. That comes in handy with a guy like Nellie, who runs his teams so much, they often go crashing into the ground.

UCLA's Jrue Holiday is also an option, but he is as raw as they come in this class. Evans provides instant production, if Nellie gives him the minutes over Maggette and Crawford.

Start spreadin' the news

2009-06-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise to select its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

8. New York Knicks — James Harden, G, Arizona State

What has more potholes than the streets of New York City? Damn, you guessed it.

How did former President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas leave the city alive? Thomas should be prisoned for what he did to the proud and loud New York franchise.

Well, former Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh swooped in to save the Knicks. And who did Walsh and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni select with the sixth selection last year? I'm being serious when I say; Italian forward Danilo Gallinaro.

Gallinaro proved his worth in the 2008-09 season with a whopping six points per contest! I know he was hurt for the majority of the season, but the Knicks passed on Brook Lopez, D.J. Augustin and Eric Gordon. Trust me; if the Knicks could press 'reset' on the 2008 NBA Draft, they would soil their pants from happiness.

I'm sure D'Antoni has drawn bunches of "I love Stephen Curry" and "Mr. Mike Curry" doodles at his desk during the already long offseason. Curry's amazing offensive abilities would make him an ideal fit in D'Antoni's up-tempo style. But, I've got Curry plucked at this point.

Scooping Harden at No. 8 gives the Knicks excellent value. The left-handed, 6-foot-5 wing offers the Knicks a solid scoring option along with some tough, durable defense. Harden's first step is a slow one (reminds me of Chicago's John Salmons), but the senior Sun Devil should produce right away. I wouldn't be shocked if Harden makes First-Team All-Rookie next season.

The Knicks aren't worried about the 2009-10 season, though. Their eyes are set on some guy named LeBron. Ever heard of him?

Across the border we go

2009-06-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise and selecting its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

9. Toronto Raptors — Earl Clark, F, Louisville

The Raptors have experienced mainly the opposite end of the success spectrum when it comes to their draft history. Over the previous 10 drafts, Toronto has selected one lone player that's worn a Raptors jersey in an All-Star game (Chris Bosh). With selections like Michael Bradley (No. 17, 2001), Rafael Araujo (No. 8, 2004) and Joey Graham (No. 16, 2005), Toronto hasn't exactly givien hope to its feeble amount of fans.

The Raptors have to plan for the impending departure of Bosh in the hyped free-agent summer of 2010 that possibly involves LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

I'm taking Clark here because his versatility seems to clone that of Bosh. The 6-foot-10 Clark can bang down low, as well as show off an above-average outside game. Clark averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds a game as a junior for the Cardinals.

The Raptors could fill plenty of holes with the ninth pick. Toronto lacks on the wing and the interior with both Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion listed as unrestricted free-agents this summer. General manager Bryan Colangelo always shows a soft spot for versatile forwards.

Clark will never be a go-to option, but his bag of tools could make him a solid starter in the league. Think of a poor man's Lamar Odom (if there is such a thing).

Next up: the New York Knicks at the No. 8 spot (June 18).

A mockery of the NBA Draft

2009-06-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Each day up until the NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25, I will be taking control of an NBA franchise and selecting its next star (it seems in this classes case, its next seventh man).

The first look at the 2009 NBA Draft class shows its very guard-heavy and—outside of Blake Griffin—lacks front-court depth. A lot of teams tend to lust after potential. That's where many teams go wrong.

Think of the NBA's amateur talent bucket as the kiddie pool and the NFL Draft as the deep end. The majority of the time NBA teams aren't going to get a dominant player with the 21st pick. In fact, second-round picks rarely make NBA rosters. With the NFL's plethora of collegiate talent to choose from, players chosen after the third round meets success much more than a second-round selection in the NBA.

It gets tiresome watching team-after-team select bust-after-bust. If you have the time, check out the 2000 NBA Draft and try not to laugh.

That's why teams choosing outside of the top-five need to find a player that does multiple things well right now. Too many times have teams selected the annual 6-foot-10 European player that does everything o.k. (ex. Darko Milicic, No. 2 overall, 2003; Nikioli Tskitishvili, No. 5, 2002) while averaging six points and three rebounds overseas.

10. Milwaukee Bucks — DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh

This may seem like a bit of a reach, but with the tenth selection the Bucks aren't finding themselves Kevin Garnett. Targeting a player that brings multiple assets should be first priority.

Blair brings toughness, rebounding and defense to a soft roster. With Charlie Villanueva already out the door in Milwaukee, the Bucks must replace their hole at the four. Villanueva brought absolutely NO defense or rebounding to the Bucks, so I'm taking Blair and looking at the addition as an upgrade.

His height (6-foot-6) scares most teams, but Blair's arm length is a ridiculous 7-foot-2 which allows Blair to play more at 6-foot-9. I don't seem to remember Blair's height coming into play much while he was unlawfully abusing 7-foot-3 UConn center Hasheem Thabeet in the Big East last year.

Next up: the Toronto Raptors at the No. 9 spot (June 17).

The little things

2009-06-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

A couple tidbits running through my mind today:

— The U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at the famed Bethpage Black in New York. I played the intimidating "Black" course in 2006, shooting a lopsided 112. I have few distinct memories from the course itself, but I'll never forget the beauty of the dream-like fairways and the absurdly thick rough.

— The Los Angeles Lakers polished off the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals tonight. This undoubtably boosts the already remarkable stocks of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Kobe proved he COULD do it without Shaq, and Phil proved he COULD do it with only one great player. Here's a question for some NBA heads; if Scottie Pippen never suits up for the Bulls, how many titles does Jordan earn?

— The Washington Nationals selection of San Diego State flamethrower Stephen Strasburg could go down as an all-time bust. No way his arm lasts more than 150 starts. Mark my words.

This sounds outlandish now, but Strasburg is best suited for the bullpen. Give that guy the lead in the ninth inning and it's a win 99 percent of the time. Plus, his dynamite arm would never get over-worked.

— Is anybody else willing to give Trevor Ariza the NBA Finals MVP? I know Derek Fisher drained those two big threes in Game 4, but Ariza's defense and energy pushed the Lakers over the top. Don't forget Ariza's 13 clutch points in the third quarter of Game 4.

The above topic reminds me; why does the MVP of a championship series always go to the obvious choice? Sounds like a stupid argument, doesn't it? Hear me out, though.

What's the point of a series MVP? Everybody knows Kobe is the MVP of the Lakers. We don't need a trophy to figure that out. That's why you give it to the guy that exceeded expectations.

Kobe averaged more than 30 points per game in the Finals, and that's exactly what we expected. Why not give the Finals MVP to Ariza? Did anyone expect Ariza to have the type of impact on the series as he displayed?

The sickening

2009-06-11T22:25:00.001-07:00

Words cannot describe the feeling that rumbles within.

The Los Angeles Lakers used its black magical powers and stole Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Why must one team be so damn good? They gobble every loose ball; make all the right passes; flop at the perfect instant.

As with every playoff series, it could easily be reversed. The Magic could very well have a 3-1 series advantage. One game-winning alley-oop by Courtney Lee (Game 2) and a few fourth-quarter free-throws (Game 4) is the difference in this extremely entertaining series.

Now, I'm not a die-hard Magic fan. But I have been rooting for them throughout the playoffs. They have so much likability. There isn't a spot on that roster where a basketball fan would point to and say, "I'm not a fan." The Lakers happen to be filled with those players.

Los Angeles represents the Yankees of the NBA. The Patriots of the hardwood. They win so much that darkness must follow.

The frustration that resides in me is too much. I must let go, and prepare for football season.