What Bryan’s going to do at work on Friday

Don't apply for any bank loans.

6:59

So I'm trying to start an NBA Draft blog, but I turn to ESPN to hear Brian Kenny announcing that Michael Jackson died today. Not exactly how I expected this draft to start.

7:01

Anyhow, welcome to my "live" (or maybe real-time) NBA Draft blog. We're about half an hour away from the first pick, or so I understand. Between now and then, I'm going to try to get to all of the trades that have happened in the past week, but there are six, yes SIX. And the draft hasn't even started yet. Can the T-Wolves really be done dealing? Will other teams take the Lakers' opt out route? It could be a fun night.

7:03 (I'm going to start ignoring timestamps until the draft actually starts, so I can try to get to all of the trades.)

I guess I have to start with the Shaq trade. That's all Stu Scott can talk about right now. The biggest shock for me with this trade is that the Cavs got exactly Shaq. How does that happen? Don't the Suns have any contracts they want to dump?

Ric Bucher just announced that Amar'e Stoudemire might be going to Golden State. I guess the Suns do have more contracts they want to dump. Fire sale in the desert.

Early (and unofficial) QotD:

Who gives LeBron a better chance to win it next year: Shaq or Amar'e?

My take: I'm going with Shaq here. To me, Amar'e is still a bit of an unknown quantity. Shaq is one of the 10 best players ever.

On to the Spurs/Milwaukee trade: Richard Jefferson for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas. If the Spurs are healthy, they would now start four former All-Stars. I think they'll miss Bowen, a lot, but I think the concern was that they are never healthy. Now, they have four offensive players to shoulder the load while any of the others are in street clothes.

The Magic traded Rafer "I'm Better than Jameer Nelson" Alston and playoff standout Courtney Lee for the best dunker of all time Vince Carter. The Magic just became my guilty-pleasure favorite to win next year. I don't know how they made the Finals this year, and I'd already counted them out for next year's, but I like this move.

7:17

Halfway through the trades. Can I make it?

The Timberwolves/Wizards trade is probably the most interesting, but also the least qualifiable trade right now. I don't know that any team's future is more dependent on this night than Minnesota's.

The Hawks and Warriors swapped Acie Law (the savior) and Speedy Claxton for Jamal Crawford, who I didn't even remember went to Golden State. This isn't a particularly noteworthy trade for me, unless this somehow means that Joe Johnson is out in Atlanta (just kidding) or Golden State continues to deal, like Ric Bucher is predicting.

Finally and with a few minutes to spare, your world champion Los Angeles Lakers sold the 29^th overall pick to the New York Knicks for $3 million – just sold it. This is, so far, my favorite move of the week. This is already known as a weak draft, and the Lakers need some cash right now to keep free agents Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. If this leads to those two staying in LA, I might start hoping for a Finals rematch right now.

7:25

I've got a few more minutes before the draft starts, so I'll take this time to ask: what the hell are the Celtics thinking? I can understand if they want to break up the Big Three. I mean, they did their job; the Celtics won a championship. But putting Rondo on the block? Really? If he sticks around, in a few years, he'll be the Big One, a la Paul Pierce for most of the '90s. He's already one of the best spite fantasy draft picks ever.

7:28

Dick Vitale is on TV talking up Ty Lawson and picking the Cavs and Spurs to go to the Finals. I guess we can't agree on everything.

7:30

Instead of the start of the draft, we get my favorite commercial on TV right now. "Let a stranger drive you home." Oh baby you, you got what I need... I'm okay with the delay if it means more of that commercial.

7:31

The NBA Draft has officially started, at least as far as ESPN is concerned. I guess draft picks=puzzle pieces.

7:32

The NBA Draft has officially started for the NBA: David Stern is finally on-stage and plugging the WNBA. And echoing a little bit. And stealing ESPN's puzzle metaphor.

7:34

Good idea Stern, tell a bunch of New Yorkers that they're a "very rowdy group."

And he's rewarded with a mix of a USA chant and Lakers booing.

7:35

The Clippers are on the clock. Why can't the NFL go to five-minute draft picks?

7:36

Somewhere, Bill Simmons is wondering why his Clippers season tickets cost so much money.

7:37

Jeff Van Gundy just called the Clippers the Lakers. Oops. Also, he's arguing that the Clippers already have too many bigs: Al Thorton, Zack Randolph, Marcus Camby, and Chris Kaman.

7:38

Did Van Gundy and Mark Jackson watch a different Zack Randolph than I did these past couple of years? He'd be the first out if I ran the Clippers. He headlined for the Jailblazers, remember?

7:39

With the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Clippers select ... Ricky Rubio.

Just kidding; they took Griffin. And now it gets interesting.

7:42

Do we really believe that the Griffin family won't move to LA?

7:44

I've always liked Mike Dunleavy, Sr. I used to like Mike Dunleavy, Jr.

7:45

Aren't we to 2 yet? What are the Grizzlies doing? It's not like the Clippers pick was a surprise; Memphis should have been planning this for a month now.

Ricky Rubio looks so much like a high schooler.

7:47

With the Thabeet pick, the Grizzlies dash any hopes of having two Spaniards in their starting lineup. In fact, they might be down to zero.

7:48

Another midway and unofficial QotD:

Better career: Thabeet or Greg Oden?

My take: I'm going with Oden because he's on a good team. I think he'll be remembered as a contributing member of a good team, but Thabeet will be forgotten as a contributing member of a bad team.

7:50

When you buy a suit that's Hasheem Thabeet-sized, does it come with a Hasheem Thabeet-sized pocket square? Or do you have to make your own out of a set of silk sheets?

7:51

Jay Bilas loves Tyreke Evans. I haven't heard anybody else love him that much.

7:52

The Thunder go with Harden; kind of a shocker. Bryan and I have talked about him as an NBA-ready player for months now. He could be second in ROY the voting. I'm still kind of surprised though.

7:54

Draft analysts always talk about every team like they have a chance to make the playoffs. The Thunder still aren't going to be a top-tier team.

7:56

We're one pick away from the T-Wolves double-dip, but Harden is answering questions about them already.

7:57

Hey, Jay Bilas like Tyreke Evans. Did you know that?

I guess the Kings do, too.

Okay, time for a T-Wolves Rubio-draft-and-trade. Maybe they can trade Rubio and Jordan Hill to the Suns for Steve Nash. It's worth asking, right?

7:59

Evans is the first PG to go in this PG-heavy draft.

I wish I could name the guy doing the post-pick interviews. I can't remember, though.

8:01

Jay Mariotti announced that the Wolves president of basketball operations is a former sportswriter on ATH the other day. Everyone else was shocked to learn that. I thought the other panelists were supposed to know their stuff.

8:03

Minnesota has four – four – first-round picks.

And the first one is...

Rubio.

8:04

I'm hoping Rubio moves before the season starts just so I can, in good conscience, play with him in NBA Live. Oh yeah, it has Pick 'Em now.

8:05

Fran Fraschilla time. Remember when he was all about some Darko?

8:06

I didn't know Wally Szczerbiak was born in Spain.

8:07

Ricky Rubio: "I'm Ricky Rubio [bitch]."

Rubio is the first player drafted to be born in the '90s. But, little-known fact, he was also the first player drafted to grow up with the internet.

8:08

Minnesota now has the last two players to be drafted exclusively for their passing ability: Rubio and Sebastian Telfair (unless you count Kevin Love).

8:10

...and Johnny Flynn? Somebody else is definitely leaving Minnesota before the night is through. Maybe the Wolves' plan is to keep trading their current players until they can sport an entire roster of rookies. I'd be down with that. They only need six or so more draft picks. I'm sure they could turn some of their current players into some second-round picks.

8:12

Austin just showed up. He's not excited about the draft coverage tonight. Just FYI.

8:13

Mark Jones. That's his name.

8:14

Ric Bucher just reported that the Wolves are keeping Flynn and Rubio. The stars are lining up. Who wants Telfair?

8:16

Austin: "Who are the Golden State Warriors?" Yeah, they're that good. Everybody in New York knows who they are: the team that drafted their favorite player, Stephen Curry.

8:19

Austin just reported that Best Buy is sold out of everything Michael Jackson.

8:21

Did David Stern just do a double-take before reading Jordan Hill's name? He just wants the Knicks to be good so badly.

8:22

Hill is the second Arizona forward that the Knicks have drafted in the last few drafts (Channing Frye).

8:24

I've always wondered: can the fans in the Garden hear the ESPN microphones? There was significantly less booing during that Jordan Hill/Mark Jones interview than I would expect if they could.

8:27

With the 9^th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Canada selects DeMar DeRozan from USC, who has four capital letters in just two names.

8:29

Mark Jones just asked DeRozan about being drafted helping out with his family's health issues. I guess moving to Canada could help out with that, too.

8:33

The Brandon Jennings experiment is over, and with pretty good results: #10 to Milwaukee.

8:34

Fran Fraschilla is like the Dick Vitale of Europe: he likes everybody.

Austin has been asleep for a few minutes now.

8:37

Mark Jackson: the Vince Carter trade sends a message that it's not about winning in New Jersey right now.

8:38

It's about Terrence Williams from the University of Louisville.

I drove through Louisville on the way to St. Louis. It's an interesting city, at least from the freeway. There's a lot of interesting architecture there.

8:39

Williams was one of the best defenders in college basketball this year.

8:41

ESPN's stat on Terrence Williams: "Carried books in a Barbie book bag in high school to be different."

The Bobcats are on the clock. How about renaming them the MJcats, now that Bob Johnson is out and Michael Jordan is pretty much the face of the franchise (other than Larry Brown).

8:45

And the Bobcats reach for Gerald Henderson from Dook University.

8:46

Henderson is the second third-team All American to be drafted in the lottery, along with Terrence Williams.

8:47

Austin awakes.

8:49

The Pacers are on the clock, and I wish Bryan was here for this.

8:50

Tyler Hansbrough goes in the lottery, and father Gene goes crazy. I guess he can probably learn a lot from Troy Murphy.

8:51

I'd heard that Hansbrough's draft stock was rising over the past few weeks, but I didn't think it had gotten this high.

I really wish Bryan could have been here for that.

8:53

Bug eyes.

8:54

Ric Bucher: the Amar'e trade can't go through until July 8.

8:55

The Suns have traded the rights to 5 of their last 7 first-round draft picks on draft day.

8:56

If the Suns selected Earl Clark, why is Brandon Jennings on stage? Maybe the Suns are working the trade angle already.

8:58

Brandon Jennings' interview was spectacular. He really impressed me. Congratulations Milwaukee.

9:00

The best draft pick of the past five years is on TV: Chris Paul. (You're welcome Charles.)

9:01

Austin Daye goes to Detroit, and Jrue Holiday might be in trouble. This is about the point where I start worrying that high-projected players don't get drafted because the teams at this point in the draft haven't looked at them much because they didn't expect them to drop this low.

9:04

Oh baby you, you got what I need... It's on the bottom TV (during an MLL game).

Austin Daye: "I've been dealing with physicalness my whole life."

9:05

Dick Vitale likes Tyler Hansbrough.

Austin (Mozingo) has lost what little interest he had in the draft. He's now watching videos on Bryan's computer in the kitchen.

9:07

The Baby Bulls are about to get a little younger.

9:08

I agree with Mark Jackson: the Bulls have to go big.

They did; they picked what I'm guessing should be the first NBA player from Wyoming: James Johnson.

9:10

Steve Kerr is back where he should be: on TV. Not necessarily because he can't GM, but just because I like him on TV.

9:11

Johnny Flynn is chatting live on ESPN's DraftCast. I guess they have other draft picks on there, too.

9:13

There goes Jrue to the Sixers, and we're done shaking hands. That's not a bad place for him to wind up, since he can probably learn behind the two Andres for a couple years before he's really needed.

9:15

Bryan's home. I guess he can stop reading this now.

Minnesota is back on the clock. Yes.

9:16

Bryan's first words through the door: "Get me a Tyler Hansbrough jersey."

9:18

Minnesota's plan evidently involves starting five rookie PGs. Ty Lawson is on his way.

9:20

Plan foiled: Lawson's going to the Nuggets for a draft pick.

9:21

Austin just announced that he won free groceries today: $11 whole dollars worth. Considering he won a "boat tote" and gift certificate from the radio the other day, he must have Linsay Jessup's horseshoe up his ass.

9:23

Hurray for Charles: two Demon Deacons in the first round. Jeff Teague goes to Atlanta to play behind Mike Bibby and pass to habitual three-point shooters Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson.

9:24

Austin is pumping the "Chocolate Rain" video now. He's not only bored; he's also starved for attention.

9:27

The Jazz picked the CAA's Eric Maynor, I suppose as a backup for Deron Williams. Bryan is hoping that this leads to the first ever appearance of a UNCW Seahawk on draft night.

9:29

ESPN just played a graphic that had a spinning "VIDEOCONFERENCING" to usher in an interview with Larry Brown. Videoconferencing: the answer to all of your sports needs.

9:31

Douchebag on a Pizza Hut commercial: "We just feasted for five bucks." I don't know that I've hated any random college student more since the first day of last semester when I hated about 50 random college students for making me teach class at 8 in the morning.

9:33

The formerly Charlotte Hornets select Darren Collison, who bought his own ticket to the draft, Julius Hodge-style.

9:35

ESPN isn't projecting Oden as one of the Trailblazers starters.

9:37

We just had a two-minute conversation about those Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials. We decided they're good, but they're missing something. Our answer: Burt Reynolds.

9:39

Austin just asked for a report on his nap. Thanks to this blog, I gave him a pretty accurate one.

Portland picks some foreign guy. Two Spanish players in the first round this year. Evidently this guy isn't playing in the NBA any time soon.

9:40

I'm just talking 'bout Shaq.

I wonder what Shaq sounds like when he's just woke up. It's probably something like what he sounds like all the time.

9:42

Shaq outs himself as a telepath. He and LeBron haven't talked since the trade, but they've had many "mental conversations."

9:43

Shaq's going to be voted onto every All-Star team from now until his retirement, just in case it's his last year.

9:44

Austin: "I wonder where he [Michael Jackson] had the heart attack."

Bryan: "His heart."

Great, but asshole answer Bryan.

The Kings are picking again: the Israeli. Omri Casspi.

9:45

Fran Fraschilla just said "They better have some good falafel in Sacramento." He's winning my heart tonight.

9:46

I feel like the Mavericks have drafted well lately. They're on the clock.

By the way, the NBA 2K series got Kobe, and NBA Live got Dwight Howard, but they're boosting that star power with Mos Def on their commercials.

9:49

Mark Cuban selects B.J. Mullens from THE Ohio State University. I guess, good for him. Not a lot of big men in this draft. Like zero.

9:50

Side note: last night we were watching King of the Hill, and Dale decided to show off his dance moves. His best move – by far – involved holding his left leg with his hand at about knee height and jumping over that thigh with his right leg. Afterwards, Bryan decided to try it. He pretty much landed on his face. Ozzie immediately came to his aid though.

9:53

The Thunder pick another guy who bought his own ticket to the draft. A Frenchman, which gives us another chance for some Fran Fraschilla, who compared this pick, Rodrique Beaubois, to Barbosa, "except that Barbosa isn't a point guard."

9:55

Ric Bucher is my favorite in this coverage so far. He just announced that Mullens and Beaubois have been traded for each other. That's right, #25 was just traded for #24. Talk about an exercise in futility.

9:57

Bilas' best available are Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, both Pittsburgh players. Does Jamie Dixon have NBA enemies or something? Why aren't these guys getting drafted?

9:58

Speaking of that, Chicago is on the clock and Blair is exactly who I would expect them to take.

9:59

I was wrong. They went with Taj Gibson from USC.

10:05

I spent the last five minutes looking for this link that I had to use earlier. In the interim, the Grizzlies picked DeMare Carroll from Mizzou.

10:07

Minnesota is back on the clock, and their draft room is scouring to find out who the best PG left in the draft is. I'm guessing Toney Douglas from Florida State.

10:08

Three picks left in the first, then I'm titling, QotDing, and posting this behemoth.

10:11

David Stern: "Hi there." Awesome.

And then, the T-Wolves picked Wayne Ellington. Also awesome. They also picked Rashad McCants in the first round of the 2005 draft.

10:16

The Lakers/Knicks picked Toney Douglas, the third third-team All American to go in the first round. Can Sam Young make it? (The fifth would be Sherron Collins who didn't declare.)

10:19

The most fun team in the NBA is on the clock.

10:23

The Cavs select Christian Eyenga from the Congo, who also bought his own ticket.

Austin: "I didn't even think that was a possibility."

QotD:

Winner of the draft/first round?

My take: I'd like to say Minnesota. They got Rubio at a good spot and had four picks, but I really like what Chicago did with their two picks. They got athletic, big guys who could have an immediate impact in that carousel Bulls lineup. Third place would have gone to the Lakers, except that Andy Katz just reported that the supposed $3 million that LA was getting has been transformed into a second round pick in 2011 and "cash considerations."

Second (official) QotD:

Loser of the draft/first round?

My take: Detroit. I think Austin Daye could have used another year or two at Gonzaga. I'm not sure that he should have gone so high this year.

There's no way I'm reading back through and editing this. Please excuse any typos.