SB Nation - Michael Olowokandi

Remember This Finish Against the Wizards?

Greg Payne — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:43:54 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

Pierce sank the Wizards in Washington almost three years ago. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

In honor of playing the Washington Wizards tonight, I want to take a look back at one of the more memorable Paul Pierce buzzer beaters of his career.

The night was March 7, 2006 and the Celtics, winners of just 24 games up to that point (my how the times change) were in Washington, battling a Wizards squad that featured a healthy Gilbert Arenas, along with Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler.

Now if you'll recall, Pierce was having an abysmal night from the field. It just wasn't happening for Paul for the better part of the first four quarters. If memory serves he was 4-16 from the field through regulation. The Wizards weren't a spectacular team, but neither were we. So when we found ourselves facing a hefty deficit late in the fourth quarter with our best player having arguably his worst game of the season, you can probably guess why we were thinking this one wasn't going to end well. Heck, Orien Greene was our starting point guard, to put things in perspective.

But that team surprised itself that night, along with all of us. Young fledgling Al Jefferson along with...wait for it...wait for it...MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI (!) led a ferocious fourth quarter comeback that somehow spawned overtime. Pierce, apparently numb with shock (Michael Olowokandi?!?), forgot about his shooting woes and (if memory serves) proceeded to go 4-4 in overtime.

His two most important buckets of the night were the last two, because each gave Boston a vital lead when it absolutely needed it. The first was a three-pointer with, I want to say, 16.5 seconds left, which gave Boston a 114-113 edge after being down by two. Then, Arenas, not wanting to be outdone, buried a short pull up just outside the free throw line on the left side with less than 10 seconds to play. 115-114, Washington.

But our captain would have the last word (he tends to do that). Pierce took the ball above the three-point arc, let the clock dribble itself away, went left with four seconds left (and I'm in my basement thinking he might have waited just a second too long to make his move), got around Butler, only to have Arenas come to double, forcing Pierce to the corner and a tough fadeaway that floats...and floats...and the red light goes off...BAM! Swish. Nothing but net. Celtics win.

I was alone in my basement, just freaking out. I just lost it on this one. I'm proud to say it was one of my top-five all-time buzzer beater freak out moments. I still remember Mike Gorman's call:

"Pierce...looking to move on Butler...Arenas there to double...Pierce...difficult shot...GOT IT! AT THE BUZZER! PAUL PIERCE WINS THE GAME!" Classic Mike Gorman right there. And in case you forgot about this game, or just want to watch it again like I did, here it is:

Here's hoping for a slightly easier win this evening.

Pre-2009 NBA Draft Golden State Warriors Linkage Madness

Atma Brother ONE — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:13:12 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

The commish is hyped about Draft Day 2k9! (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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MASS linkage ensues after the jump, but before you use your hops... VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Live Blogging and Live Twittering the 2k9 NBA Draft!

From around the World Wide Web:

The Ball Don't Lie/SB Nation 2009 NBA Mock Draft recap - Yahoo! Sports

Ball Don't Lie combined with SB Nation (and a few others) to put together this epic 2009 Mock Draft. The individual blogs, linked with their respective picks and breakdowns, made the selections for their team.

Thank God It's NBA Draft Thursday! - Ridiculous Upside

Let’s be honest here internet, my brain is full and tired. I am ready for this to be over. We all know how it’s going to end anyway. The Grizzlies, Clippers, and Warriors will probably screw this thing up. Either blowing it on draft night or within the ensuing months, ensuring that any draft luck they’ve been dealt is quickly wiped away by idiocy.

NBA draft: The latest trade rumors and more - ESPN

Wake Forest's Johnson and Italy's Jennings could be in for one seriously wild ride on draft night. Johnson is getting a look by the Warriors (7), Raptors (9), Bobcats (12), Suns (14), Bulls (16), Jazz (20) and Hornets (21). Think that's a big range? How about Jennings, who will get looks from the Timberwolves (6), Warriors (7), Knicks (8), Bucks (10), Suns (14), Sixers (17) and Hawks (19)?

NBA draft preview: Who's it going to be? [SFGate]

What's most apparent - and quite annoying to a number of fans - is that this Warriors draft is all about Ellis' psyche. For reasons that escape virtually every scout or NBA executive who has studied his game, Ellis fancies himself a point guard and team leader. Did Nelson and Larry Riley promise Ellis they wouldn't draft a point, as rumored? Maybe not, but they're talking up Ellis and Stephen Jackson as the backcourt mainstays of the franchise.

Speedy, Law not the Answer - Inside the Warriors - with Marcus Thompson

I’ve been told by Warriors insiders that neither Claxton nor Law is the Warriors’ answer to their point guard solutions. They are still in the market for a PG, so this trade does not rule out them drafting a point guard.

Kawakami: Warriors' draft choice seems obvious - San Jose Mercury News

If the Warriors had a clear-thinking front office, uncluttered by insecurity and frequent controversy, today's NBA draft would be pretty easy to ace. Select Arizona power forward Jordan Hill, stepping into the Warriors' rebounding void with the potential to provide low-post offense.

Warriors draft: The case for Jordan Hill | Talking Points

A good way to understand how much weaker this draft is than last year’s: When I circled the best potential big man for the Warriors last year, it was Kevin Love, if they could’ve traded up for him. This year, it’s Arizona PF Jordan Hill, who has definite strengths but doesn’t have Love’s natural hoops instincts or top-end NBA possibilities. (And Hill is more than a year older than Love.) Oh well. That happens. This is a terrible draft for versatile, athletic big men, but the Warriors got one of those last year with Anthony Randolph and they have Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf.

Warriors draft: The case for DeMar DeRozan | Talking Points

DeRozan (6-foot-6) might be the second most physically talented player in this draft, behind only Blake Griffin. Other than Griffin, I think DeRozan is the only other player you could say has a game, body and mindset that seems to likely project long-term as an NBA starter and possibly a very good one. That doesn’t mean he will be a star, just means you can see it in there, without a lot of caveats. (Stephen Curry and Ricky Rubio would be my other choices, but they’ve got caveats: Is Curry strong enough and can he play defense? Can Rubio shoot well enough?)

Warriors draft: The case for Stephen Curry | Talking Points

Of all the cases I’m making for the Warriors’ selection with the No. 7 pick, Stephen Curry is the easiest one. It’s simple: Curry, a silky-shooting 6-3 guard out of Davidison, is, by far, the best pure fit for Don Nelson’s run-and-shoot offensive system. (And Nellie’s stand-and-let-him-go-by-you defensive system.) If he’s still there at 7 (probably 40% chance that he is after today’s events, maybe less), I can imagine Nelson leaping to grab the phone and screaming "TAKE CURRY!"

Warriors draft: The case for Brandon Jennings | Talking Points

We’re all at a severe disadvantage evaluating his NBA prospects because almost none of us has watched him get serious minutes on any level (he was a star prep PG who didn’t get into college, then went to Italy where he barely played). Pre-draft work-outs have been mostly closed. All I can go by is what I hear and what I’ve seen on limited tape. What I’ve heard about Jennings: He’s probably the quickest player in the draft, with good vision and a nice knack for using his lefty dribble to slice through pick-and-roll defenses and for using his speed to mess up the opponent. I’ve also heard that his shooting in the work-outs has been less than stellar and that’s what has kept his projections down far below the Nash/Paul/Billups level. But if you had to pick one player, other than Blake Griffin or Ricky Rubio, whose selection might totally change the way the Warriors play, it might be Jennings.

Warriors draft: The case for Jrue Holiday (final argument) | Talking Points

* Most likely option: Arizona PF Jordan Hill, who was my first case. * Best option: UCLA G Jrue Holiday, who is the final case.

2009 NBA Draft Q&A with Aran Smith of NBADraft.net

2009 NBA Draft Q&A: Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Part 1 of 3)

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): It is definitely one of the less talented classes in recent memory.

2009 NBA Draft Q&A: Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Part 2 of 3)

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): Hmm. At this point that's a pretty good argument. Hansbrough is going to be solid. He doesn't have Wright's potential, but we know he'll be pretty solid.

2009 NBA Draft Q&A: Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Part 3 of 3)

Aran Smith (NBADraft.net): The Warriors should take the best player available. I would take Jennings if he's there.

The Jamal Crawford Trade: Thanks for being the ultimate professional while you were here JC.

BREAKING NEWS: Warriors and Hawks closing in on Jamal Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton swap

Maybe Speedy Claxton can help us bring back Baron Davis again?

Exploring the rumored Crawford for Claxton and Law Trade: CBA and salary implications

Big questions abound. Important questions. It isn't quite "what did the president know and when did he know it", but at least as far as our Warriors go, it's "what do we know about the trade and could it possibly be real?"

Rumors: The ones where 99% don't happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

RUMOR: Warriors targeting Chris Bosh

You win in this league with superstars and stars. I'm not convinced that Bosh is a superstar or will ever be one. I do think that's a big red flag that the Craptors couldn't even qualify for the "Not-So-Elite-8" in the Leastern Conference this past season. But he is a legit All-Star caliber big man and a proven commodity (Career Numbers via Yahoo! Sports). Those are hard to come by, especially for the Golden State Warriors who haven't had an All-Star power forward since Nate the Great Thurmond in 1974. (NINETEEN SEVENTY-FOUR for crying out loud!)

RUMOR: Clippers to offer Warriors Baron Davis for Corey Maggette if they land Ricky Rubio in 2009 NBA Draft

My opinion hasn't changed since word broke that the Warriors rejected a buyers remorse swap of Baron Davis for Corey Maggette and Marcus Williams at the trading deadline this past season. If the Warriors can move an injury prone, big time scoring 6th man and a bench player (obviously no Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, or Monta Ellis) for an injury prone, All-NBA quality point guard, it has to be done.

RUMOR: Warriors "readying or contemplating" a bid for Steve Nash

We can sit here and dissect Steve Nash's impact on the Warriors and what would be worth giving up for him (if anything at all), but that's fairly pointless. Point blank: Nash ain't coming to the Warriors. Kerr's not trading him here and I doubt the Warriors are genuinely that interested in adding him.

RUMOR: Warriors "readying or contemplating" a bid for Steve Nash

We can sit here and dissect Steve Nash's impact on the Warriors and what would be worth giving up for him (if anything at all), but that's fairly pointless. Point blank: Nash ain't coming to the Warriors. Kerr's not trading him here and I doubt the Warriors are genuinely that interested in adding him.

RUMOR: Warriors have "strong interest" in Brandon Jennings, but trading for Baron Davis could change that

Who would you rather have starting at Point Guard for the 2009-2010 Golden State Warriors? 58% of GSoMers voted for Boom Dizzle over Brandon Jennings.

Rumor: Stephen Curry has a "chance" to drafted by the Golden State Warriors

I'm not 100% sure if Curry would be a good fit on the hardwood for this team as they're overloaded with combo guards (Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis, C.J. Watson) and have a screaming need for a point guard. Maybe Curry can be that guy in the NBA, but way more often than not young players can't make that transition. There's a lot of truth in the mantra that "point guards are born, not made".

RUMOR: Warriors interested in Terrence Williams aka "Gatorade-protector" with the #7 pick

Gatorade-protector? Move over Rob Kurz. Your job will soon be obsolete. Sorry man. It happens to even the best of us- just ask Adonal Foyle.

RUMOR: Warriors and Raptors had a Marco Belinelli - Joey Graham deal in place

I still don't buy that Belinelli belongs in this league, but it's not a given that Graham gets a second NBA contract either. Neither player is even an average quality NBA player or has a high hoops IQ, but at least the athletic Graham gives the Warriors a little more size and cuts down their glut of poor to mediocre ranging guards. Truth be told, the Warriors aren't going to get much at all for Belinelli straight up. Unless the Warriors are taking back a bad contract, I'd be suprised if Belinelli could even net them a future 2nd round pick straight up.

Warriors to Work Out Arizona's Jordan Hill

Do the Warriors already have a pair of raw and talented young forwards, namely Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright? Do the Warriors desperately need a PG? Sure they do. Does this draft have a bunch of seemingly viable PG candidates? Sure it does. But who cares? B.P.A.

RUMOR: Atlanta Hawks shopping Josh Smith

Based on my view from the Left Coast and nightly box scores I can't but love Josh Smith's game. This 23 year old has proven that he can drop 17.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 3.4 apg, plus 1.5 steals and about 3 blocks a game. I don't care you how slice it, this guy is quite an intriguing basketball talent. Smith is exactly the type of ball player that Nellie can work wonders with too. I doubt for a second that Nellie would try to run him at the 5 and go super fast.

RUMOR: Warriors promised Monta Ellis they will not draft a play-making guard to appease him - Golden State Of Mind

This could quite possibly be the oddest rumor I've covered in my 4 year GSoM tenure.

RUMOR: Warriors could select Jordan Hill and trade Brandan Wright or swap to get Terrence Williams - Golden State Of Mind

This would be a very unfortunate way to close the book on that disastrous Jason Richardson trade with the Bobcats that expedited the Dubs descent from WE BELIEVE. The Warriors essentially gave away a key cog in that unBELIEVEable spring run and the heart and soul of this team for basically nothing.

RUMOR: Jrue Holiday won't work out with Warriors because of agent Dan Fegan

I've been a harsh critic of the Chris Cohan/ Robert Rowell regime way before it was popular to question their every move and decision, but I"m not really sure where Fegan is coming from here.

RUMOR: Amare Stoudemire for Al Jefferson and #6 Pick + Dubs Summer of Fun

I don't doubt for a second that Amare will be bolting Minny the first chance he gets if they ended up making this trade.

RUMORS: Warriors building around Monta Ellis, "deeply involved in trade talks" for #7 pick, and Larry Riley would like a "little beef"

Building the team around an undersized shooting guard with limited handles, court vision, defensive desire, maturity, hoops IQ, and overall smarts... is not a bright idea. Don Nelson and Larry Riley are smarter than that. I'm calling their bluff or Fried's distortion of what was actually said.

RUMOR: Monta Ellis demanded a trade from the Warriors shortly after the season

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I really don't understand what Monta Ellis and his camp's beef is about or why they have the audacity or desire to demand a trade.

RUMOR: Warriors and Bobcats discussing Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli for Raja Bell

First of all it's good to hear the Warriors are exploring possibilities to improve on D. They can start by trying. The next step is getting players who can and want to actually play defense.

RUMOR: Stephen Curry is Warriors "Main Target"

Monta and Curry seem like a poor backcourt duo. They don't seem to complement each other as they're both combo guards who don't seem to have the size to guard NBA 2-guards. If Larry Riley and Don Nelson think Curry's the man at #7 that shouldn't stop them (BPA always), but just pointing that out.

RUMOR: Warriors and Blazers tried to trade for Wizards swingman Caron Butler

I must I say I am a Caron Butler fan. I remember back on Draft Day 2002 when he slipped to the #10 spot. There were questions about his character and what not. Seven years later I don't think there's really any doubt that he should've gone much higher in that draft. Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Dajuan Wagner, and Chris Wilcox all went ahead of him. Think those teams would like to have an All-Star caliber swingman who's good for close to 20-7-5 plus 2 thefts when healthy? I also want to highlight that (as far as I can tell from the Left Coast) Butler has been a model citizen. Give this man his props.

RUMOR: Warriors Like Brandon Jennings at #7

As much as I dig his game given his build and lack of a NBA quality J, I really don't expect Jennings to be starting many games and playing big minutes his rookie season. Backing up Moped at the 1 could be interesting though.

RUMOR: Warriors like Wake Forrest's James Johnson if Jordan Hill is gone

James Johnson is a 22 year old 6'7-6'8 257 pound forward. Riley has said he wants some more "beef" on the Dubs and JJ would definitely advance them towards that goal. I'd definitely be shocked if they took him though.

RUMOR: Warriors inquired about Suns' Amare Stoudemire and offered Andris Biedrins - Golden State Of Mind

Amare's an undeniable great fit for Nellieball with his high flying, rim-rocking, coast to coast offensive repertoire. He didn't seem to be a big fan of slowing down to a half-court game that emphasizes defense. Guess which team's coach is the last guy to emphasize either? Amare also didn't seem to be a big fan of playing alongside another big tree. Guess which team's coach doesn't have the slightest problem with playing as few big men as possible? Stoudemire and Nellie are a match made in heaven.

News and Mo' Stuff

Open Thread II: 2009 NBA Draft Lottery- Welcome to the 2009 Playoffs Warriors fans!

It's playoff time in the Bay!

2009 NBA Draft Lottery Results + With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select...

Warriors South came up BIG.

Introducing... The MingMing Movement!

There's a new spelling for the word "redemption" to add to your already eloquent lexicon Dubs fans. It's spelled "S-u-n M-i-n-g-m-i-n-g".

Warriors to Work Out Jonny Flynn and Brandon Jennings

GSoMers have spoken in doses and there's an overly positive sentiment towards drafting Brandon Jennings with the #7 pick

Warriors (seem like they're) down to Jrue Holiday, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Terrence Williams, and Tyreke Evans

There's that little workout scheduling quirk that Tim describes which makes you wonder about the interest in Holiday. But who really knows if that means anything come draft day. The Warriors worked out Patrick O'Bryant right before the 2006 NBA Draft (turned out great didn't it?). They also never brought Brandan Wright in for a workout and they were willing to expedite the destruction of WE BELIEVE to make that trade for him.

Jonny Flynn and Brandon Jennings Work Out with the Warriors

Thanks for coming by, and we'll see you soon, hopefully. -- Warriors GM Larry Riley to Brandon Jennings after yesterday's workout

With the 7th pick in the 2009 SBNation Mock Draft the Golden State Warriors SHOULD select...

You've been mocked by plenty of people recently, but there's nothing like getting mocked by the SB Nation NBA crew.

With the 7th pick in the 2009 SBNation Mock Draft Golden State of Mind selects...

Hill wouldn't have won the vote, but it would have been interesting to see how many votes he would have collected.

Don Nelson tells Arizona PF Jordan Hill he won't get past the Warriors at #7

It looks it's time to bump up the Fab 5 of Jrue Holiday, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Terrence Williams, and Tyreke Evans into a Stunning 6.

The GSoM Enquirer

The nice thing about GSoM is that anything and everything about our Golden State Warriors is here. I can spend a good amount of my day on GSoM reading up on everything that is Golden State Basketball. It's all here: trade Rumors (my personal favorite), win-loss ratios or scenarios, even personal information to where the players shop, eat and hangout can be found in FanPosts. The GSoM Enquirer simply pays tribute to the everyday news, rumors, and rants of our Golden State Community!

Warriors (seem like they're) down to Arizona PF Jordan Hill and Davidson PG/SG Stephen Curry - Golden State Of Mind

Who would've thought that in a draft supposedly loaded with point guards and weak in power forwards aside from the Clips new big man, the Warriors would be seemingly fixated on a power forward? BPA always though, but again I ask: Is Hill the best player available? Better than my fav and your fav Brandon Jennings?

Warriors Draft History- We laughed, we'd cried. Actually we mostly cried.

Golden State Warriors 1st Round Draft History and Just My Imagination

What if the Warriors had a string of PERFECT drafts with their 1st round picks during the Chris Cohan era of prime suckitude?

Nellie Knows NBA Draft: The Warriors and Mavericks Years

Unlike Chris Mullin's spotty draft history, it's hard to argue with Nellie's draft and scouting acumen. This is one sharp and shrewd hoops mind.

Polling GSoM: Was Billy Owens a "monumental NBA bust"?

But was Owens a "monumental bust"? I'm not so sure I buy that given the facts. Guys like Clifford Rozier, Todd Fuller, Adonal Foyle, Patrick O'Bryant, Kosta Perovic- now those are "monumental busts". Over here in Dubs land, we know a monumental bust when we see one!

Draft history Part I of ???: on trading picks

With the draft lottery still a little more than a week away, it is too early to really recommend a 'draft strategy', but it is not too early to look at what becomes of various picks. In this multi-part pre-draft assessment, we'll look at various aspects of the draft, including trading picks, drafting for need vs. talent vs. tossing a dart at a board with a bunch of names on it and hoping for the best.

Grading the Mullin Picks

All eyes are focused on who the Warriors should hire to follow the legendary Don Nelson after this season, but few seem to be closely monitoring the status of Chris Mullin's current GM deal which expires in 2009. If I were the one deciding whether or not to extend Mullin's tenure in the front office, I'd put a lot of weight into the progress and performance of Kosta Perovic, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli, and the 2008 Warrior Draft picks this upcoming season. Coupled with his embarrassing contract negotiation history (Adonal Foyle, Derek Fisher, Mike Dunleavy, and Troy Murphy) I can't say I'm all that sold on Mullin being in the driver's seat of the Warriors' front office, especially if his drafting record doesn't take a huge turn for the better. As of right now it really looks like it's time to not only plan for a critical head coaching search in the summer of 2009, but possibly also a search for a new GM.

Don't Forget Your Warriors' Draft History

What's that saying that your middle school History teacher never ceased to repeat at nauseam? "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it"? Well, believe you me the last thing we want is for some of those historically bad Golden State Warriors' draft day blunders to repeat themselves today.

Lucky #9: Revisiting the Warriors' Draft 9 Years Ago

Warning: This bit of Warriors history is not safe for work, hanging out with friends, studying at the library, etc. It will make you cry... out loud... like Adam Morrison in the clutch.

Slammin' from 1996 to 1984

We know the Warriors' messed big time in the draft, but the real question is: Which was a better overall draft 1996 or 1984 which produced hoops legends galore in Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and some guy named Michael Jordan?

Feeling Even Fuller- Golden State Warriors BLOG

Props to NBA Source for pointing out the ridiculously hillarious- Todd Fuller's college GPA was higher than his career scoring average.

1994 Milk Carton- Golden State Warriors BLOG

This was the draft that started the most infamous "streak" in NBA draft history.

1995 Draft- We're #1!!- Golden State Warriors BLOG

There you have it Warriors nation- 12 better players the Warriors passed up on when they "won the lottery." This qualifies as bad, Michael Olowokandi bad.

Worst #3?- Golden State Warriors BLOG

And there you have it my folkers- Dunleavy the top #3 stinker of the past 10 years. Funny thing is how many of those picks have played on the Warriors or had some connection- Christian Laetner, Penny, and Baron Davis.

Don't Bust Out!- Golden State Warriors BLOG

It's draft day! We here at the Golden State Warriors BLOG are excited but you can bet bet your ridiculous Bay Area rent or mortage that we've got fingers and toes crossed hoping that the Warriors don't pick another comedic BUST.

Ahem, NOBODY does NBA Draft like GSoM. Stay tuned for our 5th Annual Live Blogging of the NBA Draft! My man RDizzle's got you on Twitter too.

Poll

Are you hyped up beyond belief for the 2009 NBA Draft?

4 SHO: Bring the Hype!

314 votes

NOPE: I don't have a pulse.

121 votes

435 votes | Poll has closed

2009 NBA Draft Coverage: Ten Bold Predictions

dishingoutdimes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:25:24 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Ty can't cut down the nets in the NBA, but he should have a solid NBA career. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The NBA Draft is almost here. On Thursday, some teams will make themselves a brighter future, and other teams will dig themselves into a bit of trouble. There are some who say that the draft is way overblown in terms of it's impact on teams. Those people argue that shrewd moves in the free agent market and smartly growing the talent that you can grab are more important than agonizing over millions of different scenarios.

But what would be the fun in that?

Personally, I can see both sides. It is important to not blow a huge contract on a free agent who doesn't contribute much. However, at the same time, drafting the right player can turn around a franchise. LeBron James proves this line of thinking. The Cavaliers had been stuck in a rut for some years up until 2003 when they happened to land LeBron James in the draft, and suddenly their prospects turned. They still haven't won a championship with King James on board, but they have gone from a perennial lottery team to a perennial playoff team and championship contender.

And, it's not always grabbing the first pick that will turn a franchise around. Ask the Clippers how that worked out when they drafted Michael Olowokandi. You often see superstars that wind up being drafted later in the draft. Chris Paul and Dwayne Wade were both drafted further back in the top 10. Manu Ginobili was a late pick. So, with that, I'll break out my crystal ball and attempt to make some bold predictions about this years draft.

1. There Will Be A Trade Involving One Of The Top 5 Picks

"This could be one of the worst drafts ever," said an Eastern Conference team president. "Of course, we’re coming off two pretty good drafts."

Many teams see one elite prospect in this draft class (Blake Griffin) and about 3 to 4 solid star caliber prospects like Ricky Rubio, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden and possibly a Stephen Curry or Tyreke Evans type. Beyond that there is a vast range of picks from about 7 or 8 down through 25-30 that has a pretty even distribution of talent and potential. Some teams desperately need help in more than one area, and can get that by trading back. Of course there are some teams with the ammunition to move up in the draft, and they really want a certain guy. One of those teams is the Minnesota Timberwolves who own three first round picks. It's doubtful that the Clippers would trade their pick, but all of the other top-5 teams have entertained trade prospects thus far. The trade may actually involve the swapping of two top-5 picks.

More from the crystal ball after the jump!

Everyone likes you to pick a sleeper and a bust, so I'll use two of my predictions on those:

2. Ty Lawson Is A Sleeper, And I Think He Could Be A Solid NBA Starter

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - Ty Lawson	35	29.9	5.2	9.8	53.2	1.5	3.1	47.2	4.7	5.9	79.8	0.7	2.3	3.0	6.6	1.9	2.1	0.1	1.7	16.6

In college, Ty Lawson did just about everything right. He made great decisions, evidenced by his 3.5 assist to turnover ratio. He also was a dead-eye shooter even from distance, knocking down 47.2% of his three pointers. An overlooked point is that he was a team leader, and he made everyone else on the floor better. People like to point to his toe injury, and the fact that he was surrounded by McDonald's All-Americans, but when Lawson was banged up towards the end of the regular season last year, North Carolina struggled. They narrowly won when they won, and got upset a couple of times. He was healthy for the tournament, which is a big reason why UNC cruised to the title. He's an extremely intelligent player, makes great decisions, is a crafty floor general, and is a team player. Some team will find a gem in him somewhere in the middle of the first round, and I will be sitting here wishing he had gone to the Thunder, who don't own another pick until #25 overall.

3. DeMar DeRozan Could Be A Disappointment And Some Team Will Reach For Him

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
2008 - DeMar DeRozan	35	33.4	5.5	10.5	52.3	0.2	1.5	11.8	2.8	4.1	67.8	2.5	3.5	6.0	1.5	2.1	0.9	0.4	2.1	13.9

There's a few big red flags that go off for me concerning DeRozan. First, he did not do well at the combine, especially in the agility and sprint scores. He's supposed to be athletic and a high-flier, but seems to lack agility and has only moderate straight-line speed. That's fine, you may say, he can just be a spot up shooter - he doesn't have to blow by people. This might be the case if he had a better three point shooting percentage, but it was abysmal. He shot 11.8% on three point attempts. No, that's not a typo. And yes, I could maybe shoot 11 percent from behind the college arc. Finally, he made the jump after only one year in college. I don't think he's polished enough. Some team will reach for him because NBA guys always drool over the "raw" and "athletic" types.

4. Boston, Detroit, or Houston Will Make A Big Trade Involving A Major Veteran Player

All three of these teams have been reported to be very interested in trading up in the draft. All of them have some expendable pieces. Boston has been reported to be very interested in both Tyreke Evans and Ricky Rubio. Whether or not there's truth to it, they also are rumored to be shopping Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. The Rondo rumors were mostly shot down, but with Ray Allen entering the last year of his contract, Boston would likely be faced with a really tough decision with whether or not to re-sign him next summer. Glen Davis and Leon Powe's names have also been floated around the internet. Meanwhile, Detroit has shown they're not afraid to rip apart the core that got them an NBA Championship, and Joe Dumars probably wants to have some salary cap room to make a play for one of the big 2010 free agents. Detroit has a couple of veteran players that would likely be attractive to some teams. Meanwhile, Houston has got some aging players (Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, etc.) with some up and comers who deserve more playing time (Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry). They'd likely be willing to part with a vet in order to pick up a younger player that they've targeted in the draft. I would expect one of these teams to make a big deal on draft day.

5. The Knicks Won't Trade Up From #8

I know that the Knicks are the subject of a lot of trade rumors, especially those concerning them moving up to select a player in the top 5. Specifically, people seem to think that they really covet Stephen Curry and Ricky Rubio. Both are potentially flashy point guards that would fit well in Mike D'Antoni's system. However, the Knicks have a lot of overloaded contracts that not a lot of teams in the top-5 will find attractive as a kicker in the deal. I'd say the only way they'd get the deal done would be to throw in future first round draft choices, but I still think they'll stay put at eight and try to get a solid player there.

6. The Thunder Will Be Involved In A Trade At Some Point

Given the amount of cap room that the Thunder have, and the number of budding young players on their roster, they could be sellers or buyers in a number of different deals. Either they will make an impressive offer with a combination of draft picks and young talent to move up and grab a player they want, or they'll trade down, grab a veteran and still get a solid draft choice in the process.

7. There Will Be Some Drama Involving Ricky Rubio

I'm not quite sure what it will be yet, but it should be an interesting couple of hours before and after he gets drafted. Undoubtedly teams will make some offers to trade for him even after he's selected. His agent might make some comments, trying to steer him to one team or another. There may be an announcement he's going to stay in Spain if he doesn't like the team he's drafted by. I would be surprised if there was no drama. This is, by no means, a dig on Rubio. After seeing him in a couple of interviews he seems pretty humble and likable and I think he's just going to try hard not to get the short end of the stick on his huge buyout in Spain.

8. Jonny Flynn or Jrue Holliday Will Be Drafted In The Top 8

I don't see another talented point guard beyond Rubio falling beyond Golden State or the Knicks. Jonny Flynn posted a monsterous vertical jump at the combine and his toughness around tournament time won't be forgotten. Neither will his performance in the epic multi-overtime game against UConn. Jrue Holliday has had a number of great workouts and there are a bunch of teams that are high on him in the top 10. The point guard crop is the deepest part of this draft, so they should be flying off the board starting early.

9. Brandon Jennings Will Slip Down The Draft Board

Jennings did himself no favors by skipping the 2009 Reebok Eurocamp, which many GMs flew in to see in order to watch him.

"We all came to see whether this kid can really play," one veteran GM told ESPN.com. "I'd heard the hype, watched the video and heard various opinions from my scouts. I wanted to see how he stacked up against other top kids his age. Then he doesn't show. He sure isn't making this easy on us. You want to like the kid, but he ain't giving you a lot to go on."

On top of all that, he skipped college and went straight from high school to Europe, which has to be worrisome for some teams. He is an unproven commodity, unlike some of the other point guards in the draft. While he undoubtedly has some talent, he didn't put up great stats in Europe and he still doesn't have a great jumpshot. And now Jennings is apparently getting in some digs on Rubio before the draft. Everything points to Jennings slipping down the draft board. He'll still be a late lottery to mid-first round pick, but he was projected to be somewhere in the 5-10 range as little as a couple of months ago. And, despite all of that, he still has the potential to be a great NBA player, just at this point he's a bit of a question mark.

10. There Won't Be Many Trades Overall

I know there have been a lot of sites out there saying that you should expect a lot of trades. That was the case the past few years, but those drafts were widely regarded as being much deeper than this draft (widely regarded as the worst draft since 2000). Obviously, only time will tell, but it certainly seems that way. In a trade where the talent after the top 5 is so even, teams will be more likely to stay put and take their chances that they'll be able to get a player of equal value, without having to give up anything. I wouldn't expect many trades, certainly not as many as we've seen in recent years on draft day.

Remember, these are bold predictions. They are mostly things that my gut is telling me might happen. Feel free to chime in with your own predictions in the comments section. One thing is for sure, this draft will be extremely interesting to Thunder fans as their team currently owns two first round draft choices. I'm sure we are all waiting with great anticipation to see what Sam Presti has up his sleeve!

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