Live @ NBA Draft ‘09: Second round
DeJuan Blair (Pitt)
Lots of talent left on the board, guys we didn’t think would drop into the second round. DeJuan Blair, Sam Young, DaJuan Summers and Chase Budinger among those who fell out of the guaranteed paper. Let’s see what happens…
BURTON: Stu Scott asks Bilas why Thabeet was picked 2nd and Blair hasn’t been picked yet even though Blair dominated him in college. Bilas says, “One game doesn’t make you an NBA player.” OK, except Blair routinely beasted Thabeet.
The Kings take Arizona State’s Jeff Pendergraph, who apparently has exercise-induced asthma and fixes his own cars. But can he play? Oh wait … turns out Pendergraph is being traded to Portland for Sergio Rodriguez and a pick.
Adam Silver also announced a trade, saying the Mavs “convey” the B.J. Mullens pick to OKC for Rodrique Whats-His-Name from France and a future 2nd rounder.
KATZ: Aron is jumping up and down in the middle of the Garden upon the announcement of Jermaine Taylor going to the Wizards at No. 32. If you didn’t realize, AP was the guy who interviewed Taylor for his draft diaries. Big shout to JT from the Dime family, we couldn’t be happier for him. He’s going to do what everyone thought that DeShawn Stevenson would in DC.
KATZ: I got the sense talking to Austin on the phone earlier that he was going to write something about how the high praise for Joe Dumars as a drafting genius should be put in check. Austin Daye clearly had some sort of assurance from the Pistons, as he was a last-minute addition to the green room. That wouldn’t have happened without a team speaking up on his behalf.
But now, prepare yourselves for 1,500 words on why Dumars deserves GM of the year, solely because the Pistons picked DaJuan Summers before he lost all of his dignity.
BURTON: Can’t wait for Summers to take Daye’s playing time. Sam Young goes to Memphis, then DeJuan Blair finally gets off the board, going to San Antonio. Bilas says Blair has “no ACLs” due to previous surgeries. Well, I guess that could scare a team away.
OK, my living room was louder than MSG when the Blazers took Jon Brockman — and that’s more a result of MSG being totally silent than any noise I made. Stu Scott: “Brockman broke his nose five times in college, so he must be tough.” Or he must have a nose that’s a magnet for elbows. I don’t know, I wanted Jonny Matrix to get picked, and even better that he went in the 30s, but going to Portland seems anti-climatic, like a hometown favor.
At this point, shouldn’t they just send Van Gundy and Jackson home and leave the analysis up to Bilas and Fran Fraschilla? Fran knows 2,000 percent more than those two about the international guys who typically flood the second round.
And with that, Jonas Jerebko from Sweden gets picked by Dallas, I think (I already forgot, to be honest). Now I’m not trying to talk about how attractive another dude is, but I think Jonas could rival Rubio in terms of getting copious amounts of kitty once he hits the League.
ESPN videoconference interview allows me to actually see Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace for the first time, and well … he looks like a guy Mitch Kupchak would take advantage of. And he starts every sentence with, “Well, Stuart, you gotta remember…” Wallace says “it’s a bright new day in Memphis” and unveils his public pitch to any free agents out there watching.
Milwaukee takes Jodie Meeks, who must improve “Creating own shot.” Agreed. Dude can light it up, but I see him having a J.J. Redick level career in the NBA. When you’re not the focal point and don’t have all that time to warm up — you just have to come in hitting or you’re getting benched — it’s a whole different ballgame. But Meeks will be getting SAVAGE BUCKETS in Thailand or something a couple years from now.
Dick Vitale screams at me for a couple minutes. The main points: Whoever Minnesota hires to be their coach will get fired if he tries to play Rubio and Jonny Flynn at the same time, DeJuan Blair and Sam Young should have been first-round picks, and he doesn’t like when college guys who average eight or 12 points get picked over college stars. Wasn’t Dickie V all on Marvin Williams‘ jock a few years ago when he didn’t even start for Carolina? Anyway, Dickie V has to go to bed because it’s 10 p.m., and Stu Scott uses that same “You need to break out of your shell” joke that I swear he uses every single year with Vitale.
A few picks: Miami took LSU guard Marcus Thornton, Detroit took Chase Budinger, the Lakers took ex-Arkansas guard Patrick Beverly, and the Wolves took ANOTHER point guard in Florida’s Nick Calathes.
UNC’s Danny Green goes to Cleveland, and apparently Roy Williams didn’t stick around for it. Bilas says Green has “catch-and-shootability.” And of course they had to show his pre-game dance, and I’m already sick and f’n tired of hearing about pre-game dances with the Cavs. (Because we’ve hit that part of the draft where JVG and Jackson don’t know any of the players, Stu lets them talk about the Shaq trade some more.)
Portland trades Sergio and Brockman to Sacramento for Pendergraph. I like Brockman’s chances of making that team more than the Blazers, ’cause the Kings are soft and Jonny Matrix and automatically the toughest dude on the roster.
E-mail from Aron: “Just saw Patty Mills near me. He is sad!”
The Suns take Taylor Griffin, who is probably several blocks away from the Garden right now elbow deep in Blake’s groupie backups. Ironically, right before that Minnesota took some 6-10 kid who looks like Dirk Nowitzki’s lesser-talented brother. Is somebody gonna draft Tyler Hansbrough’s little brother now?
Did Goran Suton REALLY just get picked ahead of Patty Mills? This is nuts. And I like how they announced Suton “from Bosnia” like he didn’t just play for Michigan State. What’s the over/under on how many practices before Jerry Sloan gets Suton confused with Kosta Koufos?
Miami SG Jack McClinton goes to San Antonio, and Bilas compares him to Eddie House, which is spot-on.
My Pacers had a golden opportunity to take Patty Mills, and they take A.J. Price? Mills could have been an immediate rotation player; Price is one of those guys who might not make it out of summer league. Swing and a miss for Larry Bird.
The Spurs took a French guys and the Bobcats took UAB’s Robert Vaden during the commercial break. Bilas calls Vaden “a poor man’s Chuck Person.” Wouldn’t that be Wesley Person?
Patty Mills FINALLY gets picked, by the Blazers at 55th. That’s about 30 to 40 spots too low, but whatever. Now can he make the Blazers roster? Off the top of my head they’ve got B-Roy, Bayless, Steve Blake and Rudy Fernandez in the backcourt, so Mills can basically replace Sergio Rodriguez. Then again, the Blazers might trade him in five minutes, so we’ll see.
Wolves GM David Kahn comes on TV to explain himself, and says he’s looking at Jonny Flynn as a “scoring point guard” (Steve Francis?) and Rubio as the “orchestrator.” He also tells two jokes that Stu Scott either didn’t get or just no-sold with silence.
During the break, Dallas took St. Joe’s forward Ahmad Nivins (”Must Improve: Toughness”). The now-rebuilding Suns take some dude from Bosnia as Adam Silver effortlessly cranks out five European words in a row that mere mortals would have choked over. Silver kind of smashed Stern tonight in terms of on-stage performance.
Jimmy O’Brien comes on to explain the Hansbrough pick. “He can score, can run, and he’s just an ornery guy.” Sounds like one of Andrew’s precious “motherfuckers,” which the Pacers do need a couple.
The Lakers trade Patrick Beverly for a second-round pick and cash. So basically they’re hoarding as much money as possible trying to re-sign Ariza and Odom. If only they had some of that Andrew Bynum money to spend…
The Lakers pick Chinemelo Elonu from Texas A&M, who was the biggest “The f*** is he thinking?” underclassman who stayed in the draft. The Lakers need depth and athleticism up front, and Elonu gives them that. If he makes the roster.
Down to the final pick (#60), and there appears to be six people left in the WaMu Theater. Jackson and Van Gundy again prove they know nothing about college ball: Jackson says his draft “winners” are the Clippers (big stretch there) and the Magic for getting Vince Carter. JVG also talks more about trades involving established players than the rooks. Next year they need to get another college expert up there, like Doug Gottlieb or somebody.
The Heat make Robert Dozier this year’s Mr. Irrelevant. Above-average player who didn’t stand out on a loaded Memphis squad, and at 6-9, 215, don’t have NBA power forward size. Think Shawn Marion without the skills.
Check back tonight/tomorrow morning for all the ‘09 Draft recapping in Smack, and more reaction tomorrow. I’m starving, and need to go play some Michael Jackson CDs in tribute.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
sans says:
Pendegraph? Really?
June 25th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
sans says:
must improve: playing less mechanically
that’s the funniest shit i’ve seen all day.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
bill says:
patty mills and blair as THE steals!!!
where do you protect mills to go? Best fit?
June 25th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Dodge Taylor says:
Patty Mills … ANY TIME NOW please!!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
So this gar foreskin guy is the guy making picks now for Chicago. Judging by his choice he must’ve trained under paxson.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
POPPI GEE says:
I thought he was a boxer lol.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
POPPI GEE says:
If Blazers don’t get Blair I am shocked.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
sans says:
he’s only 5′4″.
DIME’s boy from UCF just got picked, headed to Wiz…
June 25th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
ShowKase says:
Second round, where the Spurs and Blazers make all the right moves! And there are gonna be alot dudes in the league with chips on their shoulders next year!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
AZ says:
lol ny crowd about the mem and ny trade..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-aaahhhhhhhh!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Dang I am shocked well whoever gets Mills and Blair should have some nice players.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Big east most improved player chosen before big east best player. Weird.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
the cynic says:
isn’t Blair the type of player the Wizards needed? I could have sworn they already had a bunch of scoring guards
June 25th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
AZ says:
I’m a call D BLAIR to see if he wants to play for my mens league this year..
June 25th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
sans says:
no shit, just another player to eat Papa Smuyrf’s playing time…what happened to Nick Young, the practice dunker.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
the cynic says:
Portland is clearing space for Turk
June 25th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Dodge Taylor says:
The NBL (Australian Professional League) is happy to offer contracts to Blair AND Mills
June 25th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
sans says:
Man, when I heard DaJuan, I thought Blair finally went. Damn. This round should be remembered as the DeJuan Blair waiting game.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I bet Blair thought he was finally being chosen when he heard dajuan. Too bad it was summers.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Pistons with a smart move, I just wanted Summers to stay at G-town for selfish reasons. Still he will be a great piece.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
the cynic says:
stu scott - “hey rod thorn why did you get rid of one of the most electric players in the league”
random fan or non fan - “CAUSE HE SUCKS!”
hahaha, one of these years im going to go to the draft
June 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
ProphetGK says:
young before blair?
June 25th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
AZ says:
SAM YOUNG….pitt finally
June 25th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
SoulOnIce says:
Damn, it’s about time Sam Young got picked…
…and go figure, it’s to the Grizz.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
ProphetGK says:
gotta be blair
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
AZ says:
blair to spus…great pick
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Spurs are so smart!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
sh!tfaced says:
wow. spurs get a steal!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
the cynic says:
of course the Spurs make a great pick, what a shock
June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
ProphetGK says:
knew it, someone to learn from timmy d
June 25th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Dang Spurs are so back on track!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
sh!tfaced says:
he’s perfect for the spurs. blessing in disguise of sorts for blair
June 25th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Sam young looks like an older greg oden, which is really hard to do.
Spurs lucked out.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
sans says:
Sam Young has the GOden disease.
Great place for Blair to land. Understudy to a HOFer, play with him and hit the boards. He’s gonna hurt Bonner in practice.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
sans says:
Brockman before Mills? Wow.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
AZ says:
the Spurs may have Challenged the CHAMPS to the road to the finals.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
AZ says:
in the last three days
June 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Scott says:
The Spurs made HUGE strides this weak to compete for TD’s 5th!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Hey sans, are you my twin brother my mom gave up at birth? We’ve had two previous similar comments at the exact same times.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Dumars is following the Orlando magic recipe. Tall forwards who can shoot threes. Daye, summers, and jonas. If he goes after hedo or ariza that’s a load of forwards.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
bill says:
bucks to team up bogut and mills??????
June 25th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
POPPI GEE says:
HA HAAAA Houston got the Boxer! Wooohooo!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Wait Houston needed a CENTER!!!! Dummies.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
the cynic says:
Derrick Brown is going to be a steal
One steal left in the draft. Patty Mills….ANYONE?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
sans says:
Spliff, I know–i just mentioned that to my wife–weird–might be the marijuana.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
sh!tfaced says:
good call, bill. bucks going aussie with bogut and mills. lol
June 25th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
sh!tfaced says:
guess not. hah!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
ProphetGK says:
lal gotta pick derrick brown or patty mills
June 25th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
sans says:
Jodie Meeks–next Mike Redd
June 25th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
the cynic says:
wow Ukraine dude over Mills. Guess LA didn’t want someone who would take up roster space
June 25th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@ sans
Considering I’m puffing too maybe it’s that cloud 9 shit. We communicating on that astral plane or some shit.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Tbeezy says:
Damn, i wanted lakers to take Mills.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Patrick Beverley a nice pic for the Lakers.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
AZ says:
dickie V still on currys nuts, been stewing about it for the past 2 hours.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Why didn’t the lakers take mills? Never heard of the Beverly fellow.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Houston got two, way to get up in the trade somehow but why are they getting guards unless they plan to unload Lowry or Brooks in some type of trade package.
THEY NEEDED A CENTER!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Daye, summers, jonas j, and now budinger. Dumars collecting shooting forwards like Minnesota collecting six foot point guards.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Minnesota is making a mockery of this draft lol.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
ProphetGK says:
Cavs get Green? STACKEEEEEEEEED
June 25th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
bill says:
is Mills missing a leg or something that I am unaware of???????????
June 25th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
the cynic says:
i always wondered how a team would draft with no coach. Thanks to Minnesota, now i know
June 25th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
AZ says:
ain’t he like 5′4 or something..MILLS
June 25th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
AZ says:
is nellie coming to sota or something? HMMM?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
the cynic says:
The Suns will surely pick Mills, right?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Henk dunks like Dirk lol
June 25th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
ProphetGK says:
if the spurs pick Mills, im officially convertin to all-time spurs fan
June 25th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
the cynic says:
god steve kerr is moron
June 25th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
AZ says:
henk well see you never, minn has the worst draft ever
June 25th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
POPPI GEE says:
AZ I have to agree. All those picks to make major, major moves and they just waste them away.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
loc says:
Poor Mills, someone take this kid!
Id love to see the raptors make a trade topick him up, I don’t see why he’s slipped.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
AZ says:
yeah, next year minn should find out who spurs want…n swoop him up
June 25th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Mills could’ve been one hell of a back up point in Utah.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
ProphetGK says:
wtf do ppl like forget bout mills or something
June 25th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
the cynic says:
Mills is running out of picks
Do any of these front office dudes even watch basketball?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
bill says:
come the gms PLEASE watch Mills vs Chris Paul again…………grrr.
Come on San Antonio. PERFECT
June 25th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
This is a travesty! Price over mills? Hansborough at 13 then pass over mills? Indiana is whack!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
loc says:
I thought Spurs would take Mills since he was on the board!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
the cynic says:
Mills is curled up in a dark corner somewhere
June 25th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
loc says:
The Timerbwolves need another PG, they are kinda low, maybe they should trade for him
June 25th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
bill says:
lol bad san antonio, go dallas, phoenix or lakers for mills
June 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
AZ says:
prediction: mills to portland or dallas
June 25th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
loc says:
From realGM
“Vaden is a fifth-year senior with ordinary skills that struggled to be effective in Conference-USA.”
Over Patty Mills, who excelled at the itnernational level?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
ProphetGK says:
YAAAAAAA
ON THE BLAZERSSSSSSSS
June 25th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
the cynic says:
FINALLY!!!, and he’s going somewhere he could actually get minutes
June 25th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Houston with 3 but still no Center. Chase pick-up is good but dang all that movement and no Center. Hurts.
Anyway at least Rockets made noise.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
AZ says:
kahn, in the back of your mind, your thinkin i got played by the other teams. “i’ll draft this guy for u, in return i want this……” hour later, “FU@k!”
June 25th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
loc says:
Yeah, those two PGs are not going to fit. It just doesn’t make sense. Should of kept Flynn, then traded Rubio and kept Lawson as a backup.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Jay Jay says:
Hooray, finally someone drafted Patty Mills. So glad Portland drafted him. I hope he has the biggest chip on his shoulder now! Can’t wait to see him play!!!
June 26th, 2009 at 12:02 am
sans says:
Someone fire the GM in Minny. His playing experience was at the local Jewish community center and very brief, self-admitted. As soon as I purchase 2k10, he’s fired on principle.
Don’t forget about Kopponnen in the Patty Mills situation. He played good last summer, is a year bigger–could challenge for that spot. The Blazers need to bring him over before he gets Euroleague money and doesn’t want a paycut.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Jay Jay says:
And WTF is Minnesota doing? Their management are dumb shits. How many PG did they draft!
June 26th, 2009 at 12:04 am
bill says:
Rubio, Mcgrady, Amare, David Lee all still have homes……..for now
June 26th, 2009 at 12:07 am
POPPI GEE says:
Robert Dozier got to be the happiest guy of everyone tonight lol.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:15 am
POPPI GEE says:
SI.com: “The 76ers have shopped Elton Brand. … Other teams “very aggressive” in pursuit of Tracy McGrady, according to Rockets GM Daryl Morey. … The agent for Rajon Rondo, the subject of trade rumors, is unhappy with Celtics boss Danny Ainge. … The Knicks are close to acquiring Darko Milicic. … The Lakers have contacted Houston about acquiring Jordan Farmar or buying their first-round pick.”
June 26th, 2009 at 12:55 am
heavy d says:
Minnesota’s only questionable action was to pick back-to-back PGs at #5 & #6, but that was because their 2 SG candidates went 3 & 4. Lawson was a trade for a future 1st. Calathes was a trade as well. So what they did was turn what this draft had plenty of into some future picks. I don’t really like the pick of Ellington (McCants didn’t work out for them), but at #28 it’s ultra low risk. He’ll make about 1M a year and is locked in for 4, so if he does succeed he’s a bargain. If he fails then he only costs about the vet minimum.
Back to Flynn and Rubio, if they have trouble getting Rubio over at least his rights have trade value.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:21 am
ricky says:
so apparently kahn is thinking of using flynn more as a scorer…wtf they should have picked curry instead, curry is a better shooter, bigger, stronger, and more marketable
June 26th, 2009 at 1:58 am
What? says:
Why in gods name did Patrick Mills slip to 55. What the fark is going on? Did these people watch him play this year and at the Olympics? Now he will have to play overseas. Some retarded GM’s out there. He’s better than Collison and he went in the 20’s…..
June 26th, 2009 at 4:35 am
knock knock says:
Most of you guys do not know basketball. Why would you expect minni to draft players at different positions to satisfy their needs??! This draft is WEAK and your not gonna go find your starting shooting guard, point guard, center etc. with your 5,6, 30 pick or whatever. Grab the talent that you wanted. Position is needless if they thought highly of the pgs.
-BY THE WAY, IF SEBASTIAN TELFAIR is your starting pg, you better draft a couple of em-
June 26th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
sweetv0mit says:
Sounds like one of Andrew’s precious “motherfuckers,” which the Pacers do need a couple
The Lakers pick Chinemelo Elonu from Texas A&M, who was the biggest “The f*** is he thinking?” underclassman who stayed in the draft
—- “motherfuckers” then f***? priceless
June 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Ian says:
blair had to wait a lot but hey he landed in a perfect team for him.