By Paul M. Banks and David Kay
5:28 (PMB) Welcome to our 2009 NBA Draft Live Blog. Dave and I will be commenting all night on every pick as it comes through, we request, no require that you add your commentary in the threads below. There will be also be added commentary from time to time by my ESPN.com buddy West Lamy, who accompanied me to the Chicago Bulls practice facility in beautiful Deerfield, IL. Yes, this blog will indeed be brought to you live from the HQ of the league’s most dynastic franchises. I’m excited! I know a lot of people are bummed out about Farah Fawcett’s death, and the critical condition that the King of Pop Michael Jackson is reported to be in. But let’s not let that spoil our fun. Happy Draft Day everyone!
5:46 (DK) I’m nervous Paul… like butterflies in my stomach nervous… I just want to beat ESPN’s Chad Ford. That’s all. We tied last year each picking nine right in the first round… this year something crazy is going to happen and one of us will be broke with our picks… BTW, I am setting an over/under of 25,000 words for this exchange.
5:59 (PMB) I might have to take the over on that! I’m a little nervous about it too, but Christmas is here. I don’t want to be too much of a buzzkill, so I’ll just post the link to Michael Jackson’s “Jam,” the video he did in ’92 with the other MJ, Michael Jordan. Since it’s basketball related. Again, it’s too sad to really go in-depth on here, but I wanted to pay my respects….To move on to something more light hearted. Take this quiz of NBA Draft night suits.
6:03 (PMB) Everyone is familiar with Jo Noah’s “Dean of Clown College” ensemble from ’07, but you’ll see plenty of other suits that look like they belong on one of the gangster villains in the early 90s live action “Dick Tracy” movie
6:11 (DK) Paul, why won’t Jay Bilas return my calls? He could be the blonde-haired guy to my Paul Rudd in “I Love You, Man”
6:15 (DK) Stuart Scott just put Anferne Hardaway in the same sentence as LeBron, Kobe, and D-Wade. Really??? Ok, gotta go anchor the 6:00 sports. See you for the start of the draft.
6:30 (PMB) Wow! that was a horrible “observation” like my opinion of Stu Scott could go any lower….I guess it just did. On the other side of the spectrum, Paul Schmidt made a keen insight below- Ricky Rubio is indeed the man you want to be right now. As Nate Dogg would say “gets more ass than a toliet seat”. BTW, West, who’s sitting across from me right now loves my 2 laptops going at the same time, just in case one fails. He said “I’m in the matrix”
6:33 (DK) It’s go-time… Thank goodness David Stern mentioned that New York is the home of the Liberty.
6:36 (DK) If I could punch Stuart Scott in the face and not in trouble for it, I would totally do it… Why is it taking the Clippers so long to write Blake Griffin’s name down?
6:39 (DK) Like Q, I LOVE Rubio. Q just likes him because of his sweet hair though. The Griz will be kicking themselves in three years for drafting Thabeet over him.
6:44 (DK) Blake Griffin definitely got stuck with his mom’s looks…
6:48 (DK) Grizzlies are dumb. Kevin Durant is popping bottles of Cris like he’s Diddy right now since he’ll be playing alongside Ricky Rubio.
6:56 (PMB) First surprise of the night! Kings will likely get what they want. Kendall Gill in the house, other end of media table. Can he be “KG” as well? is there only one? Kings take Tyreke. Ricky Rubio’s stock falling like Brady Quinn in ’07 NFL draft.
6:58 (DK) WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! James Harden… REALLY??? Kevin Durant just shattered the bottle of Cris over his head. The Kings just pee’d themselves a little bit… If I’m Minnesota I’m trying like hell to get to #4 and take Rubio… or what if Rubio falls to 5??? My head is spinning… and my mock is trashed!
6:59 (DK) LOVE Tyreke Evans… have been saying it all year… don’t love him on Sac-town though… I think Peter Christian is crying in realizing that the T-Wolves landed Rubio at 5!!!
7:05 (DK) HUH? Rubio AND Flynn??? Aren’t they both point guards?? One of them has to be getting traded… right? maybe?
7:23 (DK) Hey, Dell Curry and I share the same birthday. The Curry-Hill combo at 7 and 8 gets me back in the race vs. Chad Ford. Current count, Me: 3 Ford :4
7:24 (DK) AHHHH!!!!!!!! Rachel Nichols. Why? WHY? WHY RUIN MY FAVORITE EVENT OF THE YEAR BY HAVING HER COVERING A TEAM???? DAMN YOU ESPN!!!!
7:27 (DK) DeRozan was pretty much a gimme.
7:32 (DK) Bucks last 2 first round picks: Yi Jianlian and Joe Alexander.
7:35 (DK) I don’t see the Jennings-Scott Skiles relationship going well. I think Fran Fraschilla jizzed his pants a little bit.
7:39 (DK) Bilas’ boy!!! I like T-Will a lot. Of course I do, he is from the Big East. By the way, Chad Ford is OWNING me right now. FORD: 7, ME: 4
7:45 (DK) Anyone from Duke who gets drafted seems like such an anti-climactic pick. Cue Dickie V. in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
7:50 (PMB) THANK GOD THE BULLS WON’T GET HANSBROUGH. As much I hate to see him drafted this high, I’m so glad he wont be in Chicago…Hallelujah
7:53 (PMB) I guess my hate for Indiana teams…Colts, Hoosiers, ND, now the Pacers are very much a part of that too. I like the guy picked ahead of him a lot, Henderson simply because he once bloodied Psycho T.’s nose
7:57 (PMB) cue the Bill Rafterryism Clark BARRRRRRRR! SEND IT IN!
7:59 (DK) I thought Jennings wasn’t in the “green room.” That was bizarre. Especially him praising the going overseas experiment. I would have set the odds at 1-1 that a “Clark Bar” reference would come about from Banks when Earl was pick. By the way, COMPTON!!!!
8:04 (DK) With Daye going to the Pistons, I will now prepare my speech conceding this race. Shocker, Dickie V. praising Hansbrough AND Curry… No way…
8:06 (DK) A Dickie V rant on proven college players is as predictable as Brett Favre retirement/un-retirement rumors every off-season.
8:06 (PMB) Straight outta Compton! Here we go Chicago…they’ll take the player in this draft most likely to win the Shawn Kemp award…for having the highest number of illegitimate children.
8:11 (DK) Steve Kerr pretty much just admitted Steve Nash and Amare are going to be traded. Let the bidding begin.
8:16 (DK) Don’t mistake Jrue Holiday for Dru Hill… If B.J. Mullens goes to the T-Wolves at 18, I wouldn’t want to be near Peter Christian.
8:21 (DK) I’m baffled. There has to be a trade coming. Right? Or is David Kahn truly Kevin McHale part 2. Ok, Lawson to Denver. I can calm down now.
8:25 (DK) HEY! Teague to Atlanta! I picked that! Ford is still embarrassing me though. I owe him an apology. Even though he updated his mock like 10 minutes before the draft started and my last update was at 4:00. Yes, that was an excuse.
8:30 (DK) Is it wrong that I am really happy B.J. Mullens is sliding?
8:31 (PMB) Jay Bilas said earlier “there’s not a lot of low post talent available in this draft” UNDERSTATEMENT of the century! if BJ Mullens is an actual 1st rd prospect
8:32 (PMB) They handed out sheets profiling James Johnson here. Love what it says under Personal: “Father is 7 time world champion kick boxer. Is middle child in family of nine children, six brothers and two sisters.”
8:34 (DK) I love when late first round picks come to the draft and walk out of the crowd onto the stage. Collison is a bit of a reach at 21.
8:37 (DK) That whole “Blair having no ACL thing” really did hurt his stock huh?
8:38 (PMB) DID YOU HEAR ME ON THE MORNING BREAK TODAY?! WHEN I SAID JAMES JOHNSON WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR CHICAGO AND EXACTLY WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR? I KNOW I SHOULD TAKE A BOW…SERIOUSLY. Guess we’re not going to reach 25,000 words…but it might be close
8:41 (DK) Fran Fraschilla is to foreign players what Dickie V. is to Duke/UNC/upperclassmen.
8:42 (DK) Shaq is great! How can people not like this guy?
8:43 (DK) “I came off the bench behind the great Stanley Roberts”- Shaq. GOLD JERRY, GOLD!
8:46 (DK) Seriously, is there any foreign player Fraschilla doesn’t love?
8:54 (DK) Bulls fans are relieved B.J. Mullens is off the board. DeJuan Blair?? Sam Young??
8:55 (PMB) Mullens’ upside= Yinka Dare
8:58 (DK) Peter, I had Beaubois going 42 to Charlotte… so he was on my board. Gibson to the Bulls. Another post player. Can’t believe Blair is falling this far. WOW!
9:03 (PMB) Taj Gibson, Chicago takes two prospects to play the four? ARE YOU LISTENING TYRUS THOMAS?! Time to obtain an actual post move.
Blair’s stock is falling worse than General Motors…za-zing!
9:04 (PMB) They should have Shaq on again “I had a mental conversation with them” LOVE IT!
DaMarre Carroll! The man no journalists seemed interesting in talking to at Combine Media Day…He was nice though. good man
9:05 (PMB) This NBA Draft has convinced me where I need to go this summer on vacation….Spain!
9:08 (DK) Wayne Ellington would be a great fit with ‘Sota.
9:12 (DK) Hey, saved a little bit of face with that call. David Kahn may know what he is doing after all…
9:15 (DK) Darko for Q-Rich. Remember how sweet Q and D-Miles were with that antenna on the head thing. I used do that in intramural hoops with Q.
9:17 (DK) Young, Blair, Budinger, Mills, Brown… a lot of solid players on the board.
9:18 (PMB) Can Stu Scott at least PRETEND not to have a boner over his alma mater UNC having so many guys drafted? This is why I hate the “Boo-Yah Network” and Eastern Seaboard Programming Network so much
9:23 (DK) WOW… DeJuan Blair doesn’t get picked in the first round. I’m stunned. Has been seen in a wheelchair or something? Are his knees that big of a red flag?
9:24 (DK) Final tally: Ford: 13 Me: 6 I’m embarrassed. I need to start cold calling NBA GM’s.
9:27 (DK) Hey, thanks for coming. I have a sportscast to produce. Check back here or at www.walterfootball.com for more Draft analysis. Good luck to Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews getting drafted.
9:46 (PMB) I’m back. James Johnson was on conference call…seems like a nice dude. Was a more interesting interview at the draft than here. I guess Tyrus could be on the way out? I haven’t heard anything concrete but what I’ve heard I guess they’re shopping him.
9:50 (PMB) Got a chance to look around this place. Lots of Bulls bling. The title trophies are encased near the practice court and there’s a little hardwood indoor track around the court. All the banners are up too.
10:05 (PMB) In case you’re new here and wondering what this site is all about….this email from Amanda H. in Seattle sums up TSB best….
You said it perfect when you said something along the lines of it being the place to find the info/access of a reporter & the passion of the die-hard fan! It’s like that buddy we all have, the one you watch football with every weekend (college & NFL), the guy you go to Opening Day with every year.. It’s like that guy somehow got into these places/events, met these people and is telling you about it.. Mind you that “buddy”of mine cannot write quite as well as you Paul, but the wittiness and passion is there, along with the occasional hilarious, BAD joke! (I mean that as a compliment!)
10:28 (PMB) Well, this was fun everyone wasn’t it? Stay tuned for NBA Draft grades and much much more on Walter Football.com I got a few candid questions in just now during the press conference with Bulls GM Gar Forman and Coach Vinny Del Negro. Look for more Bulls offseason analysis, with insights from both men soon. Both at Walter Football and here at TSB. It’s been fun! See you soon
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Has David Stern never heard of the guys in this draft?
Nothing New.. The Knicks get bamboozled Spike. Sightings of number 23 Lebron jerseys.
Stern seems very confused by the name…Jordan Hill isn’t a name that was all that confusing…
KNICKS FANS BOO Everything!
Jesus, that Knicks roster is useless.
Yeah, I’d boo that roster too. And why are they playing Teenage Wasteland in the background as Demaar Derozen comes to the stage??
Seems appropriate for the Bucks to just sell this pick ala the Suns. Not like they’re actually trying anymore anyway.
ok… figured out the lack of spacing in the posts…
OK, I’m a giant dork and I know it, but that EA Sports commercial fired me up a little.
Brandon Jennings drinks guinness…he is BBRRRIIILLLIANTT!! To bad he is going to the east to battle against D-WADE, SHAQ, LEBRON etc.
Danger area number one for Bulls fans…
TWill doesn’t watch ESPN???!!! Combined with the fact that I just found out he’s insane (where were those stories in college?), it’s almost enough to cancel out that he went to the ‘Ville.
I agree with you Dave, Skiles will end up benching Jennings…
TWill’s photo on the right side bar, makes him look like Dave Chappelle’s crack-addicted character…
In case you’re new here and wondering what this site is all about….this email from Amanda H. in Seattle sums up TSB best….
You said it perfect when you said something along the lines of it being the place to find the info/access of a reporter & the passion of the die-hard fan! It’s like that buddy we all have, the one you watch football with every weekend (college & NFL), the guy you go to Opening Day with every year.. It’s like that guy somehow got into these places/events, met these people and is telling you about it.. Mind you that “buddy”of mine cannot write quite as well as you Paul, but the wittiness and passion is there, along with the occasional hilarious, BAD joke! (I mean that as a compliment!)
Dave I think we’ll get 100 comments here….possibly
I saw the LBron Knicks jerseys as well..a bit presumptous? That NYK roster is an awesome fantasy basketball roster…pretty crappy actual roster though
I was going to help with that, Paul, but I’ve got three Arby’s beef and cheddars coming home here…I might pull an MJ before the night is out. Too soon?
And apparently Jordan’s plan is to just draft guys from in-state colleges to try and boost attendance.
Jordan Hill to the knicks..Getting the jersey
THANK YOU PACERS!!!!!!
Oh God! psycho goes 14? WTF? What is the over/under on games before Danny Granger pees in Hansbrough’s mouth? Is Indiana now the whitest team in NBA history since the merger?
I’m barely a Bulls fan, but if they take BJ Mullens, not even later picking Wesley Matthews would win me back.
So….where was Brandon Jennings? Discuss.
Pete, he went THIRTEEN!
And drafting BJ Mullins will shove me right back out the door as a Bulls fan after sucking me back in.
Jrue Holliday — Bud from the Cosby show? I don’t mean grown up, either, I mean at age 12.
I LOVE YOU INDIANA PACERS….FOR SAVING US FROM THAT SCOURGE!!!
They earlier said Jennings wasn’t there b/c he wasn’t assured of being a lottery pick. What a fantastic entrance!
I know, Q, so where actually was he? At a bar down the block? The local brothel? These are the things I need to know!
With the 15th pick of the NCAA draft, the Detroit Pistons take Tayshaun Prin — I mean, Austin Day, from Gonzaga.
Hotel, friends and famlay, 4-ohs. Big night for Compton!
What happened to Clark? NYC traffic! here we go…BJ MUllens.
Blair and James Johnson still out there. I think we’re safe from Mullens
Dejuan Blair Dejuan Blair Dejuan Blair Dejuan Blair Dejuan Blair.
Or maybe the backup point guard I was hearing about earlier this weak…Eric Maynor? Jrue Holliday?
Just NOT BJ MULLINS.
Johnson it is. Big dude.
DID YOU HEAR ME ON THE MORNING BREAK TODAY?! WHEN I SAID JAMES JOHNSON WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR CHICAGO AND EXACTLY WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR? I KNOW I SHOULD TAKE A BOW…SERIOUSLY
Nicely played Paul, they should send you another gift certificate!
Paul, nothing but props for the Bud from Cosby Show call on Jrue. Wow.
Wouldn’t mind the Bulls trading James Johnson, not sure what he ever gives them. Be nice for them to once get a guy with a defined role. Plus, didn’t he kind of look like a fat guy in a skinny guy’s body (for now)?
Will they continue to not discuss trades on ESPN? Afraid of violating CBA or something?
Wow, go you Timberwolves. Screw it, but Bassy out there, draft another PG at 28, and run 5 PGs out there! That would be fun!
Awwwwww…..they’re trading Lawson….
At least it’s not B.J. Mullens, but I have to ask, does Kahn know he can draft a player that isn’t a point guard?
I was really hoping for the 5 PG offense…it would be like running the NFL spread on the basketball court.
Would the Bulls draft Mullens if he was available when they pick again?
Never mind….this screams BJ Mullens to Utah.
Huh. That’s interesting. I didn’t really know they needed a backup PG.
I guess Kahn really bought into the thinking that this draft was the best point guard draft in a decade.
Do the Wolves target Darren Collison at 28?
JJ is a legit four. he has a defined role. and he much more size than blair..which is exactly what they need
God I hope so. I was thinking Maynor there, but I guess not now. They can draft Dr. Chester Frazier in the second round, too.
PMB, wake me up the day he gets ONE double-double in the Lig. And I don’t mean, 4 double-stacks at Wendy’s
WHOA. Guess not Collison, either. The point guard dream is dying…