Barring something completely inexplicable, Blake Griffin will be the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Why couldn't the Clippers still play in San Diego? (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
C’mon, admit it. You love the NBA Draft. The anticipation, the wheeling and dealing, the suits. It’s a basketball fan’s oasis through the long summertime dessert of desolation. We all know Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin will be the first pick to the Los Angeles Clippers, but what of the 59 picks that follow? Who will help their team? Who will stand pat and do nothing? What big-name, big-dollar players will be traded? Come ride with me as we find out…
In the last three days alone, there have been four big trades that are shaking up rosters from Oakland to the nation’s capital.
Of course, that’s highlighted by the “Shaqdaddy of them all.” Late last night, Phoenix and Cleveland agreed to a blockbuster deal that will send Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland for forward Ben Wallace and guard Sasha Pavlovic. If that seems like chump change for the league’s most dominant big man (sorry, Dwight Howard, he still is), well, that’s because it is.
Phoenix sees this as a straight salary dump, as they send Shaq and his $20 million per year salary to Cleveland for the $19 million in expiring deals of Pavlovic and Wallace. It’s the Cavs not so subtle statement to Orlando that they intend to deal with Howard the best way they know how.
Shaq’s new nickname should be “The Big Sidekick,” because after Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and now LeBron, he sure knows how to pick ‘em.
In other trade news, the San Antonio Spurs picked up high-scoring swingman Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee in exchange for three high-priced bench guys. This immediately makes them a threat in the West again. Just when you thought the Duncan Pop Era was over.
The Warriors’ Jamal Crawford was sent to Atlanta in exchange for backup guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. This pretty much signals that the Hawks won’t re-sign Mike Bibby. OK, fair enough. Crawford’s probably a better option at this stage in their careers, even though he’s not a true PG. My question for the consistently-terrible Warriors front office is this: If you’re looking for a point guard, why not just do sign-and-trade for Bibby? He’s exactly what you’re looking for. Law and Claxton will be relegated to the bench and have no value. Ugghhh…I hate NBA GMs sometimes.
There was also a deal involving draft picks, as Washington sent the No. 5 pick in tonight’s draft, plus a lot of other expiring contracts, to Minnesota in exchange for starting guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller. This is really a head-scratcher for Minny. There isn’t one player in this draft that you can draft at 5 who is better than Randy Foye. There just isn’t. And throwing in Mike Miller is like letting the guy who just stole your wallet use the money to take your girlfriend out to a nice steak dinner. For the Wizards, you have to be thrilled that you have some Gilbert Arenas insurance now, and will be able to put a pretty competitive team out on the court every night now.
See how much fun this is? And that’s just been the last three days. Just wait till the picks start coming in. I hope you’ll join me as we break everything down in real time.
Peace, love and basketball, y’all.
Eric Yates, SDNN’s managing editor and admitted hoop-a-holic will be writing a live blog, breaking down the NBA Draft. Follow along as we watch the roller coaster that is the NBA offseason.
Tags: blake, clippers, draft, griffin, nba, SDNN
Comment by: chuck Brown Posted: June 25, 2009, 3:53 pm
Eric,
Where do you see Austin Daye ending up? I was frustrated when he decided to leave GU for the NBA.
Thanks
Chuck Brown
Spokane Washington