jaywalker72

It would be very interesting to see Marvin with a PG who could set the table and a post player that can open up the floor. It is hard to be aggressive offensively when everything is standing still before you. I think that this year the Hawks will address both the post and PG in the draft, having an impact on Marvin...if he is up to it.

No. It's the Pacers and Celtics.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=ford_chad • There is a battle brewing: Yi Jianlian's camp vs. the Bucks and the Timberwolves. Yi's agent, Dan Fegan, has repeatedly refused to let Milwaukee or Minnesota come to Los Angeles to work Yi out. Neither team is in a big market, and neither city has a big Asian-American population. Furthermore, Yi isn't regarded as a great fit for either club. But if the Celtics pass on Yi at No. 5, I've been told by multiple sources that the Bucks and Wolves would consider drafting him anyway. The Bucks have Yi ranked just below Al Horford and Mike Conley. If they're gone, the Bucks have been working behind the scenes to get Yi, according to what I'm told. The same holds true for the Wolves. What would Yi do if the Bucks or Wolves drafted him? The word from his camp is that he'd likely demand a trade. Yi's contract is still owned by the Guangdong Tigers, so he has some leverage. The team owner, who supports how Fegan is handling the process, could refuse to release Yi if the Bucks or Timberwolves were to draft him. That could be a disaster for Milwaukee or Minnesota -- and a disaster for the NBA, which is courting China. Sources close to the Bucks and Wolves tell me they believe that it's all a smoke screen -- that Yi will happily come to any team that drafts him. I'm not so sure. I think the risk may be higher than the reward here.

Trading for Camby doesn't really solve everything as he is not a post presence on the offensive side. Without a post player to free up the outside, it will be tougher waters for a PG, especially a rookie. I do like Camby though, injury record aside. I have always had a particular liking for shot blockers, and Camby definitely qualifies.

Saying Williams is fundamentally sound is like being asked how a girl looks and you say, "She has a great personality!" You are obviously covering something up. But there are some girls who are both good looking AND have great personalities. In that case, there is nothing wrong with noting that girl's fine personality. Horford is fundamentally sound AND good looking...wait, I mean, he has the skill set to excel on both ends of the floor, inside and out. He isn't just fundamentally sound, if that makes sense. This is why he is far more regarded coming into this draft by the scouts and watchers than Sheldon was going into last year's draft. They didn't focus on Sheldon's great college career when they were, and rightfully so, indicating that our obsession with Williams at #5 last year was a reach. They looked at his translation to the next level and figured him to be a late lotto pick. I don't mind Sheldon, in fact, I think he could be a Danny Fortson-ish player for the Hawks, and that would be needed. But Horford can do much more, and the drum pounding of the scouts and watchers are saying the same things, again, unlike last year with Sheldon.

West did have the foresight to bring Hubie Brown and his student, Mike Fratello to Memphis while Billy was standing by Sidney Lowe.

http://www.hawksquawk.net/forums/showflat....=5&o=31&fpart=1 Posted June 11th: To some, there are no clear cut choices after the first two picks in the draft. Those are the people who say the draft begins after Greg Oden and Kevin Durant take their photo opportunities. What the Atlanta Hawks do at #3, if they keep the pick which I have already advocated that they do, is said to set off the rest off the draft. I think to some degree that is true in that the Hawks have been so off the wall in their selections over the years, especially near the top of the draft, that nobody knows where the draft will pick up when the Hawks are done with their announcement. You see, the rest of the NBA knows how things stack up, but they can’t tell what might happen because nobody knows who the Hawks will pick. So what they mean is that the draft really begins after the Hawks make their “wacky” pick. Well, good news Hawks fans, because the Hawks have asked for my opinion (editor’s note: quit dreaming) and I will pick the guy that every scout believes is the third best player in this draft and the guy who is the no-brainer pick of most GMs in the league. It’s a player that the Hawks sorely need and the player the Grizzlies would most certainly pick to replace Pau Gasol if he is dealt for that pick. It’s a player that can play with his back to the basket in the post, face up and score, and also go to the basket with good ball handling skills. All of these are skill sets on offense that the Hawks are desperate for. It’s a player that can defend his position in the post as well, has excellent shot blocking instincts, shows great energy and passion while staying mentally in the right place at all times. He is a tenacious rebounder, a proven leader, and a coach’s pet. He is everything you would want a big man to be on any level, especially on the professional level. He is a proven winner and he has played through injury and through tremendous expectations. He has every single skill set the Hawks are begging for in a frontcourt player, a skill set that has not been present since…..well, the Hawks haven’t had someone this talented in their post in quite some time. Al Horford. I know he isn’t the sexy uber-player, but neither is Carlos Boozer. I know that because of his fundamentally sound, NBA ready demeanor he brings the fear of Sheldon Williams to Hawks fans. But he is nothing like Sheldon. He can score facing the basket. He can create. He does demand the ball in the post. Put Horford together with a point guard (hello pick #11) and with a weapon like Johnson from the outside, and an attacking Smith and Childress cutting the lanes and the Hawks are getting somewhere. Horford has great hands and showed his dominance over his teammates at Florida. No, the stats don’t scream at you like Durant’s did, but his play sure did. He shared the ball, he defended, he scored, he did everything at a championship level. Yes, Noah got all the love during the Gators first run, and Brewer during the second run, but it was Horford that all the team pointed to as the top dog on the top team. The rest of the NBA is just waiting for the Hawks to pass on Al so that the real rest of the draft can start. The Grizzlies are ready to take Horford as the beginning of that draft, willing to do so to replace their shopped around “star” Gasol. It says right here that while Gasol’s defense has been questioned, as has his passion for the game, Horford’s is unquestioned, which is why Memphis is ready to make such a move. So why wouldn’t the Hawks? He fits a glaring, glaring need---a post presence on both ends. He is a poster boy for playing the game the right way and has the mental makeup to be a true difference maker in the NBA. So with the 3rd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, this GM takes Al Horford, as would most GMs in the league. Now let the rest of the draft begin.

If you went to the one where we dealt #3 for Shareef, then you also saw us pass on Tony Parker that night as well, punting the pick to IND (who took Tinsley)....but Babcock was sitting on Parker and then chickened out. So yes. Stay home. Thank you.

I don't normally like to print the whole article, but I found some of their comments underlying their picks interesting. Enjoy. (I would have edited so I wouldn't be responding to my own post---LAAAAAME---but I waited to long to edit) Basketball fans are being inundated with Mock Drafts this week but I’m posting yet another Mock Draft for you to try to digest. Why would I do this? Because I was able to take part in “The Great Blogger Mock Draft 2007″ and I feel that this rabid collection of hoop fans know what they are talking about. Jeff from Celtics Blog rounded up a motley crew of basketball bloggers and when things were finished I read through what I found to be one of the better mock drafts circulating around the ‘net this week. I also wanted to thank Jason over at Ball Hype for providing the platform that we conducted this Mock Draft in. Thanks Jason! Take some time to read the Mock Draft below, check out the blogs of the writers who contributed and leave your comments on this post to let me know if you agree or disagree with the selections that were made. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for Eric’s final mock draft that’s being posted here early next week. 1. Portland - Henry from True Hoop selects Greg Oden, by a whisker: Kevin Durant will punish the Blazers for a decade at least for this pick. He’s a beautiful thing to watch, and if Portland ends up taking Durant, I’m THRILLED. But I just got this GM job and I want to keep it, and I have a feeling that with Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden we’re going to be just fine. 2. Seattle - Chris from Sonics Central selects Kevin Durant: The top two prizes in the Draft are Oden and Durant so whoever Portland passes on the Sonics will gladly settle for sloppy seconds. 3. Atlanta - Ryan from Hoops Addict selects Al Horford: The Hawks are tempted to go with the PG they desperately need but GM McNeill decided to wait until the 11th pick in the hopes that Mike Conley Jr. is still on the board. If he’s not there, the Hawks will “settle” for the 2007 Bob Cousy Award recipient. Zaza Pachulia is a temporarily solution at best for the Hawks and they are looking for some beef up front to pair alongside Sheldon Williams. Williams is a bit undersized as a starting centre at 6′9″ but with a wingspan of 8′8″ he could be paired with Harford who is 6′10″ to provide a dynamic rebounding duo. 4. Memphis - Daily Basketball selects Brandan Wright: Making his final draft selection as GM of the Memphis Grizzlies, Jerry West decided to add another athletic big man to their roster. “The lottery this year is full of athletic big men, but we feel that Wright can step in right away (no pun intended) and contribute to our team. Wright has the potential to be a major star in this league.” 5. Boston - Jeff from Celtics Blog selects Yi Jianlian: Danny Ainge will be trading for immediate help so he can afford to take the best talent available. Danny thinks Yi is the best talent available. 6. Milwaukee - Jeff from Celtics Blog selects Mike Conley Jr.: If Conley lasts this long, he won’t last longer. He’ll either stay with the Bucks (who are losing Mo Williams) or he’ll be traded to someone that needs a point. 7. Minnesota - Sonia from I Heart KG selects Corey Brewer: While looking to build for the future, the team is also in the market for immediate help and Brewer fits the bill. A great defender with a demonstrated knack to be clutch, his work ethic and winning attitude will make him a welcome addition to the team. 8. Charlotte - Serena from Bobcats Bonfire selects Joakim Noah: The Bobcats will take Joakim Noah. Reason: This big man could be the next best thing for the Bobcats. He’s talented, athletic, and he knows the game. He will add a lot to what the Bobcats already have. 9. Chicago - Fanatical Pupil from Give Me The Rock selects Spencer Hawes: The Bulls really wanted Joakim Noah, but what can you do? Julian Wright was definitely a consideration, but without any trade proposals on the table (yeah, I know we didn’t do that), Hawes fills the need for the Bulls and is talented enough to warrant the number nine position. Wright probably is the more talented player overall, but with Deng and Tyrus Thomas already on the roster, he would have created a logjam at the 6-9 SF-wannabe-PF position. If Hawes can do what PJ Brown currently does, he was worth the pick. 10. Sacramento - Tom Ziller from Sactown Royalty selects Jeff Green: Green provides immediate help not only at small forward (should Ron Artest retire), but also for Sacramento’s underpowered frontcourt. Green can fill in immediately at power forward, and his passing ability should help take pressure off of Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby. With some youngish defensive specialists at SF already (John Salmons, Francisco Garcia) we went with Green over Julian Wright with a nod to offense and size. 11. Atlanta - Ryan from Hoops Addict selects Acie Law IV: Are you kidding me? Law’s still on the board? Atlanta would be all over him like a fat kid on a smartie. I thought for sure that not filling a need (point) would doom the Hawks but they lucked out by getting the Bob Cousy Award winner from last season. I remember last year the Raptors targeted Bargnani and there was talk they could trade down and still nab him - however BC was set on Bargnani as his man so he stuck with him for the #1 pick. I still believe the Hawks will pull something similar and nab Conley at #3 but if they are able to wait for a PG with the #11 pick and nab Law the Hawks may have a chance to be one of the East’s elite teams in a couple years. However, this is Atlanta we are talking about. Between adding a double-double candidate in Horford to pair with Sheldon Williams and Josh Smith in the frontcourt, the Hawks now have their backcourt tandem in Law and Joe Johnson and things are looking bright in A Town. 12. Philadelphia - Jon from Passion and Pride selects Julian Wright: His athleticism is off the charts and his game is still developing, but he can play both forward spots and will make an impact at the next level. The only question is his jumpshot, which can be worked out with practice. He will create all kinds of matchup problems with his quickness and length. He is best suited to the small forward position where he can overpower people, but his ability to outmaneuver power forwards is just as noteworthy. 13. New Orleans - Keith Dardis from SEConds to Victory selects Al Thornton: Chris Paul needs a mature, athletic running mate to dish the ball to. Chances are that the Hornets will lose Desmond Mason to free agency. Thornton can come in and contribute right away. He will most likely be put in the small forward slot, immediately making the Hornets a big team with David West and Tyson Chandler down low. Thornton creates matchup problems by being a 6′8″ forward with three-point range. 14. L.A. Clippers - Steve Perrin from Clips Nation selects Nick Young: With the 14th pick in the 2007 draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Nick Young of the University of Southern California. Young is a terrific athlete who can get his own shot, and has good range on his jumper. His workouts have been impressive, displaying an ability to finish and shoot the NBA three as well. With Cuttino Mobley in his 30’s and Corey Maggette’s future uncertain, the Clippers need to add athleticism and shooting range on the wings, and Young does both. Plus, he’s an LA product who actually wants to play for the Clippers - seems like a perfect fit. The Clippers still need a point guard given the uncertain situation with Shaun Livingston’s knee and Sam Cassell’s age, but with the best two point guards already off the board and Javaris Crittendon a couple of years from helping, Nick Young on the wing is the best choice for the Clippers. 15. Detroit - Matt from Detroit Bad Boys selects Rodney Stuckey: Stuckey provides instant offense off the bench, something the Pistons have lacked in recent years. He can play both positions in the backcourt, filling Carlos Delfino’s void at the two and giving the team a semi-respectable backup at the point for the first time in years. (Sorry, Flip Murray.) Had he gone to a bigger school, he probably would have been gone already, so the proverbial chip on his shoulder is also a welcome addition to a frequently complacent team. 16. Washington - Pradamaster from Bullets Forever selects Derrick Byars: While the Wizards’ biggest need is probably an intimidating presence in the middle, that’s not going to be found with the 16th pick. Rather that draft another second-rate big to add to the cirque du soleil of second-rate bigs on the roster, the lack of depth on the wing should be addressed. Byars is the perfect fit for this Wizards team, having played in the Princeton offense while at Vanderbilt. He’s a solid all-around performer that, in addition to his scoring, plays excellent defense, which this team really needs. He’s also an excellent shooter, a strong ball-handler, and a fantastic passer for his position. I’m personally shocked that he isn’t getting more attention. The main criticism with Byars seem to be that he does a lot of things well, but nothing spectacularly. Hmm…sounds a lot like the 2006 Rookie of the Year, doesn’t it? 17. New Jersey - Sirnanzy from Hooplah Nation selects Tiago Splitter: Splitter is one of the few centers left in the draft who can score with his back towards the basket. He’s also a very proficient offensive rebounder, something the Nets needed to improve on immediately. And he’s very proficient in the open court, which is an important trait when you’re on the same team as Jason Kidd. He will definitely be a huge upgrade over Jason Collins - in fact, almost any center would be better than Collins. 18. Golden State - Golden State of Mind selects Thaddeus Young: Yes, Young is another project and the Warriors are littered with enough youth, but what’s a GM supposed to do this late in the draft? None of the trades the Warriors were mock-offered made any sense. Therefore you take the best player available even if he’s a project. The Dubs will need to swing some trades and make some key signings to take the next step to perennial playoff team in the loaded Western Conference and Young makes it easier to part with some of that youth. It’s a chess move that sets up an even bigger and more spectacular move this offseason. Young has the biggest upside of anyone left on the board and just a year ago if Stern didn’t institute that silly age limit he would have been a top 10 pick straight out of high school. That 2006 draft will go down as one of the worst in NBA history. Young is a better fit for the NBA than the college ball scene. He has all the tools and physical gifts to be an All Star small forward several years down the line. If he can contribute a few minutes off the bench playing Nellie’s brand of hoops this season it’s just icing on the cake. 19. L.A. Lakers - Don from With Malice selects Josh McRoberts: Surprising that McRoberts was still on the board, so this was a fairly easy choice for us to make. McRoberts has the tools to become a good NBA starter, and impact the team immediately. McRoberts is a fantastic addition for us. 20. Miami - Darren Heitner from I Want to be a Sports Agent selects Javaris Crittenton: The Heat were looking to upgrade the PF/C position with either Hawes (who went early) or Splitter. With Splitter being taken by the Nets at the 17th slot, the Heat decided to fill another hole by selecting a young, talented point guard out of Georgia Tech, Javaris Crittenton. The PF/C need should be addressed with the Heat’s newly acquired 2nd round pick. 21. Philadelphia - Jon from Passion and Pride selects Jason Smith: Smith is a great addition to the big man tandem of Sam Dalembert and Steven Hunter. He’s a relentless rebounder and highly skilled offensive player. His shot blocking ability in college might not translate as well in the pros, but he’s a solid defender as well. With this pick, the Sixers satisfy the need for some help in the middle and on the glass while providing another scoring option up front. 22. Charlotte - Serena from Bobcats Bonfire selects Marc Gasol: Gasol is young, talented, and he’s a true Center. The Bobcats desperately need to fill this position, and Gasol would be a great addition to the team. He may need some help on the defensive end, but I have faith that Sam Vincent can get that under control. And if not, well, we always have Gerald Wallace to lean on! 23. New York - Seth from Posting and Toasting selects Morris Almond: We’re desperate for another shooter on the roster, and Almond’s a guy who, at the very least, can fill it up from outside. He’s got the potential to grow into something more. Also, I took Sean Williams in the SB Nation Mock Draft, so I’ll mix things up. Almond it is. 24. Phoenix - Dan Hilton from Bright Side Of the Sun selects Rudy Fernandez: Mostly because he won’t come play yet and the Suns can keep him off the books regarding payment as well. I suspect the Suns will package the picks with some players to try and move up in the real draft. 25. Utah - UtesFan89 from Win Or Go Home selects Aaron Gray: He provides the Jazz with a back-up center (no, I don’t think highly enough of Jarron Collins to call him that) that is ready to contribute now. He’s a bit better defender than Visser, which is why I took Gray despite having Visser, and not Gray, in my top-10 prospects for the Jazz. If he can play some D, gather a couple of boards and score when the opportunity comes (a la Millsap), the Jazz will be fine. The wing-spot can be addressed in the 2nd round, as a wing drafted in the 1st probably won’t play much behind Brewer, Fish, Giricek, AK and Harp. Of course, a trade (of AK) changes all of this, but we’ll assume that that’s not happening. 26. Houston - Nick Fazekas: Uummm, just because that’s what a couple of mocks said. Apparently new GM Daryl Morey (a stat head) likes him. 27. Detroit - Matt from Detroit Bad Boys selects Sean Williams: The explanation for this pick is lost in cyberspace. 28. San Antonio - Matthew Powell from Pounding The Rock selects Gabe Pruitt: The Spurs most glaring weakness is backup PG. Jacque Vaughn, despite his tenacity, grit and hustle, is a crude stopgap at best. Pruitt brings youth, size and the ability to hit the long range j. 29. Phoenix - Dan Hilton from Bright Side Of the Sun selects Marco Belinelli: I really think the Suns will trade both of these picks but if they do keep them, the team will be looking for guys that can keep within the system Mike D’Antoni has set up. I don’t know much about Belinelli except that he is supposed to be a pure shooter so on that front he would fit into the Suns’ system nicely. 30. Philadelphia - Jon from Passion and Pride selects Arron Afflalo: The Sixers can go with best available here, draft a need, or select a foreign project for the future. Petteri Koponen, Kyrylo Fesenko, Glen Davis, and Dominic McGuire were all considered, but Afflalo is the best available and would give the Sixers a better option than Rodney Carney or Willie Green alongside Andre Iguodala on the wing.

It would be a noooooooo-brainer for MEM to do either deal. Getting Jefferson would be mind boggling, considering the paychecks that Pau gets to cash. Getting a pick also so they can grab another big (Noah) makes MEM a 50 win team again. I can't believe that teams still are willing to trade top of the draft players for vets that carry a huge salary. There is a reason these guys are being traded for exactly the players you are giving up. Those guys are going to produce about the same for a ridiculously low amount of money for the next 5 years. There is no doubt that Gasol would make one of these teams better next year, but what about the year after, and then after? Are these teams going to start over again? For the Hawks...it's five years of building and then....POOF! Trade for a year or two of .500 ball? I really think the Hawks should avoid a deal unless it's for another young player, like when the Clippers dealt #2 for Elton Brand. For the Celtics, I can see it...You don't have Paul Pierce and rebuild. You either deal him or get some guys around him. Even still, the C's with Gasol and Pierce are alright, but not title threatening. But the Hawks still can do it without mortgaging these picks...

Maybe I am crazy (it has been offered before), but doesn't Boston's offer look much weaker than the Hawks'? #5, Delonte West, and the late Theo Ratliff vs. #3, Josh Childress, and SkyHawk, I mean---Anthony Johnson and Lo Wright and the Seven Dwarfs. Your thoughts?

Quote: I just have to add if Portland DOES take Durant #1 and Seattle already has three freakin' lottery centers already on their roster (Swift, Petro, Sene) then I would be on the phone in a nanosecond trying to trade them #3 and whatever it took to get Oden. Me thinks they would be trying to deal one of their other lotto centers (Stinky, Icky, and Poo) and not this lotto center.

It should say Durant #1?......Grizz Talk With Hawks re: Gasol

Chad Ford rolls out the Insider for that headline and the tidbit below: http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index...&name=ford_chad Quote: The Grizzlies might just bite at that. They are having trouble deciding between Joakim Noah and Mike Conley at No. 4. This way they could have both. However, we're hearing that the Grizz are also taking to the Hawks about a deal that would send Gasol to Atlanta for the No. 3 pick. That deal would something like this: Josh Childress, Lorenzen Wright, Anthony Johnson and the No. 3 pick for Gasol.

A group of NBA bloggers got together a mocked a draft....and here are the results... http://hoopsaddict.com/2007/06/21/the-grea...ock-draft-2007/

Hor-fie, Hor-fie, Hor-fie!! http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/stor...andy&id=2913067 Al Horford gets the NBA and the draft process. So, too, do his lottery-bound Florida teammates, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer. These three have proven, yet again, why they were the anchors for back-to-back national championships. There is no bias here. This is a fact. The Florida players aren't running scared from anyone. Take Horford on Friday. He didn't have to come to Boston, which picks fifth. Horford is likely going No. 3 to Atlanta, where he will work out Monday, or No. 4 to Memphis, where he has already been. "I feel very confident [about going in the top four]," Horford said. "I'm really positive about it." Yet Horford has already worked out for No. 6 Milwaukee and No. 7 Minnesota. And he not only showed up here Friday but also competed. He didn't pull a Brandan Wright or a Yi Jianlian, the two players in this draft (Jeff Green was in this mix until he decided to stay in the draft) to refuse to participate in a workout against another player. Nope. Horford didn't shy away from competing, even if it was simply drills or the Celtics' famed three-minute run with potential second-round picks Ryvon Covile (Detroit) and France's Ali Traore. In the past two weeks, Noah and Brewer came through Boston, which makes sense. Both are in the No. 5 range. And in each of the workouts -- Noah vs. Michigan's Courtney Sims while Wright watched, and Brewer vs. Florida State's Al Thornton -- the Florida players competed like it was the Final Four all over again. "We feel it's important to come out here and show our faces and play and show them that we want to work hard and be the best players we can in the league," Horford said. No one schooled the three Florida juniors on how to act. They have developed throughout their three years in Gainesville, learning how to act professionally and to approach the serious stuff in the right way. "They all have high character, and it stands out," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Their swagger stands out. They're not cocky but confident. Some say Noah is cocky, but it's in a good way. I loved it. They were all extremely competitive. "To me, what stands out is that they're all so skilled, all three of them. Noah is extremely skilled, a great passer and has a great IQ. All three of them are smart players, and you can see why they won. They are three of the smartest players on your team if you were to have them, and we're not even counting [Lee] Humphrey, Taurean Green or Chris Richard [the three other players that made up the top six the past two seasons in Florida's back-to-back title runs]. It's amazing what they had." Early Friday morning, the Celtics weren't sure how much Horford would do Friday. They didn't want to push him since they were originally under the impression that he might not have been planning to compete throughout the whole workout. The plan was to leave it up to Horford. Yet he never said "no" to anything that he was asked to do. He just kept playing. "He worked really hard," Rivers said. "Other guys may just run around and say ... 'you're going to draft me anyway.' He didn't even blink. He was out there. That speaks volumes for Florida, for Billy [Donovan, head coach] and the whole staff. They did a nice job of building good kids. "Beside this being a draft of talent, this might be the draft of character," Rivers said. "There are some great character guys in the draft. It's really nice. We don't have to spend an hour or two a day on background checks." Check out this response from Horford on why he's even messing with working out for a team that he might not be drafted by Thursday night: "I just feel like it's good to get out and work out with teams and maybe establish a relationship," Horford said after his workout Friday morning at the Celtics' practice facility. "You never know what's going to happen in the NBA and in the future. It's important for me to get out and experience and see the facilities." Are you serious? That has to be about as mature a response as I've heard during the draft process. "Al plays a pro-style game, and with his character and his work ethic, it's going to get better and better," said Danny Ainge, the Celtics executive director of basketball operations. Prior to the workout, strength and conditioning coach Walter Norton Jr. was trying to goad Horford by saying that Brewer was talking trash about him. Horford didn't bite. He knew better. He knew that his teammate, his former roommate and his good friend, wouldn't do such a thing. That's not in their nature. Nope. After watching Brewer, Noah and Horford come through here the past two-plus weeks, it's clear that the three lottery-bound Gators haven't changed one bit. "The Florida guys are experienced, are national champions and have an air of confidence to their workouts," Ainge said. "Maybe that's their strategy, to expose that quality to as many people as they can. I'm pleased. I wish everybody would do that." Final nuggets • Ainge didn't want to get into specifics about all the swirling media reports about a deal with Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. But the one certainty that the Celtics did convey Friday is that Ainge and former teammate Kevin McHale, who holds a similar role with the Timberwolves, hadn't spoken on that subject in a week and that there was no imminent news on a deal this week. The fact that the story had legs every day this week was news to them since they felt no urgency about the potential deal the past few days. As for any other trades, there is only talk now among a number of teams. But the Celtics don't have any tangible offers for No. 5. If the pick is still theirs on draft night, expect it to be Noah, Brewer or Yi (assuming Horford is gone). • Keep an eye out for Detroit's Ryvon Covile in the draft. The 6-9 senior forward, who averaged 13.7 points and 10.6 boards, is starting to climb. The Celtics like his aggressive style and rebounding skills. That doesn't mean he'll go No. 32, but Covile could wind up in the league next season. Covile has worked out for Houston, Seattle, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota and now Boston, with Cleveland and Detroit on tap in the coming days.

A couple of regular guys being regular on the radio. Nope, it's not the best information you can get sports-wise, but they are entertaining and genuine. (full disclosure statement) (announcers voice, hushed and hurried) The 2 Live Stews have had the author of this post on their show twice....obviously before they got popular. This may have had an effect on the comment made above in the affirmative.

...at least on the bottom line of drafting Horford. Is it too late to change my mind?

Sturt, great call on these lists. I think there have been many tremendous calls on the highs and lows of these guys.

Wow! Green at #4 and almost a lock?!! Bold. I do like his game, but think he is subtle in his contributions at the pro level, meaning he won't leap off the screen at you, almost like he didn't do that at G'Town either, but I agree, he has a great all-around game. I like the Chandler comparison with Jo, but I think that Jo had the advantage of playing in a good system at Florida and understands where he is supposed to be at both ends and how to work in an offense. Chandler simply didn't have that and was lost immediately offensively and relied on timing and raw talent on defense initially. Tyson still can't control the post, which Joakim did when Horford was out of games at Florida. As for Brandon Wright...so much of the difference between the talented and the great players lies within the makeup of the player and I have to question Wright's makeup. When you look at Heywood, you see a guy that could be really good in the pros, but simply doesn't apply himself to do so...will Wright be that way? If he is, then he will not be able to become one of the top 3 from this draft. I completely disagree on your take on Brewer's offensive game as he was counted on many times at Florida to create from the outside in when teams tried to bog down the middle. He created a lot of offense at Florida, not just on fast breaks. He owns the Gators only triple double and simply was diverse in the ways he could score the basketball.

Welcome to the Horford at 3 club, Trace! Great list and comments...It really seems to drop off a bit after 8 or 9 as one looks through the rest of the draft, but Stuckey could be solid player, but his price keeps rising and rising.... As for Law...I feel your comments completely...I guess I want to believe in the kid because he did so much at A/M. Excellent comments about Noah as well....

My Top 10 players, regardless of team drafting, needs, etc. 1. Greg Oden---Everything points to him being special, including his demeanor and skills. I don't care how bulging his disk (careful, there) is, I take him and enjoy the run. 2. Kevin Durant---A special kind of scorer...the kind of guy you create on NBA Live with a 100 shooting and watch him drain 30 footers with ease. He doesn't have the complete game, but he can score, score, score. 3. Al Horford---I've harped on him enough, but when you watch him you see the skill set of a Karl Malone offensively, with great defense to boot. I am not saying he's Karl Malone, especially since Karl was an Adonis on the floor, but he could get close and he possesses a skill that is in short supply...a post game on both ends. 4. Yi Jianlian---Yeah, this is all hype and no content on my end and I thought about Conley and Brewer here too, but I can't say that he is not the player they say he is as much as I can say he isn't. Being a 7'0 SF with an aggressive game puts him in rare skill sets, with his only knock being those who have fooled in the past. 5. Corey Brewer---If you don't let him dribble often (Paging Glenn Robinson), he is a triple threat on offense. He can shoot from outside, spot up or on the move, he can go to the hoop and finish, and he can pull up from anywhere. A rare blend of bullheaded aggressiveness and finesse on the scoring side. On defense, he is trouble for opponents. 6. Mike Conley---The best PG in the draft and has a knack for finding the open man in any circumstance. Great court presence and can control an offense. His outside shot makes him suspect, which makes him a potential Brevin Knight, but has the needed skillset for any team of being able to control tempo and get the ball to the right guy. 7. Joakim Noah---At 7'0 with a massive engine and great hands, Noah brings unusual skill sets to his position, ones that can bring a lot of value to a team. Though he doesn't have ideal wingspan/reach, he uses his natural length and great timing to rebound/block on the defensive end, while using his passing skills to make a difference on the offensive end. 8. Brandon Wright---Yes, he does seem to vanish from time to time, but there have been many freshman who overcome that flaw and develop into solid leaders. The problem is, that usually happens on the college level, not pros. Despite that, Wright being great length and skill around the basket, leaving his ceiling very high. 9. Jeff Green---The solid all-around player. Brings to mind the game of Danny Granger of the Pacers a few years back when teams passed on him to take the likes of Fran Vazquez, et al. Green showed his versatility and mental makeup throughout Georgetown's tremendous season, eventually passing Roy Hibbert has the headliner on the team. 10. Acie Law IV---Julian Wright and Spencer Hawes were thoughts here, but I like the mental makeup of Law and believe that, unlike other combo guards, that he controlled the games/tempo at A&M moreso than those type of guards. He could be a Chauncey Billips type leader on the floor, with the ability/track record of making big shots, but he could be another great college player whose game didn't translate to the pros (like Chris Jackson). I am no expert (and have been called on that many times), but there it is.

OK, I'll play: Horford: Best case--Karl Malone Worst Case---Corliss Williamson Yi: Best case---Dirk Nowitzki Worst Case: Nikoloz Tskitishvili Wright: Best Case---Kevin Garnett Worst Case---Jared Jeffries Conley: Best Case---Tony Parker Worst Case---Brevin Knight Law: Best Case---Chauncey Billups Worst Case---Chris Jackson (aka Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) Crittenton: Best Case---Penny Hardaway Worst Case--Jeryl Sasser

Hor-fie, Hor-fie, Hor-fie!!! Mr. Mo Mentum keeps Horford up at #3....yet another pundit seeing it my way... http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/070620

DF....Nice work! The numbers really don't mean much, except for the one after "Wins", but the article is entertaining and fun to read. Thanks!