2010 NBA Draft Lottery; Hey You Never Know

Tonight at 8pm is arguably the 2nd most important moment the NBA will face in the next boatload of years.

The first being July 1st, 2010 of course, the day teams are allowed to start talking to free agents.

The worst team in the NBA last year, the New Jersey Nets have a 25% chance of winning the lottery and can finish no worse than the 4th pick. All signs point to John Wall the star Kentucky point guard as the #1 pick this year.

You can not really blame any team for taking Wall, he is an explosive guard who can score at will, create off the dribble and take over when he wants, much like Chicago Bulls point guard and former Memphis Tigers stud Derrick Rose.

The teams in the lottery are New Jersey, Minnesota, Sacramento, Golden State, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah, Indiana, New Orleans, Memphis, Toronto and Houston.

The first two picks have been known for a very long time, Wall and Evan Turner the 6'7 versatile forward for Ohio State.

After those two things are up in the air. It will be all based on need and what fits, not necessarily the best player available.

For a long time I went back and forth on whether it makes basketball sense for the Nets to draft John Wall with Devin Harris already running point. But because he is injury prone the move will have to be done. Plus if healthy that is the fastest guard tandem in the NBA bar-none.

DeMarcus Cousins who was so dominating for Coach Cal at Kentucky has good post moves for a young player. His big frame will carry him early on but his big thick head will cause problems. He is a type of player who will see the floor and potentially get technical fouls at the rate of Rasheed Wallace.

Derrick Favors out of Georgia Tech has been tabbed as an NBA player for years. He played well for the Yellow Jackets but I still feel he is very raw.

Georgetown's Greg Monroe is the best passing big man since Vlade Divac. Although he is soft in the paint he will be able to use his 7'0 body to play around the rim. He has also developed a medium range jump shot that should help him as well.

Syracuse's Wes Johnson, Wake Forrest's Al-Farouq Aminu, North Carolina's Ed Davis are all players with big upsides. They have talent but need to be in the right system in order to utilize them properly. Johnson in my opinion would be a great fit with Utah who could use a good play maker along with Derron Williams. Ed Davis I feel will be THE BIGGEST REACH in this draft. i felt he more than anyone else in the draft could have used more time in college. He needs to develop mass on his body as he is easy to push around in the paint, especially in the NBA. Aminu will be a big work in progress for which ever team will draft him. Time will tell if his skills translate to the NBA.

Of course it will be easier to pin point who will go where later tonight, but as of right now the future of the NBA seems very bright.

From Backstop to Back-Seat

Jorge Posada has been a staple behind the plate for the New York Yankees for over 15 years.

The Bronx Bombers kick off a 2-game series on Monday against a familiar foe, the Boston Red Sox, and Posada seems to be a bigger topic than the game itself. Nagging injuries recently have forced manager Joe Girardi to limit the play of Posada to start the season. Even though he has gotten off to a hot start batting .326 with six home runs and 14 RBI's, Girardi has used him sparingly.

The catcher position is strenuous enough on a player, and the injuries exasperate the duties 10 fold. Posada recently has played some DH when not behind the plate which he publicly stated he does not like to do. It gets him out of rhythm since he likes to be "in-the-know" on every play.

Posada has an even bigger threat on top of his injuries, Francisco Cervelli. The 24-year-old spark plug of a catcher has exceeded the expectations of the New York Yankees, the fans and maybe even himself. Cervelli was called up last year from the minors after injuries to Posada and then back-up catcher Jose Molina got nicked up. Cervelli performed decently filling in when needed, but when the Yanks did not resign Molina in the off-season, Cervelli was given the official catcher #2 duty.

This year Cervelli's play has been off the charts as he has posted a .393 batting average with a .460 on-base percentage, 14 RBIs and 2 triples in 19 games this season.

Better yet, the Yankees, the defending world champions, are simply better with him playing every day. New York is 15-4 with Cervelli in the lineup, as opposed to 9-9 without him.

There are some people who think Posada would demand a trade if the Yankees make an executive decision and go with Cervelli as the main catcher, to them I say RELAX.

Jorge Posada is the type of player like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera where at this point in their career they would rather retire rather then don another teams uniform. I am 100% confident in that assessment.

It looks like age is catching up with Posada and maybe a meeting needs to be had to discuss the future of the man that has made a living for the Yankees behind the plate.

There is no doubt that #20 will be in monument park one day in the future, but I feel like his time on the field is coming to an abrupt end.

I'm Back

It's time to revive this. It was a major success when I first started it, things came in the way of writing, mostly my broadcasting. Now that I have graduated, I will start this up again.

Stay tuned.

Free Agency Day 2 News

- According to a report from El Periodico, Ricky Rubio has decided not to come over to the United States to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves and will remain with DKV Joventut for the next two seasons.

- According to David Lee's agent Mark Bartelstein has said that there are over 12 teams interested in his client. It has been reported that the Thunder and the Grizzlies are the two favorites at this point.

- Allen Iverson has made it known through his representatives that he is interested in signing with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to multiple sources.

The Grizzlies front office is said to be internally weighing the pros and cons of possibly adding Iverson to the team's youth movement.

- The Knicks will try to use their $5.7 million mid-level exception on Grant Hill, who accepted an invitation to New York Monday for a recruiting visit, according to a source.

"Hill's a class act," Mike D'Antoni said Wednesday. "He didn't miss a game last year. I think he's one of the best free agents out there."

Shaq is in Town, With a New Motto

Shaq is a Cav...and the Big Aristotle has a new saying to go along with his new digs.

Shaquille O'Neal was introduced as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

"This is something I couldn't turn down. You guys already are a damn good team."

"I'm able to play any style. I'm not here to demand 40 or 50 shots. Thirty (laughing). I'm just coming in to do my part."

O'Neal was asked about his interest in law enforcement, but said his focus is clear.

"Right now, my motto is 'Win a Ring for the King.'"

More NBA News

- Clearing the way for No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, the Clippers have agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to Memphis for former Clipper Quentin Richardson, The Times learned today.

Because of salary-cap rules, the deal can't be completed until next week.

- The Detroit Pistons made the biggest early splash in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

- The Dallas Mavericks opened the free-agent period early Wednesday by letting guard Jason Kidd know that they are prepared to sign him to a three-year deal, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

NBA Free Agency Is Under Way

Here are the latest tidbits with the start of the free agency period, which began at 12:01 am on July 1st.

- Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva flew to Detroit on Wednesday morning for a meeting with Pistons president Joe Dumars.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the pair are "moving rapidly toward deals" with the club.

Both Gordon and Villaneuva are unrestricted free agents, meaning that they are free to sign with any team they wish without Chicago and Milwaukee respectively having any say

- Since the price tag will be too high, David Lee of the New York Knicks is said to be close to taking a deal from either the Thunder or the Grizzlies.

- Rasheed Wallace is being pursued by many teams this offseason, some key teams being discussed are the Celtics, Spurs and the Magic.

- Determined to make the first splash of the NBA's free-agent negotiating period early Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers are making a strong push to sign Hedo Turkoglu, the prized free agent of the summer.