More NBA Draft 2008

Not much longer before the draft and things seem to be getting crazy, or at least we're lead to believe that. Here's more to think about:

Miami Heat - Now Pat Riley is running around trying to get people to make a trade with the Heat for the #2 pick. They have some pieces with Marion's ($17.8M) salary and the #2. Taking all callers right now. I still think it's a smoke screen. I think he's trying to play Jedi mind tricks with the team that is right behind them, the Timberwolves. As we have seen in the past, McHale isn't the brightest light bulb in the pack, so it may work. The other rumor is moving Marion to LA for Odom and some change (maybe Walton). That would make Mitch Kupchak THE smartest man in basketball. The proposed deal with Memphis seems to be at a stall because the Grizz don't want to give up Conley.

Golden State - With all of the wrangling going on in the Bay Area, you have the following news: Al Harrington wants out. Ok, that's fine, find someone that will take him and send him on his way. When I talk about Al Harrington I always remember a friend of mine a few years back (when Al was in Atlanta) saying that if he had $100M, he'd give Harrington about $60M and then find another player for $40M instead of giving LeBron $100M. His reasoning was that they are about the same size (Harrington and LeBron) and you could get the production out of the two people. After the rest of us almost choked on our drinks and calmed down from laughing, we rushed this guy to the ER (just joking), because he obviously had bumped his head. The other news out of the Bay Area is a possible trade of the Baron to Detroit for Chauncey BBBBBBilllups and Rasheed Wallace. Does anyone else see how bad this would turn out? Rasheed would put up better numbers in Golden State because they run and he could play D on the bigs in the West (TD, Amare, etc.) and Billups can run a team,.....but I think that this ends badly. On the surface, it looks like a good deal though for both teams. Golden State also has a $10M trade exemption that should make them players in some kind of deal. the exemption expires on Monday though, gotta move fast.

Minnesota Timberwolves - McHale is looking at drafting Brook Lopez at the #3 spot. If that's not a mouthful, I don't know what is. You can't tell me that if the draft goes Rose then Beasley, that you take Brook Lopez at 3 when you still have Mayo on the board. Mayo is so much of an upgrade over any guard you have on the Timberwolves team. Can anyone find me a job like McHale's?

New Jersey Nets - They are talking about sending the #10 pick to Portland for the #13,#33, and either Jarrett Jack or Steve Blake. I would do this deal. The Nets are rebuilding, they have a good starting point guard in Devin Harris, get a backup/combo guy in Jarrett Jack and two picks. See, I'm already better than McHale.

Portland Trailblazers - pick up the Hornets #27 pick for cash. That would give the Trailblazers the #13, #27, #33, #36, and #55 for a team that's already young and would need a veteran. I'm sure the Suns could use some of these picks if they want to part with Barbosa.

That's it for now. We'll see what else happens.