Dash

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=rhsts_fcf?slug=aw-wojnarowski_josh_smith_hawks_nba_draft_062011

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=rhsts_fcf?slug=aw-wojnarowski_josh_smith_hawks_nba_draft_062011 So in order for a potential deal to go through Leonard may have to be off the board? I would love for this deal to go through especially if Valanciunas is still on the board somehow.

http://twitter.com/#!/chadfordinsider

Sounds good. I'll be starting on my mock tomorrow and hopefully be done with it by Wednesday.

Ford on Reggie Jackson:

Someone on Clutchfans beat me to the next Givony podcast. Transcript: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=205782&page=2

More from Hoops Report: Already written my thoughts on him and I still think that we should go with Biyombo or Vucevic if either are available at #14. I wouldn't say Motiejunas is at the top of our draft board until I hear it from Ford or Givony. More bits: http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=750

I joined when I was around 15. Time flies.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7616807.html#ixzz1PkepBM00 I don't see anyone in the draft being worth 4 first round picks besides Irving, Derrick Williams maybe but I'm not sold on him. I'd rather keep the picks (especially looking how stacked the 2012 draft is) unless we get a star.

Its official. Press conference is Tuesday. http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/124068429.html

I have zero confidence in Wenger to get a deal with Eto'o done. Knowing him, he will probably sign another "17 year old sensation" and put an end to Arsenal's transfer window. Maybe things change with new ownership but I wouldn't hold my breath.

http://twitter.com/#!/AlexKennedyNBA/status/82211606532067328

http://twitter.com/#!/TheHoopsReport/statuses/82216353108475904 Motiejunas is fine by me but Jimmer? I'll pass, Lowry and Dragic have the point guard minutes covered. http://twitter.com/#!/TheHoopsReport/statuses/82225571853115393 Both would be great to have at the 14th pick but Biyombo has the potential to be a great interior defender/shotblocker, something the Rockets desperately need. If the Rockets truly believe they can convince Motiejunas to put effort into playing defense and grabbing and developing those aspects of his game then I'm game.

Still great centers are hard to come by. Maybe all Bogut really needs is a change of scenery like Al Jefferson did.

Rumor: Nash to be included in deal? http://mn-sz.com/2011/06/wolves-close-to-trade-for-suns-center-marcin-gortat/

According to Darren Wolfson from ESPN 1500 Twin Cities: I would do that if I were the Wolves but it depends if the Cavs select Irving or not. Bogut may be coming off a down year but he's one of the best centers in the league when he's healthy, and Minnesota gets the 10th pick as a bonus (Burks?).

Minnesota drafted Rubio with the intention of him playing next to a point guard (Flynn), the brass felt strongly that it could work out similar to the way the Bad Boy Pistons did. Sadly Flynn never panned out with some help from Rambis but they could give it another shot with Irving except he can actually shoot the ball. The Rondo comparison is actually spot on (distributor, defender, can't shoot etc) but it sure beats the other options the Wolves have at the 2-guard (Wes can switch to the 3 and Beasley off the bench). They gotta ditch the triangle though (and maybe Rambis too but kind of too late for that now). Except the offers Minnesota has been getting for the #2 pick have been pretty awful (seriously Gortat + #13?). Minnesota still has the 20th pick and there is a very good chance that Biyombo and Motiejunas are going to be available at that pick (or close enough to where they can trade up). Nikola Vucevic could drop to them too but for now I think he's slips into the lottery. A few cases of tweeners have panned out but not for the most part. Maybe its just me but the more I look at Williams, the more I think he's more four than three. I'd still love for the Rockets to trade whatever pieces we have if it meant getting Williams even though I think there is a 30% he ever reaches his All-Star potential. By the way I'd still take Francis (before injuries) over Odom.

NO.

It says a lot about how much Biyombo's stock has dropped. He still has a good shot of going in the lottery (Houston should definitely be giving him a look) but also has the same chance of falling all the way down to 20. Makes sense that the NBA would add prospects with more steady stock to the list in hopes of avoiding a Darrell Arthur 2.0. If the Jazz take Knight, I could see Singleton going to them at #12.

Rubio isn't that ball dominant and he was able to work with other point guards in the past and quite successfully. Can't say the same thing about Irving but potentially it could work out. No one expected to go in the top 5-8 would fit in the Minnesota roster except for Enes Kanter, and I'm not sure if you would want to have two poor post defenders in your starting lineup for the next 5-10 years. Take Irving (if he's there) and call it a night. But no definite position.

19, will be 20 in 2 months.

I don't think taking Irving would be "stupid" for Minnesota, they would be taking the best player in the entire draft. Personally I could see the Irving/Rubio backcourt working out but in case it doesn't, you could always trade one or the other and get a nice haul in return. On Cavs part...yeah this would be really stupid, you take the best player with the first pick and don't look back (unless you're the Wizards but the Cavs don't have any legitimate star at point).

Never watched The Killing but I might tune for the finale. Ned and Jon are [expletive]ing awesome. Tyrion is okay but so far the chapters with Bran/Arya/Sansa/Catelyn/Dany suck, hoping their's get better as the book/show gets further. Weird how Robb has yet to get one chapter but seen him plenty with Bran and Catelyn anyways.

Listening to the new Draftexpress podcast and here's what Givony basically says: Beginning next week we may see one or two "massive trades" where "massive salaries are exchanged in preparation for the lockout, and that is going to throw a wrench in everything." The Rockets have been said to be the most active team in trade discussions, makes me wonder if they would be apart of one of the deals. Anyways thoughts?