The Shock Before the Lightning

The NBA Draft is tomorrow.

I can't wait.

So much to say, so little time...

First of all, to clear things up, I do NOT think Kevin Pritchard is an idiot in any way, shape, or form. I may have called him that at one point in the past two years, but it must have been in a somewhat lighthearted vein, like how I'm about to call Kevin a knucklehead for supporting German footballers. Remember, just two weeks ago I gave him a solid B grade so far. B, as in Better Than Average. He's made some small mistakes, but I like him, and I love how everybody says he's burning up the phone lines and he's legitimately scaring people right now.

Right now, I envision GMs like Kevin McHale or John Hammond sitting down for a lovely meal with their wife, and debating which movie to order from pay-per-view tonight. Meanwhile, I'm sure Kevin Pritchard's still on the phone lines, so sweaty that the phone is slippery against his ear, yelling at his kids for interrupting him, chicken bits stuck to his faces and bare drumsticks scattered around his desk. That's who I want as my GM. That's who I want calling the shots.

Somebody who will sacrifice his own well being for the sake of the basketball team I support.

To Kevin, I say this: High five!

Speaking of Euro 2008, we're likely headed for a Germany v Russia final, which is almost the perfect microcosm of any war-related activity throughout the entire 20th century. If there was a way to involve the United States and have a three-way competition, I think some big things would happen as a result, such as the destruction of the world economy, Nuclear Winter, or Kraftwerk topping the charts.

Some Blazer rumors:

- Webster and the pick to the Suns for Barbosa. I agree with Kevin - this is stupid. With Barbosa and Roy, I guess Roy would play the point, which I am adamently opposed to. The wear and tear would create more potential for injuries, and Barbosa is unproven in a system that stresses defense.

- Jack and two picks to New Jersey for their pick (#10) and Hassell. Again, stupid. We don't need a pick if it isn't top five (I like Kevin's Minny proposal), and even that is stretching it. Where will the rookies play? Not on our team, that's for sure. There would not be any significant chance at improvement at the pro level without jettisoning an Outlaw, Aldridge, or Blake/Rodriguez/Fernandez.

- Jack and the pick(s) for David Lee. This one I like. David Lee is great, although Frye would have to leave to make room.

In the end, I think the best thing to do would be to package the picks together (along with Jarrett Jack, without hesitation) for future picks. Veterans who are being shopped by other teams are few and far between: Devin Harris (good), Lee (good), Jefferson (overrated), Haslem (dead), and a bunch of Eastern Europeans (Slavic). The best option for Portland as a pick-up this summer was Jose Calderon; the Raptors are desperate to keep him and have guaranteed him a starting spot, as evidenced by the TJ Ford trade three hours ago.

I see Pritchard making some minor deals and definitely trading the #13 pick tomorrow. I hear whispers about making a big move, and personally, a big move for me is moving Jack, Webster, or Frye, the only players that could conceivably be traded tomorrow. We could see KP break his own record of six trades in one day, which will make me like him even more than I do now.

All for now - I'm trying to bang all this out in a fifteen minute break from work. Forgive the bad jokes and ill-conceived Kraftwerk reference.

TJH

PS: A draft related link... if you haven't read any of Bill Simmons' draft diaries throughout the years, you NEED TO READ THEM. Start with this one.

PPS: I think I should point out that my pick to win Euro from the very beginning was Spain. Granted, I could come back later and edit this post by replacing the word "Spain" with "Germany", and I would seem like a genius no matter what, and so that option will be considered in the next few days.