Big day is here, who knows what's going to happen

Well here we go.

Who do they take?

Who should they take?

What’s the trade chatter?

What’s going to happen at No. 3 and No. 4.

I think this might be the draft with the most intrigue and indecision that I’ve seen in a long, long time.

So what’s it mean?

Think what it means most is that we’ll be surprised an awful lot, some guys will go far earlier than expected, some will fall and much angst and discussion will ensue.

Not too many of the Henchmen were around yesterday at the other of texts or e-mails and Bryan tends to go far under cover in the final hours before the draft so to suggest there was any new insight is a bit of a stretch.

But the one name I heard linked to these guys more than any other – and not just from people here, either – was Bismack Biyombo, the raw 19-year-old Congo kid.

And if you think of it, maybe going with a big guy and someone young and full of potential is the way to go.

It’s a young group anyway, not likely going to contend for anything other than relative mediocrity next year and another young big, given the alternatives, makes sense.

Now, I’ll say that if Brandon Knight falls to No. 5 – and it would most likely only happen if Utah takes Kanter at No. 3 – they’ll snap him up but of the group that’s likely to be there, why not take a shot at Biyombo, a 6-9 bit of an energetic beast.

This I heard, and it’s paraphrased, about Biyombo from a friend last night who got it from the GM of the team he covers:

“His offensive game isn’t nearly as bad as I was led to believe. Good footwork, just needs coaching.”

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Trade?

Not likely but you never know.

Couldn’t get anyone to even acknowledge the ESPN thing about Tony Parker yesterday but it does seem a stretch.

And, as we read from Bryan in this missive, if he makes a deal, it’s not going to be to move too far.

There have been, and will be, copious amounts of rumours floating around today, I’m sure, given the uncertain nature of the entire draft.

Some of them might even be true.

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Mock if you will.

I was going to let Super Dog do it – she’d have as good a chance at getting six or seven right – but she was recalcitrant and wouldn’t put her paw on a name.

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Biggest waste of a bunch of writers time, draft edition?

Had to be 2007 for sure.

We’re all done, filed, and have retired for a post-draft chinwag at this little bistro I know that’s in the Bermuda Triangle of office, parking lot, arena.

Well, we’re not done, as it turns out. We all get the same e-mail at about the same time, somewhere around 12:30 a.m. as I recall, that Bryan’s picked up Giorgos Printezis, merely the 57th pick in a 60-pick draft.

Out come the laptops, we all type about four sentences, send ‘em in and get back to our regularly-scheduled social hour.

It’s the only real impact Giorgos Printezis has had on my life, other than the eleventy kabillion times I had to explain he wasn’t good enough to play over here.

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Oh, we are so absolutely going to do one of those In Game Bloggy Thingies here tonight if you want.

After all besides mocking mock drafts and reacting with outrage at a pick or three, there’ll be fashion.

And you know how we love fashion.

So show up about 7:15 or so and we’ll see how it goes.

I miss some of you lugs.

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Draft quiz:

DeAndree Hulett, Tyson Wheeler, Remon Van de Hare.

Which is the worst pick ever?

Hard to choose, isn’t it?

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Kind of an interesting “process” question from the mail and I quite enjoy them.

Want to get in the mail? Do it here, the usual way.

Q: I've often wondered about how contact information for NBA types and the media is disseminated. You often hear players, coaches, management and even the press saying they called or texted so and so about such and such. Is contact information for all NBA people made available to other NBA people and the media or is it purely a personal decision on who it's made available to?

Stephen G, Kitchener

A: It’s entirely personal and up to the player, coach, GM, whatever to decide who they want to have their numbers. I don’t remember ever not having a cell number for any coach or GM here, dating back to the Isiah even. A lot of it has to do with the fact I – and most of my colleagues – won’t abuse it; we only make calls when it’s absolutely necessary and not just to say hi.

Players are a different story. Some are quite reluctant to give them out – they’d rather we all agents – and some have more than a few phones at their disposal and you might not get the right number anyway.

Funny story from the day the two Canadians kids worked out here. Can’t remember which one of them it was but he was asked by three different media members for a number where he could be reached draft night and they got three entirely different ones.

Now, there is – or used to be – a league book, known as the Red Book – that had all the contact numbers for executives and head office people in it but that was only given to high ranking guys in the franchise. I got my hands on one one year but never had cause to call David Stern at home.

That’d be a helluva drunk dial, wouldn’t it?

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Some night you’re not so Mighty after all.

Other guys 17, Mighty Rockies 9.

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I’m loving all his stuff about Tristan Thompson and where he’ll get picked and will he go higher than Steve Nash did at No. 15 and become the highest-picked Canadian ever.

Thompson seems like a good kid, good player and by all accounts he’s not going to slip past No. 13 when they get around to making the selections.

But highest ever?

Not so much.

This old friend musicologist and magazine scribbler of some note always points out that a fellow by the name of Bob Houbregs, Vancouver-born chap, was the second overall pick in the 1953 draft and went on to play five seasons in the NBA.

A 6-9 forward-centre, he was also the GM of the Sonics for a spell, is in the basketball Hall of Fame and should probably get his due.

Here’s a wee look at him and maybe we need to toss the qualifier “of the modern era” to this chatter about Thompson.

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Comments

[joe]

Hi Doug,

Any idea why Kemba Walker's stock seems to have fallen so much? Quite a few mock drafts have him going anywhere from 7th to 15th. He seems like he's going to be a good player.

Blogger's note: Smallish, thought to be better PGs ahead of him, fit with teams

[AT]

Doug,
Unlike many of your other regulars, trust BC to make the most out of the pick but do you really think that Bismack Biyombo is the right choice? Isn't that another Pops, or Reggie Evans type role player that won't have a major impact as say a PG or Centre? It just doesn't seem to be a good fit with Amir and Ed Davis in similar roles.And based on what you have said about the chatter coming out of teams at this time of year, how much of it is a diversion created by BC and Co.?

[Chooch Peters]

In your mock draft - why would Utah take two guards in this draft nwhen they already have Harris? Also, you just reworded other familiar websites when giving a brief explaination about the players - shouldn't you do yr own work or is retreading Goggle searches your strength. Biyombo has a recent red flag on him - back issue's and possiably knee issue's. If Bryan only has a two year contract he NEEDS to win this year - a play-off appearance and nothing less. Unless he has plans on bolting in two years anyways, then who cares, right! Read an article that Parker was supposed to have lunch with Barbosa yesterday and during a text back and forth, Barbosa said "so you coming top play with me or what?"...Parker replied "I would love to play ball with you, no matter where it is!". Raps (if not tonight) then after the CBA finalization will trade this pick or other parts to make this pick work. The best PG after Irving will be Jimmer - if the Raps were smart they would trade this pick to move down and grab Biyombo lower or Jimmer or possiabley Walker....IMO

Blogger's note: My strength is actually having the patience of Job and trying not to react to ... well, you know

[Evan]

Hi Doug,
You stated Biyombo was 19 in the mock draft. For what it's worth, he claims to be 18... not sure if I believe him

[sam]

I don't follow college ball and aside from a few Yout Tube video's have no real feel for who would be the best selection for the HOTH....
My gut says to go big, but some mock drafts I've seen have the Raptors taking a point guard - The most frequent name is Knight, but only if he falls in thier lap. I hope BC can pull a rabbit out of his hat - and would love to see the drama of a few trades tonight - to give the talking heads something to talk about.
If the Cavs throw a wrench on the mix by choosing anyone other than Irving at number 1, that would be a bonus.....

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning Doug,
Halleluja, Speculation Week is almost over. Everything about drafts is speculation, followed by another year or two of speculation while we waits for 97% of the draftees to find a spot on the floor rather than the bench. For facts, I prefer to wait for your reports; but do you have a go-to source or two for opinions about prospects? Do you have any manner of top five list for Great Speculators? Cheers.

Blogger's note: A few but I'll keep 'em private

[Shawn]

"And if you think of it, maybe going with a big guy and someone young and full of potential is the way to go.

It’s a young group anyway, not likely going to contend for anything other than relative mediocrity next year and another young big, given the alternatives, makes sense."

If this is the case why not draft Valenciunas? Seems to be a lot more highly regarded than Bismack and not as one dimensional. Wouldn't you agree that Bismack is undersized for the centre position?

Blogger's note: This day and age, at 6-9 and just 18 years old, who knows?

[JHK]

Can Biyombo play center at 6-9?
I like him but just don't like the log jam we have at PF with Ed, Amir, Reggie... even Bargs seems to be a PF at best.

Blogger's note: He's 18 years old, who knows where he ends up; and they think so, yes

[skiff]

Hi Doug,

A more general question that I've always wondered about...the NBA Draft is 2 rounds, meaning 60 players get selected. How come there is such a talent drop off after the top 20 in "most" draft years?

It seems to me that between the dozens of Division 1 NCAA programs, Europe, South America and even other parts of the world, how is it that only 20-30 players a year are solid long term players? It seems like compared to other sports with their large and/or multiple drafts (NHL, MLB, NFL), the NBA should have no trouble with their talent pool since there are so many avenues into the league (and many of those avenues are quite elite). And yet, even "strong" draft years rarely produce more than 20ish good players with solid careers. Maybe my expectations are a little high, but at the same time it seems like there should be more...even if you just take straight odds and say 10% of all elite level players in the world should have meaningful NBA careers

Any thoughts on why the NBA is like that? I'm probably asking too much here!

Blogger's note: Short answer? Probably has more to do with the talent already in the league and the scarcity of jobs year to year than anything

[Mike D.]

@JHK, Biyombo is 6-9 but unlike Pops he has a 7-7 wingspan and a 9-3 standing reach, which is more cconsistent with a 7-footer (for example, according to the draftexpress.com combine results database Solomon Alabi, Brook Lopez and Shaq all have 9-5 standing reaches and Andrew Bogut and Chris Kaman are both a touch under 9-3). As I read in one Biyombo profile, you block shots, grab rebounds and dunk the ball with your hands rather than your head. On top of that reach he has WAY more hops than The Regend, which should make it much easier for him to score on putbacks.

If Colangelo wants to roll the dice in this draft and choose the guy who (although he's clearly not a sure thing) has the greatest potential to change the face of this Raptor team, that guy is Biyombo. Before you even get to the offensive end, just imagine last year's defensive team with a potential double-digit shot blocker lurking near the rim and finishing in transition and you can see the attraction to the HOTH.

[John]

Doug, your thankless job of being forced into putting up an opinion on the draft by the tall foreheads is much appreciated here. I have no idea why some choose to berate anothers guess at something that nobody, not even the guys picking second this year, know about, but I am guessing that they are also the ones that guranteed Miami in 5. Where is Kelsey anyways!

On the other hand, Woo Hoo! i dont have to watch the draft tonight. Bismack it is!

[doug]

picking a guy like Biyumbo makes me nervous...I wouldn't be a GM that drafts a one-dimensional player, give me athleticism and scoring ability and a more well rounded player...as he did with DD ,BC should stick to that formula there seems to be much better choices at the 5 spot, if he is bound and determined to draft Biyombo then trade down..as for the NBA draft and it only being 2 rounds, another factor is in baseball you are drafting 8 different position players and then pitchers, lefties and righties, so teams have a myriad of positions to choose from and fill same as in football and whereas b-ball really is much more simpler in terms of filling a teams needs versus what's out there...plus in the NBA all who are drafted whether fans believe it or not are true athletes, it's hard to find 20 in any given year never mind 60...

[Shonn]

Please please please Bryan Colangelo, package El Mago El Matador and the 5th pick to move up one spot.

[sg]

Sam Mitchell = the Wolves next head coach?

[Lorie]

Happy Draft Day, Doug!
Such a Dickensian theme: Great Speculations! And the anticipation! The suspense! The thrill of wondering who will be Best Dressed? Worst Dressed? Will anyone channel the awesome preppiness that was DeMarcus Cousins'? Will we see a repeat of Wesley Johnson's unfortunate look of sport jacket coupled with pajama pants? Remember Joakim Noah's golden bowtie? And Stern's face as Noah snuggled up to him and flashed the victory sign for their required photo? And will there ever be another suit as red as Jalen's? What will the Class of 2011 bring? It's said this draft isn't deep. Well, if not deep, hopefully it brings a wide array of sartorial splendor! Cheers!

[PZ]

hey Doug, Andy Katz reports this morning that "Toronto has narrowed its choices to four -- Knight, Jonas Valanciunas, Bismack Biyombo and Kawhi Leonard. " just an FYI.

Blogger's note: Um, maybe he finally caught up to stuff we've been writing here since, I dunno, Monday?

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Hi again, Doug,
Sorry for my poorly worded question. Rather than insider sources, I was thinking more in terms of a Top Five Great Speculators among the usual public sources. For example, would you lend more credence to Sir Charles' take on a draft prospect over, say, Jon Barry? Or maybe Seth Davis, being a college specialist? Hoopsworld over InsideHoops, etc. Anyway, cheers and thanks in advance for obliging us with an IDBT!

Blogger's note: Ah, sorry. Reading comprehension issue. Not sure if I have five exact favourites but I trust people who are at least nominally around the NBA than people who solely deal with college basketball. Let me think on some names

[pauline]

Haha...silas had the same comment yesterday, and I am paraphrasing 'his offensive game is not as bad as I heard it was'......hey doug, u need better sources man!

Blogger's note: No, I don't. Didn't know Rick had written it

[Andrea]

Doug, why don't the Raps have any interest in Kanter if he falls?

Blogger's note: Don't know

[doug]

Seth Davis has a draft review of those eligible this morning that excludes all Europeans..how is that a draft preview?, it's no different then you can't just talk about one Kardashian, you need to talk about all of them ,same thing here how the hell can you have a draft preview when you exclude some of the key players...plus what surprises me a bit and seems a good fit here but is never mentioned and I am not just saying it because i am patriotic is Tristan Thompson he is as high as 4th on some boards, the dude is a player, can play defense, score, I like him a lot plus he played and excelled in a tough conference..and some team will be delighted when they get him, plus what a marketing coup for the Raps...plus don't believe for a second that "buy-out" clause in Valanciunas contract is a issue, come on that clause will be gone in a sec when a cheque is written, it's a non-issue...it will be a interesting night...

[Chooch Peters]

"Blogger's note: My strength is actually having the patience of Job and trying not to react to ... well, you know". Haha! Douglas my boy - you know you love all of us! and you wouldn't trade it in a minute!

Blogger's note: If I never heard from some again, it'd be absolutely perfect.

[EricNS]

Can someone 6' 9" play centre?
Answer: Wes Unseld.
Also: how tall is Mutombo?

[Stephen]

I will accept the choice of BB with the #5 and not call Colangelo absolutely crazy for going for Hoffa 2.0, IF :

1. He swings for the fences and actually makes a trade involving at least one of our three bloated contracts : Amir Johnson, Jose Calderon or AB

2. He ponies up some cash and gets another first round pick in the late teens to mid twenties to pick up a desperately needed quick, athletic PG

3. He actually uses the TPE to find a veteran Wing player who might be on a team looking to shed some payroll

IF all he does this draft is take the player least accustomed to playing North style basketball, is almost an unknown, and just happens to have the ability to block some shots every once and a while, I cannot see that as a successful draft night. Do you? This current team plus BB cannot be seen as any better , can it?

[Chooch Peters]

Just read this, so if not the Raps then someone else is very interested. It is looking like if Minnestota or Utah don't take Kanter and Knight is not avialable @5 then the Raps will be with this stiff...I personaly hope not!
"Bismack Biyombo has received a last-minute invite to the green room for Thursday's draft, sources tell DraftExpress.com.
After an impressive workout Tuesday in Detroit, Biyombo appears to be headed back up draft boards. The reported medical red flag on his back isn't a concern, and the NBA's invitation is a sure sign he'll go in the lottery".

[commenter]

Why dont the Raps have any interest in Kemba anymore? For the longest time I thought he was going #5.