live on comcast: Kirk Hinrich blooper reel.

The two we’re talking about on here are Asik and Pekovic—and those were the only two that Hollinger would have recommended, after Galinarri, using his draft rater. He said Pekovic would have been third on his board if not for the contracts. Both project damn well.

The first is Omer Asik, a Turkish center who played for Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul this past season. In 279 Euroleague minutes - granted, a smallish sample - his performance projects to 12.2 points and 13.5 boards per 40 minutes, with 52.3 percent shooting and a 15.23 PER. He blocks shots, too, setting a Euroleague Round of 16 record for rejections this year.

He’s 22, 7-feet tall with a decent frame and relatively new to the game and still improving. So what’s the hang-up? Apparently he signed a five-year deal to stay in Turkey with no buyout, meaning he might not play in the NBA for a long time. That would be a shame. I have little doubt that Asik should be a lottery pick, but the contract issue may leave him as a mid-second rounder.

The second is Nikola Pekovic, a 22-year-old Montenegrin with a similar contract problem. Pekovic was little-known 12 months ago but absolutely dominated in the Euroleague this year.

My numbers from 2008 suggest he could start for most NBA teams tomorrow -

18.3 points and 12.0 boards per 40 minutes, with 51.4 percent shooting and a 17.09 PER.

I take this with a bit of a grain of salt, because his numbers from 2007 were terrible, but only a bit - if it weren’t for contracts I’d have him rated third on my board. Yes, third.

Unfortunately, you won’t be hearing his name until much later. Pekovic signed a big-money deal with Panathinaikos in Athens - reportedly for 4.5 million euros, which at the current exchange rate is about 300 billion dollars - making it all but impossible for an NBA team to sign him under the rookie salary scale. As a result, he seems pegged for the early part of the second round. Nonetheless, if I’m the Timberwolves I take this guy at No. 31 before Adam Silver gets to the podium.

They’re both 22 and would be ready to contribute in a couple of years. Both were also drafted in the second round meaning the Bulls could pay them whatever they wanted to bring them over—not being relegated to the rookie scale of the 1st round. If it’s either of these guys, that’s not a bad project.

And yes, still having Derrick Rose at the end of the night is pretty awesome.
(nice tag, too)

Chad Ford points out that this provides the old ‘chip on the shoulder’ motivation for Beasley. Well if he needed it in the first place…

I remember from last year how great we felt in Blazerland on draft night. Anyway good wishes to ya. Rose looks like a hellava player. Congrats

“I already know what a player is going to do before that player does it. That gives you a whole different perspective on the game. I guess that’s how i get so many assists.”

...remind you of anyone, BaB’ers?

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-080626-derrick-rose-mr-basketball-chicago,1,2261435.story?page=2

on the euros coming over this year and here’s what he had to say about our guy Omer :

“Actually, there are two other foreign players that I think might be better than Gallinari, and both are in this draft. Unfortunately, contracts may get in the way of either ever coming to the NBA.

The first is Omer Asik, a Turkish center who played for Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul this past season. In 279 Euroleague minutes - granted, a smallish sample - his performance projects to 12.2 points and 13.5 boards per 40 minutes, with 52.3 percent shooting and a 15.23 PER. He blocks shots, too, setting a Euroleague Round of 16 record for rejections this year.

He’s 22, 7-feet tall with a decent frame and relatively new to the game and still improving. So what’s the hang-up? Apparently he signed a five-year deal to stay in Turkey with no buyout, meaning he might not play in the NBA for a long time. That would be a shame. I have little doubt that Asik should be a lottery pick, but the contract issue may leave him as a mid-second rounder.”

....Minnesota GM Kevin McHale and Memphis GM Chris Wallace swapped Love and Mayo.

See, there is justice.

If i hear one more person say Rose is “Jason Kidd with a jumper.” I’m gonna drive into on coming traffic. I think Bilas was the first person to say it and then I hear it 20 more times by other ESPN personalities, fing Obama, and then 10k dbags on 20 different message boards. MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!

About Derrick coming in and being careful with him.

Throw him into the fire! He wants to be there from day one.

I apologize for any “Blazer fans” who have been rude, crude, or obnoxious. We’re generally friendly folk (see: Mortimer, Dave, Ben, tominhawaii, annthefan), but a few beeps slip through the cracks and raise havoc. They’re just bandwagon fans. A lot of the guys who came in here and stirred up the pot are new to the Bedge, and really don’t have room to be talking.

Hope Rose turns out well for you! Good luck with Omer Asik!