Lunchtime musical interlude: NBA draft basics - and Yi
Here's the quick primer on the NBA draft tonight.
* Portland takes Ohio State's Greg Oden with the No. 1 pick and Seattle grabs Texas' Kevin Durant at No. 2. Then the guessing (and jockeying) begins with Atlanta at No. 3.
* There is the possibility for a blockbuster trade that can shake up this draft and the league in a significant way. So far, the big-time names who might be moved are Kobe Bryant (L.A.), Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) and Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix). The team with the draft picks most likely to be involved in a deal is Atlanta (with No. 3 and No. 11).
* The most intriguing player is China's Yi Jianlian, a 6-foot-11 forward whose age is something of a mystery (19 to 22). If he's on the younger end of that range, which he says he is, then he has tremendous upside potential. He appears to have the tools (finisher, ball-handling, perimeter shooting, free throw shooting) to be a building-block player. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Hawks are ready to take him at No. 3 and point guard Mike Conley Jr. at No. 11. Here's a look at Jianlian:
