Blogging with Bryan C. Hanks

NBA DRAFT IS TONIGHT

The NBA Draft is tonight — and while No. 1 (Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin) is pretty much a lock for the L.A. Clippers, the rest of the draft is up for grabs.

My take: I’m wondering where everyone’s All-American — UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough — will fall.

In other news, I’m going to host a picks contest again this year. Post your top 10 picks in order in the comments and the person that gets the closest to the actual draft will win four tickets to a Kinston Indians game of their choice, courtesy of this awesome newspaper that employs me.

Since there might be trades in the first round, you will be graded on picks and players, 1 through 10 – not on which team selects which player.

The deadline for entry is 6:58 p.m. today. The draft begins at 7 p.m., so — no cheating! 

As always, I am the final judge here and I will resolve any ties or such with a coin flip or something like that. I’ll post my picks later today.

Last year’s winner was AdrianBrewer.

SHAQ TRADED TO CAVALIERS

The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a deal that would bring 15-time NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal to their team from Phoenix. The deal sends Shaq to the Cavs for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavolic, tonight’s 46th overall pick and $500,000 cash.

My take: WTF? Even when this trade was being discussed, I couldn’t understand it. The Cavaliers already have a big stiff in the middle who can’t run (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), so why add another?

The only thing I can see them doing now is perhaps trading Ilgauskas, unless the Cavaliers are going to have their own immovable Twin Towers.

The main theme here is this: The Cavs are doing everything they can to keep LeBron James from bolting after the 2009-2010 season. I’m not sure this was the direction they wanted to go, though.

USA UPSETS SPAIN

The United States upset Spain in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, 2-0, yesterday in South Africa.

My take: I have to admit, I watched the final 10 minutes of the match but please don’t tell anyone. The Americans looked pretty doggoned good, especially on that second goal against presumably the best team in the world.

Also, our good friend Randy Capps has his take on yesterday’s match and what it means to America. Admittedly, I only read the first couple of paragraphs (damned Communist sport!), but if you want to read about soccer from someone who really knows the sport, check out RC’s take.