Chris Ekstrand

I'll tell you what else the clock is ticking on that would be tonight's NBA draft in fact Greg -- 12 hours from now. Portland Ortiz elected mr. -- Seattle selected mr. grant and we will have the answered the question. Will Danny and straight to number five pick or use -- helping us a sort all this out as though we sat on christmas eve if you will different from SI dot com. Chris extra risk according aria. Gentlemen your first things first here everybody seems to think that we know what's going to happen that pop Oden and to ransom that's no surprise that -- sense Chris that this is sort of the NBA's worst nightmare but these two different guys -- you put it with with old -- marketable individual are banished to the Pacific northwest where a full 80% of the country won't get to see these kids play very much.

Well I think he would be able to speak up -- be adding. Those two guys the week they bring so much I mean -- is going to be a big score probably almost from the get go and owed they'll be guided they can build around. It probably isn't the preferred place in the in the country for them to be playing but. At the same time but they. The the the week probably looks at the same way that teams look at the draft they really just want to add to -- And you know if if that's the way the ball bounces then that's -- a ping pong ball bounces that way to.

It Chris thought his the Atlanta Hawks screw this thing up.

Well Billy Dottie has had a penchant for drafting forward as though over the last few years and I don't think it's going to change. I think with the number three pick if they retain it and that's still an open question I think Al Horford from Florida's looking looking like they're pick but. At the end of the day they want to about the strapped with a point court whether they draft one with three or their other pick 11. Work that make a trade they really need to get that done so it should be interesting Atlanta's depth we want teams to watched.

You -- a great difference between Crittenton. Law as opposed those two guys as opposed to Mike Conley.

I think there is in terms of readiness I think AC law is ready to take over the control of the -- team his upside might not be as great as a guy like Connolly who's just super quick but I think law is -- mature player got a chance to spend some time with him yesterday. And I was very impressed and I've been impressed by his play but that that have a chance to sit down and actually talked to him in and you know you're on his mind he would have very. You know methodical rolled up approach to to the game and I think a team could really benefit from bringing -- law if they want somebody who can play next season.

duck rivers was quoted this morning in the newspaper and it's sort of contradicts what Danny has set and that is we plan on taking this and making -- the night at number five doc says I think with that Tony Allen we probably talk to the needs of the Boston Celtics -- a -- with Tony -- we probably needed to until he gets ready. We need a backup for Paul Pierce at the three spot. We need veterans we need experience more than any thing not just guys who are old guys who can play. And right now we need another big does that make you think that what despite what -- say they're leaning toward a trade maybe.

I think that it that it shows the classic divide between what GMs are looking for which is to help the team get better in the long run. In the matter who that that means drafting in terms of use. And what do coach thinks about which is that won lost record you know -- up. Getting released from his chalk up it's going to be because of the word -- you know there weren't enough -- that that W cholera and you know I think that's what that's what every team has Ghali is you have the player personnel people were looking for. Something that will add value to the team over the long ball and coaches are worried about next season and probably rightly so.

To a Danny gets his way who do you think he is buying. But most.

I think that the thing that you find out starting -- history of the draft is that GMs don't show their hand and perhaps not so Danny and dark or in Europe offers from other teams for the number five pick -- they haven't heard. In his -- run up to the draft GMs are going to come out of the woodwork -- looked. Now to work done posturing we're going to tell you exactly what we we give you for number fought so they're -- you're offers tonight what they take the Murton not. They're going to -- offers tonight that they haven't heard over the long haul and they're going to have a chance to get some veteran players. It Denny's dressed as many times that he's talked about you know we're -- get veterans just to get better we have deaf people who can play. We're going to fit in around Paul Pierce and you know we'll see if that.

You know after the number five pick unless you get something not received a package unless he gets something. Along the lines of Garnett Marion and names that we heard my thought right now crisis is I'm leaning towards Joakim Noah. And and John like other people said to me. Well if you're -- draft the guy that high it's a number five shouldn't he be a superstar impact player. My argument with no is look at Ben Wallace -- walls is not your classic 23 point a night guy but there's so many of the things the -- energy. Rebounds which is what Noah does smart basketball player and pro sports are copycat league specially in the NBA and I think a lot of people maybe even the Celtics are looking at a guy like Anderson Barry -- in what he's meant to the Cleveland Cavaliers may see a lot of him in Joakim Noah what do you think.

I agree with you and your assessment of no I would say that in my latest mock draft that again one -- in this this whole thing basically -- up in smoke but in my latest mock draft I've Memphis taking -- for one spot before the Celtics so. I think it's some of the same thing he set about know what that make him a valuable picked. Targeting interest other teams and we -- see him go back four but you know I think your point is well taken. That you really need players who can -- what you're trying to do it that your program. It's not necessarily the guy can score the most points if there were about scoring the most points -- or the would be taking Kevin -- number one. And the note we -- to and that's not the way it's good.

Out at the -- and a few of the Celtics had in everything went. The right way Paul Pierce is healthy he scored 20 plus Al Jefferson gets -- that next level he's scoring. 18 points a game and and you know Joe Greene scored 1415. You don't necessarily need another guy who's going to step in and scored 1518 points a game let let's let's play the game that that Atlanta. Goes off the Borden doesn't go to Horford and that -- And -- with Europe or or or somebody else and and that's one of the rumors that are out there do you think there's any way that man this would pass on Horford. Now knowing that they may have an affinity for for Corey brewer and and obviously they like Conley as well.

Yeah I I don't see I think that if Horford were to be available for -- Memphis which is strapped him I don't anticipate that but you know you guys have Paul Pierce in that town and we all know Paul Pierce never should have dropped all the way to and and that did happen so strange things happen on draft -- particularly if you start having teams. Picking a a player -- spot that's actually for another team in other words optic -- three. You pick misguided you know six for be -- at all or would you be something else in in the package. If that's start happening. You know all the sudden guys who were slotted in certain spots in the dropping if you spot so. A -- Chris Wallace out of shocked he was that they were able to Paul Pierce and without creating opera doing anything he just fell into their laps so you know that -- proprietor can get a Paul Pierce but. You know you you do -- strange things happen on draft I don't think --

We're talking with the SI dot comes NBA draft reporter Chris extra an actress who liked that guy be in the NBA draft this year who might be the Paul Pierce of falls much further they -- ends up being a great value at that spot.

I think there a couple of players I think Julian Wright of Kansas who really is it is a good overall player he can do just that everything except shoot I think he's going to be one guy who looks like he's gonna go later that we all anticipated in my last of the mid teens. Now now would be a bit of surprise I think that you know -- if Jeff Green. From Georgetown pops up a little bit higher. That we thought that Brandan Wright from North Carolina who you know is -- long range guy he's not somebody who's easily 200006 and so we've got a lot of work to do what his body might think he could fall down to maybe ten -- so so there're a couple of really good players you know including the two right. Probably move down a little bit in the draft and in three or four years might become terrific players people look back and say you know what we thank.

This time a year Chris we always hear the term NBA ready of all the players in this draft who would in your estimation is the most NBA ready.

I think for what he does on the court that would be Al Horford and because he's not going to be a guy who's going to be your number one scorer. He's going to be someone who was probably you're number -- three scorer and all you're number two rebounder. For for what you're expecting for him to be a company do witches you know all 13 points 67 rebounds I think he can do that the that so I think workers probably the most ready. Note the grand. They don't get into terms the points per game -- go to any question that he's the top rookie. But I don't think that means that you know Seattle distorted and the playoffs they have a lot of other need so I think the you have to get a look at our two levels what is it was going to score the most then the second would be who's going to fill the role the bat

well a couple of most ball stability in this draft that they -- I think that's my own time -- MI by the by the way if you can net you watch NB ATV at all yet but it have you been watching the them. The drafts from the old out -- I'm addicted till it hits that that event like that as a as a draft -- an NBA guy is if some of the greatest television when you watch guys and I say -- Greg Graham. Oh yeah I like to bring the equipment they selected a hole where. So about a rule who is that guy five years from now -- around. I think when -- when I'm when I'm watching coverage of the -- seven draft ten years amounted EDT it was dark.

You know its its markets are to put your finger on that in this draft because like most of the talent value waiters in our league. I've really -- to good drought that it's very difficult to say of this guy using point that -- that ever bring any bank I think it seemed more out it is. Players who are probably 23 years away from really impacting team. And when you read about them now it seems like this guy's gonna comment morrow wind and you know to shock the world and I think that's unrealistic so I think if for example you know eat from China. He has good skills but he's got a couple profound adjustments to make one to the culture in this country another to the culture on the basketball court. Asian basketball is very -- oriented. And he could that you have played a much different story when he takes place that an MBA courts though. I think that a player like that is a couple of years away really doing anything and you know -- some people think they'll be able to play right why I'm not in the act and a so I think it's a matter of not guys were going to be just bought out right spot to never -- But the guys who don't really going to have double Lotta patience with I think. You know that matters Spencer Hawes of Washington these big center -- young kid you know he's 19 and I think he he played that way so. That the that the players that teams are going to have to have a lot of patience with I think in in three or four years these great touch around the -- he can shoot facing jump shot and it will help out on the boards I think he's going to be a player in on him but if you're expecting an immediate return that's not going to.

Chris has been much speculation around here in recent days about Paul Pierce. A what he wants to have happen how happy or unhappy he would be if they get younger and not not a veteran presence a who will be his costar that's what. Most people speculate he is thinking is it possible that Al Jefferson might be his costar that they already have it figured out.

I think that's probably likely and this is the time of year when a lot of people love to talk on behalf of superstars and -- willing to wait hear what Paul has to say after the -- And he -- about his market you know he he has had a lot of -- looked beyond it and dealing with very young teammate the last couple years and he's had a good understanding of the fact that it wasn't going to happen overnight. But then again I don't think you want to be a superstar your crime and have seven great teammates who should still being college so you know like it at four appearances is what you shown. But all all all wait and take a rain check on what he thinks all wait to hear from. All out.

Chris in your mock draft you've got John Williams on the second round of the Celtics. You still hold that you think he'll he'll fall all the way through round one.

Well -- put this white. There may be a team out there who want to roll the -- the they've changed the way that the first round rookie scale works. And now you only have to give two guaranteed years to players used to be great. So a player like short Williams you know you're in the 20s maybe it makes sense to roll the -- is no question that I can block shots we've all seen it he's an incredible shot blocker. But he not a polished player. Is offensive game is not up to stop. And you know there're there're obviously off the court questions -- there I mean would somebody gets kicked off the team in you know we all -- while skater he's very -- men you know when when a guy has to be kicked off the team he's one of your two best players there are question marks now having said that and beat teams in the past have shown. I don't know if you want to court -- stupidity in taking some players like this where there are tons of questions about so. You know if split but despite he's the kind of guy if you pick and when he -- that great everybody quality of the genius. You know he's got to believe in two years because off the court problems people that don't what they thinking so which on Williams there because that's what I would do.

I think if I take take it -- take him in the top ten that's stupidity I think even -- employee 25. To me that's that's gutsy. Well it -- well there. I mean you're always young -- for the all goes back not possibility but outside. Right now if you if you are 2425 he's probably got the best upside of any guys their potential army guys there.

Yeah I'd I'd -- tend to think that this is a very deep draft and if you have a player like a more the ballot Delhi from Italy. Who's played against top level competition internationally we've seen him in the world championship lead Italy team he's a you know yet a lot of -- Ginobili and him. And a lot of people believe he's still going to be around their 20 or 20 -- get a perspective need and bell Italy's shooter scorer. But if we're -- that is available still when your picking. Or you can go with a -- short Williams you really think about that providing bell and only going to be peaks or in our.

final question for me of the following four stars which one is the most likely to be wearing a different uniform in October Kevin Garnett. Kobe Bryant Shawn Marion or Amare Stoudemire.

Well I think it's probably Garnett I think they've they've brought up the -- in Minnesota when and I think that they realize that. In 12 months from now he could leave and they -- not that I don't think you can let an asset like I go. For nothing so they Garnett but having said that when you trade a player that magnitude -- the 20 million dollar that price back right. One of those other players that you mention particularly the two Phoenix Suns players probably would have to come back in the trade for them. You can't you know the way the salary cap rules work and you can't just trade Kevin Garnett and say okay give me you know sort of articulate if you -- that when a guy makes 20 million dollars you have to make the salaries match up within 25% of that 40 million.

Chris extra and SI dot com thanks very much for the at timely information will -- to the draft tonight. Thank you guide I enjoyed it a -- Chris extra Sports Illustrated dot com