It's the 2005 NBA Draft, and SUPERSONICS.COM's Kevin Pelton is all over the action. He'll provide regular updates during the Draft while watching the action unfold from the media room at The Furtado Center. Be sure to hit refresh for the latest real-time analysis and commentary as well as tidbits from interviews with the Sonics picks and front office staff.
Signing On
Posted at 4:05 p.m.
ESPN's coverage of the 2005 NBA Draft kicks off with a montage of the players in attendance at Madison Square Garden in New York (well, the invited ones; presumably we'll have the trend of stage-crashers continue, much to Bill Simmons' delight). The media room here at The Furtado Center is beginning to fill up, and the excitement is building. Stay with us all night long for the best coverage of the Sonics draft.
Names to Watch
Posted at 4:15 p.m.
So who should you be looking for as the Draft goes on as potential Sonics picks who could be taken. I'll direct you to
David Locke's blog for more on the topic, as Locke is probably the guy with the closest line to Sonics management. Some of the names he's mentioned include Jarrett Jack, Martynas Andriuskevicius, Luther Head, Julius Hodge, Wayne Simien, Linas Kleiza and yes, the Seattleite, Nate Robinson. We'll be especially tracking what happens with those players all night long.
Second Trade
Posted at 4:25 p.m.
Much later than you in all likelihood, I just found out about the second trade of the day (after Utah and Portland swapping the third and sixth picks), with Jiri Welsch going to Milwaukee for a 2006 second-round pick. Given Cleveland gave up a first-rounder to get Welsch, it's tough to be too positive about that series of events for them. The Bucks deal a second-rounder for an experienced player (tough to call Welsch a veteran) for the second straight year, and I suspect he'll step into Toni Kukoc's role next season as a wing reserve. I like that for them.
On the Clock
Posted at 4:33 p.m.
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially on the clock. Will it be Andrew Bogut as expected?
It's Bogut
Posted at 4:37 p.m.
No surprises there. The history of centers who aren't Shaquille O'Neal-type superstars in college hasn't been great, but Bogut was awfully good at Utah. He may not be a superstar, but he should be a very good NBA player.
Atlanta Goes Williams
Posted at 4:42 p.m.
All throughout this process, Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams have been the consensus top two prospects, but there was some scuttle recently that the Hawks might go for Chris Paul over Williams. That won't be the case, as Atlanta goes with the Bremerton product and will sort out its position overlaps later. Williams becomes the highest drafted player ever to have come from a Washington high school, surpassing Bob Houbregs. (
More on Washington talent in the Draft.)
Utah Goes Williams Too
Posted at 4:47 p.m.
We all knew Utah was going to draft a point guard after trading up this afternoon. The question was which one. The Jazz opted for Illinois' Deron Williams over Wake Forest's Chris Paul. While Williams' middling scoring numbers in college throw up some red flags for me, his defense is a good fit for a Utah team that was abysmal at that end of the floor last season. Expect the Jazz to improve on both sides of the court thanks to Williams.
Paul to New Orleans
Posted at 4:52 p.m.
Pretty easy call for the Hornets to make, presumably, with Chris Paul left on the board. New Orleans gets the point guard considered by many the best in the draft and the best player available in some people's minds. It's not a bad start at all to rebuilding the Hive.
Charlotte Stays Local
Posted at 4:58 p.m.
It's right up the road for UNC's Raymond Felton, who goes fifth to Charlotte and becomes the Bobcats point guard of the future. Some people thought Felton might still be on the board when the Bobcats picked 13th, but Bernie Bickerstaff and company weren't willing to take that chance.
Seattle Crashes the Draft
Posted at 5:06 p.m.
In a little bit of a surprise, Portland takes the first and only Washington player ever to leap directly to the NBA from high school, Seattle Prep's Martell Webster. It's a fine day for Webster and his grandmother, sporting an impressive hat. Congrats to Webster and way to go Seattle prep basketball. It's a great day to be a native.
Big Surprise
Posted at 5:12 p.m.
Toronto takes Charlie Villaneuva, and the ESPN analysts are all over Rob Babcock. I don't get why they're quite so upset; Villanueva and Bosh are a big enough frontcourt (though Villanueva isn't the enforcer the Raptors might prefer at center) and he's clearly a lottery-pick talent. Of course, that opinion doesn't make for good TV, now does it?
Pac-10 Reunion
Posted at 5:25p.m.
The hometown Knicks take Arizona's Channing Frye, who bears some similarity to a former Knicks center, Marcus Camby. But Frye will have to improve his rebounding dramatically for that comparison to make too much sense. Golden State follows by taking the other top big man in the Pac-10 last year, Ike Diogu. I wouldn't have minded seeing Ike go to the Eastern Conference; I've seen entirely enough of him against the Huskies.
Next Shaq?
Posted at 5:31 p.m.
With Gerald Green and Danny Granger still on the board, the Lakers throw a curve by selecting a different high schooler, New Jersey center Andrew Bynum. Bynum is unquestionably talented, but are Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant going to wait around for him to develop? The experts are dubious, and this time so am I.
Foreigners
Posted at 5:43 p.m.
The international contingent was quiet for the first ten picks, but it's roaring along now after Fran Vazquez goes to Orlando (a surprise) and Yaroslav Korlev goes to the Clippers (not a surprise).
Celebration in Chapel Hill
Posted at 5:52 p.m.
A pair of Tar Heels complete the lottery. The Bobcats reunite Sean May with point guard Raymond Felton, while Minnesota takes Rashad McCants, who a lot of people had going to the Clippers. That's four, count them, four North Carolina alumni in the lottery. Great night for the Tar Heels.
Moving Along
Posted at 5:55 p.m.
With the conclusion of the lottery, it's time to start a new page for the remainder of the first round.
