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.
Lots of Talent Left
Posted at 5:55 p.m.
The lottery portion of the 2005 NBA Draft may be in the books, but there's still plenty of talent left on the board - especially this year in what is considered one of the deepest drafts on record. The New Jersey Nets are on the clock.
Big 12 Represents
Posted at 6:05 p.m.
Our first two picks from the Big 12 come back to back. First, Texas A&M's Antoine Wright goes to New Jersey. Then, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham goes to Toronto. The stunning fall of the G-Men - Gerald Green and Danny Granger - continues.
G-Men Go
Posted at 6:15 p.m.
The two possible top-five picks are finally off the board at 17 and 18, respectively. The Indiana Pacers get Danny Granger (insurance for Ron Artest?) to give them yet another impressive athlete at forward. Then the Boston Celtics nab Gerald Green with the 18th pick. After getting Al Jefferson last year, the Celtics have an impressive stable of young talent.
The Seniors
Posted at 6:30 p.m.
A couple of solid four-year NCAA players go back to back at 19 and 20. Syracuse's Hakim Warrick, mentioned as a possible lottery pick goes to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Denver Nuggets then pick up Julius Hodge from N.C. State, the first player on the Sonics unofficial list of seven names to be selected. They'll get a look at a least a couple of those players.
Nate!
Posted at 6:35 p.m.
There were a lot of teams thinking about Nate Robinson at the end of the first round. And one of them took him. Officially, it's the Phoenix Suns at pick 21. Unofficially, it's the New York Knicks. According to a report on the ESPN broadcast, the Knicks will get Robinson's rights as part of the rumored Kurt Thomas-Quentin Richardson trade. Congrats to Nate. The three state products taken in the first round is an all-time record.
Denver Knows Jack
Posted at 6:42 p.m.
Presumably a disappointment in the Sonics Draft Room as Jarrett Jack, one of the players known to be high on their draft board, is taken by Denver with the 22nd pick. Two picks left to go, and the following of the unofficial seven names remain in play:
Martynas Andriuskevicius; Luther Head; Linas Kleiza and Wayne Simien.
Garcia to Sacramento
Posted at 6:50 p.m.
The Kings get a little bit of a slider in Louisville's Francisco Garcia. That's a solid addition, but what does it say about last year's first-round selection, swingman Kevin Martin?
Houston's Head
Posted at 6:55 p.m.
The Rockets take Illinois guard Luther Head. If you believe what we've been hearing about what the Sonics are going to do, the pick should be Lithuanian Martynas Andriuskevicius.
It's Petro
Posted at 7:00 p.m.
Maybe the Sonics didn't believe French center Johan Petro would be available. Otherwise, consider the smokescreen complete. Nobody was talking about Petro, but he's the Sonics selection at 25. Petro is young, but he's got an NBA body and plenty of potential.
It's Petro
Posted at 7:15 p.m.
Rick Sund, Nate McMillan, Dave Pendergraft and Jack Sikma briefly addressed the media for an in-draft update. I missed much of it posting an update on the pick, but did catch some important stuff:
Nate on the Sonics future frontcourt: "If you just imagine three years from now, the size of this guy with Robert and Nick, that will be a quality front line."
While admitting this is a pick for the future, Nate said that Petro will have the chance to play next season depending on how quickly he picks things up this summer.
While Worrying About Petro …
Posted at 7:20 p.m.
The last three picks, after the Sonics, are Jason Maxiell to Detroit, Linas Kleiza to Portland and Ian Mahinmi (or "some French power forward," as David Locke referred to him this morning).
First Round in the Books
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
Your last two first-round picks (and, more importantly, guaranteed contracts) are a pair of solid seniors: Kansas' Wayne Simien to Miami and David Lee to New York (drawing a chorus of boos at The Garden).
Moving Along
Posted at 7:32 p.m.
With the conclusion of the first round, it's time to start a new page for the remainder of the draft.
