Live blogging the 2009 NBA Draft

The 2009 NBA draft is finally here, and I can’t wait to get it started. I’m much less excited about the prospects of this live blog, but we’ll see how it goes. Throughout the next two hours, we will cover everything that happens in the draft, from the steals and the flops to the ESPN broadcast. Stu Scott is already getting on my nerves by praising the Shaq trade and yelling at anyone who dares to suggest it doesn’t solve all of Cleveland’s problems. Sadly, this is probably only the tip of the iceberg.

Here goes nothing…

4:30: Ready for a long night of annoying draft coverage. Dicky V was on prior to the break and called this a “deep draft” Maybe deep is code for bad. ESPN’s team includes Stu Scott, Jeff Van Gundy, Jay Bilas, Andy Katz, Mark Jackson, and others I haven’t seen yet. I respect Van Gundy’s opinion, everyone else is questionable at best.

4:32: What up D Stern? He looks excited. Good plug for the WNBA in the introduction.

4:33: Sounds like some Jets fans are in attendance to boo every pick. Stern calls the fans “rowdy”. He loves this shit. Fans boo as Stern talks about the Lakers winning the title. Stern really loves it.

4:33: “Lakers suck” chant begins. Clippers are on the clock: Five minutes for the Clip Joint to discuss who to select. Who will it be?

4:38: Van Gundy makes fun of the Clippers for sucking…the franchise has had 20 lottery picks, one of which was Danny Ferry. Yikes.

4:39: Why do drafts always take so long? This is taking forever Clippers.

4:40: Clippers select BLAKE GRIFFIN

4:40: Griffin looks good in that purple and black suit. I’m glad the Clippers finally made what appears to be a good draft decision; Griffin, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton is a decent nucleus.

4:42: Jay Bilas analyzes the pick. Good analysis, but I suspect it will only get worse from here.

4:43: Mark Jones on the scene to interview Blake. I wonder if he will use big words? There are actually a couple Clippers fans at the draft – wow.

4:44: Stu Scott says “Griffin is the first player from Oklahoma to be drafted in the first round since EDWARD Najera.”

4:45: Lisa Salters interviews the Griffin family. Tommy and Gail, I know their names because ESPN loved showing them during OU games.

4:45: Mike Dunleavy joins ESPN to talk about the pick. The best decision for the Clips would be to fire Dunleavy.

4:46: Meanwhile, Memphis is on the clock.

4:46: Mike Conley is bad and NOT the point guard of the future.

4:46: How long will it take for Blake Griffin to lose all his hair?

4:47: Grizzlies select HASHEEM THABEET

4:47: Will Thabeet tweet about being drafted? The answer is yes.

4:48: Don’t like the pick, but Memphis had no choice. Trade offers were there, asking price was too high.

4:48: Why is Jay Bilas the one analyzing the picks? Gasp…

4:49: Bilas makes Thabeet sound awful…he can’t score and is weak physically…that’s a problem.

4:50: Stu Scott tells us Hasheem means “destroyer of evil”, in Tanzanian I guess.

4:52: Hasheem speaks with Mark Jones. I’ve never heard him talk before. Very well spoken, was a good student.

4:52: OKC is on the clock.

4:53: OKC will take Rubio. Bilas just loves Tyreke Evans.

4:54: Thunder select JAMES HARDEN.

4:54: Harden is a nice fit in OKC. Move over Thabo!

4:55: Westbrook and Harden could be good together. I like the pick. Good analysis by Van Gundy.

4:56: Harden’s beard is too under control. Don’t like it; needs to get longer.

4:57: Mark Jones asks him about the beard.

4:58: Harden sounds nervous and flustered. Looks good with the bowtie though.

4:58: Kings are on the clock. Bilas says Evans should be the pick.

4:59: Kings select TYREKE EVANS.

5:00: Jay Bilas is happy! I love Evans’ game, EVD does not.

5:01: I have heard Tyreke Evans talk. It is not impressive. I like the puzzle piece on the interview table, very creative.

5:02: Minnesota is on the clock – for 10 minutes.

5:03: Timberwolves have six picks in the draft – six chances to screw up.

5:05: Return after bathroom break, nothing has happened.

5:06: Timberwolves select RICKY RUBIO.

5:07: Fran Frischilla talks about Ricky Rubio – Fran knows his stuff, so it means something if he likes Rubio.

5:07: Comparison to Gretzky a bit much perhaps.

5:07: Let’s hear Ricky talk. God he looks young.

5:08: “I’m Ricky Rubio, I’m nobody else.”

5:09: Stephen Curry makes the most sense.

5:12: T-Wolves select JONNY FLYNN

5:12: This pick makes no sense at all. Jonny Flynn as a 5’11″ shooting guard? No.

5:12: T-Wolves just messed up. Jay Bilas loves Flynn’s heart. What does that even mean exactly?

5:13: Flynn will be a good backup to Rubio, or something. Who knows why Minnesota picked him at this spot.

5:14: Stephen Curry will most likely go to the Warriors, who are on the clock. Remember, Jamal Crawford was moved yesterday to free up space in the backcourt.

5:15: Flynn is a confident dude, I like him – just not on the Wolves.

5:17: The Wolves could trade Flynn at some point, or Rubio.

5:18: Warriors select STEPHEN CURRY

5:19: This was too obvious. Crowd boos, they wanted Steph in NYC.

5:20: Don Nelson loves guards so much. This pick doesn’t make the Warriors better at all.

5:20: Warriors now have youngest-looking backcourt in NBA history.

5:20: Dell Curry interviewed by Lisa Salters. Steph Curry has facial hair now! Crazy.

5:21: Knicks are on the clock. Jordan Hill?

5:22: The draft is nearly an hour old and only eight picks have dropped. Mark Jackson says Knicks need a point guard, I think Hill would be a good pick.

5:23: If Hill is picked, everyone will boo.

5:24: Knicks select JORDAN HILL

5:24: The crowd boos loudly.

5:25: This pick makes sense to me. I wonder what LeBron thinks?

5:25: Hill should flourish in D’Antoni’s offense.

5:25: Stu Scott isn’t being too annoying. I’m very surprised. Rachel Nichols interviews Donnie Walsh, who looks like he needs a smoke.

5:25: Larry Hughes is still a Knick! I forgot about that.

5:28: Van Gundy is mad at the crowd for booing, saying “they have never see Jordan Hill play.” He is right.

5:29: Raptors select DeMAR DeROZAN

5:30: I just love this pick.

5:30: DeRozan will have a chance to develop out of the limelight in Toronto. Watch it happen.

5:30: Milwaukee is on the clock. I expect a point guard here, but it might be a bit high for Ty Lawson.

5:30: Mark Jones loves Canada. He must be from there.

5:30: Shaq will be on ESPN in an hour or so, Stu Scott says. I look forward to that.

5:31: Finally a commercial break.

5:32: The Bucks are on the clock. Nobody cares.

5:33: Bucks select BRANDON JENNINGS

5:34: Jennings was supposed to drop really far in the draft.

5:35: This could be good, this could be bad – hard to say.

5:35: Scott Skiles will kill Brandon Jennings.

5:35: Jennings bolted the draft because he thought he was going to fall. Jennings could be a good pick, but it will take time.

5:37: New Jersey is on the clock. Terrence Williams is probably the pick here.

5:38: Mark Jackson doesn’t like the Vince Carter trade. I do. Unload an aging Carter and three years, 51 million for Courtney Lee is a good move.

5:39: Nets select TERRENCE WILLIAMS

5:40: I wonder if T-Will will rock the Barbie backpack in training camp.

5:41: Terrence Williams’ nickname is “T-Will”. Stu Scott loves stupid nicknames, just like Chris Berman…sigh…

5:42: Terrence Williams gives a shot out to Jay Bilas. What a weird dude.

5:45: Gerald Henderson would be perfect in Charlotte. Mark Jackson is proving that he is an idiot and hurting his chances to be a NBA coach.

5:46: Bobcats select GERALD HENDERSON

5:46: Henderson and Williams could end up being better than Harden and Evans.

5:48: Lisa Salter knows her role: interview parents.

5:49: Still no mention of the Michael Jackson death. I’m surprised Van Gundy hasn’t brought it up yet.

5:51: Indiana is on the clock. Will the Pacers take another white player?

5:52: I knew it!

5:53: Pacers select TYLER HANSBROUGH

5:54: Hansbrough becomes the ninth Caucasian-American player on the Pacers – okay, that might be a stretch.

5:55: This is not a good pick. Hansbrough strengths are “competitive” and “productive”. That says it all.

5:56: David Stern has the Suns pick.

5:57: Suns select EARL CLARK

5:58: Brandon Jennings, representing Earl Clark, appears on stage.

5:59: I love the Clark pick.

6:00: Bilas says Earl Clark is “shy.” That could be a problem. I didn’t realize he is almost 6’11″.

6:01: Earl Clark’s nickname is E-5. Thanks for that Stu.

6:02: Brandon Jennings being interviewed, he sounds much smarter than he did yesterday on Rome.

6:03: Pistons are on the clock.

6:04: Not enough Van Gundy and Jackson analysis. Player interviews add nothing to the broadcast. Dick Vitale hasn’t been on since the open – thank God.

6:05: Pistons select AUSTIN DAYE

6:05: Austin Daye needs to gain about 30 pounds. Not overly athletic, supposedly not a hard worker. A predictable pick, but not a good one.

6:06: My Bulls are on the clock – DeJuan Blair will most likely be the pick.

6:07: Eat some damn food Austin, man alive.

6:08: Daye doesn’t sound confident he can gain weight.

6:09: Dicky V awakes from his slumber – the first thing he says is Tyler Hansbrough will be a great player. Apparently he doesn’t like players with potential, it makes it too difficult for coaches. Idiot.

6:10: Jeff Van Gundy makes fun of Daye for being skinny – bad joke though.

6:11: Come on Bulls, make the pick. I sense Ty Lawson for some reason. I want Wayne Ellington.

6:12: Bulls select JAMES JOHNSON

6:13: Johnson might be the first Wyoming native ever drafted.

6:13: Steve Kerr in the house.

6:13: Johnson is a tweener, much like Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas. He should be able to score, but he loves shooting jumpers. Not crazy about the pick.

6:14: DeJuan Blair is dropping like he’s hot.

6:14: Steve Kerr says the Suns are in transition. That’s obvious.

6:15: Sixers select JRUE HOLIDAY

6:15: Holiday could be Chauncey Billups in a few years.

6:15: I believe ESPN is playing Nelly while it roles Holiday’s bio.

6:15: Jrue looks sharp as a tack.

6:15: Stu Scott loves dropping stupid facts about players – Holiday was the team manager of his high school’s womens tennis squad. Great.

6:16: T-Wolves are on the clock. Still trying to figure out the Jonny Flynn-Ricky Rubio draft combination.

6:17: DeJuan Blair would be a horrible pick, but don’t count it out.

6:18: Timberwolves select TY LAWSON

6:18: Minnesota is just butchering this thing beyond belief.

6:19: Okay, apparently Lawson will be traded to the Nuggets. We’ll see.

6:20: Roy Willams with a great reaction: “They already have two point guards.”

6:21: Hawks select JEFF TEAGUE

6:22: Acie Law version 2.0? Maybe.

6:22: Too much Jay Bilas – does everyone have a huge wingspan? Who has short arms, I want to know?

6:23: DeJuan Blair should have stayed in school. He could go the Jazz though.

6:24: Jazz select ERIC MAYNOR

6:24: EVD and I love Maynor, here he is beating Duke:

6:25: Larry Brown. Asshole.

6:26: The Bobcats could make the playoffs next season – then promptly file for bankruptcy.

6:26: Is Michael Jordan running this draft? Yikes.

6:27: I’m losing interest in the draft. Jeff Van Gundy hasn’t spoken in at least 15 minutes.

6:28: The Hornets need help to say the least.

6:33: Hornets select DARREN COLLISON

6:35: Wayne Ellington would have been a better fit, but Collison is a decent pick.

6:35: Portland needs a point guard. ESPN draft coverage is really slipping – too many commercials. Van Gundy is still silent and looks disinterested.

6:36: Biggest drop so far is without a doubt DeJuan Blair. B.J. Mullens is also slipping.

6:40: I want the old Jail Blazers back – that was so fun.

6:41: Portland selects VICTOR CLAVER

6:42: Fraschilla loves Claver, whoa, here comes Shaq.

6:43: Shaq takes a break from Twitter to join ESPN. Lisa Salters will handle the interview.

6:44: Shaq starts the interview by given his condolences to the Jackson family – not Mark, Michael. Shaq says he and LeBron haven’t talked but have had many “mental conversations.”

6:45: Interview ends, Stu Scott is insulted by the idea of Shaq coming off the bench. Mark Jackson isn’t.

6:47: Kings select OMRI CASSPI

6:48: Not surprisingly, Fraschilla loves Casspi too. He promptly compares the Israeli to Andres Nocioni, which isn’t a good thing in my mind.

6:50: I’m officially bored of the draft and will probably sign off soon. Still waiting on Blair and Mullens; both would fit in Dallas.

6:51: Mavs select B.J. MULLENS

6:51: Mullens has a ton of potential, but is reportedly a pud. Mullens was ranked as the No. 2 pick by draftexpress.com before the start of the college season.

6:52: The first round is lasting forever. I’m hoping Ellington falls to the Bulls.

6:53: OKC selects RODRIGUE BEAUBOIS

6:56: This pick is apparently headed back to Dallas.

6:57: The draft hasn’t been as interesting as I thought it would be – not last minute trades.

6:59: Bulls select TAJ GIBSON

7:02: A bit of a surprise. The Bulls frontcourt is now a cluttered mess – at least this could mean Aaron Gray’s days are numbered.

7:03: I can’t handle this anymore. We’ll have more reaction at the conclusion of the draft.