LiveBlogging the NBA Draft

At 55, Portland grabbed 6-2 guard Mike Taylor, formerly of Iowa St., recently of the NBS D-League.
The fifth player from Kansas was taken by Seattle at 56, and that was 6-10 forward Sasha Kaun.
Maryland 6-9 forward James Gist was grabbed by the Spurs at 57
Joe Crawford, a 6-5 guard from Kentucky, was the Lakers' lone pick of the draft at 58.
Deron Washington, from Virginia Tech, was grabbed by the Pistons at 59.
And finally, the Celtics took Semih Erden, 6-11 center from Turkeybb

As the draft winds down...
Dallas took Vanderbilt 6-6 guard Shan Foster at 51
Miami, at 52, took Kansas 6-8 forward Darnell Jackson

Oregon's Malik Hairston, a 6-6 guard, was picked by Phoenix at 48
Alabama's Richard Hendrix, a 6-9 forward, was taken by Golden State at 49
At 50, Seattle grabbed California's DeVon Hardin, a 6-11 center.b

Penn Charter and Virginia grad Sean Singletary was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 42nd pick. The Kings must like the basketball here in the Philly region, as they also used their 12th pick to take Jason Thompson, who hails from South Jersey.
With the 40th pick, the Nets took Memphis 6-7 slasher Chris Douglas-Roberts. Indiana followed and took 6-10 forward/center Nathan Jawai, who played in Australia last season.

Penn Charter and Virginia grad Sean Singletary was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 42nd pick. The Kings must like the basketball here in the Philly region, as they also used their 12th pick to take Jason Thompson, who hails from South Jersey.
With the 40th pick, the Nets took Memphis 6-7 slasher Chris Douglas-Roberts. Indiana followed and took 6-10 forward/center Nathan Jawai, who played in Australia last season.

While we were listening to Stefanski the following picks took place:
31. Minnesota took Nikola Pekovic (Serbia) (6-11 center)b
32. Seattle took Walter Sharp (Ala.-Birmingham)
33. Portland took Joey Dorsey from Memphis (6-9 forward)
34. Minnesota took Mario Chalmers from Kansas (6-2 guard)
35. Clippers got DeAndre Jordan from Texas A&M (7-foot center)
36. Portland took Omer Asik of Turkey (7 center)
37. Milwaukee grabbed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute of UCLA (6-8 forward)
38. Charlotte got Kyle Weaver of Washington St.(6-6 guard)
39. Chicago grabbed Sonny Weems from Arkansas (6-6 g-f)

Sixers' general manager Ed Stefanski on the club's pick of Marreese Speights:
"I apologize for getting here so late. I wanted to be here an hour ago, but we got very active toward the end of the first round, but nothing happened.
"I think you know me pretty well and that's the guy we were going to pick. We really like Marreese for his size, he's extremely athletic, he likes to run the floor the way we like to play. He can make a shot. He has the chance to be the back-to-the-basket type of player with both his left and right hand. He's 20 years old and he needs to be nurtured. We don't expect him to come in and be the star. We're really high on his upside.

On the plan with the $11 million they have to spend on free agency.
"We have a plan. Part of the plan was getting a big guy with the 16th pick. We got the player we wanted with very big upside. The $11 million is very important to us to get that free agent that we want.

Detroit trades D.J. White to the Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics will get Detroit's 32nd and 46th picks.

Tony DiLeo had this to say about the Sixers possibly dealing for a second round pick.
"We have some names up thee. The probability (of a trade) is not great. I would say not a great posibility, but we do have some names in the second round that if players do slip there are a couple players that we might try and go after. Maybe international players that we may draft and keep them overseas. So there are a few players on our board we might try, but at this point it is not a very good possibility.

The world champ Boston Celtics selected New Mexico guard J.R. Giddens with the last pick in the first round. Giddens can score from anywhere on the court and is an outstanding leaper.

Indiana senior D.J. White, a 6-9 forward who earned Big Ten player of the year honors after averaging 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds, was grabbed by Detroit at No. 29. This is a good move for the Pistons. Antonio McDyess certainly won't be around much longer.

We're waiting for Sixers' GM Ed Stefanski to talk about the Sixers' pick. We'll bring it to you as soon as he arrives.

Syracuse frosh Donte Greene went to the Grizzlies at 28. The 6-11 forward led the Cuse, with 17.7 a game and earned second team all-Big East.

After IUPUI's George Hill (6-2, 180-pound guard) was taken by San Antonio at 26, Portland took Kansas forward Darrell Arthur at Nol. 27, which they will trade to Indiana.
Arthur, who some had thought would go in the top 15, fell due to what is being reported as some kind of kidney problem. During his two seasons at Kansas, Arthur never missed a game. He was great in the Final Four, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking four shots against North Carolina in the national semifinal game and then scored 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting and grabbed 10 boards in title win over Memphis.

'"We think eventually he will be able to play both positions, the power forward position and the center position, so that fits into our philosophy. And he's a good person. He fits in with his character into our team. We did a lot of research on him. He fits our team like a glove.
ABOUT PLAYING AT FLORIDA
"They (Florida) won the national championship and he practiced and played against (Al) Horford and (Joakim) Noah for a whole season and learned a lot from those two players. That also was a factor in our decision."

The Sonics grabbed 6-10 forward Serge Ibaka from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Ibake. He played in Congo before going over to Europe, where he compted in Spain last season, averaging 11.3 points. Is a very good leaper, and his ability is described as raw, though he can shoot well while facing up against opponents.
At 25, Houston grabbed Nicolas Batum, from France. The 6-8 guard has an offensive upside, with good shooting range, a good handle and can drive to the hoop well.

Kosta Koufas, yet another freshman, went to the Jazz at No. 23. Koufas was expected to go earlier. The 7-0, 265-pounder scored 14.4 points and grabbed 6.7 rebounds for Indiana this past season. He has a very good outside shooting touch.

Cal's Ryan Anderson went at 21 to the New Jersey Nets, while Western Kentucky guard Courtney Lee goes to the Orlando Magic at 22. Anderson, a 6-10 sophomore forward, led the Pac-10 in scoring at 21.1 a game. Lee is a 6-5 shooting guard who will join Jameer Nelson in the Magic backcourt.

In 36 games for Florida last season, the 20-year old averaged 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.36 blocks. He shot 62.4 percent from the floor, which was the ninth-best in the nation. He collected 10 double-doubles and blocked two or more shots 16 times.

With the 20th pick the Bobcats and Larry Brown landed Alexis Ajinca, a 7-0, 220-pound center from France.

Georgetown's Roy Hibbert went to Toronto (though he'll probably be traded to Indy as part of the Jermaine O'Neal deal), while Washington took JaVale McGee of Nevada at 18 and Cleveland landed J.J. Hickson (North Carolina St.) at 19.
Larry Brown's Charlotte Bobcats are up next.

Speights is from Florida, in case there was confusion.

Speights is from Florida, in case there was confusion.

We think he is a perfect fit for our team, said Sixers' vice president Tony Dileo. "He's one of the better post-up players in this draft. He can score with his right or left. We need a post-up player and we think he's going to be that for us. We are a running team and he can get out and run. He was the highest rated person we had on the board when our pick came. We don't see him as a major impact this year, we hope next year he'll be able to get more playing time. We're hoping by next year he can play major minutes. Right now he's about an 18-foot shooter, but he's practicing and will become a three-point shooter. He averaged one rebound every three minutes, which was one of the best in college. He can run, not only offensively but defensively.

Syracuse 6-10 sophomore forward-center Marreese Speights is the Sixers first-round pick for 2008. He is very strong and very big (245), but at the same time very quick and athletic. Has a very long wing span, which he uses well on both ends of the floor. Was a reserve at Florida for their second national championship in 2007. Averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Jason Thompson was taken 12th, not 10th as headline said.

The Warriors took LSU frosh Anthony Randolph and Phoenix took Robin Lopez with the 15th pick. The Sixers are on the clock. Prediction here is Donte Green of Syracuse.

Jason Thompson went 12th to the Kings, not 10th. Sorry.

No, it's not a law firm. The Portland Trail Blazers have taken Brandon Rush from Kansas. A smooth outside shooter with great height (6-10), he will give the Blazers not only another scorer, but is another great defender, like Oden and Roy. He sometimes plays a little soft, but that might be okay with the strength he'll have around him in Portland.

Jason Thompson of Rider, and Lenape High School in Medford, N.J., was taken 12th by the Sacramento Kings. Thompson, who became the first senior taken in the draft, is a surprise choice as most had him going late in the first round. He is very athletic for his size (6-10, 250). He scores, rebounds and blocks shots. Averaged 23 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3 blocks in Old Spice Classice this season against North Carolina St., Penn State and Kansas State (and Michael Beasley).

Jerryd Bayless became the fifth player from the Pac-10 and the sixth freshman to be chosen as the Indiana Pacers took the 6-3 guard. Bayless likely will join T.J. Ford, whom the Pacers will acquire in a trade, in the Indiana Backcourt. He is very quick can score (19.7, third in the Pac 10) and also is a very good defender.

Jerryd Bayless became the fifth player from the Pac-10 and the sixth freshman to be chosen as the Indiana Pacers took the 6-3 guard. Bayless likely will join T.J. Ford, whom the Pacers will acquire in a trade, in the Indiana Backcourt. He is very quick can score (19.7, third in the Pac 10) and also is a very good defender.

Stanford forward Brook Lopez (7-feet, 250 pounds) was selected by the Nets at No. 10. Paired with his twin brother Robin, Brook led the Cardinal to the Elite Eight, averaging 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. Very athletic and strong, able to pound his way to the basket, but also pull up, avoid the contact and drain the 12-footer. Slipped a little bit in the draft, as most had him going in the top five.

New Bobcats coach Larry Brown (remember him?) selects Texas point guard D.J. Augustine. At 5-11, he is the only draftee who stand eye-to-eye with commish David Stern. He is unbelievably quick and, in college was able to create his own shot almost at will. Whether he'll be able to do that in the NBA is another question.

West Virginia's Joe Alexander, considered by many to be the best athlete in the draft, goes to the Milwaukee Bucks with the 8th pick. He is an extremely hard worker and knows how to score, meaning he knows when to pull up, when to drive and how to draw contact. Was one of the best players in the nation during the NCAA Tournament.

Indiana's Eric Gordon, a 6-3 frosh, goes to the Clippers with the 7th pick. Gordon led the Big Ten in scoring (20.9) and was named the league's freshman of the year. Few had predicted Gordon to go this high. He certainly has the offensive game for the NBA. Probably will be a solid scorer (on a bad Clippers team) for a few years.

The Knicks made their fans gathered at the draft in New York very unhappy by drafting 6-8 forward Danilo Gallinari, from Italy. In some league over in Europe (the Italian A-1 league, actually), Gallinari averaged 17.5 a game. He's a typical European, with a good outside game and a high basketball IQ. Fun fact, new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni played with Danilo's father in Italy.

Here at PCOM, nothing seems to be cooking with the Sixers. Well, if it is, they aren't telling the gathered media here. Stay tuned.

After winning just 44 games the past two seasons COMBINED, the Grizzlies did themselves well by grabbing UCLA center Kevin Love with the fifth pick. Love is the third freshman among the top five picks, and follows teammate Russell Westbrook. Love does everything well and is a very physical player. To show how well he knows the game and how to play it, he didn't foul out of a game for the Bruins this season, despite scoring (17.5) and rebounding (10.6). My favorite player of the draft.bb

No, Eagles fans, Brian Westbrook hasn't been traded. The Seattle Sonics take UCLA guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick, teaming him with Kevin Durant. The question is will Westbrook be able to play the point. He played two seasons at UCLA, and certainly will improve. But will it be at the point? That's most likely where Seattle envisions him.

With the third pick in the draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves took USC freshman O.J. Mayo. The 6-5 guard showed his versatility for the Trojans, leading them in scoring (20.7), assists (3.3) and steals (1.6). He is a capable outside shooter and very good at getting to the basket and scoring despite contact. Also, is very good at the defensive end.

Listed at 6-10 during his freshman season at Kansas State, Michael Beasley measured only 6-7 recently. Doesn't matter, the Miami Heat still took the power forward with the second pick. Beasley averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 boards a game, second highest in the nation. Whether he will stay a teammate of Dwyane Wade or not is in question. Miami very well could trade Beasley before the night is over.

The Chicago Bulls surprised no one as they took Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose with the first pick in the draft. Rose's stock soared with his spectacular play in the Final Four. He is a native of Chicago and is the first guard picked at No. 1 since the Sixers took Allen Iverson in 1996. Rose has that rare blend of quickness, speed and strength. He'll be one of the best point guards in the league in a couple of years...he's that good.

The Nets and the Bucks have swapped some players as the Nets received forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons from Milwaukee for Nets forward Richard Jefferson.
Yi was the sixth overall pick of the Bucks last season. Jefferson averaged 17.4 a game over seven seasons with the Nets.

The NBA draft is fast approaching. The Sixers have the No. 16 pick.

The Chicago Bulls have the top choice and must choose between hometown boy Derrick Rose, from Memphis, and Kansas State man-child Michael Beasley.