LiveBlogging the NBA Draft tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2012:/dailynews/now/15 2008-06-27T04:03:04Z Live updates by DN sportswriter Bob Cooney Movable Type 3.35 final pick tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7627 2008-06-27T03:44:38Z 2008-06-27T04:03:04Z 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... Bob Cooney 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 More picks tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7626 2008-06-27T03:42:28Z 2008-06-27T03:44:29Z 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... Bob Cooney 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 updates tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7625 2008-06-27T03:30:24Z 2008-06-27T03:38:23Z 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... Bob Cooney 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 Sean Singletary goes to Kings tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7623 2008-06-27T03:13:10Z 2008-06-27T03:17:37Z 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... Bob Cooney 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. Sean Singletary goes to Kings tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7624 2008-06-27T03:13:10Z 2008-06-27T03:19:04Z 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... Bob Cooney 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. Pick updates tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7622 2008-06-27T03:03:55Z 2008-06-27T03:10:56Z 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... Bob Cooney 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) Stefanski on Speights tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7621 2008-06-27T02:56:03Z 2008-06-27T03:03:31Z 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... Bob Cooney 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. Trade tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7620 2008-06-27T02:42:33Z 2008-06-27T02:44:07Z Detroit trades D.J. White to the Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics will get Detroit's 32nd and 46th picks.... Bob Cooney Detroit trades D.J. White to the Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics will get Detroit's 32nd and 46th picks. More Sixers' moves? tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7619 2008-06-27T02:39:42Z 2008-06-27T02:42:10Z 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... Bob Cooney 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. Celts giddy for Giddens tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7618 2008-06-27T02:31:50Z 2008-06-27T02:34:09Z 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.... Bob Cooney 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. Pistons grab White tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7617 2008-06-27T02:26:04Z 2008-06-27T02:30:09Z 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... Bob Cooney 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. Speights tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7616 2008-06-27T02:23:56Z 2008-06-27T02:25:19Z 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.... Bob Cooney 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. Green to Memphis tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7615 2008-06-27T02:18:17Z 2008-06-27T02:22:44Z 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.... Bob Cooney 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. Arthur finally goes tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7614 2008-06-27T02:11:45Z 2008-06-27T02:16:46Z 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,... Bob Cooney 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. More DiLeo on Speights tag:blogs.phillynews.com,2008:/dailynews/now//15.7613 2008-06-27T02:03:50Z 2008-06-27T02:10:13Z '"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... Bob Cooney '"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."