Before I get into the nuts and bolts of what I think of this years NBA Draft, I have a confession to make. I'm a huge NBA fan. I once told my wife from November through June I'll be unavailable because of the NBA season. I bleed NBA red. Now that we got that out of the way let's break down the 2008 NBA Draft.

The first three picks (Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and OJ Mayo) were no brainers. I'm high on all three guys and I really like Mayo. I like the demeanor with which he plays the game. He gets a bad rap for being a "me-first" guy. I've probably watched about 15 of his games this past season and here's what I know: he's the real deal. I saw him put clamps on Rose. I saw him "D" up Jerryd Bayless. The kid can flat out play. His pace while playing is something you can't teach.

Former IU guard Eric Gordon is going to a team where he can shine. Sure the Clippers have been the laughingstock of the league for a decade or so, but the opportunity for Gordon to contribute early is there. Swingman Corey Maggette will probably opt out of his deal and I see him on the move. Shooting guard Cuttino Mobley is getting long in the tooth. I think Gordon is an excellent pick for the Clippers. If they keep forward Elton Brand they can be a contender out west.

One of the biggest surprises of the night is WKU grad Courtney Lee going to Orlando with pick 22. I think Lee is a solid player but number 22?? Maybe a little too high for him but he does fill a need the Magic have, backcourt help. The Magic are thin in the backcourt with Jameer Nelson and Keith Bogans the only solid contributors from a year still under contract. Word is the Magic are shopping former Duke standout JJ Redick, who never was able to get off the bench. Lee should be a good shooting guard and backup point for the Magic.

It was a little surprising to see D.J. White get picked 29th overall by the Detroit Pistons. I know White has first round talent after tearing through the Big Ten last season but several mock drafts had him slipping to the second round. White will likely be shipped to Seattle in a draft night deal but he still gets guaranteed money (all first round picks get guaranteed contracts) and the Sonics are a young, up and coming team.

Near the very end of the night UK guard Joe Crawford finally heard his name called number 58 by the Los Angeles Lakers. This is not a bad situation for Crawford. Sure the Lakers have the reigning league MVP, Kobe Bryant, already at the two-guard spot and Sasha Vujacic backing him up but one thing the Lakers lacked in their series NBA Finals series against the Celtics was toughness. Crawford proved over the course of his senior season how tough he is. He was the Cats most consistent performer the entire season. With a good summer league Crawford has a chance at making the Lakers roster.

UofL big man David Padgett was not drafted. I'm not overly suprised about that though. Padgett will sign with a team during the summer however and get a chance to showcase his skills in the summer.

Let me know what you think.

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