ItsTheBlog™

As the 2007 NBA draft approaches, I'm kinda surprised at the hoopla being raised over this draft class. I'm all for hype and expectations, but the thing that floors me is that these draft picks are being used as cornerstones of trade deals in the works for MAJOR superstars in the NBA. I can understand the 1 and 2 pick being viable trade bait; Oden and Durant seem to be capable of contributing immediately in a big way. But these trade rumors that have Garnett going to Boston contingent on whether the Celtics include their number 5 pick just seems ridiculous to me.

This infatuation with draft day prodigies seems to have been sparked by the recent coming-of-age of LeBron, Carmelo, Wade, Bosh, and other members of that '03 draft class (sorry, Darko. Not gonna mention you here). I understand teams' enthusiasm about this draft class; but for every LeBron there are about 50 Kwame Browns.

As a team owner or GM, you have to be reasonable about what you're going to get out of a player who has only competed against a bunch of college teams, against college defense, under college coaches. Could the risk pay off? Maybe. But is it worth banking on that one pick to fill the gap left by the superstar you dealt to get him? I say no.