Ridicule Me!

So I just had to watch an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm before I started this thing. I just had to. This is the 2^nd Annual Geoff Herberg NBA Mock Draft (at this point, I thought about providing a link to last year’s edition, as if I the many readers I have would remember my old stuff. But I decided against it. But maybe…just maybe…if….you, you know, uh…)

          Where I was? Yeah, NBA Draft. 2^nd Anniversary. Big Things. But first I’ll start on the diamond for some brief thoughts on the hardball.

• Love the Royals’ acquisition of Joey Gathright. He’s young, athletic and very fast. Someone told me a buzz circulates at the Big K when he comes to bat. They would be right.

• Peter Gammons, please hurry back. I may talk a good game, but I sure don’t know it all. My thoughts and prayers are with you right now.

• Seems like a small bump in the road for Robinson Cano. Which is a big sigh of relief.

• Yikes. Things just get worse in Pittsburgh. There was a time when Oliver Perez was a highly liked southpaw with nasty stuff. Those days seem to be a long time ago.

So here goes nothing…

1. Toronto: Andrea Bargnani

I think a trade is possible. Unfortunately for Bryan Colangelo, the top prospects are not in the backcourt. So he goes here because he just hired another Italian guy to be his Asst. GM and that seems like writing on the wall.

2. Chicago: Tyrus Thomas

Seems like a great pick up for the Baby Bulls. Thomas is raw but very talented. I’m looking forward to seeing them.

3. Charlotte: Brandon Roy

I think Roy is the best player ready to contribute immediately in the draft. I watched this guy play a lot and he is good at everything.  Would be a great pick to start the Michael Jordan era.

4. Portland: Adam Morrison

Seems like an easy pick for a team that has drowned in the court of public opinion and billionaire owners. Morrison might put people back in the seats. It’s not for certain.

5. Atlanta: LaMarcus Aldridge

Another terrific pick. Aldridge adds to the talent they have in Joe Johnson, Al Harrington, Josh Smith and Marcus Williams. Yes, I had to look up their roster.

6. Minnesota: Marcus Williams

How the mighty have fallen. This team needs help in a lot of places, especially after the latest injury.  Williams is the consensus top point guard prospect in the draft.

7. Boston: Rudy ***

No player has fallen further. Seemed to be the top player during the season. Danny Ainge will gladly scoop him up and we’ll have a 10,000 word Sports Guy essay on the ramifications of the Rudy *** jersey.

8. Houston: Ronnie Brewer

I like this pick. Brewer is a talented player who could add some scoring to T-Mac and Yao. If they’re healthy. That’s a big if.

9. Golden State: Patrick O’Bryant

Chris Mullin is now in charge out on the coast and pairing up O’Bryant with Diogu gives them some nice talent inside to match their strengths on the wing.

10. Seattle: Cedric Simmons

Once again, a team that needs help on the interior. This is a pick I relied solely on the experts to make because I don’t know much about Simmons except that his coach just left the Wolfpack to run Arizona State further into the ground.

11. Orlando: Rodney Carney

Quick: name two other starters on this team besides Dwight Howard. They need bodies. Carney seems like he a versatile player that contribute quickly. Another experts' pick.

12. The Hornets: Shelden Williams

I am not convinced Williams will be anything more than Mark West or Brian Grant, but he compliments Chris Paul. And the other guys they have…Though they do have another pick at 15.

13. Philly: Randy Foye

Talk about dream situation for Foye and Filly phans. He and AI would be a great tandem to watch, not to mention the addition of Andre Iguodala on the wing. Even Stephen A. might be happy after this one.

14. Utah: J.J. Redick

Another perfect situation. Redick has back issues but so did Jeff Hornacek. And Redick will be able to move from Duke to Utah and never thought he left.

Other thoughts:

• The Suns seem like a team that could move up. With two #1 picks, they might shoot up to get someone they like. But that does not mean they’ll trade Shawn Marion. At least not this season.

• Whoever drafts Mike Gansey, Hassan Adams, PJ Tucker, Leon Powe and Curtis Stinson will get steals whenever they are drafted. These guys will succeed at the next level.

• Can someone please explain to me why Kyle Lowry and Jordan Farmar are in this draft? Both would have benefited from another year of school and could have been lottery picks.

• At this point Larry Brown should just retire to Del Boca Vista.