Trailblazers now talking trade with the Nets. Want to move there 1st, 2nd and Jarret Jack to the Nets for the 10th and Trenton Hassel. It appears that the Blazers are keying in on DJ Augustin, who would immediately become the best PG on the Blazers roster by far (and fill there one big weakness).

There has also been talk about the Blazers having interest in Kirk. Hinrich would be a great fit, but I'm just not so sure the Bulls would do the 13 for Hinrich (plus contracts to even things out).

Vinny Del Negro was on ESPN 1000 and his comments regarding the draft were much kinder to Rose than Beasley. With Rose it was all about how impressive his character was and all the intangibles where as with Beasley he raved more about the stats that he knew he had put up at Kstate as opposed to what impressed the Bulls upon his visit.

Writing is definately on the wall and Rose is going to be the #1 pick by the Bulls. The one interesting quote to come from Del Negro was related to the young players, where Del Negro said the team would do its best to play to the young players strength's and hide their weaknesses.

This is a big plus to me because too quickly when a young player made a mistake they were pulled and this comment makes me believe the Bulls will be patient to an extent and try to protect its young players and give them the minutes (while doing everything possible to put them in spots to succeed). I really think Del Negro is going to be a great fit as he'll be able to grow into the head coaching position while this team grows from an opening round playoff birth to a title contneder in the next 2-4 years (I'm expecting playoffs this season).

Yeah, you could always see on a guy like Tyrus or Noah this year that if they made a mistake they were looking over their shoulders to see who was coming in for them. Hell, it wasn't just a problem for us, Rondo got to that point with Cassel early in the playoffs too, it's a crappy way to develop a young guy, and we've done it with all the guys we've drafted since 04 it seems.

Playing to the young guys strengths continues to be what I want to hear from him, because that suggests to me that we'll first, actually, um, play the young guys as opposed to benching them, and second that we'll try to push the tempo a little bit.

ESPN is reporting that the Sonics will trade the No. 4 pick in the draft to the Clippers in exchange for L.A.'s No. 7 pick and a protected 2009 first-round pick if things go as expected in the Top 3 picks of the draft.

Ric Bucher is reporting that the Clippers want to assure themselves of getting Eric Gordon with the fourth pick. However, this deal will not go through if the Timberwolves pass on O.J. Mayo and he's available at No. 4

ESPN is reporting and Bucks officials have confirmed that the Nets have traded forward Richard Jefferson to the Bucks in exchange for swingman Bobby Simmons and forward Yi Jianlian, pending physicals.

Wow. Yi gets his big market, while the Bucks get a solid player that can help them right now. The move should also free up plenty of cap room for the Nets to be a major free agent player in 2010, when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will be taking bids. And if Simmons can actually get healthy, he will come as a bonus. This trade is awaiting league approval, and also allows the Bucks to keep the No. 8 pick to use on Joe Alexander.

ESPN is reporting that the Sonics will trade the No. 4 pick in the draft to the Clippers in exchange for L.A.'s No. 7 pick and a protected 2009 first-round pick if things go as expected in the Top 3 picks of the draft.