[SIZE=4]GARDEN OF BEATEN: [/SIZE]
June 30, 2006 --
THIS JUST IN: In a last-ditch effort to earn props from the populace, Fablevision's James Dolan has just slapped a gag order on The View.
Even as I prepare to call off my feral laptop for the summer - at least until the Las Vegas 16-team league kicks off July 7, anyway - I can't seem to detach myself from the Duke of Dorks and the slimy Larry Brown saga.
What a revolting situation the NBA finds itself in! Imagine a Hall of Fame coach being forced to make use of Commissioner David Stern as an arbiter to extract $40 million remaining on a 4-year guaranteed deal from the owner of one of the league's most prestigious franchises!
Sad and sinister shades of Bob Weiss and Bill Fitch having to sue Donald Sterling years ago for wages after being fired by my Paper Clips!
Forty million dollars? If I'm not mistaken, that's the same amount Ralph Kramden was supposedly getting from that old lady's estate - minus Ed Norton's 35 percent to the stockholders, of course.
All Ralphie Boy came away with, I recall, was the bird, a sentiment not lost on Garage Band Dolan and his backup buffoons.
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From my draft and deal observation drek: The insufferable fans who every twelve months make fools of themselves in this showground - the ones ESPN habitually spotlights - are Stephen A. Material's regular callers and audience.
How can I knock Isiah Thomas' selection of Renaldo Balkman at No. 20 after recently singling out the 6-8 South Carolina spiraling hank of hair (and UCLA's Jordan Farmar) for their recital in Orlando's pre-draft camp? I'm also down with Mardy Collins at No. 29.
Let's face it, nobody who was available to the Knicks this late in the proceedings, including Marcus Williams, has any chance of starting. So, it makes sense Thomas' focus was on defense and role players.
Projected as a lottery pick last year, the 6-6 Temple product had a relatively mediocre senior season. Due to scouts' emphasis on lighting-quick guards, Collins' stock plummeted. Obviously, he's not without weaknesses, but in the experienced view of Jim Clibanoff, President of ClibHoops Scouting Services (subscribed to by 16 teams), a leading independent evaluator of professional prospects, who has seen Collins play roughly 18 times, accentuates the following:
"There are a lot of things he is not - not a great shooter, not too quick, not too fast, not too athletic. Even with all those negative attributes, he has great poise and savvy and his knowledge of the game is top-notch for a college player. He plays the game as if he is an extension of a coach and it often seems as if he has the demeanor of an NBA veteran. Recognizes mismatches extremely well, rarely forces anything in the flow of a game and keeps his turnovers to a minimum."
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The Boston Herald insists the Celtics remain in the hunt for Allen Iverson. Reports of a three-team trade (concocted by Boston boss Danny Ainge, I'm told, under pressure to get something done because of soaring ticket prices) were rampant leading up to the draft. Boston was prepared to send Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and No. 7 to Philly for Iverson and relocate Wally Szczerbiak in Utah, which was expected to drop off Carlos Boozer at Philly's doorstep. According to sources, the Jazz refused to play along.
By itself, it says here, Boston does not have enough to make it worthwhile for the 76ers to part with their franchise player/diminishing crowd pleaser. On another front, the Hawks, ardent suitors of Iverson a month ago, but mired in ownership problems, have backed off. Look for that to change. From what I hear, numerous teams are cooking up post-draft offers for Iverson.
And how about those Blazers! Six trades involving six teams and seven newcomers, including LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, two of the first six chosen. According to workout maharishi Milton Lee, Roy is probably "the most ready to make an NBA impact of anyone in the draft."
Three Blazers were dispatched in the process, with Juan Dixon expected to be next to go. Last time their roster was turned over this quickly, it was by court order.
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Of Wednesday's 15 transactions, my personal favorite is Randy Foye for Roy. I'm guessing Foye-for-Roy was the first rhyming redirection since Michael Jackson traded boy-for-boy.
I don't care what you've heard or read, the Timberwolves have no intention of trading Kevin Garnett at this time. Every GM that's called to inquire about what it would take to get him was told the same thing - take a hike. Minnesota's position is not expected to waver unless the team gets off to a sickly start next season.
For your information, the last Gonzaga student rated as high as Adam Morrison (No. 3 by Bobcats) was Bing Crosby.
You sort of figured the Nets were serious about choosing two Connecticut players when Rod Thorn hired John Rowland to take the youngsters house-hunting.
What's in a number? J.J. Redick, arrested for drunk driving with a blood-alcohol level of .11, was taken by Orlando - at selection No. 11.
"Can't ask for more proof than that," Vin-yard Baker told me.
The Supreme Court - how did it avoid the whole Next Town fiasco? - ruled yesterday that President Bush had no authority to stage military war crimes trials for detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
The news wasn't all bad for Bush, reports column castigator Frank Drucker. "The high court did say he was within his rights to tap the phones of all the justices who ruled against him."
I don't see Philly fans showing up for Carlos Boozer if they werent showing up for AI.
See You In Toledo
![[Image: boston.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/FattyJ16/boston.jpg)
