NBA free agency starts tomorrow and teams have a two-week span in which to negotiate with players. No formal contracts can be signed until that period is complete. Unrestricted free agents can sign with any team they wish, while restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet with any team they like, but their current team has the right to match the contract and keep the player. This makes signing a restricted free agent a dicey proposition. You want to get the player for as little as possible, but you want the contract to be big enough to scare off their old team.

ESPN’s Chris Sheridan has a list of the top free agents, but here are five guys that I think will be undervalued this summer:

Jared Jeffries, WAS (restricted)
The stock of this 6’10” swingman rose significantly with his defensive play on LeBron James in the playoffs. He’s rangy and can defend without being too physical (and having to foul.) He’s not a big scorer, but wasn’t asked to take many shots with Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler on the team. Still, he shot 45% from the field and 32% from the 3PT line. His FT% (59%) is the only major hole in his game. I envision him signing a contract with a $5 M-$7 M average salary.

Marcus Banks, MIN (unrestricted)
Banks’ play after the All-Star break – 12.2 ppg, 5.2 apg, 47% shooting – earned him many admirers around the league. But there are plenty of point guards available, so his value will be somewhat depressed this summer. He’s young (24) and he’s more of a pass-first point guard, which makes him worth mid-level money ($5-$5.5 M per season). Whoever locks him up should have a good point guard for years to come.

Chris Wilcox, SEA (restricted)
In 29 games with the Sonics, Wilcox averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, while shooting 59% from the floor and 79% from the free throw line. He proved that all he needed was consistent minutes to be productive and that the main reason he didn’t play for the Clippers is that he was buried behind Elton Brand and Chris Kaman. My guess is that Wilcox will sign a contract averaging in the $7 M-$9 M range, and he’ll be worth every penny.

Speedy Claxton, NO (unrestricted)
Claxton might end up being the best value on this list. He’s not the best shooter (42% lifetime), but he’s more of a setup man than a scorer. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.8 assists playing alongside Chris Paul for the Hornets. In three games as a starter, he averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 assists on 51% shooting. Speedy is a great guy to bring in if you have a few other stars you want to feature. I wouldn’t be surprised if he, like Banks, signs for mid-level money ($5 M-$5.5 M).

John Salmons, PHI (restricted)
If the Sixers do trade Allen Iverson away, they’d be smart to re-sign Salmons soon. He played very well as a starting guard, averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 assists per contest, and played even better in games that Iverson missed. A team that needs a complimentary, versatile swingman could sign Salmons to a deal in the $5 M-$7 M range and get good value for the duration of the contract as he continues to improve.

There aren’t as many quality big men available this summer, so four of the guys on this list are guards or swingmen. Expect the price of centers to be extremely high, especially considering the contracts that Tyson Chandler and Samuel Dalembert signed last summer.

It’s impossible to accurately judge a draft until three (or more) years after it happens, but we still have opinions about who had a good night and who didn’t. Here’s a list of a few winners and losers from last night, though as the players develop, all bets are off.

WINNERS

Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers really overhauled their roster, jettisoning Sebastian Telfair (who was the reason they passed on Chris Paul in last year’s draft) getting Brandon Roy in return. Roy is considered the best all-around player in this year’s draft and represents a nice comeback (at this point) from the Paul mistake. LaMarcus Aldridge gives them a player to build around in the middle. They also drafted two international players – point guard Sergio Rodriguez and power forward Joel Freeland. Both have good upside.

Memphis Grizzlies
Jerry West turned the Rockets’ misfortune into his gain, getting Rudy Gay along with Stromile Swift for Shane Battier. I’m not a huge fan of Gay’s competitiveness, but he does have all the physical tools to be a star. West also drafted Kyle Lowry (Villanova) to play the point and got the athletic Alexander Johnson (Florida State) as a power forward prospect. Overall, this is a great draft and really improves the team’s speed.

Utah Jazz
The Jazz needed an athletic shooting guard to compliment Deron Williams in the backcourt and got their man in Arkansas’ Ronnie Brewer. Due to an old arm injury, Brewer’s shot is jacked, but he made 44% from the field, so he’s somewhat effective. His defense and creative skills are just what the Jazz needed. Dee Brown gives them a point guard with good speed and Paul Millsap is a decent inside player.

Charlotte Bobcats
Though I think Brandon Roy would have filled the gaping hole at shooting guard, Adam Morrison has the inside track to be the Rookie of the Year next season. I wonder how they’ll work Morrison and Gerald Wallace – one of the most effective players in the league – into the lineup together. Ryan Hollins has a chance to be a good frontline backup in the league.

LOSERS

Houston Rockets
I like the addition of Shane Battier, but at the cost of the #8 pick and Stromile Swift? Ouch. The Rockets got the short end of the Roy/Foye debacle. In the second round, Steve Novak can shoot, but that’s about it.

Phoenix Suns
With some good picks still on the board, the Suns traded away both of their first round picks for cash considerations and cap relief. Phoenix fans must be scratching their heads, hoping that these moves allow the team to re-sign Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw, while keeping Shawn Marion in a Suns uniform as well.

Sacramento Kings
With shooting guards Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia already on the roster, why take another shooting guard, Quincy Douby? Isn’t it time to find a suitable backup for Mike Bibby? Rajon Rondo, Marcus Williams, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Farmar and Rodriguez were all still on the board. The Kings’ haven’t had a good backup point guard since Bobby Jackson left in free agency.

Blazers: “We didn’t pass on Morrison, honest!”

The Portland Trail Blazers pulled a fast one on their fans, passing on “Draft the ‘Stache” inspiration Adam Morrison without actually passing on him. Portland made a deal with Chicago, exchanging the draft rights to the Bulls’ #2 pick, LaMarcus Aldridge, for the draft rights of the Blazers’ #4 pick, Tyrus Thomas, along with Viktor Khryapa. The Blazers could have easily told the Bulls to draft Morrison #2 and traded Thomas for him, but they wanted Aldridge instead, and they got their man. They avoided some bad press when Charlotte took Morrison #3. That way, the Blazers never actually passed on him.

I don’t know if these details will be lost on Portland fans. Certainly anyone who was passionately hoping that Morrison would land in Portland will be able to see through the trade. The bottom line is that the Portland fans wanted him but the franchise didn’t. Morrison is certainly a capable player, and would have been a good fit in Portland, not to mention immensely popular. If I were part of the “Draft the ‘Stache” movement, I’d feel pretty slighted today.

Timberwolves: “Oops.”

I was a bit perplexed by Minnesota’s drafting Brandon Roy (#6) and trading him to Portland for Randy Foye (#7). If you’re the Wolves and you want Foye, why don’t you just draft Foye at #6? Other than a slightly cheaper rookie contract, there’s no upside at all.

The word is that after the Blazers traded away Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff for the Celtics’ #7 pick, Raef LaFrentz’ bloated contract and Dan Dickau, they got wind that the Timberwolves were going to trade Roy to Houston for Foye, who the Rockets would take at #8, along with Luther Head. So Portland took Foye, forcing the Wolves to trade Roy - a player the Blazers really liked - to them in exchange for Foye. In effect, they got Roy for Telfair (wow!) for taking on an extra year of a fat contract. (LaFrentz’ deal runs through 2008-09 while Ratliff’s runs through 2007-08.)

Rumors continue to fly that the Celtics are still trying to land Allen Iverson, and may be using Telfair in a trade to get the longtime Philadelphia star. Danny Ainge has proven to be a very capable GM, so unless he sees something in Telfair that the rest of us don’t, he’ll probably be used to get AI. Giving up the #7 pick for Telfair doesn’t seem like a good trade on the surface, but if the Sixers are a big fan of the young point guard, and are willing to give up Iverson to get him, it would give the Celtics the other superstar to play alongside Paul Pierce.

Rockets: “Damn.”

After the Blazers stole their guy (Roy), Houston was stuck with the #8 pick. They ended up taking Rudy Gay, a guy they obviously didn’t like all that much, and traded him, along with Stromile Swift, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shane Battier. Battier is a great fit in Houston (or anywhere, really), but the Rockets gave up two players with a ton of upside to get him. I get the feeling that they were stuck between a rock and a hard place and had to take the best deal they could get.

It’s interesting that Swift ends up back in Memphis after leaving the Grizzlies for Houston last summer.

Well, this puts a wrap on the 2006 NBA Draft. This was hailed as one of the most unpredictable and weird drafts to date and I really don’t think it disappointed.

J. Paulsen will have a recap as well as his thoughts tomorrow, but here are picks 46-60 and what analyst had to say about the selections:

46) Utah (from Chicago) – Dee Brown, Guard, Illinois
Small, but jet quick with great transitional speed. Brown is a competitor and even though he could have come out last year and been taken higher, he will succeed somewhere in the NBA.

47) Utah – Paul Millsap, F, Louisiana Tech
Is the only player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in rebounding in three consecutive years. Earned First Team All-WAC honors his junior and senior seasons and was Second Team as a freshman. Draws comparisons to Malik Rose.

48) Washington – Vladimir Veremeenko, F, Russia
A member of the Belarusian National Team, Veremeenko began his Russian Superleague A career in 2002-03 with Avtodor Saratov. He played there until signing with Dynamo St. Petersburg in 2004-05, and is currently still playing there.

49) Denver – Leon Powe, F, California
Powe has had some knee problems, but is very strong. Should have stayed in school and needs to prove that he can succeed at the next level. He can rebound, however.

50) Charlotte (from Sacramento) - Ryan Hollins, C, UCLA
Hollins finished collegiate career as the fourth all-time leading shot-blocker in UCLA history with 101. In the summer of his freshman year, was a member of the United States team that won the Global Games Championships in Dallas, and finished in fifth place at the 2003 FIBA Junior World Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece.

51) L.A. Lakers - Cheik Samb, C, Senegal
Samb played his first year at the professional level with WTC Cornella in the Spanish LEB2 league. Also appeared with Winterthur F.C. Barcelona with their U-20 team in the Circuito Sub-20, a four-phase competition organized by the Spanish basketball leagues separate from their regular seasons.

52) L.A. Clippers – Guillermo Diaz, G, Miami
Second team All-ACC, Diaz is a big time athlete. He started off as a volleyball player, so he can really jump, but he needs to learn how to play the game a little more instead of just relying on his athleticism.

53) Seattle - Yotam Halperin, G, Israel
Possibly down the road he can be an NBA player, but Halperin is still probably two to three years away from coming overseas.

54) New Jersey - Hassan Adams, G, Arizona
Adams is an explosive transition athlete and a very good offensive rebound guard. He is a scrapper and could be a defensive stopper. He’s not a great passer or shooter, but is a terrific athlete.

55) Cleveland – Ejike Ugboaja, F, Nigeria
Ugboaja is a raw big man from Nigeria who is a long way away. But he has athleticism and size could land him on an NBA roster. He played this past season for Union Bank Lagos in the Nigeria Premier League.

56) Toronto (from Miami) – Edin Bavcic, F, Bosnia
He’s a perimeter-oriented big man who likes to shoot 3-pointers. Decent rebounder. Good size. He’ll probably stay in Europe, however.

57) Minnesota (from Phoenix) – Loukas Mavrokefalidis, C, Greece
This could be a steal for the Wolves. A big center who has put up excellent numbers in Greece and who can hit the 3.

58) Dallas - Danilo Pinnock, G, George Washington
Named First Team All-Atlantic 10 as a junior. Also earned All-District 4 honors from the NABC. Named Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year as a junior, and earned league All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman.

59) San Antonio – Damir Markota, F, Croatia
What a surprise, the Spurs go with an international player with their selection. At this rate, nobody in the San Antonio brass will speak a lick of English by 2009. At least the Spurs have had a ton of success overseas.

60) Detroit - Will Blalock, G, Iowa State
The Pistons have been looking for a backup guard and Blalock should make the team. He currently ranks 22nd all-time in Iowa State history in scoring (1,078 points), sixth in assists (464), tied for sixth in steals (177), and eighth in three-point field goals made (100).

Here are picks 31-45 in the second round and what is being said about each selection:

31) Portland - James White, G, Cincinnati
White can fly down the floor and is a very instinctive player. He is a little bit turnover prone, but is also very versatile and should make a dismantled Portland roster.

32) Houston Rockets – Steve Novak, F, Marquette
Novak has deep range and is a terrific catch-and-shoot player. He is not that strong, but can be a very good perimeter defender.

33) Atlanta Hawks – Solomon Jones, F, South Florida
Very long armed and is a big time shot blocker. He is very raw offensively, but is a solid athlete and this is a good very good selection at No. 33. Anything on the anterior can help the Atlanta Hawks and could help push Sheldon Williams.

34) L.A. Clippers (from Charlotte) – Paul Davis, Michigan State
Davis is a good pick and pop shooter. He is solid rebounder, but not particularly a good scorer under the basket.

35) Toronto - P.J. Tucker, F, Texas
Tucker has a 7-1 wingspan, even though he is only 6’5” and is a complete scrapper. He might be the best Long Horn in this draft and is a great rebounder.

36) Minnesota (from Boston) – Craig Smith, F, Boston College
Undersized power forward who uses his body well, but might have trouble scoring underneath against larger opponents. Smith doesn’t have a whole lot of lift, but is tough as nails.

37) Minnesota - Bobby Jones, F, Washington
Jones doesn’t have much offense, but is a great perimeter defender anybody can guard multiple positions.

38) Golden State – Kosta Perovic, F, Croatia
Perovic is not a great athlete and isn’t a defensive presence. He might be a backup center someday, but really isn’t a good rebounder and must keep improving on his scoring.

39) Milwaukee - David Noel, F, North Carolina
First Tar Heel drafted in ‘06, Noel can hit any open shot and is built like a linebacker. He is a guy that won’t harm you on the floor, but won’t necessarily carry an offensive load for the Bucks. Either way, he can compete at the NBA level.

40) Seattle - Denham Brown, G, UConn
Brown finished his career with 1,267 points, the 39th player in UConn history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

41) Orlando – James Augustine, Forward, Illinois
Named First Team All-Big Ten by the league coaches and Second Team by the media as a senior. Earned Third Team All-Conference honors as a junior and was an Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore.

42) Cleveland (from Philadelphia) - Daniel Gibson, Texas
This is a great pick at 42. Gibson is a great athlete who can be a solid player in the NBA. He might not be a true point guard, but next to LeBron James, Gibson has the chance to be a good perimeter scorer.

43) New Orleans/Oklahoma City – Marcus Vinicius, Forward, Brazil
6’10” small forward who has had success in the Italian league. He put a little bit of weight on, but once he gets his weight down, he could be a solid player.

44) Orlando (from Milwaukee) - Lior Eliyahu, F, Israel
First Israeli drafted in NBA history. He’ll probably stay overseas and might be a long way from playing in the NBA.

45) Indiana – Alexander Johnson, F, Florida State
Good size, solid prospect and can shoot from 17 or 18 feet. He’s not much of a post player and should have probably stayed in school for another year to work on his game, but might develop down the line after some seasoning.

Here are picks 16 through 30 and what is being said about the prospects:

16) Chicago (to Philadelphia) – Rodney Carney, F, Memphis
Dick Vitale liked the defensive ability he did on J.J. Redick when Memphis played Duke last season. He has extraordinary speed that can guard well and has pure athleticism. Many analysts like Carney, but scuffed at the selection by the 76ers, citing that Allen Iverson could have used a better complementary player.

17) Indiana Pacers – Shawne Williams, F, Memphis
Memphis has never had multiple players selected in the NBA Draft, never the less back to back in the first round. Williams is aggressive and has all the tools to be a nice contributor. However, he is focused on only scoring and might be too immature to play at the next level.

18) Washington - Oleksiy Pecherov, C, Ukraine
This is the first international pick in the first round for the Wizards. Pecherov is not a project, but does need some seasoning. He is an outstanding rebounder, but doesn’t have a lot of experience. Good size, good range and might have to stay overseas for at least a year.

19) Sacramento - Quincy Douby, G, Rutgers
Douby can light it up from the perimeter and can really fill up the basket. He is an excellent scorer who can be compared to the likes of his draft counterparts Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick. Probably a two guard at the NBA level, he might turn out to be a steal at No. 19 for the Kings.

20) New York (from Denver) - Renaldo Balkman, F, South Carolina
Considered a second round talent on most analyst draft boards, Balkman has limited ball skills and may struggle under a shaky Knicks frontcourt. Balkman probably wouldn’t have been selected by any other teams in the first round and with Marcus Williams still on the board at this point in the first round, New York probably blew this pick.

21) Phoenix (from L.A. Lakers) - Rajon Rondo, G, Kentucky
First point guard taken in the first round, Rondo isn’t a great shooter, but led Kentucky in assists last year. He is one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft and won’t be counted on to be an offensive threat if he stays in Phoenix.

22) New Jersey (from L.A. Clippers) – Marcus Williams, G, UConn
Fell all the way to No. 22 despite being ranked as the best point guard in the entire draft. Williams needs to get into better condition, but is the best pure passer in the draft and should be a solid contributor early for the Nets.

23) New Jersey – Josh Boone, F, UConn
Boone is a very good defender and probably the best offensive rebounder in the draft. Offensively he thinks too much and has a hard time making free throws, but was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Overall, very good back-to-back picks by New Jersey, although Boone might have been a bit of a stretch.

24) Memphis - Kyle Lowry, G, Villanova
Plays with control, is very energetic and is a complete gym rat. Lowry is the type of guy that gets to every lose ball and has a high motor. He doesn’t shoot the ball, but is becoming more disciplined and as his shot improves, he should be a solid pick for Memphis.

25) Cleveland - Shannon Brown, G, Michigan State
NFL body who is athletic and strong. Brown can make shots and really get out in the break that might be the steal of the draft. Has no problem shooting and was well coached at MSU by Tom Izzo. He does need to work on his decision-making, however.

26) L.A. Lakers (from Miami)- Jordan Farmar, G, UCLA
This pick was used from the Shaq trade. Farmar is staying close to home while staying in L.A. He is a good passer and has great leadership ability. He can make open shots, but isn’t necessarily a shooter. Farmar can defend the point well and might be a starter as a rookie.

27) Phoenix (to Portland)– Sergio Rodriguez, G, Spain
Not a good shooter, but he is a tremendous passer and at only 20-years old, he is magical with the basketball. Rodriguez is not a great defender and is turnover prone, which leads to many questions surrounding what Portland is doing with now their fourth trade thus far in the first round.

28) Dallas - Maurice Ager, G, Michigan State
The senior guard out of MSU is a great transition player who is very comparable to Michael Finley. He can run the floor and is a good shooter when he gets his feet set. He needs to attack of the dribble more and doesn’t pick up concepts particularly well, but overall is a great kid who wants to learn the game.

29) New York (from San Antonio) – Mardy Collins, G, Temple
Not a bad pick at No. 29, Collins has a pretty good ability level and has great size. He doesn’t knock down free throws real well, but is a way better value pick than Renaldo Balkman at No. 20.

30) Portland (from Detroit) – Joel Freeland, F, England
Freeland is very rare and has come out of nowhere in the past six months. He shoots well and runs well, but he is at least two years away from helping the Portland Trail Blazers.

Here are picks six through 15 and what is being said about the prospects:

6) Minnesota (to Portland)– Brandon Roy, G, Washington
At one point, Roy was considered an early entry into the 2002 NBA Draft, but withdrew his name in hopes of gaining more experience. Named Pac-10 Player of the Year and earned consensus First Team All-American honors as a senior. Was also a finalist for the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy and Adolph Rupp Player of the Year.

7) Boston (to Minnesota)– Randy Foye, G, Villanova
Named to The Associated Press All-America First Team and to the Big East First Team as a senior. Averaged 13.5 points per game during the World University games and helped team to a gold medal. Foye was a three-time All-Big East member as a junior.

8) Houston – Rudy Gay, F, Uconn
Gay was considered a Top 5 pick, but his potential might be being pushed aside by a risk that he might be a slow developer. As Stewart Scott alluded to on ESPN, members of the media and even former UConn coach Jim Calhoon have questioned Gay’s motivation and focus. Still, nobody questions this kids talent.

9) Golden State – Patrick O’Bryant, C, Bradley
Isn’t ready or strong enough to step right in and help the Warriors, but good footwork and hands should give him the opportunity to eventually be a contributor in Golden State. He is the second Bradley player taken in the Top 10 (Hersey Hawkins was the first).

10) Seattle - Saer Sene, F, Senegal
Sene is the third center selected in the first round by Seattle in the last three years. He complete project that is a shot blocker and a rebounder, but doesn’t have a clue on the offensive side of the ball.

11) Orlando – JJ Redick, G, Duke
The All-Time leading scorer in ACC history has a 10 times better 3-point shot than driving record. Yet another instant offensive threat early in the draft, Redick is lights out from behind the arch and will be a dangerous shooter for the Magic.

12) New Orleans – Hilton Armstrong, C Uconn
Big, strong rebounder who is still learning how to play with feel on the offensive end. He has the ability defensively to play at the next level and with the tutelage of P.J. Brown, might provide the biggest impact of any center in the entire draft.

13) Philadelphia (TRADED to Chicago)– Thabo Sefolosha, G Switzerland
Born in South Africa, Sefolosha is versatile, tough and considered a jack-of-all-trades. Sefolosha is athletic and has good size for a Bulls’ backcourt that could use a guard with solid defensive skills.

14) Utah – Ronnie Brewer, G, Arkansas
Transition player with great athleticism and a dad who played in the NBA. Brewer is considered a slasher who isn’t necessarily a great offensive option, but none-the-less a solid option for the Jazz.

15) New Orleans/Oklahoma City – Cedric Simmons, F, North Carolina State
Plays bigger than his height and has tools to work with, including a nice shooting touch. He has to get better on the offensive end and is a bit of a project, but he will provide athleticism for the Hornets.

The Hawks had their sites on power forward Sheldon Williams from Duke for a few weeks. And their assumption that Williams would be at five was dead on.

Williams is possibly the safest “big man” selection in the entire draft, based on his track record. At No. 5, this seems like a solid pick for Atlanta, who will benefit from Williams’ defense and rebound skills.

At 6-9, 260, Williams has the size and potential to be a solid contributor at the next level. His experience of playing his full collegiate career at Duke will only help him give Hotlanta a big man they can lean on to solidify their inconsistent inside game.

The Portland Trail Blazers drafted LSU power forward Tyrus Thomas with the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft. The pick completes the Trail Blazers’ trade with Chicago in which the two teams swapped selections and also sent Viktor Khryapa to the Bulls.

The Bulls acquire the rights to Tyrus Thomas, which some enthusiast had as the No. 1 ranked player in the draft. He redshirted his first year at LSU, but decided to declare himself eligible for the draft after a freshmen year in which saw him lead the Tigers over highly touted Duke in the NCAA Final Four Tournament.

Thomas will join Tyson Chandler and an overachieving unit in Chicago that might be ready to take the next step in 2007.

If the EA Sports’ NBA Live video game commercial holds any water, Adam Morrison won’t be the one crying on the court this time.

It will be his opponents.

The Charlotte Bobcats selected the small forward from Gonzaga to do one thing: provide offense. Morrison is a scoring machine and a threat from anywhere behind the arch. He’s not a strong defender or rebounder, but should be an immediate impact in Charlotte.

There were reports before the draft that suggested newly acquired front office man Michael Jordan was in love with UCONN star Rudy Gay. But when push came to shove, more people in the Bobcats’ brass liked Morrison.

Long time college basketball analyst Dick Vitale commented that Morrison is the most NBA ready of any player in the draft.

The Bulls have agreed to send the No. 2 pick to the Trail Blazers for the No. 4 selection and Viktor Khryapa. Since the trade was made after the 2 p.m. ET trade moratorium, the trade cannot be announced until after both teams have picked.

The Bulls used the No. 2 pick to select power forward LaMarcus Aldridge from the University of Texas and therefore guarantee the guy that Portland wanted.

ESPN loudmouth Stephen A. Smith commented that with the selection of Aldridge, the Trail Blazers look “lost” and are ‘heading the wrong way in trying to re-build their team.’

The 6-11, 234lbs Aldridge draws comparison to Raptors star Chris Bosh.

The NBA Draft has officially started with the Toronto Raptors selecting Andrea Barnani from Italy. Barnani is the first international player selected No. 1 overall in NBA history. He has been compared to Dirk Nowitzki, but others have called him a “one trick pony” as well.

The overall analysis from ESPN is that Barnani will be more effective in years three and four in the NBA, rather than being an immediate option right away. He is a pure shooter who apparently struggles playing defense and isn’t a strong rebounder either.

However, with the recent addition of Rasho Nesterovic, Barnani won’t be forced to play right away.

The No.1 pick in the NBA Draft is yet to be announced, but that doesn’t mean the action hasn’t started yet. ESPN.com is reporting that the Portland Trailblazers have agreed to a deal to send PG Sebastian Telfair to Boston for the No. 7 overall selection.

The Boston Celtics acquired second-year Portland Trail Blazers point guard Sebastian Telfair, center Theo Ratliff and a 2008 second-round pick for the No. 7 pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, as well as forward Raef LaFrentz and Dan Dickau, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

The trade was agreed upon Wednesday afternoon but it came after the 2 p.m. ET deadline which means the Celtics will still be on the clock, selecting for the Blazers, when the No. 7 pick comes up during the draft.

Portland will pick at No. 4 and No. 7, barring any more trades.

Apparently, the Celtics were not thrilled with the point guard options at the seven spot in the draft. Telfair became expandable in Portland after missing most of last season with a thumb injury. Steve Blake and Jarrett Jack took over for Telfair during his absence and played well enough for the Trail Blazers to part with the young guard.

There also have been reports that the Celtics are actively seeking a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for Allen Iverson.

The draft is tonight and, at this point, nothing is for certain. Usually teams with the #1 pick have tipped their hand by now, but the Raptors are still keeping people (or is it themselves?) guessing. It’s tough to predict what will happen tonight with any kind of certainty, but here’s what each team in the Top 6 should do, and what I think they will do:

1. Toronto Raptors

Who they should take: The Raptors have needs everywhere but the front line. They can play Bosh at center, but they’d rather not. They can play Charlie Villanueva at small forward, but they’d rather not. There is a dearth of talent on this squad and new GM Bryan Colangelo should probably take the best available player. They think it’s Andrea Bargnani, while I’d prefer Adam Morrison or Brandon Roy. Of course, I haven’t seen Bargnani play – the Raptors have.

Who they will take: Andrea Bargnani. They’d much rather trade down and get him later (while picking up an asset), but no one really wants to trade up, and they think he’s their guy.

2. Chicago Bulls

Who they should take: Again, I love Morrison and Roy, but the Bulls don’t really have a need at those positions. They could take either guy and move some of their other players for frontcourt help. Given their needs, they should take LaMarcus Aldridge – he’s the guy that is most ready to play now. Tyrus Thomas played very well against Texas in the NCAA tournament, so a case can be made for him as well.

Who they will take: The scuttlebutt seems to point to Tyrus Thomas.

3. Charlotte Bobcats

Who they should take: The Bobcats’ most glaring need is at shooting guard, and Brandon Roy would be a great, great fit. I would hesitate bringing Rudy Gay or Morrison in with Gerald Wallace there, and I don’t see either of those guys as a big upgrade over Roy.

Who they will take: My guess is Gay. I think he is way too passive, but scouts are drooling over his athleticism.

4. Portland Trailblazers

Who they should take: If Morrison is there, he’s their guy. The fans love him.

Who they will take: The team is probably secretly hoping that Morrison goes ahead of them so they can take whoever’s left between Thomas and Aldridge. I think Thomas will go to the Bulls, so LaMarcus Aldridge could be headed to the Northwest.

5. Atlanta Hawks

Who they should take: Brandon Roy – and keep him.

Who they will take: They might take Roy and then trade him to Houston for (hopefully) Shelden Williams. They seem to like Williams, and he fits a need there.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Who they should take: If the Top 5 (Bargnani, Roy, Morrison, Thomas and Aldridge) are gone, then the team is looking at Foye or Gay, and maybe Williams. Foye can play either guard spot and, like I said, I’m not a big fan of Gay’s heart.

Who they will take: Well, I’ve got Bargnani, Thomas, Gay, Aldridge and Roy going, in that order, so that leaves Minnesota with Morrison. What a coup for the Wolves!

Obviously, a draft like this is an inexact science. Teams are putting smokescreens up right and left, so the information we have is sketchy at best. Plus, an unsuspected trade could throw the whole lottery on its head. For that reason, it should be an interesting night.

No, there aren’t any LeBron’s by any stretch of the imagination. The 2006 NBA Draft does not seem to have a consensus #1 overall pick and offers many more uncertainties than sure things. The current draft class is a lot less top heavy than it has been in the recent past and franchise players may be few and far between. This is the first year with the new drafting rule of eliminating high schoolers from the mix. The 2006 draft is more balanced in terms of talent. Therefore, as FoxSports.com’s Jeff Goodman writes, Wednesday night’s draft will offer it’s fair share of mystery and nobody really knows who is going where and when.

“I wouldn’t characterize it as weak, but more balanced,” said longtime agent Bill Duffy, whose client list includes Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony and Yao Ming. “It’s not top heavy. There’s no LeBron or Greg Oden. Many teams feel that there’s so much parity from one to five and that having the first pick in a draft like this is a curse.”

“This is the most uncertain draft I’ve ever seen,” added Duffy, who represents point guards Marcus Williams and Rajon Rondo in this year’s draft. “I don’t recall a guy being mentioned going anywhere from one to five. It’s usually pretty clear at the top.”

The consensus is that Bargnani, Aldridge, Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy are the top half-dozen players in the draft. However, no one has any idea — including NBA teams — if those will be the top six that come off the board on Wednesday night.

Unlike in the NFL, you can’t always get a franchise player in the first round of the NBA Draft. Most of it is so hit and miss anyway that you rarely know exactly what you’re getting. However, this year’s draft does pose some intriguing elements. Because of the deep and balanced pool of talent, it’s possible for a player projected in the mid first round to slip to the second, or even vice versa. The unpredictability in itself will make this year’s draft all that more interesting and exciting.

Knicks owner James Dolan put all the pressure on GM/head coach Isiah Thomas going into next season:

“This is his team,” Dolan said. “He made this bed. There is nobody better than him to make this thing go forward but he has to do that. And he has one year, one season to do that. At this time next year Isiah will be with us if we can all sit here and say this team has made significant progress toward its goal of eventually becoming an NBA championship team. If we can’t say that, then Isiah will not be here.”

Larry Brown has $40 remaining on his contract - that type of money will create some drama. Dolan accused Larry Brown of sabotaging his own career:

According to Dolan, Brown informed the Knicks’ front office last week that the roster needed a major overhaul. Brown startled the organization in Thursday’s meeting by suggesting that Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis and Jerome James and three other players should be cut. The Knicks contend that releasing the six players mentioned by Brown would have cost the club $180 million, leading Dolan to surmise that Brown was angling to be fired.

“Larry never intended to coach this team beyond this season,” Dolan said.

Brown responded:

“It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone would think it wasn’t my intent to see it through,” Brown said. “It was my goal to help rebuild the team for the long run. I bought a house here. I enrolled my kids in school. Why would I want to leave with 23 wins on my record and go out that way after a 34-year career?”

The Knicks and their fans need all of this mudslinging to stop. They need their management to get down to the business of building a better franchise. Isiah Thomas has created a team that no one thinks can play together. If he gets anything out of them at all, it will be a surprise. It looks like Thomas’ moves are wearing on his owner as well, so this should be a very interesting season in New York.

Think you can fall asleep once the first round of the NBA Draft is over? Think again. It seems like every year, a player or two from the second round emerges into a solid NBA contributor, eventually developing into an All-Star caliber player. Here is a list of the Top 10 second round picks from the last 20 years. The criteria are simple: how good was the player or how good does the player project to be once his career is over? I also took into account whatever accolades the player won, be they All-Star appearances, All-NBA teams, even All-Defensive or Sixth Man awards. Special consideration was given to those players who were key players on championship squads. After all, that’s what it’s all about.

But first, a few Honorable Mentions:

Younger players who still could make the list: Mehmet Okur, Bobby Simmons, Carlos Boozer, Cuttino Mobley, Stephen Jackson, Ryan Gomes, Anderson Varejao, Zaza Pachulia, Maurice Williams, Earl Watson, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon

Older/Retired players who had solid NBA careers: Cliff Robinson, Cedric Ceballos, P.J. Brown, Antonio Davis, Steve Kerr, Vernon Maxwell

10. Rashard Lewis, 1998, drafted #32 (Seattle)
Career Averages: 16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, .461 FG%
Lewis was drafted by the Sonics out of high school and quickly became one of the team’s best players, averaging 14 points or more each of the last six seasons and 20 points or more the last two years. In the 1998 draft, his hometown team (the Houston Rockets) passed on him three times, selecting instead Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew and Mirsad Turckan. Ouch. In 2005, Lewis was named to his first All-Star Game. He is still just 27, so he could move up the list (or fall off) before his career is done.
Bonus points for…having a great three-point shot (38.6%) for a 6-10 player.
Negative points for…despite being 6-10, he doesn’t rebound very well, he has a questionable post up game and takes almost 30% of his shots from long range. Go inside, young man!

9. Nick Van Exel, 1993, #37 (L.A. Lakers)
Career Averages: 14.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.6 apg, .405 FG%
Along with Eddie Jones, Van Exel was the main reason for the Lakers’ resurgence in the post-Showtime era. Though his career shooting percentage is low, he was known as a clutch shooter, hitting numerous game-winning shots in his career, including the shot that gave the Lakers the win in their last appearance in the fabled Boston Garden. He was an All-Star in 1998 and was in the top 10 in assists five times in his career.
Bonus points for…standing off the free throw line when shooting foul shots.
Negative points for…that less-than-stellar shooting percentage.

Read the rest of the article at Bullz-Eye.

Cap Situation

Pat Riley took a lot of grief for his roster moves in the offseason, but everything worked out in the end, as he and his band of mercenaries won Miami’s first NBA title. Considering they won a ring, I doubt the team will make major changes in the offseason, and with a payroll of over $62 M, they don’t have a ton of options.

Shaquille O’Neal’s contract runs another four years at $20 M per season. Shaq battled some injuries this season, but still put forth the league’s 11th best EPM (.678), third best amongst centers. Time has taken its toll on O’Neal; he averaged career lows in points (20.0) and rebounds (9.2). But his 60% FG shooting was tremendous, and as long as he’s playing, he affects the game like no other player in the league, making him well worth the price.

Dwayne Wade is entering the final year of his rookie contract at the unbelievably low price of $3.8 M. For a guy with an EPM of .698 - #6 in the league – this is a tremendous value. While rumors flew during the playoffs that he may keep his options open, you can expect Miami to try to sign him to a max extension this summer. After winning a title this season, I bet he’ll sign a deal that will keep him Miami for the next seven seasons.

Jason Williams’ contract runs two more seasons for more than $17 M. Williams only played 59 games this season and will have offseason knee surgery; he needs to return a more productive player (EPM=.406) in order to earn that big contract.

Antoine Walker’s deal lasts three more years at a total cost of almost $26 M. His EPM (.435) is average, so I’m sure the team would like to see him contribute a little more when he’s on the court. Still, Walker gave the Heat a valuable third scoring option to take some of the pressure off of O’Neal and Wade.

Udonis Haslem has four years remaining on his contract, which has a total price of more than $24 M. Haslem is a pretty good deal for the Heat, providing an above average EPM (.458) for a reasonable price. Plus, he pretty much earned his entire contract with his gritty defense on Dirk Nowitzki during the Finals.

Offseason Blueprint

The team should try to convince Alonzo Mourning to return for another season or two. Zo’s EPM (.590) was the 20th best in the league, 5th best amongst centers, giving the Heat a reliable backup to Shaq. Mourning may want a raise from the $1.1 M he made last season, and the Heat should consider it. It will be interesting to see what motivates Mourning now that he’s won a ring – will it be money or more titles? Only time will tell.

Gary Payton is also a free agent, but he should probably go ahead and retire. He’s a shell of the player he once was, but his legacy is in tact, as he made his mark with two huge shots in the Finals. He made an impact and won a ring – that should probably be enough. But Payton has indicated that he wants to play another season and will be content if the team brings in another point guard for him to help to develop.

With Wade, Walker, Haslem and Shaq, the team’s biggest need is at point guard. There are a couple of quality point guards – Speedy Claxton and Marcus Banks - that could be had for the mid-level exception. I think either guy would be an upgrade over Jason Williams.

Miami’s EPM by player (league average = .445)

Player EPM League Rank
Dwyane Wade 0.698 # 6
Shaquille O’Neal 0.678 # 11
Alonzo Mourning 0.590 # 20
Udonis Haslem 0.458 # 112
Antoine Walker 0.435 # 135
Jason Williams 0.406 # 172
Michael Doleac 0.369 # 238
James Posey 0.344 # 273
Derek Anderson 0.339 # 276
Gary Payton 0.326 # 285
Jason Kapono 0.303 # 300
Shandon Anderson 0.248 # 338

The team doesn’t have a pick in the first round of the draft, so if they want an impact player they’ll have to find one with the mid-level or via a trade. I doubt Riley will mess with the chemistry that won the franchise its first NBA title, but you never know. I’d go grab Banks or Claxton and re-sign Mourning (and James Posey, if he doesn’t exercise his player option), but other than that, I’d stand pat.

The Beavers win their first College World Series, 3-2, after dropping the first game of the three-game series. The game was tied, 2-2, with two outs in the bottom of the 8th when North Carolina second baseman Bryan Steed threw a routine ground ball past the first baseman, allowing OSU to score what turned out to be the winning run. Kevin Gunderson came in with one out in the top of the 9th and runners on first and second and got the two outs necessary to give the Beavers the victory.

With the draft two days away, trade rumors are flying like crazy. One bit that might have some substance is a possible deal between the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets.

The Hawks would draft Brandon Roy with their #5 pick and trade him to the Rockets, who would select Shelden Williams for the Hawks with the #8 pick. The Hawks would also get Luther Head in the trade. Logically speaking, the deal makes sense. For a few weeks now, the Hawks were rumored to have promised Williams they would pick him. Williams didn’t confirm the rumor, but shut down his workouts indicating that he received a promise from a team that he wants to play for. Only Williams wasn’t expected to go in the top 5, so why would the Hawks make a promise to a player that would most certainly be there when they pick? If the trade goes through, it would all make sense. If Williams wants to play for the Hawks, he doesn’t care if he goes #5 or #8, so the Hawks can get some compensation for “moving down” in the draft. Considering that both players have Arn Tellem as their agent, the rumors just might be true.

The only problem is that that Roy may not be there at #5. He did pull out of a workout with Charlotte (#3), making it difficult for new-Prez MJ to select someone he hasn’t seen in person. The Bobcats have a giant hole at shooting guard and Roy would be a great fit. Toronto (#1) and Chicago (#2) seem to be going other directions (Andrea Bargnani and LaMarcus Aldridge or Tyrus Thomas, respectively), which leaves Charlotte looking at Aldridge or Thomas, Adam Morrison, Rudy Gay and Roy. If the top three teams pass on Morrison, the Blazers will almost certainly take him. If they don’t, they’ll have to face the wrath of their fans.

The Bulls could take Roy. He’d be a great fit with Kirk Hinrich, but Chicago is already loaded in the backcourt. Given all of this, Roy just might slip to #5 and the trade would likely go forward as planned.