Draft Day Daze

Whew. A lot of info to digest today, so let's get at some of the latest news and rumors.

1. The Luke Ridnour to Atlanta for the #11 deal is apparently still alive, although not as hot as it was earlier yesterday. Makes you wonder if the Hawks are still holding out hope for the Stoudamire deal to get a shot of adrenalin before they commit one way or the other.

2. Draftexpress reports that "inside info" says that the Sonics will take Reinaldis Seibutis with the 35th pick. Seibutis is a 6'6" off guard, 21 years old, from Lithuania. He's reported to be a good shooter, but skinny. Guess the Sonics figure he'll be a good backup for Ray Allen, unless...

3. Ray Allen gets traded to Boston for Theo Ratliff and the #5 pick. I can understand the Sonics wanting to get out of Ray's contract, and I can understand going after Mike Conley with the pick, and I can understand getting Ratliff's expiring deal, but as much as I've given Allen a hard time on this site, the man is a bona fide stud. Granted, his skills are in the decline phase, but he's a hard worker and plays well in the playoffs. Let's say the Sonics make it to the post-season this year, wouldn't you feel a lot better knowing that a stone-cold assassin was playing in the backcourt, rather than relying on a rookie (Durant) and Rashard Lewis (assuming Lewis isn't dealt as well)?

More to come.

Gotta Have Your KD

ESPN's Ric Bucher reported Wednesday night that the Blazers have confirmed to Greg Oden that he will be the #1 pick in Thursday's draft.

It's strange. A few weeks ago, this would have bummed me out since it was obvious that Oden was the perfect fit for the Sonics' situation.

But the more I've thought about it in the past few weeks, the more I have realized that the current Sonics' situation is crapola, and why should we care about how the rookie-to-be fits with us, and why we should care about how we fit with the rookie-to-be.

If that's the case, then Portland can have Oden. The Sonics will figure out a way to accommodate the most talented player in the draft. If that's the worst thing that happens to the Clay Bennett regime, then, well, this is gonna be a fun ride.

Acie Law

Anyone else out there surprised by how Acie Law's stock is falling as the draft approaches?

Before the tournament, Law seemed a lock as the top PG in the draft. After Mike Conley did a Tiny Archibald impression in the tournament, Law fell a bit, to where he would be 15th or so taken.

Yesterday, John Hollinger released a new draft analysis that pegged Law as one of the more likely busts in the draft. Then today, draftexpress revealed their win shares outlook at the draftees, and they likewise lumped Law in with Corey Brewer and Spencer Hawes as people to avoid in the draft.

The big knock on Law seems to surround his steals (or lack thereof) and a concurrent lack of athletic ability. It now seems like Law could fall even more ... or this could all just be hype from draft experts and Law could wind up going to Atlanta with the 11th pick. Combined with Presti's comments at his press conference about his appreciation for defense and the ability to play multiple positions, and it sure seems that even if the Sonics are able to parlay their two second-rounders into a first-rounder, they won't be looking at picking up Law.