Sports / NBA Draft 2007
Big trades could share spotlight with Oden, Durant
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-28 14:20
NEW YORK, June 27 - Ohio State center Greg Oden and Texas forward Kevin
Durant figure to top the list in the NBA Draft, yet suspense lingers over
whether big names like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will change
addresses on Thursday.
The Portland Trail Blazers choose first in the NBA Draft at Madison
Square Garden and are expected to select 7-foot (2.13 m) Oden, the
19-year-old who led Ohio in scoring (15.7 avg), rebounding (9.6 rebounds)
and blocked shots as a freshman.
"You'd have to look at a team funny if it didn't make Oden the number one
pick," Oden's boyhood friend and Ohio State team mate Mike Conley Jr.
told reporters on Wednesday.
Oden knows there is going to be pressure to produce right away in the NBA.
"That's hard and I know it's going to be difficult," Oden told reporters.
"But I had a chance to talk to (former Spurs center) David Robinson and
what he said to me was you just need to take time .. don't put it all on
yourself."
The 6-10 (2.06 m) Durant, a great offensive talent who led the Big 12 in
scoring (25.8 per game), rebounding (11.1 avg) and blocked shots as a
freshman, is sure to go second to the Seattle SuperSonics should Oden be
made the top pick.
Durant said comparisons to Tracy McGrady were flattering. "T-Mac is one
of the best players in the league and I'm just honored to be in the same
company as him," he said.
Oden and Durant are pegged by the most experts as future NBA top
performers.
Some of the league's top names may have an impact on where the entering
NBA class play as draft picks would likely be part of any big-time trade
packages.
Bryant and Garnett have been rumored in a number of blockbuster deals,
with the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns mentioned resepectively as
possible destinations.
Shawn Marion of the Suns, Lamar Odom of the Lakers and Jermaine O'Neal of
the Pacers are among other big name players mentioned in trade talks
ahead of the draft.
The rest of the top 10 draft selections could include such promising
players as twice national college champion Florida's Al Horford, Joakim
Noah and Corey Brewer, Ohio State point guard Mike Conley Jr. and Chinese
power forward Yi Jianlian.
Brandan Wright of North Carolina, Thaddeus Young of Georgia Tech,
Georgetown's Jeff Green and 7-1 center Spencer Hawes of Washington could
also figure among top 10 picks.
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