Post Draft Recap - LeBron League 2.0 - 2019

It actually hasn't been a while? How about that?!

Football is finally back! High school and college football came back last week and the NFL isn't far behind.

Did you guys know the Browns got Odell Beckham Jr? Some people might have missed it. I can't wait for the Browns season.

Well that is 'real' football at least. Today we are talking about Fantasy Football. I really do love fantasy football. I have been doing a yearly recap of this particular league (aside from last season, I was busy okay) for the last handful of years. The first one dates back to 2013. (Wait, 2013? Damn I'm getting old) The LeBron 2.0 league as it is called for reasons that defy logic. I don't know why the first one was called the LeBron league either. I'm not the commissioner; what do you want me to do? I can't deal with this guy:

Nothing too crazy about the details about this league. 10 teams, 0.5 PPR, you start a QB, 2 RB's, 2 WR, a TE, a FLEX, a defense and a kicker. I've been trying for several years to do a few things. One is eliminate kickers. Rooting for a kicker in an actual game sucks. Why would I want to do that in fantasy football too? Fantasy football should at its base be fun. Kickers can join Art Briles in hell.

The other thing I've mentioned before was to change the draft from snake format to an auction. This season is actually a great example, but you can make the argument pretty much every year. Let's say you're a Giants fan. First, I'm sorry. Second you probably love Saquon Barkley like he is a member of your family. Well unless the mythical ping pong balls bounce your way you won't get him on your team. Yes, I'm aware that there's no possible way for everyone to have him on their team. (Don't bring up daily fantasy to me. It's irrelevant in this argument.) My point is that if I really want him I can spend X amount of my allotted budget on him.

Have I ever actually done a fantasy auction? No.

Does it sound like fun? Hell yes it does.

Power hungry commissioner... Wait, I mean, Austin. Think about it.

Now let's take a look at the different teams in the league and see how they drafted.

Two things I don't care about. The defense and the kicker. Don't pick them higher than you have to. I don't want to waste time talking about those two spots. The Jags were picked stupid early last season and how did that go for you? (Note, they weren't as bad as I thought, still way too early for them though)

Let's look at Andre's team, team name - A Team Deserve No Name

My thoughts - Game of Thrones is over, bro. Let it go.

The starting lineup looks okay. Russell Wilson should be a top ten qb as he usually is. The price tag was a bit higher on James Conner this season but he will do well in Pittsburgh. I really like Kerryon Johnson. Hopkins is incredible. Chris Godwin is meh. I guess someone has to catch the ball in Tampa Bay. Ertz is one of the top three tight ends. Tyler Boyd is also meh to me. Someone has to catch whatever Andy Dalton attempts to throw. Ha, Andy Dalton.

His bench is alright. Lindsay could be a flex play certain weeks and a good fill-in during the byes. Does Robby Anderson think that hair looks good or? Murray has a clear role in New Orleans. Corey Davis has the potential to be a breakout candidate, again.  Larry Fitzgerald is about as steady as they come. Henderson will be the change of pace back with the Rams so he has a low ceiling but a high floor.
I think he has a good but not great team.

Grade for Andre - B-

Let's look at Brian's team, team name - In My Thielens

My thoughts - Well the first thing that sticks out to me is starting Jimmy G over Aaron Rodgers. 

You don't draft Rodgers as high as you do to not start him. I don't care if the Bears have a good defense. Start him. 

This team screams oh sh*t. Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown on the same team again. Bell could be incredible and there's a decent chance he is, but with all the drama that has surrounded Antonio Brown I'm not touching him this year. (As I was editing this it comes out that he got in an altercation and may get suspended) It's one thing after another and he hasn't played a real game yet. Josh Jacobs has a lot of upside though. Thielen is really good. I'm surprised Kyle Rudolph still is with the Vikings. DJ Moore had some flashes last year.

On the bench you should have Jimmy G. That is if you really want two QB's. Singletary should be the lead back in Buffalo with McCoy ousted. DK Metcalf probably won't do much this season and he's already been banged up. I love Carlos Hyde. Like as I do any former Ohio State running back. There's something you should know about him though. He's not very good anymore. -ducks-

Chris Thompson has some value as a pass catcher. DeSean Jackson might still have a good game or two, but will you know when they will be? No. Because no one does. Terry McLaurin is a good flier who could have value in Washington.

Grade for Brian - C-

Let's look at Kevin's team, team name - Deshaun What Son!!! (What are you yelling about?)

My thoughts - Am I missing the joke with his team name or is it just stupid? (Edit, he changed it after I took the screen shot.)

I think Watson will have a big season. I don't like all the things I've heard about Gurley. Lots of things concerning his knees. With where he's been selected in most drafts I don't think I would ever end up with him. Chris Carson is alright. He is helped by how often Seattle runs. Julio is insane. Amari Cooper became more of who we thought he could be once he got moved to Dallas. Jared Cook. Ugh, I'm tired of this guy. If anyone can do something good over a whole season it would be Drew Brees but good luck. Duke Johnson is an okay flex play. Who know exactly what he will do though in his first season in Houston.

On the bench Marvin Jones is an overqualified bench receiver. Curtis Samuel could have value. I think I have made my thoughts clear on Dak Prescott. (I don't think he is good at football) Gallup could maybe have value this year. Ditto for Sutton. Why in the hell do you have three tight ends. Pick your favorite and drop the other two. You're wasting bench spots.

Starters are fine but the bench isn't utilized well.

Grade for Kevin - B-

Let's look at Austin's team, team name - Lil Weeb, again I guess.

My thoughts - Oh here we go again, commish.

Starters look pretty solid. I don't trust Cam. I love Cam, but he's always hurt. David Johnson still had a good fantasy season with all the crap going on with the Cardinals. Joe Mixon same kind of thing with the Bengals. I like Cooks more as a two than as a one. The Rams just spread things around so well. Lockett is the best pass catcher on a team that doesn't throw as much as they probably should. Evan Engram is the best pass catcher for the Giants. Not like that's saying much but still. Derrick Henry has to be one of the most frustrating fantasy players ever. You start him and he sucks. You bench him and he goes off. Ugh.

On the bench you have another one of the most frustrating fantasy players ever in Josh Gordon. I'm a Browns fan. Enough said there. Breida could get some work in this season but I feel like that's a running back by committee situation. Will Fuller got hurt as I typed this. Having Brady as a back up is fine, but you probably only play him when Watson is on a bye. I would use that bench spot for someone else. Ditto for not having Walker on the bench. Sanu is probably only going to be a factor in fantasy if people get hurt around him in Atlanta.

Grade for Austin - C

Let's look at Jon Oh's team, team name - Your Girl Diggs My JuJu

My thoughts -

I really like his starters. The only issue with Wentz has been health. Granted that's a big concern, but I think he will have a great season. McCaffrey is a top five back. Cook has injury issues too, but he could have a big season with their new offense. I feel like I'm more bullish on JuJu than others are. I feel like people are just expecting him to be the next Antonio Brown when Brown (as crazy as he is) is a generational talent. I think he's good; I don't think he's THAT good. Kittle is one of the top three tight ends. White is a good flex play.

The bench could be utilized better. You have one of the best tight ends. Don't worry about carrying another one. In a ten team league you also don't need a back up QB or a back up defense. Shepard could have value because who else catches passes for the Giants? Coleman may be the lead back with the 49ers, but like I said earlier I think it will be more of a timeshare.

Grade for Jon Oh - Starters B+, Bench D

Let's look at Ben's team, team name - Bruce Jenners Balls, again apparently.

My thoughts - 

I mean having Mahomes is a good start to any team. Yeah QB's are very under valued in fantasy because there are so many good ones, but getting Mahomes in the third round is fine by me. I wonder if Ben is a Georgia fan looking at his running backs. Chubb is going to be a workhorse at least for the first half of the season. Maybe that changes when Kareem Hunt is off his suspension, but he has Hunt too so that could work out nicely given how hyped the Browns offense is. Tyreek Hill as long as he's on the field is a threat to go off every week. TY Hilton loses some value going from Luck to Brissett. Hunter Henry is just another guy in the tight end class outside of the top three. Mack is okay. Probably being a flex will be fine depending on the week.

On the bench he has some good fliers. If AJ Green gets healthy he's a top ten wide out. Sanders has been good in the past. Maybe there's a chance he gets back to what he has been at times. I personally don't think Penny is very good. He's no Lane or Hardaway. I already mentioned Hunt. Pettis has some upside. As does Lamar Jackson. Although you're only playing him once or twice with Mahomes on your team. Richard is eh.

Grade for Ben - B-

Let's look at Danny's team, team name - Barkley's Bakery

My thoughts - 

I didn't know Saquon opened up a bakery but at least it's better than his name from the last season. 

Last year his name was 'Lincoln Bluebones'. 

It's the worst fantasy football team name I've ever heard. 

Team Last Name is better than Lincoln Bluebones. I will never let you hear the end for using that name at any point in your lifetime. Before that he was the Blue Sea Unpackers. The second worse team name in the history of fantasy football.

Over the seasons I have used this blog in regards to this fantasy football draft recap to poke holes at Danny and say funny things. This time will be much different:

Ha! Did I fool you? No? Eh, let's continue and look at the actual team. (no promises) 

I'm a Browns fans so there will be no Baker Mayfield negativity here. Barkley stud. Duh. Ingram is okay as an RB2. Allen is awesome. Jeffery may not live up to expectations but he's still the top receiver in Philly. Kelce is one of the top three tight ends. Allen Robinson could be startable (is that a word? Don't care), but I'm not too sure. 

Calvin Ridley is a good bench wide out. I may start Drake over Ingram. At least to start the year. I think Drake is better than Ingram, but Ingram is on a better team. Christian Kirk is okay. So is Cohen, and Barber, and Williams. I don't enjoy saying it, but I think he drafted well. Because of that here are some of my favorite pictures of Danny I have used in these blogs over the last few years. 

Enjoy:

Why did you button the top button without a tie?

I hope LSU stomps Texas this weekend.

Here are some other ones that are too funny not to post:

Believe it or not the last one is from 2018.

Grade for Danny - B+

Let's look at Joe's team, team name - Team Space Force

My thoughts - 

Solid starters for Joe. Matty Ice is always relable. Alvin Kamara is a beast. Freeman has cooled of from the back he used to be, but he's still a good number two back. I think Mike Evans has a big year with the new offense in Tampa. Robert Woods is solid but I've already talked about all the mouths to feed in LA between Gurley, Kupp, Cooks and Woods at the least. McDonald is eh. Golladay is a good flex play and probably more reliable than Woods.

Bench, ummmm. You drafted Drew Brees? My pro tip is you start Drew Brees. Unless he is on a bye. Watkins is a good back up considering what is always a possibility with Tyreek Hill. Valdes-Scantling has a chance to do something playing with Aaron Rodgers, but I don't see him doing anything worth while in a ten team league. Jordan Howard is apart of a crowded backfield in Philly. Golden Tate got suspended for trying to start a family.  Pollard is a good stash for now. Zeke getting paid hurts that value. Get outta here with Danny Amendola.

Grade for Joe - C+

Let's look at Josh Bohn's team, team name - Davante's Inferno

My thoughts - 

I really like his team. I don't love Goff as my starting QB, but he's fine. Jones should be fine. Ekeler isn't Melvin Gordon. It looks like it's not quite going to be the Austin Ekeler show while Gordon is holding out, but Ekeler looks to benefit the most. Adams is a stud. Edelman is a fine wide out number two especially with it being .5 PPR. OJ Howard is fine. Cooper Kupp is a great flex play.

On the bench, he has Zeke. When we drafted (Labor Day) there wasn't any Zeke news. But if Zeke is active week one you start him week one. Mike Williams is a high end backup. Miles Sanders could break out in Philly. James Washington could be the number two guy in a good Pittsburgh offense (typing that hurt my soul). I'm tired of hearing, "This is the year Donte Moncrief does something worth a damn." Hines is an okay backup. You can drop Rivers. If you want him that much he will probably be available when Goff has a bye.

Grade for Josh - A-

Now let's look at my team, team name - Lance's Lobos

Thoughts on my draft - I think I had a pretty good draft. Duh.

At QB I pretty much always wait so I got Kyler Murray pretty late. If he sucks? Oh well. I drop him and grab a new QB. If he's good? I have a steal.

I waited on running back because of how the draft fell to me. I had the last pick and on the turnaround there wasn't a back I loved so I went ODB and Michael Thomas. I think Montgomery could be really good as Chicago's lead back. Fournette is great whenever he actually gets on the field. We were robbed of seeing Derrius Guice as a true rookie because of injury. He had a bunch of hype in 2018. If he's that kind of player then I'm very much in luck.

Darren Waller is a dart throw. I've watched most of Hard Knocks and this guy has been through hell. There's a chance he's awesome. There's a chance he never does anything. If he doesn't do anything for too long I'll drop him and grab a new tight end.

Maybe Melvin Gordon does what Le'Veon Bell did last season. If he does play this year then the odds are he will be good. I didn't draft him too early in my eyes. I got him in like the sixth round. I didn't draft him to be a starter.

I essentially have the Kansas City running game between Damien Williams and End Game Spoiler. I kind of have a thing for Andy Reid running backs.

Jarvis Landry will have a key role in the Browns offense. Will I ever start him? Possibly.

Dede Westbrook could be the top wide out with the Jags

There's been rumblings about Ballage for the past two seasons. Maybe something comes of it. Maybe I drop him soon.

There's been some solid buzz around Anthony Miller too. He could be the top guy at receiver in Chicago at some point this season.

There you guys go. That's why I drafted how I did and how I feel about the way people in my league drafted. 

Nobody's perfect, but it's all about having fun!

No grade on my own team but how do you guys think I did?

Feel free to leave a comment below or talk to me on Twitter!

My Top Jon Bellion Songs From Each Album/Mixtape

I never thought I would write a big music post about an artist that wasn't Kanye West. Yet here we are.

Jon Bellion was an artist I didn't think too highly of the first time I heard one of his songs. Granted, I wasn't really listening very intently. That was when I was in Alaska in the summer of 2016. Things were so different then. Things are different now too. 

Not long after that I quickly took back those words once I dove more into 'The Human Condition'. It was his first official album and he came out with a bang. There's not a bad song on there. Not one. I'd be hard pressed to pick a song I don't like from one of his mixtapes or albums. It would just be a song I don't listen to that often.

Over the last few months I've been listening to a lot of Jon Bellion. 

Like listening to a playlist that only has his songs type of a lot. 

But I finally got the chance to see him live earlier this month. Since then I constantly have different songs of his stuck in my mind. Sometimes when a song is stuck in your head it's awful and you would do anything to make it stop. With his songs though it's awesome having those sounds constantly replaying in your mind. I wanted to put something positive out in the world about Jon Bellion, and just show how much his music has meant to me.

That being said, let's get into my top songs dating all the way back to his first mixtape in 2013.

Translations Through Speakers (2013)

Honorable Mentions - 

Waves of Loneliness

"It's so empty right where your head sleeps
And she said, "I still smell your cologne in my bed sheets""

Timeless

"Fell asleep I had a kick-ass dream
Me, Frank Sinatra, James Dean
Sammy Davis at the bar drinking Moonshine
Nice women, white wine, chillin' poolside"

3 - While You Count Sheep

"I knew you were dope from the jump like ribbit"

2 - Don't Ask Cuz I Don't Know

"I haven't even picked out my socks. How could I tell you 'bout my future?"

1 - Dead Man Walking

" 'Cause my sister has a best friend that I've known since I was three.

And now I'm gon' get strangled 'cause we tangled in the sheets" 

It's not fully formed, yet. But you can tell something is there. That's what we got from his first mixtape. His first two mixtapes have more cursing than the rest of his works. He toned it down over the years. It's still there from time-to-time, but it's changed in comparison to his first two mixtapes. All-in-all a good starting place for sure.

The Separation (2013) 

Honorable Mentions - 

A Dedicated Instrumental

"I grew up in the age of Timbaland and Pharrell sh*t"

Ungrateful Eyes

"I made a hundred grand this year
Clap clap, clap clap, so what?
Still lost , still feeling anxious
Still worried about the same sh*t"

3 - Halloween

" 'Cause I could be October, baby, you could be the thirty first"

2 - Superman, The Gift and the Curse

"Count your blessings I consider rap a f*cking hobby"

1 - Jim Morrison

"The teachers said I'm nothing, but Kanye gave me college

And they feel me down in Brooklyn

Yeah I'm feelin' very Christopher Wallace

Roll me up that mister Marley

Take a pull and kick some knowledge

Ask my father if money is hereditary

Will Smith, b*tch I am feeling legendary"

I mean, there was a reason Jim Morrison was a part of his encore until the GSP Tour even though it was from an early mixtape. When you hear those first few notes it gets you feeling a certain type of way. This song just hits all the right notes both literally and figuratively. 

The Definition (2014)

Honorable Mentions - 

Run Wild

"Such a hopeful Eve, but Adam let you down"

Human

"The pastor tells me I've been saved I'm fine

Then please explain to me why my chest still hurts"

3 - Luxury

"But I give it up to heaven 'cause it isn't Jon

The chorus and instrumental, oh you think it's odd

I don't have to give you lyrics cause you know it's God

That's why I get emotionally when the chorus drops"

2 - Pre-Occupied (feat Blaque Keyz)

"You should go and ask Rihanna if the pen game's crazy"

1 - Jungle

"Listen close, these models don't mean soda when they're offering coke

You sound so f-ing cute when you ask what is blow

There's quicksand in this nightlife 
It will swallow you whole

Singing New York City it's a jungle out there"

It was really hard to narrow this down. I didn't even include A Haunted House and Munny Right and those are both great songs in their own right. You can listen to this mixtape and you hear everything coming together in terms of making an album. He pretty much 'gets it' at this point, and that was made back in 2014. It laid all the groundwork for his first official album.

The Human Condition (2016)

Honorable Mentions - 

Morning in America

"We're secretly out of control, nobody knows it

When the class president overdosed, we all pretended

It was rare, it was shocking and all the town was talking

Yeah we're secretly out of control"

Guillotine (feat Travis Mendes)

"The secrets you tell me, I'll take to my grave

There's bones in my closet, but you hang stuff anyway

And if you have nightmares we'll dance on the bed

I know that you love me, love me

Even when I lose my head"

3 - All Time Low

"I was the knight in shining armor in your movie
Would put your lips on mine and love the aftertaste 
Now, I'm a ghost, I call your name, you look right through me
You're the reason that I just can't concentrate"

2 - 80's Films

"She said, how does it feel to be you?

I said, it's alright. I really think I peaked in high school

She said, that is impossible. You are out of your mind. 'Cause we never hooked up in high school"

"Just like the 80's films we'll hook up in my backseat and let my best friend drive"

1 - Hand of God (Outro)

"I am just a man, I am just a man

Who lusts, gives, tries

Sometimes I lose my way"

"When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith

My mother says, your whole life's in the hand of God"

Now that was actually impossible to narrow down. I could make arguments for basically every song depending on that day. New York Soul, Pt.ii is what he performed on Sway and that song overall is incredible. The Good In Me is beautiful. Woke the F*ck Up is one of my alarms that I wake up to almost every day. He is the Same is a great de-facto intro. Overwhelming is well kind of overwhelming when you listen to it in a certain mood. iRobot feels like a sequel to Human from The Definition. Fashion describes how he can enjoy some finer things now that he has the means to. Weight of the World is inspirational. It's really a challenge for me to describe how much I love this album. I probably wouldn't have put All Time Low in the top three until I saw him perform that live. I would say my top three songs from that show would be that, Guillotine and a song that will be number one when I get to his most recent album.

Glory Sound Prep (2018)

Honorable Mentions - 

Stupid Deep

" 'Cause the hole inside my heart is stupid deep. Stupid deep"

The Internet

"Life became dangerous the day we all became famous

No one cares if you're happy just as long as you claim it, oh
How can we change this the day we became famous
No one cares if you have it just as long as you claim it"

3 - Let's Begin (feat Roc Marciano, RZA, B. Keyz & Travis Mendes)

"Was never focused on getting bigger just getting better

That's why I keep getting bigger with every record "

2 - Conversations with My Wife

"Will you love me when my phone turns off?

I don't want to be some digital Jesus

No more followers, we'll both get lost

When it's me and you inside real life"

1 - JT

"Remember, dreams seemed far away

Was pinchin' pennies like Lane and Hardaway

Now my beats make fees for holidays

In 'Greece' and I don't mean John Travolta."

This album keeps growing on me. Seeing him perform most of the album helped the cause without a doubt. 

Before seeing him perform I would have had JT as an honorable mention, but when I watched him open with it that changed everything. Before that Conversations with My Wife was my favorite. I really connected with it because the way he talks about removing the digital piece of a relationship really hit home with me. It can be a necessity depending on your individual situation in life to communicate with your significant other that way. But if you don't have to it's such a beautiful thing to just be with someone and be fully present without needing to check your phone for some notification that can be dealt with hours or sometimes even days later. 

I've had too many things in my life that have been dealt with digitally that didn't have to be that way, but because of the age we live in it was the most convenient way to do it. 

As much as I love and rely on my phone there are days when I wish I could just turn it off and remove it from my life at least for a few hours. But at this point that isn't something I can do. 

Other singles and features you should check out from him:

Singles - Good Things Fall Apart & Crop Circles

Feature - Beautiful Now with Zedd

His cover of The Motto

Anything he makes acoustic. It's all beautiful.

What are you waiting for? Go listen to Jon Bellion!

2019 NBA Draft, Draft Diary: Volume Three

(Quick Note if you've never read a piece like this. I started writing this at around 6:45 the night of the draft and it should be published at some point on Friday. It is my live reaction while watching the 2019 NBA Draft on ESPN. I also will try to stay off Twitter to avoid Woj's various spoilers. This year they won't quite be as funny as this, this, or this) I hope you enjoy!

I say this every single time I write here, but it has been way too long.

Something's have changed since the last time I was here:

Such as Anthony Davis is a Laker (not officially), having a near-death experience (car accident), and I get a slightly different hair cut.

Somethings haven't changed:

Such as Colin Cowherd still talking nonsense about the Browns, Stephen A. Smith is still (seemingly) on every ESPN platform at the same time, and Lavar Ball is still talking crazy (aside from a seven-ish month hiatus when LeBron had to have done something to quiet him).

Speaking of the Ball Family. I'd be willing to bet that we will be hearing plenty from Lavar come the 2020 NBA Draft. Unlike Gucci sun glass thief, LiAngelo Ball, LaMelo Ball will be a lottery pick a year from now.

Enough of them for now. Enough of them forever depending on who you ask. Jeff Goodman actually apologized for how much he covered them initially.

6:45 - Okay, can we talk about the early trade movement? Usually things unravel as the draft begins, but not this year! Minnesota has traded Dario Saric and the number eleven pick to Phoenix for the sixth overall pick:

Atlanta got the fourth pick for the eighth, seventeenth, and thirty-fifth picks. 

What a move! Atlanta gets to bolster their young core of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter with a top four pick. My early thought is they will get another guard to pair with Trae, but who knows. Sorry Kevin. 

Now to the official start of the diary.

7:00 - Welcome to the 2019 NBA Draft, Draft Diary: Volume Three!

7:04 - It's still crazy that we have all these moves before the draft even started. Also Woj wasn't on the main desk last year, right? I mean he's gonna be on his phone the whole night. Is watching Woj answer his phone on live TV good TV? It might be. I mean this was funny.

7:06 - Rece Davis asking Woj if he's gonna tweet during the draft is like asking Jay Bilas if he's gonna say wingspan over and over tonight.

(Note: if you dare to play the Jay Bilas drinking game during the draft then please don't drink and drive. He is very aware that the drinking game is a thing and he will say something along the lines of, "Tip it back, people, wingspan.")

7:07 - Okay, so Woj won't be on the main stage the whole night. Probably the right call. Even though he did a live show when The Vertical was a thing. According to various people I follow on Twitter.com; it was a very good show.

7:10 - Little Zion package being shown. When was the last time a college basketball player was only referred to by their first name. The initial nicknames don't count (KD, AD). Off the top of my head it might be Jimmer. Yeah this guy:



Also peep the line at 2:37. These were the days before KD pretended to be an egg on Twitter. What a time to be alive!

7:11 - That block may be one of the greatest of all time. That's not hyperbole.

Chill Cavs fans! I know this is still a thing:

7:15 - It's cool that Zion and RJ Barrett are such good friends. How insane would it have been to face an AAU team that had Zion and Ja Morant on it? That's scary stuff.

7:18 - The lining of Ja's and RJ's jackets are cool. Ja with family and Murray State and RJ with a Canadian flavor. TheRinger.com's Draft Guide (which is amazing by the way) says he has shades of Jalen Rose, alpha Andrew Wiggins, Harrison Barnes and Rudy Gay. RJ clearly showed his alpha characteristics during his season at Duke. Granted, usually it was driving to the rim and taking a crappy shot instead of trying to get the ball to Zion, but that's just details.

7:24 - Players in attendance are being introduced. It's crazy how nowadays everyone has some crazy outfit because they are fully aware how many eyes are watching. Gone are the days of this:

And this:

Did you know that he also had a lime green suit as an option? He told a story on his podcast one day about it and he went with the suit he ultimately wore because he thought he was going to be drafted by the Clippers. How about that? He even wore the suit last year on ESPN's Get Up!



Not sure if it was baggy enough.

7:26 - Tyler Herro is an amazing name. Imagine if he makes a clutch shot while playing 'hero ball'. Man those stories would right themselves.

7:29 - Can this thing start already? I have to be at work in twelve hours.

7:32 - Nothing against Forrest Whitaker, but you could have gotten someone better for a quick narration, right? That wasn't exactly aw-inspiring.

7:34 - It's absolutely hysterical that Adam Silver gets a nice reception. David Stern got the boos. And actually encouraged them:

And Roger Goodell. Ha, Roger Goodell. Too easy though:

7:36 - Rece beat me to it. This shouldn't take too long for Zion to be picked by New Orleans. Although it's been a while since we knew who the first pick would be as soon as the lottery was over. Yeah we've known who the first overall pick will be before Adam Silver made it to the podium, but I'm talking when there's one guy and everyone else. The last time was probably the other time the Pelicans had the number one overall pick.

I like Zion's look. He doesn't need a tie.

7:38 - Marty Smith is the best. I love how much energy he brings to live TV:

Even though he isn't perfect.

7:39 - Marty is crowd surfing in New Orleans. I don't know if there will be a live shot tonight that can beat that.

7:41 - Zion is officially the first overall pick. As we have known since.. like December. He wasn't the top recruit out of high school and was actually the third ranked prospect among the guys Duke had. They had four guys at the McDonald's game so they were fine:

7:43 - Can't hate on the raw emotion we're getting from Zion. Even knowing he was going to be the top pick for at least a few months. That's great to watch.

7:44 - The draft hats suck, okay. There I said it:

@ me bro @TheLanceMorris

7:46 - Is Zion instantly the biggest star in New Orleans? I mean overall like if you were to include the Saints in that discussion. Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Mike Thomas are all amazing players, but football players are just not the same level of star as their NBA counterparts. I think it's an interesting conversation.

7:47 - Memphis officially takes Ja Morant as the second overall pick. No surprise his favorite player growing up was Russell Westbrook. He's a much more natural point guard than Russ, but man this kid is explosive. If he has a consistent jumper he will easily be an all-star, and being an all-star guard in the Western Conference is super hard.

7:49 - The hat choice by his father is stunning to say the least.

7:51 - Emotion from Ja too. People do forget that these guys are human.

7:52 - Bobby Marks says the Knicks need everything. Starters and bench. He's not wrong.

The Knicks officially take RJ Barrett as the third overall pick. I loved what I saw out of RJ before he even got to Duke. There was a lot to like. He was the top player coming out of high school.

Just watch this and you'll see why:



7:53 - Wingspan, people. Again, be careful.

7:56 - More emotion. He kept it together for a a minute before his dad walked up. Love it. I don't know if he gave himself the 'Maple Mamba' nickname. (If he did that's a major fine) But that would be the ultimate best case scenario for him.

7:58 - It's only a little awkward seeing the State Farm commercials with James Harden and Chris Paul after everything that's been said about that situation this week:

8:00 - I say it every year and I will say it once again. I hate, absolutely hate, that we have to go through this charade of saying a player is picked by X when really they have been traded to Y. The player has to go up there and put on a different hat and take all these pictures with it. Why can't this be changed?

8:00 - The Lakers, no actually the Hawks take De'Andre Hunter with the fourth pick overall. Dude was a monster at Virginia. What more can you say about them other than when he was hurt they lost to UMBC in a historic upset. With him they won a National Title. Enough said:

8:07 - The Cavs go with Darius Garland from Vanderbilt. I gotta say I didn't see much of him because of his injury. But in high school he was a dog. Good on the Cavs for taking, who in their eyes, was the best guy available even though they drafted Collin Sexton in the top ten a year ago. 

Maybe they can play together. In the Finals we saw big stretches where Toronto played Kyle Lowry and Fred Vanvleet together and they are both smaller players. Garland is 6'2 and Sexton is 6'2 as well. Portland does a similar style with Dame Lillard and C.J. McCollum and they seemed to play well this season until Lillard got banged up in the Western Conference Finals.

8:08 - Um, what the hell is he wearing? I don't have words:

8:14 - Yeah, Coby White does have the best hair in the draft. At least of the guys there. Not much comp in that regard.

8:15 - The Suns, sigh, the Timberwolves go with Jarrett Culver from Texas Tech as the sixth overall pick. Dang his family is impressive. Dad's a preacher and his brother was an awesome high jumper. This guy made Texas Tech a good basketball team. Let's call a spade a spade, you haven't gave a damn about Texas Tech basketball maybe ever. If you ever did give it a thought it was when Bobby Knight was there for a hot sec:

8:18 - It's a good thing Jarrett wasn't wasting his time playing football. He might have gotten hurt! It's always great to hear strong faith on display from both him and his father.

8:19 - Oh, great. The Bulls. Ugh, I'm tired of the Bulls. They've been a giant dumpster fire the last few years. That's exactly how you pick seventh for three straight years.

8:21 - The Bulls take Coby White from North Carolina as the seventh overall pick. He was fun to watch with UNC. UNC was overlooked heavy this year (in my eyes) with all the hype in the ACC with Duke and with Virginia being as good as they were:

He's gonna be a solid guard in the league. The Bulls have enough good young guys now. How about you go out and do something. Psh, Jim Boylen. I mean this guy. The Bulls SB Nation site doesn't seem to be his biggest fan.

8:22 - Don't mess up the hair, Coby! This could happen:

8:24 - Maria Taylor is really good at her job. ESPN works her to death all over the place with Get Up!, things on the SEC Network, College Gameday, you name it she's been there. I wanted to make that thought known:

8:28 - Once again, the Hawks, no, the Pelicans are taking Jaxson Hayes the center from Texas. How am I just now learning he is from Cincinnati? (Moeller High School) This will allow Zion to play the four spot, but is that the right move? Maybe having Zion as the center would be the best move long term. Time will tell.

8:30 - Wingspan, Jay, this isn't nice:

8:32 - The Wizards are taking Rui Hachimura with the ninth overall pick. He was awesome last season at Gonzaga. Heck they gave Duke their first loss of the season. I think he would be an all-star... maybe if he plays in the year 2007.

I really don't think he's gonna be all that good. I just don't see it. It's awesome that he is the first guy from Japan to be drafted, but pioneers aren't always great. For every Dirk there's a Zaza. Get outta here, bum:

8:35 - Jay, we've been over this.

Also I don't see him being a Kawhi Leonard type player at all. That was who Chauncey Billups compared him to. His defense was never really all that good.

8:40 - The Hawks take Cam Reddish from Duke with the tenth pick. Ask one of the guys he played against in high school. Just about all of them will tell you Cam Reddish was 'cold' in high school. I think he was stifled having to play with Zion and RJ. I love him going to the Hawks. They are going to be so fun next season.

8:41 - Damn it, Jay.

8:44 - So trades can't go through because of the new league year rule? I mean that makes sense, but it's just so dumb to have someone go on stage with a team that they know they aren't being drafted by and they have to have all these memories with a team logo they aren't going to play for. I'm forever going to hate that.

THANK YOU, SOMEONE SAID IT:

8:46 - The Timberwolves, no the Suns, take Cameron Johnson eleventh overall. You have to hope he can become a good three and D guy. He can shoot. We know this, but can he do anything else? I would think getting anything else would be a plus. He can shoot in the league. They need a wing player. They traded T.J. Warren a few hours ago. Josh Jackson has been seen more trying to get in the V.I.P section than doing good things in an NBA Basketball game. They need all the help they can get.

8:47 - Jay, that's enough, I can't anymore.

8:52 - The Hornets go with PJ Washington from Kentucky as the twelfth overall selection. Death, taxes, and Kentucky having someone go in the lottery. They don't always have guys stick around for another season, but he was really good in Lexington. Jay just said he thinks he will be a solid pro and he took the words right out of my mouth. Probably won't ever be an all-star. That's fine. He'll be a nice player. He would probably be better on a team that's better than Charlotte. Especially if Kemba does wind up leaving:

8:55 - PJ throwing some shade on his dad saying his mom is a better shooter. Ha, I love it.

Also I think we've seen enough of Zion for one night. There's other players, ESPN. I know that seems crazy but it's true.

9:01 - The Miami Heat goes with Tyler Herro as the thirteenth pick overall. Back-to-back Kentucky guys. That's the most excited Drake has been since the parade where he celebrated like he was in the Raptors rotation. Herro could be a fun player. His favorite player is Devin Booker and you can see why after watching him for a few minutes. That's the best case for him:


via GIPHY

9:02 - Does Jay Bilas make a Von Trap family reference at least once a year? I think so.

9:03 - The suit is fire:

9:04 - Maria Taylor putting Herro's watch into the camera was perfect. Love everything about it.

9:05 - The Celtics are up next because of the trade when the 76ers moved up to take Markelle Fultz two years ago. Fultz is now on my Orlando Magic. Safe to say the Celtics won that one. No Fultz slander will be tolerated here.

9:08 - The Celtics take Romeo Langford from Indiana with the fourteenth overall pick. He played hurt a good chunk of the season. He had a major injury with his thumb. That sounds painful. He could play a major role on the Celtics this coming season if all that people we think are leaving actually leave. Very interesting for sure.

9:11 - Just one question for Romeo? He didn't look all that enthusiastic too if we are being honest. If that's how he looks when he plays he will drive Bill Simmons insane.

9:12 - Rece, ya had to go with a Romeo joke huh:

9:15 - The Pistons go with Sekou Doumbouya as the fifteenth overall pick. He's been a pro since he was fifteen years old, and he is the fifteenth pick overall. How about that? I'll be honest that is about the extent of my knowledge on him.

9:16 - Hey, guess what? THE MAGIC ARE UP NEXT LET'S GO!

9:17 - In most of the mocks I saw the Magic were taking Tyler Herro (gone) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I would have to think the later would be the top option, but who the hell knows with the Magic.

9:19 - Yes, DJ Augustin won us a playoff game against the eventual NBA Champion Toronto Raptors in the first round, but we need a new point guard:

They probably won't take one anyway.

9:20 - Chuma Okeke from Auburn is the pick at sixteen. Terrific. A guy who's hurt and at a position we don't need. WE HAVE ENOUGH FORWARDS WHETHER VUC COMES BACK OR NOT AT CENTER. Who is he getting minutes over? AG? No. JI. No. I don't like this at all. The NBA is dominated by guards and the Magic don't have that many good ones, and no one who's even above average as of now.

9:23 - Can we take a player that isn't a complete project? Fultz is someone we hope can get himself together. Bamba was hurt a lot of last season and needs to develop a lot. Thank God that Issac played well after being hurt as a rookie. Still I'm going to be sick.

9:26 - The Nets, actually the Pelicans due to a trade, go with Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Virginia Tech at pick seventeen:

Hey you know who could have used a good guard?

9:27 - THE MAGIC. He can score, he can pass, is an alright defender. Hey Jeff (Jeff Weltman Orlando GM) the Pelicans have a three guard crew of Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday and now Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Magic three guard crew is (hopefully) Fultz, Fournier and Augustin. I've loved a lot of what you've done but this ain't it.

9:30 - The Pacers go with Goga Bitadze from Georgia (the non college Georgia). His basketball idol is Zaza. He's gonna suck. Book it. You can't look up to Zaza and be good. These are facts.

9:32 - In case you didn't get enough. HERE'S MORE ZION!

9:36 - The Spurs go with Luka Samanic from Croatia with the nineteenth overall pick. Everything they say about him now will be everything I know about him. Sorry not sorry.

9:38 - The Spurs always seem to get the most out of foreign players. They seem to be Pop's type.

9:39 - I know he has question marks, but I'm still surprised Bol Bol is still out there. Yeah he's super skinny and only played a handful of games in college. I'm very aware. I think he could be a really good stretch five if he can get his body right. Yes, I know it's a big if. But we are now in the 20s. You can take a chance now. I mean who would want to go against this:

9:42 - Boston takes Matisse Thybulle from Washington at pick twenty, but he will be going to Philly in a trade. Bill Simmons loved his highlights and is probably crushed that he won't be wearing Celtic green. Great defender. If you get anything else that's a big plus. Good pick for the 76ers.

9:45 - (goes to check Twitter)

Hey, I got something right!

9:50 - OKC picks Brandon Clarke at pick twenty-one, but he will be going to Memphis in a trade. But isn't Jaren Jackson a true power forward? I'm sure Jackson could play the five. Although Jonas... Wait, how do you say his last name, Charles Barkley?



9:52 - Kind of crazy that Clarke started at San Jose State and transferred to Gonzaga. They always seem to win the transfer game.

9:54 - RJ Barrett now on the set. Did they not wanna talk to Ja or did I miss something?

9:58 - The Celtics take Grant Williams from Tennessee with the twenty-second pick. I'm surprised he was picked this late. Sam Vecenie of the Athletic loves him:

Shocking that the Celtics make a good pick late in the first round. Remember when they took Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo with back-to-back picks? That was something.

Nonetheless, I like Williams for the Celtics. He can play next to Jayson Tatum and is a good two way player.

10:03 - The Jazz are taking Darius Bazley with the twenty-third overall pick, but it's going to OKC. This was the guy that got an internship with New Balance and did that instead of going to college or the G League.

Apparently OKC likes to take guys that didn't go to college for whatever the reason. They drafted Terrance Ferguson who played overseas instead of going to college.

10:09 - The Sixers are taking Ty Jerome with the twenty-four overall pick, but they already made a trade and this pick is going to Boston. Wait, what. He's actually going to Phoenix. Another trade being made. They've needed a point guard since they traded all their point guards. At one point they had Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe all on the same team. Since then it's been a little rough. Solid guy to put next to Devin Booker. Well maybe.

10:17 - Portland takes Nassir Little with the twenty-fifth overall selection. It's about time. Little was by all accounts a top ten guy coming into the draft. Great addition to the Blazers. Helps the Blazers a ton.

10:18 - Can someone grab Bol Bol? Please?

10:20 - Jay, I care about you. Don't do this.

Jay Bilas says Maria Taylor's shoes don't match, she questions his fashion credentials pic.twitter.com/VRYEShWccG

— Board Man Gets Paid (@cjzero) June 21, 2019

Ye approves.

10:24 - Cleveland goes with Dylan Windler from Belmont as the twenty-sixth pick in the draft. I guess when you can't get LeBron you have to take a white small forward, right? (See Osman, Cedi). If one of the first things you bring up about a player is their golf trick shots then he might not be that good.

10:25 - "Does America drink when I say wingspan, or just when you say it?"

SEE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING

10:31 - Brooklyn takes Mfiondu Kabengele with the twenty-seventh pick overall. But he will be going to the Clippers. Man, they really think they are getting KD & Kyrie. They are making so many deals to clear space. You know who didn't think about clearing space? I'll give you a moment.

These guys

10:33 - The Warriors are gonna take Carsen Edwards, right? It just makes too much sense for them not to.

10:38 - The Warriors, hey it's about time we mentioned them. They take Jordan Poole with the twenty-eighth pick overall. Well I got the position right. Poole was annoying to go against as a Buckeye fan. Always seemed to make the big shots when Michigan needed him. He'll get to learn from Steph and Klay (if he stays) and that would help him tremendously.

10:41 - Bol Bol, Kevin Porter and Carsen Edwards are all still out there. Edwards was projected to maybe sneak into the first round. Bol Bol and Porter were each supposed to be at least lottery guys if not just outside the lottery. It'll be very interesting to see where they wind up.

10:43 - The Spurs go with Keldon Johnson from Kentucky as the twenty-ninth overall pick. You know the Spurs will make this guy at least solid. Spurs gonna Spur. Oh, hey Spurs fans, any chance you miss this guy?

I hope you could hear that gif.

10:48 - The Bucks, the Bucks, man it took awhile to mention them too. They go with Kevin Porter to round out the first round. Although this pick is actually going to Cleveland. I really thought the Cave would take him with their other first round pick, but I guess they knew something I didn't and it worked out for them just fine.




I don't like draft grades but I do like saying what my perception was on what some teams did. It might work and it might not.  

Here are the teams I thought had good nights and who didn't have a great night:

Good - New Orleans Pelicans

They get Zion and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Having the number one pick helps, but it certainly looks like they maxed out what they could with their assets.

Bad - Orlando Magic

Guards are a thing. You can draft a guard in the first round. It is allowed. I hate them.

Good - Atlanta Hawks

They got De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish. If they are both healthy they will both be first team all-rookies. Enough said.

Bad - Washington Wizards

I don't think Rui is gonna be a difference maker.

Good - Boston Celtics

I would have liked had they kept Matisse Thybulle, but they got Romeo Langford and Grant Williams and I think they are at least going to be solid pros. (Update: they also got Carsen Edwards from Purdue. Yeah they're a winner tonight.)

Bad - Phoenix Suns

Just doesn't seem like they really know where they want to go. Cameron Johnson and Ty Jerome are alright. I don't know. I don't see Jerome being an amazing player and Johnson seems like he can only do one thing. That could be great for him or it can get him out of the league in a few years. They could have just went with Culver and didn't for whatever reason.

Well that will just about do it for me. Now to go see if the 2k servers are working...

The auction house hasn't worked right for a week. God forbid they update us and tell us why things aren't working.

Thank you as always for reading!! I appreciate it more than you know.