The Lucky Punter

I’m starting to get really interested in the upcoming NBA Draft.(6/28)

Now, part of that is because A) my Orioles again suck B) the annual Red Sox/Yankees dual in the AL East isn’t exactly close and C) we’re just not close enough to football season for me to start ignoring everything else.

But seriously, I normally could care less about the NBA draft. Actually, let me expand that to say I usually don’t care about the NBA. Period. And outside of a passing interest in the NFL Draft, I’m not really into any drafts either.

But if you paid attention to college hoops this past season then you surely can appreciate the monster talents that will undoubtedly go #1 and #2 in the NBA Draft next week.

The Portland Trail Blazers - the team holding the number one pick - and General Manager Kevin Pritchard have a huge decision ahead of them in choosing between Greg Oden, the 7-foot freshman center from Ohio State and Kevin Durant, 6-foot-9 freshman forward from Texas.

Conventional wisdom - and most fans - say the Blazers would be crazy to pass on Oden and the chance to get a sure-fire dominant center, something very few franchises have.

But it sure doesn’t sound as if Pritchard has made up his mind, especially after Durant left him drooling while watching him workout at the Blazers facility.

Should be interesting to see the drama unfold as we approach Thursday night. At least it’s something to look forward to.