Alec Burks of Colorado and Grandview (MO) is submitting his name for the NBA draft.  This really is not surprising news, speculation has been rampant he would choose the NBA over the Buffs next season.  Most mock drafts while not necessarily accurate have Burks in the lottery portion of the draft.  The NBA draft is weighted in favor of higher picked players.  As a seventh or eight pick even in his rookie year could sign a higher value contract than a 25th or 32nd picked player.    

I've been a student of NBA mock drafts for several years.  My view it gives you a heads up view on players who might be chosen, but I must warn you be cautious in analyzing their choices for each team.  They are projections with a degree of accuracy fed by scouts and front office personnel to the websites.  I know the Lakers strengths and weaknesses from a fans perspective pretty good!  NBADraft.net's projections for the Lakers in the 2011 draft appear strange, the team has no first round choice but four in the second round.  The teams most pressing need in my estimation, a fast, speedy point guard.  Here are their choices first to the last in the second round.  Shooting guard David Lighty Ohio State, Center Keith Benson Oakland, small forward Gary Flowers Southern Miss and shooting guard LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor.  This is not a knock on any of the players I just don't believe the Lakers given the choice are to pick any player NBADraftnet lists.  DraftExpress.com is almost the same, different players but the same positions and not a point guard in site. 

Grizz point guard Michael Conley has grown up literally, I for one thought he might have made a mistake leaving Ohio State after his freshman year.  He certainly played well as a freshman I think many (including me) didn't think he was ready for the NBA.  He probably wasn't ready for the NBA but in his third year he's surprised me and others as his game has continued on an ascending upward trend.  Conley's rising scoring average and assists have aided in the rise of the Grizzlies team.  At this point most of us have forgotten his teammate from Ohio State.  His teammate came into the NBA with much fanfare, what's his name?  Oh, Greg Odgen, I almost forgot.   

All season long I thought the Spurs regular season won-lost record might be suspect but had no method of proving it.  The number one seed Spurs against the number eight seed Grizzlies, who wins?  I had no idea the Spurs could possibly be eliminated in the first round by the eighth seed.  The Grizz only have a 2-1 lead in the series but have proven they can play on the same level of the Spurs.  Prior to the start of this series several Grizzly players made comments about how pleased they were playing the Spurs.  Did they have a secret they didn't share with the rest of us?

Boy did I miss the boat on this story, I thought for sure the Kings were history in Sacramento.  The efforts of Mayor Kevin (Suns guard) Johnson and two billionaire types appear to have worked for the short term.  Nothings been finalized as this is written however it appears the Kings are in Sacramento at least through next season.  Does it really make sense to have three teams in Southern California when we have a newer arena in Kansas City?  In addition we have the population (2.5 million metro), bigger than the metro populations of Oklahoma City, Vegas and New Orleans.  The brothers Maloof are still sticking to their no sale (team) stance. 

Approach the game with no preset agendas and you'll probably come away surprised at your overall efforts. Phil Jackson