Few of you are aware of Julyan Stone University of Texas-El Paso point guard. When he enrolled at UTEP he stood a mere 6-3 inches and has grown to 6-7 200 pounds in four years . The downside to date is a limited offensive game but remember Celtic Rajon Rondo had the same issue when he first arrived on the NBA scene. Stone averaged 8.5 points per game while shooting 56.1% from the free throw line. Despite the fact his scoring average was insignificant he shoot 51% from the floor. His other numbers were 7.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game and his assist to turnover ratio is very good. If Stone is drafted look for him to be picked somewhere in the second round if not expect him to possibly sign a free agent contract.

Magic center Dwight Howard indicates he's not going to sign an extension, he will become a free agent but hopes to remain with the Magic. The statement has opened the floodgates of discussion. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote "it's time for the Lakers to trade Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom for Dwight Howard and J.J. Reddick." Interesting that Plaschke thinks the Magic (and/or) the Lakers would sign off on this deal. So let's see how this works out, the Lakers trade 6th man of the year (Odom) for a backup shooting guard (Reddick). As for Howard and Bynum on the surface one would assume Howard's upside would be superior to Bynum. Both are near the same age, Howard 25 and Bynum 23 so age is a non-factor. Offensively Howard's game is much better than Bynum excepting free throws and so too is his rebounding and defense. I almost always try to look at POTENTIAL, at this time I view Bynum's future development (baring continuing injury problems) will eventually be at are near the same level of Howard. In fact his game might exceed that of Howard, there I said it and I ain't scurred!

Kudos to Chad Ford and ESPN for this story. If we wanted to write a story about Marquette's Jimmy Butler's we could almost titled it "Blindside 2." Butler is a 6-6 guard/forward whose name just might be called out at Thursday night's draft. It certainly is unknown at this point if he will make it in the NBA or even be drafted but he will survive in life. Butler was a homeless 13 year old living with friends and finally taken in by a foster family. The shortened version of the story at the tender age of 13 his mother decided she didn't want him around any longer. She is reported to said "I don't like the look of you. You gotta go." she kicked him out of the house and the rest of his life closely approximates the movie Blindside. I hope some team will take a chance on this young man whose managed to rise above homelessness graduate from college and just maybe make it in the NBA.

A surprising story from Phoenix, then again maybe not. The Suns are reported to be on the verge of buying out Vince Carter. You remember Vince Carter the player TNT commentator Kenny Smith dubbed "half-man half-amazing" on his arrival in the NBA. That Vince Carter disappeared from the NBA years ago. We can only speculate on what caused this once high flyer to become just an average NBA player.


"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
- Plato (427-347 B.C.)