Dominique Jones Makes History

USF has its first ever NBA 1st round pick:

TAMPA - Dominique Jones made history in his final season at the University of South Florida, prompting him to skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft. Jones made more history in Thursday night's draft, becoming the first USF player ever selected in the first round.

"It feels good," he said. "I worked my way up. This is just a turning point for me. I've got a long ways to go."

Memphis selected Jones with the 25th overall pick and immediately traded him to Dallas for cash, reportedly around the league's $3 million maximum.

"We tried to trade into the top 20 to get (Jones), got lucky to get him (at) 25," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted.

With a deal with Dallas in place for Jones, Memphis drafted Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez three picks later.

A 6-foot-5 combo guard, Jones supplanted former Bulls center Solomon Jones as USF's highest-drafted player. Solomon Jones was taken by the Hawks in the second round, the 33rd overall pick, in the 2006 draft.

Who Cares?

I can remember back in the day when the NBA draft actually meant something. Folks around my way would be arguing for weeks about whom their favorite team should draft and then we'd gather 'round the TV on draft night to see if any of the GMs had listened to our words of wisdom.

Now I can't say why or when all that changed but honestly if it wasn't for twitter I wouldn't even know today was NBA draft day. And even in knowing its going to be on tonight and also knowing there won't be much else on TV, I think I'll opt for watching some paint dry. But assuming there are some of you out there who still care just wanted to give you the heads up and also point you to this article about who will likely be drafted where.

Enjoy

What Took Him So Long?

I was just talking to a family member of mine about the curious case of Lamar Odom. Last week it was rumored that he was considering signing with the Miami Heat. Mind you he wasn't going to break the bank with the heat either. I had no clue what would make him want to leave a team that is likely to contend for the title again next year after the Lakers offered him basically what he wanted all along. This family member suggested he wanted to get away from Kobe. Personally I think people put too much stock into that kind of thing. A lot of guys put up with a lot of crap to play with Jordan and get a ring or 6. I can't imagine a player being so mentally weak that he would allow another player to run him away from the team that will grant him the best opportunity to win more championships and to make more money off the court.

Well at least we don't have to ponder such things anymore.

Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday.

One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com the four-year deal is worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final season.

One source close to the process said Odom will come away with a guaranteed $27 million from the new contract, matching the original value of the three-year, $27 million deal Lakers owner Jerry Buss pulled off the table earlier this month.

It's believed that the structure of the new deal calls for Odom to earn $25 million over the first three seasons, with the Lakers owing him $2 million in the fourth year if they elect not to pick up their team option.

Reached Thursday evening, Odom's agent Jeff Schwartz declined to discuss specifics but confirmed that the sides have an agreement in principle.

Its a smart move for LO to be sure and the Lakers will be much better with him than they would have been without him, but you just have to wonder what the hold up was. I guess that's something we may never get to the bottomline on.

Head Scratcher

Emeka Okafor for Tyson Chandler? Seriously?!

Someone needs to find out who Tyson Chandler pissed off or pissed on in the New Orleans Hornets organization.