NBA Draft 2009 Results

"The NBA draft Thursday night was not a time for the Mavericks to make a big splash. It was a time to take care of business as best they could. But the festivities were not the big dealings that fans are waiting for. And there better be some big dealings. The Mavericks are under the microscope because of what has happened around them. So many teams have gained strength that it's guilt by disassociation. While San Antonio, Denver and others fortify themselves, the Mavericks are waiting. Will the right deal come along? All fans can do is trust in the management.

And word out of the Mavericks' draft room as they look forward to free agency is that there's going to be a few more perhaps more prudent options when it comes to making a big splash than the Spurs, Cleveland and Orlando have done in the last week. "NBA executives are always optimistic and upbeat on draft nights, even the general managers of teams selecting late in the first round. Training camp is months away, and everybody feels they improved their team by getting a player who was a 'steal.' In reality, more times than not, it's the GM who's left searching for his wallet after spending big money on a player who just didn't work out. Because of that history, it would be wise to approach the Bulls' draft Thursday night with at least a bit of skepticism -- especially because this year's class was considered the weakest in years.

"Trimming Rodriguez's salary inflates the organization's available cap space by $1.8 million. General manager Kevin Pritchard said the team's draft choice at No. 22 -- Victor Claver -- will end up being stashed overseas next season. The Blazers could have more than $10 million available to pursue free agents beginning July 1, possibly more if they renounce the rights to Joel Freeland and Petteri Koponen. They've also retained a trade exception that would allow the organization to make a lopsided deal if it chooses to do so. The Blazers took Claver even though college prospects such as DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh), Wayne Ellington (North Carolina) and Sam Young (Pittsburgh) and international prospect Omri Casspi (Israel) were available.