NBA Draft Notebook: Kahn insults himself into a corner

Basketball Betting Lines

06/23/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In less than 24 hours, I will be hopping on a train bound for New York's Penn Station and the annual NBA Draft that will take place upstairs at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

I really enjoy the draft, but as far as my job description goes it's an exercise in futility.

Mock drafts have become all the rage as everyone throws in their two cents on who is going to end up where, even though we all know a handful of trades will throw a monkey wrench into all the predictions.

Usually as the big day approaches, the rumor mill heats up as the league's general managers play a game of high-stakes poker designed to fool their brethren.

For instance, everyone knows Washington is picking Kentucky point guard John Wall with the No. 1 overall pick and Philadelphia will quickly follow by selecting college player of the year Evan Turner out of Ohio State. But, that hasn't stopped the Wizards from saying Turner is in play for them or from raving about Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson.

At the end of the day, it's all just part of the game. If an overmatched general manager that likes a specific player buys into that type of posturing, you might end up getting an extra piece to the puzzle.

Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't serious wrangling going on also. For instance, New Jersey, which holds the third pick, is trying to bait lightly- regarded Minnesota president of basketball operations David Kahn into making a mistake.

The Nets have the first real decision in the draft and will select one of three players - Favors, Johnson or Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins. Since New Jersey already has an All-Star-type center in Brook Lopez, you can take Cousins out of the equation, leaving Favors or Johnson as the choice.

Most think Favors, the Georgia Tech power forward, has a bigger upside and would be the better fit for the Nets, but Kahn had already tipped his own hand by ripping Favors' conditioning and Cousins' maturity.

Smelling blood in the water, New Jersey is now pretending Johnson is its guy, floating the idea that drafting the Syracuse star will help them land Utah power forward Carlos Boozer in free agency.

While both Minnesota and Favors' camp now say that the insult was "completely overblown," Kahn has successfully boxed himself into a corner and may have to give the Nets something extra for the right to draft a player that would have fallen to him if he just kept his mouth shut.

It's not the first mistake Kahn has made. The embattled and unpopular Minny basketball chief has alienated many of his peers and a number of his own players with a grating personality.

Kahn has already assured various agents he's going to move Al Jefferson before next season, lowering the high-priced power forward's value on the trade market. Meanwhile, second-year point guard Jonny Flynn, who was reportedly frustrated throughout his rookie season with the triangle offense, could be moved for something significant but his heir apparent, Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio, isn't sold on Kahn or the organization.

CP3 OPEN TO A TRADE

New Orleans isn't called the Big Easy because the city promotes a stress- inducing lifestyle. People flock to New Orleans to party and forget about their troubles, but Chris Paul would like his organization to develop more of a "Type A" personality.

With trade speculation brewing all around him and reports surfacing that the Hornets are actively shopping the All-Star, Paul admitted he would consider leaving the organization if it isn't committed to winning championships.

"My first choice is to be in New Orleans," Paul said in a telephone interview with ESPN. "I just want to make sure we're committed to winning. If we're not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I'm open to being traded."

Hornets general manager Jeff Bower has tried to downplay any impending deal but finances are a problem for the Hornets. George Shinn's proposed sale of the team to Gary Chouest has been delayed and many believe Shinn doesn't want to be on the hook for the $50 million owed to Paul over the next three seasons, something he denied on Wednesday.

"The resolve that my partner Gary Chouest and I have will always remain the same -- to continue to build our legacy in New Orleans, and to develop a path and plan to win an NBA Championship for New Orleans and all of Louisiana," Shinn said in a statement. "We are about building and sustaining a winning tradition.

"Chris Paul is the cornerstone of our franchise and brings us unequaled support on and off the court. We will continue to build around Chris Paul, and we want to see him in a Hornets uniform for the remainder of his career. We have an exciting future, and with the leadership of our new head coach and players like Chris Paul, we know the best is yet to come. We plan to take advantage of any opportunities to improve our team."

SPURS SET TO LAND SPLITTER?

The Spurs are famous for landing talented international players and may finally be on the verge of snaring Brazilian star Tiago Splitter, the 28th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Splitter was expected to declare for the 2006 draft but an expensive buyout clause in his contract with Saski Baskonia of the Spanish ACB League discouraged NBA teams from drafting him. Understanding they weren't going to get a key contributor so late in '07, San Antonio took a flyer out on Splitter, who had a contract in Spain that reportedly earned him eight times the money he would have received under the NBA's rookie salary scale.

The Spurs can now offer Splitter, 25, a deal starting at the mid-level exception, about $5.5 million, and a total package worth between $25 million and $30 million, prompting many to believe that San Antonio will sign the 6- foot-11 Spanish League MVP soon after free agency opens on July 1.

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has called the reports "presumptuous" since Splitter could still make more money in Spain and Baskonia is set to offer the center a new deal through 2015.

Splitter has made his intentions clear, however:

"My dream is to play in the NBA and I hope everything works out well. But it's not in my hands," Splitter told Noticias de Alava. " [Leaving for the NBA] depends on how interested the Spurs are in me. It's totally up to them."

INDY NEEDS A PACE CAR

Larry Bird isn't playing coy. Intent on upgrading the point guard position, the Pacers president of basketball operations has reportedly inquired about New Orleans' Darren Collison, San Antonio's George Hill, Denver's Ty Lawson and Flynn.

"There's a lot of options out there," Bird said. "At this stage, you're just talking to different teams. You make offers and people start thinking about them. There's nothing concrete right now, but we do have a lot of offers out there."

The surprising sticking point may be Bird's desire to keep the underachieving Brandon Rush.

BROWN OPTING HIS WAY OUT OF LA

I guess a pair of rings are enough for the Lakers' Shannon Brown. The athletic guard is expected to opt out of a deal set to pay him $2.149 million next season in the second year of a two-year, $4.148 million deal.

Brown would like to stay in Hollywood and is just looking for a little more money and security, but this could end up being an example of bad advice from his agent, Mark Bartelstein.

Kobe Bryant has reportedly been urging the Lakers to sign former nemesis Raja Bell in free agency. Bell, who missed the majority of last season after undergoing surgery to repair ligaments in his non-shooting wrist, is a tough defender and solid weak-side three-point shooter.

He's also an upgrade over Brown and his arrival in Los Angeles would likely insure Shannon's exit.