Amid draft wheeling and dealing, NBA is youth gone wild
NEW YORK -- Not even a day of unbelievable trades could overshadow a persistent and perhaps dangerous turn the NBA has taken.
Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo all know each other well. They've competed against one another and dreamed of this moment: when all three would be selected in the NBA Draft.
|
|
| One thing's for sure: There will be plenty of distractions for Michael Beasley in Miami. (Getty Images) |
In fact, five of the first seven selections were freshman, and 10 are taken overall in the first round, both NBA records.
Call it Revenge of the Pubescents.
"We actually talked about this earlier," said Beasley, speaking of himself, Rose and Mayo getting taken in the draft together. "We all grew up together and we all grew up playing against each other and we all made a pact together that we would be here. Just to see it all fall into place and see it all happen is kind of crazy."
Crazy, indeed.
And not just because of the youth movement.
Mayo here, Mayo there, Mayo and Love everywhere.
After being drafted by Minnesota, Mayo was shipped to Memphis in an early morning deal in which the Grizzlies got his draft rights for Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner for the rights to Kevin Love plus Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.
What a mess.
All of the trades prove a point I made earlier in the week. If so many people want to switch positions and players -- many teams moving downward -- then this draft wasn't as deep or good as people wanted us to believe coming into it.
If Mayo is so talented, why is he changing hands like a fat blunt in a college dorm room?
