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How about some random Royce ruminations for this lovely Thursday afternoon?

• We’re all kind of wrapped up in the upcoming draft and what Oklahoma City will do. I understand. It’s kind of a big deal. But for some reason, I wondered to myself recently (very quietly, mind you): Whatever happened to DeVon Hardin? So with the help of this really cool thing called the Internet, I found out. Hardin was the 50th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but didn’t make the team. Though he wasn’t signed to a contract, the Thunder still owns the rights to him. Hardin suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in late 2008 and was released by the Turkish team Mersin BB for not recovering properly from it. He was then signed in February by Egaleo AO, a team in the Greek league and played in 11 games, averaging 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. It’s doubtful that we’ll ever see him, but he’s 6-11, extremely well built and very athletic. He just doesn’t have the whole, “good basketball player” thing down.

• Watching the Lakers literally turn it on in the fourth quarter was like watching Mine That Bird wait in the back and then kick it into high gear to win the Derby. They waited, sitting calmly in the middle of the pack, even letting Denver stretch out a little lead. Then when it was time, they got spurred and boom! they erupted to take the lead. Really something to watch. Bold prediction: The Lakers finish off the Nuggs in Denver this weekend.

• Since everybody is making ridiculous trades, how about Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook for the No. 1, 2 and 3 picks so that OKC can take Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio and James Harden. Just wipe the slate clean and start over with a new Big Three. But seriously, all this trade talk is getting a little ridiculous. Every writer in every market is throwing out outlandish deals that brings Griffin to OKC. And the worst part is, just because someone has a “bright” idea, it then gets regurgitated as a “trade rumor,” when it was nothing more than just talk. But I’ll admit, I spent a solid 30 minutes on the Trade Machine today wheeling and dealing. I don’t plan on posting a trade speculation column, but I’m not making any promises. Ah, who I am kidding – get ready for one. Probably next week. Try not to hate me.

• At this point, I don’t think we’re that far off from someone suggesting Earl Watson straight up for Blake Griffin. People are just nuts with this stuff. On one end they want WAY too much (see: Ted Green of the LA Times) and on the other, they are talking about a bag of rocks for the top pick (see: local sports talk radio callers and hosts).

• Speaking of trade talk, yesterday when I saw the proposed trade by D.J. Foster of Clipperblog that included Thabo Sefolosha, I was actually kind of mad at it. Trade Thabo? NO WAY! My initial reaction to seeing Thabo’s name in a trade told me that I think he’s more untouchable in my mind than Jeff Green. Is that weird? Or maybe crazy? There’s just something I really like about Thabo and I highly enjoy employing a nasty defensive stopper. Obviously, Uncle Jeff is a better player and a much better asset, but I guess I’m just trying to say I’d rather not trade Thabo Sefolosha. Read more…

Commentary DeVon Hardin, Lakers, Rumblings, trades

Let’s be clear – I love Blake Griffin. He’s a monster, he’s a hometown boy and he’s everything this team needs.  And I’d do anything to get him on my team.

Except trade Jeff Green.

Eddie Sefko wrote in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today that there is that possibility.

There will be no shortage of competition, however, particularly from Oklahoma City, which has the third pick in the draft. The Thunder is expected to make a play for Griffin, using the third pick and one of their young core players (Jeff Green or Russell Westbrook) as bait for the top overall pick, which would allow them to keep Griffin in his hometown. That would be a huge move in terms of local interest and, by extension, ticket sales.

Again, I’d love Blake. But not at the expense of Jeff Green. I’ve made my decision there. A lot of people are going to throw that possibility out there, but I’m not in on it. And I’m sure a lot of people would gladly trade Uncle Jeff for Blake, but not me.

Green fits perfectly with Kevin Durant and you can’t replace the chemistry him, KD and Russell Westbrook have built. Plus, Green made a huge leap from his rookie to sophomore season. He’s a completely different player – in a much, much better way. I feel like you’re forcing the issue at some point trying to get Blake. You may be doing what’s in the best interest for the fanbase but are you doing what’s best for the team? Now of course I’d be thrilled if something happened that landed The Terminator here, but I’m not holding my breath. Because there’s not much chance anything is going to happen anyway.

While those type of trade talks are ambitious and exciting, the one Chad Ford hinted at today is an excellent proposal. Excellent.

Look for the Thunder to be pretty active in trade discussions with the No. 3 pick. They like Rubio, but if they draft him, they’d have to move Russell Westbrook to the 2-guard position. I talked to Thunder head coach Scott Brooks on Tuesday and he said that he believes Westbrook can play the 2, but that Westbrook wants to be a 1.

I think the challenge is that Westbrook is most effective when he has the ball in his hands and struggles more when forced to play off the ball. With Rubio and Kevin Durant likely to have the ball a lot in that offense, Westbrook would have to make an adjustment. When you factor in that neither Rubio nor Westbrook is an accomplished shooter yet, there is an issue.

That’s why a couple of teams think the Thunder might be willing to trade down in the draft. Two league sources said the Wizards and Thunder already had discussions about a swap of the No. 3 pick for the No. 5 pick and the Wizards’ 2008 first-rounder JaVale McGee.

The Wizards want Rubio and would settle for Thabeet if he’s the one who falls. The Thunder would get a long, lanky shot-blocker in McGee and can then get another guy they like, Arizona State’s James Harden, at No. 5.

Before we move on, just take a look at JaVale McGee’s mix. He is an unreal athlete and is 7-foot, 240 lbs. This is the type of Presti move that makes sense. You improve the position that you’d cover by drafting Thabeet by getting an athletic shot blocker, but still improve another position with Harden. That’s a seriously excellent move.

When stuff leaks out like this, it seems to rarely happen, but I think this could be the type of thing we see Presti do. He’ll shop the pick for someone that desperately wants Thabeet or Rubio and use that to fill a need and still land a guy he wants. Let me just say, I would absolutely love this move, especially if Memphis takes Rubio at two. You get the guy you want at five, plus pick up another excellent talent. I’m on board.

News JaVale McGee, trades, Wizards

I’m not much for trade rumors and trade mongering. You could sit around all day and say, “OK, how about 2012′s unprotected first rounder, the rights to DeVon Hardin and Chucky Atkins’ expiring contract for Chris Paul. Come on, the Hornets would have to do this.” It kind of gets old. It’s just hypothesizing about trades that will almost never, ever, ever happen. But sometimes it’s fun. And sometimes, it makes complete sense.

So with the word on the street being that the Pistons want to break up their trio of Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, I think you’ve got to look at options. I mentioned back in - heck, I don’t know when I mentioned it – but I mentioned sometime how much I like Hamilton’s game for this team (I also said I sort of liked Grant Hill, but to a lesser degree). Quality defender, smart offensive player, great veteran leader that still has some gas in the tank and most importantly, fills the dead body slot at two-guard.

The Pistons just recently signed Hamilton to a five-year, $55 million contract. I don’t really like how big that number is and I definitely don’t like the length of the contract considering Rip is 31 with nine years and 742 games on his odometer. I think at some point within the next five years, Hamilton will have one, maybe two seasons of where he misses 20-30 games with some nagging injuries. The most he’s missed during his career was 15 this year. But the fact is, RIGHT NOW, Hamilton is still an excellent shooting guard. He’s 6-7 and has averaged at least 17 points a game since his second season. And while I wrote about Ben Gordon’s gunner mentality and how that doesn’t work because he’s a 16 shot a game guy and at least 1,000 shots a season, Hamilton does almost the exact same thing averaging 15.6 shots a game and took 1,043 this season.

So what makes him work? Read more…

Commentary Richard Hamilton, trades