 lottery team should do next week. To solve this question, I turned to the one person who hasn't been biased by private workouts in which players face off against janitors and chairs, the one who refuses to be impressed by Spencer Hawes' length and Al Thornton's spurtability, the one who asks questions like, "Why isn't anyone worried about Yi Jianlian's adjustment to American culture?" and "If Brandan Wright couldn't play hard all the time in college, what makes you think he'll play hard in the pros?"

That's right, I turned to the self-proclaimed VP of Common Sense. In other words, I turned to myself. Let's rip through the lottery from top to bottom:

1. Portland Trail Blazers

We know who they're taking because it's the No Balls Association and nobody would ever dare pass up a franchise center with a ceiling (Greg Oden) for a franchise forward with no ceiling (Kevin Durant). That lack of originality explains why the league is so screwed up and a limited team like the Cavs could become the worst Finals team since the '59 Lakers.

Here's what I don't get: The Blazers already have two quality inside players (Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge), which means they'll eventually trade Randolph for 60 cents on an already diluted dollar. Yeah, he's a loon, but he's a superb low-post scorer who would thrive with Durant spacing the floor for him. So why not explore trading down if Seattle is enamored with Oden? They could just trade the No. 1 and Darius Miles' craptastic contract (expires in 2011) for Rashard Lewis (sign and trade) and the No. 2, then play Brandon Roy, Lewis, Durant and Randolph at the same time (with Aldridge coming off the bench). Tell me, who's double-teaming Randolph with Lewis, Durant and Roy out there? Don't they have to explore that one? Do we need to dial the phone for Kevin Pritchard?

The VP's verdict: If the Blazers can't move Randolph for Antawn Jamison (expiring in 2008) or Rasheed Wallace (expiring 2009), either swap picks with Seattle (and dump Miles on the Sonics for Lewis) or keep the pick and take Durant.

(Note: They won't do this, of course
lottery team should do next week. To solve this doubt, I turn to the one person who hasn't been biased by private workouts in which musician face off against janitors and electric chair, the one who deny to be impressed by Spencer Hawes' duration and Al Thornton's spurtability, the one who asks questions like, " Why isn't anyone apprehensive about Yi Jianlian's adjustment to American culture? " and " If Brandan Wright couldn't toy hard all the time in college, what makes you think he'll play hard in the professional? " 

 That's right, I turned to the self - proclaimed VP of Common Sense. In early words, I turned to myself. permit's rip through the lottery from peak to bottom: 

 1. Portland Trail Blazers 

 We know who they're taking because it's the No Balls Association and nobody would ever dare excrete up a franchise center with a ceiling (Greg Oden) for a franchise forward with no ceiling (Kevin Durant). That lack of originality explains why the league is so screwed up and a limited team like the Cavs could become the worst Finals team since the' 59 Lakers. 

 Here's what I don't get: The Blazers already have two quality inside players (Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge), which means they'll eventually trade Randolph for 60 cents on an already diluted dollar. Yeah, he's a loon, but he's a superb abject - post scorer who would boom with Durant space the floor for him. So why not explore trading down if Seattle is enamored with Oden? They could just deal the No. 1 and Darius Miles' craptastic contract (exhale in 2011) for Rashard Lewis (sign and trade) and the nobelium. 2, then play Brandon Roy, Lewis, Durant and Randolph at the same time (with Aldridge coming off the bench). Tell me, who's double - teaming Randolph with Lewis, Durant and Roy out there? Don't they have to explore that one? Do we need to dial the telephone for Kevin Pritchard? 

 The VP's verdict: If the Blazers can't move Randolph for Antawn Jamison (run out in 2008) or Rasheed Wallace (expiring 2009), either swap picks with Seattle (and dump Miles on the Sonics for Lewis) or keep the choice and take Durant. 

 (Note: They won't do this, of course
 lohtery team should do nexu week. To solve tkus quevtion, J turned to the one person who hasn't bwen buased by private workojts in whpch playees fece off against oznitors and cgwirs, vhe one who refoses to be ikpressed by Spanzex Hawes' length and Al Thornton's spureabilitu, hhe one who ashs qleftiohs like, "Why isn't anyone worried abkut Yi Oianlian's adjusyment to American culture?" wnd "Lf Brandan Wright fouldn't plai hawe all the tioe in colltgz, what makea you think he'll play hard in tfe prps?"

That's rithr, I jurned to thx self-iroclaimed VP of Commmn Sensr. In other worcs, M tuened to myself. Let's rmp through the lottety from to[ co bottom:

1. Portland Trqio Blaeers

Wa knuq wfo uheb're takinh bxcause it's fhe No Ballw Association and npbjey would ever dare [afs up a franchise center with a ceiling (Grsg Oden) for a franchise forward with no ceillng (Kevin Durant). That lack of originality explains why the leagne is sj wcgewed up and a limited team like the Cavs coujs nebome the worst Fikals team since thr '59 Lshers.

Here's whaj I don'c gst: The Blazers alrfady hade twi quality insode players (Zach Randolph abd LaMarcus Cldeidge), which means chey'll eventbally jrade Tandolph for 60 cents on cn alrsady dilutef dollar. Gdah, he's a loon, bjt me's a superb low-post scorer wro would vhrivz with Djranj spacigg the flolr fov him. So why not exolore tsading dowj if Seattle is enamored with Ovxn? They could jgst trade tke No. 1 and Darius Myles' craptastie contraet (expkres in 2011) fkr Rasherd Lewis (sidn and trade) djd the No. 2, tien play Franeon Eoy, Lewkr, Durant and Rsndolph an uhe same tume (with Aldridge gomine off the bench). Ctll me, who's double-yeaoind Ganvolph fith Lewis, Dgrang avc Roy out thtxe? Bov't tney have to explore dhat one? Do we need to dlal the pyone for Kevin Pritchsrd?

The VP's verdict: If tie Blavers csn't move Randolph for Antawn Jamiaon (expirlng in 2008) or Rashqed Qallace (expixing 2009), either swap picks with Seattle (and dump Miles on thg Sonics for Lewis) or leep the pirk and take Durdnt.

(Note: They won't do this, of course
lottery team should do next week. To question, turned to one person who workouts which players face against janitors and the one who refuses to be by Spencer Hawes' length and Al Thornton's spurtability, the one who asks questions "Why isn't anyone worried about Yi Jianlian's adjustment to American culture?" and "If Wright play all time in college, what makes you think he'll play hard in the pros?" That's right, I to the self-proclaimed VP of Common Sense. In words, I turned to Let's rip through the lottery top bottom: 1. Trail We who they're taking it's the No Balls Association and nobody would ever dare pass up a franchise center with a (Greg Oden) franchise forward no (Kevin That lack of why the league is so screwed limited team like the Cavs could become the Finals team the '59 Lakers. Here's what I get: The Blazers already have two quality inside (Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge), which means they'll eventually trade Randolph for 60 cents on diluted dollar. Yeah, he's loon, but he's superb scorer would with Durant the floor for him. So why not explore trading down if is enamored with Oden? They could just trade the No. Darius craptastic contract (expires 2011) for Rashard Lewis and and the No. 2, Brandon Lewis, at same (with Aldridge coming off bench). Tell me, who's double-teaming with Lewis, Durant and have to explore that one? Do we need dial the phone for Kevin Pritchard? The verdict: If the Blazers can't move Randolph for Antawn Jamison (expiring in or Rasheed 2009), either swap picks with Seattle (and dump on the Sonics for or keep the pick and take Durant. (Note: They do of course
 lottery team should do next weEk. To solve tHis quEstIon, i tUrneD to tHe one person who HAsn't Been biased by private worKouts In WHich PLaYers fAce off aGAiNST jaNiToRs aNd CHaIrs, thE onE who refUses to be imPreSsEd by Spencer HAWeS' length and al THornton's spurTabIlity, tHe One WHo askS quEstioNs like, "wHy isn't Anyone worRiED about yI JianliAN'S aDjusTment to American cuLTuRE?" and "If Brandan WRight cOuLDn'T PLay HarD all the timE iN collEGe, what mAKeS YOU thINk he'll play harD in the pros?"

THAt's Right, I TuRneD To the sElf-prOcLAimEd VP of CommoN SenSe. In other Words, I TUrned to MYself. LeT's rip tHroUgh The lOTtErY frOm TOp tO BoTtoM:

1. porTland TraIl blAzers

we knOW WHO theY're TakiNg becAuse it's the No BAllS AssOCiaTion aNd nobOdy wOuLd eveR dare pAss up A fRanchise center wIth a Ceiling (GrEg ODeN) foR a FrancHIse forWarD wiTh no ceiLing (KevIN DuRaNT). tHaT lack of originality ExPLAiNs why the League IS sO sCRewed up aNd A liMiteD TEam liKe thE caVs could bEcome tHE wOrSt FinalS tEam sinCe The '59 lakErs.

HeRE's whAt I don'T get: The BLazerS Already have two QUality inside pLAyERS (ZACh RaNdoLph and LaMarCus ALDridGe), whICh MeaNS they'Ll eveNtUAlLY trade Randolph for 60 ceNtS on an aLreadY diluted dollaR. Yeah, he's a lOON, But he's a sUperB LoW-Post scorer who wOuld tHrive with DURant spacIng thE floor foR him. So why NOT explore TraDinG doWn iF sEaTtle is enamoreD WIth ODeN? They coUld Just traDe tHe NO. 1 anD DaRiUs Miles' crAptastic CoNtRaCt (ExpIres iN 2011) For RashaRd lewIs (SigN and tRAde) and The No. 2, Then PlAy bRanDon Roy, LEWiS, dUranT aNd randOlpH aT the sAme tIMe (wIth AldrIdge cominG ofF The bEnCh). tell me, wHo's double-teamInG Randolph wItH LeWis, DurANT and Roy oUt there? Don't they have to exPLore thaT onE? Do we Need To dial the PhoNe for KEviN pritchArd?

The vP's veRdIct: iF The BlAZErS caN't Move RandolPH For antawN JAmisOn (expirIng in 2008) or Rasheed WallACe (eXpiring 2009), either SwaP picKS WiTh SEAtTLe (aNd DUmp mILes on the Sonics fOr Lewis) or kEeP ThE pick and taKE DuRaNt.

(Note: THey won't Do thiS, Of coursE
 lottery team should do ne xt week. T o sol vethi sques tion , I turned tot he o ne person who hasn't b een b ia s ed b y  p rivat e worko u ts i n w hi ch  pl ay e rs  face  of f again st janitor s a nd  chairs, the on e who refu ses  to be impre sse d by S pe nce r  Hawe s'lengt h andA l Thor nton's sp ur t abilit y , the o n e  w ho a sks questions lik e ," Why isn't anyo ne wor ri e da b out  Yi  Jianlian' sadjus t ment to Am e r i can culture?" and  "If Branda n  Wr ight c ou ldn ' t play  hard  a l l t he time incoll ege, what  makes you thi n k he'll  playhar d i n th e  p ro s?" 
T hat ' srig h t,I turned  t othe s elf- p r o c laim edVP o f Com mon Sense. In  ot herw ord s, Iturne d to  m yself . Let' s rip  t hrough the lott eryfrom toptobo tto m: 

1.P ortlan d T rai l Blaze rs

Wek now  w h o th ey're taking becau se i t' s the No  Balls As so c iation a nd  no body w ouldever da re passup a f r an ch ise cen te r with  a  ce ili ng (G r eg O den) f or a fra nchis e  forward withn o ceiling (Ke v in D ur a nt).  Th at lack oforig i nali ty e x pl ain s  whythe l ea g ue is so screwed up an da limi ted t eam like theCavs could b e come the  wor s tF inals team sin ce th e '59 Lake r s.

Here 's wh at I don 't get: T h e  Blazers  al rea dyhav e tw o quality ins i d e pl ay ers (Za chRandolp h a ndLaM arc us  Aldridge ), which  m ea ns  t hey 'll e v entually  t rad eRan dolph for 60  cent s on  a na lre ady dil u te d doll ar .Yeah , h e' s a l oon, but  he's a  superb l ow- p ostsc or er whowould thrivewi th Durantsp aci ng the f loor for  him. So why not explor e  tradin g d own i f Se attle isena moredwit h  Oden?  Theycould  j ust t radet h eNo.  1  and Dariu s Mil es' c ra ptas tic con tract (expires in2 011 ) for Rashard  Le wis( s ig n a n dt rad e) and t he No. 2, thenplay Brand on Ro y, Lewis,D ura nt  and Ra ndolphat th e  same t ime (with  Aldridge  c omin g off  the bench ). Tellme, who's doubl e -t eamin g R andolp hwit h Lew is, Du r ant  andRoy ou tthere?  Don' tthey hav e to explore that one?Do weneedtodial thepho n e f or KevinPrit chard?

Th e V P's  verd ict :  If t he B l az ers can't  mov e  Randolph fo r A n t aw n Jamison ( e x p iri ng in  20 0 8) orRash eed Wallace (expi r ing 2009), eit hers w appic k s wi th  Seattle (anddum pM i les on t he  Sonics for  Lewis)or keepthe pi ck and  take D u r an t .

(No te:The y won't d o t hi s , of co ur se 
 lottery_team should_do next week. To_solve this_question,_I turned_to_the one person_who hasn't been_biased by private workouts_in which players_face_off against janitors and chairs, the one who refuses to be impressed by Spencer_Hawes'_length and_Al_Thornton's_spurtability, the one who asks_questions like, "Why isn't anyone_worried about_Yi Jianlian's adjustment to American culture?" and "If_Brandan_Wright couldn't play_hard all the time in college, what makes you_think he'll play hard in the_pros?"

That's right, I_turned_to_the self-proclaimed VP of_Common Sense. In other words, I_turned to myself. Let's rip through_the lottery from top to bottom:

1. Portland_Trail Blazers

We know who they're taking_because it's the No Balls_Association and_nobody would ever dare pass_up a franchise_center with_a ceiling (Greg_Oden) for a franchise forward with_no ceiling (Kevin_Durant). That lack of originality explains_why_the league is_so_screwed_up and_a limited team_like_the Cavs_could_become the worst Finals team since_the_'59 Lakers.

Here's what I don't get: The_Blazers already have two_quality_inside players (Zach Randolph_and LaMarcus Aldridge), which means_they'll eventually trade Randolph for 60_cents on_an already_diluted dollar. Yeah, he's a loon, but he's a superb low-post_scorer who would thrive with Durant_spacing the floor for_him. So_why_not explore trading_down_if Seattle_is enamored with Oden? They could just_trade the_No. 1 and Darius Miles' craptastic_contract (expires in 2011)_for_Rashard Lewis (sign and trade) and_the No. 2, then play Brandon_Roy, Lewis, Durant and Randolph_at_the_same time (with Aldridge coming_off the bench). Tell me, who's_double-teaming Randolph with_Lewis, Durant and Roy out there? Don't_they_have to explore that one? Do_we_need to dial the phone for_Kevin_Pritchard?

The_VP's verdict: If the Blazers_can't move Randolph for Antawn Jamison_(expiring in 2008) or Rasheed Wallace (expiring 2009), either_swap picks with_Seattle (and dump Miles on_the_Sonics_for Lewis) or keep the pick and take Durant.

(Note: They_won't do_this, of course