FanHouse BJ Mullens

Let me never doubt Kevin Pritchard's slapping skills, but Portland really tossed a curve into their leapfrog gambit by selecting fairly underhyped Spanish forward Victor Claver with the No. 22 pick. Claver has made it clear he won't be in the NBA for at least one more year, perhaps two. And there had been talk his agent had been pushing to be made a second-round pick, where the rookie salary scale doesn't apply.

But the Blazers seem to know Western Europe pretty well, so I'll trust their judgment. Pitt stud DeJuan Blair and Israeli dynamo Omri Casspi were both there for the taking at with Portland's pick; Casspi went one pick later to Sacramento, who Portland leapfrogged a day earlier. Portland had given Dallas two second round picks to exchange the Blazers' No. 24 pick for the Mavericks' No. 22. Dallas ended up taking B.J. Mullens (another lottery projected player) with No. 24.

The day of reckoning has arrived for some 90 or so prospects hoping to be an NBA Draft pick. The day of reckoning has also arrived for some 9,000 mock drafters, who desperately try to get it right even though no one ever could on a consistent basis.

And, if I may, a word about the recent backlash against mock drafts from the key mock draft writers. The major draft experts from ESPN and DraftExpress told the New York Times last week that they hate mock drafts. But the mock draft is like their version of a test. It's too arbitrary, too black and white. It creates an impossible task. But thems the breaks when you're in a field in which performance matters. If Chad Ford didn't have to put out a mock, he could forever avoid criticism, basically. It's his job to analyze and predict the draft. How could we judge his efficacy without looking at his mock the morning after? It's like Amar'e Stoudemire telling everyone he hates to rebound. (Oh wait ...)

I love mock drafts! You'll find my final version after the jump.

The Milwaukee Bucks are pretty sure there will be a good point guard prospect available when they make the No. 10 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.

They just aren't sure which one it will be.

From a list that includes Ty Lawson, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague and Jrue Holiday, someone is going to be available, providing the Bucks with a solid option at the most important position on the floor.

The Bucks are the first of four Central Division teams that will be picking in the range from No. 10 to No. 16, giving the rivals a chance to match wits through the middle of the draft board.

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Mock drafts are fun, but if you want the real inside scoop on who's expected to be a high draft pick, you need to see the list of the players the NBA has invited to the draft. Generally speaking, it's limited to players the league has been assured will go in the top half of the first round.

There are always exceptions, but ever since Rashard Lewis awkwardly hung around until the second round, the league has done a respectable job making sure no one gets too embarrassed. The league hasn't yet released an official list, but thanks to some sleuthing by DraftExpress, we know at least 16 players have been extended invitations, although only 13 have confirmed their attendance. Keep reading for the full list:

The Minnesota Timberwolves might not have had the best regular season in 2008-09, but they're sure going to be a factor come the NBA Draft on Thursday.

New president of basketball operations David Kahn has five picks to use, including three in the first round. Minnesota has the Nos. 6, 18, and 28 picks in Round 1, and two more in the second round.

Will Kahn use all of those picks to drastically remake the T-Wolves' roster, or might he package a couple of picks or three in order to land a veteran difference-maker? More on the Northwest Division after the jump.

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Early entry candidates testing the waters for the 2009 NBA Draft had until Monday evening to decide whether to jump in with two feet or get out the pool completely. All in all, 55 candidates pulled out while 49 stayed, including 10 international players.

As much as college fans complain about "one-and-done" ravaging the amateur game, it's worth pointing out that only five freshman are leaving school, and of those, only three (DeMar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday) figure to be locks as lottery picks.

OAKLAND -- A two-day, multi-team draft workout at the Golden State Warriors' practice facility in downtown Oakland got underway on Monday afternoon, with 21 NBA teams represented and 24 potential pro prospects in attendance.

The media wasn't allowed into the gym to see the workouts, and the NBA executives weren't made available for comment. But that didn't mean there wasn't a little buzz created.