FanHouse Juan Carlos Navarro

The NBA revealed it's All-Rookie Teams today, and by and large there weren't any huge surprises. But can you guess who the only unanimous choice to the first team was? If you guessed Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant ... you'd be wrong.

Actually, it was Al Horford, who finished with 29 first-place votes. Durant finished with 28. It's too bad the ballots aren't open -- I'd love to see which NBA coach actually thought Durant was no better than the sixth-best rookie this year. (Remember, coaches can't vote for their own players but aren't limited by position.) Luis Scola (26 first place votes), Al Thornton (20) and Jeff Green (15) rounded out the first team.

On the second team is Jamario Moon (12), Juan Carlos Navarro (5), Thaddeus Young (4), Rodney Stuckey (5) and Carl Landry (1). Other players receiving first place votes include Joakim Noah (1), Nick Young (2), Mike Conley (1) and Corey Brewer (1).

As we inch closer to All-Star 2008 in New Orleans, the lineups for the weekend's events are starting to fall into place. Today we found out who will be participating in the "T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam," and just like last year, it's looking like it's going to be an easy win for the Sophomores.

The Rookie squad will feature Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Al Horford, Luis Scola, Mike Conley, Juan Carlos Navarro, Yi Jianlian, Sean Williams, and a very busy Jamario Moon.

The Sophomores will load their roster with Brandon Roy, Lamarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, Daniel Gibson (aka Boobie), Jordan Farmar, Andrea Bargnani, Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, and an equally busy Rudy Gay.

So after looking at the lineups one right after the other like this, how can you not see another Sophomore blowout? In Vegas the Sophs won by 41 points, and although I don't expect the spread to be quite as big this time, it's still a mismatch, and one that the league should change if they want to make this an interesting event.

My solution would be to mix the Rookies and Sophomores up by conference, and play the game East versus West. While that might not always give you the best game, it would be exponentially better than what we have now. I just think that the Sophomores have too much of an advantage every year having that additional season of NBA experience under their belt. By mixing the teams up and playing it by conference, we're likely to get a much more competitive game.

It could be posturing from a reluctant owner, but Michael Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal all the reforms his basketball team made have not translated to increased ticket sales this summer. If Heisley's truthful, this is sort-of depressing for me, as Memphis is probably the most interesting team in the league going into the season.

Rudy Gay was last year's most exciting rookie. Pau Gasol is very nearly elite. Hakim Warrick is top 5 in the league with regards to vicious dunks. Marc Iavaroni gets a chance to debut his Spurs on skateboards philosophy (which admittedly, I invented from inference and could be the furthest thing from the truth). Darko Milicic will be unleashed. Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry could form Ford&Calderon South. Juan Carlos Navarro could nag Pau til he shaves. Mike Miller could contend for second runner-up in the All-Star race. Jerry West could invite Bootsy Collins to the suite again.

I don't think Memphis is playoff ready... but quality is not an exclusive indicator of entertainment factor. (See: San Antonio, Charlotte.) The Grizzlies are so far removed from their 'good but wholly predictable' roots (see: Battier, Shane & Fratello, Mike)... so maybe it will take a while for greater Tennessee to get on board. Maybe those intriguing college Tigers have folks turning elsewhere with their expendable dollar. Maybe this Memphis team will be fantastic on TV, but useless live (like Atlanta). All I know is if I was within spitting distance of the FedEx Forum, I'd be approving Heisley's decisions with my dollar. This team will not be boring.

Not to disparage Memphis general manager Chris Wallace, but no one saw this coming. And by 'this,' I mean 'doing a passable job heading up the Grizzlies.'

I mean, Memphis lost the lottery. They had a 50/50 chance of landing Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, and it was practically impossible for them to slide out of the top 3. In true Grizzlies form, they slid out of the top 3. That leaves them with an unhappy superstar (Pau Gasol) and no one to replace him should you bend to his will and trade him. Oden/Durant gave Memphis options; Mike Conley, sadly, did not.

Chris Wallace, though, fresh off one of the least inspiring front office runs ever in Boston... he pulls through. Need another big? Let's get Darko Milicic to cover Pau on defense. Need to get Pau happy? Let's get his best friend Juan Carlos Navarro. The most insane things are the price tags. Darko? $7 million for three years. Navarro? The worst case is giving Washington the #13 pick in 2013.

Wallace pillaged the Magic and robbed the Wizards. (He's, like, Voldemort.) This is a really nice looking young team he's put together overnight. Only one of the key players (Mike Miller) is 30. Rudy Gay, Conley, Kyle Lowry, and Hakim Warrick are all under 25 and cheap for a few more years. Mike Miller and Navarro are just entering their prime. I'm not ready to give up on the Sonics, but this squad could turn some heads before Durant and Friends.

Wallace's improbable performance proves the NBA's new slogan. Or, it proves Jerry West's mind control ability is greater than we'd thought.

As rumored the past week, Memphis swung a deal to land Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro, reportedly giving a lottery-protected 2008 first-round pick to Washington in the swap.

Not a bad deal for the Wizards, who used a second-round pick in 2002 to draft Pau Gasol's best friend. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are backcourt gluttons. Mike Miller figures to become trade bait before long, as teams have come knocking for him often the past few years.

And I said yesterday, this is a blow for Chicago if they were at all thinking about making another run at Gasol this coming season. Memphis wouldn't go get this guy without thinking they're keeping Pau around a while. This move, as much basketball sense as it may make, was made to placate the angry Gasol. Unless hell freezes over Kobe Bryant forces a trade to Chicago, the Bulls have struck out on all the big names they were hoping for.

Heading into the final day of Juan Carlos Navarro watch, Memphis looks like the front-runner to gain the Spanish guard's services in a swap with the Wizards, according to Ivan Carter of the Washington Post.

Carter says Memphis has offered a 2008 first-rounder, which could actually be pretty good for Washington. Marlon W. Morgan of the Memphis Commercial Appeal confirms the Grizzlies are negotiating with the Wizards and Navarro's current team, FC Barcelona. Morgan adds Washington may also be trying to pawn off Etan Thomas in the deal, as well.

Navarro is well-regarded, and since he is angry Grizzly Pau Gasol's best friend, it seems like a no-brainer. However, giving up a first-rounder and paying him a decent wage almost forces you to keep Gasol no matter what, right? They couldn't possibly pay out the nose for Gasol's buddy because he's Gasol's buddy, and then ship Gasol out when Chicago comes knocking. Furthermore, it puts them in a tight spot with Mike Miller, who is also well-regarded around the league. Add in the two young point guards (Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry) and the backcourt's a bit full, isn't it? Unless you're sitting Conley for a year or limiting Lowry to garbage time, you're juggling to get minutes for those four able players.

I understand Memphis' interest. I'm afraid they're catering to Gasol just a little too much, though. The burden of proof is whether this move gets them closer to the playoffs. From my perch, it doesn't.