First Round

1. Clippers - Blake Griffin PF/C – Agency: Excel Sports Management
2. Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet C – Agency: BDA Sports
3. Thunder – James Harden SG – Agency: Landmark Sports Agency
4. Kings - Tyreke Evans PG/SG – Agency: Wasserman Media Group
5. Timberwolves – Ricky Rubio PG – Agency: BEST
6. Timberwolves - Jonny Flynn PG – Agency: CAA
7. Warriors - Stephen Curry PG/SG – Agency: Octagon
8. Knicks - Jordan Hill PF – Agency: BDA Sports
9. Raptors - Demar DeRozan SG/SF – Agency: Goodwin Sports Management
10. Bucks - Brandon Jennings PG – Agency: BDA Sports
11. Nets - Terrence Williams SG/SF – Agency: Goodwin Sports Management
12. Bobcats – Gerald Henderson SG – Agency: Wasserman Media Group
13. Pacers – Tyler Hansbrough PF – Agency: Excel Sports Management
14. Suns - Earl Clark SF/PF – Agency: BEST
15. Pistons - Austin Daye SF/PF – Agency: BDA Sports
16. Bulls - James Johnson SF/PF – Agency: Wasserman Media Group
17. 76ers - Jrue Holiday PG/SG – Agency: BEST
18. Timberwolves – Ty Lawson PG – Agency: Peake Management Group
19. Hawks - Jeff Teague PG/SG – Agency: BDA Sports
20. Jazz - Eric Maynor PG – Agency: ASM Sports
21. Hornets - Darren Collison PG – Agency: BDA Sports
22. Trailblazers – Victor Claver PF – Agency: Wasserman Media Group
23. Kings – Omri Casspi SF/PF – Agency: CAA
24. Mavericks – B.J. Mullens C – Agency: ASM Sports
25. Thunder – Rodrigue Beaubois PG – Agency: Comsport
26. Bulls – Taj Gibson PF – Agency: Priority Sports
27. Grizzlies – DeMarre Carroll SF/PF – Agency: Priority Sports
28. Timberwolves – Wayne Ellington SG – Agency: Wasserman Media Group
29. Knicks – Toney Douglas PG/SG – Agency: FAME
30. Cavaliers - Christian Eyenga SG/SF – Agency: ASM Sports

Notes:

• Leading up to the draft, I really liked that Goodwin Sports Management was doing to get its clients connected on social networks.  My man Nate Jones, a law student at UCLA, has been doing a great job helping out Aaron Goodwin and Co. on publicizing GSM client Twitter accounts and setting up Rookie Chronicles.
• BDA Sports seems to have dodged any potential negative recruiting ramifications from the company’s involvement with the O.J. Mayo scandal.  Three BDA clients were taken in the top ten picks of the draft.  Four BDA clients went in the top fifteen.  Six in the top twenty-one!  Where WMG made the headlines last year, BDA definitely took over the 2009 draft.
• Speaking of WMG, the company had three players taken in the top sixteen picks.  And BEST had three guys selected in the top seventeen picks.  WMG still dominated with five total draft picks in the first round.
• The first Israeli player drafted was taken by the Kings.  The fairly new GM of the Kings is a friend, Jason Levien.  I am happy for him because I think Omri Casspi was a steal at the slot picked, and Levien is supporting the Jews!
• One of my favorite players in the draft, Toney Douglas, was taken by a team who I think will really benefit from drafting him.  Knicks fans should be happy with that pick.

I say triangle, because that residence should be in California, where word is that Levien will be accepting a position as Assistant General Manager of the Sacramento Kings.  I briefly spoke to Jason this morning and he seemed to be in good spirits and happy with life.  He will be sad to relinquish the oversight of his current, and soon to be former, clients, but believes that the opportunity with the Kings is just too much for him to pass on.  Plus, most of his clients have long-term deals and will not need as much day-to-day attention as players who are going to be free-agents in the near future.

Levien will go from representing Sacramento Kings star, Kevin Martin, to potentially negotiating with Kevin’s future agent if he is to remain with the team after his contract expires.  Other notable clients under the LSR (Levien Sports Representation) umbrella include Luol Deng and Courtney Lee.

You and I have never heard of Deng Gai and maybe know the former Dayon player, Brian Roberts, but we are definitely familiar with Luol Deng and Rip Hamilton.  Nochimson used to represent the two big time NBA players, but those days are long gone.  Deng cannot be happier with the decision, as his new agent, Jason Levien, was successful in negotiating a $71 million deal with the Bulls last week.  Rip must also be pleased after the latest news that Nochimson may have stolen $500,000 from the former UConn standout.  This is the same guy who negotiated a contract that involved Hamilton style his hair in the form of a Goodyear Assurance TripleTred product.  He was also the team manager of the UConn basketball team when Rip was a student athlete.

Football

• For that kind of money, the Bears have to be thinking that Hester can be more than a kick/punt returner [Bears agree to new four-year deal with Hester].
• The Panthers have a nice track record of getting their draft picks signed before camp [Stewart last draft choice to sign with Panthers].
• Lots of performance clauses in this one [Gholston's contract with Jets includes $21M in guaranteed money].
• Derrick Harvey wants a Gholston-sized contract [Holdout by DE Harvey could linger].
• Rashard will be able to earn back the money that he lost when robbed, and then some [Steelers sign No. 1 pick Mendenhall].
• A nine-year deal seems a little excessive to me too [Urlacher says 9-year deal was a mistake].

Basketball

• J.E. Skeets of Yahoo! Sports says Ron Artest is ice cold [Carnival of the NBA #58: Will Ferrell edition].
• Nothing like taking an $8 million shot in the dark [Dumars: Brown agrees to two-year deal with Pistons].
• Seems like a fair price for a guy who consistently racks up double doubles [Okafor, Bobcats agree to 6-year, $72 million deal].
• Darren Rovell takes a shot at guessing which brands will be securing the feet of the class of 2008 [NBA Rookie Shoe Deals?]
• Could a quick fix of the Mid-Level Exception prevent a future Josh Childress from going overseas? [The NBA Salary Cap and Josh Childress and Fixing the Mid Level Exemption]
• Last year’s leader in field goal shooting % is locked up with the Warriors for at least the next five years [Warriors re-sign C Biedrins to 6-year, $62M deal].
• My buddy Jason Levien can now relax for a bit [Forward thinking for Bulls: Deng in].