Fökai

Dixon's injury leaves the door open for Chase Daniel and maybe even Reesing from Kansas to get it. I don't like McFadden's chances with Arkansas' record.

FUCK TYLER GRAUNKE. I will not watch this team if he's starting next year. I just refuse to watch him play anymore. I'd put Funaki, their 3rd-stringer, in at this point.

Tyler Graunke is absolute ass. I don't even care what he does after this next play. He just has nothing to offer to this team.

Well, that's what happens when the defenders stop forward progress. To be fair, it's a fumble after seeing the replay, but it's certainly not a conclusive one when you're seeing it in real time. The same applies to the catch Rivers made later on in that drive, with one foot dragging along the field, which they called an incompletion.

If Hawai'i runs the table, they will get a BCS slot. I honestly don't see a scenario where they get shut out, with all of the big conference games in the nation coming up.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't think Rodriguez is a cancer, only a symbol. A powerful symbol. I'll be happy to see Giambi come off the books, too, by the way. You can speak for me too. The Yankees themselves are the problem - it isn't that hard to see that. If they regressed to a $100-115 million team with a glut of farm players on the main squad, the expectations would change. Dropping A-Rod onto this squad, in this time period, was doomed from the start. If this was 1993-1997, with those Yankee teams, he'd be loved. Instead, it's a team of bloated contracts, and Alex is, as you said it, the symbol of "mediocrity".

Team Fökai rounds out the team with Keith Bogans.

STL/DET/IND/NYG/TEN/MIN/PIT/BUF/HOU/TB/SF/WAS/DEN/14

Putback dunk in a rec game...with my balls in Woody Harrelson's face. I did not know that kick-fielding was legal in kickball. I would've been a deity in elementary and middle school if I had known this.

Okay, no wonder that pick came out of nowhere.

If it's too late to take V-Tech and Air Force, I'll just submit the other picks in a few minutes. Don't know if the games started yet. I know they do a lot of bullshit that may delay them.

Daniel Gibson.

It's nice to know he was coveted by someone else. I swear to you, I would've picked him in that last round if I didn't see Tyrus' name on my spreadsheet as I was pasting Thornton's picture in there. That's really the last guy I wanted out of the entire field.

I think I waited long enough on this one... Team Fökai selects Al Thornton.

The Bulls could resign Deng and Gordon easily for what Kobe's contract was worth. If you gut the entire roster sans Deng for Kobe, you are not making the championship window bigger, you are making it immensely smaller by tying the entire ship to a man that has 12 years of NBA mileage on his legs already. If you think Kobe is the best player in the NBA, how much longer do you think that will last? a couple more seasons? With the team as is, Chicago can easily contend for the next 6-7 years for the East and be the right role player away from a championship team. Doing the Kobe trade that you proposed erases all of the progress. Rony Turiaf is not an NBA starter in any universe. Neither is Chris Duhon. Your Bulls team would struggle to make the playoffs in the East and quite frankly, are worse than todays Lakers. Kobe would put the kibosh on the trade in a heartbeat. If you have a legitimate superstar on your team, let alone two, the Bulls don't need a top-level point. Have you SEEN the fucking bums that the Cavs have been trotting out at the point for the last three years? But anyway, Duhon isn't much of a step down from Hinrich, and he sure as hell can't be a worse shooter. The offense still runs smoothly with him in there; it's the matter of the Bulls never being able to sustain runs and leads because their game has no mileage on it. If Gordon goes cold, which happens too damn often, they're fucked. If Deng goes cold, they might as well board the team flight then. Their offense is absolute ass in the paint, which was even more apparent in the playoff series with Detroit, because their perimeter offense doesn't get much better beyond Deng creating his own shot. There's nothing to take the focus off of their post offense, without a consistent shooter that can draw doubles. Maybe Deng can fit that mold with another year under his belt, but he's not going anywhere without help in the backcourt. Enter Kobe. The ideal trade is the one Ripper pointed out: Kobe, Farmar and Turiaf for Hinrich, Gordon, Wallace and Tyrus, with the Bulls being given the option to switch first-rounders in 2008 if so be it. If you want to break it down for Chicago... -we've established why Duhon can supplant Hinrich in the point role. If you don't feel confident in him, try Crittendon or Farmar. JamesOn Curry will also play a big role in the Bulls offense if this trade comes together. --even without the trade talks, I wouldn't want to re-sign Gordon for the money's he going to be asking for. It's going to be a choice between Gordon and Deng come 2008, and the decision's easy. --Wallace matches the salaries, but he's a perfect fit for the Lakers. He's what they need at the 5, and with Mihm and Odom out there, they're going to love him. --Tyrus Thomas = Joakim Noah. Trade him. The Lakers can then gut their rotation to [Hinrich, Gordon, Odom, Bynum and Wallace] as starters, with [Fisher, Sasha, Walton, Tyrus and Mihm] off the bench, with Crittendon and Karl contributing. That leaves Buss to get Vlad and Kwame on the first flight out of Los Angeles. The Bulls will come up with [Duhon, Kobe, Deng, Turiaf and Noah], with Farmar, Curry, Thabo, Nocioni, Gray and Joe Smith. Not a sexy team, but one without a weakness that can be exposed on a consistent basis. Kobe (and later Deng) commanding double teams leaves opportunities for a guy like Curry, and well, Curry, to burn teams. As said before, Turiaf, Noah and Gray can all become solid offensive contributors with an open lane. If this trade is even remotely possible, Paxson should do it. This is the best offer on the board outside of Phoenix.

Tyrus Thomas. I'm free to chat on Tuesday or Wednesday all day, or any day of the week after 11:00 pm PST (I know, I know). But if not, I'll be happy to submit a list to Alf.

He's available. Playing the strategy game with my next two draft picks - I'm playing it safe with this selection, so I really hope that my *other* pick is still up there in four picks - but first, a player I'm similar to for many different reasons... Tayshaun Prince.

1. Yes. 2. 7 years @ $200 is what I'd guess. I mean, the Braves were offering him $20 million in 2000, and with Renteria and Hampton's contracts coming off the books next fall, why don't you make this move? Just like the first time around, they should stick around negotiations unless some team bowls Boras over with an offer.

Okay, I've never felt compelled to post something in this thread until right now. Stu Scott is doing a poetry slam to tonight's Celtics highlights. I want to stab him.

Stephon Marbury.

A no-brainer...and a no-brainer picture... Richard Jefferson.

But it wouldn't be fair to drop them after a win! Who cares at this point. Just be happy that they're not moving Hawai'i up. edit: And I'm sorry, Cincy just moved up seven spots. This isn't a battle that's worth fighting.

AZ/TEN/CAR/NE/DET/JAX/HOU/NYJ/SEA/IND/BAL/SD/GB/DAL/14

Kentucky Louisville Wisconsin Kansas State Maryland Wyoming Georgia Oklahoma Nevada Clemson LSU Ohio State Rutgers Missouri 52/195

Yes, let's put Hawaii/Charleston Southern in the primetime slot on ABC! Seriously, when Idaho's the 2nd toughest game you've played all season, you can't really complain about not being on TV more. This week the schedule actually gets easier as they take on 0-5 Utah State who is in the running for being the worst team in all of FBS. Hawaii doesn't play anyone with a pulse for over a month yet when they finally take on Fresno State at home on November 10th. No one in the state media is complaining about "respect" or national coverage - trust me on that one. The real reason for Hawai'i not being on ESPN's affiliates is the fight they're having with UH and their local affiliate (KFVE) over how games should be broadcast. As you may know, they have a multi-year contract with KFVE to air games on a pay-per-view basis to the state, eseentially blacking them out across the nation. But when ESPN takes any games away for national coverage, KFVE can not recoup the costs they did pay on that PPV contract.