With the NBA Draft just a few weeks away, many prospects are using the pre-draft workouts to boost their stock. In the case of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the sure-fire top two picks, they’re simply going through the motions. However, Kevin Durant’s display in Orlando was a bit surprising. Durant just might be the best prospect at the camp. But he’s also the weakest. Durant was the only player at the camp who failed to bench press 185 pounds.

While Oden resembled a “two guard in a center’s body,” Durant’s lack of strength came as a big shock. Sure, he’s an explosive scorer and has a wingspan close to 7 1/2 feet. But the NBA is far more physical basketball than the Big 12 and it would have been nice to see Durant a little bit bulked up in Orlando. Analysts said he was still a few years away from growing into his frame but is he really this far away?

In the end, it’s not going to matter much. Durant will be on a heavy weightlifting program before too long and he’ll be able to pack on some muscle before his rookie season starts in October. But look at another hyped small forward from a few years back: LeBron James. He’s a guy that was physically ready for the league as a junior in high school. Durant isn’t quite there yet.

Get ready Kobe, Dwyane, Melo, and LeBron. Kevin Durant officially declared for the NBA Draft today after speculation that he might return for his sophomore year.

Durant, who would have probably made the jump to the NBA out of high school if it weren’t for the one year in college rule, absolutely dominated the NCAA at Texas. There was rumors that Durant loved college and that he would return to Texas for his sophomore year. Go ahead and trash any of those rumors and start printing Kevin Durant Boston Celtics Jerseys. Durant, who in my opinion still needs to put on some muscle, will undoubtedly be exciting to watch at the next level.

In all likelihood, Durant will be heading to Boston to play along side Paul Pierce. In his one year in college, Durant proved that he could take over games with his shooting ability and with his defensive skills. I expect these traits to translate to the pros, where his height will play to his advantage at the small forward position where he’ll likely be put. I’m excited about the prospect of him trying to D up LeBron or trying to cross up Carmelo on a drive to the hoop. Best of luck to you at the next level, Kevin. It’ll be exciting to watch.

We’ve been speculating for weeks now on whether or not Kevin Durant will take the next step in his basketball career. Yesterday, we got the message that yes, he’s moving on. According to Deadspin, Durant is ready to declare for the NBA Draft in an announcement he’ll make sometime this week.

According to multiple sources, both from the NBA and close to the player himself, Kevin Durant will be announcing in a press conference mid next week that he will be putting his name in the draft.

Durant’s decision allows us to immediately look at the projected draft board for June’s NBA Draft. With the expected announcement of Greg Oden sure to follow, Durant will likely be the 2nd name called. In nearly any other year, #35 would be the first overall selection. But if you saw Greg Oden play Monday night, you’ll know exactly why NBA scouts are salivating over him.

Memphis, Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta are the worst teams in the league this season. Whether or not they have a top two selection is another story. The NBA Draft Lottery will decide the draft order on May 22nd. The winner of the first overall pick has their franchise big man. The second pick has instant offense. It’s a win-win situation. With the inclusion of guys like Oden, Durant, and the stars at Florida, this year’s draft could be one of the best ever.

There’s been a few major themes to this year’s NCAA Tournament. One of them is whether or not the Florida Gators can repeat as National Champions. Another one is regarding the fate of stud freshmen Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Everyone’s posed the question. ESPN’s Pardon the Interupption discussed whether or not Durant is telling the truth about the decision being difficult. Mike Wilbon, one of my favorite ESPN personalites, had this to say.

“Yes, I believe Kevin Durant. Anybody who’s paid attention all year has heard Kevin Durant say ‘I love school.’ If they’ve paid attention to his story all year they’d know he got a 3.5 at Texas grade-point average his first semester. I’m annoyed and perhaps even offended by what I perceive, Tony, as some sort of racial undertones to that question as if people can’t see a black kid who also plays basketball wanting to go to school more than one year, more than two years, maybe four years.”

What? I don’t think this has anything to with race. I think it involves the question of Durant’s loyalty to Texas and the possibility of some huge bucks in the NBA. Take Matt Leinart, for example. He answered the same questions as Durant and he’s white. He might have children of every race but Leinart is white. Take the Florida starting five.Three of them are black, one is white, and one is Joakim Noah. It’s not a question of race at all.

I’m with Durant, this would be an incredibly difficult decision. If he returns to Texas, the Longhorns can be contenders for the Final Four next season. But he can also jump ship to the NBA and make millions. When your stock has nowhere to go but down, you should probably take the next step. A falling draft stock because of injury or poor performance has nothing to do with race.

Just days after Danny Ainge took a $30,000 fine for inappropriate contact with Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan decided to join him on that fine list. Jordan was only fined $15,000, pocket change to him I’m sure, but regardless, it’s just another stupid fine. Jordan knows the rules, and regardless of how stupid they are, he has to follow them.

Owners and other suits in the NBA are not allowed to talk about under classmen who haven’t declared for the draft. The fact that Jordan broke this rule leads to an instant fine, that’s something he has to live with. The funny part is, Jordan never even mentioned Durant by name, simply saying “The kid who may present that is the kid in Texas. (He) may have that because he has all the right signs.”

Of course that is enough to piss off the NBA and earn a fine. Probably what I’m writing right now is enough to piss off the NBA and earn a fine. Ainge’s fine is more comical simply because he said that he had no control over where his ticket was and didn’t want to sit next to Durant’s mother. Jordan knew exactly what he was doing but basically gave a screw you to the NBA and said it anyway.

I can’t forsee Durant ending up in Charlotte with Jordan and his team but what an experience that would be for him. There would be nothing quite like learning from the best, and I’m sure that’s what Durant would get. That of course, is assuming he even turns pro.

If you want to see a perfect example of how not to run a franchise you just need to look at the Boston Celtics. Evidently that’s an honor that Danny Ainge wants to keep. In managing to completely fail at everything he does, Ainge and the Celtics have been fined $30,000 for inappropriate contact with Kevin Durant.

Ainge is being fined because he sat next to Durant’s mom during the Big 12 contract and broke the rule that prevents excessive contact with a player before they declare for the draft. I understand the fear that the NBA has here, and while I think it’s dumb, I respect them and the NCAA. They’re trying their best to prevent any corruption between players and suits in the NBA. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I can roll with it.

I can’t understand what Danny Ainge was possibly thinking when he made the decisions that he did. He knows the rules against this, and knows that nothing good can come of it. If the Celtics get the first draft pick and Durant has turned pro and gets picked by them, what choice does he have? He’s going to be a Celtic, no amount of sweet talking will change that fact. So why do something as stupid as this and get fined for it?

Ainge has managed to give the Celtics an even worse reputation than they had before. Not only are they terrible and heading in no logical direction, now they’re shady businessmen too. If Greg Oden and Durant both go pro, then Ainge has a simple decision to make and it shouldn’t take sitting with Durant’s mother at a basketball game to make that decision.