This year, I am equally as proud to extend the tradition for a sixth season, with just as many pop culture references and offbeat shenanigans. Of course, there are going to be numerous hopes that the Orlando Magic don't screw it up, and as always, the endless love for Fran Fraschilla and his analysis of international players.
Please join me for the ride at some point. Here we go.
7:27 - Signed on a little later than last season, but the same studio panel greets us from Barclays Center. Rece Davis, Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon and Jay Bilas all live and in living color, but no wingspan or tipping it back just yet.
7:34 - Here's Adam Silver, striding to the stage amid the obligatory chorus of boos. At least he properly addressed the arena as Barclays Center, rather than Barclays Arena.
7:36 - After being drowned out by boos with every name the commissioner dropped, the Philadelphia 76ers are officially on the clock after their trade with the Boston Celtics.
7:37 - Let's see how long it takes the card to come up. Markelle Fultz is the pick here.
7:39 - Wilbon has seemed a little more talkative this year. See what Northwestern making the NCAA Tournament does to Medill alums in the media?
7:39 - Bilas mentions building a culture of winning for the city whose fans notoriously booed Santa Claus. Markelle Fultz is announced nearly a minute later, and receives the first ovation of the night.
7:40 - The "Hinkie died for this" sign has made its return.
7:41 - Not a bad draft hat this year, and a genuine embrace between Fultz and Silver is a far cry from the awkward hugs Roger Goodell hands out.
7:42 - "He's got a 6-10 wingspan. Tip it back, America!"
7:43 - Allison Williams, best known for being Brian Williams' daughter, is handling the post-selection interviews this year. I consider this an upgrade in more ways than one.
7:44 - I can guarantee Sixers fans don't give a you-know-what about Fultz's suit as much as they do his ability to win games.
7:45 - Here come the Los Angeles Lakers on the clock, with Lonzo Ball the likely pick. No mention of his attention-crazed father just yet, but that's coming soon enough.
7:47 - Lonzo Ball remains in Los Angeles, and as expected, LaVar gets a good 10 seconds of face time. Big Baller Brand apparently has its own ties as well.
7:48 - Bilas with MAJOR points for the Jim Furyk reference, an RKO out of nowhere, so to speak.
7:50 - Hey, did we say RKO?
7:51 - LaVar gets the obligatory interview. Poor Jeff Goodman.
7:52 - Daddy already guaranteeing Lonzo will take the Lakers to the playoffs in his rookie year, but that has been conveniently overshadowed by Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman announcing that Minnesota has traded for Jimmy Butler and the No. 16 overall pick, sending Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh pick to the Bulls.
7:54 - While all of this is going on, Danny Ainge just flew under the radar to take Jayson Tatum third overall, deciding against Josh Jackson in favor of the most explosive perimeter scorer in the draft.
7:56 - Death. Taxes. Blatant Bilas Duke homerism. It's worth it with Tatum, though.
7:58 - Tatum talking about his bond with his mother, who raised him as a single mom. From someone who went through the same thing and has just a strong a bond with his mother, this hits home and is awesome.
8:01 - Boston's loss is Phoenix's gain, as the Suns take the best player available and best talent in the draft, going for Josh Jackson at No. 4 overall. Jackson, much like Tatum would have been, will be Phoenix's best perimeter player since Shawn Marion in his prime.
8:04 - ESPN tipping the pick on the way to commercial break, all but giving it away that Sacramento will take De'Aaron Fox fifth overall to not only continue the trend of one-and-done players going in each of the first five spots, but also extending the streak of John Calipari players going in the top eight to eight seasons. That's every year he's been the head coach at Kentucky, folks.
8:06 - So much winning in Lexington!
8:08 - Fox indeed goes to Sacramento. The Calipari streak is actually at ten seasons overall when you count Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans, who also went fifth overall to the Kings out of Memphis in 2009.
8:10 - The Orlando Magic are on the clock.
8:10 - For the love of God, DO NOT BLOW THIS, ORLANDO.
8:12 - David Vaughn. Brian Evans. Johnny Taylor. Curtis Borchardt. Reece Gaines. Fran Vazquez. Mario Hezonja. Trading Domantas Sabonis. That's just a sampling of the draft night blunders over the years.
8:13 - For all the criticism the Knicks get, and rightfully so, the Magic are just as much like the Jets when it comes to drafting:
8:14 - Jonathan Isaac wouldn't be all that bad.
8:15 - With the sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select Jonathan Isaac, forward from Florida State University. I do not hate this pick at all.
8:15 - Having seen Isaac firsthand when FSU was up here for the ACC Tournament, I was impressed by his skill set, and Frank Vogel will find a way to maximize his talent.
8:17 - Minnesota on the clock, but as mentioned briefly before, they're drafting for Chicago in this spot.
8:17 - With that said, I need more Tom Penn and Fran Fraschilla right about now.
8:19 - Ask and you shall receive. Tom Penn makes his first appearance of the night with his touch screen and salary cap knowledge that would have made Frank Qasim and I blush when we tried to break that all down in 2010.
8:22 - Lauri Markkanen is the pick heading to Chicago, made by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls could very well have just landed the next Dirk Nowitzki.
8:22 - The New York Knicks are on the clock. For the love of God, PLEASE BLOW THIS.
8:25 - Let's be honest: Is there any way Phil Jackson comes out of this without getting raked over the coals?
8:26 -
8:27 - Frank Ntilikina, the point guard from France, goes to the Knicks at No. 8 overall. Phil takes the international player for the second time in three years.
8:29 - FRAN FRASCHILLA!!!!!!!!!
8:30 - We're not worthy, Fran!
8:33 - With Ntilikina off the board, Dennis Smith goes to Dallas at No. 9, and might be one of the better picks thus far.
8:36 - A few minutes ahead of last year's pace so far, and Malik Monk has surprisingly lasted as far as No. 10, where the Sacramento Kings are again on the clock with the pick they acquired in the DeMarcus Cousins trade.
8:39 - Jeff Goodman comes in to report that the Blazers have moved up into the No. 10 spot, trading both of their first two picks; the 15th and 20th overall selections, to have the Kings draft Gonzaga's Zach Collins for them. Excellent pick by Portland.
8:40 - Every time I hear the name Zach Collins, it reminds me of the endless Twitter exchanges between friends of the site Zach Braziller and Jerry Beach, who argue the abilities of New York Mets manager Terry Collins to no end.
8:46 - Charlotte on the clock at No. 11, where Malik Monk is still available. Monk with Kemba Walker, not to mention the newly acquired Dwight Howard, would be a solid rotation for the Hornets, and Monk is indeed the pick. Very well done.
8:52 - Did Silver just try the David Stern dramatic pause? Nobody does it better than his predecessor.
8:53 - Oh, THAT'S why Silver did that. Luke Kennard, a Duke product much like the commissioner, goes to the Pistons at No. 12.
8:57 - Denver on the clock at No. 13, where the logical move would be to follow the Duke pick by restoring order to this world by taking Justin Jackson from NATIONAL CHAMPION North Carolina.
8:58 - Close enough. Louisville's Donovan Mitchell goes to the Nuggets instead, and this is a steal for new general manager Arturas Karnisovas.
8:58 - Jeff Goodman reporting Mitchell is being traded to the Utah Jazz for the 24th overall pick and Trey Lyles.
8:59 - Karnisovas is a Seton Hall legend. Onward Setonia.
9:05 - Miami goes for the first real reach in this draft, taking Kentucky's Bam Adebayo at No. 14, a handful of spots ahead of where he was projected.
9:08 - I'm stealing this from friend of the site Russ Steinberg, who does an exceptional job running Mid-Major Madness. Excellent job with the Emeril reference for Bam Adebayo.
9:12 - Portland is on the clock, but the Blazers are drafting for Sacramento here, and they use the first of two picks to take Justin Jackson for the Kings.
9:13 - That's national champion Justin Jackson, ladies and gentlemen.
9:15 - Penn explaining the Bulls' rationale behind the Butler trade, with Rajon Rondo's option likely not picked up with Kris Dunn coming into town and $29 million in salary cap space behind him.
9:18 - Chicago puts the Big East on the board, as the Bulls draft Big East Freshman of the Year Justin Patton for the Timberwolves. Patton, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins is one three-headed monster that the Western Conference will not want to face.
9:23 - Here's a look back at Justin Patton's demolition of St. John's, where Chris Mullin compared Minnesota's newest arrival to Marcus Camby. Click the link for my game recap from January 4.
9:25 - John Calipari is a better analyst than anybody else on this ESPN panel. No exaggeration.
9:28 - D.J. Wilson, the Michigan forward who was rumored to be a target of the Brooklyn Nets, instead goes to Milwaukee at No. 17. Still a few minutes ahead of schedule compared to last year.
9:29 - Bilas needs to get into advanced stats soon. Everyone could use some effective field goal percentage and player efficiency ratings in their lives.
9:31 - Off topic, but the use of the Eagles' "Take It To The Limit," one of my all-time favorites, in the "Cars 3" trailer scored some extra points with me.
9:32 - Indiana takes UCLA's T.J. Leaf, passing on Hoosier OG Anunoby.
9:36 - Tom Penn saving the broadcast with his breakdown of the Paul George situation.
9:37 - Back to business, as Atlanta takes John Collins of Wake Forest at No. 19.
9:38 - There's the Bilas advanced stat I was looking for. Collins scored 1.7 points per possession for the Demon Deacons this past season.
9:43 - North Carolina and Duke on the same team, now that Portland drafted Harry Giles for Sacramento at No. 20 overall.
9:49 - Australia's Terrance Ferguson goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 21, providing us with a second; and long-awaited, dose of Fran Fraschilla.
9:54 - The Bilas drinking game gets some air time while the Brooklyn Nets are on the clock. Rece Davis with some high-level, under-the-radar trolling here.
9:57 - Adam Silver finally announces the Jimmy Butler trade before the Nets' pick, which happens to be Texas' Jarrett Allen, who will be the replacement to Brook Lopez.
9:59 - Shoutout to Quinnipiac, as former Bobcat Ike Azotam helped develop Allen this past season while on staff with Shaka Smart at Texas.
10:03 - Silver announces the Zach Collins trade before Toronto's draft choice, who ends up being OG Anunoby at No. 23.
10:05 - Business just picked up for friend of the site and young superstar Teddy Bailey, who covered Anunoby at Indiana.
10:12 - Tyler Lydon is drafted by Utah at No. 24, but the Jazz are drafting for Denver here as a result of the Donovan Mitchell trade earlier in the night. Lydon and Kenneth Faried make for an underrated pairing down low.
10:13 - Bilas with the Dinosaur BBQ reference. That reminds me that I need to go there before a Seton Hall game since there's one literally right next to the Prudential Center.
10:14 - The Magic are back on the clock at No. 25, where Anzejs Pasecniks of Latvia may be a stash pick. Let's see what the Jeff Weltman-John Hammond regime produces for a second act after taking Jonathan Isaac in the sixth spot.
10:19 - There's the stash pick. Time to sell me on this, Fran.
10:24 - Portland with an underrated selection at No. 26, taking Purdue's Caleb Swanigan, who was second in the nation in rebounds last year.
10:26 - Bilas' proclamation of Swanigan as the best rebounder in the nation last year is a little inaccurate. Has he not heard of Angel Delgado?
10:30 - The Nets are back on the clock, but drafting for the Lakers as part of the D'Angelo Russell-Brook Lopez trade. Brooklyn is taking Utah's Kyle Kuzma for the Lakers, so that's a win for our mock draft, which burst into flames hours ago.
10:34 - The Lakers go back-to-back now, but not before a well-timed Tom Penn salary cap interlude, where the Paul George scenario is rehashed in the event that his desire to take his talents to Los Angeles becomes a reality.
10:35 - Not so fast, as the Lakers are drafting for Utah here, with the 30th and 42nd overall picks coming back.
10:35 - Orlando has traded their draft-and-stash to Philadelphia for first AND second-round picks in 2020. I'm confused.
10:36 - The Magic are actually having a solid draft night? NEWS TO ME!
10:36 - Drafting for the Jazz, the Lakers take Tony Bradley 28th overall. Bradley joins Donovan Mitchell as Quin Snyder's rookie class.
10:44 - Before the San Antonio Spurs make their pick, the Donovan Mitchell trade has been officially consummated. Colorado's Derrick White becomes the heir apparent to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili at No. 29 overall.
10:45 - With the end of the first round upon us, here's the token tribute to David Stern.
10:46 - Derrick White, at long last, was the first senior off the board at No. 29 overall.
10:47 - Adam Silver's swan song turns out to be Villanova's Josh Hart, who is drafted by Utah for the Lakers. This is the second year in a row that the Jazz have drafted a Big East guard only to trade him, as they did the same with Isaiah Whitehead last June.
10:48 - As friend of the site Larry Fleisher would say, we've now reached the Mark Tatum portion of the program.
10:55 - We Want Granik.
10:56 - Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum raises the curtain on the second round by announcing Duke's Frank Jackson as the 31st overall pick, Charlotte's reward from the Dwight Howard trade.
10:58 - Frank Jackson is on his way to New Orleans.
11:00 - Another senior off the board, as Miami's Davon Reed goes to Phoenix at No. 32. Excellent value pick by the Suns.
11:02 - ESPN going to break as the Magic return to the clock for the 33rd overall pick. Maybe it's for the best.
11:06 - Orlando goes for Kansas State's Wesley Iwundu. Not a bad pick there.
11:10 - Back-to-back for the Big 12, as Frank Mason III goes from Kansas to Sacramento at No. 34.
11:12 - Drafting for Memphis, Orlando takes Cal's Ivan Rabb 35th overall.
11:17 - Fran Fraschilla makes his return at No. 36 to discuss Jonah Bolden going to the Sixers. If the name sounds familiar, he played at UCLA before turning pro and playing overseas in Australia.
11:20 - Boston gets a steal at No. 37, taking a first-round talent in SMU's Semi Ojeleye.
11:24 - The first of what will be several picks made during commercial breaks has been made, as Oregon forward Jordan Bell became the newest member of the Chicago Bulls with the 38th overall pick.
11:25 - Oklahoma State's Jawun Evans, rumored to be a first-round selection, finds his way to Philadelphia at the 39th spot.
11:28 - Two-thirds of the draft is complete now that Florida State's Dwayne Bacon has been drafted 40th overall by New Orleans.
11:32 - Seven correct picks in the mock draft. That's a lot better than last year, when it all went down the drain once Jaylen Brown went to the Celtics.
11:33 - Two commercial break picks, two Oregon players. Tyler Dorsey was taken by the Hawks at No. 41 while ESPN was in their interlude.
11:34 - Drafting 42nd for the second straight year, Utah takes Indiana's Thomas Bryant.
11:40 - Fran Fraschilla for the 43rd pick, as Houston takes Isaiah Hartenstein, a seven-footer from Germany.
11:42 - Houston guard Damyean Dotson, rumored to be a target of Indiana if he were there at No. 47, is off the board at No. 44, going to the Knicks.
11:47 - Two picks during the break, as Oregon's Dillon Brooks went to Houston at No. 45, while Sterling Brown of SMU went to the 76ers one spot later. Drafting 47th, Indiana takes UCLA's Ike Anigbogu.
11:48 - While all that was going on, Chicago traded Jordan Bell to Golden State for the ever-popular cash considerations.
11:50 - Milwaukee gets an underrated second-round steal in South Carolina's Sindarius Thornwell at the No. 48 spot. Thornwell, who led the Gamecocks to an improbable Final Four run, will make a similar impact to the one Malcolm Brogdon made with the Bucks as a rookie this past season.
11:53 - While away at a break, ESPN's ticker just flashed Vlatko Cancar, a Slovenian prospect who is a likely draft-and-stash for the Denver Nuggets at pick No. 49.
11:55 - Jeff Goodman reports that the Clippers have bought the rights to both Jawun Evans and Sindarius Thornwell.
11:57 - Thomas Bryant, drafted by Utah at No. 42, is on his way to the Lakers as part of the Tony Bradley-Josh Hart trade.
11:58 - France's Mathias Lessort brings on Fran Fraschilla to break down the 50th overall selection.
12:00 - Dwayne Bacon is headed to Charlotte in exchange for Frank Jackson, while Iowa State's Monte Morris is on his way to Denver at No. 51.
12:02 - Xavier's Edmond Sumner, still recovering from a torn ACL, has a chance to step right in and make a difference once he is 100 percent, as New Orleans has just drafted him 52nd overall.
12:05 - Boston adds to their draft night haul with Arizona's Kadeem Allen at No. 53.
12:08 - Memphis has acquired Dillon Brooks for a future second-round pick. Phoenix gets a potential steal at No. 54, drafting Valparaiso center Alec Peters.
12:09 - Mark Tatum comes right back for the 55th overall pick, which ends up being Gonzaga point guard Nigel Williams-Goss, now headed for Utah as a draft choice of the Jazz.
12:14 - Entering the final stretch, Cal's Jabari Bird went to the Celtics at the No. 56 spot during the commercial break, while Cyprus native Aleksandar Vezenkov is a likely stash by the Nets at 57.
12:16 - Another stash pick, this one by the Knicks with Ognjen Jaramaz of Serbia at No. 58.
12:17 - The penultimate selection is a typical Spurs pick, as San Antonio drafts all-ACC forward Jaron Blossomgame out of Clemson at No. 59.
12:18 - Mr. Irrelevant will be chosen by the Atlanta Hawks, but who will it be?
12:21 - One final trade to announce, as Mark Tatum consummates Indiana's purchase of Edmond Sumner for cash considerations.
12:22 - Fran Fraschilla takes us home, as French center Alpha Kaba is this year's Mr. Irrelevant.
12:23 - Or maybe not. ESPN wraps up before a final Fraschilla analysis.
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