Empty the Bench

- We love mock drafts, even though it’s a lot of work for something that becomes irrelevant the day of the actual draft. The best mocks, however, have in-depth scouting reports about each player, and that info is invaluable for fans who aren’t up on the collegiate and/or international scene (like us). That’s one reason you should check out the Hoops Addict 2007 NBA Mock Draft. We have *no* idea what they were smoking to predict Oden and Durant to go 1 and 2, respectively, however…

- Apparently some Cleveland Cavalier vets are unhappy with their playing time, and might demand trades this summer. I’m sure Danny Ferry would love to move Ira Newble, Damon Jones, and Donyell Marshall. The problem is that you can’t trade them to the D-League, where they belong.

- It’s gut check time for Kupchak. The Lakers’ GM has a lot on his table this summer: deciding what to do about free agent Luke Walton, trying to upgrade the roster, and appeasing his increasingly pissed-off superstar Kobe Bryant.

- Even Pennsylvania’s governer doesn’t like the Kevin Kolb pick. That’s fine, but taxpayers aren’t paying you for opinions about the NFL Draft. If I want Eagles analysis, I’ll ask the guy who spreads plain tofu on my multi-grain bagel.

- Don’t count out the Minnesota Twins just yet, but the Central Division is probably the best in baseball, top to bottom, and they need to pick it up fast lest they play catch up all summer with the Tigers and Indians. The hitting should eventually come around, and dropping Sidney Ponson should help the pitching. Joe Mauer’s return can’t come soon enough.

- What’s going on in Green Bay? Brett Favre, the self-made Messiah of Cheesehead Country, puts off retirement yet again, but how do the Pack show their gratitude at not being forced to play Aaron Rodgers? First, they ignore pressing needs on offense–especially at running back–by reaching for DT Justin Harrell in the first round. Then they let Randy Moss end up in New England when they definitely could have had him. Those moves didn’t exactly make Favre giddy about his team’s prospects for success.

- Former Detroit Lions bust Smokey the Bear Charles Rogers doesn’t have to explain what happened to $10.184 million of his signing bonus just yet. Starving for victories of any kind, the Leos are taking Rogers to court in an attempt to recoup that amount for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but the trial has been delayed again. Asked what he would do with the unexpected free time, Rogers told reporters, “Uh, what do you think I’m gonna do?”

- Never thought we’d say this, but kudos to Steve Kerr for his short column about John Paxson and his refusal to give up at least two key components of his team for the overrated, perpetually bitchy Pau Gasol: “Gasol is a nice player, but let’s look at the facts. His Grizzlies teams made the playoffs three years in a row and got swept each time. That gives him an 0-12 playoff record. And what about this season’s Memphis squad? If Gasol is dominant enough to handle the Pistons’ front line, then how come he couldn’t help keep the Grizzlies from amassing more losses than any team outside the state of Massachusetts?”

- Sports Quote of the Week, courtesy of Mr. Rasheed Wallace: “As we chopped it down,” he mentioned of the lead and the Bulls, “them butt holes got tighter and tighter.” (via USA Today).

- Finally, once upon a time (1982-83, to be exact) the Chicago Cubs employed a manager by the name of Lee Elia. This R-rated audio from one of his early-season press conferences is a classic Manager Meltdown Hall of Fame Moment. I think he was just a little pissed off that day.