Although I can't really say I had much riding on the NBA Draft (I mean, everyone I cared about is back at Carolina--as they should be, of course), but after March Madness I had to know where everyone (everyone whose name stuck in my head, at least) would end up next season.

It came as no surprise that Derrick Rose went first.  Add to the fact that he gets to play for his hometown team and Rose really could not ask for more.

The Pacers pretty much cleaned up, nabbing both Rush and Hibbert.  Rush comes from a great team at Kansas that truly played as a team (as much as I may want to diss Kansas after this past Final Four, I can't help but respect them) and it will be interesting to see what he can do in his new surroundings.

The Miami Heat can't complain either, getting both Player of the Year prospect Michael Beasley and solid Kansas guard Mario Chalmers.

Joe Alexander of West Virginia landed high in the draft, and good for him.  He really stood out in the NCAA tournament, and personally I always felt like he was somewhat overlooked.

The Nets got away with two big men, Brook Lopez (his brother twin Robin went to the Suns, and wow was it funny to watch him try to get that hat on over his hair) and Ryan Anderson.  Add to that the prospect of LeBron James in 2010 and the Nets will be making their way up in the NBA (at least as far as popularity goes).  I personally cannot wait 'til they get out of New Jersey and into Brooklyn.

The Knicks were kidding themselves if they thought they could actually draft Mayo, but they'll be happy with Italian import Danilo Gallinari.  And Gallinari will be happy with the popularity he will have among New York's mob Italian population (just kidding guys, really).  Plus, now that he's in the states, he's bound to have some endorsements offers if he plays even halfway decently and doesn't change his looks.

Love and Mayo were already traded to the Timberwolves and Grizzlies respectively, along with other trades that happened so fast they're difficult to remember.  The Timberwolves probably got a better deal, only because Love fits better with Minnesota than Mayo with Memphis, but both players are young and talented and will be able to learn to fit where needed.

Was anyone else completely panicked for Darrell Arthur?  He claims that rumors of a kidney problem stemmed from a doctor who forgot to send in his lab results, and if he's telling the truth than he should have gone much higher in the draft.  The Grizzlies may have gotten away with a serious steal, added to their trade for Mayo.

Overall, it was obvious that point guards are in high demand in the NBA (Westbrook went before UCLA teammate Love), freshmen are the new seniors (Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Love, etc.), and no one cheers for foreigners if they cannot pronounce their names (but when people can't pronounce your name, they usually give you a cool nickname).  At the end of the draft though, I was left with one question: how can you not show up to the draft if you yourself are being drafted?  As far as I know, that's in a once in a lifetime thing.