Several with state ties hold breath on draft day

By Eric Lindsey

elindsey@herald-leader.com

Some analysts have Joe Crawford, left, as a possible pick in the draft. His UK teammate Ramel Bradley, right, is not likely to be drafted. File photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff

A handful of basketball players with Kentucky ties will have their eyes on the NBA Draft Thursday night.

They likely will have to watch every last minute of coverage on ESPN, especially former Kentucky guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley. Neither is expected to get picked until late in the draft, if at all.

Most major mock drafts haven't included Crawford or Bradley in their latest versions, leaving both in a cloud of uncertainty heading into Thursday night's draft.

Western Kentucky's Courtney Lee is expected go somewhere in the mid- to late-first round.

Crawford was included in some early mock drafts as a late second-round pick because of his size and ability to score, and he's still being regarded by some NBA analysts as a possible pick.

Bradley, on the other hand, doesn't appear to be high on many NBA teams' draft board. If he or Crawford don't get picked, they'll have several options that include signing with a team as an undrafted free agent, joining the NBDL or going overseas to play ball.

Former Kentucky star and 2008 NBA champion Rajon Rondo, who made an appearance at his Rondo Camp at the Kentucky Basketball Academy on Wednesday, said he knows all too well how stressful draft night can be for draftee hopefuls.

Rondo, was picked 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2006 before being traded to the Boston Celtics. ”It's a long night,“ Rondo said. ”I went with the 21st pick, and it felt like it was seven hours.“

Despite the emphasis on draft night, Rondo said he later realized it doesn't make or break your NBA career.

”It's only one night,“ Rondo said. ”It affects your pay salary the first couple of years, but other than that, it doesn't determine who you become as a player.“

Former Hilltopper Lee is expected to have his named called, and most draft analysts have him going in the first round.

FOXSports.com's Jeff Goodman has Lee going as high as 21st overall to the New Jersey Nets while NBADraft.net thinks Lee will slip into the second round, going 33rd overall to the Portland Trail Blazers. Chad Ford of ESPN.com projected Lee as the 30th overall pick to the Boston Celtics in his latest mock draft.

Others with Kentucky ties who might hope to be drafted or signed as NBA free agents include: Ex-Louisville center David Padgett; former Western point guard Tyrone Brazelton; and former Tennessee and Mason County sharpshooter Chris Lofton. None were being mentioned prominently in mock drafts.