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USA TODAY's David DuPree recalls highlights of the NBA draft during the newspaper's 25 years:

Toss up — 1983

USA TODAY covered the last two years of the coin toss — when the top overall pick was decided by a coin toss between the teams that had the worst record in each conference. The Houston Rockets won the toss in 1983 and took 7-4 center Ralph Sampson, who went on to become rookie of the year. But the Rockets finished last in the West, won the coin toss again in 1984 and drafted 7-0 Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. The die was cast, as practically every team sought to copy the Twin Towers strategy.

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LOS ANGELES — Yi Jianlian (pronounced yee chon-len), the likely top-10 NBA draft pick from China, is billed as the next Yao Ming, but don't be fooled.

He's 7 feet tall, 247 pounds and quite an athlete, more akin to a power or small forward than a center such as the Houston Rockets' Yao at 7-6, 310.

Yi is quicker, faster and much springier. He's an excellent shooter up to 18-20 feet and can hit three-pointers, too.

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HIBBING If you have been listening to all the trade rumors surrounding Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves this week, your head is probably spinning.

First hes going here, then hes going there. Now, hes not going here but maybe hes going there.

Personally, I think the Wolves would be crazy to trade him. Hes been a model professional athlete in this state for a long time. Other than an interview he gave just prior to a playoff game with the Sacramento Kings a few years ago, hes never been called on the carpet.

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1.   Portland: Greg Oden, 7-foot, center, Ohio State. He should be the franchise's center for the next 15 years.

2.   Seattle: Kevin Durant, 6-9, forward, Texas. A future all-star, he is no consolation prize.

3.   Atlanta: Al Horford, 6-9, forward, Florida. Atlanta needs a point guard, but it's tough to pass on Horford's toughness.

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