Philadelphia 76ers News Blog @newzblogz.com

In an alternate universe, this might have been a momentous week, even a historic week, for New York and its beleaguered N.B.A. franchise. Had the Knicks stripped their payroll a few years back and suffered through some rough seasons, they might be stitching a uniform for Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, the two franchise-changing talents who headline Thursdays draft.

In another alternate universe, in which the Knicks never traded for Eddy Curry, they might be pondering another dozen intriguing prospects who will fill out the upper half of the first round.

In this universe, however, the Knicks are coming off their sixth consecutive losing season and selecting 23rd making the draft a rather unremarkable finale to another unremarkable season.

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The Portland Trail Blazers are scratching their heads,

trying to figure out which player to take with the No. 1

pick at Thursday's NBA draft.

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If not for the presence of center Greg Oden of Ohio State, Kevin Durant of Texas would be hailed as the sure-fire No. 1 pick and perhaps the best prospect to come along since LeBron James.

Durant was that good in his lone collegiate season. He (not Oden) was the player of the year as he led an inexperienced Texas team to a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

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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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Fran Vazquez is like a ghost this time of year, still haunting instead of

helping, circling to create interest but still unwilling -- or unable -- to be

anything more than hope on a distant horizon.

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