It is after a record number of high schoolers (eight) that NBA Commissioner David Stern warns that he will try to reach an agreement with the players association for raising the minimum age limit. The international explosion that was last year’s draft cooled down as only one foreign player was among the first 20 picks in the first round. True firsts in draft history, the countries of South Korea (Ha Seung-Jin) and Latvia (Andris Biedrins), had their first players drafted by the NBA. The inclusion of the expansion team, Charlotte Bobcats, expanded the draft field from 58 selections to 60 selections.

Like every year, there are some players that probably hurt themselves by staying in college. Chris Duhon, Romain Sato, and Rickey Paulding all could have entered the draft at some point of their collegiate career and become first rounders. Instead, they choose to stay a tough discussion that shouldn’t be ridiculed, but still hurt their draft prospects. Christian Drejer took plenty of heat when he left the University of Florida in mid season to accept a contract and play for the Spanish pro team F.C. Barcelona. What Drejer didn’t count on was the NBA drafting him. Nor was he counting on struggling so much in international play. But due to the fact that he played for a college, he was automatically entered into the NBA draft (as stated in the draft rules). Unfortunately, it appears that impatience has cost Drejer dearly, as he went from a potential first rounder to a late second round pick.

This is the last draft in which the Minnesota Timberwolves will forfeit an NBA first round draft pick due to the league imposed punishment for the Joe Smith fiasco that almost ruined their franchise.