News from June 26.

As expected, the NBA moved up the free agent signing date from August 1 to
July 18.  Teams may begin talking to free agents July 1, but can not sign
them or make trades until July 18.  The free agent signing date for 2002
will be July 17 and for 2003 will be July 16.  With the signing date moved
up, the league also reduced Kevin McHale's (Min) suspension to end July 18
(was August 1).

Boston exercised their 2nd year option for Mark Blount.
 
Detroit named Kevin O'Neill as an assistant coach.
 
Robert Horry (LAL) elected not to opt-out of his contract.  He is now
signed through 03-04.

Former NBA player and coach George Senesky died.  He was 78 years old.  He
played for the Philadelphia Warriors from 46-47 - 53-54 and then coached
the team for 4 years, including the 1956 Championship team.

The 2001 NBA Draft is tonight starting at 6:00 pm (Central) on TNT.
Draft Order
  First Round
  1. Washington
  2. LA Clippers
  3. Atlanta
  4. Chicago
  5. Golden State
  6. Vancouver  
  7. New Jersey
  8. Cleveland
  9. Detroit  
 10. Boston
 11. Boston  [from Den (Ron Mercer trade)]
 12. Seattle
 13. Houston  
 14. Golden State  [from Ind (Jeff Foster trade)]
 15. Orlando  
 16. Charlotte
 17. Toronto
 18. Houston  [from NY (NY->Pho Luc Longley trade) via Pho (Pho->Orl
              Anfernee Hardaway trade) and Orl (Orl->Hou Steve Francis
              trade]
 19. Portland
 20. Cleveland  [from Mia (Shawn Kemp trade)]
 21. Boston  [from Pho (Pho->Den Antonio McDyess trade) via Den (Den->Uta
             2001 #26 trade) and Uta (Uta->Bos Danny Fortson trade)]
 22. Orlando  [from Mil (Mil->Hou Joel Przybilla trade) via Hou (Hou->Orl
              Steve Francis trade)]
 23. Houston  [from Dal (Dal->Orl Courtney Alexander trade) via Orl
              (Orl->Hou Steve Francis trade)]
 24. Utah  
 25. Sacramento
 26. Philadelphia
 27. Vancouver  [from LAL (LAL->NY Glen Rice trade) via NY (NY->Van Othella
                Harrington trade)]
 28. San Antonio
[Only 28 picks as Minnesota lost theirs due to the Joe Smith fiasco]

 Second Round
 30 Chicago
 31 Golden State
 32 Orlando  [from Was (Laron Profit trade)]
 33 Vancouver
 34 Atlanta
 35 New Jersey
 36 Cleveland
 37 Philadelphia  [from LAC (cash trade)]
 38 Detroit
 39 New York  [from Bos (Bos->Sea Josip Sesar trade) via Sea (Sea->NY
              Patrick Ewing trade)]
 40 Seattle  [from Den (Den->Bos Eric Williams trade) via Bos (Bos->Sea 
             Josip Sesar trade)]
 41 Indiana
 42 Seattle  [from Orl (Corey Maggette trade)]
 43 New York  [from Sea (Patrick Ewing trade)]
 44 Dallas  [from Hou (Eduardo Najera trade)]
 45 Chicago  [from Cha (Roberto Duenas trade)]
 46 Minnesota
 47 Denver  [from Tor (Keon Clark trade)]
 48 Vancouver  [from NY (Othella Harrington trade)]
 49 Miami
 50 Portland
 51 Phoenix
 52 Milwaukee  [from Chi via Mil (Chi->Mil Andrew Lang trade)]
 53 Utah
 54 Dallas
 55 Sacramento
 56 San Antonio  [from LAL (Cory Hightower trade)]
 57 Philadelphia  
 58 San Antonio