David Aldridge: Good morning, everyone. It's my pleasure to be here for the pre-draft chat...there's so much talk going on, and obviously everyone is interested in the Sixers...so let's go.

TC: Hi David, what player(s) would you like to the see the Sixers, realistically, come away with tonight?

David Aldridge: In a perfect world, the Sixers would come away with at least one player who could help them right away next season--like a Jeff Green--and someone with potential like a Crittenton or a Sean Williams. Realistically, they'll probably have to choose between a Julian Wright and Al Thornton at 12 .

John: Could it really be possible that with 3 1st rounders, Billy King can't find a trade partner to move up higher than 12th?

David Aldridge: Very possible. It's a very deep draft at the top and teams aren't going to give those higher picks away. After, say, nine, the talent level drops off noticeably.

Roc: Hi David. I was wondering if there's a good chance Andre Miller gets traded to Atlanta...could we possibly move up to #3 with Miller, Carney and the #12? If I'm the Hawks, I can still get Thornton who's not that big of a dropoff from Horford...who I love for the Sixers. Problem is who is Sixers point guard then? Mo?

David Aldridge: Not likely, for several reasons -- the Hawks aren't all that interested in Miller from what I hear, he'll have more trade value next summer when he's entering the final year of his deal and the Sixers would be left without a starting point guard (apologies to Willie Green and/or Louis Williams).

Angel: Thanks for spending some time with basketball fans. My only question is, Are there going to be any major trades tonight? You always hear things about kobe and Garnet and teams moving up, but will any of these actually happen?

David Aldridge: There will be a couple of trades tonight. I think you'll see Charlotte get out of the eighth pick in a smaller deal with Phoenix (maybe for the Suns' first-round pick next year, which is from Atlanta and is unprotected). The Bobcats would take a contract for a year like Kurt Thomas. But the big deal for Garnett, as of 11:17 a.m., is dead. Steve Kerr called Amare Stoudemire last night and told him he wasn't being traded. (I updated this last night for the online version of my story that ran in the paper this morning.)

jt: Who will be the better pro? Acie Law or Mike Conley?

David Aldridge: Mike Conley's going to be a great player, but I think Acie Law is going to be better. He reminds me a lot of Tim Hardaway, with his ability and willingness to take tough shots. And he's really developed into a leader.

Monte: Who is the steal of this draft and what pick do you think he will get drafted at?

David Aldridge: I think someone's going to get a great pro in Jared Jordan, the point guard from Marist. Every scout I talked to said he's the best passing point guard to come along in some time. He doesn't shoot it well now but good players can improve their shooting -- witness Tony Parker's improvement from the perimeter. He'll go early second round, and he'll be a very good player for a long time.

Sal: Thanks for the time David. What "upside" pick can we expect at 21 and 30? Whom would you prefer? I'd like Baby Shaq and Affalo....

David Aldridge: If they keep those picks I'd be surprised if they don't take a look at Sean Williams at 21, despite the character questions. They know Luke well. A guy like Belinelli or Rudy Fernandez would also make sense there. At 30, who knows?

WiPhil: Please tell me the Sixers don't like Yi. He's not as good as Yao (right?), and as good as Yao has been, even with McGrady the Rockets have done nothing.

David Aldridge: They do like Yi, and you should, too. He's going to be a really good pro and he'd help them immediately. Don't compare him to Yao just because they're both Chinese; they have completely different games. And it's not Yao's fault the Rockets haven't gotten out of the first round, I'll just leave it at that.

hanible: Hi David. Could you tell me how much under the cap will the Sixers be after next year?

David Aldridge: They should be anywhere between $9 and $15 million under, depending on how many of these picks they actually keep tonight. (First-round picks are guaranteed, which is why it's more likely they'll package two of them and wind up with two players instead of three.) And if they trade Andre Miller this year or next summer for an expiring contract or picks, they'll be more than $20 million under the cap.

Tripp: Please no Spencer Hawes!!!