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!!!

David Aldridge: They'd love to take Hawes at 12, trust me. But he won't be there, and they won't trade up to take him. Mike: David, isn't Brandan Wright unquestionably the 3rd or 4th best talent in this draft? If he's really dropping to 7th or even lower, how can the Sixers talk about trading up for a slow stiff like Hawes or No-offense Noah instead of Wright?

David Aldridge: Not unquestionably, no. He's got a lot of potential, but he's not ready to be a dominant player yet. There's a scenario under which he could fall to 12 (Conley to Memphis, Green to Boston, Yi to Milwaukee, Noah to Minnesota, Brewer to Charlotte/Phoenix, Hawes to Chicago, Thornton to Sacramento, Law to Atlanta).

Ricky from Italy: do you agree that the only position that we are ok at is SF, therefore we shouldn't draft a SF?

David Aldridge: No. You take the best player, regardless of position, because you can always trade a good player to someone else. The Sixers aren't in a position to turn down more talent because they already have Iguodala.

baxter: Is there any way for the sixers to trade up to the #2 spot, or is Durant worth more than their entire organization put together? Could you get it done for 3(or more) first rounders, Iguodala, Korver and Miller? Yes I do want a star player who takes every shot. Unlike AI, Durant makes his...

David Aldridge: No. Next.

Tony: I appreciate your knowledge David. Would Sixers draft either Wright at 12? Who do you like better and why? Thank you David

David Aldridge: If Brandan Wright slips to 12, I think it'll be hard to pass on him. He's so long and has so much potential.

ryan: What do you think about nick Fazekas or aaron gray at 30 or 38? Or anyone else that can score from the low post b/c we all know dalembert can not.

David Aldridge: I'd much rather see them go for a guard with some quickness like, say, Taurean Green or Aaron Brooks or Zabian Dowdell than any of the bigs that might be there in the 30s.

Buffon: Good morning David. What foreign player would be attractive at 21 or 30 if Sixers had to keep all three picks and leave one in Europe. The plan has worked for the Spurs..why not us!

David Aldridge: I'd look at a guy like Stanko Barac, possibly, at 30. The scouts I've talked with say he's exactly the kind of guy you'd like to stash overseas for a couple of years for some seasoning...or maybe Kyrylo Fesenko.

Delpi: Hello David. Who has bust written all over him and would make us cringe if he's announced at 12. Sorry to be negative, but the name Shawn Bradley still gives me gut pain.

David Aldridge: Delps, I wouldn't be thrilled if I heard Thaddeus Young's name there, let's put it that way.

Jeff: Thanks for taking this time. I haven't seen much discussion on the current 76'ers team, in terms of this draft. Who on the current team do you see as keepers, and who should they be looking to upgrade in this and future drafts?

David Aldridge: Frankly, none of them. I'm not trying to be flip, but this team doesn't have the luxury of having any untradable guys. Now it would take a lot at this point to move Iguodala, I know, but for the right deal, anybody could and should be sent packing. They obviously are going to need a young point guard to groom as the heir apparant for Miller.

Gianni: Nice treat - appreciate it David. What player could the Sixers conceivably unload in a trade tonight? Miller? Carney? Dalembert? Korver? or is this unexpected?

David Aldridge: Wouldn't expect them to trade any of their core guys like those you mentioned. Could they put a Shavlik Randolph or a Louis Williams in a deal to move up? Sure.

ryan: Do you think the sixers will be a lottery team again next year, considering that many of the teams picking ahead of them are already better and just tanked this season for a chance at oden and durant.

David Aldridge: Well, let's look at the East playoff teams this year. Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and a healthy Miami are still better than Philly. Washington's probably better, along with Toronto and the Nets (assuming they keep Carter around). That leaves Orlando, and I expect they'll improve this summer with a free agent, whether it's Rashard Lewis or someone else. And now you see that the kid they drafted a couple of years ago, Vasquez, says he wants to come over and play for the Magic next year.

David Aldridge: Milwaukee's going to be a lot better next year. So is Atlanta. So, to answer your question, yes.

Steve: Would you prefer the Sixers to keep the top 3 picks, or trade one or two to move up into top ten?

David Aldridge: You always move up to get better talent. I'd move 12 and 21 in a heartbeat if it gave me a chance at Green, Brewer or Yi.

Roman: Do you see Sixers being patient and allowing the core players the time to develop together and adding a free agent next year, or blowing up the salary cap with dumb acquisitions, as has been their pattern in the past?

David Aldridge: I'll be shocked if they do anything that will suck up their potential cap room for '08. That's been the plan for a while.

Culture of Winning: Hey look, there's the 3,000 pound elephant in the room. Still real happy we pulled out all the stops to beat teams that were rolling over and have the 12th pick in a draft with 9 top notch players.

David Aldridge: I was wondering when the Tankers would come out...yes, they still did the right thing. Ask the Celtics and Bucks how that worked out for them when they see Oden go to Portland and Durant go to Seattle.

Nino: David-who's next year's number 1 pick? I obviously am expecting a high draft pick. Sorry.

David Aldridge: As you should. I would write O.J. Mayo in ink.

Andy: It seems as if trading up is a risky proposition because it is a good bet that those you are looking for may be gone. What is wrong with just keeping the picks we have? Isn't it feasible to become good based on the picks we have alone.

David Aldridge: Nothing's wrong with keeping them, but you probably won't get much in the way of immediate impact, and in a draft this good, that has to be the goal for a team with three picks.

David: Hello namesake. Which player would compliment Iguodala the best? or is building around Iggy the best approach?

David Aldridge: Iguodala is the perfect complimentary player, and should be playing off of someone down low. If there was some way they could get Horford, that's the way I'd go. Inside-out, not the other way around.

David Aldridge: Folks, I'd love to stay all afternoon, but I have to get back on the phones...thanks so much for taking time to post the questions. Let's do this again after the draft. Thanks again.