Let’s get this out of the way first: We’re not fans of any drafts, in any sport. It’s speculation of the highest order, and while such chatter frequently holds the interest of many sports fans for weeks on end, it usually just leaves us cold. Do you really know whether, say, Jrue Holiday was a good or bad pick for the 76ers, or that Temple’s Dionte Christmas deserved to be drafted by someone, anyone? Talk amongst yourselves. We’d like to think that people who get paid to do this know what they’re doing, even if they work for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Big 5-wise, all you need to know is that Villanova’s Dante Cunningham was picked 33rd last night by the Portland Trail Blazers — the third pick in the second round. And Saint Joe’s Ahmad Nivins was picked 56th overall (26th in the second round) by the Dallas Mavericks. According to numerous news accounts, both really are happy to have been picked. Shocker, no?

As for Temple’s Christmas, the fact that he wasn’t drafted certainly doesn’t mean it’s the end of the line for him. Your Philadelphia 76ers have already invited him to play for their combined summer league team with the Noo Joisey Nets, according to Tom Moore at phillyBurbs, and Christmas is expected to report to play in Orlando next Thursday. We think he has a chance to latch on with someone, somewhere, but what do we know? We also thought he was definitely going to get picked.

Link: Christmas to play for Sixers-Nets (Nets-Sixers?) [phillyBurbs.com]