Durant and consolation prizes

[Steve Ouellette]

Still driving the bandwagon ...

Things I didn't know about Durant before this weekend: He set the single season Big 12 record for rebounds and points (by 4 per game), and he made the Big 12 All-defense team as well.

Danny Ainge set himself up next to Durant's mom during Saturday's semifinal ... but apparently he wasn't giving the hard sell. The mom was interviewed Sunday and said, to be honest, she had no idea who the nice man was.

As for the possible draft consolation prizes, Brandan and Julian Wright, I watched a lot of basketball this weekend and Julian (of Kansas) impresses me more. Maybe Brandan has Chris Bosh-like potential, but he's nowhere near that yet. 

Julian reminds me a little of a longer, leaner, more athletic Antoine Walker, without all the bad habits. He doesn't have Antoine's range and doesn't pretend to, usually only taking good shots. He's about 6-9, can handle the ball in the open court and is a great passer (the similarities). He has great moves and explosiveness around the basket, and can finish (unlike Toine) and gets after it on defense. He's ready to help a team right now; not so sure about Brandan.

Steve O