JUST MY TYPE
FRANK KAMINSKY
GREEN HORNET
Charlotte turned down a trade offer that reportedly included six draft picks to select the 22-year-old Wisconsin center and national player of the year.
DAN PATRICK:Where did you think you were headed?
FRANK KAMINSKY: I had a good indication Charlotte was going to be the spot before the draft based on what my agent had heard.
DP:Did you meet with [Hornets owner] Michael Jordan?
FK: I have not yet.
DP:Have you talked to him?
FK: I have not yet.
DP:Did you visit Charlotte?
FK: I didn't.
DP:They didn't work you out. You haven't talked to Jordan. Other than that, how does it feel?
FK: Everything else is going pretty well. No complaints.
DP:Who calls you to tell you that the Hornets are taking you?
FK: My agent told me. They're sneaky with the cameras at your table, and then a lady comes behind you with the hat.
DP:So you can tell something is going on?
FK: Yup. My heart started beating real fast. I got all nervous. I didn't want to mess up or trip walking up the stairs.
DP:What number will you be?
FK: As of now, 4.
DP:Not 44, like you wore in college?
FK: No. A guy on the team [forward Jeff Taylor] already has that number.
DP:You could buy it.
FK: I could, but I'm cheap.
DP:What are you going to treat yourself to with your contract?
FK: Probably a nice dinner.
DP:You're really splurging.
FK: I might buy a $50 steak.
DP:What kind of car do you drive?
FK: I don't have a car.
DP:Are you going to get one?
FK: Eventually.
DP:Used or new?
FK: New. I've been doing some research.
DP:How about a Mini Cooper?
FK: I was actually thinking a minivan so I could drive all my friends around. Especially the one where you can reverse the seats and the people in the back can look at each other.
DP:What's the first question you'll ask Jordan?
FK: What's going on?
DP:That's it?
FK: I honestly don't know.
DP:How about, Why did you take me?
FK: That could be a good conversation starter. Or I could say, "How much does a polar bear weigh?" To which I'll answer, "Enough to break the ice."
DP:Can you beat Michael Jordan one-on-one?
FK: I am not going to answer that question.
DP:You're 22. You have to be able to beat him.
FK: I hope so, but he is the greatest basketball player of all time. I'm sure he's still got more than enough game left.
DP:I'd take you over Jordan any day.
FK: Now, or back in the day? If it's back in the day, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
GUEST SHOTS
SAY WHAT?
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said that changes in the game had an effect on his decision to take Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick. "There was a time when everybody was just trying to dunk the ball," he told me. "But with that three-point line, you have guys coming in who just have a gift." ... Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski explained why he passed on Stephen Curry coming out of high school. "So much of it was his size," Coach K said. "Who knew? [Davidson coach Bob] McKillop knew. I wish I knew." ... ESPN analyst Jay Bilas is well aware that some people drink when he uses clichés. "We have an incredibly long draft, so the word wingspan [will] come out," he told me. "The Jay Bilas Drinking Game could be good for business at the Betty Ford Center."
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MICHAEL J. LEBRECHT II FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (PATRICK)
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NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (KAMINSKY)
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DAVID LIVINGSTON/GETTY IMAGES (KUPCHAK)
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ANDREW D. BERNSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (KRZYZEWSKI)
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STEPHEN LOVEKIN/GETTY IMAGES (BILAS)