Mark Heisler of the LA Times reports on the activities in the Clippers war room on draft night. In what reads like a comedy of errors, he describes how the Clippers and Cavaliers just couldn?t get together to finalize a blockbuster trade.

Under the proposed deal with Cleveland, the Clippers would have gotten point guard Andre Miller for their No. 8 and 12 picks plus a player, but they couldn't agree on the player. The Clippers offered Corey Maggette, then made Lamar Odom available late in the process. The Cavaliers demanded Darius Miles. The Clippers refused, according to a source, on orders from Sterling.

Then the Cavaliers drafted a point guard, DeJuan Wagner, with the #6 pick. Minutes later, the Cavaliers called the Clippers and wanted to accept the Odom deal? but only if the Clippers drafted Caron Butler for them with the 8th pick. The problem was that the Clippers had already called in their pick, Chris Wilcox, to the league.

The Clippers then called the Suns (9th pick) and the Heat (10th pick) trying desperately to trade Wilcox for either pick so they could select Butler and complete the Cleveland trade. Phoenix had already called in their pick, Amare Stoudamire. The Heat decided that
Butler was too good to pass up and picked him for themselves.

The Cavs continued to call the Clippers during the draft, so all is not lost yet.

Another day passed and the Clippers were no closer to knowing precisely what they will do tonight with their first-round picks in the NBA draft according to the Los Angeles Times. They have the eighth and 12th overall selections, but have an interest in dealing with the Cleveland Cavaliers for standout point guard Andre Miller.

The word from the Clippers was only that talks continued Tuesday and will continue today. A Clipper spokesman put the chances of a completed deal at 50-50, the same figures Miller gave to an Ohio newspaper.

"It's something that could happen," Miller told the Akron Beacon Journal. "That's between my agent, the coaches and [General Manager] Jim Paxson to decide whether it happens. It's out of my hands." It's up to the Cavaliers to determine whether to part with Miller as the first step in an overhaul of their roster.

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports that the letter giving Yao Ming clearance to play in the NBA hasn?t arrived in Houston yet. The Rockets will likely draft Ming with the first pick in tonight?s draft whether or not they have that letter or not.

With the Chinese Basketball Association dragging its feet on sending the written authorization to free Yao, there were plenty of rumors swirling about what the Rockets will do with the pick. But a person with knowledge of the Rockets' plans said the holdup likely will not keep them from selecting Yao, 21, who will be the first foreign-born player to go No. 1 who hasn't at least played college basketball in the U.S.

"They want Yao Ming and that isn't going to change," said the source last night. "But they thought they'd have the letter by now."

Because of the delay, several teams have contacted the Rockets about trading the first pick. Among the offers, the Clippers wanted to ship Lamar Odom, along with the eighth and 12th picks, for the No. 1 pick, and an unidentified Rocket. In the market for a star playmaker, the Clippers had hoped to move up seven places to take Duke's Jay Williams. But Houston is leery of Odom's drug history and wanted no part of the third-year forward.

If the Rockets do decide to trade the pick, they will likely trade down to the #3 or #4 range to try to pick up UConn's Caron Butler or Maryland's Chris Wilcox. They will not use it on Jay Williams, who is expected to go to Chicago with the No. 2 pick.

Joe Stevens of the Daily News reports that the Clippers are pondering a big deal. Even though Clippers GM Elgin Baylor is tight-lipped about trade rumors, multiple sources say he and the Cavaliers are working on a trade to send Darius Miles the eighth pick and possibly the 12th pick to the Cavs for point guard Andre Miller and the sixth pick.

Baylor confirmed he has talked with the Cavs but wouldn't offer any details. "We've talked to every team," he said.

The Cavs might not be able to re-sign Miller when he becomes a free agent after this season, so they would be willing to deal him. But such a trade might give Cleveland more losses this season and endanger the jobs of general manager Jim Paxson and coach John Lucas. As a result, the pair might block Cavs management from making any deal.

As for the Clippers, they need to be certain that they can afford to give Miller a maximum contract extension. It's unclear whether such a commitment will come from Clippers management.

The Clippers are looking to upgrade their point guard situation. Jeff McInnis, the Clippers' starting point guard this season, is an unrestricted free agent and the team likely won't re-sign him. The Clippers want to upgrade their point-guard position with someone who can create shots, defend better and be quicker on the fast break, or with someone who has that potential.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune reports that power forwards will dominate the top of the draft, while point guards seem to be dominating the trade talks. Baron Davis, Andre Miller and Jamal Crawford are all the subject of talks as the draft approaches.

There were indications Cleveland's Andre Miller could be close to being dealt to the Clippers. Talks continued Monday about several possibilities, the most likely having Miller and the No. 6 pick going to the Clippers for Darius Miles and the No. 8 pick and perhaps No. 12. Cleveland would also be looking to unload some unwanted contracts in this trade.

The Grizzlies have shown interest in trading the No. 4 pick to the Clippers for their two lottery choices.

Talks heated up Monday, but the Hornets denied rumors about a deal involving Baron Davis.

Looking to move up as well to get a power forward was Phoenix, while the Wizards were said to be angling for guard DuJuan Wagner. That also produced talk in Washington that the Wizards planned to make another run at the Bulls' Jamal Crawford.

Michael Jordan practiced with Crawford last summer and has expressed that he would be interested in a big point guard like Crawford. The Bulls have said they do not intend to trade Crawford, and Washington has not made an offer yet. The Bulls could use another first-round pick this season, and the Wizards reportedly are willing to deal their No. 1 pick, which is 11th.

Overall, this draft looks like it could produce some top talent, especially at power forward. "It's not a draft of impact players, but I think it's pretty deep," Bucks general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "It's a draft of younger players. It's strong at the top at the forward position."

Elliot Teaford of the L.A. Times reports that the Clippers have many options on draft night, but nothing is finalized. They hold the 8th and 12th pick in tomorrow?s draft, and could be looking to trade.

They are reportedly offering both picks and Corey Maggette to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andre Miller. The trade hinges on the Cavs? willingness to shake up their whole roster.

There have been many rumors about the Clippers possibly packaging picks and players in order to gain a point guard to take the place of free agent Jeff McIinnis. Most of the rumors seemed to be centering on Lamar Odom and/or Michael Olowokandi, but General Manager Elgin Baylor has sought to quash any notions of a deal involving either.

"You can't believe everything you read," Baylor said. "There's nothing to it. We're talking to teams. We're listening to teams. None of the teams above us [in the draft order] are willing to move down.... We have not talked to any team [about Odom]. Any team that's asked about Lamar we've told, 'We're not trading Lamar.' We have not called any other team and asked about trading Lamar.... We don't want to move Michael."

With that said, Baylor added, "There are only two untouchables in the league, Shaq [O'Neal] and Tim Duncan."

To which, coach Alvin Gentry added, "No, because you could trade Shaq for Tim Duncan."