A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS....MINUS 998 SUNS

The Phoenix Suns have two of the next six picks, and they have been forewarned by Stu Jackson not to have their draft pick leave the waiting area until David Satan calls their name, or else they'll have to forfeit their season opener.

And the Suns select....Rudy Fernandez, a 6-5 Spanish guard. Phoenix is hiring a non-American citizen whose native tongue is Spanish. Wow, they really are plugged in to their community.

Supposedly, the Suns are going to send Fernandez's rights to Portland in exchange for cash. They're drafting cash! The Suns! They're making it rain on draft night!