NEW YORK — Winners and losers in yesterday's NBA Draft:

Winners

The Pacific Northwest. Our eco-friendly neighbors 3,000 miles away might have a few more reasons to stay indoors this fall when Greg Oden and Kevin Durant take charge of the basketball landscape. The two seem to have the kind of talent and magnetism to become the Larry Bird/Magic Johnson combination of this generation. Durant will soon lead the NBA in scoring; Oden will soon lead the Trail Blazers back to championship contention.

Mike Conley Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies. Legendary GM Jerry West might be on the way out in the coming days, but his fingerprints are all over this selection. Conley was far and away the best point guard available and a player whose basketball IQ is off the charts. In Memphis, where he'll be surrounded by strong offensive talent, Conley might lead the league in assists really soon. And he finally can escape Oden's enormous shadow and shine as a complete player.

The University of Florida. Corey Brewer, one of three Gators picked in the first nine selections, said it best: "We set records. We just go out and make history. That's just what we do." Draft night belonged to a Gators program that has been on top of the basketball world for two years. When Al Horford went third to the Atlanta Hawks, Brewer was taken seventh by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Joakim Noah was selected ninth by the Chicago Bulls, it set UF apart in the record books ... again. It made UF the first school ever to have three players taken in the first nine picks. And when Chris Richard and Tauren Green were picked in the second round it allowed the Gators to tie Connecticut's record of five players drafted. Again from Brewer: "It was a very good night for the Gator Boys."

Knicks president/coach Isiah Thomas. He started the night an object of derision from embarrassed New Yorkers with one fan flashing a "Fire Isiah" sign and dozens of others calling for his head. But he was the toast of Manhattan by the end of the night after unloading the mercurial Steve Francis and adding Zach Randolph's low-post power. Never mind that Randolph is a trouble-making knucklehead who'll never mesh with Eddy Curry, but anyone able to move Francis gets credit here.

Joakim Noah and the Windy City. Oden and Durant were the marquee names in this draft, but in many ways Noah seemed to own the stage in New York. His suit was the funkiest in Madison Square Garden, he held court in his news conferences and he genuinely seemed to be having the time of his life. He'll be a marketing dream in Chicago and he gets to play for a team already contending for a championship. Noah said he must be the luckiest dude on the planet, and it would be hard to argue with him.

Orlando Magic. For just the second time in franchise history they didn't have a first-round draft choice. And considering how things have gone of late, that's a good thing. Fran Vazquez (2005) still reigns mainly in Spain and J.J. Redick (2006) can't get off the bench. By not having a first-round pick, they saved themselves salary cap dollars for free agency — and likely some embarrassment.

Tiago Splitter and the World Champion Spurs. The Big Brazilian finally stuck in the draft after pulling out each of the past two seasons. He won't be let out of his Spanish contract until 2008, allowing the Spurs to stash him away while he matures. And in a year, the rich will get richer by getting another premier post player.

Detroit general manager Joe Dumars. Things just seem to always work out perfectly for "Joe Cool." He wanted scoring punch from the wings and he got two very talented pieces in Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo.

Losers

Boston Celtics. I've been a huge fan of Ray Allen's for years — even pushing for the Magic to trade Grant Hill's expiring contract for him for the past two seasons — but this move by the Celtics reeks of desperation. All this quick-fix move does is keep Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers from getting fired. The Celtics are still miles away from being championship material, even with the 31-year-old Allen gunning in 3s from the outside.

Atlanta Hawks. It's hard to argue with the acquisitions of the bruising Horford and gutsy point guard Acie Law. Both are ready to play right away and will make solid contributions next season. But the Hawks had a chance to make a bold move to send a jolt through the moribund franchise. Giving up the Nos. 3 and 11 picks could have landed them Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett or Jason Richardson. If they had done that, basketball might have mattered again in Atlanta for the first time in two decades.

Al Thornton. The green room at Madison Square Garden had to feel like a torture chamber to the Florida State star Thursday night. Not only did he have to look on as three rival Florida players were selected early, Thornton also plummeted to the L.A. Clippers at No. 14. He thought he'd be a top-seven selection and if he fell he'd certainly go to Philadelphia at No. 12. The Sixers worked him out twice and the second session was his best of the month leading up to the draft. Alas, the Sixers passed and he was chosen by a team that never even worked him out. Thornton vowed revenge for the teams that passed him over. Considering his enormous offensive talent, Thornton just might get the last laugh.

Eastern Conference. Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Eastern Conference, the NBA's junior varsity, got roundly whipped once again. The West gets Oden, Durant, Mike Conley Jr., Brewer and Thornton, making an already rugged conference even better. The East has to settle for an aging Allen, the trouble-making Randolph and Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian, whose already looking to escape Milwaukee. Sadly, only night watchmen and insomniacs will get to enjoy Durant and Oden's games on the East Coast.

Jianlian and the Bucks. This has the look of the Fran Vazquez Disaster, Part II written all over it. The Chinese government wanted Yi playing in a major U.S. market, preferably on the West Coast. Yi's handlers trying to manipulate his draft direction, only allowing a few teams watch him work out. It will be interesting now to see if he ever plays a minute in Milwaukee. Yao Ming has done just fine in Houston, and the Chinese would be wise to let Yi play in Milwaukee where he will have time to grow and develop his raw, unfinished game.

Brandan Wright. Rule No. 1, rook: Don't ever diss Michael Jordan. After being selected by Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats, Wright made an off-handed remark to ESPN's Stuart Scott about how Jordan wanted none of him on the court. Minutes later, the North Carolina product was shipped to the West Coast to play for the Golden State Warriors. Let's hope he learned his lesson. Don't tug on Superman's cape.

Billy Donovan. The UF coach planned to attend the draft, but backed out at the last minute. Sound familiar, Magic fans? No, "Boomerang Billy" didn't get cold feet the same way he did with Orlando; he was unable to make it to Madison Square Garden because of airline and weather issues in the Northeast. Or maybe he's just been banned forever from NBA arenas after the way he embarrassed the Magic.