Ellington

Lanier High School's uber-talented guard Monta Ellis decided to bypass playing college basketball at Mississippi State and jump into the NBA draft. On Tuesday night, the wisdom of that decision will be revealed when the picking begins (6:30 p.m., ESPN). Ellis went to the NBA because he's been told he will be a first-round pick. Sports Illustrated says he wlll go to the Sacramento Kings with the No. 23 pick. Insidehoops.com says the Utah Jazz with No. 27. But About Pro Basketball says he's going to the L.A. Lakers with the No. 37 pick in the second round. That would be bad, because first-round picks' contracts are guaranteed; second-round pick's deals aren't. Good luck, Monta.