Mocking draft: Think international, learn to spell
Predicting the NBA Draft gets more difficult by the year. It was difficult enough when all of the players were American born and trained and everyone had a chance to watch them develop for four years in NCAA basketball.
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| The Pistons seem set on taking 7-foot-1 Darko Milicic with the second pick.(AP) |
So there are complications. A conversation about the draft can go like this:
WRITER: I heard they like Zoran Planinic.
NBA GM: The guy from Georgia?
WRITER: Georgia? No, he didn't play in college. That's Jarvis ...
NBA GM: No, the Republic of Georgia.
WRITER: Oh. No, not him, that's Zaur Pachulia.
NBA GM: Oh.
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| LeBron James at least makes one spot easy.(AP) |
But SportsLine.com has burned up the phone lines, watched the individual workouts, been lied to by agents, scouts and middle men and come up with the best effort we can give you.
This we think we know: The top three picks are all but set. Everything else is subject to change. We'll update as soon as new info comes in, most likely as soon as later in the week.
In the meantime, don't mock us unless you can spell Sofoklis Schortsanitis without looking it up.
1. CLEVELAND: LeBron James, 6-8, 240, Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary
The no-brainer of the draft, King James stays in Northeast Ohio and attempts to revive the Cavaliers. He sells tickets, draws in fans and, perhaps, develops into one of the all-time greats. The only question is can he play point guard from Day 1 and how will he deal with the inevitable growing pains?
2. DETROIT: Darko Milicic, 7-1, 245, Serbia
Joe Dumars doesn't normally tip his hand, which ought to tell you how much the Pistons general manager loves Milicic. And for good reason, there is plenty to like about this ambidextrous, inside/outside 17-year-old. Perhaps most exciting to the workmanlike Pistons is Milicic's focus on the game and his European-big-man-stereotype-busting mean streak.
3. DENVER: Carmelo Anthony, 6-7, 234, Syracuse
The Nuggets would have loved getting LeBron but the lottery balls didn't go their way. Fortunately Anthony is a heck of a consolation prize. The high-scoring small forward has the look of a long-term star and, maybe most impressively, the heart of a winner. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four -- a rare honor for a freshman -- when he led the Orangemen to a national title.
4. TORONTO: Chris Bosh, 6-11, 225, Georgia Tech
Seven-foot-5 Russian Pavel Podkolzine would have certainly been intriguing here but the teenager pulled out of the draft at the last minute. That means the Raptors will look to Bosh, the kind of lanky, young athlete that the NBA covets. He can score, run the floor and will eventually (as he bulks up) be a threat in the interior. Rumors have the Raptors high on Georgetown strong man Mike Sweetney.
5. MIAMI: Maciej Lampe, 7-0, 265, Poland
The Heat could use a point guard but Lampe, who also gives them the big man to eventually replace Alonzo Mourning, might be the smart play. No one has seen their stock rise faster in the past week than the 18-year-old 7-footer. His workouts have been impressive, wowing teams with his versatile game and uncanny off-court maturity. Don't be surprised if someone trades up here to grab him.
6. CLIPPERS: Dwyane Wade, 6-4, 212, Marquette
This would have been a no-brainer, but Podkolzine pulled his name out of the draft on Thursday shocking almost everyone in the NBA. Typical Clipper luck. Now L.A. has to go in another direction. Wade, a dynamic shooting guard, would be a nice addition to a line up that will probably be losing Corey Maggette to free agency. The Clips could also go with a point and take a shot at talented Kansas guard Kirk Hinrich.
7. CHICAGO: T.J. Ford, 6-0, 162, Texas
Ford was not in the Bulls' original plan, but that changed last week when Jay Williams crashed his motorcycle. As his future grows more ominous, Chicago may have to make a replacement pick. Ford is easy to fall in love with. He changes the way the game is played despite questions about size and strength. French off guard Mickael Pietrus is also a possibility here.
8. MILWAUKEE: Mickael Pietrus, 6-6, 210, France
The Bucks need a point guard so Kirk Hinrich makes sense here. But Pietrus, the highly touted European off guard might be too much to pass up on. Scouts call him one of the best athletes in the draft -- his ability to get to the lane is intriguing.
9. NEW YORK: Chris Kaman, 7-0, 252, Central Michigan
There is a lot to like about Kaman, who possesses good feet, hands, touch and timing. But teams have grown wary of the small town kid who admits he is afraid to fly post-9/11. His skills and legit 7-foot size is too much to pass on here though for the size-hungry Knicks.
10. WASHINGTON: Mike Sweetney, 6-8, 262, Georgetown
He isn't going to be a dominating center like fellow Hoyas Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning, but he is an effective low-post scorer, rebounder and banger. A real space-eater who may get the nod over Kansas' Nick Collison, another possible choice. But look for the Wizards to stay local and go with the Hoya.
11. GOLDEN STATE: Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, 186, Kansas
If the Warriors don't think they can re-sign Gilbert Arenas, this becomes a priority. If Hinrich is here, he could be a steal. The All-American out of Kansas is a terrific leader, a great athlete and a true winner. He should have a promising career in the NBA.
12. SEATTLE: Luke Ridnour, 6-2, 167, Oregon
Don't be surprised if Seattle tries to move up into the top 5 by packaging its two first-round picks. But if the Sonics are here, a point guard makes sense. Ridnour may need some seasoning. But the Pac-10 player of the year is a terrific lead guard with great instincts and good speed. Why look outside the Pacific Northwest?
13. MEMPHIS: Nick Collison, 6-10, 255, Kansas
Fundamentally sound, mature and ready to contribute. He has disappointed some scouts with his physical strength, but he has a knack for rebounding and scoring in traffic that will translate. A better athlete than people think.
14. SEATTLE: Leandrinho Barbosa, 6-3, 176, Brazil
If the Sonics don't take a point at 12, they will at 14. Scouts call Barbosa fast, strong and in possession of long arms that can lock guys up defensively.
15. ORLANDO: Reece Gaines, 6-6, 205, Louisville
Another point-guard-desperate team (it basically cost them the series with Detroit), the Magic may have to trade up if there is a run on lead guards. The Magic would love to get Hinrich or Ridnour. If not, Gaines, who played combo in college, is probably the best selection. UNLV's Marcus Banks could get a look here, too.
16. BOSTON: Jarvis Hayes, 6-7, 220, Georgia
Two scorers (Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker) will only take you so far, and if all of the top PGs are gone by this selection, Hayes makes perfect sense. Long, athletic and capable of pouring in points, he'll help almost immediately. Six-six off-guard Alexsandar Pavlovic of Serbia is also an option here in Danny Ainge's first draft.
17. PHOENIX: Zarko Cabarkapa, 7-0, 235, Serbia
The rumor that the Suns are set on taking this multitalented forward is everywhere. Perhaps too everywhere to be believed. But it makes sense. Cabarkapa is said to be a terrific shooter and ball handler despite his enormous size, capable of playing either forward position. The Suns could also follow the Amare Stoudamire formula and grab a high school athlete (Ndudi Ebi, Travis Outlaw) and teach him how to play.
18. NEW ORLEANS: David West, 6-9, 225, Xavier
West is a very solid, well-rounded player who should impact as a rookie in the NBA. Probably will never be a star, but a very strong team player for years to come. Tenacious on the boards, his outside game is developing. Might be the right addition for a playoff team.
19. UTAH: Alexsandar Pavlovic, 6-7, 210, Serbia
The Jazz can add what scouts call a potential go-to scorer in grabbing Pavlovic, your prototypical Euro shooting guard. With John Stockton retired and Karl Malone almost assuredly gone, someone in Salt Lake needs to score some points.
20. BOSTON: Marcus Banks, 6-2, 200, UNLV
If the Celtics feel threatened by a run of point guards, they might take Banks at 16. But if not, this is the spot for the scoring lead guard out of Vegas. There is some talk of going with a high school big man, but Banks is a fine fit for the Celts.
21. ATLANTA: Boris Diaw-Riffiod, 6-8, 203, France
Diaw may be gone at this point, but if not, he is an intriguing pick because of size and skill set. At 6-9, scouts claim Diaw can play both guard positions, and while not much of a scorer at this stage of his career, he is a deft passer. Other big guard/wing prospects possible include 6-6 Croatian Zoran Planinic and 6-6 Argentinean Carlos Delfino.
22. NEW JERSEY: Carlos Delfino, 6-6, 230, Argentina
Said to be a talented small forward who suffered a late-season ankle injury that reduced his exposure to scouts. Might be a steal here. The Nets need an outside shooter -- as the NBA Finals proved -- and Delfino can help. If Banks is available, Nets may grab a point. Team may also go with a European it can stash for a year because last year's pick, Nenad Kristic of Yugoslavia, will join the roster this season, the Nets still don't make money and a ton of cash needs to be available for the Jason Kidd bidding war.
23. PORTLAND: Travis Outlaw, 6-9, 190, Starkville (Miss.) High School
"Jail Blazers get Outlaw" ought to be a fun headline for a franchise that has more than its share of off court issues. Actually predicting anything here at this point is difficult. Portland just hired Steve Patterson as president so the front office is still being sorted out. Outlaw is extremely athletic but very thin and raw offensively. But his upside may prove to be too intriguing at this spot. But much is up in the air here.
24. LAKERS: Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6-9, 255, Greece He is called Baby Shaq, so where else should he go but with the original? Scouts claim Schortsanitis is physically imposing with nice touch around the basket. He provides a bigger version of Mark Madsen.
25. DETROIT: Travis Hansen, 6-6, 200, Brigham Young
No one helped himself more in the Chicago pre-draft camp than the Cougar off guard. Scouts knew he could play, but he showed tremendous open-court speed, strength and agility. He is mature, steady and a team-first kind of guy. Just the kind of player Joe Dumars usually goes for.
26. MINNESOTA: Brian Cook, 6-11, 234, Illinois
Cook has always teased scouts with his upside -- he has skills to match the size. He just needs to get stronger and tougher. At this stage of the first round taking a chance on him developing into such a player might be worth the risk. Xavier's West, if still available, or Wake Forest wing Josh Howard also might be a possibilities here.
27. MEMPHIS: Ndudi Ebi, 6-9, 196, Houston Westbury Christian
The Grizzlies are tough to figure, so this is a guess. But if Ebi is still in the draft then he believes he will be a first-round pick. Gambling on the athletic, active high schooler might work. Ebi might not be polished offensively, but he is lanky, young and fast enough to run the break.
28. SAN ANTONIO: Zaur Pachulia, 6-11, 240, Republic of Georgia
The champs are losing center David Robinson, and while neither Pachulia nor Malick Badiane of Senegal are going to replace the Admiral, this looks like a smart pick for the future. Also a possibility is Croatian combo guard Zoran Planinic. The likelihood is the Spurs will grab a European they can send back and defer the contract, freeing up maximum money for free-agent targets Jason Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal.
29. DALLAS: Malick Badiane, 6-10, 230, Senegal
The Mavs employ the ultimate Senegal scout -- native Amadou Falls -- and probably know this African center better than anyone else. High schoolers Travis Outlaw, a great but unpolished athlete, and two out-of-shape big men, James Lang and Kendrick Perkins, are possibilities here too. Ditto for college seniors Howard of Wake Forest and Dahntay Jones of Duke.
