good NBA stuff from Denver paper, though they rate C's too low

[STRAUSS@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU]

   Sports
   
   Denver Nuggets home
   
                     No deal a big deal for five teams
                                      
   By Mike Monroe
   Denver Post Sports Writer
   
   June 29 - The 1997 NBA draft was more noteworthy for what did not
   happen than what did.
   
   Five teams, for a lot of reasons, were affected by the Chicago Bulls'
   decision not to trade Dream Team forward Scottie Pippen and center Luc
   Longley to the Boston Celtics for two of the first six picks in the
   draft, plus forward Antoine Walker. The Denver Nuggets didn't get Utah
   forward Keith Van Horn, the player they most wanted; the Celtics
   didn't get Pippen and Longley. The Bulls didn't get four young players
   around whom they were to begin the rebuilding of a championship team
   for the post-Michael Jordan era, and the Philadelphia 76ers and New
   Jersey Nets eventually wound up with the biggest deal of draft night.
   
   The future of several teams, including the Nuggets, was dramatically
   altered by Wednesday's events. Here is a look, with each team graded,
   at how all 29 teams fared in the first round:
   
   San Antonio Spurs 
   TIM DUNCAN
   (No. 1 pick)
   Center, Wake Forest
   Grade: A
   Comment: Spurs general manager/head coach Gregg Popovich said only
   four or five teams even tried to bid for this pick, for the very
   reason they knew the Spurs weren't going to give it up. And why would
   they? Matching Duncan with David Robinson instantly makes the Spurs
   one of the four best teams in the West. He is your 1998 rookie of the
   year.
   
   Philadelphia 76ers 
   TIM THOMAS
   (No. 7 pick)
   Small forward, Villanova
   ANTHONY PARKER
   (No. 21 pick)
   Big guard, Bradley
   Grade: A-minus
   Comment: Sixers honcho Larry Brown was as responsible for the collapse
   of the Bulls-Celtics-Nuggets deal as anyone, for he pushed the trade
   of No. 2 pick Keith Van Horn as much to keep Van Horn from winding up
   in Boston as he did to reshape his team. Nevertheless, the Sixers got
   a solid young scoring guard in Jimmy Jackson and a great prospect in
   Thomas. More important, they dumped two big, long-term contracts (Don
   MacLean's and Lucious Harris') and are well-positioned for a 1998
   free-agent run.
   
   Boston Celtics 
   CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
   (No. 3 pick)
   Point guard, Colorado
   RON MERCER
   (No. 6 pick)
   Small forward, Kentucky
   Grade: B-plus
   Comment: Celtics president/head coach Rick Pitino wanted Van Horn as
   least as badly as did the Nuggets. He didn't get him, or the
   Pippen-Longley deal he tried to orchestrate as a backup, in part
   because of hard feelings between him and Brown. Billups will be a star
   within three seasons, and Pitino's style is perfectly matched to his
   strengths. Pitino knows what Mercer can and can't do, and both he and
   Billups will start next season.
   
   Vancouver Grizzlies 
   ANTONIO DANIELS
   (No. 4 pick)
   Point guard, Bowling Green
   Grade: B
   Comment: Griz G.M. Stu Jackson got exactly the point guard he wanted,
   having rated Daniels ahead of Billups from the get-go. Daniels has the
   size (6-foot-4) to be a good defender and cause problems for
   opponents, and ought to be able to get Shareef Abdur-Rahim and friends
   running.
   
   Denver Nuggets 
   TONY BATTIE
   (No. 5 pick)
   Center-forward, Texas Tech
   DANNY FORTSON
   (No. 10 pick)
   Small forward, Cincinnati
   BOBBY JACKSON
   (No. 23 pick)
   Point guard, Minnesota
   Grade: B-minus
   Comment: Some experts gave the Nuggets an A for their draft-night
   wheeling and dealing that netted three first-rounders. Fact is, they
   didn't get the one first-rounder they really wanted, Van Horn. So,
   despite the fact Battie and Fortson - and possibly Jackson - figure to
   start next season, the Nuggets remain knee-deep in a long-term
   rebuilding process.
   
   New Jersey Nets 
   KEITH VAN HORN
   (No. 2 pick)
   Small forward, Utah
   Grade: A
   Comment: There was a reason both Denver and Boston tried hard to get
   in position to take Van Horn. He'll be on the Dream Team at the 2000
   Olympics. Yes, he's that good, and will be a better pro than a college
   player. They had to swallow two long-term contracts they didn't want,
   Don MacLean's and Lucious Harris', but Van Horn will be worth it. A
   bold move that will play off.
   
   Golden State Warriors 
   ADONAL FOYLE
   (No. 8 pick)
   Center/forward, Colgate
   Grade: C-minus
   Comment: Let's see. The Warriors traded for one center (Felton
   Spencer) and drafted another center (Todd Fuller) last year, and they
   drafted another one this year. They're just going to keep at it until
   they get it right. Foyle swatted plenty of shots in the Patriot
   League. The NBA might be a little tougher.
   
   Toronto Raptors 
   TRACY McGRADY
   (No. 9 pick)
   Small forward, Mt. Zion
   Christian Academy (H.S.)
   Grade: B
   Comment: The prepster is going to get bigger, and he has great upside
   potential, but he's not going to help the Raptors much next season.
   But the Raptors continue to look to the future, and they have a nice,
   young nucleus with Damon Stoudamire, Marcus Camby and McGrady. Let's
   hope McGrady hangs with Damon, not Marcus.
   
   Milwaukee Bucks 
   No first-round pick
   (Traded No. 10 pick to Denver for Ervin Johnson)
   Grade: C-minus
   Comment: The Bucks didn't really want to pick in the first round, and
   didn't. Johnson had great numbers in his one season in Denver (11.1
   rebounds, 2.68 blocks), but they were fool's gold figures. He will
   allow Vin Baker to play exclusively at his natural power forward spot,
   which may be his biggest plus for the Bucks.
   
   Sacramento Kings 
   OLIVIER SAINT-JEAN
   (No. 11 pick)
   Small forward, San Jose State
   Grade: C
   Comment: While they got something of a local hero, and the first
   French-born player in league history, they didn't get much immediate
   help. Saint-Jean can score if he's the main man, but he won't get that
   many opportunities as long as Mitch Richmond remains a King.
   
   Indiana Pacers 
   AUSTIN CROSHERE
   (No. 12 pick)
   Power forward, Providence
   Grade: B-minus
   Comment: He can score from the four spot, something Dale Davis hasn't
   done, and he'll learn how to play the position properly from Larry
   Bird. He doesn't figure to make much of an impact next season.
   
   Cleveland Cavaliers 
   DEREK ANDERSON
   (No. 13 pick)
   Big guard, Kentucky
   BREVIN KNIGHT
   (No. 16 pick)
   Point guard, Stanford
   Grade: B-plus
   Comment: Anderson may be the second-best shooter in this draft, but
   there is still a question about the torn ACL he suffered in his right
   knee last season at Kentucky. If he is physically sound, he could be a
   steal at the No. 12 position in the first round. As for Knight, this
   pick just doesn't make much sense, not with all-star point guard
   Terrell Brandon still in Cleveland. Still, Knight had been projected
   to go in the top 12, so perhaps the Cavs are trying to make a
   blockbuster deal for Brandon.
   
   L.A. Clippers 
   MAURICE TAYLOR
   (No. 14 pick)
   Power forward, Michigan
   Grade: D
   Comment: Just what perfectionist coach Bill Fitch needed - an
   underachieving, inconsistent talent yet to live up to his potential.
   The Clips haven't done anything right in the draft for years. Why
   should they start now?
   
   Dallas Mavericks 
   CHRIS ANSTEY
   
   (No. 18 pick) Center, Australia
   Grade: F
   Comment: What? Ross Perot Jr. needs money? They traded their pick,
   Kelvin Cato, to Portland, for cash, plus a project Australian who
   won't even be able to participate in summer drills because of
   contractual obligations in the Aussie pro league. And don't forget:
   They gave up the sixth pick in this draft for Eric Montross!
   
   Orlando Magic 
   JOHNNY TAYLOR
   (No. 17 pick)
   Small forward, Tenn.-Chattanooga
   Grade: B
   Comment: He was good enough to get his college team into the NCAA
   Sweet 16, and he figures to benefit from playing with Penny Hardaway
   and for Chuck Daly. At that draft position, he was a fine choice.
   
   Portland Trail Blazers 
   KELVIN CATO
   (No. 15 pick)
   Center, Iowa State
   Grade: B-minus
   Comment: It won't hurt Paul Allen's pocket to pay Perot Jr. for this
   pick, and Cato immediately will replace Chris Dudley, a free agent
   soon to be gone, as the backup to aging Arvydas Sabonis. Cato, who
   didn't play high-school ball, has lots of room for improvement, but
   figures to do so.
   
   Detroit Pistons 
   SCOT POLLARD
   (No. 19 pick)
   Center, Kansas
   Grade: C
   Comment: They need a center, all right, but their heads may have been
   turned by the fact Greg Ostertag, who preceded Pollard at Kansas, has
   turned into a decent pro. Pollard has much further to go to develop
   into an NBA pivot.
   
   Minnesota Timberwolves 
   PAUL GRANT
   (No. 20 pick)
   Center, Wisconsin
   Grade: C-minus
   Comment: A 23-year-old who sat out a season at Wisconsin after
   transferring from Boston College, he is a big-time project, and it's
   clear the Wolves drafted strictly for need.
   
   Atlanta Hawks 
   ED GRAY
   (No. 22 pick)
   Big guard, California
   Grade: C
   Comment: A big-time scorer in college, he'll find the points much
   harder to come by, especially at his size, in the pros. Still, at this
   spot, the Hawks couldn't have expected much more.
   
   Seattle SuperSonics 
   No first-round pick
   (Traded No. 23 to Denver)
   Grade: C
   Comment: They didn't want to pay the guaranteed, three-year contract
   required for all first-rounders, and now they don't have to.
   
   Houston Rockets 
   RODRICK RHODES
   (No. 24 pick)
   Big guard, Southern Cal
   Grade: C
   Comment: It's difficult to know how to rate their pick. Nobody had
   projected Rhodes to be drafted in the first round, but Rudy
   Tomjanovich has had a knack for finding talent where others see none,
   so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
   
   New York Knicks 
   JOHN THOMAS
   (No. 25 pick)
   Power forward, Minnesota
   Grade: C
   Comment: Some had projected Thomas higher in the first round after he
   had a good showing at a Chicago predraft camp. He may very well have
   been that infamous "best player available'' here.
   
   Miami Heat 
   CHARLES SMITH
   (No. 26 pick)
   Big guard, New Mexico
   Grade: C
   Comment: He may have to play the point in the pros, but he won't be
   under much pressure playing behind Tim Hardaway. Pat Riley wanted a
   bigger player than 6-4 Voshon Lenard at big guard. Smith isn't that
   player. He can rebound, as well as shoot.
   
   Utah Jazz 
   JACQUE VAUGHN
   (No. 27 pick)
   Point guard, Kansas
   Grade: C-plus
   Comment: Vaughn isn't big enough - he's not really 6-1 - and can't
   shoot well enough to be an impact player. But this is the perfect fit
   for him, because what he is, is hard-nosed and disciplined - exactly
   the kind of player who thrives under Jerry Sloan.
   
   Chicago Bulls 
   KEITH BOOTH
   (No. 28 pick)
   Big guard, Maryland
   Grade: D-minus
   Comment: Jerry Krause should have pulled the trigger on the Scottie
   Pippen deal. He didn't, and Booth is all the Bulls got. A decent
   scorer, they likely will try to talk him into playing in Europe for a
   season.
   
   Los Angeles Lakers 
   No first-round pick
   (Traded to Nets for George McCloud)
   Grade: F
   Comment: A year after they got Kobe Bryant straight out of high
   school, they lost this pick for a player they didn't put on their
   playoff roster and who will be gone this season.
   
   Washington Wizards 
   No first-round pick
   (Forfeited when they re-signed Juwan Howard)
   Grade: A
   Comment: Whatever it took to get Howard's name back on a contract was
   worth it. So they didn't have a first-rounder. It doesn't matter,
   because they still have Howard.