Dever Post

["Jan Crocker" <jan@netgworld.com>]

By Mike Monroe
                    Denver Post Sports Writer 

                    
June 8 - There are some interesting developments shaping up in advance
                    
of the draft, little more than two weeks hence, that could have a big impact
                    
on the Denver Nuggets. 

                   
 Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Allan Bristow has
                   
 targeted a point guard for the draft, fully aware it is the team's most
                    
pressing need. With the fifth pick in the first round, it didn't seem they
                   
 were in much danger of having the guy they favored snatched away before
                   
 it was their turn to pick. Now, though, it looks as if both Boston, picking
                   
 third, and Vancouver, picking fourth, might opt for point guards, too. 

                    
The Grizzlies already have a solid front line, with Big Country Reeves and
                    
Shareef Abdur-Rahim. They are going to lose, without regret, starting
                    
point guard Greg Anthony to free agency. They have brought both
                    
Antonio Daniels and Brevin Knight in for workouts and interviews and
                   
 attended the Chauncey Billups dog-and-pony show agent Eric Fleisher put
                    
on for scouts at a gym in Connecticut. 

                    
The stock of Texas Tech's Tony Battie has been steadily on the rise, and
                    
the 76ers appear ready to make him the second pick in the draft. Tim
                   
 Duncan's selection by the Spurs, picking first, is a no-brainer. 

                   
 Boston coach Rick Pitino is said to love Billups' game. He has said he
                    
doesn't think his former Kentucky star, Ron Mercer, is ready for the
                    
NBA, which doesn't necessarily mean he won't take him, but means he
                   
 wouldn't be real comfortable putting Mercer on the spot immediately in
                    
Boston. In fact, don't be surprised if the Celtics trade Dino Radja and the
                    
third or sixth pick for disgruntled SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp. But the
                    
fact the Celtics are at least considering Billups has to be a concern for
                    
Denver. 

                   
 Should the first four players taken be Duncan, Battie, Billups and Daniels,
                   
 could Bristow possibly pass on Keith Van Horn, a player he clearly loves?

                   
 No way. 

                    
But then what would the Nuggets do for a point guard? 



If Denver really does want Billups. How about we swap positions with them to
guarantee they get their man. In return they take Brown or Radja off our
hands in exchange for Antonio McDyess.

JC