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Peter May On The Draft
Says at 55, the C's will take the best Kentucky player available...
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
PRO BASKETBALL NOTES
GM's perplexed by draft day dilemma: Pick,
pass, or punt
By Peter May, Globe Staff, 06/27/99
The NBA draft is Wednesday. If you
polled general managers, most
would probably vote to cancel it. Without
question, this is the weakest, most
unappealing draft in recent memory.
Let's start with big-time players. See
any? If you do, call Jerry Krause, general
manager of the Chicago Bulls, who pick
first. That's not to say that players
taken out of this draft won't make good
pros; heck, high schoolers are making
decent pros these days.
Or, to look at it a different way, when
was the last time the consensus No. 1 pick
got cold feet and wanted to return to
college? Maybe Lamar Odom is turned off by
the lack of talent in the NBA and wants to
return to the good ol' Atlantic 10.
This is also the year of the point guard,
which is a bit like saying in football
that it's the year of the special teams
player. Sure, point guards are important.
But they're also plentiful. And as one
scout said of Steve Francis, the
acknowledged king of the point guards, ''I
like him, but you never know when he's
going to go Juco on you.''
There hasn't been a draft in recent memory
with so few teams holding No. 1 picks. The
Celtics aren't alone here. A staggering
eight teams have no first-round selection.
The most envied man on Wednesday may well
be Portland GM Bob Whitsitt, whose team
has no picks. The most pitied man? Atlanta
GM Pete Babcock, who has four
first-rounders, the highest of which is
17.
Remember, each first-rounder comes not
only with the obligatory question mark as
to talent, but also with at least three
years of guaranteed money. Don't be
surprised if Atlanta, Utah, or another
team picking late in the first round such
as the Spurs (29) or Heat (25) passes.
Maybe Kevin McHale summed it up best. When
asked what he was going to do with
Minnesota's two first-rounders, Nos. 6 and
14, he said quickly, ''Trade 'em, I
hope.'' Not too long ago, those picks
would have been team-builders. Now they
can be simply unwanted or unneeded
salaries.
Here's a team-by-team preview of the
draft, which will be held at the MCI
Center in Washington. First-round picks
are in parentheses.
ATLANTA (17, 20, 21, 27): After watching
the Hawks against the Knicks, we know what
they need: someone with the rather
elementary skill of putting the ball in
the basket. The Hawks were easily the most
offensively challenged team we've seen in
years. Don't be surprised if Babcock
either trades the pick(s) for a veteran
scorer or selects players willing to
accept one-way tickets to Portugal or
Argentina.
BOSTON (none): The best Kentucky player
available. That would be either Wayne
Turner, Heshimu Evans, or Scott Padgett,
whoever is available at 55. Jamal Magliore
wisely decided to go back to school.
CHARLOTTE (3): They love Francis, but
point guard isn't their top need. They
need an outside scorer to complement the
inside game of their big men. That man may
well be Wally Szczerbiak, who has risen
steadily because of terrific workouts and
the fact that he's a true senior.
CHICAGO (1, 16): You know things could be
wild with Krause holding the No. 1 pick.
Will he trade it? Will he take some
Senegalese center? Everyone knows what the
Bulls need, but He has retired. When you
average 81 points a game, you need a
scorer. Krause may trade down for multiple
picks or a player/pick, but not too far.
He must love being in the limelight.
DALLAS (none): Don Nelson went foreign
with his last two first-rounders (Chris
Anstey, Dirk Nowitzki) and traded this
year's for another (Steve Nash). He won't
pick until 36 and needs a power forward
with A.C. Green, Gary Trent, and Samaki
Walker all entering free agency.
DENVER (18): Their lotto pick goes to
Toronto, but they do have No. 18, which
ought to thrill Dan Issel. They might try
to get a point guard, with Nick Van Exel
iffy to re-sign. But all the decent ones
will be gone by then.
DETROIT (none): They're almost as bad off
(or well off) as Boston. The Pistons pick
54th overall and will take what they feel
is the best player on the board. That
could be anyone.
GOLDEN STATE (10): Bimbo Coles is the
starting point guard. Any questions? The
guy they really want is Gary Payton, but
he's taken (for now). Someone such as
William Avery or Jason Terry might be
there, but crack GM Garry St. Jean would
rather watch the sun set on Cape Cod Bay
this summer knowing he has a vet in that
spot. Did we hear the words ''sign and
trade''?
HOUSTON (22): Matt Maloney and Cuttino
Mobley are the point guards. Any
questions? No one they find at 22 will be
as good, another sad commentary on the
draft.
INDIANA (26): They might as well pass.
Their one glaring weakness, athleticism,
could be solved by attending an amateur
slam-dunk contest. Then there's Rik Smits
and his Royal Doulton feet, but try
finding a center at 15, let alone 26.
LA CLIPPERS (4): Darrick Martin is the
starting point guard. Any questions?
They're a lock to take Baron Davis unless
Rick Pitino can sweet-talk them into
claiming Kenny Anderson.
LA LAKERS (23): They solved one need with
the hiring of Phil Jackson. But he has
only a couple more rings than Kurt Rambis.
The Lakers need a backup to Shaq, but more
critically, a power forward or point
guard. Jerry West has done well drafting
low, but even he may not be able to draw
blood from this old rock.
MIAMI (25): Pat Riley views the NBA draft
the same way he views passing kidney
stones. But the playoffs exposed the
Heat's lack of scoring, and their
backcourt is suspect with Tim Hardaway
(age, knees) and Voshon Lenard (doghouse).
One interesting name to note: Devean
George of Division 3 Augsburg (Minn.).
He's a scorer and he played well at
Portsmouth.
MILWAUKEE (none): They are offering two
players nobody wants - Armon Gilliam and
Chris Gatling - to move up. Don't bet on
it.
MINNESOTA (6, 14): McHale took his
coaching staff, fishing lures, and coolers
away for the weekend to look for the
walleyes. And maybe a point guard, too. At
No. 6, he could get a decent point guard
such as Andre Miller. But he likes
Francis, as do most general managers.
There are all kind of rumors with free
agent-to-be Terrell Brandon at the center.
NEW JERSEY (none): They finally solved
their coaching situation. Now they can get
psyched for the 34th pick. They'll be
looking for the best big body, with Jayson
Williams (leg), Jim McIlvaine (shoulder),
and Rony Seikaly (foot, karma) all hurt
last year.
NEW YORK (15): Charlie Ward and Chris
Childs are the point guards. Any
questions? It looks as though New York
will have to live with the two for a
while; who would want them?
ORLANDO (none): Their concerns are what
they have and whether to make an effort to
keep it. They also have three
first-rounders next year, which they might
package with one of their players to move
up. What do they need? Same as a lot of
teams: a reliable point guard, since Penny
Hardaway doesn't want to play there and
Darrell Armstrong is what he is - a good
sixth man. Someone such as Turner might
end up here if they do nothing and choose
36th.
PHILADELPHIA (none): Gee, do you think
they need another scorer? They might get
one at 47, but whether that lad can light
it up in the NBA is another matter
entirely.
PHOENIX (9): Jerry Colangelo said it best:
''We need to get strong and athletic, like
[Antonio] McDyess.'' The Suns couldn't
re-sign him and they keep looking for
another like him. They're said to be
interested in Penny and are dangling Rex
Chapman, as if he might actually bring
something.
PORTLAND (none): It's hard to imagine
Whitsitt, nicknamed ''Trader Bob,''
sitting by idly on draft night. The
Blazers have depth and talent, and that
could translate into some kind of deal.
Whitsitt likes high schoolers; would he
trade for a shot at Jonathan Bender, who
may crack the top five? He's also said to
be fielding offers for the disgruntled
Damon Stoudamire, maybe the most overrated
player in the league.
SACRAMENTO (none): They could use a point
guard to back up Jason Williams, and
Turner would be a good fit here at No. 45
because he doesn't look to shoot and can
defend.
SAN ANTONIO (29): Why bother? Just bring
everyone back and see whether they can
continue what they've started. If I were
Gregg Popovich, I'd look for the closest
FOT (Friend Of Tim) and draft him.
SEATTLE (13): The Sonics need toughness
and backcourt help. Among the names you'll
see are Ron Artest, James, Terry (a
Seattle native), and Jumaine Jones of
Georgia.
TORONTO (5, 12): Everyone is calling the
Raptors; teams that want to move up and
teams that want to trade down. If nothing
happens, don't be surprised if GM Glen
Grunwald goes for high schooler Bender,
who is wowing a lot of people in workouts.
UTAH (19, 24, 28): No surprises here.
Think they need some youth in the
backcourt? Or some muscle in the middle?
Scott Layden will have trouble finding
much of anything, but he's been great at
getting help in the second round (Shandon
Anderson, Bryon Russell).
WASHINGTON (7): Terry Davis and Ben
Coleman masqueraded as centers last
season. Think they need help there? Think
they'll find it here? They'd be better off
exhuming Wes Unseld; he's done such a
masterful job in the front office all
these years. Mitch Richmond and Calbert
Cheaney are free agents? Think they need
help there? There may be someone who can
shoot available at No. 7.
This story ran on page E09 of the Boston
Globe on 06/27/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.