Steve Bulpett's Mock Draft

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

      Boston Herald

      This draft's a jump ball: Trades may jumble picks in first round 
      Mock NBA Draft/by Steve Bulpett 
      Wednesday, June 30, 1999
      The following mock draft is presented with the fondest hope that it still 
      makes some sense by your next sip of coffee. 
      In all honesty, there is no one in the NBA who expects these draft 
      positions to remain by this evening. The top two teams, Chicago and 
      Vancouver, have spoken heavily about moving their picks and Toronto at No. 
      5 has been engaged in several scenarios.
      Add in the teams with multiple picks trying to package and move up or 
      simply dump a choice or two and you have the greatest piece of organized 
      uncertainty since the 1972 Democratic Convention.
      Said one Western Conference general manager of the Celtics: ``They're the 
      lucky ones. They don't have a first-round pick. They don't have to worry 
      about messing up.''
      Let the guessing begin here.
      (Heights listed are with sneakers, because, as near as we can tell, no one 
      is planning to play barefoot this season.)
      1. CHICAGO - Elton Brand, 6-9, F, Duke:
      The Bulls might still take Lamar Odom, but they are concerned about what 
      he'd be like on a team without a strong veteran leadership presence. There 
      are some similar concerns about Steve Francis. They could also send the 
      pick to Toronto for No. 5 and Tracy McGrady and wind up with Wally 
      Szczerbiak, too.
      But if they stay and if they remain nervous, the Bulls take Brand, an 
      inside warrior with the wingspan of a 7-footer.
      2. VANCOUVER - Lamar Odom, 6-10, F, Rhode Island:
      The belief here is that Odom is a good kid who's allowed himself to get 
      into bad situations. He definitely needs a veteran mentor, but as a person 
      he is far less a risk than Randy Moss was for the Vikings. On talent 
      alone, there is no question Odom is the best player in this draft. Knowing 
      that, there has been a lot of talk from Miami about dealing for this pick 
      (if Odom is still on the board). The Grizzlies want P.J. Brown as part of 
      the package and the Heat, having seen Odom work out up close, may go for 
      it. Know this: Pat Riley usually stays out of the draft process, but he 
      has gotten involved in the last few days.
      3. CHARLOTTE - Steve Francis, 6-3, G, Maryland:
      Breathtaking athleticism, but he's being asked to essentially subjugate 
      his scoring and move the ball around. Can he be a point guard? Is he good 
      enough that you won't care? The Hornets like him a lot, but with Eddie 
      Jones, they might be better off going with a more established point in 
      Baron Davis.
      4. L.A. CLIPPERS - Baron Davis, 6-3, G, UCLA:
      Davis is one strange dude - a man of seemingly sound mind who actually 
      wants to play for the Clippers. Word from those who have worked out with 
      Davis this summer is that he is a winner who needs only to learn the game 
      more (he's 20) and channel his skills. And he appears to be over his ACL 
      problem.
      5. TORONTO - Andre Miller, 6-3, G, Utah:
      There is strong talk that the Raptors are in love with high schooler 
      Jonathan Bender, but Miller fills an important need - an intelligent point 
      guard who knows how to get the ball to Vince Carter and Doug Christie (if 
      the latter isn't traded). Toronto's needs may be even greater if Charles 
      Oakley skips to the Lakers.
      6. MINNESOTA - Corey Maggette, 6-7, F-G, Duke:
      Point guard might be a big need here, too, if Terrell Brandon leaves as a 
      free agent. And the Wolves need a post player, but none of the big people 
      in this draft are ready to step in. Maggette needs time to develop, as 
      well, but he's a strong-bodied athlete who should, at the very least, give 
      them defense. Down the road, he could be much more.
      7. WASHINGTON - Wally Szczerbiak, 6-8, F, Miami (Ohio):
      He could be gone by here, but this would be too good a scorer for the 
      basketball brass to pass up and too good an attraction for those in upper 
      management to let go. New coach Gar Heard says he wants to keep Juwan 
      Howard at small forward, but we think he'd find room for Wally.
      8. CLEVELAND - Richard Hamilton, 6-7, G, UConn:
      The Cavaliers really want Szczerbiak, but they'll take the next most 
      impressive shooter if he is gone. Hamilton worries some teams because he 
      tended to drift from the spotlight at times this past season, but he did 
      very well in private workouts.
      9. PHOENIX - Jonathan Bender, 6-11, F, Picayune (Miss.) Memorial High 
      School:
      The Suns are trying hard to trade this pick, but, depending on their needs 
      following another deal, Danny Ainge may be willing to work with this 
      18-year-old talent who has improved his stock greatly in workouts.
      10. ATLANTA - Jason Terry, 6-2, G, Arizona:
      The Hawks move up by dealing Mookie Blaylock to Golden State. They then go 
      for a scorer. And while there are questions about Terry playing the point 
      - and his size if he plays the 2-guard position - they like his quickness.
      11. CLEVELAND - Aleksandar Radojevic, 7-3, C, Barton County (Kan.) Comm. 
      College:
      With Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the fold, the Cavs can afford to wait things 
      out with a talented big man who needs his body to fill out.
      12. TORONTO - Ron Artest, 6-7, F, St. John's:
      Not a perfect fit for the Raptors, but he's the kind of physical and quick 
      defender that Butch Carter will find space for. If Toronto doesn't go for 
      Andre Miller higher, William Avery is a possibility here.
      13. SEATTLE - Shawn Marion, 6-7, F, UNLV:
      The Sonics would like something inside, but Marion is a scorer and there 
      certainly are serious questions about Detlef Schrempf returning to the 
      fold.
      14. MINNESOTA - William Avery, 6-3, G, Duke:
      There will be some intriguing people on the board here, but the Wolves 
      have to get their point guard situation solidified. Avery is a decent 
      prospect at the very least.
      15. NEW YORK - Frederic Weis, 7-2, C, Limoges (France):
      Good with the basketball but still growing into his body. The Knicks need 
      to start looking large and this is a shot they may take. Safer options 
      exist, but with Patrick Ewing still there, the reward could be worth the 
      risk.
      16. CHICAGO - Evan Eschmeyer, 7-1, C, Northwestern:
      Solid. Not flashy, but solid. And the Bulls certainly have followed his 
      progress closely because of the proximity.
      17. ATLANTA - Trajan Langdon, 6-3, G, Duke:
      The Hawks have four first-round picks and there is no telling what 
      maneuver they may be able to pull off. But at this spot, Langdon would 
      give them a real-live shooter.
      18. DENVER - James Posey, 6-8, F, Xavier:
      Known as a defensive presence, but Posey can score, too. The Nuggets like 
      him a lot from his workout, but think he may be gone by 18.
      19. UTAH - Kenny Thomas, 6-8, F, New Mexico:
      This is the first of three Jazz picks in the round.
      20. ATLANTA - Calvin Booth, 7-0, C, Penn State:
      He needs to fill out, but he can block shots and the Hawks can give him 
      time behind Dikembe Mutombo.
      21. GOLDEN STATE - Todd MacCulloch, 7-0, C, Washington:
      Needs seasoning, but he's large and can rebound.
      22. HOUSTON - Scott Padgett, 6-9, F, Kentucky:
      Worth a shot for a team that needs to get younger.
      23. L.A. LAKERS - Quincy Lewis, 6-7, F, Minnesota:
      Who knows what Phil Jackson will do? But here's a scorer for the triangle.
      24. UTAH - Cal Bowdler, 6-11, C, Old Dominion:
      Rising star in workouts.
      25. MIAMI - Tim James, 6-7, F, Miami:
      Local kid who can shoot.
      26. INDIANA - Jumaine Jones, 6-8, F, Georgia:
      A little raw for the Pacers' present needs, but a nice scorer.
      27. ATLANTA - Chris Herren, 6-2, G, Fresno State:
      He could easily be gone the pick before, but the Hawks won't let this Fall 
      River kid fall any further. They may even take him at 21.
      28. UTAH - Vonteego Cummings, 6-3, G, Pittsburgh:
      Likes to score, but teams think he distributes the ball well enough.
      29. SAN ANTONIO - Jeff Foster, 7-0, C, SW Texas State:
      Needs to fill out, but he likes to rebound - and the Spurs can afford to 
      wait on him.