Very few centers are mentioned in the list of the best collegians, so acquiring Potapenko, even if Peter Vecsey says he's a short-armed guy who can't rebound is looking all the more prudent.... Here's one possible trade possibility: If Steve Francis keeps wowing the scouts and Kenny Anderson continues with his poor play, you perhaps could see Walker sent to Chicago for their draft choice with Celtics taking Francis. It all depends on the Celtics ability to sign a veteran power forward type like Oakley as a free agent.
Web-published March 14, 1999 | Updated 5:16 a.m. PT
THE NBA
They May Not Be Available, But These Are Best Players
MARK HEISLER, Times Staff Writer
In salute
to the
NCAA tournament,
our annual pro
perspective on the
top 29 players in
college,
regardless of
their year in
school and plans
to stay or leave.
Aside from the players,
agents, no one
thinks there's
anything good
about leaving
early. Few enough
were ready when
they stayed four
years. All you get
with younger ones
is enhanced
cluelessness.
Nevertheless, the
way it works, if a college player
even hints he may come out, the
chances are about 99% he will.
In other words, sorry, UCLA fans
1. Steve Francis, 6 feet 3,
194 pounds, junior, Maryland--Made
to play the point in the pros, where
he'll toast defenders with his Allen
Iverson crossover. Great body, major
hops.
2. Corey Maggette, 6-6, 210,
freshman, Duke--Doesn't start and
isn't leaving but is considered next
in the line of Kobe Bryant and Larry
Hughes--and closer to Kobe than
Hughes. Among Dukies, only Grant
Hill was as gifted.
3. Wally Szczerbiak, 6-8,
240, senior, Miami of Ohio--Not a
great athlete but has game and will
shoot the three-pointer in your
face. Pros reassessing doubts after
that 43 spot.
4. Lamar Odom, 6-9, 220,
sophomore, Rhode Island--He's not
Magic or Scottie or even Toni, but
he can really handle.
5. Elton Brand, 6-8, 260,
sophomore, Duke--It's a different
era if Dukies are talking about
leaving early--but he is. Pros fear
he's 6-7 or (shudder) 6-6. He's not
earth-bound, but he's not Charles
Barkley. "I think he'll make it,"
says a general manager. "He's a
determined guy and he probably has
more skills than he shows with
whatever Duke's doing."
6. Terence Morris, 6-9, 205,
sophomore, Maryland--Often called
Terps' best prospect, which is
saying something.
7. William Avery, 6-2, 180,
sophomore, Duke--He could leave too.
Great athlete, plays point well,
especially for a converted shooting
guard, shot 41% on three-pointers.
8. Baron Davis, 6-2 1/2, 190,
sophomore, UCLA. Looks like he's
gone. A physical prodigy--and this
was coming off knee surgery. Some
wonder about playmaking; on a
three-on-two once, he passed to
himself, banking the ball off the
board.
9. Andre Miller, 6-2, 200,
senior, Utah--The Verbum Dei grad
lacks some things--quickness,
range--but is well-schooled and
takes the ball anywhere he wants.
10. Brendan Haywood, 7-0,
265, sophomore, North Carolina--No
indication he's leaving but would be
first center taken. "I saw one
game," says a general manager, "in
the first three minutes he had every
guy on the other team afraid to
shoot the ball."
11. Quentin Richardson, 6-6,
220, freshman, DePaul--Might leave.
Averaged 11 rebounds and shot 34% on
three-pointer.
12. Jason Terry, 6-2, 169,
senior, Arizona--From third guard to
Pac-10 player of year. Skinny point
but takes it to the hoop, shoots 40%
on threes.
13. Ron Artest, 6-6, 233,
sophomore, St. John's--Averaged 4.6
assists and shot 41% on
three-pointers. "He's a real
determined guy," says a general
manager. "He's like Brand that way."
14. Shawn Marion, 6-7, 215,
junior, Nevada Las Vegas--All-around
player but not a great shooter yet.
15. Tim James, 6-7, 221,
senior, Miami--Fine athlete who can
sky, improved every season.
16. Hanno Mottola, 6-10, 230,
junior, Utah--Big youngster with
perimeter skills. Should be in
lottery next spring.
17. Richard Hamilton, 6-6,
180, junior, Connecticut--"He's as
skinny as Reggie Miller," says a
general manager. "If he's as tough
as Reggie, then he'll be OK."
18. Evan Eschmeyer, 6-11,
244, senior, Northwestern--Not
overpowering but has touch and many
wiles.
19. Kenny Thomas, 6-8, 255,
senior, New Mexico--Good skills.
Finally lost some weight and played
a good game in NCAA tournament.
20. James Posey, 6-8, 210,
senior, Xavier--Late bloomer who
didn't become full-time starter
until this season.
21. Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, 190,
junior, Michigan State--Good point
but range only 15-18 feet.
22. Jumaine Jones, 6-7, 210,
sophomore, Georgia--Athletic, raw.
23. Michael Redd, 6-6, 205,
sophomore, Ohio State--Averaged 20
for two seasons, needs only
consistency from the arc to tie a
ribbon on the package.
24. Shane Battier, 6-8, 230,
sophomore, Duke--Looks like he spent
two years in weight room. Fine
defender, shot 57%, 38% on
three-pointers. Expected to stay and
improve more.
25. Dan Gadzuric, 6-11, 240,
freshman, UCLA--Unpolished but a
high-energy big man, which is rare
enough. No suggestion he's leaving,
which is good because if he doesn't
improve, he's just the next Jelani
McCoy.
26. Trajan Langdon, 6-3, 195,
senior, Duke--Small for NBA shooting
guard, but admirers see Dell Curry.
27. Mike Miller, 6-8, 210,
freshman, Florida--North Dakota
import who could make lottery some
day.
28. Ed Cota, 6-1, 185,
junior, North Carolina--Moved up
from 31% to 42% on three-pointers
this season.
29. Khalid El-Amin, 5-10,
200, sophomore, Connecticut--Last
year, I got all excited, mistaking
him for a playmaker. In one
five-game span this season, had five
assists. Fireplug body but makes
lots of big plays.
*
Others: Roberto Bergersen,
Boise State; Lee Nailon, Texas
Christian; Laron Profit, Maryland;
Luke Recker, Indiana; A.J. Guyton,
Indiana; Etan Thomas, Syracuse; Todd
MacCulloch, Washington; Mark Madsen,
Stanford; Chris Porter, Auburn;
Quincy Lewis, Minnesota, Chris
Herren, Fresno State. .. <Snipping>
Minnesota's Flip Saunders, on the
tumbling Seattle SuperSonics: "I'm
sure they look at it as their window
of opportunity closing. Three of
their top seven players, their best
years are behind them. They've tried
to change the way they play in order
to win the whole thing. They're
going with [Olden] Polynice and
[Billy] Owens for a couple of
veteran guys and bigger bodies in
the post." It isn't working. New
Coach Paul Westphal benched Detlef
Schrempf and Hersey Hawkins in favor
of Owens, who came in overweight and
never could shoot, and 19-year-old
Rashard Lewis. Everyone is down on
Vin Baker, who complained about
being yanked, prompting Dale Ellis
to snarl: "Get over it. I think it's
selfish. It's about winning. Do the
job."
Oops:
Boston's Rick Pitino notes big
forwards are bouncing Antoine Walker
around. "Antoine has to be able to
go against the [Brian] Grants,
against the [Charles] Oakleys,"
Pitino said. "He's got to come back
like an Oakley. Our chances are much
better of Antoine developing an
Oakley body and developing that
inside presence than it is of
getting a center in a trade or
through the draft." Yeah, they're 0%
in the draft, and maybe 33% of
convincing the temperamental Walker
to turn himself into a thug. <Snipping>
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