Interesting quotes by draft prospects

[kevin.lok@lycosmail.com (kevin)]

http://www.sportstalk.com/nba/draft/rumors/index.shtml
Chicago Wrap-Up.  On Saturday the NBA brought in the top prospects in the draft to meet with the press.  NBAtalk talked to them all.  Here is the latest . . .
Stromile Swift says he had a fantastic workout with the Grizzlies and said, 'I can't see myself going lower than number two.'  When we asked why he felt so strongly about he replied that the Grizzlies had given him 'strong indications' that he was their man.  Still Swift said he's not sure he'll stay in the draft.  When asked if he was afraid of slipping to number three and the Clippers Swift said he'd play for any team that drafted him.  We asked Stromile what it was then that was keeping him from making up his mind.  Swift said he would make up his mind after all of his workouts were completed -- he still needs to workout for Orlando and Chicago.   Swift was clearly excited about the prospect of playing alongside Shareef Abdur-Rahim and when asked if he'd stay in the draft if he knew he'd go no lower than number 2 he replied, 'If that was the case, I'd stay in the draft for sure.' One of the lasting memories of Swift is seeing him block Chris Mihm's dunk to end Texas' run in!
 the NCAA tournament.  No he is competition with Mihm for the top pick in the draft.  'I'm not saying I'm a better player than him, but I'm more versatile and quick.  Teams like the fact that I'm athletic and can play a number of positions.' Swift has worked out with the Nets and Grizzlies. He plans on working out with the Clippers, Magic and Chicago in the near future.
Kenyon Martin remained elusive about his leg injuries and refused to provide a time-table for his recovery saying only that he'd be 'ready in September'.   Martin squelched any rumors that he and Doc Rivers were buddies.  The Orlando media have been insinuating all week that Doc and the Magic were doing more than just watching a basketball game together in Orlando.  Said Martin, 'You all are trying to make it out like we're best friends.  I only met him that one time.'  Martin said he could care less if he's the first pick in the draft and he could care less where he plays.  When pressed about recent comments he had made about the Bulls, Martin said he made those comments because he knows the Bulls won't pick him.  Martin said that if he was picked by a team with a power forward, he was confident he could play the 3.  However he warned teams not to take him with the idea he'd be their center.  'I'd rather play point guard than center in the NBA.' Martin has not worked out with!
 any teams yet, but plans to workout with the Grizzlies, Nets and Magic before the draft.
Chris Mihm got his first real taste of the media firestorm as he was peppered by questions from the media about the NBAtalk report that he tanked his workout with the Bulls.  Said Mihm, clearly rattled from persistent questions about 'toughness' and his stock falling, 'There will always be detractors.  Negativity sells.  I couldn't have put up the numbers I put up in college, averaging 18 points a game, if I was soft.  Teams came out to stop me night after night with collapsing zone defenses and double and triple teams.  The whole idea is laughable.' Mihm also did his best to squelch rumors that he had a Jerry Krause connection.  Though Krause attended an unusual amount of Texas games scouting the 7 foot center, Mihm said he never actually talked to Jerry Krause until last Saturday during his workout with the Bulls.  Mihm said he thought he could move to the 4 in the NBA, but clearly he was looking for the chance to test his skills versus the likes of Shaq and Zo. Mihm has wor!
ked out with the Bulls, and Grizzlies.  He will workout with the Nets and Magic soon.
Iowa State's Marcus Fizer said he was still trying to answer questions about his ability to make the jump from the 4 to the 3 in the NBA. 'Yeah, teams have questions about my ability to shoot and to handle the ball.  But you know what, I never had to do those things in college.  Larry Eustachy was the coach, not me.  I did what the team asked me to do and I wasn't asked to do those things.  But it doesn't mean I can't do them.  I can shoot the ball.  I can handle the ball.  I am confident in my abilities.  That's what these workouts are for, to show teams that just because I didn't do those things in college doesn't mean I can't do them in the pros if it is what's best for the team.' Fizer has worked out for the Nets (he says Rod Thorn told him they were keeping their pick), Magic and the Clippers.  He'll workout in Vancouver on Tuesday.
The real media circus centered around high school phenom, Darius Miles.  Miles who said he was 'surprised' by Michael Jordan's recent comments that he'd have no hesitation taking Miles number one seemed overwhelmed by all the attention and comparisons to Kevin Garnet.  'Look, teams are not expecting me to come in and immediately be one of the Top 50 players of all time.  I know I'll have to learn, be patient and grow.'  Miles has spent most of his time this summer working out and playing DreamCast with fellow early entry candidate Quentin Richardson.  When I asked Q whether he could have made the same leap as Miles he praised the young high-schooler.  'He's a great kid and a phenomenal player.  He's got the height and the ability to play any position in the pros.  I didn't have that.  I needed a few years of school.  He's in a different position.'  Miles said he didn't realize he was pro material until the McDonald's All-Star game and Nike Hoops Summit.  It was NBA scouts who !
convinced him that now was the time to turn pro. Miles has already had workouts with the Nets, Houston, Orlando and Atlanta.  He'll workout for the Bulls this week.
The toughest questions of the day had to be answered by Fresno State's Courtney Alexander.  Alexander, projected as the top shooting guard in the draft, ran into trouble in college that eventually led him to jail.  Alexander assaulted his girlfriend and spent two nights in jail.  'It was a difficult time, I had never been in trouble before.'  Alexander was clearly comfortable talking about the incident and really gave the best interview of the camp. When I asked him whether he thought it was fair that scouts were comparing him to Isaiah Rider, both on and off the court, Alexander was quick to shoot down the idea that he'd be a problem. 'People make mistakes.  But good can come from them when you admit you made the mistake and then change your life for the better. I was a kid then, but I've matured.  I've changed as a player and a person. ' Alexander has worked out for the Cavs, Hawks and the Celtics.  He said his Celtics workout was evidence that he'd changed.  'A couple of ye!
ars ago, I couldn't have played for Rick Pitino.  All I cared about was getting my 20 points.  Now things are different.  Don't get me wrong, I still want my 20 points, but now I'm a team player who works hard, plays defense and does what's best for the team.'  Alexander works out for the Magic on Monday and has workouts scheduled with the Clippers, Bulls, and Nets.
Mo Peterson and Mateen Cleaves tables were adjacent and so were the aspirations.  Both players were critical in leading their team to a national championship.  Both extol an 'old-school' unselfish attitude that puts their team above their own stats or glory.  For Mo Pete, it was almost beyond comprehension that he could go from being a sixth man in college to a starter in the NBA.  They were roommates and best friends and both bring the same qualities of toughness, hard work, leadership and unselfishness to whoever drafts them.  In short, they are winners. Peterson has been a workhorse working out for Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Orlando, Cleveland and Boston.  Cleaves has only had workouts with Detroit, but said he be in Chicago, Orlando, Milwaukee and Toronto in the next few weeks.