interesting stuff from ESPN.com's andy katz

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

You know, I'm beginning to wonder if Katz doesn't know more about the
Celtics' draft plans than any Boston journalist. He says Keyon Dooling is
the fastest riser in the draft and the Celtics are eyeing either Dooling,
Moiso or Quentin Richardson at 11. Katz has linked the Celts to Moiso
consistently, when no one else has. He's sticking with it. That's
interesting.

The other interesting tidbit from this story (below) is his assertion that
the Magic will pass on Mihm or Przybilla at No. 5, in favor of Miller. That
could affect the Celts because it would drop either Mihm or Przybilla to the
Cavs, and Tsakalidis, presumably, to the Celts. Would that change the
thinking away from Dooling/Moiso/Q?

Anyway, I'm still not sold on Dooling. Sounds like Chauncey II to me. It
seems the rest of the league, other than Boston and Dallas, are trying to
move up into the lottery for Jamal Crawford. Yet the point guard we've
locked in on is Dooling. Why?

Well, Katz says the Celts have shifted their attention to the backcourt, and
if their decision is between Dooling and Q, they'll probably choose Q.

Here's the article:


Daily draft dose: Hot and not
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

Here are the latest rumors and happenings surrounding the 2000 NBA draft
(through June 26):

 1. Dooling and Mason on the rise: Missouri point guard Keyon Dooling
</nba/draft00/players/player_bio43.html>  and Oklahoma State small forward
Desmond Mason </nba/draft00/players/player_bio83.html>  are the two hottest
players in the draft. 
Dooling's size at 6-3, quickness and character have shot him up in the
draft. Boston (at No. 11) and Dallas (at No. 12) are both eyeing Dooling
with their picks. 
The chatter among teams has focused on Dooling's ability to see over a
defense. He's only a sophomore, which gives him the upside quality that
Mateen Cleaves </nba/draft00/players/player_bio151.html>  and Speedy Claxton
</nba/draft00/players/player_bio34.html>  may lack. 
Dooling has moved into the same category as Michigan's Jamal Crawford
</nba/draft00/players/player_bio40.html> . Like Dooling, Crawford is a
taller point guard (measured at nearly 6-5 without shoes). Teams are
searching for big point guards who can play a few positions. 
Dooling has helped his cause by working out well for teams. So, too, has
Mason. He's athletic, has a nose for the ball and makes things happen on the
court. Mason isn't expected to get past the late teens in the draft. 
So, how does that affect the draft? The Celtics covet three players: UCLA
forward Jerome Moiso </nba/draft00/players/player_bio90.html> , DePaul guard
Quentin Richardson </nba/draft00/players/player_bio115.html>  and Dooling.
The Celtics would have a choice of Richardson or Dooling under the latest
ESPN.com scenario. 
The consensus building on Monday had the top 10 looking like this: 1. New
Jersey -- Kenyon Martin </nba/draft00/players/player_bio145.html> ; 2.
Vancouver -- Stromile Swift </nba/draft00/players/player_bio130.html> ; 3.
Clippers -- Marcus Fizer </nba/draft00/players/player_bio148.html> ; 4.
Chicago -- Darius Miles </nba/draft00/players/player_bio87.html> ; 5.
Orlando -- Mike Miller </nba/draft00/players/player_bio149.html> ; 6.
Atlanta -- DerMarr Johnson </nba/draft00/players/player_bio150.html> ; 7.
Chicago -- Chris Mihm </nba/draft00/players/player_bio146.html> ; 8.
Cleveland -- Joel Przybilla </nba/draft00/players/player_bio108.html> ; 9.
Houston -- Jerome Moiso </nba/draft00/players/player_bio90.html> ; 10.
Orlando -- Courtney Alexander </nba/draft00/players/player_bio147.html> . 
Miller's stock has risen with Orlando and he could go ahead of Mihm and
Przybilla. The Magic are still trying to negotiate a trade for New Jersey
for the No. 1 pick. But a source close to Martin told ESPN.com that Martin
was informed that there is a 95 percent chance they will pick him and keep
the pick. 
If the Magic can pull it off, they could get a big man at a lower pick or
come up with one in the trade. Passing on Miller may not be an option. The
Magic may not want to take Alexander with the 10th pick after getting Miller
(even though one is a two guard and the other can play small forward). But
they could trade one of the two players. 
The Hawks are down to two choices: Miller or Johnson. They won't pass on
either one. Cleveland is in a tough spot with the unknown status of Iakovos
Tsakalidis </nba/draft00/players/player_bio134.html> ' contract. They can't
pass on either Mihm or Przybilla if they're available. But if neither one is
at No. 8, the Cavaliers will grab either Alexander, Miller or Johnson (if
for some reason they slip that far). 
Moiso is one of the hottest commodities in the lottery. Houston doesn't have
to go with a perimeter player if Moiso is on the board. The Rockets have
Steve Francis </nba/profiles/profile/3325.html>  and are expected to re-sign
Cuttino Mobley </nba/profiles/profile/3284.html> . If Moiso is on the board,
they'll grab him at No. 9. 
The Clippers could still change this order by taking Miles over Fizer. They
drafted Lamar Odom </nba/profiles/profile/3327.html>  when no one else was
willing to take a chance on him. But the Clippers could get away with
trading No. 3 to go a few spots down to get Fizer. He can still be available
later in the lottery. 
If the Celtics' choice is between Richardson or Dooling, they'll probably
lean toward Richardson. Boston has shifted toward a backcourt player (unless
Moiso is left). The thinking is that they can survive with Tony Battie
</nba/profiles/profile/3176.html> , Danny Fortson
</nba/profiles/profile/3180.html>  and Vitaly Potapenko
</nba/profiles/profile/3106.html>  up front. 
That would put Dooling with the Mavericks at No. 12. Even though the
Mavericks are more inclined to go foreign, doing something different is just
as unique for Don Nelson's crew. 
So if all this holds true, Michigan's Jamal Crawford can still go to the
Magic at No. 13, Michigan State point Mateen Cleaves
</nba/draft00/players/player_bio151.html>  to the Pistons at No. 14,
Syracuse forward Etan Thomas </nba/draft00/players/player_bio132.html>  to
the Bucks at No. 15 and Michigan State guard Morris Peterson
</nba/draft00/players/player_bio105.html>  to Sacramento at No. 16. 
If that's the case, the Sonics won't pass on Mason at No. 17. He's too
athletic and too much of an active player around the basket for the Sonics
to think twice about giving him up to another team. 
2. Movin' down: A number of players seem to be tied to specific teams. If
they don't get taken where projected, they're likely to drop. While the drop
can be as little as a few spots, it could also include falling out of the
lottery or out of the first round entirely. 
Here are a few players who fit the criteria: 
Marcus Fizer </nba/draft00/players/player_bio148.html> : If the Clippers
don't take Fizer at No. 3, he could drop to Orlando at No. 5 or slide all
the way to the Magic at No. 10. Chicago won't take him at No. 4 because of
Elton Brand </nba/profiles/profile/3324.html> . 
Mateen Cleaves </nba/draft00/players/player_bio151.html> : The Pistons seem
the safest place for Cleaves at No. 14. But if they don't take him, he could
fall past the other teams looking for point guards, such as the Clippers
(No. 18) or Toronto (No. 21). If Cleaves gets past Detroit at 14, he could
slip to Chicago at No. 24. 
Chris Carrawell </nba/draft00/players/player_bio33.html> : The Hornets are
fond of Carrawell at No. 19, but if they pass on him and go big instead, he
could find himself dropping to Utah at No. 23 or the Lakers at No. 29. 
Iakovos Tsakalidis </nba/draft00/players/player_bio134.html> : Anyone who
drafts him has to pay a portion or all of a $1 million buyout to AEK
(Greece) to get Tsakalidis. Tsakalidis may have to pay to get out of his
contract, too. If Cleveland passes on him at No. 8, that could be a sign
that others will pass because of the contract. Tsakalidis, who will be at
the draft Wednesday, could slip down to one of the teams in the 20s (Utah,
Indiana, Denver or Portland). A few of those teams can wait a year or so for
a player to develop. 
Jason Collier </nba/draft00/players/player_bio36.html> : If the Nuggets and
Pacers pass on Collier at No. 26 and 27, he will likely slide a few picks
deep into the second round. The top teams in the second round -- like the
Bulls and the Clippers -- won't need another big man. 
Olumide Oyedeji </nba/draft00/players/player_bio101.html> : The Nigerian
forward has the skills to be a lottery selection. But if Boston at No. 11,
Dallas at No. 12 and Seattle at No. 17 pass on Oyedeji, he could slip out of
the first round. Teams at the bottom in the 20s (Utah, Denver, Indiana and
Portland) could take a look at him. But the key spot is 17. If the Sonics
say no, Oyedeji may get burned in round one. 
Donnell Harvey </nba/draft00/players/player_bio59.html> : The Knicks at No.
22 are a logical choice for Harvey. But if they pass, the only other slot
may be Indiana at No. 27. Otherwise, Harvey could slide out of the first
round. He wasn't a lock for the first round prior to Chicago and he's not
now, either.

Mark