Mosio Says Bulpett In A Topsy-Turvy Draft

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

http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/mock06282000.htm

Let's hope Bulpett is wrong, as the C's don't need anymore Batties or 
Pervises... Big men that lack intensity = wasted cap space.

Draft forecast: Expect unexpected 
Mock Draft/by Steve Bulpett 
Wednesday, June 28, 2000


The following exercise is what's known as a mock draft. But by the end
of this evening, it could also be termed a mockery. While all good media
types are icing down their ears and telephone number-punching fingers
this morning after days on the lines with league sources, it is known
that those devious NBA general managers are prepared to lay all the work
to waste.


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In the interest of full disclosure, readers should be aware that a
number of the teams listed below likely won't even be making the picks
at that number. And some who do will be selecting for another team in a
deal that won't be consummated officially until the new salary cap
figure goes into place on August 1.

Therefore, for entertainment purposes only (heights are barefoot
measurements from the Chicago predraft camp) . . .

1. NEW JERSEY - KENYON MARTIN

Vitals: 6-9, 234, F, Cincinnati.

Profile: The Nets have spoken a great deal about moving this pick, but
with Jayson Williams gone, they have more time to play the youth card.
And they definitely need someone to keep the beef off of Keith Van Horn.

2.VANCOUVER - STROMILE SWIFT

Vitals: 6-9, 220, F, LSU.

Profile: Word is new Grizzlies consultant Chuck Daly is pushing for
Marcus Fizer here, but the Grizz pretty much assured Swift he wouldn't
get past this point. Swift held off on hiring an agent, saying he would
go back to LSU for his junior year if he wasn't going in the top two.

3.LA CLIPPERS - MARCUS FIZER

Vitals: 6-7, 262, F, Iowa State.

Profile: There is strong talk that John Lucas is in line to be the
Clips' next victim . . . er, coach, and Luke likes Darius Miles. Fizer
is a bit undersized as an inside player, but he's improved his
all-around skills greatly in the last year.

4.CHICAGO - DARIUS MILES

Vitals: 6-8, 202, F, East St. Louis (Ill.) HS.

Profile: A star in waiting that the Bulls may have to grab at this
point. Chicago is looking for size, and it likely can get some a few
picks down the line. This will be the first check on what teams think of
Chris Mihm.

5.ORLANDO - CHRIS MIHM

Vitals: 6-11, 265, C, Texas.

Profile: Teams were in love with him last year, and maybe they just got
a bit tired of looking at him. Mihm has more skills than most big people
(gets up and down the floor, nice shooting touch), but if he was a
nastier person on the court he probably would go in the top two.

6.ATLANTA - DerMARR JOHNSON

Vitals: 6-8, 201, G, Cincinnati.

Profile: All the talk here has been about Mike Miller, but the Hawks
think Johnson has the moves to be a major star. In just one season at
UC, he exhibited an almost effortless grace.

7.CHICAGO - JOEL PRZYBILLA

Vitals: 7-0, 243, C, Minnesota.

Profile: Miles and Przybilla may be a better take than Mihm and
whatever. Przybilla is a good defender and shot-blocker who added some
offense this year. The key will be how soon he adds muscle.

8.CLEVELAND - IAKOVOS TSAKALIDIS

Vitals: 7-1, 283, C, AEK (Greece).

Profile: Known as Jake (which should make the NBA's play-by-play men
happy), he looks to be worth the gamble here. Tsakalidis has been
playing the game heavily only about four years, but he has the body type
that makes teams drool in this Era of the Shaq. The main issue is his
contract in Greece, but the Cavs say they are willing to pay some of the
buyout, and Jake claims he will chip in, too.

9.HOUSTON - MIKE MILLER

Vitals: 6-7, 211, F, Florida.

Profile: A wing player to go with Steve Francis. After two years at
Florida, Miller still needs seasoning, but his shooting gets him easily
into the lottery. Teams above will take a long look.

10.ORLANDO - COURTNEY ALEXANDER

Vitals: 6-5, 205, G, Fresno State.

Profile: Alexander has a wonderful offensive game. To live up to his
potential, he needs to improve his defense (playing it once in a while
would be a nice start) and his attitude. Word is he finished up strong
in the latter category, but if there weren't the questions, he'd be gone
by here.

11.BOSTON - JEROME MOISO

Vitals: 6-11, 232, F, UCLA.

Profile: He has a very fluid and powerful game, but too often seemed to
lack the requisite intensity. There are questions about how much his
game was helped at UCLA, but the Celtics sound convinced that he can be
a real player. The larger question here is whether the Celts even make
this pick. Even bigger than that is what adjacent moves they can - or
will be allowed to - make. If Paul Gaston allows them the dough to
re-sign Danny Fortson, then the C's may look elsewhere. Also on their
radar screen are Keyon Dooling, DeShawn Stevenson and Etan Thomas (who
didn't come in for a workout yesterday).