Mitch Lawrence Says Big 02

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

Finally someone talking sense...

By MITCH LAWRENCE 
Daily News Sports Writer

espite repeated efforts, Orlando hasn't been able to trade for the Nets'
No. 1 pick. The Magic hasn't made a inch of progress trying to move any
of its three first-round picks in tonight's NBA draft. And as for
dumping Corey Maggette and/or Matt Harpring for salary-cap purposes,
they're still on the roster and clogging up the books.

But if you think the last few days have been a downer for Orlando, think
again.

  
Kenyon Martin  
When teams can start negotiating with free agents on Saturday, Tim
Duncan and Grant Hill will be in Orlando, ringing Doc Rivers' doorbell.
Duncan and Hill have told friends that they'll be touring the Magic's
facilities, and you can bet that the red carpet will be rolled out down
in Hooterville.

Why write about free agents on the day of the draft?

1. Duncan and Hill are only the two biggest names going on the open
market this summer. (They can't sign until Aug. 1.)

2. Have you heard about this draft? "Weak" doesn't begin to describe it.

"I'm calling it the Stars of Tomorrow draft," said NBA director of
scouting, Marty Blake.

Three years from now, he might be forced to change "stars" to "scrubs."
Anyway, a look at how the first round shapes up on our scorecard:

(Pick, Team, Player, School, Pos., Comment) 

1. Nets — Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati, F: Nets rejected Magic's offer
(No.s 5 and 10), so Byron Scott gets the defender/big athlete this team
desperately needs.

  
Stromile Swift  
2. Vancouver — Stromile Swift, LSU, F: With Shareef Abdur-Rahim, he
gives Sidney Lowe a big-time pairing at forward spots.

3. Clippers — Marcus Fizer, Iowa St., F: Free agent Maurice Taylor is
leaving (he wants to come to New York in a sign-and-trade), so Fizer
will fill a need.

4. Chicago — Darius Miles, East. St. Louis (Ill.) H.S., F: This doesn't
exactly fit Jerry Reinsdorf's mandate that the Bulls have to start being
competitive. Miles is a superb athlete who can't shoot and needs lots of
work.

5. Orlando — Chris Mihm, Texas, C: It could have been a lot worse for
Mihm. If the Clips had traded the No. 3 for Cleveland's No. 8 and Brevin
Knight, Mihm would have ended up a Cavalier.

6. Atlanta — Mike Miller, Fla., F: Coin flip between Miller and DerMarr
Johnson comes up Miller, the safe pick.

7. Chicago — Joel Przybilla, Minn., C: Bulls have no one in the middle.
Still talking to Portland about Jermaine O'Neal for this pick.

8. Cleveland — Iakovos Tsakalidis, AEK, Greece, C: Cavs better hope they
can get this 7-footer out of his foreign contract.

  
Courtney Alexander  
9. Houston — DerMarr Johnson, Cincinnati, G: Only way Rockets would do
better is if Miles or Miller is still on the board.

10. Orlando — Courtney Alexander, Fresno St., G: If Magic passes on
Alexander, it's because it already has an agreement with Charlotte's
Eddie Jones.

11. Boston — Olumide Oyedeji, Wurzburg, Germany, C: People in Boston
already wondering whom Larry Bird will select with Celtics' No. 1 pick
in next year's draft.