NBA Draft central - CBS SportsLine

Roadie looks at candidates for No. 1 overall

By George Rodecker
Special to SportsLine.com

May 20, 2001

George Rodecker is in his tenth season of providing expert analysis on the NBA Draft. Unlike most other draft evaluation services, Rodecker has been diligent in pursuing analysis by acquiring the consensus opinions of experts. Rodecker also writes for Basketball Times, Eastern Basketball and College Hoops Insider.

In a draft containing a Cook, a Doctor, a Brewer and a Hunter, several NBA teams will look to find themselves a basketball player.

With the early entry issue now settled and a record 75 players requesting premature admission to the working roles of the NBA, teams now face three additional hurdles before the actual draft.

First comes the lottery to cement positioning among the first 13 selections. This alone will impact several teams, as previous trades and future considerations are coming due. Many teams have to decide whether this is the season to exercise an option to give up or take a draft spot. Second is the June 5-8 Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago, and the third and final factor will be the individual workouts that teams have with invited players.

Today, May 20, as the draft lottery takes place, the top players may be divided into a few groups. The first group would include those players prior to any workouts that are believed to be the only ones who will have a legitimate chance to be the first overall selection. The three players thought to be the first overall pick are:

1. Kwame Brown -- Some think he's the best of the high school prospects and certainly the most ready.
2. Eddie Griffin -- Hands down the most explosive of the top-20 players. He's problematic, but talented.
3. Eddy Curry -- The most talked about big man, he's got the ability. But experience and conditioning are issues.

After these three there are six players who through the Chicago camp and individual workouts could find themselves in the top-three mix competing for the distinction of being the first overall pick. They are:

1. Jason Richardson - Would need to shoot the lights out to rise this high, but has the shot.
2. Trenton Hassell -- A safe pick 9 through 15, but could show senior styled maturity matters.
3. Shane Battier -- If only character were the only criteria here. He'd go No. 1.
4. Pau Gasol -- The X-factor in the top ten. How good is or isn't he?
5. Michael Bradley -- A very long shot to move up, but still could improve.
6. DeSagana Diop -- Another X-factor player. Who knows how good he'll show?

Many of the top players will watch intently as the lottery positioning affects them. A top-three player with aspirations of avoiding a certain franchise will be hoping they land somewhere that the player doesn't believe he'll end up.

And top-five players can certainly do the math themselves. The Los Angeles Clippers, already stocked on the wing with Lamar Odom and Darius Miles would have little need to add Eddie Griffin to their roster. Ditto with Griffin and the Bulls, with Elton Brand and Marcus Fizer on their team.

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