sportstalker/insider draft preview

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

1. Washington Wizards 
Likely candidates: Trade, Eddie Griffin, Rodney White 
By now you've probably read that Michael Jordan is trying to trade his first
pick for a young point guard or multiple first round picks. Jordan has
basically struck out on priority one. The Cavs wouldn't part with Andre
Miller and Jordan isn't convinced that Vancouver's Mike Bibby is worth the
top pick in the draft. 
Jordan has worked out all of the top contenders with the exception of Kwame
Brown, who skipped a Wizards workout June 7. Of the top picks, a source
close to the Wizards said, Seton Hall's Eddie Griffin and high school phenom
Tyson Chandler had the most impressive workouts. Jordan has actually worked
out against Eddy Curry (they both have the same trainer) but isn't convinced
that Baby Shaq is more Shaq and less baby. Duke forward Shane Battier
doesn't seem to have MJ's attention and Brown can kiss the top pick goodbye
-- nobody stands up MJ. 
The real sleeper for Jordan is Charlotte freshman Rodney White. White had a
spectacular workout in front of Jordan in LA. He put the ball on the floor,
shot the NBA three and exploded to the basket. Several teams walked out of
the workout convinced that White could have a bigger impact than any rookie
in this draft. Jordan brought White to Washington for a private workout and
White hit all the high notes again. Afterward, Jordan reportedly dubbed him
the "Future Big Dog" in reference to Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson, who has a
similar, if less athletic, game. Jordan began working the phones that
afternoon, searching for a trade partner that would allow him to draft White
in the mid-lottery. 
Jordan is also said to have a thing for Iowa State point guard Jamaal
Tinsley and USC guard Jeff Trepagnier. The Wizards don't have a second round
pick, but don't be surprised if they insist that they get a second-rounder
in any trade so they can draft Brian Scalabrine. The USC forward had a
fairly impressive camp in Chicago and the Wizards have had their eye on him
for some time. 
2. Los Angeles Clippers 
Likely candidates: Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler 
Are the Clippers finally getting lucky? After having the best draft in
recent NBA history last year, the Clippers are poised to score big again
this year. The Clippers are set at the point, shooting guard and small
forward. Former first pick Michael Olowokandi continues to improve ever so
slowly at the center position, but the Clippers still have a huge hole to
fill at power forward. 
Eddy Curry is great friends with Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. Expect
them to lobby for Curry, and for good reason. Some scouts wonder whether
Curry isn't better suited for the power forward position in the pros. Curry
has the body, athleticism and offensive prowess to make an immediate impact
on the Clippers without having to match up with the Shaqs and David
Robinsons night in and night out. 
If Curry is gone, Kwame Brown, with a strong workout, may end up here. Given
his overall skills, physical maturity and size, he may be the perfect fit
for the Clippers at the four. Numerous scouts and one GM who talked to
Insider insist that Brown is the most advanced high school player to enter
the NBA draft since Kevin Garnett. How can you pass on that? 
LA native Tyson Chandler did have all of the buzz, but several scouts insist
that Chandler's stock could plunge. Yes, he's a seven-footer who runs like a
gazelle, but his offensive skills are surprisingly limited and his timidity
(some say he was just saving his virginity for the NBA) raise a lot of
questions. Word around the league is that Chandler had a great workout for
the Wizards but a terrible one in Chicago, where he was manhandled by
DePaul's Steven Hunter of all people. 
3. Atlanta Hawks 
Likely candidates: trade, Shane Battier, Eddie Griffin 
Atlanta's GM Pete Babcock is still insisting that he's done with the youth
movement. If that's the case, Babcock is left with only one choice. The
Hawks love Shane Battier's attitude and winning resume and were wowed when
he outperformed Michigan State stud Jason Richardson in workouts. Battier
bested Richardson in Atlanta's infamous "Superman" drills during which
prospects keep dunking until one guy drops. However, as much as the Hawks
love Battier, they may be forced to take a big man. 
Free-agent center Nazr Mohammed looked fantastic the last month of the
season and may have secured a spot as the starting center. That is if he
actually re-signs with the Hawks. Mohammed will get a lot of attention in
the free-agent market from the Bulls, Magic and Rockets. If he decides to
bolt, the Hawks will need another young big man to develop. If Eddy Curry or
Kwame Brown falls to here, he would be too hard to pass up. Big men with
this much upside don't come along very often. 
The Hawks also are shopping the pick to teams like Boston and Houston that
are trying to get their hands on F.C. Barcelona's Pau Gasol. This seems a
little high for Gasol to go and so far all Boston or Houston has been
willing to pony up is multiple first round picks. That's the last thing the
Hawks want. If they can land a veteran to help at the point or in the
middle, they'd hand the pick over quicker than you can say Yinka Dare. 
4. Chicago Bulls 
Likely candidates: Eddie Griffin, Shane Battier, Pau Gasol 
Was it just us or did Jerry Krause look absolutely constipated when he
realized that Michael Jordan and Co. had knocked his Bulls out of a top
three pick in this year's draft? That's sweet revenge for Jordan, who had to
give up the Wizards' first round pick to the Bulls last year. All of the
scuttle has pointed out that this will likely mark the end of the Bulls
courting of Eddy Curry. Krause had a Bulls scout at every game Curry played
this year, but we don't buy it. 
Krause wanted the No. 1, but he was hoping to trade it, not use it on Curry.
Krause's clock is about to run out on his "franchises win championships"
rebuilding extravaganza. Last year's draft was a disaster, as was the Bulls
luck in the free-agent market. Things have got to change in Chicago -- fans
are weary and it doesn't seem like they have any hope in sight. The plan,
according to a source inside the Bulls, was to trade the No. 1 pick, Marcus
Fizer, Jamal Crawford, even Elton Brand, for two or three established
veterans. Krause's primary targets? Chris Webber, Gary Payton and Allan
Houston. 
With no No. 1 pick, Krause's master plan seems foiled again. But all is not
lost. There's still a chance that Eddie Griffin will slip to four. If he
does, the Bulls will take a long look. He is the type of impact player they
desperately need. Bulls forward Elton Brand has been quietly lobbying for
Shane Battier. While that makes sense on numerous levels, it could be a
public relations nightmare. Battier is a solid player, but he's not Mr.
Excitement. Unless your idea of excitment is a night spent sipping lattes at
Barnes and Noble. Besides, Brand is bland enough for the entire team. 
Another sleeper could be Pau Gasol. Remember, before Don Nelson and Geoff
Petrie were drafting European kids, Jerry Krause was chasing Toni Kukoc. 
5. Golden State Warriors 
Likely candidates: Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson 
The Warriors remain one of the biggest mysteries in the draft. They have a
glut of big men, a shaky shooting guard in Larry Hughes and are in desperate
need of a point guard. They're likely to address the point guard situation
with their 14th pick and will likely go with the best available athlete. 
The word around the league is that the Warriors remain high on high school
phenom Tyson Chandler. Chandler should be able to provide some athleticism
to the Warriors at the three slot. Pau Gasol intrigues them as well. Gary
St. Jean has let it leak that the Warriors could go with the Barcelona star.
However, it could be a smoke screen to entice Boston or Houston to trade up
for him. 
Finally, don't be surprised to see the Warriors take a long look at Michigan
State's Jason Richardson. They passed on Vince Carter, and though Richardson
isn't Carter he could be a nightmare for opposing teams when on the floor
with Jamison. If the Warriors can convince Hughes to take over some point
guard duties, that may be the way they go. 
6. Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies 
Likely picks: Jason Richardson, Pau Gasol, DeSagana Diop 
The Grizzlies are in the center of the trade talk storm. Like the Nets, they
are drafting from a coveted position and have more immediate needs than this
draft can satisfy. The Grizzlies are still sold on Michigan State guard
Jason Richardson, but have been receiving tantalizing offers from Boston and
Houston to trade down in the draft. Both teams are after Pau Gasol and it
wouldn't be at all surprising to see Gasol land here. 
Richardson would give the Grizzlies an explosive Vince Carter-like athlete
to pair in the backcourt with Mike Bibby. The Grizzlies have explored
trading Michael Dickerson and would need someone to replace him. The
Grizzlies also are taking a second and third look at DeSagana Diop. Diop has
dropped on most draft boards because of his rawness and questions about his
injured foot. But no one disputes that if Diop keeps up with his current
learning curve (he's played organized basketball for only four years) he
could surpass Eddy Curry as the draft's best center. Of course that's how
the Nets thought about Yinka Dare. 
7. New Jersey Nets 
Likely picks: Jason Richardson, Rodney White, DeSagana Diop 
Byron Scott has been on record as saying that the Nets need a shooting guard
as insurance in case Kerry Kittles never gets his bits together. Richardson
is the obvious choice here. Depending on what Vancouver and Golden State do,
he may very well fall all the way to 7. However, Washington is dangling
Richard Hamilton in hopes of prying the pick away from the Nets to take
Rodney White. The Nets like White too, and if they truly plan to get rid of
Keith Van Horn, he would be a formidable front court mate for Kenyon Martin.
As far as Diop goes, the Nets may have had their fill of raw African centers
after Yinka Dare and Soumalia Samake. 
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 
Likely picks: Rodney White, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol 
Conventional wisdom has Arkansas' Joe Johnson falling to the Cavs here. The
Cavs are in desperate need of athleticism in the backcourt and Johnson seems
to have the right combination of height, athleticism and shooting ability.
However, sources have told us that Johnson has been tanking workouts and is
falling in the draft. 
The Cavs might be better served grabbing Rodney White or Tyson Chandler, but
both could very well be gone. If no one trades up for Gasol, he could
quietly slip to the Cavs. Cavs GM Jim Paxson loves Gasol, but if he drafts
him here he'll have to wait another year. Is he willing to do that? 
9. Detroit Pistons 
Likely picks: Rodney White, DeSagana Diop, Loren Woods 
The Pistons are said to be infatuated with Rodney White. They too are trying
to move up in the draft, but their logical trading partner, the Vancouver
Grizzlies, won't have anything to do with them after Detroit screwed
Vancouver out of the 18th pick this year. 
Diop, who is said to be falling, could be had here. Of course, he would do
nothing to stem the losing ways of the Pistons, but in a few years he might
be worth it. Loren Woods is putting on weight and an NBA source told Insider
that Woods may now be their most likely target. They love his athleticism
and the extra 20 pounds he's put on this summer. 
Likely picks: Pau Gasol, Michael Bradley, Troy Murphy 
We know the Celtics want Pau Gasol, and there is still a chance he could
fall here. They have tried to trade up the last few weeks, but right now
they can't find any takers. 
The next best thing for the Celtics will probably be 6-11 Villanova forward
Michael Bradley. Bradley has been sizzling in workouts. What scouts like
about Bradley is his ability to hit the jumper and then go inside and bang.
Lots of prospects can bang, but can't play on the perimeter. Others can play
on the perimeter but won't go down low. Bradley does both well and that has
the Celtics drooling. Besides, he is one of the few prospects that can play
immediately. 
Troy Murphy also has turned a lot of heads. He's dropped weight, put on
muscle and has had impressive workouts. But Bradley seems to hold the edge
in the Celtics' eyes at the moment.